This history does honor to those brave soldiers—may we make their memory a blessing that spurs us to use our talents to save the country that they fought so valiantly to save.
This history does honor to those brave soldiers—may we make their memory a blessing that spurs us to use our talents to save the country that they fought so valiantly to save.
Augustus Saint-Gaudens long ago did a great bas-relief in tribute to the Massachusetts 54th.
You can see it atop the Boston Common.
You -- we, Mary -- can read reference to that sculpture, as well as wider reference in Robert Lowell's great, also fitting -- also still contemporary -- poem, "For the Union Dead."
". . . retags," Michele? Or as for Rex, above, "rethugs"?
How about Taliban MAGA?
With J. D. Vance joining their felon, U.S. Republicans have locked in to their cultism – such bitterness at America having turned diverse around them.
Dems? Panicked. Paralyzed – their Biden being infirm (all forgetting FDR).
Meanwhile two days ago Jon Stewart had old nemesis Bill O’Reilly as guest on The Daily Show. Both hugely enjoyed again sparring with each other. Insults. Caricatures. Hurling pet phrases from clear oppositions over the years. All in great humor as they also vied aptly to nab each other.
Key is, they knew and savored their differences. Unlike all of today’s MAGA with total cookie cutter conformity to, lemming-following cult leader.
Bill O’Reilly and Jon Stewart could toy with nuances, admit contradictions, tease complications because both prize humane literacy that accommodates the wider human: asides, digressions, exaggerations, puns, and hyperbole.
Most Americans revel in such wider humanity as can pair such opposites as Bill O’Reilly and Jon Stewart. Most abhor black hole Taliban MAGA – would love if our schools cherished that literacy and those humanities such as the moneyed and the single-minded aim to corrupt.
Why. Glad I missed it and can’t fathom why anybody would watch that blowhard. Spent too many years watching a family of smart, kind, and educated people bow to O’Reilly’s BS on Fox. He gladly, and with malice, fomented the division we have today. TIL he was called out for sexual assault. Piss on you Bill O and you Jon for giving that cretin a platform to amuse and abuse.
I could say a lot on this topic, but I'll limit it to one literacy pet peeve. How about we stop using the word "conservative" the way an alpha male chimp uses a tree branch in a dominance display. Specifically, how about insisting that the word be used with reference to its original meaning, which is that a "conservative" is skeptical and open minded about proposed changes to the status quo, except much more skeptical and much less open minded. Likewise, a "progressive" is skeptical and open minded about proposed changes, except much less skeptical and much more open minded.
And yet, it seems like the whole world has accepted the idea that if a person refers to themselves as a conservative, even if what they're doing is destroying the status quo, then "conservative" is what they're doing.
If we did the same thing to the word "science" we'd end up calling conspiracy theorists scientists.
For example, by my definition, there are three conservative SCOTUS justices, and they were all appointed by Democratic presidents.
A legitimate definition of "conservative" is a big tent covering a lot of territory, and the same is true for many words in common use such as progressive, science, democracy, freedom, and capitalism. But my point is that language matters, and if we forget that, then we'd be better off talking chimpanzee because it would make us more self-aware.
Bill O'Reilly is an authoritarian who hasn't figured out yet how essential dumbing down language is to the authoritarian cause. He obviously hasn't read George Orwell's 1984.
Well, Phil, I was about to go bed, so have no idea about retags. I may have meant rethugs. And I did because just now the damn autocorrect did change that to retags. I try to read before I post, but obviously didn't. I do love Rex's description of what they are actually worshipping. Pot metal works for me. Yesterday, there were a couple articles, one in the Atlantic, about the MAGA cultists. I also noted that some MAGAs are displeased because Vance has an Indian wife and a kid named Vivey if I am spelling it correctly. Horrors....not 100% lily white. As a former educator, I cherish all those things you mention. And I know several of my ex-students do as well.
Heroic Black Union soldiers were shot when captured by the racist rebel forces. They must have know this as they fought even harder. and took more casualties.
The monument was trying to be desecrated by white supremacists but the haunts of those wonderful soldiers revived it. What a world we live in, right, Ellie?
The abuse of the monument has been repeated over and over. Hate is hard to stamp out. Now it is loud and proud. A pseudo-Hitler rally is happening in our midst this week. What a world we live in, indeed?
"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:10.
Translation: The 1st century had the same problem as we do in the 21st century. Time for a change. A landslide D victory on November 5 would be a good start.
Lowell's poem rings with the truth of the struggle for freedom and doing what makes us free--both then, and now. Guts. Determination. Sacrifice. And that pun in the title tells us oceans about what's happening now. Can't let it happen.
