DocZaius said:
Juggs said:
Do you have any that are a little off the beaten path (not current politicly motivated?)
I had a discussion on why Benedict Arnold was unjustly vilified and the unsung hero of the American Revolution and I don't blame him one bit for his attempt at treason.
Facts yo.
I've heard a little about this before - that he was not properly recognized for his valor and command decisions, so he decided to switch sides, is that about the size of it?
As for my an unpopular opinion of my own: Doritos are disgusting.
He's the victim of a giant smear campaign. It started before the war. His rich dad was a drunk and squandered the family honor and wealth, so he was outcast by the town for the actions of his dad. He was sent away. He became a merchant and built his own wealth while barely an adult. Very honor bound, challenged a man to a duel and killed him for insulting his wife. As soon as rumors of the war started, he formed and funded a militia before the war even officially began. He fully bought into the Constitution that ended with talking about honor. The dude was given few supplies or support, yet always beat the British. Strategically brilliant, brave and always stayed on the front lines. His men loved him. Early on, he butted heads with another man who he already had personal beef with. The guy was simply jealous of Arnold, so he started spreading lies to his wealthy friends (some in Continental Congress). Arnold took a bullet to the leg twice, the 2nd nearly crippling him. The 2nd was also at the Battle of Saratoga where he was the hero, defying orders to not stay in camp, but he refused to let his men die and fight a battle with no commander. We won and then Horatio Gates took all the credit, completely leaving Arnold's name out of it. Aristocrats with military positions took credit despite never fighting in a battle while Arnold was sacrificing his own wealth to fight this war and usually being passed over for promotion. The politics, lies, and shit talking was prevalent among the Continental Congress. Arnold from a young age believed a man should earn his title and reputation, not be born into it, which is why he hated the British. Year after year went by of him being spit upon, despite George Washington requesting Arnold be in command and he deserves a promotion. Also during this time, Congress refused to pay Arnold his wages. The men Arnold thought were his friends were the ones backstabbing him out of jealousy. After his 2nd wound that left him unfit to lead in battle, Washington put him in Philly after the British left to put the city back in order. The Patriots were hanging loyalists in the streets, etc. So Arnold made an enemy immediately of the local Pennsylvania militia by putting an end to the lawlessness. Having lost his fortune, he resumed his merchant activities and use military carts to move supplies and offered to pay for the wagons use. But the Pa militia commander saw this as an opportunity, went to Washington and demanded he be removed or he would remove the Pa Militia from the war entirely. Washington was forced to turn on his friend and publicly reprimanded Arnold.
Years of leading men into battle with victories, repeatedly being wounded, he did his duty. His country betrayed him and proved that the new government was no different than the British government. Preferential treatment given to friends and nobility over a man who earned it. The honor he clung to and the words of the Constitution he believed in were lies. He still stuck with the cause, but Washington turning on him was the straw that broke the camel's back. Then he conspired to turn over West Point and the smear campaign of his evil betrayal started. Complete slander of his past contributions, despite they are well documented in many soldiers, commanders, and even Washington's diaries and letters. We have a shit load of written records of his heroics that, without Arnold, the war would have been over long before the French arrived. By years.
The entire story, most men would have said "fuck it" and stopped risking their life and wealth long before Arnold did. He had every right to be angry and bitter. Ultimately, he wasn't wrong about our government. Even Thomas Jefferson and John Adams spread lies and slang mud at each other.
I can't say how long I've waited to give that rant
