Confederacy: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

Confederate symbols are still celebrated despite the ugly history they symbolize. John Oliver suggests some representations of southern pride that involve less racism and more Stephen Colbert.
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[@just_resa]

As a german, I have to tell you, we don't have statues of Hitler standing around but we still remember our history and learn about it

[@just_resa]

@@JR-pr8jb Yes, mostly. I mean we don't learn much about Colonialism but we learn A LOT about WWI and WWII. It's also common for school classes to visit concentration camps while learning about what happened there and to go to events where holocaust survivors talk about their experience.

[@jimcornettesfupa6277]

Fuck you! If your not from the south then EAT SHIT

[@bogotaangela6908]

? #ThisOldMann? #HePlayedOne 0:38 0:39 ? @#Carlino’s 0:52

[@Only2Genders]

You should

[@just_resa]

@@Only2Genders we sould have statues of Hitler or we should learn about and from our history?

[@WilliamHBaird-eq2hp]

"All history should be remembered, but not all history should be celebrated."

[@craigcraigrome1558]

Who sold black people as slaves they own people in Africa did the warning tribes sold them after they took over their village

[@WilliamHBaird-eq2hp]

@@craigcraigrome1558 It's still WRONG!

[@craigcraigrome1558]

That's why

[@craigcraigrome1558]

Well after the civil war slavery was still going on under the American flag and even before the civil war so its racist also dont believe me go ask the real native Americans the Indians

[@craigcraigrome1558]

Oh that's rite no one wants to talk about that

[@JacobBush16]

“Think he deserved it?” Literally the fastest response anyone has ever given in history: “yeah.” Good on you Anderson.

[@DCANIMAL-skates]

I know I cracked up. Great answer

[@thefailedfoodie]

Bro didn't even finish looking up lol

[@kathimeyer5613]

@@DCANIMAL-skates Florida is going to pretend that black history didn’t exist. I’m not teach in school.

[@jackwenn_9693]

@@kathimeyer5613what?

[@mattlogue1300]

Easy to answer too

[@gew393]

This video has been up longer than than the confederacy existed

[@dacarrico]

Best thing I've read this year

[@pteechka1]

I believe the song "Achy Breaky Heart" charted for longer than the Confederate states existed.

[@shaunlaverty8898]

I have condiments in my fridge that have lasted longer than the confederacy.

[@ObamaFromKenya]

@@shaunlaverty8898time to throw out that mustard, Shaun

[@jabjones2165]

And?

[@euenfheiejrj]

When I was in Germany, I didn’t see one statute of Hitler, which was part of their history but they don’t want to memorialize it. Why is this so difficult for Americans?

[@baronvonlimbourgh1716]

There are loads of war memorials. Nothing to glorify anyone or anything though.

[@leadbones]

Let's not confuse the deep South with "Americans". Those anti-American traitors can all get fucked.

[@TakiMomoify]

I’m from Alabama. The Confederates were fucking traitors who turned on their own countrymen to keep my people their property. Where I come from, people wear this flag proudly, knowing that if it was up to the Confederacy, I wouldn’t even be considered human. This flag should be burned.

[@gxtmfa]

Good fucking point.

[@hewakens]

It's not difficult for Americans - it's difficult for *Republicans*.

[@clickbaitcabaret8208]

I'm from the south. I have distant relatives who fought for the confederacy & not so distant ones who were in the KKK. When I was a kid was taught, both directly & indirectly, racist ideals of the white man's superiority over all other races, particularly African ones. As a young impressionable child I believed what I was told. It wasn't until I was a teenager I started questioning what I had been taught. When I got to college I soon realized what I had been taught was not only dead wrong, it was evil. I had to come to grips with the reality what my family had taught me was a hideous lie based on the hatred of human beings we and our descendants had been purposely cruel to for centuries. It was a bitter pill to swallow & it's caused a major rift in my family that persists to this day. I'm grateful younger members of my family aren't racist in the way the people I grew up with had been. It gives me hope for humanity's future that maybe one day we can put racism behind us. That would be beautiful.

[@PitLord777]

Yo man! Congrats!

[@keena20071987]

Mike, God bless you. You are a beautiful soul and I appreciate every word you said. If we had more like you, this world would be so different.

[@gavinbrewes863]

I cannot remember the last time I replied to a comment but I could not leave this video without thanking you for your post

[@clickbaitcabaret8208]

How many people do you think is one in 1000 of the US white, Non Hispanic population in the US? Hint. It's a lot of people.

[@clickbaitcabaret8208]

It was the 1960's on through the 70's. It wasn't just my family. It was literally every white person I knew. White folks in the south back then didn't mix with Blacks, Latinos, Jews or Catholics. There weren't any around to mix with anyway so avoiding them was pretty easy. The black part of town was strictly segregated and they knew not to loiter in the white part if they didn't want to end up in jail for whatever charges the all white police force could come up with. Mind you, this is a small, rural town in the deep south built around a textile mill no one held a demonstration in, SNCC never marched through & MLK probably never heard of. The town I grew up in was a looong from little rock & Birmingham. Progress in a place like that moves at a snails pace, if at all when compared to the rest of the country.

[@jaelie8398]

I am Ugandan. Never in my life have I seen statues of Idi Amin. Still we learn from a young age about what he did in school and why we can't allow it to happen again. It's not hard

[@AlexeiIgnavich]

It’s because statues aren’t about history, they’re about glorification, which is why American Southerners want their statues, they WANT to glorify traitors that fought to keep slavery.

[@Aurorasr91rs91]

Naming millitary bases in honor of your enemies is just ridiculous. I mean Uganda doesn't have any bases named after Amin. France after Bismarck. Or Argentina after Thatcher. Can you recognize the bravery of some individual soldiers? Sure. But glorify their cause? No.

[@jaelie8398]

@@Aurorasr91rs91 Or Italy after Mussolini. When I was in Italy last year my guide told me they teach exactly how evil he was at a young age

[@smalltime0]

there is an issue that African nations forget the African involvement in the slave trade. European powers (mostly) didn't actually have the capability of colonising Africa until they stopped dealing in slavery (shout out to Belgium for bucking the trend there). Africans sold their fellow people into slavery, doing the capturing and everything and made a lot of money in the process.

[@nanananere]

​@@smalltime0I don't see how that's linked with the subject of keeping statues of criminals in our streets

[@EventH0riz0n]

I still love the "friendly north-south rivalry" bit very much. Imagine that with the second world war. "A friendly axis-allies rivalry"

[@mooniedizzel6443]

South is fighting the whole country white and black. North only has to fight 10 states. South is out numbered in its own land. Half the people down south are black.

[@xMewWinx96x]

"The Second World War: A friendly Axis-Allies rivalry" is literally the entire premise of Hetalia.

[@EventH0riz0n]

@@xMewWinx96x havent heard of that yet but the synopsis sounds hilarious. Gotta check that one out.

[@funnyyellowdog8833]

A minor dispute over resources, economic policies and racial superiority

[@Imnotplayinganymore]

@@EventH0riz0n kinda frenetic for my taste...

[@discflame]

*Statue of Robert E. Lee is removed from a public park somewhere* "Aw fuck, now I can't remember who lost the Civil War."

[@ma3zf]

I think this whole "erasing history" is the most socially acceptable code for "I know and agree with what the deal REALLY is, but not mature enough to admit it."

[@sirtoby4939]

I totally LOL'd.

[@Oban2006]

Diskflame Lol Exactly cuckservatives mentality

[@Ren-ck3cl]

Robert E lee is the same as the confederate flag, taken out of context. The confederate flag represented the collective south, NOT SLAVERY. The civil war was not primarily based on slavery, Abraham Lincoln himself offered the south multiple attempts to regain "slavery in perpetuity" (meaning he would continue to allow slavery as long as the south rejoined) the confederacy declined because slavery was not the primary motivator, the main motivation was economic representation. Look up the Corwin amendment if you don't believe me. Also since when did there become a magic line between the union and the confederacy BOTH SIDES had slaves before and after the emancipation proclamation, the only reason the south had more was due to their agricultural economy. A famous quote reads "history is written by the victors" the south has been disparaged and defamed for so long it has turned many good men and icons into symbols of hate, everyone needs to educate themselves on these topics. As to the flag being a symbol of rebellion that is the same for our union flag, we ourselves separated from Britain for the same reason the south did, economic representation and taxation.

