tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post3444534242959717279..comments2024-01-05T06:18:18.086-05:00Comments on CommentaramaPolitics: Read Any Good Books Lately?AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-25392326066328858722014-01-05T22:24:32.382-05:002014-01-05T22:24:32.382-05:00Just finished reading The Bloody Shirt: Terror Aft...Just finished reading The Bloody Shirt: Terror After the Civil War. Rough stuff. <br /><br />Lots of interesting people were talked about, including Longstreet, a celebrated South general who became anathema because he became a Republican and opposed the South's attempts to resubjugate blacks and Prince Rivers, a black soldier who fought for the North and rose high in Reconstruction era (he became a judge), through their efforts in the last two years of his life he was reduced to holding the same menial job as a free man (coachman) that he had as a slave.<br /><br />The White League and the Red Shirts rather than the KKK were the organizations that loomed large in the book. Both organizations were paramilitaries/gun clubs composed largely of Confederate vets whose two goals were reinstate white supremacy and Democratic rule.<br /><br />Eventual senator Pitchfork Ben (whose claim to glory was staging the Hamburg Massacre), openly bragged on the Senate floor that the Democrats were murdering their opponents and stuffing the ballot box, which he said was a rational reaction to the insult the North had offered the South by treating the black man as the white man's equal. <br /><br />*Shrugs* I was familiar with the broad strokes before I read the book, but the particulars are fascinating. <br /><br />As I've said before in the context of a lot of the newly democratic countries in the Middle East and elsewhere, democracy is the best system of government, but it doesn't magically impose a social consensus or rights or justice or what have you. Realistically in new democracies with a history of strife we should still expect crazy stuff to happen in the short and even the medium terms.Anthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16124128949343301445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-35000505539590200022014-01-04T00:01:38.502-05:002014-01-04T00:01:38.502-05:00Critch, I've heard of that. Not many details, ...Critch, I've heard of that. Not many details, but I have heard of it, and it is interesting. A lot of peculiar things like that happened in the last days of the war. T-Ravhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10861218035729479354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-67093505499101258392014-01-03T23:58:47.469-05:002014-01-03T23:58:47.469-05:00Kosh, I did not. For one thing, I was away at scho...Kosh, I did not. For one thing, I was away at school all that time, and for another--No.T-Ravhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10861218035729479354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-56117157318575639452014-01-03T23:50:45.287-05:002014-01-03T23:50:45.287-05:00I read "The Battle of Campbell's Station&...I read "The Battle of Campbell's Station" by Gerald L. Augustus. Fascinating account of a battle that took place 150 years ago near where I live. All the more interesting to me since my great grandfather (36th Mass.) was an active participant. I'm currently reading Scott Turow's new book. The reviews have said it is neither his best nor his worst, but the thing is, when Turow is only cooking on medium heat, he is still the best in this genre. I have the Clancy to read as well. Despite his ponderous descriptions, the guy had an uncanny ability to write polts that turned up on the newspapers a year or so later.Tennessee Jedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10604275115906776992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-53063111694153229052014-01-03T23:47:23.118-05:002014-01-03T23:47:23.118-05:00The last Battle refers to an incident when US troo...The last Battle refers to an incident when US troops, Wehrmacht troops, and some French citizens had to defend a castle against SS troops intent on killing the Frenchmen. True Story.Critchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07106908233705403513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-90694953518389164942014-01-03T23:14:25.822-05:002014-01-03T23:14:25.822-05:00" I see the history and know how far women ha..." I see the history and know how far women have come rather then seeing how far we have to go."<br />Exactly, women in America have it pretty well, at least compared to 75% of the world.<br /><br />Alas, I know who Shannon Faulkner is. Kithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01453591141757808708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-40061964835549925682014-01-03T22:52:20.027-05:002014-01-03T22:52:20.027-05:00It was a disgrace. She sat on her butt waiting fo...It was a disgrace. She sat on her butt waiting for the case to wind it's way through the court system, when she should have been out training every single day to prove she was worthy. She should have had every single physical challenge down cold, but she didn't. It was embarrassing.BevfromNYChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14953050916932306270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-21394559610954775822014-01-03T22:46:13.644-05:002014-01-03T22:46:13.644-05:00I'm also reading Andrew Lang's Blue Fairy ...I'm also reading Andrew Lang's <i>Blue Fairy Book</i> and Edith Hamilton's <i>Mythology</i>.