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Greetings! You are reading an article from The Mudville Gazette. To reach the front page, with all the latest news and views, click the logo above or "main" below. Thanks for stopping by! June 24, 2004 What's On?By GreyhawkMore travels with Greyhawk in search of America. "Stand your ground; don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here." Captain Parker was addressing his 77 men as a lengthy column of British regulars approached the village green. Moments later the American Revolution began in earnest. Everything about the quote is uniquely American, to the point I doubt few from other nations would even know why. I was reminded of the quote by an episode from a series I caught by pure chance on PBS. Rebels and Redcoats, the story of the American Revolution from a British perspective. I enjoyed the show, it offered insights as to how at least some members of the British media view America, but to make a long story short the producers either just don't get it, or choose to pretend they don't. Memo to Europe: It's this simple, Americans didn't want a King. Still don't. That's concept number one you must grasp in order to gain any further insight into our national psyche. It's apparent that many Europeans don't get it. A minor illustration: during the tour of Heidelberg Castle the guide points out a portrait of the last ruler of the castle, decked in his finest robes, from somewhere around the late 18th to early 19th centuries. "Many Americans say he looks something like George Washington" the guide notes. Perhaps, but only as far as the powdered wig. The Father of our Country wouldn't be caught dead in royal raiment, had in fact declined a possible crown. Americans don't tolerate that sort of ruler. A subtle miscue on the part of our guide, but to be honest he stated that Americans had first brought this to his attention. So perhaps some Americans are equally lacking in an understanding of their cultural heritage. Hopefully they won't use the Rebels and Redcoats series as a foundation. The BBC program referred to the Revolution as a "Civil War" - fine, it announced from the start its British perspective. But it also compared the Minutemen to the Viet Cong and the Mujahadeen, after first duly noting that such comparisons shouldn't be made. Bad TV? Perhaps. But I couldn't stop watching. I miss having the PBS option in Europe. In contrast, it took me two seconds to flip past Jerry Springer. I didn't even know he was still on. Another unwanted welcome back to America. Those who claim that the Abu-Ghraib gang were ignorant Hilljacks too stupid to have come up with their torture methods without the aid of a "mastermind" need only watch any single episode of Jerry Jerry Jerry to realize the ridiculousness of their assertions. Like I said, two seconds... I caught a bit more than two seconds of the Clinton/Oprah lovefest on the tube the other day, and considered breaking my vow of not touching political/"heavy" topics here for a while. I don't want to dislike Clinton - and I refuse to be like the many rabid members of the anti-Bush because he's Bush crowd. But there was something unbecoming in his performance on Oprah, beyond his mere McLuhan-moment presence there. Although his cries of victimhood and his good vs evil defense (I don't recall that approach during his term. An historical re-write? An option stolen from the Bush playbook, and applied in circumstances far less well defined?) may have seemed Presidential to some segment of the American population, it struck me as anything but. I suppose that perhaps a book review or a comment on television in America wouldn't count as heavy, would it? (Or does that depend on what you definition of the word "is" is?) Fortunately, Hugh Hewitt saved me the trouble of violating my oath. He saw the same things I did, and isn't on vacation. Watching television is another bit of mild reverse-culture shock, and is something I will spend little time doing while in America. I will read though. I don't lack for reading matter in Europe but I do lack time. I spent my transatlantic flight reading, with classical music playing in my headphones, ignoring the movies (Calendar Girls, Open Range, other forgettable fare) and television (Happy Days and some other '70's shows) that Air France offered. (And for balance, here are some nice things about Air France: The wine was good, and was offered at no additional cost. And they didn't lose my luggage.) So now, across the country everyone's asking: "What's Greyhawk reading while on vacation?" Why, blogs, of course. As many as I can, given time and a low-speed dial-up modem connection to the internet. (Rendered slower still by what the Mrs. suspects may be terrorist squirrel attacks on the phone lines in the attic. They always go for the infrastructure.) But also books - those always handy results of the sacrifice of trees. Those glorious gifts from Gutenberg. I finished The Killer Angels, Michael Shaara's fictionalized account of the battle of Gettysburg on the flight over. I liked it enough to grab a copy of Gods and Generals, the prequel written by the deceased author's son, in hopes the younger Mr. Shaara is as riveting as his father. Given the number of subsequent titles I must assume he's doing something right. (And yes I've seen both movies. They're excellent, the books are better.) Gods and Generals contains about 100 pages prior to those