[@danielw.8356]

Robert E Lee was an American War Hero before the Civil War. He opposed slavery, and even freed the slaves he inherited from his family. He fought the KKK, and other racist groups after the war. etc etc etc...you people know nothing of Robert E lee

[@navaryn2938]

americans: WE CAN'T EREASE HISTORY also americans: and then the settlers taught the natives how to grow corn :)

[@Brodie3K]

Other way around, but the comparison is true.

[@Calmdowndude]

Native Americans: Why did we get swindled onto reservations? Learned to speak English? Forced Christianity as our new religion? Forced Boarding Schools when it's hundreds of miles away from home? Forced Adoptions to get kids away from their original families? Why were native women sterilized when they didn't knew? Forced us to live sovereign with no right to own land on our own reservation? Or forced to relocate to urban cities where other minorities live? Anglos Americans: Hey, we just wanted you to be civilized human beings. In the form of compensation, we will now seize this land. Good Luck fitting in! Native American: Why is capitalism and our natural resources controlled by White Corporations? Shouldn't we own our own businesses? Anglo Americans: ...(umm) Look just be grateful to the white man!

[@w.benson3011]

@@Calmdowndude Well, we (i.e., "Americans" from Europe) had to have railroads, didn't we. And how would it look from train windows if there were lodge houses rather than church steeples from New York to California?

[@Calmdowndude]

@@w.benson3011 😆 Your answer was Manifest Destiny, I hate that word. Plus it wouldn't matter your point, cause the US government gladly wanted to exterminate rather than educate.

[@Calmdowndude]

@@w.benson3011 besides who uses railways to travel? Still, if it's widely used I can see your point, but out here railroads are used for transporting goods not people.

[@allergy5634]

There is a difference between remembering terrible historical events and celebrating them with statues and flags

[@tenpercentfordabigguy8550]

What is the difference?

[@allergy5634]

@@tenpercentfordabigguy8550One is done and with museums, books and lectures. It is done so we don’t forget the terrible things that have happened and so we don’t repeat them. The other is done with statutes, public flags, poems and films. It is done to remember the past with reverence, pride and sometimes even a desire to return to the past. BIG DIFFERENCE

[@tenpercentfordabigguy8550]

@@allergy5634 Bahaha you think a metal likeness of a long dead historical figure is a threat to re opening a 17th century trade in humans . You do understand that in the middle East where there are no statues of General Lee , the slave trade is strong and well and flourishing, right? About the only past all of us wont to return to is 3 years ago before this nightmare of a Presidential administration gave the softest, weakest and petty individuals like you a voice in things you would never understand.

[@patrickcleburneuczjsxpmp9558]

@@allergy5634 You're just saying that because you despise the principles American independence was founded on, that people have a right to declare independence on their own authority, that just government can never be forced on peoples but can only be based on voluntary consent. Just like a marital union, a political union based on anything other than continued voluntary consent isn't actually a union. It's an equally perverse euphemism to call beating your wife into submission "preserving the union."

[@allergy5634]

@@patrickcleburneuczjsxpmp9558You can say what you like about independence. But a country does not have a right to attack the property of another state. It was the South that triggered the war by attacking Fort Sumter. Not vice versa. Besides, a nation whose ‘cornerstone rests’ on the subjugation of others has no right to democratic recognition.

[@Rundstedt1]

_"Confederates during the Civil War had no problem whatsoever in associating their cause with the protection of slavery and a system of white supremacy which they thought was inherent in the Confederate world order. The Confederates of 1861-65 were much more honest about the importance of slavery than are the neo-Confederates of today."_ - Professor Brooks D. Simpson

[@imakedamoney420smokeweed]

It was definitely about slavery and it was 100% valid and justified

[@dariusw1776]

I'm from Germany: I'm pretty sure we remember our history, but I can't remember being surrounded by nazi symbols and statues. So yes... you can remember history while not celebrating it.

[@richardhaighway4816]

For what it's worth, the difference isn't the statue. It's the education and acknowledgment of your past. You all know and acknowledge history. American's will tell you 15 different tales, depending on 15 different factors

[@gristlybillow7050]

Without causing offence, can I ask what is taught about that period in history? I ask because, as a brit, we got our glorious history at school, but didn't learn about our shitty imperialism until I decided to open a book myself

[@richardhaighway4816]

Being Canadian we don't learn of our tumultuous relationship and treatment of Indigenous Peoples either. But, I am very exposed to the US and I can tell that dependent on the state you could learn that the war was about, states rights, tarrifs, slavery, etc. They also don't teach anywhere the continued sufferings of AA People beyond the Civil War. They basically says "we had slaves, there was a war, there wasn't slaves" and thats that

[@gristlybillow7050]

now that's an education. British imperialism and the way we industrialised the slave trade is kept strictly off our curriculum. Hope my question didn't cause offence

[@jahbama6202]

@@gristlybillow7050 we get taught how shitty we were in Scotland

[@brandonm949]

Compromise: Since most of the statues are 75% horse anyway, just remove the people from the statues but keep the horses. Because horses are legit and also not pro-slavery.

[@theviewer6889]

If you can do that without damaging the horse then do that.

[@StormCrownSr]

...Fuck it, it has my vote.

[@klownmob8894]

@@theviewer6889 fuck off

[@3Rayfire]

I can work with that.

[@theviewer6889]

@@klownmob8894 Y?

[@jojoqvenx]

When he asked the question "who was working that farm" while giving his suit a tug, he knows he won the argument.

[@jlskeptic]

And the idiot responding with "do you know much slaves cost back then" can't seem to realize he's saying "we didn't have slaves ONLY because we couldn't afford them." 🤦‍♂️

[@JonPL]

Honestly the moment he did, he seemed like he's gonna smack that flag guy in the face, given that straightened posture and moving his right arm back... And I'd love to see his reaction, because I know exactly how it is to be flabberghasted or even stunned by someone's audacity and \ or stupidity.

[@martalaatsch8358]

I wonder if that Confederate flag guy's family were actually that poor... statistically, it's possible, but obviously, he was really stupid about the whole thing

[@ringgold05]

Another point is that, in some contexts, the Confederacy actually didn't believe in states rights in regards to slavery. For example, a popular pre-Civil War belief was that of popular sovereignty, which says that each state should decide for itself whether it should allow slavery. Most Southerners were against this, instead arguing for universal slavery. So anyone who says the Civil War was about states rights is wrong on SEVERAL counts.

[@evilsWa]

Exactly… Take one look at their proposed constitution, which ingrained slavery in as an inalienable right of the white man, and would never be allowed to be abolished.

[@BEdwardStover]

You actually remember learning about the Missouri Compromise! Congratulations to you and to your history teacher!

[@BeetleSpoon2770]

Exactly. People just need to read the secession papers which are free and widely available. It’s the documents the Confederate states wrote about why they want to leave. They all say “to protect the institution of slavery”

[@tinfoilslacks3750]

"states right" is merely a refuge whenever the policy is denied at a federal level. Happened with slavery, happened with abortion, will happen with plenty of other things. They try to enforce it at the federal level, the feds rule the other way, suddenly it's a "states" matter so they can get the ruling they want in at least their own territories.

[@daveb7889]

​@Danny Lee Secession was not a declaration of war, it was a declaration of leaving the USA to start a new Country.

[@fruitylaura]

I’m German and imagine if we would have Hitler monuments around here because it is “part of our history”.

[@TheBottlenose33]

German history is coming to an end.

[@mightycat866]

Sounds like a whiner, equivalting nazis to confederacy is a huge conflation

[@wadewilson8924]

Yankees1215 NJ regardless you sound insane

[@JulianHosl]

Wow.... just wow, as a fellow german i'm kind of horriefied by the responses you get here Have to wonder where those people get there infos from... are we living in different realitys? Still i wish you all the best and have a nice day!

[@wadewilson8924]

JuaffreBlumpkins pfft trump can't even shake Merkles hand..he's the coward.

[@sarapocorn]

„WHO WAS WORKING THAT FARM?“ - I am so fucking proud.

[@moongirl786]

Ikr? And that guy was so fucking dapper... I think I'm in love :P

[@KaijaSchmauss]

He was so put together considering how objectively terrifying that situation had to be. The white dude was one step away from breaking out a white hood and a torch if his response was any indication.

[@siddhantbanerjee3328]

Good fucking god, I hate Buzzfeed with a passion, but I have to say I was legitimately shook

[@gargamellenoir8460]

Sara K Do you have no sympathy for that dude's poor family who couldn't even afford a slave? :(

[@LegendaryGauntlet]

Then tell us, what was his ancestor protecting his farm against exactly ? Why was he fighting what is now his own country and what that country represents ?

