I've just been reading reams of Civil War RL stories and what a depressing read it is.

I've just sat back and thought...who the hell are these politicians that send ordinary people into war? What right do they have to expect someone to lay down their lives in this way? Most of us are hardly aware of the true horror of it all, not just for those killed, but the whole fall out that affects a wide radius of lives.

I need to go watch the comedy channel for an hour

Hello Maddie. I agree with you. Nothing will ever be solved. This disscussion would be like disscussing slavery. Its impossible.

I agree -- and think of all those young boys who went to fight and weren't even old enough to vote! The majority of them were under 21 which was the legal voting age back then.

It was only when I was 18 during the Vietnam Conflict that the voting age was changed to 18.....all those boys being killed and giving their lives and they couldn't even vote or have a voice in their government - yet they could die for it.....

I can solve the slavery discussion--I simply shoot you. My view wins. That is war.

War solves problems, albeit while creating others. We go to war because we cannot compromise certain ideas or principles or because we want someone's land (or whatever) or they want ours. It is nice to see us as reasonable, but reason lasts only so long as one can compromise. Those boys fought not because they could or could not vote, but because their representatives the Elite, the Man) called on them to aid their country and they came.

We should also remember that with the possible exception of WW II there has always been those who opposed war and refused to go. What was it John Adams said about the Am Revol? One third for, one third against, one third didn't care one way or the other. US Grant may have disliked the Mexican War but he served.

Until you have been there war is the greatest adventure humans have ever known. Read Henry V's speech on St Crispin's day to his men. He, interpreted by Wm Shakespeare, knew what it was all about. So did George Patton , See the opening scenes of the movie, Patton.War in the 1800s was an honorable thing--the profession of arms, they called it.

One opposed to war can only hope that the Hippies of the 1960s ultimately prove prescient: What if they gave a war and nobody came? History says: Fat Chance!

Fantastic post, Bill -- as always!

I for one, think that at the beginning of the war that Lew Powell enlisted (underage at that - 17 years for which he had to acquire parental permission) along with his best friend Sam Mitchell, simply for the sheer adventure of it. Patriotism? Perhaps - but I think most young boys enlisted early in the war, seeing it as a "grand lark" with the impression that it'll be over in a few weeks, or a few months.... then back home crowned with the glory of having seen a bit of "the world"....

I think both Bill and Betty are absolutely right. What makes our Civil War even more tragic is the fact that it was fought by our citizens on our turf. It has always been easier to justify a war when we were fighting the "bad guys." In this case, both sides were the bad guys and they were Americans.

My father was career military through WWII and Korea. He abhored war; never wanted a son because a boy would be called to fight (he died before women became an integral part of the services); and could not understand reenactors who wanted to "play soldier," as he termed it. That applied to reenactors from the French & Indian War through WWII. He was really perturbed with those who portrayed Nazi forces...

I agree 100% with all of your views about war! As a Viet-Nam Vet and officer,my toughest job other than staying alive.I had to make sure that those "young boys" [and they were high on drugs and booze] didn't wipe out an entire village because thier buddy was killed!

(10-09-2012, 08:37 AM)BettyO Wrote: Fantastic post, Bill -- as always!

I for one, think that at the beginning of the war that Lew Powell enlisted (underage at that - 17 years for which he had to acquire parental permission) along with his best friend Sam Mitchell, simply for the sheer adventure of it. Patriotism? Perhaps - but I think most young boys enlisted early in the war, seeing it as a "grand lark" with the impression that it'll be over in a few weeks, or a few months.... then back home crowned with the glory of having seen a bit of "the world"....

Yeah, agreed. You don't have any sense of mortality at that age.

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(10-09-2012, 11:28 AM)Laurie Verge Wrote: I think both Bill and Betty are absolutely right. What makes our Civil War even more tragic is the fact that it was fought by our citizens on our turf. It has always been easier to justify a war when we were fighting the "bad guys." In this case, both sides were the bad guys and they were Americans.

My father was career military through WWII and Korea. He abhored war; never wanted a son because a boy would be called to fight (he died before women became an integral part of the services); and could not understand reenactors who wanted to "play soldier," as he termed it. That applied to reenactors from the French & Indian War through WWII. He was really perturbed with those who portrayed Nazi forces...

I can totally understand that viewpoint. I guess reenactment is only for those who've never experienced the true horror of it all. I shouldn't imagine anyone who'd been through war, would wish to go over it again and again in some pretendy situation.

I have visited the grave here in Detroit of Private Edward "Eddie" Slavik-the only American soldier in World War II to be executed for desertion. There were other soldiers during the war who deserted and were death sentences-but only Slavik was executed. Eisenhower was approached on the matter, but he let it proceed. Slavik was shot by a firing squad Janaury 31, 1945. He is buried in Woodmere Cemetery.

Martin Sheen played Slovik on the 1974 television movie, and, according to Wikipedia, Charlie Sheen was in it as well. It was evidently his first screen appearance.

Best
Rob

(10-11-2012, 11:22 PM)Rob Wick Wrote: Martin Sheen played Slovik on the 1974 television movie, and, according to Wikipedia, Charlie Sheen was in it as well. It was evidently his first screen appearance.

Best
Rob

I have never seen this movie. It probably is not even available on dvd since it was made for TV.

Craig

I'm not sure it is on DVD-but it should be!