I have difficulties with Sherman, Wm. Tecumseh Sherman. Despite his clear-sighted warnings that a war with the Northern states would be “folly, madness, a crime against civilization!” Despite his soft affinities for southern culture, having spent time in Charleston, the cradle of rebellion, it was Sherman who materialized his prophecy that the south would be “drenched in blood.” His march from Atlanta to the sea, brought the Civil War’s terrors to the home front, a wide swath of pillage and fire, a wild escapade intended to blind the ante bellum and “make Georgia howl.”
Perhaps Arthur Harris — Sir Arthur Harris, 1st Baronet — was a more successful angel of the apocalypse. As the architect of Britian’s bombing campaign of German cities, Harris sought a righteous revenge against the aggression, actually the existence, of the Nazi regime. “They sowed the wind, and now they are going to reap the whirlwind.”
We all know about Dresden. Upwards of 35,000 dead and eradication of its European culture. But the firestorm of Hamburg: block busters with 3000 pounds of explosives to destroy entire blocks and some 350,000 individual incendiary bombs finish the job in a fire storm. A storm of fire — wrought from July 25th to 28th, 1943 — all in less than one week — resulted in over 40,000 dead and many more thousands displaced. Actually, W.G. Sebald cites estimates that suggest 40,000 is far off the mark of the 200,000 who may actually have perished.
Sherman, Harris. How should the good confront the bad, or worse, the evil? What is the right reaction from those who were wronged? How easy to turn the pursuit of victory to persecution of all, from avenging angels to instruments of revenge.
Sure. Keep this lesson in mind as the conflict between Israel and Hamas weighs on the future. But I will not try to wear the heavy cloak woven in this situation’s complex tapestry of pain and fear. I leave that for the courage of statesmen, if it can be found.
Instead, I need only look at our own darkening shores to feel the chilling fear of a rising angel. This one promises retribution on the vermin, the destruction of everyone who challenged him. Like the archangel Micheal, he rises, verbal sword at the ready, to cast out the old serpent, who deceiveth the whole world. What a year lies ahead of us all…one where some a modern-day Sherman might quip, “Mr. President, I beg to present you, as a Christmas gift, the city of Washington.”
Or will we be touched by the better nature of our angels?