Thursday, January 18, 2018

A College Boy’s Observation of General Lee

 


The last sentence says it all.

A few years after General Lee accepted the presidency of the then Washington College, I was sent to be entered in the preparatory department, along with an older brother who was to enter college. The morning after we reached Lexington we repaired to the office of General Lee, situated in the college building, for the purpose of matriculation and receiving instructions as to the duties devolving upon us as students. I entered the office with reverential awe, expecting to see the great warrior, whose fame then encircled the civilized globe, as I had pictured him in my own imagination. General Lee was alone, looking over a paper. He arose as we entered, and received us with a quiet, gentlemanly dignity that was so natural and easy and kind that the feeling of awe left me at the threshold of his door. General Lee had but one manner in his intercourse with men. It was the same to the peasant as to the prince, and the student was received with the easy courtliness that would have been bestowed on the greatest imperial dignitary of Europe.

When we had registered my brother asked the General for a copy of his rules. General Lee said to him, “Young gentleman, we have no printed rules. We have but one rule here, and it is that every student must be a gentleman.” I did not, until after years, fully realize the comprehensiveness of his remark, and how completely it covered every essential rule that should govern the conduct and intercourse of men. I do not know that I could define the impression that General Lee left on my mind that morning, for I was so disappointed at not seeing the warrior that my imagination had pictured, that my mind was left in a confused state of inquiry as to whether he was the man whose fame had filled the world. He was so gentle, kind, and almost motherly, in his bearing, that I thought there must be some mistake about it. At first glance General Lee’s countenance was stern, but the moment his eye met that of his entering guest it beamed with a kindness that at once established easy and friendly relations, but not familiar. The impression he made on me was, that he was never familiar with any man.

I saw General Lee every day during the session in chapel (for he never missed a morning service) and passing through the campus to and from his home to his office. He rarely spoke to any one—occasionally would say something to one of the boys as he passed, but never more than a word. After the first morning in his office he never spoke to me but once. He stopped me one morning as I was passing his front gate and asked howl was getting on with my studies. I replied to his inquiry, and that was the end of the conversation. He seemed to avoid contact with men, and the impression which he made on me, seeing him every day, and which has since clung to me, strengthening the impression then made, was, that he was bowed down with a broken heart. I never saw a sadder expression than General Lee carried during the entire time I was there. It looked as if the sorrow of a whole nation had been collected in his countenance, and as if he was bearing the grief of his whole people. It never left his face, but was ever there to keep company with the kindly smile. He impressed me as being the most modest man I ever saw in his contact with men. History records how modestly he wore his honors, but I refer to the characteristic in another sense. I dare say no man ever offered to relate a story of questionable delicacy in his presence. His very bearing and presence produced an atmosphere of purity that would have repelled the attempt. As for any thing like publicity, notoriety or display, it was absolutely painful to him. Colonel Ruff, the old gentleman with whom I boarded, told me an anecdote about him that I think worth preserving. General Lee brought with him to Lexington the old iron-gray horse that he rode during the war. A few days after he had been there he road up Main street on his old war horse, and as he passed up the street the citizens cheered him. After passing the ordeal he hurried back to his home near the college. … He was incapable of affectation. The demonstration was simply offensive to his innate modesty, and doubtless awakened the memories of the past that seemed to weigh continually on his heart. The old iron-gray horse was the privileged character at General Lee’s home. He was permitted to remain in the front yard where the grass was greenest and freshest, notwithstanding the flowers and shrubbery. General Lee was more demonstrative toward that old companion in battle than seemed to be in his nature in his intercourse with men.

I have often seen him, as he would enter his front gate, leave the walk, approach the old horse, and caress him for a minute or two before entering his front door, as though they bore a common grief in their memory of the past.

Linkfest: Red Pill Jew

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Remember the IRS targeting scandal? No one ever got punished for it

Via Billy

Lois Lerner, the head of the IRS unit at the heart of the scandal, retired with a full pension, and no disciplinary action was taken against any IRS employee. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke, File)

Remember the scandal that erupted in 2013 when the IRS was found to be targeting conservative organizations for harassment? President Barack Obama called such conduct “outrageous.” “There’s no place for it,” he added, and assured the public that “[the IRS] have to be held fully accountable.”

And then nothing happened.

Obama took no action, and his handpicked IRS commissioner, John Koskinen, simply stonewalled congressional investigations. Lois Lerner, the head of the IRS unit at the heart of the scandal, retired with a full pension, and no disciplinary action was taken against any IRS employee.

Finally, last October, the IRS signed a consent decree in federal court in which it admitted to targeting conservative organizations for more than two years, from 2010 through 2013. It confessed that:

Illegal aliens cost taxpayers $116 Billon annually

Via Billy


In September 2016, we reported on a study by The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine which concluded that immigration is an economic bludgeon. By incorporating a slew of variables to analyze the impact of both lawful and unlawful immigration, the NAS reported that immigration costs taxpayers between $43 billion and $296 billion annually. A more recent study suggests that the more likely figure is closer to the high end of the spectrum.

