an icepick through the keyhole

Because it was almost but not quite totally not what I meant to say.

Thank you for this article. I used to get into such arguments in high school when I'd point out that neglected behind all the 'romance' of war was the reality of people fighting to be able to own other people.

The soldiers were brave, and many of them sacrificed all they had, for which I admire and honor them. But, I guess, I also admire and honor my and many other people's ancestors, who had to be brave and struggle to survive being bought and sold, and yes, the US tries hard to forget that that was part of the story.