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Another Look at Revolutionary War Hero, Yankee Doodle
His story has a dark undercurrent.
American history is filled with accounts of individuals who are romanticized for the sake of a good story. Often character flaws, or even mental instability are glossed over because the story isn’t neat and clean.
Case in point is one, Yankee Doodle . Mr. Doodle was suffering from an obvious mental problem while serving in the Continental Army. Mr. Doodle received no treatment. In addition, there wasn’t even an acknowledgement of Mr. Doodle’s problem. The advice he was given was actually appalling.
Mr. Doodle, in the presence of many of his fellow soldiers, came in riding in on a pony. He then proceeded to put a feather in his hat and call it macaroni. Whether Mr. Doodle was referring to macaroni the food, or a macaroni wig is is irrelevant. The young man was clearly delusional.
Was Mr. Doodle suffering from PTSD or some other form of mental illness? Who knows. His obvious plight was blown off. Actually, he was told to keep this bizarre conduct up. Apparently, the thinking being it was easier to ignore the problem than address it.
The problems Mr. Doodle was experiencing were know by the upper echelons of the Continental Army. Even General George Washington, who was upon a slapping stallion, was aware of what was…
