Tuesday, March 16, 2004
BACK TO THE FUTURE
I am taking an awful risk today, but I have to stand up for what I believe in, right? It involves the Hunley and the seemingly endless news about the failed submarine of the Civil War. A news item today claims that 30-thousand people will attend the burial of the 8 Confederate soldiers who died in 1864. I have a hard time believing that this event is going to be all that big of a deal. Is it just me or do the people all giddy over the Hunley are strikingly similar to a group of Star Trek convention goers?
I'm in a strange position, because while I honor anyone's commitment to their state and/or service to their country...I'm just not all that jazzed about this Hunley deal. As a person normally fascinated by historical events and archeology...I'm already kind of bored with the constant stream of "updates" and front-page coverage that this is getting. Yet I live and work in an area that feeds on 'brotherhood in the cause' and, to some degree, shuns 'outsiders' who come from the North. On the one hand, I want to belong...on the other, belonging means putting up with all of the silliness.
An observation, then a question. The Hunley was a failure. I know people want to believe it a success - given that it is reported as the first submarine to sink an enemy target - but it sank itself. We're calling the operators of the submarine 'heroes' in the apparent belief that they somehow knew they would not return. I think they built the Hunley with the expectation that they would RETURN successful. They didn't. That doesn't qualify as a success in my book. Kamikazes in WWII knew they were sacrificing themselves in the cause - I don't think the Hunley crew thought they were.
Here's an honest question: I can think of quite a few other wars and significant historical stories of bravery that warrant this kind of highlight...is it wrong for me to wonder where the Korean War re-enactments are? Battle of the Bulge? Midway? Pearl Harbor? Tet Offensive? Desert Storm?
As I said...it's an awful risk for me to say this...but I believe it. Tell me where I'm wrong.
I am taking an awful risk today, but I have to stand up for what I believe in, right? It involves the Hunley and the seemingly endless news about the failed submarine of the Civil War. A news item today claims that 30-thousand people will attend the burial of the 8 Confederate soldiers who died in 1864. I have a hard time believing that this event is going to be all that big of a deal. Is it just me or do the people all giddy over the Hunley are strikingly similar to a group of Star Trek convention goers?
I'm in a strange position, because while I honor anyone's commitment to their state and/or service to their country...I'm just not all that jazzed about this Hunley deal. As a person normally fascinated by historical events and archeology...I'm already kind of bored with the constant stream of "updates" and front-page coverage that this is getting. Yet I live and work in an area that feeds on 'brotherhood in the cause' and, to some degree, shuns 'outsiders' who come from the North. On the one hand, I want to belong...on the other, belonging means putting up with all of the silliness.
An observation, then a question. The Hunley was a failure. I know people want to believe it a success - given that it is reported as the first submarine to sink an enemy target - but it sank itself. We're calling the operators of the submarine 'heroes' in the apparent belief that they somehow knew they would not return. I think they built the Hunley with the expectation that they would RETURN successful. They didn't. That doesn't qualify as a success in my book. Kamikazes in WWII knew they were sacrificing themselves in the cause - I don't think the Hunley crew thought they were.
Here's an honest question: I can think of quite a few other wars and significant historical stories of bravery that warrant this kind of highlight...is it wrong for me to wonder where the Korean War re-enactments are? Battle of the Bulge? Midway? Pearl Harbor? Tet Offensive? Desert Storm?
As I said...it's an awful risk for me to say this...but I believe it. Tell me where I'm wrong.
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