Legacy Matters

Honor Answering Honor

From Irish Elk, "Appomattox" - The Passing of the Armies.  I was so struck by this, I read it three times, each time more slowly.

On our part not a sound of trumpet more, nor roll of drum; not a cheer, nor word nor whisper of vain-glorying, nor motion of man standing again at the order, but an awed stillness rather, and breath-holding, as if it were the passing of the dead!

What a powerful, honorable surrender.  Unless you have some contact with the military, you can not imagine the deep thrilling beauty of a perfectly marked moment, grave and solemn.

They were men of honor in those days.  If only in these bitter, partisan days  our politicians on both sides of the political and cultural divide could rise to the level of One Union.

I fear that such a rise to a higher level will not happen until a terrible tragedy happens.  The most likely will be an avian flu pandemic in the next year or two.  We are living On Borrowed Time.  And when that time comes, there will be no time for beautiful rituals.