They are never going to give an unbiased opinion and we are not going to accept a biased opinion unless it is our bias too. I think Lee was a lot more complicated than is talked about. I don't care what they think, I wish he were here today.
One thing that started me thinking on this 'expert' line is we have a gentleman here in Pensacola who is an amazing historian for this town and he's not a native. He's written books and he wrote a series of novelettes that are about a real life city policeman, and used his name, but the story in each was fiction but included facts on the area and real business names. He settled here and had an Ad Agency. He's retired now and there's a channel on our cable system that's 'local' use, mostly ads for Cox Cable but Mr John Appleyard has these 30 minute segments and he crams information into each and every minute. Sometimes he's still talking when the camera turns off. I've met him and he is just plain fun to talk to. He did a piece on Stephen R. Mallory the other day that was unbelievable. For a gentleman, not from the South, to give the story in the light he did, I was amazed. He was full of tidbits and gave Mallory's history with no hint of bias. He even commented on the Confederate Naval Jack that flies over SRM's grave. He said it was so wonderful to see the grave still tended by the SCV and UDC and the flags of the Confederacy and the United States flown on alternate days. That, to me, is the expert. No bias. No judgment. Plenty of story, all fact.
He wrote a novel, fiction but based on events, Pensacola, A City Under 6 Flags. I have it and enjoy reading it every so often. He also includes the little tidbit that shots were fired at Ft Barrancas before Sumter in it. And he's a Yankee? Why can't those who go to school, study and get these long degrees be as even minded? Makes ya wonder it does.
Pam