A copy of that statue bas relief, and other magnificent works of art of his, are in a national park in New Hampshire. Out of the way, but worth going if you can. A monument to the beauty of courage is that bas relief. Lest we forget.
Last Friday, my daughter and I attended a Boston Red Sox game. It's been since before Covid-19 that I have had to drive in heavy traffic. Instead of driving into the city, we chose to take the commuter rail and subway to the Ball Park. I messed up and we took the orange line instead of the green line so we walked about a mile to the stadium. The good news was we walked through Boston Commons to get to Fenway. It is hard to not think about the role Boston played in both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. Thank you Heather and others for reminding us of a piece of the history of the Civil War and the important role these warriors played.
Funny. I remember going to Baltimore the first time and learning that it's pronounced Ballmore, or Hanover, NH -- H'nover or Haverhill, MA -- Havrill, or Worchester, MA - Wooster, or Lancaster, PA - Lang-ka-ster.
Sorry about the Boson Common. I am very good at butchering the American pronunciation of things and I've had a lot of practice having been to every state except Alaska.
History repeats itself over and over. Tyranny, injustice and brutality in the long run will lose to truth, integrity and love. These are dark days where hate, racism and injustice are on the rise. If we learn from history, America can stand tall and truth, integrity and love WILL win the final victory.
Allow the sacred group of hero's to rest in peace together forever in harmony.
The magnificent bas-relief is a focal point for Boston. Col. Shaw, mounted on his horse, surmounts the scene, but the eye is drawn to the private soldiers lower down—almost at eye level with the viewer. You can see the pride and the weight of history in their faces and how they carry themselves. It is said that St. Gaudens did not use models, but when a veteran of the 54th came to the dedication, he was the spitting image of one of the figures depicted. The whole is an inspiring representation of what the nation is, and what it should be.
you can also see a copy of the bas-relief statue at St. Gaudens National Historic Park in Cornish, NH. This was the summer home of Augustus and Augusta "Gussy" as well as the Cornish Colony of artists. The serious expressions on the faces of the black soldiers is a memory to retain.
Agreed! Quitting is not an option. The Shaw Memorial is an also in the National Gallery in Washington DC. Speaking of “quitting is not an option, here is the newest Biden-Harris ad for reproductive freedom: https://youtu.be/Cm9VdVkYCLw?feature=shared
Especially, Ned, the faces -- so many among whom the camera cuts:
little boys, the black troops, old civilian blacks, women young, women old, whites cheering, so many, many decently human faces invested in this war against enslavers, this war to keep humanity in some form of the democracy for all.
The line about the Confederates intending to dishonor Colonel Shaw by burying him in a mass grave with his men caught my eye and tugged at my heart. All the bs about race sickens and infuriates me. As a gardener, I know that plants of the same species may bloom in different colors. Human beings present in different shades and ways. Scientifically, they are the same species. Hate is never going to be satisfied with even great sacrifices like those of the Massachusetts regiment.
This history does honor to those brave soldiers—may we make their memory a blessing that spurs us to use our talents to save the country that they fought so valiantly to save.
Augustus Saint-Gaudens long ago did a great bas-relief in tribute to the Massachusetts 54th.
You can see it atop the Boston Common.
You -- we, Mary -- can read reference to that sculpture, as well as wider reference in Robert Lowell's great, also fitting -- also still contemporary -- poem, "For the Union Dead."
Yes Phil, injustice still sticks like a fishbone in our throat.
In the throats of decent people, yes. The throats of rethugs are, however, an entirely different matter.
Rex, The retags are busy wearing a bandage on their ear and worshipping the golden calf.
If it’s gold, it’s a weird alloy. More like spray-painted pot metal.
". . . retags," Michele? Or as for Rex, above, "rethugs"?
How about Taliban MAGA?
With J. D. Vance joining their felon, U.S. Republicans have locked in to their cultism – such bitterness at America having turned diverse around them.
Dems? Panicked. Paralyzed – their Biden being infirm (all forgetting FDR).
Meanwhile two days ago Jon Stewart had old nemesis Bill O’Reilly as guest on The Daily Show. Both hugely enjoyed again sparring with each other. Insults. Caricatures. Hurling pet phrases from clear oppositions over the years. All in great humor as they also vied aptly to nab each other.
Key is, they knew and savored their differences. Unlike all of today’s MAGA with total cookie cutter conformity to, lemming-following cult leader.
Bill O’Reilly and Jon Stewart could toy with nuances, admit contradictions, tease complications because both prize humane literacy that accommodates the wider human: asides, digressions, exaggerations, puns, and hyperbole.