used for the first scenes of the movie. An excerpt, from a pre-war conversation between Captain Winfield Scott Hancock, USA, and a civic leader in Los Angeles: "Captain, have you seen Hamilton's newspaper this week? The Star?" Another from a conversation between Thomas (later "Stonewall") Jackson and his father-in-law, who's readying to leave Virginia for the North: "What Lincoln is doing is responding. There are vast numbers of... idiots - yes, that's the word - in these state governments, who believe that they can make a good speech, rouse the people into a rebellion and defy... defy the word of God!" Yet another from a discussion between Lt Col Robert E. Lee and General Scott, who was offering Lee command of the growing Union Army "Colonel, they don't believe I can run this department anymore, that my days are numbered. But - they don't know how to run it either." Historical fiction, as I said. But as far as food-for-thought goes, this is a well balanced meal. The book is from 1996, by the way, so any resemblance to current events is purely coincidental. Here's a quote attributed to Churchill, appended to The Killer Angels: "Thus ended the great American Civil War, which must on the whole be considered the noblest and least avoidable of all the great mass conflicts of which till then there was record." An interesting perspective from across the Atlantic and through the lens of time. I've mentioned this before: the red, blue, white, and grey colors of this blog are the colors of the first American Civil War. (Though some of our British cousins may think it the second.) I prefer to think it would be our only one, but our nation is one born of conflict, and disagreement is certainly a by-product of freedom of speech. It's a wonder we don't come to blows more often than we do. More often than not the cooler heads prevail. And there you have it, America from Revolution to Civil War to now. Heavy? Perhaps, but I suppose history is a hobby of mine. But I'll seek out other subjects too. I never read one book at a time, and this is a long vacation, (and one in which I'll spend equal time north and south of the Mason/Dixon) so here's what's on tap: books by bloggers. Something from Roger L Simon, to be sure. Having read his blog and even swapped a couple brief e-mails with him I think I'll try something lengthier. I might even track down a movie or two with his name in the credits. (Note of mild irony: Roger is traveling too, visiting a small corner of my world. I look forward to seeing the result.) For non-fiction, a Hugh Hewitt offering. In But Not Of, I'm looking forward to his next one too. It will be titled If its Not Close They Can't Cheat, and I don't think it's a sequel to Seabiscuit. Blogs are mentioned in both books, I'm told. And for those who were wondering about that classical music reference above, I'll be listening to Rock and Country too. I enjoy them all. Ain't that America? Posted by Greyhawk / June 24, 2004 10:00 PM | Permalink 1 TrackBackProfessor Bunyip has an interesting interaction with another academic on the subject of Muslims in Australia. All very genteel. In ways that most disputes on campus I've seen, aren't. Via Greyhawk at Mudville Gazette, I had Lunch With Soldiers. Very... Read More 6 Comments |
March 19, 2010Dawn Patrol 03/19/2003 [Greyhawk]
"Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and various sources around the world." Mudville was founded in March, 2003. Our efforts to bring the thoughts, words, and deeds of milbloggers to a wider world evolved to become The Dawn Patrol in March, 2005. With today's entry we're going to reset the clock - but not re-write the history - and recreate the world as it was - on a day the world changed...
Updating... more to follow.... MILBOGSAndrew Olmsted, 19 Mar 2003, Stateside: It would appear that the liberation of Iraq has begun. Greyhawk, 18 Mar 2003, Germany: A united world could have, just maybe, brought down Saddam without firing a shot. We will never know. 19 Mar: We'll never know what a united world could have achieved... the UN could not agree on anything, the situation degenerated, and here we are. Status quo was not working. The French were too desperate for oil and trade at any cost. Well-intentioned Americans were led into the streets by Communists (and others) with an agenda. The media distorted the split. Many in America and abroad thought they could manipulate the situation to their personal gain. They miscalculated. The fire is lit. Pontifx ex Machina, 18 Mar, undisclosed location: Rolling out the gate, the guard gets a quick "hook-em, horns" sign as we weave through the barricades. Then we're off, cruising through the desert in a battered-up SUV. On the eve of war, only one thing passes through our minds: is there going to be any appropriate music on the radio? Lt Smash, 19 Mar, undisclosed location: Read the President's speech today. The clock is ticking. Chief Wiggles, 22 Mar, Kuwait: The war started Wednesday morning for us right after the president gave a speech to the American people that lasted about 4 minutes. We were all very anxious for this whole thing to be either over or get it on its way. Will, 22 Mar, en route: I am going to Baghdad to personally shoot that paper hanging son of a bitch! Lt Smash 20 Mar, undisclosed location: Sgt Stryker, 20 Mar, Stateside: Iraq to File U.N. Complaint About Attack Primary Main Objective, 30 Mar, undisclosed location I Dare Kofi to Come Get Me.
