Previous William Thomas Sherman Info Page postings, quotes, observations, etc.
[Jerry Jeff Walker singing "LA Freeway," from 1978.]
In the course and continuing of what seems to have become my near-never ending update, expansion, and emendation of my Calendar and Record of the Revolutionary War in the South: 1780-81, I learned about and was enticed into following the rather strange story of Henry Lee IV (1787-1837), son of "Light Horse Harry" (Henry III.) It started with my reading his bizarre and relentless, though in many ways erudite and cleverly written (at least from a literary standpoint), diatribe against Thomas Jefferson, Observations on the writings of Thomas Jefferson (1832); ostensibly penned in defense of his father's reputation. I was so astonished by the fervidly vitriolic yet at the same time careful, subtle, and meticulous nature of this work (by the same author of Campaign of 1781 in the Carolinas [1824]) that it prompted me to strongly wonder that the devil might be "in it," or what Henry IV's story is about, somewhere.
This curiosity in turn led me to Paul C. Nagel's very impressive and epic yet eminently readable The Lees of Virginia: Seven Generations of an American Family that I now am presently engrossed in going through, and which so far seems to confirm some of my suspicions regarding Henry IV, and most plausibly his father as well, as being the target of some conniving and vindictive ghost. Although clearly Mr. Nagel could have little or no thought about spirit people being involved in the destiny of the Lees, and the effect such spirit people can have on people's behavior and or reputations, I will, very probably, give you my own two cents on the subject when I am done with this stimulating, if possibly at points (with all good intention) misguided (or "led astray"), history.
Treat and insist on dealing with them as if they are in this world, and on this world's terms; all the more as they are so (i.e. present and active); for they cannot be both there (in "spirit land" and absolved of responsibility) and here, and then act as if they are not here. But this is what they exactly seek to do and would have you assume they can do with impunity, and yet it is a salient and signal frailty of theirs; and that reflects the ambivalence and vulnerability of their legal and moral stance.
My position is basically very pragmatic. No torture, no murder, no dirty tricks, no malicious mayhem, etc., etc. by anyone -- regardless of whether it's a spirit or regular person that does it. To me this is just plain old common sense; moreover, the failure to adopt this otherwise obvious conclusion seems to me to readily better explain and account for (than any other cause yet suggested) the great tragedies and atrocities of history, as well as the prevalence of egregious behavior generally.
Once More for the Record
Someone on my Facebook posted a video with the famous speech of Chief Seattle being read, as well as another that is a clip from a PBS related documentary on him. I took the occasion to remark:
"In that PBS documentary on Chief Sealth they have one 'expert' who comes on to make it sound like this speech was really only white man literature written by Dr. Henry A. Smith. There is no solid evidence that Smith's free transcription was not in substance and spirit that of the chief; and what is offered to support the contrary view is itself at best and no better than speculation. But then people believe what they hear on television and what suits propaganda."
Funny stuff, don't you think? And how many of you remember the time, not so long, when they were doing things like encouraging ordinary folk to learn BASIC and C++ programming?
It's funny in a way to recall now, but back in its time "The Partridge Family" seemed about the one cultural phenomena that most all of the kids on the block where we lived, both boys and girls, seemed to like and relate to. Granted as with any childhood fashion, it was but for a season, yet significant even so for its unusually relatively widespread appeal -- among ourselves certainly. Today however, few perhaps, except fans of its stars, will go back to the Partridge Family for music. But for bubble gum, they did have a few decent songs and that are still keepers, and David Cassidy had and has a much better singing voice than many of us occupied with more "serious" music ever really gave him credit for.
To then in a little way make up for this, here he is to remind us (with some crazy gyrations thrown in for your amusement.)
Later Note. And here's another good song from the same; though in this case as originally performed in the days of old.
More from before...
