tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post1127093093425705272..comments2023-11-03T04:00:24.785-04:00Comments on Kentucky School News and Commentary: Who is M A Cassidy?Richard Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586435007687942849noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-5404266490555586662013-03-29T06:01:29.790-04:002013-03-29T06:01:29.790-04:00MA Cassidy was my great grandfather.I grew up with...MA Cassidy was my great grandfather.I grew up with his daughter Margaret Sandford and her husband William J. Sandford.<br /><br />Thank you very much for your interest in our family. Certainly MA Cassidy is someone we are all proud of. Margaret Sandford carried on in her father's progressive tradition.She was one of very few women who went to the University of Kentucky in the early 1900s.There she studied to be a journalist and wrote stories about life in Kentucky's early history. She and her husband were twice threatened by the Klux Klux Klan for their successful efforts to open public recreation to African Americans. Perhaps I can be of help in your studies. We have a great many family pictures from the MA Cassidy era that you may find useful.<br /><br />With appreciation,<br /><br />Paul Sandford McGlothinPaul McGlothinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07897235514696086786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-58667400670119242132012-04-24T07:44:27.573-04:002012-04-24T07:44:27.573-04:00Each should be judged according to their time...an...Each should be judged according to their time...and that includes Rupp.<br /><br />As a freshman on UK's campus in 69-70 and a resident on the same dorm floor as the team (before the Wildcat Lodge) I heard segregation advocates use the phrase "keep UK lily white" to describe the desired campus population more than once. <br /><br />I was also present the night that Tom Payne (Rupp's first black player) woke up everyone in the dorm somewhere around 3AM using the buzzer system in Holmes Hall. To hear the language hurled at Payne for his ignorant and inconsiderate deed, you would have thought a KKK meeting broke out in the lobby. It immediately went to race. <br /><br />If one wishes to hunt for evidence of racism in our history, it's there to be found in the words and actions of some, even many, people.Richard Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14586435007687942849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-16505848943417250252012-04-24T07:19:22.100-04:002012-04-24T07:19:22.100-04:00I see what you all are saying. What about Adolf Ru...I see what you all are saying. What about Adolf Rupp's well documented racism? Was this consistent with the views most held at that time? Should we go easy on Rupp even though UK waited until 1969 to put a black player on the team?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-71122554149736299662012-04-22T18:47:12.812-04:002012-04-22T18:47:12.812-04:00Well said.Well said.Richard Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14586435007687942849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-48094598957270334952012-04-22T17:31:59.622-04:002012-04-22T17:31:59.622-04:00History must be studied in context of the conditio...History must be studied in context of the conditions which existed at the time. It is easy for folks to Monday morning quarterback event after they have occured and the outcome determined. The challenge is actually being open minded and coming to accurately understand what occurred in context of the conditions which existed and not superimposing our own personal values, contemporary standards, etc. Lincoln is recognized the great emancipator but lets remember that though he did not support slavery, he still held many of the contemporary ideas which did not align with equality of the races. Similarly, Washington, Jefferson and the rest of our beloved founding fathers not only were slave owners but equally did not support equal rights for women. Are we going to throw them under the same bus as Hitler based upon our self somewhat self righteous belief that we modern folk are more morally enlightened or intelligent than these icons of American leadership? Dog gone it, thats like saying Rupp's players were not as offensively talented as todays players who have three point lines and shot clocks. You have to evaluate past events in context of the conditions that existed. Read a little of C VanWoodward's stuff about the discipline.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-32256859161854120192012-04-22T16:31:12.672-04:002012-04-22T16:31:12.672-04:00Historians live on a tightrope hovering over prese...Historians live on a tightrope hovering over presentism on one side and moral relativism on the other. <br /><br />In historical analysis, it seems to me, some balance needs to be struck. When used for interpretations of the past, present-day knowledge and ideas can introduce any number of biases that ought to be avoided.<br /><br />Since…sometime…in the 20th century…many (not all) historians…or at least the composite views of the ones I’m learning from…tended to advocate reporting the events and facts while guarding against laying too much judgment on the people…or at least tempering that judgment in light of what the people alive at the time would have known. Others would restrict themselves completely. <br /><br />I’m more moderate on the subject, but aware of the claim. <br /><br />On the other side of the tightrope is moral relativism, which should also be guarded against. Some claim that avoiding moral judgments leads to a kind of moral relativism that excuses some pretty awful stuff. That’s not good either.<br /><br />I hope to shoot pretty close to the middle, while remaining aware of both extremes. So, I report what I find, try to do so in a logical and chronological manner, and provide enough context that the issues under question at the time cannot be missed.<br /><br />I confess I’m still a little new at this; not being a career historian…but I hope, a promising fledgling.<br /><br />Hitler’s central ideas sucked and if that was an academic interest of mine, I’m sure I’d say so. <br /><br />Even so, I stop short of believing that there is any unassailed authority on human morality. For example, I would also stop short of proclaiming on moral grounds that slavery should be condoned because it is condoned in the Bible.Richard Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14586435007687942849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-78667927218439739962012-04-22T11:11:22.414-04:002012-04-22T11:11:22.414-04:00Dear Richard,
Tell us more about "presentism...Dear Richard,<br /><br />Tell us more about "presentism." What historian coined the term? Do all historians embrace this view? When did this term first make the rounds in historical circles? Finally, does "presentism" argue that we should not judge Hitler's antisemitism by today's standards?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-35483539541889045472012-04-20T09:01:43.482-04:002012-04-20T09:01:43.482-04:00Great question, and I'm not sure I have the be...Great question, and I'm not sure I have the best answer for it.<br /><br />The historians argument is related to what is called presentism. When we look back into history and find facts, that's a good thing. But the interpretation of those facts is also important, and there, it is always tempting to use present-day standards to judge folks from another time and another culture. Historian are supposed to resist that impulse.<br /><br />Everything I've read on Jefferson Davis also includes contemporary perspectives. He is well-situated among his fellow confederates.<br /><br />As I wrote in the full article, our effort was neither to excuse Cassidy nor to assail him. I present his quotes as I found them and the reader can decide what that means. But fairness dictates that some perspective accompany the facts. So I also present facts related to the larger community as well.<br /><br />I wondered how it was that Cassidy could have become so popular if he was the only person who held such views? <br /><br />If I continue this study (I think there's enough interesting material here for a small book) I will certainly have to dig deeper and deal with these issues at some length. <br /><br />Plus, I am learning a lot more about the impact of the Civil War on Kentucky and the schools. It's a remarkable history. This study will become stronger when I add the politics.<br /><br />Thanks again for the comment.Richard Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14586435007687942849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-77697288853779953832012-04-20T07:33:13.397-04:002012-04-20T07:33:13.397-04:00Dear Richard,
I've read this post nearly a do...Dear Richard,<br /><br />I've read this post nearly a dozen times. Now I've decided to publish my comment. What good does it do to say that Cassidy's racism was consistent with that of other 20th century Lexington residents?<br /><br />No, it doesn't make an article about Cassidy any less relevant ---look at all the historians who write about Jefferson Davis --- but it does seem to be an unspoken way of excusing the behavior of the namesake of the school you once led.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com