Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: LS
"Benedict Arnold was a hero, and would have been considered one of the greats of the Revolution . . . if the war had ended after Saratoga. Unfortunately, we are judged by all our life choices, not just a couple."

True, if Arnold had died at Saratoga, they would have named cities, schools, universities, streets, parks etc. etc. etc. after him. "Benedict" would be an extremely popular boy's name. There would be a huge statue of him in Washington, DC.

But he made a very bad choice.

88 posted on 09/28/2007 7:19:23 AM PDT by Sooth2222 ("We have met the enemy and he is us." -Pogo)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 81 | View Replies ]


To: Sooth2222

Not just Saratoga. He fought courageously in Canada, as I recall, and one of the reasons for his betrayal was that he thought he was not getting the recognition for his efforts that he was entitled to.


90 posted on 09/28/2007 7:20:50 AM PDT by LS (CNN is the Amtrak of News)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 88 | View Replies ]

To: Sooth2222; LS

I’ve often thought that the reason Saratoga/Ticonderoga has not been much more greatly celebrated as the turning point in our revolution is a lack of a suitable hero as a focus of attention - Gates was an embarrassment, Arnold later became a traitor, and Washington and other key leaders were not there. So it’s difficult to celerate such a triumph on a national level without anyone to ‘personnify’ the triumph. Why else would such a crucial battle, which evidently swayed France to support our cause, be almost unknown to the general public? It’s certainly very well-known to historians, but when I have mentioned it to friends or acquaintances I have often drawn a blank stare - What battle? Where?


111 posted on 09/28/2007 9:03:49 AM PDT by Enchante (Democrat terror-fighting motto: "bleat, cheat, retreat, defeat while we suck on liberal teat")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 88 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson