Sunday, December 29, 2013

The Red Violin

So I just finished watching a movie called Red Violin. Yesterday,  my friend Aimee told me about this movie and recommended I watch it for myself. I told her that I have had it on My List on Netflix for a while now but haven't had the chance to watch it.  She told me a little about the movie and what she told me got my attention.  So tonight I watched it and I am left speechless. 

It is a brilliant film about a very special violin made by a famous violin artist. This movie takes you on a journey through time and is presented in the most remarkable way. I do not want to give away to many details about the movie because I fear it will ruin the whole thing for you so I will end here. This is a movie that I highly recommend. I feel it is a movie that everyone can relate to and will touch the heart and minds of all who watch it. 

Go check it out,  you can find it on Netflix for sure.  If you don't have a Netflix account I am sure you can find where to get it at online. Red Violin is one of the best movies I have seen in a long time.  

Here is a link to learn more about the movie:
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1421647360/tt0120802

Saturday, December 28, 2013

December 28, 1895


On this day, December 28, in 1895 the first projected, moving, photographic, picture movie was presented for a paying audience. Two French brothers Louis and Auguste Lumiere were the brains and creators behind this event. They set it all up in the basement of the Salon Indien du Grand Café in Paris where thirty people attended. They showed ten short films, all of which were only 48 seconds in length.
Here is a link that allows you to view each of these shorts:
Auguste Marie Louis Nicolas Lumiere was born on October 19, 1862 and Louis Jean Lumiere was born on October 5, 1864.  Both men attended La Martiniere, a technical school in France. After which they began to start the process of making motion pictures. This accomplishment occurred in the year of 1895. The two brothers made around a hundred films in their lifetime. It is said that after they stopped the filming process and had begun working on color photographs that they happened to invent a time machine. This is just some people’s theories but I thought it an interesting bit of information to share. The two brothers accomplished and invented many great things in their lifetimes. Auguste died on April 10, 1954 at 91 years of age and Louis died on June 6, 1948 at 83 years of age.

References:
http://www.fandor.com/filmmakers/director-louis-lumiere-686


Pictures Credits:
http://www.alchemists.com/visual_alchemy/lumiere.html

 

Friday, December 27, 2013

Interesting Facts about President Andrew Jackson



Andrew Jackson, 7th President of the United States

I somewhat adore Andrew Jackson. Yes, I agree that he did some pretty bad things in his lifetime. I certainly do not like what he did to the Indians at all. Still, the character of this man speaks volumes in other ways. We have all learned about him in our history classes, I am sure, but I would like to go over a few things I find interesting about him right now. Some of these facts may come as a surprise to you, some may not. Still, I find them interesting, so I want to share them.

Did you know that it was Andrew Jackson that gave us the donkey symbol for the Democratic Party? This is actually very true.
 
In 1828, when Jackson ran for president, he used the slogan, “Let the people rule." This did not go over so well with his opponents and the called him a “jackass." In return, he showed them by embracing the name and using it for his campaign posters. It was said later when he was president that the donkey was once again used to show Jackson’s commitment and stubbornness when it came to abolishing the National bank.
On the subject of his stubbornness, I would like to point out that Andrew Jackson’s nickname was “Old Hickory." Hickory”.  Most of you may already know that. The million-dollar question is why was his nickname “Old Hickory”? Believe it or not I can ask this question to hundreds of people, and they can only answer me two things. Most say, “I don’t know why; I have just been taught that, and so I know it.” Well, I am not sure that will suffice for me.  Others will answer, “It was because he was tough.” Now this is better and true to a point but there is more to it than that. So, for those of you that already know the answer to this question bear with me. For those of you who do not follow along closely here. I mean it is has to say something about the man to know that he is the only President who was ever a prisoner of war, right?
 
  
Andrew Jackson actually enlisted in the army when he was only 12 years old. By the way, it is a pretty cool fact to note that he in fact was a courier during the Revolutionary War. It was during this time he was captured by the British and became a POW in Camden then later released.
Years after he became a Colonel in the U.S. Army. It was in the War of 1812 that he proved himself. He personally led a charge, head-on at that, in the Creek War with the help of local Indians and his militiamen. They Won!

Again, a few years after that in New Orleans, he managed to gain another victory. See it is a not so well-known fact that Jackson could pull magic from a hat. He never failed to rally people when he needed them, most and this particular battle was no different. He was outnumbered by the British (who had about 7,000 men). Jackson knew he needed help and started gathering people of all kinds to help him out. When he was finished enlisting all the men to help he had about 4,600 men gathered. Fun fact here: these men consisted of Choctaw Indians, Marines, a few sailors, militiamen and army, free African American’s, and even a pirate. Only Andrew Jackson could enlist a pirate to help him in battle. Outnumbered as they were, they still went to battle and lo and behold Jackson and his men won.
Besides the fact that Andrew Jackson showed that he would go to any lengths to win as well as great leadership skills in battle, he also gained the respect of his men by doing certain things. Like I said earlier, he led a head on battle with his men. When leaving New Orleans, however, he used his own money and horses to help his men get back home. He even went so far as to walk alongside his men and give his horses to the sick. It was his stubbornness, his lack of fear, his determination, and his kindness that led to him gaining the nickname of “Old Hickory."

