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Good Morning. Here is a great thought for the day:
January is the birthday of Robert E. Lee. Perhaps a good month to recall one of the truths that made Lee such an icon in American history. As morning dawned on July 3, 1863 — 87 years since American Independence — America had been engaged in civil war for two years. Near an obscure hamlet in Pennsylvania named Gettysburg, two great armies had faced each other, locked in mortal combat for two days. Thousands in blue and grey had bled and died. On this third day, both sides were exhausted. By 1 o'clock that afternoon, the Confederates began a desperate, massive cannonade, trying to break the deadlock. Their general, Robert E. Lee, authorized an infantry attack — Pickett's Charge. It began at 3 pm. By 4 pm, the hopes of the Confederacy were dashed. Gettysburg was a debacle for the South. As the remnant of Pickett's shattered division came streaming down the hill after that fateful charge, General Lee was waiting for them at the bottom of the hill. Though tactical responsibility actually lay with his subordinate officers, strategically Lee viewed himself as being accountable for overall results. He said simply, "It is all right, men. It is all my fault." What a gentleman! He refused to blame others. Even foes admired Lee's humility in defeat and his forgiving conduct in later years as a private citizen. As the Japanese proverb says, "Fix the problem, not the blame." When life goes awry — and this happens to us all — let's remember General Lee's grace under pressure. His attitude of personal leadership is needed during times of success, and even more during downturn or failure. Let's take the high road. When it's true, let's be willing to say, "It is all right... it was my fault."
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