[@ladyiris77]

Anderson's response is totally genuine. No hesitation. "Yeah." Love it.

[@lydia2776]

As an Australian I think this video is highly applicable to my country, especially in light of the failure of the Indigenous/Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament referendum.

[@austinhicks7405]

Never underestimate the power of racism, mate. I voted with ya in Qld, as a dual Aussie/US citizen in Cairns, but I really think that Voldemort looking mofo is probably gonna get the top job at some point. Damn the Murdoch family to whatever hell might exist.

[@TillyOrifice]

As a New Zealander I completely agree.

[@DJCosmicLatte]

Them: "You can't pick and choose history" Also them: "Let's not teach kids about slavery and pretend this country isn't a fucking mess"

[@MarcillaSmith]

I'm glad people say it was fought over sl@very and not over emancipation, seeing as how the Fourteenth Amendment didn't _end_ sl@very, but instead changed the institution to what it is today. Also, we are gross 🤢

[@ClawedAsh]

@@MarcillaSmith 13th, it was the 13th Amendment that ended Slavery in the US "Except as a punishment as a Crime", which yes that exception is awful, and the post Reconstruction South had a lot of issues of essentially "Neo-Slavery". But that latter part was not caused by the 13th Amendment, but by the failures of Reconstruction

[@kenabbott8585]

"Also them: "Let's not teach kids about slavery and pretend this country isn't a fucking mess"" "Also" as in "absolutely nobody has said this, but we need dishonest accusations to make up for our total lack of actual argument.

[@projectpitchfork860]

@@kenabbott8585 No, also as in, republicans are trying to get the history of white supremacy out of school. Like that lost cause bs. Or the whitewashing kf Martin Luther King Jr.

[@kenabbott8585]

@@projectpitchfork860 "No, also as in, republicans are trying to get the history of white supremacy out of school." There's the confusion. I'm talking about something that somebody has actually said or done.

[@tlsgrz6194]

I'm not an American and I really don't know what all the fuss is about. I mean, here in Germany we have statues of SS-Officers all over... Oh wait. We don't.

[@mrbrainbob5320]

TlsGrz Its not all American only southerners.

[@FrshChees91]

Mrbrain bob you'd be surprised. You can find confederate statues in states that were never part of the Confederacy.

[@bloocheez3]

Poor Southrn farmers who didnt enforce racist laws or own slaves compared to SS soldiers... sounds fair.

[@WambwneD]

It's up there. How many millions of people suffered because of slavery? How many women got raped, how many men got hanged?

[@rrs_13]

I kinda think Rommel deserved a bit more recognition He was the definition of obedience, diligence and loyalty, and there are several accounts of him being a decent war commander, respecting POWs and refusing to work with slaves. There are several quotations of Rommel's somewhat decency and respectability, and he ultimately tried to subvert and eliminate Hitler. He's at least one of the few good germans of the 3rd reich, and it seems he would be a world renowed hero if he had fought on the right side.

[@A_Wild_Dyzzy]

I live in Charleston, SC. I watched protesters in Marion square call to dismantle the statue of John C. Calhoun, the seventh vice President and adamant pro-slavery supporter. His likeness stood tall above the square as a monument to the horrid thing he defended. I’m glad it’s in a museum today as a reminder of history. Seeing that thing taken down was like a breath of fresh air.

[@Luzarioth]

"I have to believe this, I am British" Yeah as a German... I absolutly agree ^^*

[@MrsBlack88]

“Everybody wants independence.” You’re right! I’m sure the slaves very much wanted independence too!

[@falloutboisumbish9409]

*cuagh*

[@simonsays3063]

You hit the nail right on the head. 👏👏👏

[@joeyc1725]

Well Africans captured other africans for Europeans. Bottom line. People will do anything for something. African slaves weren't the only slaves. So give the consideration to all slaves. I'm not even liberal and I went to conservative. Republicans were against slavery. Democrats were for it. Times may change. I stopped being fed propaganda. I became aware. Anyways. I agree with your post. I gave you that like.

[@mookiestewart3776]

@@joeyc1725 that's because republicans used to be liberal and progressive, now they are conservative. The change happened during the southern strategy. Go look that up. Republicans now are the Dems of before sorry to tell ya.

[@joeyc1725]

@@mookiestewart3776 actually that is true. I'm not harping. It's the sad factor of using intelligence to craft a paragraph putting all the factors in. I only mentioned a slim as much as you just did. I used to be liberal. I am unaffiliated to republican and lib to in between. If everyone used to be a slave in some way. I think politicians have us all at each others throats. The govern. Need to stay out of our lives. I completely believe in united we stand as to divide we fall. I see my sisters or brothers struggle my irish ass is helping them. I can tell a snake from a soul in person. I know you know your shite as I know mine. I appreciate your kindness over the 🕸.

[@blankface_]

"Think he deserved it?" "Yeah"

[@adamyves1750]

Erected where?

[@brendar9363]

Provocateur how tiny was it? And please convert from metric. Thanks.

[@willrainsford96]

I think they're talking about the one in Ulan Bator (Mongolia's capital and where the bulk of its population is). Which, afaik the Mongolian national obsession w/ Khan isn't 100% accepted either and due in great part to the loss of a cultural identity due to soviet influence. Even so, Khan isn't the greatest comparison here, considering that he terrorized Eurasia a lot longer ago than the Civil War, and he's mostly relevant to AP Euro students and Mongolians. obligatory postscript that while i've dabbled in mongolian culture im far from an expert or w/e

[@brandondavidson4085]

And there was no hesitation, at all.

[@Jazzisa311]

How is this a double standard? Is the statue in the US? Is Oliver defending it? No; it's a completely different subject. Can he only talk about confederate statues if he discusses every other statue in the world? Is that your point?

[@scottvertelle286]

The confederation lasted 4 years. I got underwear older than that. The same people who want their four year heritage remembered. Are the same people who want you to forget the 400 years of slavery.

[@rd264]

the civil war lasted 4 years but the Confederacy is another matter and all that is requires consideration

[@drychaf]

"monuments are not how we record history... ...statues are how we glorify people." Excellently put, and applicable to all nations'/communities' quandaries over this issue.

[@johndanielson3777]

“You can’t erase history.” - says the same people who are trying to ban the teaching of that very history

[@ThomasLindegaardJensen]

Fucking spot on!

[@DegenerateToo]

Her truth is jaded and selected it will not cover all history, just the positive aspects which paints a pretty picture. Can you say, “manifest destiny” and rape, pillage and plunder? How far do we go back in history? America came from England… we still have modern day crusades in America. We need to secure the oil was not that long ago.

[@DegenerateToo]

@@biasedjedi4353 Are you saying, German people hate themselves for the holocaust? They are aware of their past not doomed to repeat it. If CRT were taught in schools it would be taught in history that systemic racism is real, that our past history is evident of that. If a children were to hate themselves because of that, that would be crazy. Unless, they were active participants in that history.

[@biasedjedi4353]

@@DegenerateToo Systemic racism nowadays is rare, and teaching kids not to be racist can make them racist. The way we should teach them not to be racist is to rely on the parents, not some damn school board.

[@DegenerateToo]

@@biasedjedi4353 Unfortunately everyone has there own theory of how it would effect society, again do you think German people hate themselves because of the holocaust? Why should your children hate or fear something they are not responsible for? It is our history. “Systemic racism nowadays is rare,” not from a black persons or person of colors prospective. That is why they believe it should be taught, because of your statement in quotes.

[@zooblestyx]

Let's just take a minute to recall what happened to slaves who "had a little rebel in them".

[@armedwombat6816]

The males got killed, the females got pregnant with a bastard.

[@UnicornsPoopRainbows]

Nice point. I'm surprised Oliver didn't make that comment!

[@jiggerypokery3761]

If people want to admire rebels there was this plucky group that fought in 1776 who are a little more admirable. Sad we never see their flag anymore.

[@metallicakixtotalass]

Sadly the Confederacy believed they were following in the Founding Fathers' footsteps, like George Washington, despite that Washington was absolutely opposed to "States' rights" and an ardent NATIONALIST rather than a "Virginian."

[@n0ame1u1]

Well some of them beat people's heads in with garden hoes.

[@ladypiratebabe]

Pokémon Go has lasted longer and had more American's involved than the Confederacy.

[@pteechka1]

Achy Breaky Heart charted in the top 200 for longer than the Confederate government.

