Who dies and makes another king? I mean, why is James McPherson more qualified than say, Gary Gallagher? I understand this column is an opinion and the author seems to think there's only one expert on the subject but what standard do we, who are not in the same league, use to decide who is the 'real' historian or expert? There are so many people who have learned and taught so much it would seem to me they'd be equal. Maybe some would like to rely on the expertise of the news reporter who may cover a war from a bit of a distance, so as to not get shot or some ugly thing like that. Then, there's the expertise of the soldier trying to keep that reporter from being shot while wanting to shoot them because they are a pain in the, uh, neck. Who is the expert? Is there really any 'gold standard' or just who you like to listen to?

Pam