Today is the 147th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Gettysburg. History has tended to linger over the tragedy of Pickett's Charge, the "late" JEB Stuart, the defeat of Robert E Lee (D), and of course the high water mark of the Lost Cause. Comparatively little is known of the men in Blue (R), yet a visit to the Pennsylvania Monument tells the tale. These were great men, who fought just as hard, and as well, as their Southern counterparts. The only difference: they won.
The Monument, btw, includes a charming plaque stating that the soldiers were presenting the monument to the ladies of Pennsylvania who sacrificed so much during the war. Gettysburg, like few sites in the US, brought out the best in America - from the Gettysburg Address down to the tip-of-the-hat gentility towards the Home Front - even as it saw some of America's worst days.
And, dare I point out the vast gulf that separates the men of the 19th century who died to make men free; and the men (and women) of the 21st century who seem intent on grasping every scrap of "stimulus," "bailout" and "social justice" available? All in the name of (language abuse alert) "equality?" I've never been one to say that our best days are behind us, but certainly some of our better days are.
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