JO Shelby Missouri Hero or Civil War Criminal?

Was JO Shelby a Missouri Hero or a Civil War criminal? Earlier in the week, Bummer was studying the sites that he visits on a daily basis and ran across a book review. According to the reviewer the work extolls the exploits of Shelby and his exodus to Mexico, his return to the States and his transformation into a law-abiding and peace keeping U.S. Marshal, that is content to let by gones, be by gones.

Being an “old guy” that is occasionally irrational, at the drop of a hat, a tirade commenced in regard to pre-conceived and ingrained concepts in relation to the daring deeds of border residents like JO Shelby. The comments that were written were straight from the heart, pure opinion and less than tactful.

Discovering that the comment had been deleted, Bummer took the site’s dismissal personally and immediately started opening scores of boxes containing hundreds of books, searching for reinforcement of the mindset on border ruffians like JO Shelby.

As a young man, Bummer was enthralled with the daring adventures of Quantrill, Anderson, Frank and Jesse James, Cole Younger and many other Missouri raiders and guerrilla bands, read and studied everything in print he could find and eventually came to the realization, after reading family journals and diaries, that these Southern Civil War heroes were nothing more than murderous thieves, racists and terrorists, that used the war as an excuse and cover for their depredations.

What this student did not consider was the author’s right to expound on his chosen topic and share the story-line from his personal take on the subject. In addition, the site host had every right to delete Bummer’s indignant comment, if he so chose.

What has this “old guy” learned? Take a deep breath and think, before inserting foot.

Bummer