Most Americans revel in such wider humanity as can pair such opposites as Bill O’Reilly and Jon Stewart. Most abhor black hole Taliban MAGA – would love if our schools cherished that literacy and those humanities such as the moneyed and the single-minded aim to corrupt.
Why. Glad I missed it and can’t fathom why anybody would watch that blowhard. Spent too many years watching a family of smart, kind, and educated people bow to O’Reilly’s BS on Fox. He gladly, and with malice, fomented the division we have today. TIL he was called out for sexual assault. Piss on you Bill O and you Jon for giving that cretin a platform to amuse and abuse.
I could say a lot on this topic, but I'll limit it to one literacy pet peeve. How about we stop using the word "conservative" the way an alpha male chimp uses a tree branch in a dominance display. Specifically, how about insisting that the word be used with reference to its original meaning, which is that a "conservative" is skeptical and open minded about proposed changes to the status quo, except much more skeptical and much less open minded. Likewise, a "progressive" is skeptical and open minded about proposed changes, except much less skeptical and much more open minded.
And yet, it seems like the whole world has accepted the idea that if a person refers to themselves as a conservative, even if what they're doing is destroying the status quo, then "conservative" is what they're doing.
If we did the same thing to the word "science" we'd end up calling conspiracy theorists scientists.
For example, by my definition, there are three conservative SCOTUS justices, and they were all appointed by Democratic presidents.
A legitimate definition of "conservative" is a big tent covering a lot of territory, and the same is true for many words in common use such as progressive, science, democracy, freedom, and capitalism. But my point is that language matters, and if we forget that, then we'd be better off talking chimpanzee because it would make us more self-aware.
Bill O'Reilly is an authoritarian who hasn't figured out yet how essential dumbing down language is to the authoritarian cause. He obviously hasn't read George Orwell's 1984.
Well, Phil, I was about to go bed, so have no idea about retags. I may have meant rethugs. And I did because just now the damn autocorrect did change that to retags. I try to read before I post, but obviously didn't. I do love Rex's description of what they are actually worshipping. Pot metal works for me. Yesterday, there were a couple articles, one in the Atlantic, about the MAGA cultists. I also noted that some MAGAs are displeased because Vance has an Indian wife and a kid named Vivey if I am spelling it correctly. Horrors....not 100% lily white. As a former educator, I cherish all those things you mention. And I know several of my ex-students do as well.
True!
"The whole country was watching ... and the soldiers knew it."
The whole country did not ignore their sacrifice, but many to this day do ... and the soldiers knew it.
Heroic Black Union soldiers were shot when captured by the racist rebel forces. They must have know this as they fought even harder. and took more casualties.
They did know it and were given the opportunity to leave their unit - but Didn’t.
Lynn, prejudice sticks like a fishbone in our throats. (love the analogy)
Thank Robert Lowell too.
Well said!
The Shaw Memorial in Boston:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Gould_Shaw_Memorial
The monument was trying to be desecrated by white supremacists but the haunts of those wonderful soldiers revived it. What a world we live in, right, Ellie?
The abuse of the monument has been repeated over and over. Hate is hard to stamp out. Now it is loud and proud. A pseudo-Hitler rally is happening in our midst this week. What a world we live in, indeed?
"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:10.
Translation: The 1st century had the same problem as we do in the 21st century. Time for a change. A landslide D victory on November 5 would be a good start.
Some who claim to be persecuted turn out to be the persecutors. Who knew
That is so sad...
May their memories always be a blessing 🌺 🌿
Desecration of the "Others' Sacred"... that's the endless name of the game, Marlene.
Thank you for the photos!
Lowell's poem rings with the truth of the struggle for freedom and doing what makes us free--both then, and now. Guts. Determination. Sacrifice. And that pun in the title tells us oceans about what's happening now. Can't let it happen.
The poem: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/57035/for-the-union-dead
CSNY Song... 'Cost Of Freedom'....
.... Mother Earth will swallow you, lay your body down
A copy of that statue bas relief, and other magnificent works of art of his, are in a national park in New Hampshire. Out of the way, but worth going if you can. A monument to the beauty of courage is that bas relief. Lest we forget.
I was struck by this:
"Confederates intended to dishonor Colonel Shaw when they buried him in a mass grave with his men; instead, his family found it fitting."
That bedrock inclusivity is crucial to maintaining the better angels of our nation's nature, and Shaw's family saw the honor in it.
