So, President Trump. Exactly what Civil War?

President Trump reminded everyone yesterday that he was a little hazy on certain aspects of American History. You remember General Andrew Jackson, looks like Charlton Heston in 'The Pirate.' Victor of the Battle of New Orleans in 1815,- fought after a peace treaty had been signed, later 7thPresident of the USA.Well please tell that to'The Donald'!

The Confusion

In an interview with the Washington Examiner, Trump expressed some confusion on why the Civil War, 1861-1865, actually took place? Expressing that Andrew Jackson, who died 16 years before the first shot was fired at Fort Sumter, 'was very angry about it.' and would have stopped the slaughter had he been alive?

Trump also said that Jackson who had a reputation as a harsh slave owner, and carried out the first of many long lasting assaults against the Native American tribes, 'was a very tough person, but was a man with a big heart?' Confused...probably not as much as Trump? This, of course, comes in the wake of growing tensions in New Orleans as under cover of darkness statues of the Confederate fallen are being removed, following the disappearance of Rebel-Flags from civic buildings in the South. One can only wonder how long the battlefields of Vicksburg, Manassas, and Gettysburg will stand protected, for history may be written by the victor, but they have no need to erase its monuments as well.

The Remedy

president Trump has made much of the fact that he is not a reader; a discipline his predecessor prided himself on. Books and what is contained within their pages seem to be an anathema to him and unfortunately making sweeping statements about things you really know very little about only confirms that fact. He has yet to learn the lesson that, (a) do not perpetuate fake-news yourself, and (b) the fact we should all learn at some time or other; if in doubt shut up.

Perhaps a crash course in the key points of US and world history would help. Even skip reading some of the thousands of volumes on social history that the White-House must contain would certainly do no harm.

It is utterly wrong to try and judge the events of the past through modern eyes. We cannot erase mistakes and atrocities by removing them from a page, knocking them down- tell that to ISIS - nor apologizing for them; they stand testament to what happened right or wrong. It is said that someone who does not now the course of one's own countries history, does not know themselves? But then try explaining that to the President?