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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBenedict Arnold was a hero.
When you hear the name Benedict Arnold, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Traitor, right? Thing is, the guy was a hero first. Gravely wounded in a pitched battle at Quebec City. He stopped a British invasion via Lake Champlain. He won the day at the Battle of Bemis Heights that led to the eventual British surrender of Burgoyne's entire army at Saratoga. Eventually, he became disillusioned and felt he was disrespected and denied accolades to which he felt entitled. His bitterness led him to eventually betray our country and cemented the legacy, and infamy, that he so richly deserved.
Flynn likewise was a hero. He served the country honorably. But something went awry. Somewhere along the line, bitterness and resentment overcame his good judgement. Make no mistake about it. He sold our country out for a handful of gold. He's a traitor just as certain as Benedict Arnold was. He deserves the infamy and scorn that accompanies the name "Benedict Arnold" which has become a term in and of itself connoting someone who is a traitor. That will be Flynn's legacy-and it should be. Henceforth, the name Michael Flynn should carry the same significance. Shame, scorn, and the cloud of treason-whether or not it fits the legal definition, shall follow him far into the future long after he's dead and buried. Michael Flynn, traitor, sell-out, betrayer of our country. Woe be to him. May he rot in hell.
dawg day
(7,947 posts)About how he'd gotten bitter and "right-wing nutty."
I tried to address that with a Trumper friend, how this anger of hers, the kind of amorphous bitterness, was making her miserable and leading her to be mean to her friends and children. (I was nicer than that in my wording.) She just got angry at me then. But I did mean it for the best-- you can be conservative without being so angry or bitter or ruining your life.
Michael Flynn ruined his own life. I would feel sorry for him, but then I think about him leading those "Lock her up" chants against a woman who had spent much of her life serving the country and who, by the way, had committed no crime.
His bitterness ended up biting him.
dameatball
(7,399 posts)not heavily garrisoned for its day, but was nevertheless strategic. Many cannon were seized and used in the eventual defense of Boston.
To me, Benedict Arnold is one of the most interesting characters in the history of the American Revolution. America was fighting for its life, but there was much infighting between both political leaders, military leaders and individual "states" if you want to call them that.
Many petty rivalries existed among our "United States." But we persisted!!!
pamdb
(1,332 posts)And infighting between the army and the congress. Arnold lost all his money, his boys after their mother died (I'm not entirely sure where his sons ended up) and lets not forget he was fighting the British since the French and indian war. Check out Kenneth Roberts, Arnolds Expedition to Quebec.
When I was a teenager we followed (in the comfort of our car) Arnolds expedition to Quebec up through northern Maine along the Kennebec River. Black flies everywhere.
grantcart
(53,061 posts)the Army hadn't been paid in months and the British could have just been taken off the coast and relanded elsewhere.
If the French hadn't helped us close the deal we would have to go back to asymmetrical guerrilla war.
Laxman
(2,419 posts)I wish I believed in Hell. How true, from here on in, calling someone a Mike Flynn should be synonymous with calling them a traitor .
Achilleaze
(15,543 posts)&f=1
shenmue
(38,506 posts)Dread Pirate Roberts
(1,896 posts)That's kind of the point of the post.
maddiemom
(5,106 posts)Last edited Sat Dec 29, 2018, 05:05 PM - Edit history (2)
He was somewhat the poster child for all the many historical figures who were somewhat "screwed over," and did not react in the accepted, "country over self" way. He was an exception, yet neither a physical coward nor greedy for wealth in his betrayal. He also had a loyalist wife whose family exerted some influence. He was a traitor by almost all definitions, but his era, as all others, require much more thought as we "evolve" Flynn. He has motives of his own to be considered.
beachbum bob
(10,437 posts)to Arnold, hows that for timing!
dbackjon
(6,578 posts)I too am related to Benedict Arnold (not linearly, but a brother of direct ancestor). The other Arnolds had to leave Connecticut after the war because of the bad feelings engendered by Benedict. They settled in the Marietta, OH area, which was were many Rev War vets were given land.
beachbum bob
(10,437 posts)Squinch
(51,007 posts)it happened. Flynn has no such excuse.