[@Wh40kFinatic]

These people have absolutely zero clue that the reason those statues and monuments were put up was for the explicit purpose of re-writing and forgetting history.

[@pauljmorton]

That black guy who said, "Who was working that farm?" is so dapper when he says it.

[@DearSis]

Paul J. Morton that white man's family worked that farm! Slaves were expensive back then!

[@jdcompas]

Dude I know

[@DanGolag]

DearSis - I get the impression they couldn't afford to marry outside their own family, either.

[@ryankelly9001]

When I heard that guy say 'who was workin that farm?' I wanted to immediately find a mic to drop for him.

[@silverhawkslugger]

And the Insert Foot in Mouth award goes to...Battle Flag Guy

[@Blessed_V0id]

"Do you think he deserved it" *Dead pan look* "Yeahhh" Major respect

[@tahraki4918]

No hesitation either

[@uru4359]

@@swiftie762 yeah major respect

[@Blessed_V0id]

@@swiftie762 I hope you aren't saying the confederates weren't the villains. They were dogs that wouldnt have been able to withstand the treatment they give others does their precious Bible not say do to others as youd have them do to you? If they are willing to kill men, they must be willing to die. Its blood for blood

[@Blessed_V0id]

@Towelie Thank you I've not heard of him. I appreciate the oppurtunity

[@Blessed_V0id]

@Towelie What a good quote

[@Teag_Brohman15]

friendly reminder that The Annoying Orange has existed longer than the Confederacy

[@ChaseVaccaro-ge3gk]

A lesson a piece of broccoli taught me

[@bamse1618]

So, European Americans do not want to get rid of their confederate symbols, because it is "part of their history", but do not want CRT to be taught in public schools.

[@leejcobb8009]

Well, no wonder CRT wants them to be the oppressors! I pretty sure a lot of them are not old enough to have owned anyone. And most people complaining are not old enough to be the victims. Why make the children fell negative by some woke teacher the has a axe to grind?

[@ardentdenizen0244]

@@leejcobb8009 The point of CRT isn't to make you feel bad if your ancestors were major dicks, it's to teach about the impact that race and racism had in American history. If that's troubling to you, maybe you need it the most. There's this old saying that applies well here: "facts don't care about your feelings".

[@RSVPrr]

​@@leejcobb8009 u r truly s.ck. trying to erase history for ur "feelings". Typical Caucas.an mentality. U people r horrible

[@user-kc4bu2bf2t]

@@leejcobb8009so children, by that logic shouldn’t be learning about any wars in general including Biblical wars.

[@amystaudte9855]

2017: YOU CAN'T CHANGE HISTORY, DON'T TAKE OUR CONFEDERATE STATUES 2021: YOU CAN'T TEACH ABOUT ROSA PARKS, THAT'S CRITICAL RACE THEORY

[@Ismael-kc3ry]

You know what’s funny? Just ask them to define the buzzwords they use (CRT, Cultural Marxism, globalism, feminism) and they’ll never give a correct definition

[@VTimmoni]

An excellent point

[@joeybleu66]

what about your stone mountain national park and your four humopngous military bases named after traitors. we got to take that crap down and rename the bases. we rename airports no biggie.

[@eddieanderson8055]

Amy, you have mastered the false equivalency. Congratulations!

[@microsofty5778]

We should have executed the CSA leadership AND kept our military in the CSA to ensure xslaves freedom AND replaced the CSA Congressmen with Xslaves AND banned their hateful flag forever

[@pandaman786haq2]

Can't erase history but they erased Tulsa's history

[@danceswithspiders2309]

If it were erased we wouldn't still be hearing about it

[@NagatoUzu]

@@danceswithspiders2309 you're only hearing about it because black people talk about it.

[@danceswithspiders2309]

@@NagatoUzu yeah because of people like this freaking Britt

[@brianmorton9419]

@@danceswithspiders2309 but this freaking Britt only heard about it because black people talk about it. And I doubt that more than one of the four of us had heard about it earlier than four months ago

[@danceswithspiders2309]

History will never be erased the internet is like the Bible it will never be erased as long as there's humans on this Earth

[@GottaWannaDance]

Thank you John. When unveiling the first 2 statues I get so sad. We, as a country, wasted oh so many decades teaching the lie instead of embracing the truth and focusing on making amends. So sad ...

[@dreamworldman5504]

Do you think we are changing?

[@orangelake2268]

@@dreamworldman5504 no they aren't

[@leana339]

I still find it amazing how stuff like that can even exist in America. As a german we get Teached from pretty much 6th grade forth till i ended school in 13th in history - Religion classes what the second ww was about. What was done etc. We visit monuments that got made to remember the horrible past and to learn from it and embrace it.

[@faceman7369]

@@leana339​​⁠no one asked the Germans what they feel about American society. Clearly these people need to be educated on the fact they were traitors to our country. Get rid of the statues and that stupid confederate flag. Make them understand that they fought against America and we won. The confederacy is dead and we are all Americans. It would be like someone in America waving around a German flag especially when your country started two world wars. We had to come all the way to Europe two separate times to give Germany what for. I’m glad you can learn about all terrible things your country did and just embrace it. Our country has been moving forward as a society and you are going to comment on America. The entire country wants those dumb statues torn down those men were traitors. Germany actually thinking it can climb up on its high house and judge anyone. Your country was responsible for Two World Wars. Your country is responsible for killing off a generation of Americans. Americans don’t comment on your country but of course for some reason you comment on ours. Now I’m obligated to remind you America gave your country what for twice. The second war your country elected the mass murdering Nazi. Your country carried out a massive genocide. America is the greatest country on earth. We generally don’t care about any other countries opinion but a German telling us that somehow your country moved on from trying to destroy the world. Germany has to not start another war for at least a hundred years and then maybe you can judge other countries but as of right now your country has done nothing but cause terrible events in world history. America is fantastic. You just studied and embraced your history that’s an interesting way to get past something. Maybe you can study American history and realize that we are by no means a perfect nation we continue to strive to make it better every day. Americans are the greatest collection of people from across the globe. I’m so grateful my ancestors decided to come here. Anyway Germans are not in a place to say anything about other countries especially to one that sorted your country out multiple times. Germany is so lucky that we divided up Berlin three ways after we were victorious. Otherwise you would probably be speaking Russian.

[@erikweiss9453]

The writers on Last Week Tonight come up with the best hashtags.

[@RolandVonRose]

Did... did Stephen Colbert just stand there in the dark with a sheet over him for 20 minutes?

[@nedcurfman3486]

You think he wouldn’t?

[@Obi-Wan_Kenobi]

He was probably hidden behind a curtain or something that they only pulled aside when it was time to reveal the statues. He only needed to get up on the pedestal right before the reveal.

[@communistloser3182]

@@Obi-Wan_Kenobi shhh dont ruin the dream

[@poltronafrau]

@@communistloser3182 that's some bullshit

[@angelamary31alisonannadj40]

I'm a conservative American. Our country lost hundreds of thousands in a war to defeat the Confederacy. I am bewildered that we still have confederate statutes in the South. These were enemies of the United States - they were not our friend.

[@JaeLCR13]

_"We all have a little rebel in us, even the ladies"_ So I take it he'll be okay if women decide to take up arms to protect their reproductive rights?

[@mortuos557]

Sure go ahead, don't you have the second amendment for those cases?

[@twirv]

eek too much rebel

[@MCShvabo]

Yes, but beware that when you shoot people tend to shoot back.

[@mortuos557]

@@MCShvabo If you are afraid of being shot at, you can remove the second amendment, because the US military is probably better at shooting back.

[@MCShvabo]

@@mortuos557 Not at the slightest, just explaining to our dear OP that taking up arms has consequences.

[@phantomstrider]

That scream of delight when Stephen showed up was just precious.

[@declanjones8888]

Hey it's you! I'm gonna watch some of your old videos.

[@phantomstrider]

@@declanjones8888 Hey thanks Declan 😄 Always nice to meet an old viewer

[@daviddavid5880]

Pro tip: Stop saying "Confederate". Just say "Slaver". Seriously. ("Wasn't he a famous Slaver general?", "Oh yeah. I remember this from school. It was the site of a famous battle in the Slaver War", "Yeah, take exit 24 west, into town and turn right at the Slaver monument", "Mosby's Slaver Enclave", etc) Trust me, you'll feel better for it. You wouldn't call a brick a "ceramic construction module".

[@monumentofwonders]

You're so right. And stope saying "plantation," just say "slave farm."

