 |
| Sherman is Hell. Just ask Georgia and South Carolina |
Governors Christie and Palin are still flirting with the Republican Party and won't say "yes" or "no." I guess that's one way to keep drawing attention to yourself. Another way is to actually run for President but that takes a lot more work unless you're Governor Perry and decide just to wing it.
General Sherman is one of my heroes for helping to save our Constitutional Union and being an upfront, direct, practical guy who got the job done. He is also one of the reasons why I am generally anti-war because, while not having Sherman's experience, I respect his honesty that "War is hell." He was no romantic cavalier like the "heroic" Southern gentlemen. And it is exactly because he was so ruthlessly straightforward and direct in fulfilling his duties that proves his point. In 2002 when we were heading for war in Iraq already engaged in a horrendous struggle in Afghanistan, I recognized that we would be responsible for all the horrific consequences if we voluntarily took that on. I knew that things like Abu Graib would happen because that is what happens in war just like the "Path to the Sea" (through Georgia) and the questionably unintentional fire that burned Columbia, South Carolina.
Christie and Palin are cowardly, selfish teases. I will be surprised if either one actually runs. Christie has his reasons. Palin has her celebrity. The other thing is, Sherman knew he was crazy. My favorite quote actually is when he said Grant "stood by me when I was crazy and I stood by him when he was drunk; and now, sir, we stand by each other always." That's my kind of honest, American hero.
"We must have peace, not only at Atlanta, but in all America. To secure this, we must stop the war that now desolates our once happy and favored country. To stop war, we must defeat the rebel armies which are arrayed against the laws and Constitution that all must respect and obey. To defeat those armies, we must prepare the way to reach them in their recesses, provided with the arms and instruments which enable us to accomplish our purpose.
ReplyDelete"War is cruelty, and you cannot refine it; and those who brought war into our country deserve all the curses and maledictions a people can pour out. I know I had no hand in making this war, and I know I will make more sacrifices today than any of you to secure peace. But you cannot have peace and a division of our country. If the United States submits to a division now, it will not stop, but will go on until we reap the fate of Mexico, which is eternal war. The United States does and must assert its authority, wherever it once had power; for, if it relaxes one bit to pressure, it is gone, and I believe that such is the national feeling. This feeling assumes various shapes, but always comes back to that of Union. Once admit the Union, once more acknowledge the authority of the national Government, and, instead of devoting your houses and streets and roads to the dread uses of war, I and this army become at once your protectors and supporters, shielding you from danger, let it come from what quarter it may."
" ... I want peace, and believe it can only be reached through union and war, and I will ever conduct war with a view to perfect and early success."
Sherman to the Mayor and City Council of Atlanta - 12 Sep 1864
Hear, hear! Phil & Gen. Sherman. We can get easily side-tracked into a discussion of war but I agree completely with Sherman and Grant that war is not about pussy-footing around (Like Gen. McClellan). If you are going to war, you better make sure it's for a solid, good cause because, well, Sherman said it best. And that's why I don't like war - we don't go all out because our causes aren't that good and we just fall into a quagmire of ugliness. The only justification for one since December 7, 1941 was September 11, 2001 then we abandoned that war to go off and fight the wrong war in the wrong place at the wrong time for the wrong reasons!! (Don't get me started!!) It would be like after Fort Sumter, Lincoln had sent the Union Army to attack Canada. (Although Sec. of State Seward did want to do something like that . . .)
ReplyDelete(Anon/M) "Is a title worth it? Does a title shackle a person? Are they -- someone like me, maverick, you know, I do go rogue, and I call it like I see it, and I don't mind stirring it up...Is a title and is a campaign too shackling? Does that prohibit me from being out there, out of the box, not allowing handlers to shape me...?"
ReplyDelete— Sarah Palin, on running for president.
Now, I'll ask you, does she sound like someone who is serious about running for President? Nah...That would be too much work. That would "shackle" her. She is not even very good at flirting. We know she doesn't mean it. A good tease leaves some room for doubt. She's milked this long enough. It's high time for her to exit stage right.
Thanks, Anon/M - especially for getting us back on track. And you picked up on Sarita's "title shackles" speech perfectly! That's the joy of blogging to see someone who gets it and enhances the dialogue by what I was hinting at. Of course, I still need more to challenge me constructively without clicking all my "dislike" boxes.
ReplyDelete