Confederate Memorial Day

In Georgia today is a state holiday, a hold-over from earlier years when a Democratic legislature more aligned to the old Confederacy than the modern day, could issue a proclamation commemerating the end of hostilities between the northern states and their southern sisters.

Back toward the beginning of this month, in 1865, in a modest white, clapboard farmhouse in central Virginia, Robert E. Lee had surrendered to General Grant, thus terminating the powerful Army of Northern Virginia. Lee returned to wife and children in Richmond, to later take a position as President of Washington College in Lexington. Grant returned to Washington DC and later, the presidency of the United States. Not soon thereafter, he would sit on his front porch and write his account of his life and the war he had just finished, providing a source of support for his wife and children after his death from throat cancer.

Meanwhile, the remnants of the Army of the Tennessee and the Army of Tennessee continued to dance their slow death waltz until today's date, when Joe Johnston surrendered his army to Uncle Billy Sherman at Bennett's farm near Durham, North Carolina.

That, oddly, is what we celebrate today in Georgia. We join our celebration with a few of the other states in the Old South. Other southern states will celebrate the holiday on Jefferson Davis' birthday in June. Of course, the Georgia state employees actually celebrated the holiday yesterday in order to give themselves a three day weekend, and some a four day weekend, if they celebrated Good Friday. I'm sure little thought was given to what they were actually celebrating.

Of course, we are more politic than that. We don't refer to Friday as Good Friday, lest we upset our non-Christian brothers and sisters and we don't refer to yesterday or today as Confederate Memorial Day. No, this is just a day like any other. Despite the significant actions which took place in central North Carolina, back in 1865.

In just a few months from now, one hundred and fifty some odd years ago, Uncle Billy would be out west exterminating the plains tribes of Native Americans more efficiently than Andrew Jackson and his federal troops and their marching orders. Little Big Horn and General Custer, notwithstanding. History is written by the victors, you know.

Easter and earthquakes

The gospels describe the crucifixion of Jesus on Golgotha. When he breathes his last, the earth shakes and the curtain in the temple is rent. For those of you who have followed my blog for some time and probably were wondering what was going on from December 2010 to the day after Easter 2011. Well, just consider it's the season for earthquakes.

Miracles do occur and sometimes I do have a thought to offer.

April, Easter and Atticus Finch

It has been some time since I wrote anything in this blog. One morning, on my way to Clayton, Georgia, up in Rabun County, I wanted to write something down so that I could vent about some Idiot who came up behind me in the early morning hours, driving on I-285 at the Memorial Drive exit, and poured his brights in my side view mirror to such an extent that I went blind for a few seconds and couldn't see in front of me, much less behind my car. I maneuvered the curve running under the overpass at Memorial Drive and got out from in front of the guy and regained my sight. Amazing Grace.

More of an amazing idiot, rather than amazing grace.

Anyway, I was reading a passage of characterization of the main characters in "To Kill a Mockingbird" a second ago and thought about the concept of grace in the book.
The main plotline in the book revolves around the trial of Tom Robinson, a black man, who is falsely accused of raping a white women in the small town in Alabama which provides the setting for the book. Despite the exemplification of the innocence of Tom Robinson, he is found guilty because he is black and later killed when he "attempts to escape". In this case, there is an Old Testament-type sense of law which finds the man guilty despite his perceived innocence.

On the other hand, Bob Ewell is described as the real malevolent symbol of evil in the novel. Despite the inference of his own guilt of the central crime, he jumps with glee when Tom Robinson is found guilty in his stead. Later, he is murdered by the "avenging angel" of Boo Radley, when he tries to harm Jem and Scout coming home from the Fall Festival at school.

Later, when the sheriff of the county comes to visit Atticus to enquire after Jem and Scout, Scout pinpoints Boo as the man who protected the two children and murdered Bob Ewell. As Atticus tries to reason a defense for Boo Radley and begin to defend him against the law, the Sheriff points out that his murderous act was done in defense the children and that he should be protected from prosecution because, "you don't kill a mockingbird."

This act of grace, refusing to prosecute Boo Radley due to the nature of his act and the character of the actor, results in a poetic justice in the end for the little community. Boo Radley carries a dark reputation throughout the novel which hides his gentle nature. His act in defending the children and his underlying gentleness, seeme to overcome his guilt for the ultimate murder. The actions of Boo do not atone for the evil which is committed in the community. However, Boo is not held accountable apparently due to the righteousness of his actions.

I understand that many lawyers hold this piece of fiction as one of the reasons why they became lawyers in the first place. I am sure that it is the character of Atticus Finch which appeals to the reader: the gentle, virtuous attorney and father, who fights the good fight in the face of insurmountable obstacles. I wonder if there are any who associate with Arthur "Boo" Radley, the gentle, silent guardian of the community who rescues the main characters in their moments of need. In some sense, both Atticus Finch and Arthur Radley portray aspects of the father in the novel. One finds honor and respect through his actions; the other finds forgiveness through his righteousness.

It is the time of grace and atonement.