history

Past politicians, legislation and political movements have changed the course of history in ways both big and small. Welcome to our blast to the past.

The Rocket's Red Glare
When we sing our National Anthem, how many of us actually visualize the events and images that triggered the words that were the inspiration to this magnificent poem? (Yes, it began a poem. The music wasn’t added until 1931.)
By Margaret Brennan4 years ago in The Swamp
Gun Control in the United States from American History?
Don't put the American people's "right to bear arms" as the government or the rights of the constitution "to give" freedom of speech, freedom of the press freedom, freedom of religious belief, demonstration, privacy, etc. Are all the same, these rights are not (amendment) given by the constitution, the constitution (amendment) said that "no law", is the right "inviolability". What does that mean? It means that the U.S. Constitution believes that these rights are inherent to citizens and cannot be conferred by the government. Don't underestimate this difference. Understanding this difference is the key to understanding many of the "incredible" phenomena on this side of the ocean.
By Jackmark4 years ago in The Swamp
How did the First World War break out
As one historian points out, "The First World War is an enigma, its origins and processes are incomprehensible." It is true that the pre-World War I conflicts are complex and the international situation very strange, but it is possible to disentangle the main clues.
By Na Dunshie4 years ago in The Swamp
History
1 History History is the sum of all the facts that have happened, ranging from cosmic stars to flies and ants... From simple elementary particles to complex multicellular life are all part of history.
By LIFEI4 years ago in The Swamp
Bourgnew's Royal Proclamation
The Bourgnewian Constitution is a Declaration and a Proclamation that we are all equal. It is not to construe the Separation of Powers and affect the efficacy of the government. We are united and we are one. We have specific duties and obligations to the people, Bourgnewians that we must fulfill. And if not fulfilled the balance of Powers can effectively remove the strain on governance. We do not seek rebellions as the way to liberty nor uprisings as the way of livelihood. We do not desire to displease the good pleasure of Bourgnewians. We support their right to fair governance. We support their right to equal protection. We support their right to justified punishment. The Monarch, Bourgnew's Monarch, and Bourgnewian Monarch officiate the government. The Monarch rules by inheritance and for Bourgnewians to remember who freed them and gave birth to their independence. Setting aside all absolute authority and with humility being the captain, and chief commander of the Bourgnewian Forces under the major influence of the Bourgnewian Parliament. The Bourgnewian Monarch humble the authority and seek patriotism. The Monarch seeks the love of country, duly sworn loyalty to truth, grace, freedom, liberty, and humanity.
By Distinguished Honorary Alumni Dr. Matthew Primous4 years ago in The Swamp
Common Interest
If you grew up in a small town in the 80’s your local paper was the news. If that’s the way someone said it was, it was. Even if you possessed the academia, Encyclopedia Britannica was the Google of its day. With a minimum wage of $3.35 an hour the financial challenges during those “Trickle down Economic” years left little time for leisure. Begs the question of how so much was done with so little. Wondering, I ask myself aloud; are the lives of my loved ones better, their futures’ more secure today? With inflation and poverty rates basically the same, factor in the political insurrection and social unrest and a case can be made that it’s not. Democracy is indeed a slippery slope, but common interest enables the privileged to gain their footing. Common interests create a binding perpetual relationship. Common interests are why this “Great Experiment” exists in the first place. These commonalities foster loyalty and commitment to a shared goal rather than to an individual and this, is “where the rubber meets the road”.
By Ron Banks4 years ago in The Swamp
Historically, Shame Has (Sometimes) Been A Good Thing
In the past, the argument that "shaming people is always wrong" was one I identified with strongly. I wrote an entire piece arguing in length how shame was not a good principle to organize around (see Unpacking the Deadly Politics of Shame). In that piece, I concluded: "…shame seems to be a pretty destructive foundation for political organization. It is an emotion that demands self-flagellation and punishment over accountability and understanding."
By Alex Mell-Taylor4 years ago in The Swamp
The Japanese American Story As Told Through A Collection of Speeches and Articles, A Story of Hope
Although the tale of Japanese Americans' experience during World War II, when persons of Japanese heritage were wrongfully imprisoned in American concentration camps, has received considerable exposure, a large portion of the general public is unaware of it. Extreme bigotry and hate were directed at these folks. Hope was necessary for survival in order to lift some of the gloom from their life.
By Rahau Mihai4 years ago in The Swamp
You don't know what you don't know. A Preface
Passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, and then ratified on December 6, 1865, the 13th amendment abolished slavery in the United States and provides that "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, EXCEPT as a punishment for a CRIME whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."
