poster child for indifference

                         I'm on a civil war kick right now. Well, more like still on a civil war kick. I adore the Ken Burns series and I can't stop watching it. And I've decided George McClellan is my hero. He embodies the very idea of indifference, and I have to admit, it delights me. I don't know how much you know about Mr. General McClellan but during the first year of the war, when it came time to fight, he said...and I quote: "meh, whatever"...I believe the following conversation actually take place:

                      Abraham Lincoln : " Take your army and go fight Mr. Lee"
                      George: "meh"
                      Lincoln: "No, really. You need to take your army and go fight"
                      George: "Not just now"
                      Lincoln: "This is our chance to get Lee on the run and strike a decisive blow. 
You must act now so we can end the war!"
                      George: " If I get around to it, but doubtful. I just don't feel like it"
                       Lincoln: "If you won't fight, I will find somebody who will and relieve you of command!"
                       George: "whatever"

           HAHAHA! I love this guy! I don't think any other man in history has exhibited such indifference. Historians think his unwillingness to engage in battle came from his paranoia. He was sure he didn't have enough men, when in reality he outnumbered Lee 2 to 1. He needed more supplies. He had enough. His horses were tired. His horses weren't tired and Lincoln wasn't about to buy in to this excuse. He wanted to know how the horses could be tired if they never did anything. A valid point, but I give McClellan an A for creativity. I'm going to try that as an excuse the next time somebody wants me to do something. "Sorry. no can do...my horses are tired."  We'd like you to give a talk next week in church"..."no can do, my horses are tired." it will totally work.  
               Lincoln eventually got fed up and fired McClellan. I think that's what his plan was all along. "If I do as little as possible, maybe I can get myself fired." This is what we indifferent people do....



                       *footnote*
                              besides being delighted that he was a complete lay-about, I find him quite handsome. I especially like this picture of him. Most men from that era weren't that much to look at, but George was downright hot! We would've gotten along quite well. Our combined indifference would be formidable....