In September 2017, Matt O'Brien and Spencer Raley published a detailed Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) report titled, “The Fiscal Burden of Illegal Immigration on United States Taxpayers.” They calculate that total governmental expenditures add up to $135 billion annually. But illegal immigrants only contribute about $19 billion in taxes, leaving a total economic impact of $116 billion.

Apple CEO: Trump Tax Plan ‘Will Result in Job Creation and a Faster Growing Economy’

 AP Photo

Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a recent interview that President Trump’s tax plan would result in a faster-growing economy and greater job creation.

In an interview with ABC News, Cook discussed a number of recent announcements by Apple, including their plan to invest $350 billion in the U.S. economy over the next five years and how President Trump’s tax plan will help the U.S. economy. Cook refused to “take a position” on how the new tax plan will affect individual Americans but commented on the corporate tax saying, “I do believe the corporate side will result in job creation and a faster growing economy.” Cook added that under Obama’s tax plan, the $38 billion tax payment the company plans to make as part of repatriating offshore cash would not have been paid.

“I hope — I have that faith — that it will be used for great purpose for the country,” said Cook, “whether that’s infrastructure or education, or what have you, that will further supply jobs in the U.S.” Cook criticised the Obama-era tax plans saying that he “never thought” that the old tax system was “good for the United States.” Cook stated that he believed the harsh tax restrictions forced “people to invest elsewhere instead of within the country.” Cook also believes that a company like Apple could only have been founded in America and they have a responsibility to give back to the country, “one of the ways to do that is to create jobs,” said Cook.

More @ Breitbart

A Bombshell House Intelligence report exposing extensive FISA abuse could lead to the removal of senior government officials and end Mueller's investigation

 

A review of a classified document outlining what is described as extensive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act abuse was made available to all House members Thursday and the revelations could lead to the removal of senior officials in the FBI and Department of Justice, several sources with knowledge of the document stated. These sources say the report is “explosive,” stating they would not be surprised if it leads to the end of Robert Mueller’s Special Counsel investigation into President Trump and his associates

More @ Sara Carter

Supreme Court halts redrawing of North Carolina congressional maps

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The Supreme Court on Thursday told state officials in North Carolina they don’t have to redraw their congressional districts just yet.

The court granted a stay, temporarily blocking a lower court order that required new maps to be drawn by the end of the month while the case is appealed to the Supreme Court.

State officials filed a notice of their appeal in the lower court last week.  

More @ The Hill

INTEL EXPERTS: "Heads Will Roll" When FISA Intel Memo Released Rosenstein and Ohr Will Be Fired


Sen. Rand Paul: The debt and the decline of empire

Via Billy

 When Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., forced a vote recently on obeying the

I ran into a couple of GOP senators the other day. They were talking about the fall of the Roman Empire (who knew senators might actually discuss history?). One senator made the point that Rome’s fall corresponded with a loss of values, which of course has some merit. But that’s missing the bigger picture. I responded that perhaps their decline had something to do with being overextended militarily, knowing that they would likely reject this point since it might imply that the United States, also, might be faced with the same future.

History certainly has lessons, but it’s amazing that after 2,000 years we still draw different conclusions. I couldn’t resist to jab them a little: “You know our own decline will ultimately come when we can’t manage our debt.”

This one I think some senators do get, at least on some level. But they can’t push past their own parochialism or pet issues and causes to see that everything must be on the table in order to prevent our economy from being crushed under our massive debt burden.

SWEXIT: Switzerland’s Top Party Initiates Referendum to Close Borders, Sever EU Ties

Swiss prepare to deliver devastating blow to Brussels 
 
The Swiss People's Party (SVP), a nationalist-populist faction that currently holds the most seats in Switzerland's Federal Assembly, will end 'free movement' agreements with the EU, returning full immigration controls to Bern.

The initiative has been approved by the Federal Chancellery and must now garner 100,000 signatures by July 16, 2019, before it can be put to a national vote, pending further consideration by parliament.

If successful, the Swiss government would have one year to negotiate the termination of various agreements with Brussels.

Key arguments from the initiative include -

More @ News Wars
 

pare to deliver devastating blow to Brussels

Manhattan DA raids Newsweek headquarters

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About two dozen investigators from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office raided the offices of Newsweek and its parent company, IBT Media, on Thursday.

IBT Media was co-founded by Jonathan Davis and Etienne Uzac. The IRS placed a $1.2 million federal tax lien against Uzac in December 2017.

The agents were said to be photographing servers in the offices, but not downloading any files at the offices at 7 Hanover Square, according to sources.

