Now before you feel the need to chastise me, PLEASE let me begin by saying that I totally understand why many historians and enthusiasts do not like the movie “Gods and Generals.”

I know that it is filed under 'historical-fiction', and I get it. Really. Obviously many of the scenes in “G&G” are based on facts, while others are works of historical-interpretation, speculation, and artistic license. However, for a bible thumping, Jackson idolizing, buff like me, there isn’t a more enjoyable 4+ hours of film that I am aware of. You combine scripture, my town (Fredericksburg), and a bunch of guys in gray uniforms and my attention span belongs to you. And let’s be honest here folks, regardless of one's feelings over the script, Stephen Lang and Robert Duvall are spectacular actors.

Simply put, it’s a good looking-movie that features my hero. Nothing more, and nothing less. In all reality, are any of these war films, including "Gettysburg," 100% spot-on definitive documentaries of the events that they portray? No, but neither was "Glory" or "Saving Private Ryan," which are both IMO tremendously entertaining. Personally, I find Jeff Shaara’s books to be quite enjoyable reads, and I would love to see Ron Maxwell have an opportunity to make “The Last Full Measure,” in order to finish the trilogy.

That said, I was watching CSPAN’s Book-TV this weekend and caught several interesting panel discussions at the 2007 Harlem Book Fair: A History of America. My favorite was a discussion between Walter Mosley and Howard Zinn. Walter Mosley is the author of 28 books, which include mysteries, science fiction, young adult fiction, and political and social commentary. Howard Zinn is a historian, author, and activist who has taught at Spelman College and Boston University. He is also the author of numerous books including, "A People's History of the United States, 1492 – Present."

Each of these gentlemen offered their own perspectives (as differing races) and there were a lot of historical references that supported their points of view. From what I understand, both of these guys are liberals, and I don’t think that we would have much in common politically. Still, I couldn’t agree more with their take(s) on the state of our country’s government, and the realization that the United States is ultimately run by corporations. This has been made painfully apparent in recent years by the influx of illegal immigrants (I mean cheap labor), the decline of the middle class (I mean you and me), and the war in Iraq, (which is lining the pockets of the rich on the blood, sweat and tears of our soldiers.) 

This appears to be one of those startling revelations that everyone is aware of in the back of their minds, yet nobody really takes the time to stop and think about it. How can we, as we are all too busy running to Wal-Mart and standing at the gas pumps filling our SUVs? It is as if we have allowed the integrity of our nation to be sold right out from under us.

My father, who is far more politically and socially aware than I, said that America is ‘de-evolving’ from a Democracy to an Aristocracy. And that is what brings me back to “Gods and Generals"…

One of my favorite scenes in the film depicts the introductory meeting between the then Colonel Thomas Jackson, and Lieutenant Colonel JEB Stuart. As a biographer of both of these men, it was a real thrill to watch them come face-to-face for the very first time, even though the conversation was based on pure speculation and obviously written for drama. Still, one particular line of Jackson's dialogue comes across as almost prophetic.

In it he states that a northern victory by the Republicans will result in "anarchy, infidelity and the ultimate loss of free and responsible government on this continent" as well as "the triumph of commerce, banks and the factory." Hmmm… perhaps "Stonewall" and the founding fathers of the Confederacy predicted the "future America" as being a sacred cow, corrupted by corporate scandal, foreign business monopolies, and the abuse of big government?

Hollywood-dialogue? Sure, but the foundation behind it is historically accurate in the sense that the vision for America by the industrialized North contrasted greatly with that of the South. Many secessionists probably felt threatened by big business' impact on their culture.

Unfortunately, as I look at the shape of the United States in the 21st-Century, it appears that they were right. Corporations DO run this country – ALL of it – North and South. In fact, they run the world. I can’t even remember the last time that I saw a “free and responsible government” on this continent. Perhaps never in my lifetime (I'm 35).

So you see, for all of its historical faults and/or embellishments, “Gods and Generals” wasn’t all wrong. Maybe it should have been titled “Big Business Will Be The Death Of Us.” That would have made it more believable among the masses.