Because You’re Here

I listened to KQED, our local public
broadcasting radio station on my drive to work this morning. They just
aired a story which included an interview with a Captain of Iraqui militia
in Baghdad’s Sadr City. His description of why he was fighting sounded
familiar. I have been reading Shelby Foote’s monumental 1958 history
The Civil War: A Narrative and remembered the following passage from
Volume One (Fort Sumter to Perryville, 1861-1862):

Perhaps the best definition of the conflict was given in conversation by a
civilian, James M. Mason of Virginia: “I look upon it then, sir, as a war
of sentiment and opinion by one form of society against another form of
society.” No soldier would have argued with this; but few would have found it
satisfactory. They wanted something more immediate and less comprehensive…
Meanwhile, perhaps no soldier in either army gave a better answer — one more
readily understandable to his fellow soldiers, at any rate — than a ragged
Virginia private, pounced on by the Northerners in a retreat.

“What are you fighting for anyhow?” his captors asked, looking at him. They
were genuinely puzzled, for he obviously owned no slaves and seemingly could
have little interest in States Rights or even Independence.


“I’m fighting because you’re down here,” he said.