Gods & Generals

Vote the Bums Out!  We’re living in interesting times. But, maybe not the most interesting times.  Gods and Generals is part of a trilogy.  The Civil War had just begun.  Many of the same issues we are having today are bubbling up.  Freedom.  Slavery.  While that may have been the trigger, the real issue, in my opinion, was that they had different States of the Union that were very diverse.  Diverse in where their people settled from, diverse in how they believed government should be handled.  Diverse in the power of the Union versus the States of that Union. The state lines had definitely started to blur.  Moving from one state to another was happening.  Although a century had passed, our Nation was still in infancy. 

Gods and Generals was based on Jeffrey M. Shaara’s bestseller, and recounts the fierce allegiances and combat of the early Civil War. This American Period piece war drama was written and directed by Ronald F. Maxwell.  A strong cast of Stephen Lang as Stonewall Jackson, Jeff Daniels as Lt. Colonel Joshua Chamberlain, and Robert Duvall as General Robert E. Lee, all delivering amazing performances.  When in character Duvall actually looks like Lee! 

Abraham Lincoln had just taken office after running on an anti-slavery ticket. In 1861 there were 34 U.S. States, seven of those seceded, all southern, forming the Confederate States of America. That number grew to 11 plus Kentucky and Missouri.  Yes, it was about slaves, but it was also about money and access to a labor force.  It’s interesting that the 1860 Census showed 31,429,891 people living in the United States at that time.  Of that number, 3,952,838 were slaves.  A work force.  One hundred and sixty years have passed. 

We have moved past owning humans but, as a nation, the scars are still with us.  It’s estimated that 750,000 soldiers, plus unknown number of civilians died during the Civil War—more than all wars combined until Vietnam.  Four million slaves were freed.  Yes, you just have to look backwards at our history to know that the trajectory of the United States of America was changed forever. 

We aren’t talking about robots or drones used as delivers of doom, we are talking hand to hand combat, human lives, for the most part white, who gave their lives for their fellow human beings in the quest for a better world. 

As you may have guessed, I’m a student of history, or I strive to be.  In the last year I have taken three Constitution Classes.  Don’t laugh, I still don’t know what I should know about it to be a good citizen even though these classes are taught by Constitutional scholars.  But every time I take another one, I learn a little more.  Maybe one day, I will learn enough to be worthy to be called a citizen of the United States of America.  What a gift from the many men and women who have given their last ounce of courage to give me this incredible place to live.  Our forefathers, in my humble opinion, were ordained by God to design and build the structure for a country that has lasted for nearly two hundred and fifty years. 

Now, I’m going to continue to learn and teach.  I will be a Constitutional Coach (facilitator actually) to help educate those who choose to be educated.  Therein, lies the problem, preserving our form of government is not a choice.  Classes are free, we don’t get paid and we don’t charge.  We do it for our “love of country.” Watching Gods and Generals is a good start!

They carried the same Bible

They believed in the same God

One side fought for God’s Glory

The other for His Kingdom on Earth

But for the duration of the War

God Refused to Take Sides

As always if you have any comments or questions, contact me at carolyn@carolynhastings.com