["A great deal has been gained since the Christian era in humanity to prisoners, and in the security of women and children form wanton outrage. Yet much more remains to be done; and we are among those who believe that it will yet be attained; and that the time will come when the civilization and Christianity of the nineteenth century will be reviewed in the spirit of apology, in which we now look back on what we complacently call “the dark ages.” Meanwhile let us think, when we are tempted to boast of our own times, of the twenty square miles of graves in the Crimea. Let one look at the subject in its lowest economical light even, and ask what has been secured by this horrible slaughter? That “sick man”, the Turk, is more an invalid than ever, and the portentous Syrian question is even more troublesome than it was before France dragged Great Britain into the quarrel with Russia. Possibly if the Crimean necropolis had not been filled with its ghastly tenants, the murderous frays of the Syrian native factions would not have filled the world with horror. The Turkish rule must be put down, and the Crescent, long a misnomer, must confess to its waning fortune. Another Crimean slaughter even could not avert this evident necessity."]

I agree with Joe on this. The "gains" seemd to backslide not long after this paper came out. It's almost comical when they say France dragged Great Britain into the mess. I'm pretty sure GB had a mind of its own. Speaking of "outrage", uhm, guess they didn't want to go back far enough to remind people of the Spanish Inquisition or the persecution of 'other' religious followers by any of the European nations. Also, that word "apology" rears its head. Almost like current news items. Interesting take on the "Turk" then and the bowing to them now. Seems the US has two faces. Blame the Syrian mess on another. Not a new idea at all but Syria just does things because it wants to. No one is 'making' them do anything.
Soooo, if they are so quick to 'blame' others for things that were bound to happen anyway because it was just the normal behavior for the region that may explain why the US Government blamed every little ugly thing that happend to begin, go through and after our own Civil War on the South. Pass the blame please. Sure, use it anytime you wish to spice things up. It's still working. That's the sad part of it.

Pam