Posted on 09/01/2018 5:56:55 AM PDT by Kaslin
If kids aren’t reading books, maybe it’s because they don’t have exciting books to read.
According to the American Psychological Association, a third of all teens have not a read a book for pleasure in a year. The report cites the usual culprits, especially the prevalence of spending time on social media, which is even more popular than television, the traditional bête noire of the bookish.
At the same time, kids are desperately in need of reading material that teaches them something positive about American history. The history books that schools foist on them are riddled with anti-American narratives and explicitly unpatriotic themes that leave them questioning the value of being an American at all.
I've just read a book that could change that. Dubbed "A Dangerous Book for Dads (and Their Sons)," Armstrong, by best-selling author H.W. Crocker III, is a hilariously funny alternative-history adventure story set in the Old West. The premise has Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer surviving the Battle of the Little Big Horn to become a heroic knight-errant, in the tradition of Shane or Paladin.
Custer – taken unconscious from the battlefield and enslaved by the white wife of a Sioux warrior he killed – adopts the persona of Armstrong, and sets off on his adventures. He is soon joined by a colorful cast of characters including a troupe of Chinese acrobats (of course!), a Crow Indian scout, a former Rebel solider and others they encounter along the way. They soon become embroiled in righting wrongs in the aptly named town of Bloody Gulch, Montana, with plenty of adventures and twists of fate to keep the pages turning.
Custer’s multicultural band of vagabonds is the only politically-correct aspect of this book, which revels in period tropes but always in a positive and humorous spirit. Harry Crocker’s bold prose will definitely not please your average humorless progressive social justice warrior, but then again what would? Crocker treats his subjects with respect while not descending into the fawning preachiness that characterizes much contemporary period fiction.
Armstrong, which is the first in a series, is written from a historically-informed point of view that is reminiscent of George MacDonald Fraser’s Flashman novels. There is also an element of mystery that evokes the TV series “The Fugitive,” as Custer maintains his anonymity in order to hunt down the man who betrayed the Seventh Cavalry and led them to destruction at Little Big Horn.
I know the real Custer; I even wrote the book. Custer’s true-life story reads like fiction, so it is an easy transition into the “What-if” scenario in which he continues his adventures. This is the kind of book young people should want to read, which will challenge them and widen their horizons. It is part history, part humor, part drama, and all-around entertainment. If anything will get them to switch off corrosive social media and enjoy reading just for the fun of it, Armstrong has a shot. It may be against heavy odds, but when did George Armstrong Custer ever back down from a challenge?
Yeah, I know. That was in the late 80’s when the limit was 10 per each angler. A boat with 3-4 guys could catch enough to feed 20 people.
Rush has a series of books out with a time traveling horse named Liberty.
They think Custer was killed early.
Also, the cartridges showed the Sioux had lots of rifles—better than the cavalry-issued carbines.
No. Turns out the graves were placed later. Terry did not mark the spots where they fell.
I think they were all moved a second time (seems Fox said that). Indian accounts are not reliable. Best record is the location of the cartridges.
If you ever want to torture a 13 year old girl, take her to the Little Big Horn battle site. It was hot. It was dry. And could not have cared less.
Now, 15 years later she talks about how much she should have paid attention on that trip. Except at LBH. She still talks about how much she hated that place.
What strikes me about the place is how vast and empty it is, even with the visitors center there. Grave markers randomly scattered about in all directions.
Must have been total chaos and hell on earth there for the 7th Cavalry on the day of the battle.
Cute.
From Fabiani's Italian Bakery
Thanks for the tip. Just downloaded Armstrong for kindle.
Italian bakeries do the most obscene things to custard.
I like mine simple, with a bi of found nutmeg sprinkled on the top. :-)
Or loaded with grape nuts. Local diner serves up a mean grape nuts pudding!!
Grape Nuts Pudding? Think I’ll pass on that.
It might sound nasty, but it’s custard with a layer of grape nut cereal. A real treat!!
“The history books that schools foist on them are riddled with anti-American narratives and explicitly unpatriotic themes that leave them questioning the value of being an American at all.”
The reason this situation exists is because fat-ass, so-called conservatives are too damn lazy to get off their fat, worthless asses and show up en masse at a schoolboard meeting and read these leftist bureaucrats the riot act. These Mammon-worshiping conservative frauds are more interested in remodeling their kitchens, barbecuing ribs and counting money.
These gutless, self-loving weenies are the reason why public schools suck.
>>Yes there was a last stand where Custer and dozens of his Troopers died together near the top of that Hill. In fact there were several last stands, scattered across several other nearby hilltops.<<
Here are interesting facts most who comment on the Little Big Horn debacle usually do not know. Custer’s brother and cousin were also killed in the battle. His brother, I think his name was Thomas, had his head crushed and was identified only by a tattoo on his arm. Also, he was the first soldier ever to be twice awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor (for action in the Civil War, not at the LBH.
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the 7th Cavalry’s 2nd Battle of the Little Big Horn - a VICTORY
http://www.lzxray.com/articles/ronnie-guyer-ia-drang-photo-collection
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