`Untangling Enmities

A FASCINATING but often overlooked aspect of the historical study of the wealthy and the powerful and the famous is their personal relationships, particularly their attitudes other individuals and the attitudes of other individuals towards them. Particularly their rivalries and mutual hatreds. It turns out, and this characteristic stands out like a sore thumb, as we used to say, that nobody is above personal antagonisms, even those who try their best to rise above the fray, inevitably and unavoidably sink back into down into the morass, the "swamp", as we like to say today. Take, for instance, the inventors of the United States. Among these inconic intellectual masters of diplomacy and balanced government are more historically verified hatreds than one can shake a stick at, to borrow yet another cliche. In many cases, much more than a stick was shaken. Topping the list is the notorious gun duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr. They fought it out in 1804 in New Jersey, across the Hudson River from New York, because dueling was illegal in New York, and legal in New Jersey. If your intent is to kill someone, by any and all means, do it legally. Hamilton at the time was out of work, looking for his next position, having been George Washington's Secretary of the Treasury. Burr was at the time the Vice President of the United States, under Thomas Jefferson. Burr won, Hamilton reportedy having deliberately wasted his shot like a true gentleman, as a matter of honor. Burr took full advantage, and aimed accurately. Hamilton died a week later after lingering with as he said "a mortal wound", and Burr was invited to dine at the White house as Jefferson's guest. Jefferson hated Hamiltaon as much as Aaron Burr, and the hatred was mutual. The cobweb of hatreds ran deep among America's founders, but the jefferson - Hamilton rivalry, over political ideology as most of them were, was foremost. One colonial era politician is said to have said of another: "He is a man of extraordinary capabilities, but utterly corrupt. He shines and stinks like dead mackeral by moonlight." Give credit where due; if you are going to talk trash about somebody, do it like a poet. All great and famous and powerful men had a legion of haters. As many people as despised Thomas jefferson, undoubtedly many more hated Abraham Lincoln. How could Lincoln have possibly avoided being the object of widespread hatred, he being the leader of a country torn in half by civil war? Conversely, there is no actual record of Abraham Lincoln holding a grudge against anybody, much to his lofty credit. As I enter and move through my senior years, in the final stage of my life, I sometimes reflect on the friends I have lsot in recent years, most of them because of strong disagreements over the most prolific source of personal conflicts and ruptured friendships in America since perhaps the Civil War; Donald J. Trump. Upon reflection, however, it must be conceded that JFK, MLK, Nixon, and FDR were no minor inspirers of personal enmity, towards themselves, and among millions of people who either loved 'em or hated 'em. And, let's face it, Trump never actually caused anyone to hate anyone else. The choice has always been ours. As I prepare to leave this hotbed of antagonism we call planet earth, I can, with complete honesty and pride, assert that it is alwasy the other person, the former friend, who becomes angry at me, and ends the friendship, and that I have no complaint with anyone, and never have ended a friendship. I may be a punching bag, but, if nothing else, I am not petty.