After John Walker Lindh's capture in Afghanistan, many wondered what could drive a child of America's privileged classes to betray his country. Various theories were put forth, casting blame on his homosexual father, his permissive mother, Marin County's notoriously tolerant culture, video games, and a whole host of other social causes. Those who have studied history would recognize many of the explanations. There have always been turncoats… and there have always been those who sought to explain their motivations. The truth typically belies any pat explanation. Traitors are driven by a variety of causes. Some act out of self-interest; others out of their own brand of idealism. Most often "traitors" back a losing cause; those who support the winners are usually feted as heroes. Here are a just a few of the people who have gone down in history as traitors: |
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