<br /><br />In the <i>Blue Fairy Book</i> I am on the story "Aladdin". Kithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01453591141757808708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-42610065335698489652014-01-03T21:08:27.968-05:002014-01-03T21:08:27.968-05:00Bev, I used to work with a woman who was in the fi...Bev, I used to work with a woman who was in the first class of women to graduate from the Air Force Academy (Class of 1980) and she despised Faulkner for that very reason. She said that Faulkner made it a LOT harder for other women. And she was particularly pissed that women had already entered more difficult environments and succeeded, and she felt that it was a disgrace that Faulkner didn't prepare herself.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-65800232399097436912014-01-03T21:00:59.880-05:002014-01-03T21:00:59.880-05:00Andrew - It isn't so much that Faulkner was a ...Andrew - It isn't so much that Faulkner was a bad thing. It's that if one demands equality, one must be prepared to be prove that one IS equal. She did pave the way for other women who were. And to her credit she didn't ask for the standard to be lowered. She got what she fought for and that was the opportunity. But it was still frustrating that she spent all that time demanding equality in opportunity and failed to prepare herself to prove it. It just made it that much harder for women who WERE equal to the task and prepared to prove it.BevfromNYChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14953050916932306270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-5748180223112384442014-01-03T20:13:18.369-05:002014-01-03T20:13:18.369-05:00Gone Girl was good; The Tiger's Wife was bette...Gone Girl was good; The Tiger's Wife was better.<br /><br />T-Rav, did you go up and get all fan-dom over Ben?Koshcathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00552108950848576633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-69851811633436023112014-01-03T20:01:10.922-05:002014-01-03T20:01:10.922-05:00Koshcat, everyone in my neck of the woods has been...Koshcat, everyone in my neck of the woods has been boning up on Gone Girl recently, because it's set in nearby Cape Girardeau (well not really, but that's what the fictional setting is based on) and they've been filming there for the movie, so a bunch of people got to have their pictures taken with Ben Affleck and the rest.<br /><br />I understand the book is kind of wacky in its organization. And my mom objected a bit to the constant profanity in it, but overall she liked it.T-Ravhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10861218035729479354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-20605477034783334982014-01-03T19:53:50.209-05:002014-01-03T19:53:50.209-05:00Bev, I saw some statistics I'll talk about nex...Bev, I saw some statistics I'll talk about next week that will probably make you happy. The vast majority of young women say they see discrimination, but don't want the government to help them.<br /><br />Faulkner was not a good thing.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-4920630900108726232014-01-03T19:50:25.952-05:002014-01-03T19:50:25.952-05:00Kit - I get that. They had different influences. ...Kit - I get that. They had different influences. I saw women who were really discriminated against, but didn't take "no" for the final answer and fought back or cleverly found the loophole or right argument to make others see the light. Mostly because they proved that they were as competent, as skilled and as capable as their male counterparts. Not because they whined, And still liked men because...well...you are all very entertaining. :-)<br /><br />It has been a life-long frustration from both extremes of the movement. I see the history and know how far women have come rather then seeing how far we have to go. Shannon Faulkner was my breaking point. Look her up if you don't know who she is/was.<br /><br />//end of my feminist rant// <br /><br />For now...bwaahahahahah.BevfromNYChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14953050916932306270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-57165862005288834442014-01-03T18:56:38.729-05:002014-01-03T18:56:38.729-05:00Koshcat, I love the Foundation series. It's a...Koshcat, I love the Foundation series. It's an interesting bit of science fiction. I'm particularly impressed that he foresaw tech things getting smaller rather than larger.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-85652654480347261622014-01-03T17:40:56.543-05:002014-01-03T17:40:56.543-05:00Most recently I read "Gone Girl" and &qu...Most recently I read "Gone Girl" and "The Tiger's Wife". Both were good but the latter was different and I thought quite well done for a first time writer. Over the summer I have been reading some of the Foundation Novels from Asimov and over the last year I read "Le Miserables". I also recently read "The Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich". I tend to read a lot before bed or I can't get to sleep.Koshcathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00552108950848576633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-90013760906386501822014-01-03T17:36:13.116-05:002014-01-03T17:36:13.116-05:00Bev,
