History rhymes
Mark Twain is credited with saying, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” I don’t recall when I heard I first this quote but I am convinced of its accuracy. I enjoy reading history especially that written by solid historians. Books written by modern politicians or their ghost______ writers in the hope that their version j
Mark Twain is credited with saying, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” I don’t recall when I heard I first this quote but I am convinced of its accuracy. I enjoy reading history, especially written by solid historians. Books written by modern politicians or their ghostwriters in the hope that their version just will become the accepted history of the time, I leave these unpurchased on Barnes and Noble’s shelf. special to your
As I read I recognize elements of times yesterday embedded in today. I guess — in part because we are humans and they were humans. It would seem logical that human motivation has remained quite similar through the ages. It is these motivational parallels that make The Holy Bible such marvelously insightful reading. Each similar yet distinct.
When I hear people hypothesized that our nation today and the United States in 1860 and our nation today are similar, I say, “Okay;” Similar yet distinct.
United States Presidential elections of 1860 and 2020 have elements in common. There are those who semm to enjoy espousing the hypothesis that our nation is as fragmented today as it was in 1860.1 disagree. 1860 was unique.
In 1860 we were divided by a core belief concerning the morality of slavery and the importance to slavery in maintaining both an economic and cultural way of life. Not that we don’t have racial issues today, we do. Similar yet exceedingly distinct.
The Abolitionist judged the morals of the Southerner, the southern Plantation System and the aristocracy it bred.
We do not like people who judge us negatively. I suppose judgement leads to judgment. Matthew 7:1 says, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” I don’t know about you, but it seems to me that there is a whole of judging going on these days.
Southerners did not like being judged, so they judged the Northerners right back. Judgement led to secession. And we all know where that has led. Regrettably a war can leave some matters unresolved.
Just the other day, the Special Counsel for the January 6th. 2021 matter released new material. This got me looking at available comparisons. Did you know that 1861 a mob gathered outside the United States Capital in an effort to prevent the certification of Abraham Lincoln as President? It did. However, on that day the Capital wasn’t breached. Why? Erik Larsen in his book Demon of Unrest recorded a compelling explanation. The aged, grizzled and battle-scarred General Winfield Scott was in command of the United States Army. The United States Army was responsible for guarding our Capitol. General Scott issued a clear and credible order. The order stated that anyone who obstructed the count would be lashed to the muzzle of a 12 pounder and fired out of a window of the Capitol, then he would manure the hills of Arlington with the fragments of his body.
General Scott was a Virginian and an American. Today we are just Americans and I believe we should stay that way.
Do I not destroy my enemy when I make him by friend? – Abraham Lincoln
Hal McBride writes a column, Just Thinkin’, published each week.
