9 votes

At 63, I threw away my prized portrait of Robert E. Lee

1 comment

  1. patience_limited
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    General McChrystal is an interesting character, and his historical analysis of the Confederate General Robert E. Lee makes fascinating reading as an essay on leadership. McChrystal effectively...

    General McChrystal is an interesting character, and his historical analysis of the Confederate General Robert E. Lee makes fascinating reading as an essay on leadership. McChrystal effectively makes the case that however brilliant a leader may be at means, the ends are the most important factor in how history should measure them.

    As the historian, Barbara Tuchman, said:

    Any person who considers himself, and intends to remain, a member of Western society inherits the Western past from Athens and Jerusalem to Runnymede and Valley Forge, as well as to Watts and Chicago of August 1968. He may ignore it or deny it, but that does not alter the fact. The past sits back and smiles and knows it owns him anyway.

    5 votes