Professors, Politicians, and the Death of Heroes

by Steve Farrell (Nevada)

Someone once said, “There are no rules in war.”  In life and death struggles, people and nations seem to reach back in time or within themselves to rediscover their most basic and perhaps most primitive instinct - survival.

As a general rule of thumb, with the weaker of our race, this argument has some merit, but human nature is not so shallow, simplistic, and mechanized. Reason, taught Madison, set mankind apart from the beast. And with reason comes agency. 

Therefore, while some in crisis choose the inward path of selfishness and survival, others look outward and yes heavenward in pursuit of  higher, nobler goals. While in between these two extremes lies an infinite field of varieties. As each man or woman has their own unique thumbprint, so each, also, chooses his or her path, based on the unique perspective, personality, and inner yearnings, which are theirs. History is replete with examples of nobility, depravity, predictability, reversals, and sometimes pleasant, unhappy or humorous surprises! Human nature is so complex!

Happily, there is enough charity, enough fidelity, enough patriotism, enough respect for law, still present in the United States, that our free society has not yet fully sucumbed to the anarchy of self. Proof enough that millions carry on the legacy of sacrifice and love of duty which personified our forefathers. Some however, claim it wasn’t so.

One of my history professors enlightened us: “Every generation has to have its mythological heroes - idols cast in stone by religious zealots or establishment paid historians, who either reinforce the illusions of religion or support “the existing order” of capitalism. And so the great stories of heroism, virtue, and faith which are part and parcel to America, are all myth. Myth General Washington’s refusal of warm and cozy quarters in the dead of winter, until every soldier had a haven. Myth, Washington’s angry refusal, in a moment of crisis, of  that tempting offer to be a king. Myth, Washington’s claim that he was “driven” by a higher source to cross the Delaware, despite wind and sleet, scant clothing and absent reinforcements.

Myth, also, that Thomas Paine chose poverty, directing all his bestseller profits to the revolution. Myth, that the founders risked land and fortunes so that their children and grandchildren might live free, rather than doing it for profit. Myth, that the political foundations of this nation were more rooted in Christian theology than the amoral ponderings of  the enlightenment era. So many myths!

Yet some naive underclassmen, still believed. And so the department had another approach. Debunking old myths was good, but inventing new ones was better! Enter history professor number two. His inaugural lecture for American History 1670 - 1820, opened with a quote from the North Vietnamese Constitution, which he compared favorably to our Declaration of Independence! That did require some fancy mythology! And, perhaps, by the time the semester was through, some thought it better to join with the more moral revolutionists in North Vietnam, for we all now knew a tawdry, degrading, often humorous story about every key American founding father.

There was one exception - George Washington. “George Washington,” he assured us, “was untouchable! His conduct impeccable! But,” he said,  “Washington was an ignoramus!” In retrospect, I finally caught the humor. It seems, unlike the former professor, this latter one really believed Washington refused to be King!

So, when all was said and done, he trashed them all. The supposed moralists were immoral, and the one truly moral, an out of touch ignoramus. And as for true heroes? Only those left-leaning, honest souls, who believed as they did that “the ends justify the means,” those unfettered from hypocritical Victorian values, men like Marx and Mao. These were men, they taught, who truly had the interests of humanity in mind, that every man might have his guaranteed and equal plot to plow in life. Hmm, was it a cemetery plot?

Sad to say, on my campus, and on hundreds of other American campuses, there were always a few students, so unschooled in moral reasoning, so unscrupulous in their personal affairs, to carelessly clasp the canard. Some, fewer still, zealously marched to that beat the rest of their lives - one of them right into the White House!

But it does stand to reason! If you have no scruples, and you solicit cash from slave state masters, then you would embrace a philosophy which states  “there is no justice, no truth, no religion, and no morality.” It makes perfect sense that you would then be forever bound to the task of proving that you are right. Hence, “we had our bout with slavery,” “everybody’s doing it, including Republicans” and “Jefferson’s DNA is a perfect match!” So on second thought,  maybe there are no rules in war." Well, at least, in this man's war.