michaelboy (
michaelboy) wrote2025-05-08 06:50 pm
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What We Do
I just purchased the entire Ken Burns' Civil War series and watched the first episode today. It's been years since I first saw this series but, in my opinion, it is one of the finest produced documentaries ever made.
Sometimes my mind wanders and wonders - at how awful people can be, especially at how one human can treat another person. Sometimes, it happens during war - even though we do share the same flesh and spirit - we are able to torture, mame and kill - and even, at times, under the blessing of righteousness and justice. I know I am an inexorable part of this history but I still feel embarrassed by it.
In contrast, I think as many horrible acts that can be imagined, there are incidents and times born of better human character that make me feel proud. The writer Walt Whitman, didn't hold a rifle during the American Civil War but I think in his own way, he battled. Some folks might question his motivation - whether his political fervor or sexual interests bolstered him, but regardless of any such notions or declamations, he spent many precious hours with wounded soldiers from the war. Often he would read poetry or prose to them, share trifles such a tobacco or candy or simply spend time listening. He saw many men suffer greatly and saw many men die. But in my mind... I think he also loved greatly.

"In one bed a young man, Marcus Small, Co. K, Seventh Maine -- sick with dysentery and typhoid fever -- pretty critical, too -- I talk with him often -- he thinks he will die -- looks like it indeed. I write a letter for him home to East Livermore, Maine -- I let him talk to me a little, but not much, advise him to keep very quiet -- do most of the talking myself -- stay quite a while with him, as he holds to my hand -- talk to him in a cheering, but slow, low, and measured manner -- talk about his furlough, and going home as soon as he is able to travel."
* * *
A more than worthy excerpt:
Sometimes my mind wanders and wonders - at how awful people can be, especially at how one human can treat another person. Sometimes, it happens during war - even though we do share the same flesh and spirit - we are able to torture, mame and kill - and even, at times, under the blessing of righteousness and justice. I know I am an inexorable part of this history but I still feel embarrassed by it.
In contrast, I think as many horrible acts that can be imagined, there are incidents and times born of better human character that make me feel proud. The writer Walt Whitman, didn't hold a rifle during the American Civil War but I think in his own way, he battled. Some folks might question his motivation - whether his political fervor or sexual interests bolstered him, but regardless of any such notions or declamations, he spent many precious hours with wounded soldiers from the war. Often he would read poetry or prose to them, share trifles such a tobacco or candy or simply spend time listening. He saw many men suffer greatly and saw many men die. But in my mind... I think he also loved greatly.

"In one bed a young man, Marcus Small, Co. K, Seventh Maine -- sick with dysentery and typhoid fever -- pretty critical, too -- I talk with him often -- he thinks he will die -- looks like it indeed. I write a letter for him home to East Livermore, Maine -- I let him talk to me a little, but not much, advise him to keep very quiet -- do most of the talking myself -- stay quite a while with him, as he holds to my hand -- talk to him in a cheering, but slow, low, and measured manner -- talk about his furlough, and going home as soon as he is able to travel."
* * *
A more than worthy excerpt:
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