Wrong hill

Posted by Henry on April 11, 2004

In Reply to: Wrong hill posted by R. Berg on April 08, 2004

: : : : : Good morning

: : : : : I was wondering if anyone knows about this saying ...
: : : : : 'wrong hill to die on'
: : : : : I think it has a military meaning, but a friend of mine says she thinks that it means it is better to die on a mountain than a hill.
: : : : : does anyone have any ideas??

: : : : : thanks and have a wonderful day

: : : : : Jaime :)

: : : : I'll look in my military sayings reference tonight. My first reaction is that maybe it means the soldier died in an obscure battle. That there would have been more glory to dying on another hill.

: : : The phrase usually refers to an ideological battle as opposed to a military type battle.

: : : For instance, a gay friend is currently obsessing about that Dr.Laura and her hateful homophobic comments concerning gay marriage. He wants to launch a letter writing campaign to have her ousted and blacklisted.
: : : His companion told him that fighting Dr. Laura is "the wrong hill to die on".

: : : Agreed. I believe the original quote is from a movie, the title escapes me, "Choose carefully the hill on which you choose to die." It reminded me of advice given by a former professor of mine,"You can fight City Hall, but be prepared to lose." Either way, be careful with choices.

: Don't waste your energy (time, money, passion) defending an unimportant cause. If you're going to make sacrifices, choose an arena where the outcome will make them worthwhile.

On June 15, 1775, the Americans learned the British were trying to take Charleston peninsula. On this peninsula there were two hills, Bunker's Hill and Breed's Hill. The Americans sent 1,200 troops to fortify Bunker's Hill over the night. On the morning of June 16, a 160 foot by 30 foot structure standing on Breed's Hill. The Americans had fortified the wrong hill.

This was the first battle in the War of Independence. A tall monument now stands on Bunker Hill, and I have run all the way up it!