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Comments
Gotta hand it to the dad . . .
He’s committed to the bit!
I’ve never gone to a reenactment, but I guess I imagined they were a bit more . . . choreographed? I mean, how’r the poor troops supposed to know when to die?
Vivid descriptions, Rebecca!
— Emma
I've been to three before.
And none are as dramatic as this. I was hoping for something to really follow up the last chapter. And something that will set the stage for the upcoming chapter. I'm not quite sure what I was going for here. But I knew I wanted to write a mock battle, something that would shake the character to their core. Thank you for the lovely comment Emma-San!
Back to the Past
I just watched a video of a hearing where our current Secretary of Defense tried to explain to a VIRGINIAN representative why the Federal Government restored the names of three Confederate Generals to Army Forts in Virginia against the wishes of the state. He had no answer, even though all three Reb Generals were slave owners. And then he had the temerity to argue with the representative because the man called him out.
Dear old Dad seems to reflect that same mindset.
I had a black classmate in high school who was killed the year after he graduated when someone ran him off the road along with his white girlfriend. In 'liberal' New Jersey in 1971. One might say that those folks who embrace the mindset of 'The South will rise again," hold onto their ignorance, as Tolkien might say, "like an Orc to a bone."
Love, Andrea Lena
The Past..
The past often effects the trajection of the present. The underlying 'Myth' of the 'Lost Cause' caused the mold of Southern thought to harden. I've read countless books trying to piece together the words that would accuracy express the ideas I've seen and the history I've seen unfolding before my eyes. Mississippi until the early 2000's held onto the mythos of the 'Lost Cause' like you an "Like an Orc to a bone" and since the most critical molding period of my life was 2000 till 2009, I've tried in this piece to address the tumult that both communities went through as old issues were brought to life and the state itself started to look deep into its soul and try to correct its wrongs. Thank you for the lovely comment!
Fan The Flames Of Hate
Gotta hand it to dear old dad, he has them Yankees figured out. Too bad he wasn't there with General Lee. No doubt we would have drove them Yankees back across the Mason Dixie Line and they would have to marry Yankee women, have Yankee kids. Our beautiful Southern Belles would have been safe from the uncouth distasteful northern scum.
Hugs Sunflowerchan
Barb
I'm tempted to paint the Dixie Flag on my pickup
Oklahoma born and raised cowgirl
The Southern Battle Flag..
I have seen it painted on the back of pickup trucks, flown from flags poles of private academies, and I've seen it put on everything from bikinis to beach towels. Once we even used in my school's JROTC Color Guard.. The flames of hate are dying. I think now, most people in Mississippi see the Civil War as kind of a cash cow. Downtown Vicksburg for example is lined with tourist traps that sell everything from old musket balls to cheap costumed hats. And for ten dollars you can look at a bunch of old dusty rifles and get attacked by the spirits still attached to said weapons! It a real bargin! Thank you for the lovely comment!
Doesn't Seem Like Fun
Disorganized sounds more like what was happening. I would think that the choreography of the battle was paramount. Surely there were practice drills and individuals would know if they were to be a 'casualty'..
In a strange kind of way I was reminded of the gladiatorial battle scene in 'Gladiator' when, in the aftermath the question was asked "Weren't we supposed to win?"
Gotta put on a show.
You gotta put on a show for the school children drinking their cola's and snacking on their moon pies after wolfing down their bologna and cheese sandwiches and snack size bag of cheetos. Most of those kids come from the local private school and are just happy to get away from the stuffy old classroom. Of course their there sitting a good hundred yards away, Ash on the other hand is second from the front. Most of these mock battles are not really choreographed. And most of the actors decide for themselves if and when they have been hit. But this is no paint ball game. The rattling of musketry, the smell of powder being spent. The noise, the confusion, all really played the bongos with Ash's head. As a result, he well panicked and no doubt scared himself silly, as would I. I really wanted to capture a Red Badge of Courage vibe with these battle scenes. Thank you for the lovely comment!