As another Lame Cherry exclusive in matter anti matter.
History is thee only legend by which one can build a foundation of reality to not enter into the past mistakes and failures of others and civilizations. It is though one thing for the Bible to warn people of actions to not engage in, and it is another human creed to arrogantly think they can handle sin, only to have it destroy them, and then the Wisdom of feeling pain teaches the lessons which words alone will never educate with.
There are few people I trust historically. That is the reason a trustworthy Gentleman as General Nelson Appleton Miles is as valuable as a Lady as Elizabeth Bacon Custer, as each approached their present to record it historically, knowing that history is not a document written by historians, but the very people who live it, with the understanding that bias, prejudice, opinion, judgment and reality all stem from the same source.
"The recording of one's personal opinion, judgment, and observation of historical events appeals to me as a sacred duty, since out of such narratives the facts of history are culled. I think grave error may result, and often arises, from the inclusion of inaccurate reports and sensational statements, and I believe that literary indifference or recklessness should be avoided at all times. To this end I shall devote my earnest efforts in order that what I have to say may at least be authentic."
Miles, Nelson Appleton, 1839-1925. Serving the Republic
There are few people who have the ability to live historic events and not be a damn fool, an arrogant fool or a fool in making conjecture on what their weak character places on others, so therefore others are always wrong and the fool is always right. That is what sets apart some people from others, as they know their bias, but also are forthright enough to assess it, and thereby give the public an accurate version of what is history, and as General Miles notes, then by several sources, cull it from the whole of several others who are as informed in the subject.
One can read of Abraham Lincoln or George Custer, but one does not glean accurate portrayals of them, unless one finds in the ledgers glimpses of those who knew the men in their moments of humanity by not those who had conflict with them, but those who were dealing with them or had insights from their superiors. That is where real history lurks. Not in the fawning epitaphs or the deriding slurs. To know history is to know the men or women.
Abraham Lincoln was fallable, but because of a bullet he was excused. George Custer who really was infallible because of a bullet was blamed to cover the failures of superiors.
General Nelson Appleton Miles is a rare historical representative, like Winston Churchill of the English. He was educated, part of history, had contact with the major historical figures, and was related to the power elite. General Miles wife, was the niece of General William Tecumseh Sherman, a US Senator and her father was part of the judicial elite, as much as the General was a graduate of West Point.
Into this, he was an honest, brilliant and patriotic American who was not given over to emotionalism nor insecurities.
That is why an assessment like this from an honest man is important, as his wife's family gave him insights, and if they treated him poorly prejudices and if well, bias in their favor. Understanding that, we can read of the other hero of the Spanish American War in not President Theodore Roosevelt, who termed General Miles a proud peacock in great affection, who liberate Puerto Rico, captured Geronimo, shattered the last power of the terror Sioux and became General of the Army, and know that like his beloved contemporary Dr. Leonard Wood, that here was a class of Americans in whom history could be gleaned.
21st century history is fiction, as much as the 'history' from the FDR era of propaganda was all fiction, and few are the American characters as President Ronald Reagan who were able to have a semblance of Truth about them, with a harangue of liberals smearing him.
One can read history of those who write memoirs, but history is only gleaned from private diaries never meant for the public, as that is where the real history lays as much as history in others speaking candidly years later about a person of note they met and had conversations with.
Numbers of times in my studies, I have been off reading some manual on wilderness things, and came across some anecdote about some famous person or event, which was tucked away and giving a clear picture of the entire event or person. The story is nothing of malice, but something of an honest assessment which others due to rewards or position would create a fabrication over.
Not every story is worthy and requires examination from another source to compare, but in all sincerity, as I have stated, I have no time whatsoever for the fiction of the 20th century as it is all lies of a feudal state and press.
For example, I can tell you exactly how Ronald Reagan was as I knew the inside. Ronald Reagan was a Gentleman who was very good with crowds of people. He always was jovial and joked with people, until Nancy appeared, and then it was all straighten up and fly right. That is not to say that Mrs. Reagan was a beastie, but it was that she was the one who assisted in looking out for Mr. Reagan to be Presidential. He benefited from a spouse who looked after his interests.
The key to it always is to know what you are reading by God's Wisdom and not to trust some other persons prejudice or bias from their own personal experience or lack there of.
This literally is thee most emancipated era in learning if people choose to engage in it. For books of the rarest and most historical form are free in the e book downloads, and personal libraries can be in thousands of books, housed on a flash drive.
One can only hope for a day when the world's archives are all listed, and the ability for a cross reference in all languages exists, for both reading and listening. The world of propaganda is being eroded from the foundations, if people would simply invest the time to read the volumes there.
nuff said
agtG
