I give it as my fixed opinion, that but for our graduated cadets, the war between the United States and Mexico might, and probably would have lasted some four or five years, with, in its first half, more defeats than victories falling to our share; whereas, in less than two campaigns, we conquered a great country and a peace without the loss of a single battle or skirmish.
Interpretation
Winfield Scott emphasizes the crucial role of military training in achieving swift victory in the Mexican-American War.
This quote by Winfield Scott highlights the importance of well-trained military forces in achieving strategic success. Scott believes that without the involvement of the graduated cadets, the conflict between the United States and Mexico could have dragged on for many years, resulting in a series of defeats for the U.S. He underscores the effectiveness of military preparedness and command in securing a swift and decisive victory with minimal loss.
In practice
During a military graduation speech, this quote can inspire cadets about the significance of their training.
It is sobering to recall that though the Japanese relocation program, carried through at such incalculable cost in misery and tragedy, was justified on the ground that the Japanese were potentially disloyal, the record does not disclose a single case of Japanese disloyalty or sabotage during the whole war.
History isn't really about the past - settling old scores. It's about defining the present and who we are.
When I started giving talks about women's history, one of the things that bothered me was the tendency to say, 'Well, everybody was totally oppressed and suddenly in 1964 we rose up, got our freedom, and here we are.' It dismisses the women who fought for rights for several hundred years of our history up to that point.
Let Indian history be set side by side with Europe history with what there is of the latter century by century and let us see whether India need blush at the comparison.
India is, the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grand mother of tradition. our most valuable and most instructive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only.
By 1892, enlightenment had progressed to the point where the Salem trials were simply an embarrassing blot on the history of New England. They were a part of the past that was best forgotten: a reminder of how far the human race had come in two centuries.
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