[@nickalejandro6918]

"The confederacy wasn't racist! They just fought for states rights!" States right's to do what....

[@Ol_Bron]

To vote and make laws on that would better benefit thier people. A lot like the American revolution.

[@nickalejandro6918]

except black people lolololol smh there's always one, news flash thats what the union wanted and ended up doing so................try again lol

[@BlackHearthguard]

State's rights to hold slaves of course.

[@mnrsteeljoutafel]

The Realist slavery

[@sparkplugdoug4489]

And don't forget the right to not have unfair tariffs and taxes levied against them to combat European's products being imported to the south at much lower costs than the prices of the north.

[@kahldrialeighsun1208]

I grew up in "north" and married someone from the deep south. Let me tell you, the culture shock was severe. I grew up with the knowledge of slavery, Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King jr. etc, from grade school. My ex however, grew up hearing about Confederate heroes like they were knights in a fairy tale. They gloss over the WHY and focus on the so called "glory" of their battles as if they were rebels for some sacred cause. It is tied to their identity. It is part of their pride. When you bring up the horrible, indefensible truth of WHY- they scoff, and are offended you even bring it up as if you were talking crap about their dead grandmother. Just my observation. They need to divorce their identity from that toxic history as much as I needed my actual divorce. The south needs to be reminded that the heroes who ended slavery, are their heroes too! And they are far far more worthy of statues, and tradition we can be proud of. Flies with honey.

[@TC-mp7vn]

Let’s teach em a lesson, civil war part 2 just to fuck em up

[@jamesyates4836]

T C just wanna point out a second civil war would not end well for the north. Seeing as political parties have switched and conservatives are more likely to have guns than democrats

[@slipperyseagoose919]

@@jamesyates4836 bruh the north would be in control of the US military. I think they could handle some renegade hillbillies

[@jamesyates4836]

Slippery Sea Goose besides the fact a majority of the us army identifies as conservative. How likely are you to shoot at your own people

[@olivebranch7769]

@@jamesyates4836 Do you have statistics for that?

[@karsonkammerzell6955]

The audience member absolutely losing their mind in the audience at the 'Grow A Penis" comment @15:00 was gold, lol.

[@HeWhoIsNamedPatrick]

Jon absolutely killed it in this episode! He is like Jon Stewart in he tells the truth but does it in a way you will never forget!

[@benadrylcucumbersnatch9401]

"Think he deserved it?" **without a split second of hesitation** "Yeah"

[@anthrosapien3784]

Lol

[@harrisonw6065]

Gotta hand it to him for having the moral compass to admit it that easily. Way too many people romanticise America's history

[@SecsSells]

@@harrisonw6065 Moral compass? That opens another can of worms entirely with this guy.

[@darqjade]

"Do you know how expensive a slave was back then"...... WOW, just WOW

[@puffdebi]

MovieJunkie ForLife At that point even his confederate supporters were like... “Dude....”

[@chouleo]

Is there a video on youtube that shows the full, original version?

[@prod7906]

Honestly the Union didn't go far enough, after the civil war they should have killed most people in the south, there dumb inbred hicks who have no place in spreading their weakness.

[@robinmiller1989]

@@prod7906 that would've been a horrible idea

[@robinmiller1989]

@@prod7906 because it's a gross overgeralization of the south and the people who inhabit it. Violence does little to counter indoctrination from birth, but education and open debate does. There are times when violence becomes necessary, but to commit genocide on an entire population for the economic realities of the time and whims of the gentrified elite turns martyrs out of savage brutes. A modicum of research would show that there are plenty of progressive areas in the south, and the north was subject to some of the worst civil rights riots during the 60's. When you stop seeing people in lieu of labels you've ceased to be a productive part of the conversation.

[@tamararoberson8060]

Like many other people, my family photo album includes a photo of my great uncle beaming with pride standing in the front yard in his military uniform before being deployed. That's personal history. That uniform was adorned with a Reichsadler and swastika. This is part of our history and heritage. But we have pretty much generally agreed that it wasn't a great part. Americans haven't learned that. Germany would not stand for Neonazis erecting statues of Hitler in their public parks, even if it wasn't illegal. The best argument the Right in Germany has is, "Okay, that was terrible but can we please stop dwelling on it?" The answer is no, it is definitely no because it wasn't just some bad guys 80 years ago but a very real threat today. Americans need to remember their history, but to do so they need to learn the lessons of that history, which is that the tendency towards right-wing populist authoritarian dictatorships scapegoating minorities leads to a very dark place and that temptation is perpetual. Americans need to remember their history and repeat "Never Again."

[@jaelie8398]

That was a nail on the head. Amazing

[@luckystoller6171]

Those who don't remember history are doomed to repeat it ---George Santa Ana

[@desiree_sparkles]

I’m 51 from Georgia and I grew up being taught it was states’ rights. Obviously it was the right to own slaves. But for the majority (poor), I think it boils down to ridiculous pride and a desperation to believe they were better than black people. Pull those statues down.

[@Nakajima-oh7kw]

There's a difference between acknowledging your history and celebrating/glorifying it. Odd that some people can't tell the difference

[@mechanicpluto2430]

Well said.

[@rjgraylight]

Indeed.

[@Scorch428]

Yeah. If my great-great grandfather owned slaves, Id say fuck him. I wouldnt respect that at all...

[@Fate263]

True... But they think removing statues is somehow picking and choosing, or altering history... Which isn't quite how it works, but that's ignorance and blind pride for you.

[@CuongNguyen-jh9zk]

@Mister JMH so true.They want to keep their racist culture and be totally aware of it.

[@tekbarrier]

Kudos to John Oliver for tracking down the rest of that news clip with the white guy and the black guy. That was just unbelievable.

[@chayden153]

tekbarrier it was so cringy, but it made me laugh so hard

[@highwaytoparistx2655]

I was physically cringing so hard when he yelled back at him

[@nathanseper8738]

"Unbelievable," is too weak a word. It's OUTRAGEOUS that in the 2010s, we still have people in this country who would happily bring back slavery.

[@JWinterhaven]

it was very weird. especially if you consider that the guy wanted to clear with it that his family werent slaveowners

[@elizabetholiviaclark]

David, would you have been as bothered had Oliver defended Confederate monuments? I'm guessing you'd be just fine with his comments. At any rate, America isn't your personal house.

[@TheAwesomeHyperon]

Came back after Lee’s statue was finally destroyed.

[@confusedson]

In regard to Jimmy Saville, his sex offending was widely known within the BBC for quite some time. And while the sexual assaults against (mostly kids) was bad enough, the part that makes it even worse was the extent to which the BBC (and to a lesser extent the British government (including the crown) - who also knew about it) repeatedly covered the whole thing up. John Lydon (better known as "Johnny Rotten" of Sex Pistols fame) was effectively banned from interviews by the BBC for years because he once mentioned it. Now, consider all the BBC's rage about "Lolita Island" and Prince Andrew's connection to it, yet they are perfectly happy to sit by and watch the queen (who also knew about his offending at the time) knight a known serial child rapist. Hmmmmmmmmm.

[@NaraNaraJapan]

"Did he deserve it?" "Yeah." I'd say that about living relatives.

[@soulkarver956]

You and me both.

[@victoriacyunczyk]

I must agree with you there.

[@justalostlocal]

Some people have a dogmatic obsession with family relations. Now, having ancestors you know could be a wonderful thing. However that doesn't you have to respect them when they're shitty people. Especially when they were fricking slavers.

[@truongtrungchinh163]

It’s like Germans asking to keep Nazi symbols in their country

[@curranfrank2854]

@The Senate Thank you for your honesty! Have a pleasant day :)

[@djcuevas1057]

I like to imagine Colbert was just standing there for the entire show.

[@thechillreaper2285]

Trying his hardest not to move, like a true statue. With long slow breaths as to not jostle the drape, holding back a sneeze, and ignoring the itch on his nose for 20mins... what a legend

[@matbroomfield]

ha ha ha - yeah

[@microsofty5778]

Standing unwavering for freedom...

[@albertdeleon6272]

Black wall street brunt by white mob

[@microsofty5778]

@@albertdeleon6272 it was... Murderous

[@DiamondWisps]

"It's not a hate symbol, I'm just honoring my heritage!!" and "The confederacy was just defending their rights, not slavery! (The rights they fought for were the rights to own slaves)" are stupid af quotes that I've seen too often

[@paintpink7300]

I’m so thankful for the conversations that were had all these many years ago. I was born and raised as a white child in the south (mostly Texas). We learned about out “heroes” in school learning about the war of “northern aggression”. I was born in Jefferson Davis hospital. I supported the monuments until I learned WHY the were put up. I was horrified and never once thought of the true cost. People ARE learning and things are changing slowly. My hat is off those those that are on the ground making changes.

