Lee Definition Of A Gentleman

Barrycdog

Major
Joined
Jan 6, 2013
Location
Buford, Georgia
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DEFINITION OF A GENTLEMAN

The following thought was found after Lee’s death on his desk written in a memorandum:

“The forbearing use of power does not only form a touchstone, but the manner in which an individual enjoys certain advantages over others is a test of a true gentleman. The power which the strong have over the weak, the employer over the employed, the educated over the unlettered, the experienced over the confiding, even the clever over the silly — the forbearing or inoffensive use of all this power or authority, or a total abstinence from it when the case admits it, will show the gentleman in a plain light. The gentleman does not needlessly and unnecessarily remind an offender of a wrong he may have committed against him. He cannot only forgive, he can forget; and he strives for that nobleness of self and mildness of character which impart sufficient strength to let the past be but the past. A true man of honor feels humbled himself when he cannot help humbling others.” Robert E. Lee
 
Nowadays they would call him a "chump." How far society has fallen.
 
Elaborate, Who is they?

Starts with the lower classes who are part of the Frei Scheisse Armee (Free Fecal Army). They rather have handouts than lift a finger to work. Then it extends all the way to those on Wall Street who openly steal without fear of prosecution. Look up MF Global, PFG Best. Then look up Too Big to Jail and LIBOR. Then look up Quantitative Easing #1, #2, #3 Ad Infinitum and #4. Collectively Q.E. results in "wealth" annulment and it's all legal (and sadly, international now).

Sadly, most folks don't have that sense of honor like Marsh Bob did.

BTW, a great book is A Proper Sense of Honor. It talks about gentlemen and officers in Washington's Army and the attitudes of both upper and lower classes toward each other.
 
"Gentleman" is a complicated subject. Anyone of the "gentry" class is, by default, a gentleman (the kind of whom our favorite sergeant says, "I'm Kilrain, and I d*mn all gentlemen!") But, that does not automatically make them "True Gentlemen" in Lee's usage -- and few measured up as he did. To most people, being 'gentlemanly' meant simply exhibiting good manners -- always and in every situation. For that, wealth or class had nothing to do with it. Any farm boy who minded his manners like his Ma taught him, was being a gentleman.

jno
 
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