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Henry David Thoreau

May 29th 2005MichaelQuote of the Day

Visit the Navy-Yard, and behold a marine, such a man as an American government can make, or such as it can make a man with its black arts - a mere shadow and reminiscence of humanity, a man laid out alive and standing, and already, as one may say, buried under arms with funeral accompaniments.

Henry David Thoreau



Update: I wanted to share the contents of an email conversation I had with GM, whom I have the utmost respect.

Howdy, you are probably aware of this, but I thought you should know that your Thoreau quote was one of his Civil Disobedience series. It was not intended as a compliment to our men under arms, but as a description of mindless machines, made by the government’s “black arts” doomed to death.

at any rate, the whole is here…. http://eserver.org/thoreau/civil1.html

GM,

Yes, it is my twisted way and praising the Marines by showing what the elites thought of us back then, because that is still how they think of us today.

Kind of like Jar Head is a derogatory term that we embrace.

Thanks for the note. Have a safe and grand Memorial Day.

Semper Fi

He brings up a site that shows how wacky Thoreau was.

7 Comments »

7 Responses to “Henry David Thoreau”

  1. Jay on 29 May 2005 at Sun 29 May 2005 08:47:37 #

    Have a nice memorial day weekend!

  2. Nickie Goomba on 29 May 2005 at Sun 29 May 2005 09:43:29 #

    Thanks, man. Keep up the good work.

  3. Improbulus Maximus on 29 May 2005 at Sun 29 May 2005 15:29:38 #

    I don’t think he meant that in a complimentary way. Thoreau was a fruit-loop and I would give a great deal to have back those hours of my life wasted on his doggerel.

  4. Michael on 29 May 2005 at Sun 29 May 2005 18:55:33 #

    Thanks IM, To give back your time is to not know your enemy. Understanding is more valuable than the time you gave. Yes this was not a compliment. It is the intellectuals of the day talking down about the great Americans of the day. They are not that different from the intellectuals commenting about Americans today.

  5. Raven on 30 May 2005 at Mon 30 May 2005 05:00:27 #

    Elites from every generation have always hated the military. They have no respect for those who would stand up and fight, using the “black arts”.

    I would rather keep the company of a low ranking, poor grunt- Marine, out in the middle of no where, than be with one of the elites with money, “power” and prestige….those things don’t impress me.

    Down in Boston a couple weeks ago an ACC came in to harbor; bunches of Marines got off it and went to some parties where the Mayor and his group of high-society friends came along. It was funny how they all kept their distance- didn’t even come over to shake the hands of any Marine. All us low-lifes’ stuck together as the elites patted themselves on their own backs and fondled their egos… It looked good for them-being there to THANK the troops.

    The American military deserve way more respect then this. Know that I am not the only one who feels this way.

  6. GM Roper on 30 May 2005 at Mon 30 May 2005 06:34:01 #

    Michael, thanks so much for publicizing my poor attempts at criticism of HDT. The man made a name for himself by being a contrarian in the worst possible way, by denegrating those who actually stood between him and barbarity.

    We owe our servicemen a collective thanks for the manner in which they have resolutely fought for our way of life. No country in the world has as much promise as does ours, and while that may be Chauvinistic in the purest sense of the word, it is also quite true. We really are the “Shining City on the Hill,” and it is our servicemen and women who have burnished that glow.

    Thanks again.
    GM

  7. Michael on 30 May 2005 at Mon 30 May 2005 18:43:57 #

    GM,
    I am honored and privileged to have you visit my little world.
    Thank you
    Semper Fi