Last Friday, my daughter and I attended a Boston Red Sox game. It's been since before Covid-19 that I have had to drive in heavy traffic. Instead of driving into the city, we chose to take the commuter rail and subway to the Ball Park. I messed up and we took the orange line instead of the green line so we walked about a mile to the stadium. The good news was we walked through Boston Commons to get to Fenway. It is hard to not think about the role Boston played in both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. Thank you Heather and others for reminding us of a piece of the history of the Civil War and the important role these warriors played.
Psst: It’s the Common, not the Commons, and the space adjoining is the Public Garden, not Gardens, We in Boston are sensitive about such things.
Funny. I remember going to Baltimore the first time and learning that it's pronounced Ballmore, or Hanover, NH -- H'nover or Haverhill, MA -- Havrill, or Worchester, MA - Wooster, or Lancaster, PA - Lang-ka-ster.
Sorry about the Boson Common. I am very good at butchering the American pronunciation of things and I've had a lot of practice having been to every state except Alaska.
Why do you suppose some make plural our common and garden in Boston Jon?
History repeats itself over and over. Tyranny, injustice and brutality in the long run will lose to truth, integrity and love. These are dark days where hate, racism and injustice are on the rise. If we learn from history, America can stand tall and truth, integrity and love WILL win the final victory.
Allow the sacred group of hero's to rest in peace together forever in harmony.
HCR says history does not repeat itself- rather history rhymes.
Interestingly, Matthew Broderick in 'Glory' resembles Robert Gould Shaw on the Boston Common.
Quite the movie, 1989. Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman were so young then!
so were we!
35 years ago! was in my 40s i recollect, though saw it much later on Netflix most likely. It can be rented on Prime for $5 or less.
The magnificent bas-relief is a focal point for Boston. Col. Shaw, mounted on his horse, surmounts the scene, but the eye is drawn to the private soldiers lower down—almost at eye level with the viewer. You can see the pride and the weight of history in their faces and how they carry themselves. It is said that St. Gaudens did not use models, but when a veteran of the 54th came to the dedication, he was the spitting image of one of the figures depicted. The whole is an inspiring representation of what the nation is, and what it should be.
you can also see a copy of the bas-relief statue at St. Gaudens National Historic Park in Cornish, NH. This was the summer home of Augustus and Augusta "Gussy" as well as the Cornish Colony of artists. The serious expressions on the faces of the black soldiers is a memory to retain.
Thank you for the reference - never read that before.
My father took me to see this when I was very young. He just let me look at it as long as I wanted.
Ooh, I must look for the bas-relief at the Common! THX!
Indeed. Quitting is not an option for us, either. Thank you for your eloquent words.
Agreed! Quitting is not an option. The Shaw Memorial is an also in the National Gallery in Washington DC. Speaking of “quitting is not an option, here is the newest Biden-Harris ad for reproductive freedom: https://youtu.be/Cm9VdVkYCLw?feature=shared
Mary, and that we still love dearly. Dr Cox Richardson certainly penned a beautiful -- and dutiful -- salute to the Massachusetts Fifty-fourth.
🤝
https://www.facebook.com/HowdyHistory/videos/give-em-hell-54thscene-from-glory-1989july-18-1863-the-second-battle-of-fort-wag/2692748310993277/
🗽
Yes, the film 'Glory' is one of my top-five faves.
🖖
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWjNsIKSUKg
⚖️
These three scenes still bring a tear to my eye a generation later.
✌️
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22AVWP9e6tM
Especially, Ned, the faces -- so many among whom the camera cuts:
little boys, the black troops, old civilian blacks, women young, women old, whites cheering, so many, many decently human faces invested in this war against enslavers, this war to keep humanity in some form of the democracy for all.
The line about the Confederates intending to dishonor Colonel Shaw by burying him in a mass grave with his men caught my eye and tugged at my heart. All the bs about race sickens and infuriates me. As a gardener, I know that plants of the same species may bloom in different colors. Human beings present in different shades and ways. Scientifically, they are the same species. Hate is never going to be satisfied with even great sacrifices like those of the Massachusetts regiment.
WOWerful statement, Phil; I thank you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPf-cPrMQTA
Thanks for sharing,Daniel, this short(less than 2 min video) 📣
“Generations of Black patriots have fought in every battle. In every war.
They fought when that freedom didn’t include them.
While progress has been made, there’s more to be done.
Black History is American History.”
“ ….may we make their memory a blessing…”
If the GOP extremists have it their way those brave soldiers and any memory of them will be wiped clean from the history books.
Let it be so, Amen💞
This was the battle they made movie of in 1989, Glory, with Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman in .