BruceR, Flit, 19 Mar, Canada: AND SO IT BEGINS. Godspeed, Yanks. Come home safe and soon. Andrew Olmsted, 20 Mar 2003, Stateside: The most important thing to remember over the next few days is this: the first reports are almost always inaccurate. First reports are generally submitted in the heat of battle before any real analysis can take place. Therefore, they're highly subjective, based on limited information, and rarely hit the mark. So as the first reports of 'surgical strikes' on Iraqi forces come in, it's best to take those reports with a grain of salt... Iraqi BlogsSalam Pax, Baghdad: The bombing aould come and go in waves, nothing too heavy and not yet comparable to what was going on in 91. all radio and TV stations are still on and while the air raid began the Iraqi TV was showing patriotic songs and didn't even bother to inform viewers that we are under attack. at the moment they are re-airing yesterday's interview with the minister of interior affairs. THe sounds of the anti-aircarft artillery is still louder than the booms and bangs which means that they are still far from where we live, but the images we saw on Al Arabia news channel showed a building burning near one of my aunts house... Other BlogsAndrew Sullivan, The Daily Dish: How much more morally indefensible is appeasement when we also have complete international authority to do what must be done? I think we will look back in the future and not ask, as so many now are, how it was that diplomacy didn't get unanimity on this matter. We will look back and see the moral obtuseness of Chirac and Putin and Schroder and Carter and feel nothing but contempt for them, and their preference for state terror over the responsibilities of the free world. That's why I felt enormous pride tonight in the stand being taken by Blair and Bush. The president's speech was measured, firm, just. Blair's political risks - in order to do what he believes is plainly right - will confirm him in history as a great prime minister, the conscience of his party, and the leader of his country. I say that before this war begins, because the cause is just whatever vicissitudes of conflict await us... Charles Johnson, Little green Footballs: SPEED BUMPS - I just had to go into Westwood (here in Los Angeles) and couldn't make it, because a small group of "peace activists" is blocking traffic and getting into scuffles with police. Unbelievable footage on local TV of these creeps taunting police, trying to grab their batons, sticking cameras into their faces... Glenn Reynolds/Instapundit: WAR SEEMS HAVE BEGUN IN EARNEST: Not much more to say at the moment. I hope it goes well, and quickly... Other OpinionsMark LeVine, Alternet - 'Bush Wins': The Left's Nightmare Scenario: ...With war seemingly imminent, the movement is being forced to fall back on a second scenario, "Everyone Loses," in which the warnings of a protracted and bloody war that destabilizes the Middle East and increases terrorism bear their bitter fruit. However unpalatable in terms of destroyed lives and infrastructure, this latter scenario would at least quash the Administration's imperial dreams and force the kind of soul searching of United States' policies that is a major goal of the movement. But this outcome is less likely than many assume, and the antiwar movement would be well advised to plan for a third scenario: "Bush Wins." In this third scenario, the war is over quickly with relatively low U.S. casualties, some sort of mechanism for transitional rule is put in place and President Bush and his policies gain unprecedented power and prestige. From my recent conversations with organizers and their latest pronouncements, it is clear that this possibility has yet to be addressed. Waiting much longer could spell disaster for the antiwar movement... The social and political forces unleashed by the end of decades of Hussein's murderous rule will not easily be penned in by a US-sponsored show-democracy; but whether these forces use a reopened public sphere or turn to violence to respond to the likely betrayal depends in good measure on how adroitly the world progressive community can lay fast but deep roots in Iraq. Newpapers
Updating... more to follow.... |
The Mudville Gazette is the on-line voice of an American warrior and his wife who stands by him. They prefer to see peaceful change render force of arms unnecessary. Until that day they stand fast with those who struggle for freedom, strike for reason, and pray for a better tomorrow.