Before I go any further I would like to point out that in his lifetime, Jackson was known to have taken part in over a hundred duels. Some of the stories told about these duels are very interesting. I will share a few links at the end of this so all of you who care can go and read up on them. I will share only one, and arguably the most famous, duels by Andrew Jackson right now.
When Jackson married his wife Rachel, she was still somewhat married to another man. She was in the process of a divorce but thought she had obtained the divorce. This led to some name calling around Jackson about his Rachel. Let it be known that he loved this lady very much, and so he called people out regularly for their offences to the lady. This is how the duel between Jackson and Charles Dickinson came about. Well actually it started over a horse race and led to Dickinson calling Rachel a name. Of course, Jackson called him out for a duel. The duel did not go as planned for Jackson because Dickinson got off the first shot, and it hit Jackson right in the chest. The only thing that stopped it from hitting his heart was his jacket and that the bullet hit a rib and broke it. He looked at his wound and then raised his gun and fired. The gun did not go off; it had misfired. Jackson, being the man whom he was and having the temper that he had, did not let his bit of bad luck this day deter him. No, he simply raised the gun again and fired and this time it worked. He shot Charles Dickinson right in his throat killing him instantly. Jackson lived with this bullet in him for the rest of his life as well as many other bullets from other duels.

Did you know that Andrew Jackson’s wife, Rachel, never made it to the White House with him?
This is once again, and unfortunately, true. Rachel Jackson died on December 22, 1828, which was just a month after Andrew Jackson was elected president, so she never made the move to the White House. This was all probably for the best because she had no wish to go make the move in the first place. Still, she would have done anything for her husband. It is said that she died from a heart attack cause by stress. The stress would have come from the fact that she did not want to move to Washington and because of the names she was being called for being married to two men at one time. Truly, this was an honest mistake on Andrew and Rachel Jackson’s part, and as we already know was the cause of many a duels and conflicts for Jackson.

 He loved his wife very much and felt like her death was the fault of his political enemies. So he buried her on Christmas Eve in 1828 at their home The Hermitage in the garden. Around the massive tomb, he had built for her, he planted Weeping Willow trees and had the words, “Here lie the remains of Mrs. Rachel Jackson, wife of President Jackson, who died the 22d of December, 1828, aged 61. Her face was fair, her person pleasing, her temper amiable, and her heart kind; she was delighted in relieving the wants of her fellow creatures, and cultivated that divine pleasure by the most liberal and unpretending methods; to the poor she was a benefactor; to the rich an example; to the wretched a comforter; to the prosperous an ornament; her piety went hand in hand with her benevolence, and she thanked her Creator for being permitted to do good. A being so gentle and yet so virtuous, slander might wound but could not dishonor. Even death, when he tore her from the arms of her husband, could but transport her to the bosom of her God." If you take note at the last bit of that statement, you will notice that it specifically points to the insults handed to her by the many people that thought her an adulterer. Just in case you missed it here it is again, “A being so gentle and yet so virtuous, slander might wound but could not dishonor.” Andrew Jackson mourned the loss of his beloved wife for the rest of his life.
  
Did you know that the front of The Hermitage, home of President Andrew Jackson, was actually red in the beginning?
It was originally red brick. When Andrew Jackson was away from home his son began the project of painting the red bricks white. Andrew Jackson came home in the nick of time to put a stop to it. He allowed the front to be finished being painted white but insisted the rest be left alone. So that is why the front of the house is white and the rest is red brick. This is a story told when you visit The Hermitage.
Also, did you know that Andrew Jackson hated paper money?
He was against using anything but gold for currency. He knew the dangers of paper money. I find it ironic and somewhat mean that he is on the twenty dollar bill myself.
Here are a few interesting quotes by Andrew Jackson. I think a few of them speak volumes of his character.
"I have but two regrets. I did not hang John C. Calhoun and I did not shoot Henry Clay." -Jackson upon leaving the presidency.