By Don Wade4 years ago in The Swamp
The Diary of Jacob, The Determined man
The Date is November 29 1939 and the allies are being pushed back and the Germans have changed the title of the war. It’s extremely dangerous to smoke because the Germans have taken my house of hiding and turned it into a command center. I’m surprised they haven't checked the walls to see if anyone is hinging but I guess that it’s working in my favor so I’m not complaining. Date December 3 1939, Good and Bad news I heard that the Germans have pushed the allies out of the city and into the countryside so they were going to move more toward the front lines and the good news I may be able to escape to the front line and leave this god forsaken place. Date December 9 1939, most of the Germans have left and there are a few stragglers but I think tomorrow I will make my escape to the front lines. Date December 11 1939, I made my escape and I am currently 300 meters from the front lines and I am scared because the German shepherds are barking in my direction and they are coming to investigate so wish me luck. Date December 16 1939, I have been on the run for multiple days but they forced me through multiple rivers and have nearly caught me multiple times. Man I heard about those horrid camps and it just makes me pray that I don’t get caught because hundreds of jews die each day please god, bless my soul OH NO THEY ARE GETTING CLOSE THIS IS MY TIME TO RUN AND GET TO THE OTHER SIDE. Date December 23 1939, I’ve been caught but they allowed me to keep my diary so at least I’m not so board there but this isn’t good I have to escape because I don’t want to die I’m only 17 i have my whole live ahead of me also I have heard of a plan that Germany has to permanently keep the U.S. out of the war, they call it the Atomic Bomb I don’t know what it does but it doesn't sound good. Date December 29 1939, they have been working me to the bone and people in the cabin next to us disappeared in the night so I think we are next to disappear I have to get out of here and I might know how to get out because there is a place that isn’t patrolled by guards for 11 minutes and the fence there is the weakest are so I am going to escape tomorrow so I don’t have to suffer in this place. Date January 2 1940, I have made my escape from that reached place and I had made a big ruckus in the camp and I have made it so far I would estimate 11 kilometers but I heard the Germans have completed the atomic bomb and the date to drop it on the U.S. is currently set for January 10th and I hope I can make it to the front lines before then. Date January 6 1940 I have traveled another 47 kilometers form the camp and I can hear distant gunfire so I have decided to start running through the night so I can get to the allies and survive this mess but I think I have at least another 4 kilometers before I make it to the allies but the Germans from the camp are really close and I have to make it or they might just kill me on the spot so I am making a brake for it. Date January 9 1940, I knocked out one of the guards and took his uniform but I am so weak and I can’t concentrate but I am just a few hundred meters from the front lines again and at nightfall I am going to take off this uniform and book it across the battlefield to the allies side. Date January 10th 1940, I made it across and I told them that the Germans are going to drop an atomic bomb on the U.S. but it was too late to stop them from taking off but I honestly hoe that the navy can shoot it down. Date January 15 1940, we are being pushed back even more and I think the bomb was dropped because I can't find any more American troops so I am going to run farther into the allies controlled area and I am going to go to Canada but it’s only a matter of time until they come for us so I say good luck to all of the troops on the front lines. Date January 27 1940, guess what it’s my birthday but it really isn’t a happy time because all of the troops in Europe have been pushed out of Europe and they are currently in Africa fighting the Germans from invading more and I heard that Russia has been keeping it’s own but they are running out of supplies and Canada is looking to try to end the war via peace treaty but we all know how that's gonna go. Date February 1 1940, Germany is somehow constantly making itself better they have jets is what they call them but they are impossibly fast and none of our anti air defenses are working against these things I think this might be the turning point that we need though because we have our own counter to that it’s called the stam they have already knock hundreds of planes out of the sky but we are waiting for the real test to arrive. Date February 4 1940, WE DID IT we shot one of those jets down but we are really down in manufacturing power because America pulled out of the war and Germany is trying to get permission to use America to get to this side of the world and the European forces have been dwindled and pushed back causing them to lose hope and we sent so many of those stams to them and we we will see how it turns out. Date February 10 1940, good news they were able to push Germany back and Russia has infiltrated Germany to assassinate Hitler and we have had less trouble defending ourselves and America has rejoined the war to help us but Germany is rumored to be developing something new that will be able to kill all of the European allies and Russia has not said anything about the infiltration. Date February 13 1940, Russia finally got a telegram back from the spy and he says that Hitler will be holding a rally type event and that he might make his move then but he said that he is going to have guards everywhere so it is going to be hard so wish him luck. Also we have our own jet to use and we think it could change the tide of the war like Germany did but we haven't tested it yet so if it works then we are going to beat them. Date February 15 1940, America is sending aid to the Europeans and Canada is sending troops to them and I volunteered to go because I want to take out some of my anger out on those Germans so I am taking rifle training so I know what to do. Date February 22 1940, I passed the training with flying colors so we are on a boat heading to help the Europeans fight, deep down I am dreading going back but I know I can defend myself now so I don't have to run. Date March 3 1940, I have gotten multiple confirmed kills and we are pushing them back we can do this but we haven't seen them fight as rigorously as when I first got here and we haven't gotten any news from Russia but if I had to guess Hitler is dead. Date March 7 1940, we just got news that Hitler is still alive and is in critical condition but we are hopeful still but who knows we may just have to get peace treaties ready so that this war ends. Also I have run out ammo and they are retreating and Germans are currently pushing forward so in a matter of minutes while writing this I could be behind enemy lines soon. Date March 8 1940, I am currently surrounded and being hunted down and I might get captured and got to those POW camps so I am a bit scared but I am going to continue to hide while they get closer to see if they walk past me. Date March 9 1940 they are literally a few meters away and I hope he walks away but I heard that they are going to bring in the dogs so I might get caught soon. Update: I see the dogs and they are barking around my area so I might be able to skim by but only time will tell oh crap whoever finds this if this is my last log please honor my reputation by telling everyone that I fought bravely.
By Flame Army4 years ago in The Swamp
Two young indigenous Ecuadorians win 'environmental Nobel' for expelling miners
Ecuadorians Alex Lucitante and Alexandra Narváez, two indigenous youths from the native A'i Cofán people, are the only two Latin American winners of the Goldman Prize 2022 for winning a historic legal victory that protected their territories in the Ecuadorian Amazon from gold mining.
By Emby Lat4 years ago in The Swamp
Ahmaud Arbery and How his Death Ties to the Slavery Era Origins of the Second Amendment
Photo by Patrick Feller Greg and Travis McMichael and William Bryan have been convicted of killing Ahmaud Arbery and face life in prison. Unfortunately, the outcome probably does not point to watershed moment where the racial bias of our system starts to crumble. Yes justice seems to have been served here. But the old system almost prevailed, and while we must continue to rattle the foundations, change also requires we unravel the history that has long allowed injustice to persist.
By Rich Monetti4 years ago in The Swamp