Nothing to Boast About

Authorities in the north California town of Fort Bragg have been debating a name change. Braxton Bragg was a slave owner and Confederate general, and by all accounts not a very good one: he lost most of his battles and wasted much time and energy squabbling with his subordinates. However, Bragg's contribution to the Union's victory does not appear to be the reason for his municipal immortalisation. He apparently never visited the place that bears his name, which was established as a military post to assist in the chastisement of uppity redskins. A commission discussed changing the town's name and concluded that there was no consensus on which to base an unequivocal answer, which of course is hardly in the great British spirit of rule by a moral minority of specially bred and trained culture warriors. Civilisation and democracy were further compromised by the commission's recommendation that children's schooling should be contaminated with the history and culture of lesser races. Clearly, British values are teetering on the brink.