Category Archives: U.S. History

Time to Reflect

09 Monday Jul 2018

Posted by in Politics, U.S. History

≈ Leave a comment

As I write this on the 2018 Independence Day, I reflect on the past and the current state of the United States of America. When I was young it was the Fourth of July fireworks, a family reunion picnic at Cave-In-Rock, and swimming at Pounds Hollow. I don’t remember any of the adults ever discussing anything relating to what the holiday is about.

Perhaps it mirrored the colonists before and during the Revolution. About as many were for as were against the separation from England. Many historians believe most colonists didn’t care either way and just wanted to be left alone. Doesn’t that remind us of today’s siloed or tribal groups? For decades we have lead the free world “morally,” financially, and militarily. The vast majority of Americans supported the bi-partisan strategy so real congressional dissension was rare and short-lived. The “We-Against-Them” was the American side against the Communist side. Now we and them are within the border.

As we are celebrating the 242nd Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, we must look at what has become of America. We have always had trouble with race relations but they seem to be getting worse again. The separation between rich and poor has become greater than any time in over a century. We have damaged relationships with nations we have been closely allied for decades and made friends with countries we have had tentative relations for decades. The political divide is greater than any time in the last 157 years. The discourse of the political parties and the administration has fallen to historic lows. The President’s diatribe is the leading factor in the abandonment of civility. America’s current philosophy is to turn inward to the despair of our international commerce and diplomats. Not since we moved the Indians West have Americans felt so compelled to carry a gun. Much of this is lobbying industry, unlimited money to campaigns and phony social media stories.

I wonder if the founding fathers, who had many vices, would be proud of today’s America. Decide for yourself after reading the Declaration and the Constitution.

Too Long A Memory?

29 Sunday Apr 2018

Posted by in Morality, U.S. History

≈ Leave a comment

I sometimes I think I am in an alternate reality. I remember when Presidents were gentlemen, respectful, and not narcissistic. I remember when the Republicans would go pale with the prospect of voting for a budget with a deficit much less one with a trillion a year. I remember when President Nixon and his party pushed through the Environment Protection Agency to clean up our air, water, and land. I remember when Presidents came on TV and took the blame for mistakes. I remember when both parties worked and played together.

I remember when scientists and science weren’t belittled as fake. I remember when schools were properly funded and teachers were respected, if not feared, by their students. I remember when a man shook hands on a deal and it was a bond of honor. I remember when the top manager made two or three bucks more than the average worker. I remember when kids demonstrated against the use of guns in Viet Nam. I remember when the first date was a handshake or a kiss on the cheek. I remember when songs were about love and not killing cops. I remember when a kid could earn enough working summers, vacations, and student jobs to pay for college. I remember when people talked to each other. I remember when almost all kids had two parents. I remember when parents were smart enough to get their kids vaccinated.

The older a person gets, the farther the current normal gets from their normal. Today’s kids will think lying, threatening harm, bullying, school and mall shootings, and anti-fact are normal. Unfortunately, their normal and my normal have the same racist overtones.

Heroes of the Past

29 Sunday Apr 2018

Posted by in U.S. Civil War, U.S. History

≈ Leave a comment

In going through a drawer, I found my old Confederate battle flag I bought about sixty years ago. I think it was probably a woman’s head scarf. I became interested in the Civil War because family legend says I have ancestors who fought on both sides. One story is the rebel was on Lookout Mountain as the other tried climbing it. Both survived the war.

My paternal ancestors never had slaves and neither did the vast majority of men who fought for the Cause. My paternal lineage came from England in the late 1600s. He settled in North Carolina Colony and his grandson fought with Frances Marion (the Swamp Fox) earning him a land pension in Southern Illinois Territory. His grandsons fought on both sides in the Civil War. They had no slaves but one believed in state’s rights and the other sided with the government. Just as we were taught in high school, it was over their interpretation of the federal overreach. Sound familiar?

My best friend’s ancestors lived in the Deep South, didn’t have slaves, and fought for the South. Today we know the economics of slavery was collapsing and would probably have ended in two or three decades. I understand the people whose ancestors were slaves may see the Civil War differently than many of us. My Southern side sees it as a war of aggression against the South by Northern invaders just as an earlier ancestor fought against the British. Both sides fought for their beliefs in a bloody heroic battle with mostly stupid tactics and strategy. We see the northern generals (Some had owned slaves and didn’t believe in freeing them) and southern generals (Many didn’t have slaves) as heroic soldiers fighting for their own country,.

Few of our national heroes weren’t flawed and some where crooks. Judging them with today’s standards is wrong.