The Tennessean reports that MTSU will be holding discussions on the name of their ROTC Barracks, Forrest Hall, named after a former Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest. The common response of those who oppose honoring NBF is that he was the founder of the Klan, led a massacre at Fort Pillow, and was an all around bad guy. However, there are plenty of people willing to defend Forrest and say those issues are overblown or fabricated. So let’s get those off the table.

Here is what we do know.

Nathan Bedford Forrest was a slave trader.

Nathan Bedford Forrest never served in the United States Military.

Nathan Bedford Forrest only joined the military when given an opportunity to fight the US military.

After the Civil War, Nathan Bedford Forrest did not pursue a military career. He made his bones killing American soldiers, and that is it. So why, oh God why, should we name a hall, which houses US Military trainees, after a guy who so thoroughly hated the US military that the only thing that would compel him to fight was the chance to fight the US military?

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