Gettysburg

It being "Civil War Week" on the History Channel, I had to comment on last night's show, "Gettysburg." Directed by none other than Ridley Scott, the two hour special paid tribute to the 45,000+ casualties who were either killed, wounded, or missing in action during what was arguably the most pivotal battle in American history.

I have seen many shows on the Civil War in general and on Gettysburg in specific, I have read many books on the topic, seen many pictures, and have been there numerous times to stand in awe at the summit of Cemetery Ridge, imagining a Confederate regiment charging up the hill, only to be cut down by ghostly cannon fire from the Union defensive line at the top.

Short of actually being there, one of the more moving tributes to the fallen at Gettysburg actually came from Hollywood-- from Denzel Washington, in the movie "Remember the Titans" (A Jerry Bruckheimer Film, 2000). The scene is training camp at Gettysburg College, Coach Boone (Washington) takes the team on a pre-dawn run that leads them to a mist-enshrouded battlefield, where he makes the following speech in an attempt to unite his mixed-race team:

"Anybody know what this place is? This is Gettysburg. This is where they fought the Battle of Gettysburg. Fifty thousand men died right here on this field, fightin' the same fight that we're still fightin' amongst ourselves today. This green field right here was painted red, bubblin' with the blood of young boys, smoke and hot lead pourin' right through their bodies. Listen to their souls, men: 'I killed my brother with malice in my heart. Hatred destroyed my family.' You listen. And you take a lesson from the dead. If we don't come together, right now, on this hallowed ground, we too will be destroyed -- just like they were. I don't care if you like each other or not. But you will respect each other. And maybe -- I don't know -- maybe we'll learn to play this game like men."

Life Lessons are often interesting, and always moving.

© Ray Cattie