originally posted on Flickr as Lecture on Anti-Monarchial Republicanism from Colonialist Upstart
“There are no winners or losers in war,” Graham tells me as we stroll away from the Loyalist camp, my hand on his shoulder reminding him not to bounce in the mud.
“Only the dead,” I finish the thought in my head, and tell him, “No, you’re right.”
We are touring the reenactment camps around Locust Grove, an historical site near our home in Louisville, where we’ve come with Graham and Evan’s Cub Scout den for an 18th Century Market Fair.
“So that guy in green, he was English, right?” he asks, trying to understand the complexities of conflict and human interaction.
“No,” I tell him.
“So he was American?” he asks, supplying the obvious conclusion.
“Not exactly,” I tell him. “There was no America, as a country, at the time. He lived here in what we call America today, but he was a colonist, maybe from England or Scotland or Wales or even some other part of Europe.”
“So what side was he on?”
I wonder about our culture, which perennially insists on sides.
I want to give him the simple answer that he wants, but the simple answers are irresponsible, they don’t get us closer to understanding one another, and they lead to more conflict. I’d rather have him confused, eyes open, than blinded by reductive ideology and white-washed history.
I answer his question with one of my own, diverting him slightly from the specific topic, but maintaining the general thread. “Do you know what’s special about you?”
“I’m funny?” he tries. He nods and wrinkles appear on the edges of his eyes.
“Yes, and some of your ancestors fought in the War for American Independence.”
“Really?” he asks, eyes wide, so that I know I have him.
“What side do you think they fought on?” I ask, setting him up.
“America,” he says, confident and shaking his left fist.
“No,” I tell him.
“England?” he asks, surprised and slightly dubious.
“Both,” I tell him, letting the idea sink in. “Some of my ancestors were Hessian soldiers hired by King George to help stop the rebellion. They were like the German soldiers we saw with the floppy hats. A few were volunteers, but most didn’t have a choice and fought to pay off debts or were drafted by royals and landowners.”
“And now they live in America?” Graham adds.
“We are their descendants, and we’re American. They stayed after the war, and here we are.”
“Cool,” he says.
“But,” I tell him, “one of your mother’s ancestors was a Scots colonist, and he served as a bodyguard to General Washington. That’s what makes your mom a Daughter of the American Revolution.”
“And he was an American,” Graham fills in. “He just came from Scotland?”
“Right, he was a colonist. But did you know the Highland Scots Officer was just telling Mom that MacGregors are on the roster for his regiment? That means that some of your distant cousins probably fought for the Crown as well.”
“That’s crazy. I don’t want to fight Nicco,” he shakes his head.
“Well, you sound like a Loyalist then, or maybe a Quaker,” I tell him, and I ask, “So did your ancestors win the war?”
“No,” he says, “nobody wins wars.”