No political blogging this morning. Instead, a great video tribute to Michigan soldiers who served in the Civil War, with historical music provided by actor and native Michigander Jeff Daniels:
It’s hard for me not to be moved by this tribute, having studied the U.S. Civil War so extensively, having traveled to so many of its battlefield sites, having four ancestors who served in the War (including three who died in the service — one in the 9th Michigan Volunteer Infantry), and having my alma mater Hillsdale College so prominently represented in the 4th Michigan and other regiments:
A higher percentage of Hillsdale students enlisted during the Civil War than from any other western college. Of the more than 400 who fought for the Union, four won the Congressional Medal of Honor, three became generals and many more served as regimental commanders. Sixty gave their lives.
Furthermore, yes, “Michigan, My Michigan” is the official song of my native state.
The 1860s were such a different time in so many ways, and yet there must be some similar sentiments shared by our military personnel on active duty today. Lend a thought or prayer to our troops serving overseas and to their families.
The Yankee Dead.
http://novaemilitiae.squarespace.com/st-george-brigade/2007/5/8/the-yankee-dead.html
http://novaemilitiae.squarespace.com/st-george-brigade/2007/4/21/confederate-memorial-day.html
Great video, and fascinating to learn about your family history in the Civil War. Jeff Daniels has done so much to promote free market support for Michigan, and I hope he gets involved to help it from being the boarded-up storefront capital of the US.
Somewhat OT, but I strongly recommend Daniel’s performance in the neo-noire film, “The Last Seduction.” R-rated, but nothing gratuitous.
“Somewhat OT, but I strongly recommend Daniel’s performance in the neo-noire film, “The Last Seduction.” R-rated, but nothing gratuitous.”
He wasn’t bad in Gods and Generals, either, where he played the typical Yankee Unitarian type proceeding philosophically and spiritually from bad to worse.
Nor was Martin Sheen bad in that movie, either, playing the typical arrogant elitist, slave-owning Reb — prepossessed with a false sense of his own innate superiority … Or not.
Well, slavery went away, Ben, which it would have war or no war. But progressives and their slightly more conservative kin among the neocons and movement conservatives proceed apace, philosophically and spiritually, from bad to worse.
BTW, a somewhat related point, please see my comment to this blog entry by Al Mauer:
http://reclaimtheblue.us/2010/03/04/green-shoots-of-liberty/#comment-262
You missed the point. Moving on again…