Some days, after watching Fox News, CNN, Morning Joe, The Squawk Box on TV as I do my treadmill, seeing The Dotard, Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan, various pundits, I just groan inwardly.
I think about the men I've been reading about lately, Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, Lee, Longstreet and I think, "Where have all the REAL men gone?"
Just look at these current incarnations of what passes for leaders of men nowadays--puffy pink men, full of sound and fury, signifying an inner gelatinous core. Never had a shot fired in anger at them. They talk tough to hide their core softness.
Then look at Sherman, Sheridan, Grant. And, of course, Lincoln.
Of course, these real men are not angels, nor even "heroes."
Sheridan, after his service in the Union army playing a large part in winning the Civil War, led the cavalry as an Indian fighter, and was said to have been the author of the immortal line, "The only good Indian is a dead Indian."
Sherman hated newspaper reporters: "If I could kill them all, I would. But then we would likely get reports from Hell before breakfast."
And Grant, frustrated with the black market in cotton behind his lines and told (by his father) the merchants were mostly Jews issued an order banning all Jews from his department, which Lincoln, who tried to never interfere with Grant, had to, in this one instance, intervene, reminding Grant you cannot ban a entire class of people; you have to deal with individuals when you consider the law.
Lincoln, of course, was a lawyer.
Lincoln was real man. He would have seen right through a Muslim ban.
Lincoln was not the Great Emancipator. He was the Reluctant Emancipator. He did not free all the slaves, just those who were politically expedient to free.
But, for all their faults, they were real men.
Just look at their photographs and compare the real men to the sorry excuse for malehood we have today.
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| Beneath Contempt |
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| Phony tough guy |
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| Phony tough guy |
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| Phony tough guy |
I think about the men I've been reading about lately, Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, Lee, Longstreet and I think, "Where have all the REAL men gone?"
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| Real tough guy |
Just look at these current incarnations of what passes for leaders of men nowadays--puffy pink men, full of sound and fury, signifying an inner gelatinous core. Never had a shot fired in anger at them. They talk tough to hide their core softness.
Then look at Sherman, Sheridan, Grant. And, of course, Lincoln.
Of course, these real men are not angels, nor even "heroes."
Sheridan, after his service in the Union army playing a large part in winning the Civil War, led the cavalry as an Indian fighter, and was said to have been the author of the immortal line, "The only good Indian is a dead Indian."
Sherman hated newspaper reporters: "If I could kill them all, I would. But then we would likely get reports from Hell before breakfast."
And Grant, frustrated with the black market in cotton behind his lines and told (by his father) the merchants were mostly Jews issued an order banning all Jews from his department, which Lincoln, who tried to never interfere with Grant, had to, in this one instance, intervene, reminding Grant you cannot ban a entire class of people; you have to deal with individuals when you consider the law.
Lincoln, of course, was a lawyer.
Lincoln was real man. He would have seen right through a Muslim ban.
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| Tough guy veritas |
Lincoln was not the Great Emancipator. He was the Reluctant Emancipator. He did not free all the slaves, just those who were politically expedient to free.
But, for all their faults, they were real men.
Just look at their photographs and compare the real men to the sorry excuse for malehood we have today.
The photographic evidence you present certainly supports your case and is compelling but I will await Maud's evaluation of these men before declaring you correct.
ReplyDeleteAnon,
ReplyDeleteDid you hear Steve Bannon talking about Romney and his sons, none of whom ever served in Afghanistan? Mr. War Hero Bannon, who spent his entire military career safe on a ship out of harm's way ragging on Romney for not sending his sons off to war. I know at least one guy who got on a Coast Guard cutter, guarding the coast of Vietnam and when they came around asking for volunteers to go up river, none of the other officers would do it.They were safe on the boat. Never get off the boat.
But this guy goes up river and some Viet Cong shoots off his rocket at the boat, but misses. This guy had some ordinance fired at him in anger. Not like Bannon. He might have some street cred talking about stuff like this. Bannon, not so much.
My barber, a woman, was telling me about all the men who hit on her and she said, "It's usually the old guys. Probably lot of them have some trouble getting it up, so they talk a lot. Harmless, really."
I think that may be Bannon's problem. Trump, too, likely.
definitely time for Maud to chime in!
ReplyDeleteMad Dog and Anon,
ReplyDeleteAs we know, there are men that walk the walk and men who do nothing but talk. That the current crop of loud mouthed boobs pictured above have the audacity to comment on another's military service-given their own military service, or lack there of-would at any other time be unthinkable. However, during the Trump reign, the preposterous has become commonplace. Trump, Bannon and Limbaugh share the same pitiful delusion-if you talk tough you are tough-and hide behind their constant barrage of words.
Just compare the pasty, silly mugs of those fools to men like Lincoln, Grant and Sherman-men who most likely didn't waste a lot of time yapping, but got the job done. The Civil War photos reflect a strength and determination that the men exhibited in life as well. Sherman surely possessed a formidable face and a steely gaze-one that would have demanded respect from those that he led, as well as those he opposed and Lincoln's photos consistently reflect a man of extreme intelligence and resolve-this was not the face of a man who'd be throwing in the towel.
Comparing Lincoln and his generals to Trump-he of the fragile feet-and his stooges is a depressing exercise. But then one thinks of men like your friend, who despite grave danger and significant personal risk, volunteered to command a boat up river in Vietnam. Now there's a river cruise few would want to take and yet he did it. That's courage. Like him, there are currently men-and women-serving bravely and honorably in the Middle East. Testimony to the fact there are still "real men" among us-but alas, they are not the ones in charge...
Maud
Thank you Maud! I knew you would shine a bright light on this issue - and, as always, I completely agree with you!!
ReplyDelete