NeoGreen
(4,031 posts)...you don't get a statue, even if you are a "hero".
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029477094
TheBlackAdder
(28,211 posts).
And, now history has Hamilton the hero and Burr the wanker.
.
tblue37
(65,488 posts)geardaddy
(24,931 posts)From Wikipedia:
NNadir
(33,545 posts)...there would have been no United States.
There was no inevitability about an American victory. In fact the opposite was true. Without the American victory at Saratoga, the French would not have supported the Americans no matter how charming Benjamin Franklin was. Without French support, the Americans would have lost.
Arnold proved to be a self serving petulant man, a traitor, and a vile stain on our history, but he was nonetheless a vital link to our country's survival.
The current league of traitors working in our White House can make no similar claim. No good that Flynn has done matches the good Arnold did for his country.
If Arnold had died at Saratoga rather than suffer a severe wounding, he'd be remembered among the greatest American heroes. No such consideration has ever come close to appearing in the traitor Flynn.
keithbvadu2
(36,906 posts)Two generals... Flynn & Arnold
Gen Michael Flynn and Gen Benedict Arnold both started out as patriots who served their country well.
Arnold died a traitor in England.
He was not lucky enough to have a Donald Trump on his side.
Bucky
(54,067 posts)"...but it takes a certain amount of ingenuity to re-rat."
rockfordfile
(8,704 posts)Now far right Mueller has let him off the hook.
blue-wave
(4,363 posts)It is my understanding that Benedict Arnold turned over the military engineered plans for the fortifications of the Hudson River at West Point to Major John Andre. These are the plans that were drawn by none other than military engineer and the "hero of two continents" Tadeusz Kosciuszko. Andre was captured with the plans and later executed. Arnold eventually fled to England.
joet67
(624 posts)Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)Poiuyt
(18,130 posts)Highly decorated general and Director of the CIA who got caught giving his mistress classified documents
NeoGreen
(4,031 posts)...
http://www.neatorama.com/2014/01/01/Americas-Monument-to-Its-Most-Infamous-Traitor-Benedict-Arnold/
John Watts de Peyster, a general in the New York State Militia during the Civil War, erected the monument in 1887. Perhaps de Peyster made it in response to the primary monument, which was erected a few years earlier. The 155-foot tall obelisk has niches for four statues. There are statues for three of the four great American leaders of the battle: General Horatio Gates, General Philip Schuyler and Colonel Daniel Morgan. The fourth niche is empty.
General Arnolds greatest moment came during the Saratoga campaign, which ended with the surrender of an entire British army. The senior American commander, Horatio Gates, was often indecisive and shy of battle. Arnold, in contrast, was eager for battle. He personally led a successful charge on a British redoubt. During that fight, Arnold was shot in the leg and his horse fell on him.
Had Benedict Arnold died that day, he would likely be known as one of the great heroes of the American Revolutionary War. There would be towns, counties and schools named for him.
But he didnt die. Arnold lived on to betray his country.
Which brings us to the Saratoga battlefield and the scene of Arnolds most heroic moment.
Part of the Saratoga battlefield area is a national park. On the grounds are assorted monuments to various leaders and events. These were, of course, all built well after Arnolds betrayal. How does it address the critical and heroic role of Americas most infamous traitor in that battle?
The monument to Arnold is known as the Boot Monument. Thats because it makes no mention of Arnold by name and honors the leg that was broken during the battle. The inscription reads:
In memory of the most brilliant soldier of the Continental army, who was desperately wounded on this spot, winning for his countrymen the decisive battle of the American Revolution, and for himself the rank of Major General.
This is a reposed my reply to another post:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1016191344