I’m
re-reading Winston Churchill’s “A History of the English Speaking Peoples”. I’m halfway
through volume 4 at the moment. The series begins in 55BC with the Roman invasion
of the England and covers the highlights up to the beginning of WWI.
Sir Winston
was not a professional historian, he was a true student of history. Churchill like
all great, thoughtful and astute leaders understood, maybe more than most, the
lessons of history and the guidance history can provide for future generations.
When you
read Churchill’s work, you get an English-centric view of history. It is good
to get a view from the other side of the Atlantic of the emergence of our
country during the revolution and the events leading up to our civil war. All
of it grounded in real, unvarnished historical fact. Good reading for any
American.
As I re-read
the books I was again astonished at the bloodshed, carnage and chaos created by
religion in England, France, Spain and other countries and regions all over the
world for centuries. It is no wonder our Founding fathers wrote “freedom of
religion” into our constitution, I only wish they would have written “freedom
from religion”.
Churchill
had a great interest in military history. His telling of how we won our
revolution by winning so few battles against the English is refreshing.
Churchill
lays out why the North won the civil war, not only because the North was on the
right side of history, but because of the geographical and industrial advantages that
doomed the Confederacy from the opening days of the conflict.
Churchill
writes the South had arrogantly expected Britain and Europe to come to their
aid and he reminds us that no foreign power recognized the Confederacy during
the conflict.
Churchill’s
thoughts on Robert E. Lee point out that Lee was conflicted at the beginning of
succession and even after a long consultation with President Lincoln where he was offered command of the Union Army, Lee made
his choice to resign and go home to Virginia to become a traitor to his nation
and his entire, illustrious career as a soldier for the United States of
America. Churchill felt Lee lost his chance at greatness the day he rode across
the Potomac.
In earlier volumes Churchill
writes of feudalism’s roots in the Roman system of government in every part of
the Roman Empire.
He writes of
religion’s caustic effects on civil society across the world.
He writes of beginning and growth of the rights of average citizens to have a say in the way they are
governed in English Common Law and how the American and French Revolutions spurred that thinking
world-wide.
“A History of
the English Speaking Peoples” is well worth reading. If for no other reason
than it reinforces :
“Those who
don't know history are doomed to repeat it.” ― Edmund Burke
Much of our country has been and is being shaped by religion (elections, Supreme Court, judiciary, legislation). In most cases to the detriment of the populous, especially when elections are won based on single issue voting (religious right) that then ends up impacting everything else.
ReplyDeleteBob-The Churchill's "History...." is one of my prized collections. We've pared our library way back, but that series stays.
ReplyDeleteWe are someplace on a curve, heading south, as a measure of citizen knowledge and that is especially so for history. Damn are we entertained though! But dangerously under or mis informed. It does not bode well as the poster boy for dysfunction proves every day he is president.
As for religion-that faith that professes all of the answers-absolute knowledge and issues judgmental edicts is dangerous. That which encourages intellect and compassionate response to human need serves us well. The trouble is numbers. More people are content with the "safety" of the absolutes.
We shouldn't forget King George frequently referred to the budding American Revolution as a Presbyterian revolt. True power to the people--in ecclesial as well as secular matters.
As my old Boston buddy, Charles P. Pierce says "Don't fck with the Jesuits" The Society of Jesus understands the truth. I had the opportunity to spend time with Father Robert Drinan, his take on the "Christian Right" was smart and delightfully vicious. He would have taken Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, James Dobson (and all the rest of them) apart. I've had many conversations over a good bottle of scotch with Dr. Walt Wieder (retired Unitarian) on the topic of the danger inherent in dumb, blind faith. My friend Walt married Jan and I and used one of his fellow PhD classmates dissertation on the significance of the wedding ring as representing the circle of life. It goes far back beyond the Christianity. Beautiful.
Delete