To continue crafting an alternative history I must find the cause of the event I want to remove. The larger the event the more complicated its causation. The American Civil War had a massive impact on the world as we know it and as expected its causation is extremely complicated. We have to go back to the very roots of America to find an event, a cast of characters, a point in time when the conflict began to develop. I've thought through several choices, I'll list them and the pros and cons and reveal my choice.
I could remove Abraham Lincoln from history. His inauguration is the immediate cause for war. The Confederate leadership issued an ultimatum and Lincoln's administration ignored it. However, even removing a man as influential as Lincoln would be far too late to stop the war. The conflict had reached an inevitability which one man could not stop. However, his desire to preserve the union and strong leadership would not necessarily mean he'd launch the war if the situation wasn't as tense as it actually was. So, Lincoln isn't the answer.
I could remove slavery. But that isn't feasible. Slavery is a global occurrence. Nearly every culture has been impacted by it in some way. Arbitrarily removing something like slavery, such as religion, writing, or adding something like magic or alien contact is the realm of fantasy not alternative history. So slavery stays.
There's a 3 pronged "possibilities" tree which the history of the United States has in relation to the slavery question. Slavery, freedom or compromise. Actual history shows our leaders choosing the compromise path again and again till it finally exploded into the bloodiest war in our nation's history. That leaves either a wholesale commitment to either slavery or freedom. As we've established already, I do not find it feasible to eliminate slavery from the question entirely, but I also do not believe slavery is just or sustainable. So, I don't believe its feasible that the early American leadership would've constitutionalized slavery. Even if they did, given enough time, every culture's slaves have risen up to find their freedom. Therefore, I don't believe that truly gives us an America devoid of a Civil War, it just gives an America with a massive slave rebellion.
In conclusion, freedom, the eradication of slavery in America, must occur another way. Otherwise, an armed conflict cannot be avoided.
One of my heroes, a southern gentleman and brilliant politician, may be the key to this problem. John C Calhoun, Vice President under Andrew Jackson, was part of the first big secession battle. Had Jackson not been one of the strongest Presidents our country has seen, he may have succeeded seceding...say that 5 times fast. Calhoun was the strongest voice for the slave owning south for years, remove him and the congressional pressure would lean free. Of course, a contrarian would suggest that the void created by Calhoun's absence would be filled by an equally as ardent "slave-state" voice.
Or perhaps Henry Clay is the answer. The "Great Compromiser" ran for president three times, once in 1824 tilting the balance for JQ Adams, once in 1832 getting pounded by Andrew Jackson and again much later in 1844 as his party dwindled and died. Say he ran in '40, against Van Buren.
If Henry Clay had been elected President the American Civil War would not have occurred.
Next week I'll try to prove that virtually indefensibly statement.
Braves magic number is 6. I really hope we resign Elliot Johnson, the guy is legit.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
What If...
I am a History nerd. I am flattered when someone introduces me as a "History Buff" but I've known too many brilliant Historians to consider myself in any way extraordinary in relation to my knowledge of history. One of the first things I think of to relieve stress, occupy boredom or just liven up an hour or two by myself is reading alternative histories. Its a beautiful combination of history, fiction, biography and fantasy. The best alternative histories are more than stories, but actually an exploration of cause and effect. One afternoon I lost 4 or 5 hours to a history of Asia and Europe without Genghis Khan. Amazing. I've decided I'm going to try and craft an alternative history. The easy, and frequently visited, options are "What If Stonewall Jackson had been at Gettysburg" "What If the British hadn't escaped at Dunkirk" "What If any number of extraordinary military circumstances in the American Revolution hadn't occurred" I'd like to try something a little different.
What If...the American Civil War had not occurred, but instead the United States and President Breckinridge were major players in Imperialism. American global dominance began a little early. Instead of a quarter of a generation wiped out killing each other, instead America turned its focus elsewhere. By the time Teddy comes along, American colonies are thriving in the Caribbean, West Africa and South America. He kicks it into overdrive, establishes the Roosevelt Doctrine, a 2nd Manifest Destiny, declaring that the American Constitution is the only perfect form of government and needs to be shared. Soon Japan, a large chunk of Saharan Africa and Mexico elect to be states. The states are grouped into provinces and the provincial governors gain considerable power. Slavery, as defined by constitutional amendment, was permitted but controlled. As the European conflicts increased in scope, the American holdings were solidified. Imperialism coupled with immigration results in quickly overloading the cities of the continental US. As industry and communication develop, the various "provinces" begin to find unique specialties. Just as the power and uniqueness begin to pull the US apart, the global struggles ironically launched on the pretense of balance, unify and strengthen the superpower. And so on...
Thursday I'll try to flesh out some details. Bare with me, this stuff is pretty difficult.
Braves magic number is 7.
What If...the American Civil War had not occurred, but instead the United States and President Breckinridge were major players in Imperialism. American global dominance began a little early. Instead of a quarter of a generation wiped out killing each other, instead America turned its focus elsewhere. By the time Teddy comes along, American colonies are thriving in the Caribbean, West Africa and South America. He kicks it into overdrive, establishes the Roosevelt Doctrine, a 2nd Manifest Destiny, declaring that the American Constitution is the only perfect form of government and needs to be shared. Soon Japan, a large chunk of Saharan Africa and Mexico elect to be states. The states are grouped into provinces and the provincial governors gain considerable power. Slavery, as defined by constitutional amendment, was permitted but controlled. As the European conflicts increased in scope, the American holdings were solidified. Imperialism coupled with immigration results in quickly overloading the cities of the continental US. As industry and communication develop, the various "provinces" begin to find unique specialties. Just as the power and uniqueness begin to pull the US apart, the global struggles ironically launched on the pretense of balance, unify and strengthen the superpower. And so on...