Aussie Complaints Headed to FBI on Clinton Foundation’s Dealings Down Under


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Retired Australian police detective Michael Smith has accumulated startling evidence of millions of dollars mishandled

An Australian investigative journalist who is a retired police detective said Tuesday he has been asked to provide the FBI with details about multiple allegations of mishandling millions of dollars contributed to the Clinton Foundation by the Aussie government.

“I have been asked to provide the FBI with further and better particulars about allegations regarding improper donations to the CF funded by Australian taxpayers,” Michael Smith told LifeZette.

More @ LifeZette

Come meet Ben "Cooter" Jones in Charleston: Attacking Confederate Monuments and Its Meaning for America

                                                               
                                                                  
                                                                   February 24
                                                                  Charleston, S.C.

Before “political correctness,” Americans respected Confederate memorials. They knew the War was a conflict that went back to the founding fathers and that the secessionist descendants of Jefferson were as much good Americans as the Union descendants of Lincoln. Today, however, our elites are kindling fires to consume not only Confederate symbols but much else besides.

A modest plaque with only the words: “In Memory of George Washington” was removed from Christ Church in Alexandria along with an identically styled plaque for Robert E. Lee. Washington was on the Vestry of Christ Church. He freed his slaves in is will and left funds to care for those unable to work. Lee freed the slaves inherited from his father-in-law before the Emancipation Proclamation.

                                                    More @ The Abbeville Institute   

How the Great Books Are Revolutionizing College Admissions Tests

 

You may remember taking the SAT or the ACT. Hours and hours of memorizing techniques and tricks, all to get that perfect score to unlock your college dreams.

These tests have monopolized the college entrance process, and in recent years—in the case of the SAT in particular—have been tied to the controversial Common Core standards.

The Classic Learning Test offers an alternative to the SAT and ACT. As opposed to these standardized tests, the Classic Learning Test measures a student’s knowledge of great works of literature and applied mathematical skills.

Of course, the struggle in offering an alternative to the SAT and ACT is having colleges and universities adopt the tests as a part of their admissions process.

But colleges are increasingly accepting the Classic Learning Test, and 86 colleges across the country now accept it as a part of their admissions process as an alternative to the SAT and ACT.

Judge Upholds Alabama Voter ID Law in Win for Common Sense


A federal judge in Alabama has thrown out a lawsuit against the state’s voter ID law, finding that the law doesn’t prevent anyone from voting because “nearly the entire population of registered voters in Alabama already possess a photo ID that can be used for voting.”

For those who don’t, obtaining a qualifying ID can be done “with little to no effort and no cost.”

State Department gives grants to Dee$ and $oros to combat 'hate'

Via Billy

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The State Department touted the work of the Southern Poverty Law Center and George Soros's Open Society Foundation in announcing a new grant extended to British organizations to create a program teaching high school students about the United States' tactics in countering hate crimes.

The Embassy of the United States in London included the progressive groups among "organizations of interest" listed in the grant description of the "Youth Exchange on Social Cohesion" program, through which $50,000-75,000 will be awarded for the development of a program that brings UK high school students stateside to learn about American strategies in building communities that prevent violent extremism and radicalization.

Remembering Robert E. Lee: Measuring True Greatness

Via Mike

Remembering Robert E. Lee: Measuring True Greatness

January 19 will mark the 211th birthday of one of the most revered military leaders in American history. In fact, Robert E. Lee remains one of the most studied and respected military commanders in world history, although he was ultimately on the losing side.

The enormous importance that the mainstream media and political leaders today give to the Martin Luther King Holiday has worked to obscure the memory of Lee. Although there are many states that celebrate holidays for both King and Lee, most Southern politicians, following the politically correct fashion of the times, have shied away from honoring Lee.

In 2017, this politically correct trend brought down or removed numerous statues of Lee across the South including some of the most famous in New Orleans, Charlottesville, and Dallas. Many schools named for Lee were renamed. This was part of trend of purging the memory of the Confederacy, its symbols, and its heroes from American history. All this has been based on a false political narrative of the causes and conduct of the Civil War and the Reconstruction era following the war. Moreover, this false Civil War narrative is part of a larger agenda to change the American narrative and culture into a brain-numbed totalitarian nightmare where free speech, free thought, truth, and logic are treason. I have written a whole book on this: The Un-Civil War: Shattering the Historical Myths (Leonard M. Scruggs) so I will not delve into much detail in this article aside from a few quotes.

More @ The Tribune

“White Privilege” or “Yankee Privilege?”

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  If you are a white Southerner you may wonder who stole your “white privilege?” 

White privilege has become a major leftwing talking point and justification for a plethora of progressive initiatives that can best be described as reverse racial discrimination. White privilege is the mirror image of white supremacy.  Both are evil ideas based upon race consciousness linked to a political ideology that denies the value of the individual. White supremacy is the outward working of racism where individuals of the favored group are rewarded because of blood relationship to the group. White privilege is the outward working of reverse racism where individuals of the targeted group are punished because of blood relationship to the targeted group.