Humbuggery

The word "Humbug" is misunderstood by many people, 

which is a pity since 

the word provides 

a key insight into 

Scrooge's hatred 

of Christmas. 

The word "Humbug" describes deceitful efforts to fool people 

by assuming a fake loftiness or false sincerity. 

So when Scrooge calls 

Christmas a Humbug, 

he is claiming that people only 

feign charity and kindness 

in a scoundrel effort to delude him, 

each other, and themselves. 

In Scrooge's eyes, he is 

the one man honest enough 

to admit that no one really 

cares about anyone else, 

so for him, every wish 

for a 'Merry Christmas' 

is one more deceitful effort 

to fool or take advantage of him. 

This is a man who has turned to profit 

because he honestly believes 

that everyone else will 

someday betray him 

or abandon him 

the moment 

he trusts them.

Lincoln 4 cellar meeting 3 23

Lincoln :

Since we have the floor next in the de-bate, I thought I'd suggest you might temper your contribution so as not to frighten our conservative friends. 

Ashley insists you're ensuring approval 

by dispensing patronage to 

otherwise undeserving Democrats. 

I can't ensure a single damn thing if you scare the whole House silly with talk of land appropriations and revolutionary tribunals. 

When the war ends, I intend to push for full equality, the Negro vote, and much more. Congress shall mandate the seizure of every foot of Rebel land and every dollar of their property -- 

We'll use their confiscated wealth to establish hundreds of thousands of free Negro farmers and, at their side, soldiers armed to occupy and transform the heritage of traitors;

We'll build up a land down there of free men and free women and free children and Freedom. 

The Nation needs to know that we have such plans. 

Lincoln :

....That's the untempered version of reconstruction. 

It is not... It's not quite exactly what I intend. 

But we shall oppose one another in the course of time -- 

Now we're working together, and I'm asking you... 

....for patience, I expect. 

When the people disagree, bringing them together 

requires going slow until they're ready to... 

Shit on The People, and what they want 

and what they're ready for. 

I don't give a goddamn about the people and what they want --

This is the face of someone who has fought long and hard 

for The Good of The People 

without caring much for any of them. 

And I look a lot worse without my wig. 

The people elected me to represent them, 

to lead them, and I lead -- You ought to try it. 

I admire your zeal, Mr Stevens and I have tried 

to profit from the example of it --

But if I'd listened to you, I'd have declared every slave free 

the minute the first shell struck Fort Sumter --

The border states would have gone over to the Confederacy, 

The War would have been lost and the Union along with it, and instead of abolishing slavery as we hope to do in two weeks, we'd be watching, helpless as infants, as it spread from the American South into South America. 

Stephens :

Oh, how you have longed to say that to me.... 

You claim you trust them, 

but you know what The People are -- 

You know that the inner compass, that should direct the soul towards justice has ossified in white men and women, North and South, unto utter uselessness, through tolerating the evil of slavery. White people cannot bear the thought of sharing this country's infinite abundance with Negroes. A compass, I learned when I was surveying, it'll point you true north from where you're standing. But it's got no advice about the swamps and deserts and chasms that you'll encounter along the way. If in pursuit of your destination, you plunge ahead, heedless of obstacles and achieve nothing more than to sink in a swamp, what's the use of knowing true north?