The reading lately has been Scots-Irish history, the academic stuff backing the popular treatments like Senator Webb's book I talked about last year. Right now I'm knee-deep in the 17th century and the Ulster settlements.
Good God.
You know, I can totally grok the 18th century. The 19th I understand. The 20th and 21st are pretty much home, nasty as that middle part was. And the early Renaissance times and before still have enough of a "storybook" feel in my mind that they're at least comfortable.
But something about the 17th century is just nails on a chalkboard to me. I'm sure it's mostly the big to-do of the religious wars, but there's also something else. It's that awkward mix of "not-quite-ancient/not quite modern" that just makes it feel weird to me.
And then I think.... that whole mess was closer to the Founders time than the Civil War was to ours. It was recent history to them.
Yeesh. What a time that must have been to live in.
.... and I can't help but wonder what this one will seem like with a couple hundred years perspective.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
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