In fairness to the under-35 women, their onl...Bev,<br /><br />In fairness to the under-35 women, their only knowledge of feminism is those "bunch of women". Who complained about golf, who made them feel bad for liking Disney Princesses, who tried to force them into sports, and, in general, run their lives for some politicized agenda. <br /><br />Their primary experience with the feminist is the angry feminazi who hates men and hates women who like men. Kithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01453591141757808708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-60674278691194527432014-01-03T16:51:07.374-05:002014-01-03T16:51:07.374-05:00Critch, I've read parts of Barrett's book,...Critch, I've read parts of Barrett's book, and it's pretty good. The history of the Glock is very interesting (and typical, I think, of that meticulous German craftsmanship). <br /><br />I haven't heard of Harding's <i>The Last Battle</i>. What does that cover?T-Ravhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10861218035729479354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-86901119253422425142014-01-03T16:49:02.599-05:002014-01-03T16:49:02.599-05:00Bev, remind me never to seriously cross you! (look...Bev, remind me never to seriously cross you! (looks around nervously)<br /><br />Having a great deal of day-to-day contact with under-35 women, I would agree that that is often the case, and usually the more man-hating they are, the more ignorant they are as well. Not all--I have known a number of very sensible, decent, and intelligent young women as well--but among the hard-core feminists, that's how it goes.<br /><br />And as a point of order, it was Kit who mentioned Paglia, not me. So go yell at him (please).T-Ravhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10861218035729479354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-56384013995217170652014-01-03T15:08:34.204-05:002014-01-03T15:08:34.204-05:00Glock: Rise of America's Gun by Paul M. Barret...Glock: Rise of America's Gun by Paul M. Barrett. <br />King David's Spaceship (1980) by Jerry Pournelle. <br />The Last Battle by Stephen Harding (best history book I've read in awhile).<br /><br />Critchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07106908233705403513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-67050887225368347562014-01-03T15:00:17.835-05:002014-01-03T15:00:17.835-05:00"...bunch of women I know would jump down you..."...bunch of women I know would jump down your throat and denounce you as a traitor to your gender."<br /><br />T-Rav - Actually, I DO rarely call myself a feminist, but I find that I am more of a feminist than the women I know who rant about how they are feminists. Oh, I would guess that none of that "bunch of women" have ever had to suffer or overcome REAL discrimination in their lives either. I find women under 35 amazingly ignorant and appalling unsympathetic to the plight of the women who paved the way for them. It's kind of appalling that they do not understand the society that kept women in the home with no ability to buy or sell their own property without a husband or father's approval, no ability to get loans for businesses, rampant sexual harassment if one did get a job. I could rant all day on this topic.<br /><br />This is the difference between me and that "bunch of women" - Many years ago I was watching some talk show. The host was interviewing a woman who was complaining that she would never be able to break "that glass ceiling" because she couldn't play golf like the men. Because apparently all business deals are cut on the golf course. Everyone nodded knowingly about how evil men are 'cause they freeze these poor women out by meeting on the golf course. My response was " Why do you think you deserve special treatment? Why don't you learn to play golf? That's what those men had to do."<br /><br />//end second feminist rant//<br /><br />See you should never had brought up Camille Paglia...BevfromNYChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14953050916932306270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-47162542408864871212014-01-03T14:31:38.362-05:002014-01-03T14:31:38.362-05:00Kit, well in that case, she's definitely bette...Kit, well in that case, she's definitely better than the crap I've had to read on sexuality. Certainly none of those writers ever described the "mystique of hierarchy" in positive terms, much less the positive virtues of patriarchal society. In fact, I can think of several feminists whose heads would explode if they ever saw that second excerpt. Interesting.T-Ravhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10861218035729479354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-42826359626570848112014-01-03T14:27:20.333-05:002014-01-03T14:27:20.333-05:00Bev, you call yourself a feminist? A bunch of wome...Bev, you call yourself a feminist? A bunch of women I know would jump down your throat and denounce you as a traitor to your gender for even suggesting a merit-based system. It's kind of disappointing on your part, really. Tsk, tsk. <br /><br />If it helps, we're not expecting anywhere near 10 inches of snow, but next week we are supposed to be having our coldest weather in almost 20 years. My mom is really excited. And by "excited," I mean borderline suicidal.T-Ravhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10861218035729479354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-32527279057880890582014-01-03T14:24:08.496-05:002014-01-03T14:24:08.496-05:00Scott, I'm glad you haven't forgotten the ...Scott, I'm glad you haven't forgotten the time-honored practice among students of talking out both sides of your mouth. :-D<br /><br />Yep, that pretty much sums up TR. And it also reflects the fact that, in his age, Democrats and Republicans didn't yet claim to represent specific ideologies; there were large groups of conservatives and progressives in both parties.T-Ravhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10861218035729479354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251675227852122352.post-2715479822860819302014-01-03T14:21:19.491-05:002014-01-03T14:21:19.491-05:00Unfortunately, tryanmax, I do not like green eggs ...Unfortunately, tryanmax, I do not like green eggs and ham. :-(T-Ravhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10861218035729479354noreply@blogger.com