Blood in the Water: Cinema's Take on Civil War Realities

From the Bay Flavor Story Series

“History repeats itself. Historians repeat each other.”

- Philip Guedalla

Where I Borrowed Image From

Blood is thicker than water. I’m sure you’ve heard that colloquialism at some point in your life. Have you ever stopped to think if it is indeed true? How about viewpoints? Stances? Political perspectives? Is blood thicker than these? During the American Civil War (fought between 1861-1865), blood was NOT thicker than social perspectives in a lot of cases. The American Civil War created deep divisions between the North and South. Some favored slavery and two separate nations, while others fought for freedom and unity. It may be hard to imagine, but the issues also divided many families in the Civil War era. Some family members fought for the Union, while others sided with the Confederacy. The war brought on more than 600,000 American causalities. In many of those deadly battles, brothers fought against their own brothers.

You read that number correctly. The number of soldiers who died between 1861 and 1865, generally estimated at 620,000, is approximately equal to the total of American fatalities in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. Considering the drastic difference in population, the same percentage of mortality in today’s America would equal about 6 million people (about twice the population of Arkansas).  

These harrowing statistics serve as a stark reminder of what truly matters. When we "pick a side" in today's political landscape, are we not playing a divisive game? While our innate tribal instincts may compel us to choose sides, history suggests that moderation often faces harsh criticism. It's as if suggesting rational discourse and peaceful assembly is now more controversial than taking an extreme stance.