Hussein

Michael N. just posted the words to an old hymn in the comments:
"When tyrants tremble in their fear
And hear their death knell ringing
When friends rejoice both far and near
How can I keep from singing?"

I thought that deserved to be on our main page.

But some of you may wonder how someone who opposed the war can post those words without feeling a hypocrite.

Before the war Samantha Power told the New York Times that "a unilateral attack would make Iraq a more humane place, but the world a more dangerous place." I agreed with that, and also thought it would make the United States a more dangerous place, and that was my highest priority. I still think that.

But I also knew, and still know, that once the first rockets fell on Baghdad there was no going back. Hussein's capture can only help both our soldiers and the Iraqi people. And it's rare enough, in this world and this century, for a tyrant to be brought to justice. So hopefully we can all rejoice a bit in this, however it happened.

The song those lyrics are from is alternately described as "an old Quaker hymn" or "an old Shaker hymn" or an "old Baptist hymn" from the 19th century. I don't know which is correct. If it was a Quaker hymn & if it was written before the 1860s, many of the people who sang it were probably pacifists who opposed the Civil War. Did they, some of the earliest opponents of slavery, feel they could not rejoice when the Emancipation Proclamation was signed? I hope not; I doubt it.

Comments

[Katherine]

I hate hedge and disclaimer-filled writing, so I saved these two for the comments:
1. Does someone who supported the war all along deserve to take more joy in Hussein's downfall? Well, yeah.
2. Am I comparing myself, who did approximately nothing to take Hussein out of power, to the 19th century abolitionists? Of course not. Just pointing out that people who disagree with the means can still be happy with the good endsd.

[Moe Lane]

There seems to be a common taste for 19th century songs on this blog, at least among the bloggers themselves. :)

[James Casey]

What has been frustrating today has been watching how people like Atrios and Instapundit have been using the wonderful news to say things other than 'This is wonderful', which surely should be the only thing to do today.

For once, let's all just be united on this being A Really, ReallyReallyReally, Good Thing. Getting into discussions can wait.

No, they really can't, though, can they? I find that a real shame. I wish everyone could just kick back and breath a sigh of relief for 24 hours. The world needs more of that.

[MattK/D1]

There seems to be a common taste for 19th century songs on this blog, at least among the bloggers themselves. :)

Some of your readers, too. If it was possible to wear out a CD, my soundtrack from Ken Burns' Civil War miniseries would be long gone.

[spc67]

If it was possible to wear out a CD, my soundtrack from Ken Burns' Civil War miniseries would be long gone.

Yeah, but The Ashoken Farewell (the best of that ambum) is a relatively recent song (last 20 years).

[MattK/D1]

Whoa... watch out! I'm getting all partisan here ;)

Better than Lorena? Or Marching Through Georgia? Or Bonnie Blue Flag? And what about All Quiet Along the Potomac, or, or ...

I'm a big fan of Jay & Molly, and even considered going to their summer music camp at one time, but spc67, if you are saying that Ashokan Farewell is superior to Angel Band, one of my all-time favorite songs, well, suh, there may be consequences!

How about this, in honor of Got Saddam Day, I will tolerate you calling Ashokan Farewell first among equals on the album, while only slightly grumbling under my breath.

Sullivan Ballou's letter may have been read over Ashokan Farewell, but he probably wrote it while someone was humming Lorena.

Harrumph. :)