Thursday I'll try to flesh out some details. Bare with me, this stuff is pretty difficult.
Braves magic number is 7.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Book Review: The Dune series
It's been a couple months since I finished the last book in Frank Herbert's monumental sci-fi "quadrilogy...qurilogy...4 book thing." However, the concepts upon which he built the epic are both fundamental to the genre and owe their preeminence to the way he handled them. There's a massive amount of good stuff so I'll condense and address 2 major topics, Time and Religion.
Herbert's handling of time is fascinating. The series takes place years in the future in a galaxy far, far away. However, everything that takes place is impacted by various epochs of history. Those events and eras, however fictional or nonfictional they are, enter the story through their impact of culture, technology, and the people themselves. Then, of course, a group of characters gain a "time-sense" which is beyond the normal human experience. At first, the initial "seer" can only enter this state with the perfect circumstances. By the end of the series, several characters have viewed "time" in its entirety, and for better or worse, are eternally changed by it. He describes it very similarly to the way Hindus describe "oneness." Two characters in particular who face time in all its glory choose two separate paths. The one knows he destiny and runs from it. He plucks out his eyes, abandons his followers and tries to hide. Fate pursues him to his death, he never has peace, he looses everything he cared about. Yet, he feels he chose the easier path. To this character, being a puppet of fate was worse than the misery of the self-fulfilling prophecy. Cooperating with his own destiny, accepting who he was meant to be was in his mind locking the door to his own prison. The other character fully embraces his "time-sense" and becomes a demi god. The "God Emperor of Dune" the final book of the series, is his story. More philosophy and psychology is crammed into those pages than the rest of my 1400 or so book library. The result of embracing fate? Misery. Ironic but telling that Herbert feels time, or in his case mortality, that which makes us human, also makes life most miserable. The demigod, Leo III, abandons all that made him human and yet in the end is rewarded with nothing but eternal pain. I had to read several passages of the last book several times over to understand them. In comparison with the action and intrigue of the first book its infinitely more didactic and vague. I enjoyed it immensely.
Time
Herbert's handling of time is fascinating. The series takes place years in the future in a galaxy far, far away. However, everything that takes place is impacted by various epochs of history. Those events and eras, however fictional or nonfictional they are, enter the story through their impact of culture, technology, and the people themselves. Then, of course, a group of characters gain a "time-sense" which is beyond the normal human experience. At first, the initial "seer" can only enter this state with the perfect circumstances. By the end of the series, several characters have viewed "time" in its entirety, and for better or worse, are eternally changed by it. He describes it very similarly to the way Hindus describe "oneness." Two characters in particular who face time in all its glory choose two separate paths. The one knows he destiny and runs from it. He plucks out his eyes, abandons his followers and tries to hide. Fate pursues him to his death, he never has peace, he looses everything he cared about. Yet, he feels he chose the easier path. To this character, being a puppet of fate was worse than the misery of the self-fulfilling prophecy. Cooperating with his own destiny, accepting who he was meant to be was in his mind locking the door to his own prison. The other character fully embraces his "time-sense" and becomes a demi god. The "God Emperor of Dune" the final book of the series, is his story. More philosophy and psychology is crammed into those pages than the rest of my 1400 or so book library. The result of embracing fate? Misery. Ironic but telling that Herbert feels time, or in his case mortality, that which makes us human, also makes life most miserable. The demigod, Leo III, abandons all that made him human and yet in the end is rewarded with nothing but eternal pain. I had to read several passages of the last book several times over to understand them. In comparison with the action and intrigue of the first book its infinitely more didactic and vague. I enjoyed it immensely.
Religion
The Galactic Empire vs the Freemen, technology vs tribalism, Imperialism vs nomadism, organized religion vs paganism. Barely pages into the 2nd book its starkly apparent which side Herbert takes in each of these categories. Interestingly, Herbert wrote agriculture textbooks as well as sci-fi so he really did believe in his "freemen." The diaspora of the original people smells like historical analogy, which is confirmed when the freemen are the chosen people of the God Emperor. The religious conquests weaken the foundation upon which they are built, which again sounds familiar. Maybe I just see history in everything, but I think Herbert understood the church's history well. Its almost a reverse telling of a universalists' history of religion. First the "church" is an integrated and unassuming member of the culture. Then it gains power and conquers the universe. Finally, their deity walks among them and sacrifices his life for them. Unfortunately, the Worm's message is universalism to the utter most. He dies to give the freemen the chance to discover that the ultimate experience is the here and now. For Herbert, having access to all time, knowing one's destiny, knowing when death would come, would steal the joy from life. Leo III tells his associate to enjoy life's surprises, because they are its value. So worship is only recommended in the event that it would increase the joy/fulfillment of the here and now. All humans are connected through time by reincarnation so live your life to the fullest and rest in the idea that someone else will live your life again. When I picked up the series I had no idea it would be so deep. If that doesn't sound appealing, you should at least try the first book, its much more exciting and less "thinky" than the other 3.
Braves continue to cruise. Dropped 13 on Miami last night, would love to see some MVP votes behind Freddie Freeman's name at the end of the year. As has been noted, the Braves have 3 players with last names starting with "U" Uggla, Upton, Upton, they have 3 Johnsons, Chris, Elliot and Reed, and have 3 Freddie's, Fredi Gonzalez, Freddy Garcia and Freddie Freeman. Weird.
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