A parked tank with its cannon pointed away is not too scary. But that can change in about two seconds.
A 120mm smoothbore isn't great for crowd control anyway (120mm buckshot round with rubber pellets? maybe just rock salt!). While the machineguns offer some level of deterrent, as does the thought of 60+ tons making little protestor pancakes, the better option might be to put it in reverse and chase them with the super-heated exhaust.
While the movie offers a plausible explanation, in a broader sense addressing all of Greek mythology, I'd have to answer the question by saying: "Entertainment"
I don't have a link at the moment, but I read a study from the Gates Foundation that basically admits that a bachelor's degree today is today – as far as job qualifications go – the high school diploma of 50 years ago. Basically meaning that the high school diploma is basically “given” and that for most jobs, a bachelor's is required. Using my historian's skeptical view of things ( ;D) I have to wonder, since the latest census reported that only about 28% of adults in the U.S. over the age of 25 possess a bachelor's degree (or above). I mean, I know that unemployment is bad, but it isn't THAT bad.
Or you could take the obverse – if Lee were in the West, and the Confederate commanders from Tennessee and the West were in Virginia, what would the outcome have been. Confederate leadership in the West was far from the level of the Army of Northern Virginia – any many Confederate commanders in the West had cut their teeth in Northern Virginia and had been found wanting.Then again, I think much of it also had to do with geography. Northern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley provided some pretty serious natural protections for Lee's army, allowing for lateral movement, natural flank protection, and rivers as defensive barriers with limited crossing sites... not to mention logistical support from Richmond.All open to endless debate!
It was a rough life...Going back to another discussion here, the one about reading comments that people make on online articles -- I love the knucklehead who commented on this one stating that "she looks Jewish - is the computer biased" ???Just have to shake my head....
Something that may really help…If you haven't read Allan Millet's and Peter Maslowski's For the Common Defense, I'd recommend that you do so, at least up to the period just after the Civil War. It gives an excellent overview of the development of the American military and its tenuous and tempestuous relationship with the American government. For me, it really set things in perspective. I've been a military historian for years, but it is amazing the gaps that I had in my understanding of the foundations of the the U.S. military (and I didn't even know that most of the gaps were there).
James Madison of Virginia – which makes me “Diligent, Scholarly, and shy” — (Shy?!?!)I grew up in Charlottesville, which is Mr. Jefferson's town, but Mr. Madison's home was only a short distance away.
I recall seeing the Seinfeld "pirate" shirt in the Museum of American History in D.C. I guess certain pop culture items become sufficiently well known to be put in museums.
Phid - you've pushed one of my "hot buttons". the Smithsonian has, in the last 25-30 years really shifted from offering the "Museaum of American History" to offering the "Museum of American Pop-Culture". One of the icons of American history, for me, was the tree trunk of the 22 inch oak that was chopped down by small arms fire at the apex of the Muleshoe salient at the battle of Spottsylvania in the Civil War. I identified with it because, as a little kid, my Dad stood me in front of it's glass display case at the Smithsonian and told the story. My Dad had grown up with it all because at one time, my grandfather owned much of the battlefield (including the Muleshoe) and actually lived for a while in the McCoul house (Lee's headquarters). My granfather donated many items to the Fredericksburg/Chancellorsville museums as well as the Smithsonian.The last time I went to the Museum of American History (and admittedly, it's been over a decade and a half) it took me minutes to find Fonzie's leather jacket and Archie Bunker's chair, but I searched for hours before I found the Spottsylvania tree in it's glass case, tucked over in a corner like a potted palm, completely out of context, nowhere near any Civil War exhibits, and with no signage - just a nameless curiosity - a novelty.
I think that really depends on:1) Your knowledge of American history of the 18th and early 19th Centuries.2) Your goals for the course - what do you hope to learn and how does it fit in your overall understanding of American history?I think that if your are the type of student who reads the required readings and does the work to the best of your ability, then no, I don't think you need to take the Antebellum course. BUT, if you're the type of student who also reads the "suggested" readings (and then some), is never fully satisfied with your papers, and even re-writes them after the class is over, then yes, the Antebellum course may well lend perspective.There is something to be said for taking history courses in chronological order - for continuity in your studies.
February 2, 2011 at 1:57 am
in reply to: Snow#23901
No doubt that they're a serious threat – and I think that the greater threat is well outside conventional or nuclear forces. Cyber/info/financial warfare will be their strength.
Does that mean I can tell old people jokes now? ;D
What's that ye say sonny? ???I might already have two artificial hips but I don't even qualify for an AARP card (yet) - I guess it's the miles, not the years ;D
Chinese military technology reminds me of Soviet military technology at the height of the Cold War. They'd roll out these technologically advanced fighters or tanks – only to find out that they produced a very small number, they couldn't maintain them, and were never able to deploy them to the operational forces in any significant way.My gut tells me that Chinese headline weapons systems are the same way.