Now wondering how many innocents will be beaten or killed by the mobs gathering in public places to bare their fangs. It would be irresponsible not to speculate, because it's happened before.
I find myself thinking of U.S. Grant and how he urged against the North gloating over the defeat of the South. Even though the Confederates were fighting for a hateful cause (Grant called it "one of the worst for which a people ever fought, and one for which there was the least excuse"), and even though Grant more than any man had a right to gloat, he rejected it as unseemly.
But it looks like we're the freaks. You and me and U.S. Grant. And another Ulysses as well:
“Rejoice in your heart, but do not cry aloud. It is unholy to gloat over the slain. These men have been destroyed by divine destiny and their own recklessness.” The Odyssey, Book XXII
("Divine destiny" is the closest old Homer got to "justice".)
We get nervous seeing & hearing mobs chanting "USA, USA!" or almost anything else.
Compare this to V-E & V-J day (Not that there is that much equivalent film, but ...) for example. Those poor bastards really had suffered & sacrificed.
Seems like a pep rally for the frat-boys & sorority-sisses, few of whom were going to enlist or otherwise sacrifice.
3 comments:
I find myself thinking of U.S. Grant and how he urged against the North gloating over the defeat of the South. Even though the Confederates were fighting for a hateful cause (Grant called it "one of the worst for which a people ever fought, and one for which there was the least excuse"), and even though Grant more than any man had a right to gloat, he rejected it as unseemly.
But it looks like we're the freaks. You and me and U.S. Grant. And another Ulysses as well:
“Rejoice in your heart, but do not cry aloud. It is unholy to gloat over the slain. These men have been destroyed by divine destiny and their own recklessness.” The Odyssey, Book XXII
("Divine destiny" is the closest old Homer got to "justice".)
Semi-Rootless, Completely Cosmopolitan, Contrarian & Cynical (Also Unsocialized) Editor Types:
We get nervous seeing & hearing mobs chanting "USA, USA!" or almost anything else.
Compare this to V-E & V-J day (Not that there is that much equivalent film, but ...) for example. Those poor bastards really had suffered & sacrificed.
Seems like a pep rally for the frat-boys & sorority-sisses, few of whom were going to enlist or otherwise sacrifice.
Also, Mark Twain:
"I have never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure."
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