O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife, Who more than self their country loved, And mercy more than life! America! America! May God thy gold refine, Till all success be nobleness, And every gain divine. Today, pay your respects to a fallen soldier, sailor, airman, Marine - and to their loved ones still with us. And don't forget to thank the troops you meet for their service to us all. Happy Memorial Day! Other local Memorial Day written and visual remembrances from Michael at Best Destiny, Jim at Thinking Right, Joshua at View from a Height, and Rossputin. From farther afield, Maggie Thurber shares the history of Memorial Day, Fort Hard Knox posts the President's Prayer for Peace, and Chuck Muth recounts the … [Read more...]
PJM’s Gettysburg Metaphor Daily Reminder of Bitter Democratic Primary
Today's reminder that the Democrats are engaged in a bitter intramural fight for the presidential nomination: Rick Moran at Pajamas Media compares the upcoming Pennsylvania primary (upcoming as in April 22 ... 40 days or so) to the Battle of Gettysburg for its potential to dictate the final outcome in the Barack Obama-Hillary Clinton showdown:A Hillary Clinton win in Pennsylvania – especially a big win – will probably start a movement of Super Delegates in her direction. It won’t be decisive given that a number of Supers will hold off endorsing anyone until the convention. But it will almost certainly allow her to catch up and perhaps even surpass Obama in total delegates. This is hugely important because it will cut into Obama’s … [Read more...]
Rebutting Confederate Libertarianism
Thanks, Mr. Snaggle-Tooth, for your lengthy treatise in response to my prior arguments. In it you write:Ole Ben links a Liberty article by libertarian attorney Timothy Sandefur, ‘n I mus' say it’s jus’ ‘bout as good as the pro-Unionist argumint kin git. Quite Jaffian it wuz, with the acrid odor of Claremont about it. But that article got picked to pieces in-iss un', written by anothah libertarian attorney, Stephan Kinsella. (See this here response by Kinsella too.) Well, in the interest of time, here's an even better version of Sandefur's argument (link leads to abstract, from which you can download a PDF). It's a very well-documented and well-argued essay, and there isn't much I can add to it in this forum. Some of its salient … [Read more...]
Paul Wrong on Civil War: Dittoes Here
I've had a recent exchange with Snaggle-Tooth Jones over some historical issues of contemporary political significance: my initial response is here; his latest post is here. I haven't had time to draft a thorough and thoughtful response to his latest, but in the meantime would like to point him to an eloquent piece written by my friend Joshua Sharf at the Denver Post's Gang of Four about Ron Paul's misguided take on Civil War history (key excerpt follows):Paul's argument isn't right. It isn't even wrong. It misses so many fundamental facts of life in 1860 that it could only appeal to that narrow slice of the electorate whose civics education ended in 12th grade, but who actually remember what they were taught. You can't be completely … [Read more...]
Not about the Rebel Yell
Fellow blogger Snaggle-Tooth Jones has leveled a misguided attack:This here's a YouTube video showin' a 1938 reunion of Confederate and Yankee soldiers on the field of Gettysburg: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1byof4IAHk Now, here's a litte question for Ben DeGrow and the othah no-account neocons (and damn fool libruls) who 'r vexed over All Things Confederate: why do ye suppose these men cud get together in such a spirit of civility, if not chivalry? I'd like to hear from ye in my commints box, Ben DeGrow. Why d' ye 'spose U.S. Grant happily tolerated the playin' of "Dixie" at this here event? Or why do ye 'spose that Grant was so magnanimous at Lee's surrender at Appomattox? Or why Lee defended Grant when one of his … [Read more...]
Bennett’s Powerful Message: Bring Back American History
Read William Bennett's impassioned plea to teach kids the soul of American history once more, published today in National Review Online. I share Dr. Bennett's passion: So many young Americans today are truly deprived in this respect. Bennett explains: Many of our history books are either too tendentious — disseminating a one-sided, politically correct view of the history of the greatest nation that ever existed; or, worse, they are boring — providing a watered down, anemic version of a people who have fought wars at home and abroad for the purposes of liberty and equality, conquered deadly diseases, and placed men on the moon. And later: In his farewell address to the nation, the large-minded amateur historian President Ronald … [Read more...]
Whither the Fourth?
Independence Day is almost upon us, but it appears about half of Americans couldn't care less about the real reason for the celebration. The results of a new survey from Zogby are disappointing - albeit not terribly surprising - and a bit enlightening as well. The pollster asked 1,884 American adults what the #1 reason for celebrating the coming holiday is (a holiday that just happens to be named Independence Day): Just 48% of those surveyed say that they specifically mark the Fourth of July as a time to celebrate America’s independence. Another 33% say they see the holiday as an opportunity to spend time with family and friends, while much smaller percentages look at the Fourth as just a day off from work (6%), or as a break from … [Read more...]
Memorial Day Tribute
Thank a veteran or active-duty serviceman for their great sacrifices as we remember those who "gave the last full measure of devotion," from Lexington & Concord to Baghdad and a thousand places in between. O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife, Who more than self their country loved And mercy more than life. America, America, May God thy gold refine Till all success be nobleness And ev'ry gain divine. … [Read more...]
Lincoln’s Day, Lincoln’s Year
Editor's note: I have included my most highly recommended Lincoln book selections at the end of this post, if you care to read that far. Since the celebration of Abraham Lincoln's birthday was subsumed under the generic President's Day label, the significance of tomorrow often is forgotten. But I would have a difficult time omitting a commemorative mention of the significance of February 12 - especially this year. In both the Gregorian and Western Christian church calendars, 2006 runs the same pattern as 1865, the closing months of Lincoln's life - since recounted in legendary memory. The assassination of the 16th President took place on the night of Good Friday, April 14, the same date in which American Christians and others will … [Read more...]
Your Bucket of Cold Water
I'm probably not the first one to tell you to read Mark Steyn's new article, "It's the Demography, Stupid." Reading it may be the equivalent of having a bucket of cold water splashed on you while you're lying asleep in bed. But you may be glad you woke up when you did. Simply a must-read. … [Read more...]
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