[@flozigo97]

This really isn’t a debate at all...as an Austrian one of my great grandfathers was an actively participating Nazi and no one in my family would consider putting up a picture of him. It’s not a matter of erasing our history, but instead of accepting it and deciding not to honour his beliefs and the shaming past of our nation.

[@flozigo97]

TheBookWorm1718 But thats not the point nobody said all southerners were/are racist. All I said was you should take down the statues, flags, monuments, etc. that honour people who stood for keeping slavery up.

[@flozigo97]

penguins inadiorama what is that video supposed to tell me? That some old guy tried to justify german war atrocities by having to defend themselves in a war they started?? Maybe you misunderstood my initial comment. I'm not saying that everyone who fought for germany in ww2 was a nazi. I know that a lot of people had no choice. But thats still no reason to honour genocidal regimes, etc. or someone how fought for his "right" to own another human being by putting up statues of them.

[@BigT.Larrity]

The Movie Wolf I spit on you and your "heritage".

[@BigT.Larrity]

The Movie Wolf We do love decent people, but vial shitlords like you deserve neither love nor respect.

[@ilidenstrmrege987]

+TheBookWorm1718 Congrats, you made it into the "Holy Sh*t That is Not Remotely the Point" magazine.

[@sarawilliamson5420]

I live in Germany. Pretty much every german I know has had multiple family members (some are still around) that fought with the Nazi Military and participated in Nazi social programs. They remember. It's called education. It's called read a book.

[@hairyasstruman2163]

Also, Sigmar Gabriel and actor Armin Rohde were pretty transparent about it.

[@redtopaz]

My brother in law's grandfather was part of the Hitler youth. It's bizarre and a little embarrassing, but nobody pretends it didn't happen. And NOBODY wants to see a commemorative photo of Opa's time in the Hate Boy Scouts. My own ancestors almost certainly owned slaves. I really don't understand the desire to glorify that your ancestors were part of something terrible. You shouldn't forget, but I don't get why you'd want to celebrate it either.

[@danialtahir]

Hi Sara I recently watched The Pianist movie and to be honest I couldn’t sleep or eat or do anything properly for days. I’d like to know how common Germans react to the horrific things they did in the past :(

[@Judithly]

You do know that most of the people that did this are dead and the few that are still alive were children or teenagers at that time... So mostly we react with: Well we wont forget it, but most of us weren't alive back then...

[@deaf-tomcat]

Yes, but how can we "read a book" about this time period when most of the text glorifies or belittles( or straight up lies) the Civil War? Education here is so diverse and can often be very bad. It's not that those folk never paid attention in class, it's that they were taught lies and etc in school.Thats the problem.

[@IAmSuzyQ]

Just when I thought an episode of Last Week Tonight couldn't get any better, you go and toss in a little Stephen Colbert, proving me wrong. 👍

[@markymark7247]

This video has been online longer than the Confederacy existed.

[@patrickcleburneuczjsxpmp9558]

And he's been proven wrong. And the Confederacy still had the right to independence and self-government that it fought for.

[@HenryLouis21]

@@patrickcleburneuczjsxpmp9558 It fought for the preservation of slavery, it had no right to indecency because it wanted to be self-governed and independent to allow people to own slaves.

[@patrickcleburneuczjsxpmp9558]

@@HenryLouis21 > It fought for the preservation of slavery What do you think they had to fight to "preserve" slavery from? > because it wanted to be self-governed and independent to allow people to own slaves How was that any different from Americans in 1776? Or do you deny their right to independence and self-government, too?

[@patrickcleburneuczjsxpmp9558]

@@HenryLouis21 You don't believe the Republican-led North was threatening to abolish slavery throughout the US and that the South seceded to avoid the North abolishing slavery, do you?

[@Ben00000]

@@patrickcleburneuczjsxpmp9558 Your rhetorical question actually has a perfectly comprehensible, straightforward, direct answer by the South themselves! Thank you for the opportunity to share it and be prove you wrong :) Texas Article of Secession: _"They demand the abolition of negro slavery throughout the confederacy, the recognition of political equality between the white and the negro races, and avow their determination to press on their crusade against us, so long as a negro slave remains in these States. For years past this abolition organization has been actively sowing the seeds of discord through the Union, and has rendered the federal congress the arena for spreading firebrands and hatred between the slave-holding and non-slave-holding States. By consolidating their strength, they have placed the slave-holding States in a hopeless minority in the federal congress, and rendered representation of no avail in protecting Southern rights against their exactions and encroachments."_ I mean, you really can't argue with that unless you pretend not to read it :) It's so amazingly simple!

[@thatlycantomboy]

anderson cooper’s reaction to finding out his ancestor was beaten to death with a gardenhoe will honestly never cease to make me laugh

[@josephdale69]

Anderson Cooper is the sole aire to the Vanderbilt Estate.

[@thatlycantomboy]

@@josephdale69 damn sorry, forgot i can’t find a single thing a rich person does funny, guess I should’ve said I’ll eat him instead

[@vfaulkon]

I'm with ya. No hesitation, no backpedaling, just 'nah, fuck 'em'. I keep finding new reasons to respect this man.

[@Obstreperous_Octopus]

I know, right? That really was the absolute perfect reaction to discovering that piece of information! And it wasn't a prepared, calculated statement after the fact, that was his initial reaction. That's a clear sign of personal integrity and quality as a human being, if I've ever seen one. (Minor side note: I believe a "backhoe" is one of those tractors with a scooper on the back. This was just a hoe, or garden hoe. Just for clarity's sake. Carry on.)

[@terrahatvol7960]

i want to see that entire reaction documentary

[@soulkarver956]

"History is recorded through books." Unfortunately, many of these people don't read.

[@robertroberts2795]

I am well read and there was more than slavery as an issue for the war. Winners write the history books.

[@soulkarver956]

@@robertroberts2795 I agree that there were other things that sparked it through tariffs by the North and state's rights, but it was primarily because of slavery as many documents from the south verify.

[@elliesanders5525]

Not only do lovers of the Confederacy not read nine times out of ten they burn the books lol. That's why they're stupid enough to believe that taking down statues is liberals and Democrats way of erasing history because for them that's their way of erasing history by burning books and stuff. They're so actively stupid they don't have object permanence lol

[@flatP_]

it’s not that they don’t, it’s that they can’t

[@Raptor3698]

robert roberts hate to break it to you but all those other issues have their roots traced back to the issues of SLAVERY. Slavery was the root cause of it all, and it was the main reason for the secession crisis in the first place.

[@LenNeko1998]

I've been to Dixie Stampede twice... I was pouting the entire time I was on the southern side, I refused to cheer for them, I felt so uncomfortable knowing it was a civil war reference and we were on a school trip. I'm from Oklahoma and most of my classmates ignored the whole thing but I just couldn't. I've always just felt... icky about anything to do with the confederacy, "southern pride" or not. It represents slavery period and the people who fought to continue that horrid practice do not deserve to be glorified now

[@magdaa.s.7375]

As a descendant of Stonewall Jackson (according to my grandmother); TAKE IT ALL DOWN

[@SwimmingInSunlight]

America: We can't erase part of our history! Also America: *teaches kids cherrypicked version of their country's history*

[@cruedvoice1773]

America: *so mlk was definitely not killed by us. And Marsha p Johnson definitely isn’t real*

[@nofuckingway312]

*Native Americans agreed to move out to give us space how nice of them*

[@mastersword6470]

I mean I know some states do this, but I personally learned about slavery, the Indian removal act, the civil rights movement, the confederacy, the ban on Chinese immigration, our CIA coups during the cold war, American Imperialism, and a lot of other terrible things we've done in my Floridian public school education so I'm not necessarily sure if schools neglect to teach us these things. Of course, education varies by state, but I do think part of the issue is people rejecting their education or maybe not receiving the quality of education intended by the state.

[@krutyanjayshinde7015]

Pretty much every developed country dose that American is not an exception

[@thebirdsworkforthebourgeoi2787]

@@krutyanjayshinde7015 it doesn't excuse it tho, especially considering that the education system has a lot of influence in the American society

[@StopWhining491]

I may not be responsible for what my ancestors did, but I am responsible to do what I can to prevent repeating their wrongs.

