The other day, our friend George Harris posed an interesting question on his Facebook page. It went something like this: If you could interview one person, living or dead, from the 20th century, who would it be and why?
I still haven’t decided on my person yet. Who do you chose? Reminder, the person does not have to be famous
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Narrowing it down to Chief Joseph, Harry Truman or Margaret Sanger. decisions decisions. Chief Joseph barely made the cut. He died in 1904.
My Grandfather, I spent a lot of time with him when I was young but was too young to ask good questions.
Great, great and great answer!
The people in charge of the Roswell Crash site.
I picked my grandparents for a couple of reasons–first, they could take me back to another century and a time not long after the Civil War; second, in doing genealogical research, I came across a number of “skeletons” that I didn’t know about when I was young and sure would like to know the “real” answers to today. I sometimes think you have to get much older before you realize how much information you could have gleaned from your parents and grandparents–if you had only known.
Absolutely! @ George. Whe nI think of all the things I should have asked my Grandmother and parents. When I think of how I would allow my eyes to roll back in my head when my grandmother started on one of her stories….shame on me. I am the loser.
I suppose the question behind the question as I see it is this: what is it that I would like to know, and how would that knowledge make me a better person? The human heart is a mystery I would like to understand more, whether by peering into its dark abysses, as in Hitler, Stalin, or Sanger, or its sublime beauty as in Mother Theresa, Gandhi, or John Paul II. I don’t think I could narrow it to one – to me a perfect afternoon would be in an English Pub, engaging with the wit, humor, and genius of Tolkien, Lewis, and Chesterton. Cheers!
I have always wanted to ask Robert E. Lee what he was thinking when he ordered Pickett’s Charge on the afternoon of 3 July 1863 at Gettysburg. That decision was one of the most important of the war, yet it was completely wrong (for the Arky of N. Va) and out of character for him.
Interesting question. I never paid much attention to battle strategy but I think that is a chix thing. He doesn’t make the 20th century cut off but if you are going to fudge the rules, smart to do it with one of my favorite people.
He was a little imputent to his wife and fell from favor a bit with me recently. I saw it on American Experience: Robert E. Lee.
Oops. That would be the Army of Northern Virginia.
You caught me on the 20th century rule — I skimmed your post, and so did not catch that.
I did not know that Robert E. Lee was ever anything but chivalrous to his wife, but then I never paid much attention to his personal life. That may be a guy thing.
I also gave you a pass. Its easy to skim if there is someone you would really like to talk to. Plus you were only 30 years off. In the history of mankind, I would say that is barely off.
Mrs. Lee was plagues by illness. He told her to stop bugging him. This was before the civil war. You can watch the entire video online.
It is just one thing. The rest of the time he is very much the hero and gentleman. Have you been to Stratford Hall?
Yes. I have been to Stratford Hall and Arlington House.
It seems to me that the decision-making of Lee at Gettysburg is still a historical mystery. In the aftermath of Gettysburg, the Southern press looked for a scapegoat, but Lee was largely considered beyond reproach. Longstreet was viewed as a villian because he claimed after the war that he advised Lee that a 15,000-man force could not take Cemetary Hill. Lee never published his memoirs, so he never really provided a full accounting. We do know that he was not looking for a large-scale battle at Gettysburg.
No one in the South would question him, that’s for sure.
Stratford Hall is neat. Why had the father fallen on hard times? I don’t recall. I am just trying to remember the recipe for their olive relish. I can’t find it anywhere now.
Watch that Lee documentary. I learned a great deal about the man. I still think what was done to him was horrible. I think I am judging him through 2012 eyes with what he said to his wife, rather than through eyes of the times when he lived.
I will try to find the documentary on Lee. Thanks for the recommendation.