Chamblee54

REVOLUTION, n. “In politics, an abrupt change in the form of misgovernment. Specifically, in American history, the substitution of the rule of an Administration for that of a Ministry, whereby the welfare and happiness of the people were advanced a full half-inch. Revolutions are usually accompanied by a considerable effusion of blood, but are accounted worth it—this appraisement being made by beneficiaries whose blood had not the mischance to be shed. The French revolution is of incalculable value to the Socialist of to-day; when he pulls the string actuating its bones its gestures are inexpressibly terrifying to gory tyrants suspected of fomenting law and order.”
Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce published The Devil’s Dictionary in 1906, when revolutions were evolving into what can only be termed good, clean fun. AGB served in the Union Army during the War Between the States. The Confederacy, among other things, was a revolution that did not work out very well. As with all conflicts, vast sums of money changed hands. The men who collected these sums are usually far away from the bloodshed.
Walt Whitman once said “That whole damned war business is about 999 parts diarrhea to one part glory.” The same mathematics can be applied to revolutions as well. Maybe we should just stop with this revolting discourse, and move on to other R-words in TDD. The next four … RHADOMANCER, RIBALDRY, RIBROASTER, RICE-WATER … hold little interest for today’s conversation.
RICH, adj. “Holding in trust and subject to an accounting the property of the indolent, the incompetent, the unthrifty, the envious and the luckless. That is the view that prevails in the underworld, where the Brotherhood of Man finds its most logical development and candid advocacy. To denizens of the midworld the word means good and wise.”
RICHES, n. “A gift from Heaven signifying, “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.” John D. Rockefeller · “The reward of toil and virtue.” J.P. Morgan · “The savings of many in the hands of one.” Eugene Debs · To these excellent definitions the inspired lexicographer feels that he can add nothing of value.” Pictures today are from The Library of Congress · selah