![]() I like having visitors to my house. I hope you are entertained. I fight for your right to free speech, and am thrilled when you exercise said rights here. Comments and e-mails are welcome, but all such communication is to be assumed to be 1)the original work of any who initiate said communication and 2)the property of the Mudville Gazette, with free use granted thereto for publication in electronic or written form. If you do NOT wish to have your message posted, write "CONFIDENTIAL" in the subject line of your email. Original content copyright © 2003 - 2009 by Greyhawk. Fair, not-for-profit use of said material by others is encouraged, as long as acknowledgement and credit is given, to include the url of the original source post. Other arrangements can be made as needed. Contact: greyhawk at mudvillegazette dot com ![]() |
My New Bride and I have all of M Sahara's books.
I especially liked "Rise to Rebellion" which shows you the generals during the Mexican conflict.
If you like truly indepth I can not recommend highly enough "Stonewall by James I Robertson Jr.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0028646851/qid=1088126532/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/104-1560538-5148750?v=glance&s=books
Other good ones are the Civil War Series available thru Bantam (I think I will have to go home and look) including 'A Brave Black Regiment' the story of the 54th Mass as told by Captain Louis Emillio.
Memoirs of the Civil War by Strobel
I admit I have a CW fetish as does she. Both of us former reenactors for opposite sides :-) Makes family quarrels all the more entertaining! (j/k)
Take care and enjoy you vacation!
A day or two ago TV news made it look like the Rev. Moon was crowned as "messiah" in a Senate office with many U.S. congress people in attendance. Since, as you point out, Americans don't want kings and other fools running our lives, what do you make such goings on. "Crowning" someone in a government building in front of and supported by our elected representatives in some kind of religious/political ceremony. What is going on here? It not only violates state and church separation requirements, but looks like it violates the bedrock of the Revolution of not confering titles to anyone. This Rev. Moon is a convicted tax cheat and uses his money to buy his way through life.
Greyhawk,
If you can find a copy somewhere, "Oliver Wiswell" by Kenneth Roberts is a good read and well researched. In fact, he had a whole series of pretty decent books, Like "Rogers Rangers", "Rabble in Arms" and "Lydia Baily" that deal with historical themes from the French & Indian Wars up through the War of 1812. I suspect that he is out of print now, these were popular 50 years ago, but you can probably find them on the net somewhere.
John F.
Greyhawk,
GOOD excerpt... I got hooked on Joshua Chamberlain when I first read Will Whittle's essay focusing on Iraq, but recounting the turning-point of the Battle of Gettysburg... which he attributed to Josh C and 21st Maine in the battle of Little Round Top...
And since that essay came out just prior to America's invasion of the diseased and purulent entity under Saddam's rule, I asked for a loan from a friend, the 6-tape documentary on America's Civil War...
Because unless and until Europeans understand that, at least, they'll gloss over and misunderstand our War of Independence, our love of self-reliance, and pretty much most of The American Way.
I studied those tapes, hour after hour... my sons got bored after a few hours, but the lessons are there for those who glean: Americans won the war, but Americans lost the war, too... my family, MY namesakes, were there in Blue and in butternut Grey...
And when those Americans lost, they were NOT slaughtered (a la France's Reign of Terror). They were NOT tattooed or marked (3rd Reich) and they WERE accepted back into the Union...
I can see how clearly this parallels America's efforts in Iraq. Others will, IF they want to see.
(PS. Where can one buy a copy of "Gods and Generals"?)
I can help with that Shooter
Amazon, Barnes and Noble just to name a few.
Sometimes, albeit rarely, you can find them at Wal Mart but I think that depends on geographic area. At home Georgia I could find them, while in NY it was scarce ironically.
"St Joshua" as some of the diehard reenactors call him, was a unique individual, with a borh motivation. His bravery can not be second guessed.
Its a shame however, his college could not see it until it was too late and he had left them.
Sounds like today does it not? :/
Sounds like BBC view = Monarchist vs Anti-Monarchist/Parliamentarian = Roundhead vs. Cavalier = What provincial CROMWELL starteth, provincial-colonials Washington, Franklin and Jefferson, etal. finisheth!? Heard on Guam TV that BBC AMerica was supp to start own channel but so far have seen nothing yet on local TV, beyond the original BBC promo commercial featuring well-bosomed, breast-comparing-on-TV Brit babes! As animated everyman and American HOMER SIMPSON would say, "NOw thats PSYCHOLOGY/A COMMERCIAL"! THere's still non-or barely booby PBS though, although I have to admit their shows, mostly clothing-heavy despite scenes of proper Victorian or coquettish "sex" or "foreplay", are beginning to display more and more natural, anatomical [minor, female] parts!