Re: Well, since you asked...

Posted by Champ on January 25, 1999 at 23:36:07:

In Reply to: Re: Well, since you asked... posted by Elaine on January 25, 1999 at 22:11:39:

The challenge for 20th century people (yes, armchair moralists we are) is not to deny what has occurred, but to understand why. It is both a dark side of humanity & a means to an end. Sometimes it is senseless; other times it has/had a purpose.

: Not to seem too Machievellian,but ... we may cringe at times when reading accounts of "cruelties" of yesteryear, but there were reasons for these actions. Look at Charlemagne. With one verdict he ordered the death of 6,000 (?) Saxons. He wasn't a psychopath. He was a ruler & a patriot. A threat was perceived and again it was dealt with.

: Elaine

>>Siyo All,

I have not had a chance to read the interview yet, things have been a little hetic around here the last 24 hrs., but I like the points you make above, Elaine.
One thing I have learned from reenacting the War Between The States as a Confederate cavalryman, is that most folks judge us or the times we represent by 20th century standards. Easy to do, but not fair to those actually involved in the period[s] in question.
One needs to step back, out of the present and look at these things from those peoples times.
The WBTS is great for this, in that there are so many diaries, letters, etc, avaliable to us now, that give us more of a sense of what was in a given persons thoughts.
Okay, now that I've said that, maybe tonight I can find a little time to read the interview.

"Champ"

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• Re: Well, since you asked... Janis 05:14:54 1/26/99 (0)

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Comments:
: The challenge for 20th century people (yes, armchair moralists we are) is not to deny what has occurred, but to understand why. It is both a dark side of humanity & a means to an end. Sometimes it is senseless; other times it has/had a purpose.

: : Not to seem too Machievellian,but ... we may cringe at times when reading accounts of "cruelties" of yesteryear, but there were reasons for these actions. Look at Charlemagne. With one verdict he ordered the death of 6,000 (?) Saxons. He wasn't a psychopath. He was a ruler & a patriot. A threat was perceived and again it was dealt with.

: : Elaine

: >>Siyo All,

: I have not had a chance to read the interview yet, things have been a little hetic around here the last 24 hrs., but I like the points you make above, Elaine.
: One thing I have learned from reenacting the War Between The States as a Confederate cavalryman, is that most folks judge us or the times we represent by 20th century standards. Easy to do, but not fair to those actually involved in the period[s] in question.
: One needs to step back, out of the present and look at these things from those peoples times.
: The WBTS is great for this, in that there are so many diaries, letters, etc, avaliable to us now, that give us more of a sense of what was in a given persons thoughts.
: Okay, now that I've said that, maybe tonight I can find a little time to read the interview.

: "Champ"


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