[@julianwaugh8221]

Good for you! Germans of today confront what happened and vow that it should never happen again. However the Austrians ignore the fact that they were avid Nazis and just focus on the blue Danube and Mozart.

[@hankkingsley9300]

You should be repeating their rights instead

[@silverchair5169]

This is why you're a failure LOL wrong mindset white knight

[@ryangainey94]

Not only that, dear: Know your privilege, and with awareness of your privilege, use it to directly fight the privilege of others and to protect those without it.

[@plugshirt1762]

@@ryangainey94 nah should have got lucky on the birth lottery

[@apinakapina]

KZbin algorithm decided that I would like to see these old episodes, and I do. They fucking slap. The humour and the commentary is way more biting and brutal than in the never episodes, and I love it.

[@unni4346]

❤The Colbert appearance was pure Gold

[@b.t.peterson6429]

I live in Mississippi and the funniest and saddest part of our getting rid of the Confederate battle flag on our state flag is that it only happened because the SEC and NCAA pledged not to host sports tournaments in Mississippi until it was removed. I've never seen so many politicians swap sides so fucking quick.

[@ianstephenson9721]

I'll never forget when I was at a hockey game in North Jersey when I was in high school and the rink had every state flag hanging from the rafters. One of my classmates, who was rather conservative, noticed the Mississippi flag and was absolutely disgusted by it. Jersey City also removed the Mississippi flag from their state flag park because of the Confederate flag.

[@SYN4456]

I live in South Carolina. The only reason the Confederate flag came down from the capitol building is because Dylan Roof shot nine church people in a church in Charleston.

[@joeybleu66]

$$$ talks BS walks

[@familykaplan1341]

Pathetic! Why do southerners hate blacks? Jews?

[@MCKevin289]

@@ianstephenson9721 Ice vault?

[@quadrod]

The fact that this is incredibly relevant today is... pathetically disgusting.

[@gc99289]

States rights and decision of people to choose their way of life is so "disgusting". Liberal sheeple won't understand until the time comes.

[@seeyaaseeyaa464]

The fact social injustice or systemic racism after slavery was almost 200 years ago or pandemics/wars/ect for a small group to make money is the most sad .. but hey we have a great constitution !

[@ehinton4006]

brajamtho757 nobody even mentioned joe Biden though. Go away

[@vvvjjjjjjjj]

The media makes it relevant...not reality’s

[@gc99289]

@AlphaChocolateTruffle Keyword "reasons". You know what Lincoln wanted to do with black slaves? Ship them the f8ck bad to Africa, like most presidents until modern era. War had nothing to do with concept of "slavery" and the high horse of Lincoln. It was all about states rights vs federal authority. Considering north outnumbered south by 2:1 in terms of troops, it is clear why south "lost".

[@dishevelleddev]

On my first trip to Georgia, my mother mentioned how her family used to own almost all the land in and around the town she grew up in but it got all separated over time. Not until many years later did it click that they almost certainly started as plantation owners and the land got broken up for sharecropping. Yikes. I'm not 100% sure she has connected those dots for herself. It disgusts me how many people try to ignore or justify the cecession.

[@kmw8775]

I had previously heard about the timing of most of those statues. Indeed, they were put up to intimidate the African Americans in those towns and cities. Many statues were long after any war-inspired statues would have been put up.

[@nithinsrivatsa4726]

"The Civil War was not about slavery, it was about states' rights." "The state's right to do what, sir?

[@wb2413]

not pay for the north

[@mnomadvfx]

@@wb2413 Which of course they could continue to do without slave labor to bolster their economy.... wait a minute!! It really doesn't take more than 30 seconds to notice the bullshit in responses like yours, it would be entertaining if it were not a tragic indication of the current US education system.

[@idigamstudios7463]

@@wb2413 On average it's the reverse

[@wb2413]

@@idigamstudios7463 no its not think about the EU when Britain left the EU did the EU invaid BRITAIN I think not

[@idigamstudios7463]

@@wb2413 Your response makes no sense. You said the south didn't want to pay for the north. On average the south receives more money in federal aid than they north. I have no idea where this false dichotomy brexit tangent came from.

[@HeroAndReporter]

Here’s a small list of things that lasted longer than the Confederacy. The TV Show Supernatural (2005-2020) The Band Nirvana (1987-1994) The Original Star Wars Trilogy (A New Hope 1977 - Return of the Jedi 1983) Mel Gibson’s acting career (1976 - Now)

[@DejectedJester]

Another is Homestuck

[@dinamosflams]

Everyone's teenagehood

[@justinantonius2823]

High school

[@codyhernandez791]

Even the Nazis lasted longer then the confederacy

[@JohnnyC01]

@@codyhernandez791 1920 - now

[@LegendaryAwesome122]

There’s a difference between talking about a bad part of history and flat out glorifying and romanticising that part of history.

[@pamelaiken]

Wow, what an incredible statement that was just made; it's not mine, but I had to write it again. All history should be remembered, but not all history should be celebrated." Thanks, William.

[@aekaydubs]

2020 called. It says this one’s worth a re-watch.

[@abbofun9022]

ak williams , indeed, did not lose any relevance at all.

[@michaeltheundeadmariachi4494]

@@abbofun9022 and more than likely won't lose relevance for years, because there's always going to be some stupid racist person to remind us

[@geologick]

I actually assumed this was uploaded in the last couple of weeks before I read your comment. Jeeze

[@TheHighSorcerer]

@@geologick For real I thought it was recent before i looked at the upload date. It's insane.

[@theguyisinthailand]

Will ya support Indians (feather & not tuban) to get Jim Beam/Jack Daniels to pay up for the pain they caused¿BLM needs the same reparation, but Hennessy would be included.

[@mavendeo]

"Our friendly north/south rivalry." You must be joking...

[@sup4744]

This is a comedy

[@MeltedPearls]

A fully autonomous artificial intelligence But sadly, that is how Southern children often hear it. It's become not "history," because we "lost," after all, but a smoldering hostile competitive grudge we "joke" about. Such a sick and stagnant practice of rewriting history through emotional manipulation.

[@NewYorkKnightsCombat1]

Run a search on KZbin for that video and watch it in it s full-length glory. It is one amazing piece of antediluvian southern Americana packaged as a Medieval Times dinner show.

[@joshisajedi2461]

New York Knights Combat + So it’s a pre-Noah’s ark flood story about America that takes place in the Middle Ages? Are you sure this isn’t a Back To The Future dinner show?

[@Serpillard]

A friendly rivalry with friendly machine gun fire and everything! Oh, that was so much fun!

[@coolsal7577]

I’m not the type to sensor things, people should definitely be educated in history. However Germany doesn’t have Nazi flags around the country, so why should we have confederate flags around this country?

[@MartYtraM1983]

I feel the same. If Germany realized that Nazism was a bad thing, then why can't the Southern US realize that the Civil War was fought for the wrong reasons?

[@DodonaWind]

I love that the first statue unveiled was for Robert Smalls. Someone made a meme about the accolades he accomplished during his life and now there is a graphic novel being created and later a movie will be produced. I'm super stoked about that recognition from 6 years ago being turned into something everyone will get to see in a few more years.

[@jaelie8398]

All my life I've been told to remember the American Revolution because it's "part of our history" and to forget about slavery because it was "a long time ago"

[@dreamworldman5504]

Have you changed now?

[@tyaiken3771]

haha what dumbass school did you go to?

[@carolineg3872]

😏

[@tyaiken3771]

@@hankkingsley9300 haha no we're not. most of us are too damn lazy to go to work and too obese to walk to the mailbox without breathing hard. what makes you think our AR-15's would even stand a chance against the US military?

[@hankkingsley9300]

@@tyaiken3771 because our military is a bunch of fat ass lazy slobs like the rest of us that's why

[@elliecreasey3133]

"I get wanting a more comfortable history for your family, but in doing so you can't invent a more comfortable history for your country because you'd be erasing the actual painful experiences of many Americans" I'm a history student and this sentence sums up the millions of arguments I've had

[@southerngent8162]

If you equate the erasing of Southern history to a memorial of peoples oppression then you haven't learned much in your history classes. You are indoctrinated. Ever try learning the Political Philosophies instead of only the actions? It gives you a better sense of the reason things happened. The Southern history reminds us all of how the United States changed from a free and equal Union to a subjugated and dictated Union.

[@ryangoepfert9112]

@@southerngent8162 pretty sure the slaves would have disagreed with that statement

[@southerngent8162]

@@ryangoepfert9112 Lol It's not about the slaves you morom. It's about the Constitution. You are a dumbass

[@douglaslangley9251]

@@southerngent8162 "morom" ...well alright then

[@Nanook128]

@@romandarius6041 "And why was Adolf Hitler the most love leader the world has ever seen at that time? " It really helps your polling numbers when anyone who doesn't love you is arrested, exiled, or murdered.

[@kennethboard-vd9vq]

Dear John, thank you for always being didactic, profound, transparent, honest and humorous! I pray that our world is listening to you! The best!

[@fookyuunsa678]

6 years later I'd like to point out our southern goddess renamed dixie stampede to Dolly Partons Stampede. Long live the queen.

[@KHfan0011]

Not gonna lie that woman pilot statue would be absolutely amazing. She defied not just one but two huge stigmas back then and came out successful. If that's not a noble cause, I don't know what is.

[@CoffeeFresh_]

KHfan0011 yeah because things like gender and skin color should matter.

[@SynicalSol]

Coffee Fresh ..... They did matter. Pretty sure that was his point.

[@patw9175]

It did matter, she would otherwise be considered a second class citizen based on gender and skin color. In fact, she had to go to Europe just to learn how to fly because not a single flight school in the states would teach women OR blacks.

[@CoffeeFresh_]

Synical was she a good pilot. Skin color and gender do not matter. And if she was a good pilot i care more about her accomplishments as a pilot instead of focusing on her skin color.

[@cristianverdugogalaz8725]

Coffee Fresh i mean she was breaking the stigma that being black or a woman matter at the time

[@juliocbp9389]

Not using slaves just because they're expensive is like not raping someone just because "they ugly" You're not supposed to do that because it's a horrible thing to do. Period.

[@Dr.Gaming98]

julio _cbp subbed

[@TheCalkan]

I also don't understand the logic of them fighting for slavery to save their farm if they weren't using slaves. If anything abolishing slavery should make their farm more profitable relative to other farmers who would have to pay workers to work their farms.

[@jsilva7005]

@@Dr.Gaming98 but uglyness is also a good deterrent

[@texhunter761]

I certainly wouldn't even consider raping Sarah Huckabee Sanders or her twin doppelganger, Rosie O' Donnell.

[@bigbrowntau]

Non-involved Australian perspective here: I think the guy was trying to explain, despite the shouting, that the vast majority of confederate soldiers didn't own slaves, as they were dirt poor too. However, the majority of Confederate officers, and almost all the politicians did own slaves. Yet again we see an example of average joe being used by vested interests as cannon fodder for rich people. I got to admit, it feels weird seeing statues to the traitors that led a civil war causing more American deaths than any other war.

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

These people defending the statues say they're history, they're history, they're history, yet if it's history....then put it in a, oh I don't know, MUSEUM? That's what museums are for! To showcase and educate. And regarding military facilities, I attended the Centennial BSA Jamboree back in 2010 at Fort AP Hill, an army training/maneuver center in Virginia...take a wild guess who AP Hill was. Not to mention on the way to a robotics competition in 2017 to South Carolina from NY, I noticed a giant waving Confederate battle flag along the highway somewhere between VA and NC, and just looking at it made me uncomfortable. The only national flag that should be flying to represent the country should be the stars and stripes, honoring losers and flying their flag is the same energy as building a giant statue of Adolf right in the middle of Berlin. Robert E Lee felt that the South should move past the war, and that keeping the symbols alive would keep division alive...and he was right. So if they REALLY wanna honor Robert E Lee, they should respect his wishes

[@merryme9766]

🕳️☔

[@ChaseVaccaro-ge3gk]

​@@merryme9766?

[@neuronaljunctiondecay5673]

this video is officially older than the confederacy

[@awkwardragon5741]

"you can's erase part of our history" dude, you guys literally censored large parts black history and denied what happened in Tusla (1921) and North Carolina (1898)

[@thomasoates3003]

The entire function of the statues and monuments was to distort and erase history.

[@kourii]

Good ol' Tusla, Olkahoma

[@g_g1241]

They also changed the real reason for why the US exists, why Texas came to existence and why they took California

[@LisaBeergutHolst]

You're talking about a country that celebrates the "friendly" relations between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag every November.

[@Kriae]

The funniest thing with that is all the people who discovered the Tusla massacre after that Watchmen episode

[@dylandugan76]

Imagine PROUDLY considering an institution that was not only indisputably morally wrong, but also a catastrophic failure to be a part of "your heritage", despite it only existing for four years, several lifetimes ago.

[@Bellephus]

The Civil War being the deadliest war in American history kind of dispels the "ONLY FOUR YEARS" argument.

[@ClawedAsh]

@@Bellephus It was still only four years, four brutal and bloody years, but only four

[@AWSVids]

@@Bellephus Umm.... HOW? The level of deadliness doesn't change how long it was.

[@Bellephus]

@@AWSVids Bloodshed defines every conflict, not how long it lasted.

[@AWSVids]

@@Bellephus That has no bearing on what the comment you were replying to said, though. The level of deadliness doesn’t change how long it lasted. The comment said that it only lasted four years as a way of showing that the Confederacy wasn’t some huge period of cultural meaning for the South that lasted generations or something, it was only 4 years. It being a bloody war doesn’t somehow make the Confederacy more legit or something. So what is your point in feeling the need to care about how deadly it was more than how long it lasted, given what Dylan was talking about?

[@DuranmanX]

This video is now older than the Confederacy

[@joshwalker8984]

Is it? Did the Confederacy really end? *cough*TRUMP*cough*

[@patrickcleburneuczjsxpmp9558]

The Confederacy has stood the test of time a lot better, though.

[@abowl3562]

@@patrickcleburneuczjsxpmp9558 The fact that you consciously navigate to this video on a near-daily basis to reply to new comments six and a half years after the video was posted has determined that to be a lie 😂

[@patrickcleburneuczjsxpmp9558]

@@abowl3562Didn't I see someone in the comments say that this youtube channel is giving up spreading its lies? Is that not true?

[@abowl3562]

@@patrickcleburneuczjsxpmp9558 I'm really sorry if any part of my reply remotely seemed like I was interested in reading more of your comments, but I'm just gonna block you so you're that much more unnoticed in this life.

[@MsOSheDidIt]

Spot on and it never gets old. You're so amazing 🤩

[@GailBecker-MSED-CM-Author]

Robert E. Lee's descendants actually called for his statues to come down.

[@chandrachud]

*descendants

[@GailBecker-MSED-CM-Author]

@@chandrachud Thanks, it's my autocorrect that always changes my words. I know I wrote descendants because I proofread it before I pressed send. I need to turn it off.

[@novalawhp]

Don't you think the point of the message is a little more important than spell checking people ? Gail Becker, Great comment and excellent point!

[@GailBecker-MSED-CM-Author]

@@novalawhp Thank you!

[@novalawhp]

@@GailBecker-MSED-CM-Author no worries, like I said before, it's the message that's important

[@saakmalo8273]

Is it really American heritage if it's celebrating people who tried to _leave_ America?

[@baronvonlimbourgh1716]

Mental gymnastics don't need logic..

[@ScorieDivine]

It is in the same way that America has an obvious English heritage whilst also glorifying its Founding Fathers (people who tried to leave England, believe it or not). Identity and heritage are complex matters, better left to people capable of understanding more subtle realities than "Team A VS Team B".

[@hunterblane610]

@@ScorieDivine Yeah, but people aren't going out of there way to identify themselves or the founding fathers as English.

[@jacoblimber4040]

hunter blane almost first American immigrants to North America is English

[@under3089]

Lol

[@Julia-lk8jn]

*2018:* "You can't pick and chose what you decide is history". *early 2023:* "Well, *that* certainly aged well, didn't it." Not that it needed Florida and deSantis; human beings have done that for as long as they told and wrote histories. Anybody here learned about the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 in school?

[@schattentaenzerin]

7:07 This blows my mind. My grandparents were in the NSDAP and Wehrmacht. Be proud of them? Hell no! But their choices aren't mine. It doesn't make me a bad person, that they had f*cked up opinions. And that's something I keep seeing in the US (I have a whole family branch in the south there). The idea that you have to side with your ancestors, or you will dishonor your whole family past, present and future. This is simply not the case. The guilt of other's crimes is never something you inherent from them and have to carry yourself, if you don't defend them. You dishonor yourself by blindly praising them, without thinking about what that actually means in this context.