 “There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is having lots to do and not doing it.” ― Andrew Jackson
“I was born for the storm, and a calm does not suit me.” – Andrew Jackson

“One man with courage makes a majority” ― Andrew Jackson
"Oh, do not cry. Be good children, and we shall all meet in Heaven... I want to meet you all, white and black, in Heaven" or "I hope to meet you all in Heaven. Be good children, all of you, and strive to be ready when the change comes."-Jackson’s Last Words

“Heaven will be heaven only if my wife is there.” ― Andrew Jackson
 
I want to point out that Jackson had a mouth on him. It is said that Andrew Jackson’s pet parrot had to be removed from the funeral service due to the profanity it was yelling out.
“Before the sermon and while the crowd was gathering, a wicked parrot that was a household pet, got excited and commenced swearing so loud and long as to disturb the people and had to be carried from the house (54).”

Hilarious and again speaks volumes!
I know that this man may not be thought of as all that great for some people. I understand that he did many wrong things in his lifetime. I do not personally agree with some of them myself (Such as the Indian removal and Trail of Tears).  Still I like to look at this man as somewhat of a hero of mine. He did what he thought was best and took care of business no matter what it took. He loved hard; he did his best, and he stood proud in the end. Yes, I call him a hero for those reasons. Born and raised in Tennessee, I grew up about thirty miles from The Hermitage. I have visited this place several times in my life and each time is a wonderful learning experience. It is one of my favorite places in this state to visit. I highly recommend that you visit The Hermitage as well if you live in this area or are planning a trip to the Nashville area.

References:






 
Credits for Pictures:
 
Links you may enjoy:


·         This was one of the funniest things I have ever read on Andrew Jackson. Everything that is stated on here is accurate and true for the most part but it is the humor in it that stands out.


·         This link gives you an inside look at Andrew Jackson toward the end of his life. It is a wonderful read.




·         Here are a few links about duels and Andrew Jackson.
 
The Link to The Hermitage:


 

 

 

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Stay Positive


“The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential… these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.” – Confucius
I cannot stress enough how true this quote is! I have realized over the twenty-eight years of my life that your future is up to you. No matter what the result, it is what you have made it. Your choices have put you where you are today, and I cannot stand it when I hear people place the blame things on someone else or something else. When you make a mistake, own it!

“Take chances, make mistakes. That’s how you grow. Pain nourishes your courage. You have to fail in order to practice being brave.” – Mary Tyler Moore
I have also learned recently to not allow people to get into my head and bring me down and to always stay positive through out every thing I do in life. That positive thinking always brings good results! 

“Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results.” - Willie Nelson
 

What the hell, one more quote just because I like it. 

“There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative.” – W. Clement Stone
So the moral of this post is to remain positive throughout all your hardships. Never give up, never! Do not tell yourself that you are not good enough, or you do not deserve something ever. Remind yourself of your dreams and goals daily, hourly and tell yourself that these things will happen. I stand firm, in my opinion, that if you do these things, nothing will stop you or your dreams from coming true!
Links you may enjoy:
Photo Credits:

Monday, December 23, 2013

The History Channel

I absolutely love the History Channel!  There are so many shows that educate you,  intrigue you, make you laugh,  make you cry, and sometimes even make you believe!

Between this channel and H2 there are so many shows that I personally love to watch.  On History; The Legend of Shelby the Swamp Man, Swamp People, Pawn Stars, and American Pickers are some of my favorite reality based shows they offer.  However,  I think they play Pawn Stars and American Pickers way to much!  As for my other favorites on this channel; Bible Secrets Revealed, The Bible, Big History, and just about any special series they offer are top on my list. 

H2 offers just as many great shows as well.  Some really great ones are;  America's Book of Secrets,  Haunted History,  How the States Got Their Shapes, and Modern Marvels.  Now these are good shows to watch but nothing like my most favorite of all on this channel.  These happen to be AMERICA UNEARTHED and Brad Meltzer's Decoded. These two shows are among some of my most favorite of all time!

I learn something new every time I flip on one of these channels.  I don't care if your a history fan or not. The History Channel offers something for everyone.  I thought I would share this for those of you who haven't yet discovered all of what The History Channel has to offer.  You never know,  I could have just introduced you to your new favorite show. Your welcome!

Sunday, December 22, 2013

It's Almost Christmas Eve

So my family and I have been very busy today preparing for Christmas. Gifts are bought,  tree is perfect, and plans have been made.  Still through it all I have been taking the time to remember the true meaning of this great holiday.  For me,  it is about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Although it is not a proven fact that he was born on Christmas day, my family chooses to celebrate this day as the day.  I have also taken much time to relax and just enjoy my family.  We have watched just about every Christmas movie we could find this year as well as spent time doing many other festive activities.  We have also listened to Christmas music almost nonstop.  I just love Christmas music.  I want to remind all of you to try not to forget what this holiday is all about!  Stop and smell the holly every now and again. Watch a few Christmas movies and sing a few Christmas songs with your family. Most of all, remember the true meaning of this special day! It will make the entire experience much more memorable if you do, I promise.  

Update On Duck Dynasty's Phil Roberston


I hate to do this because I am so tired of all the talk about Phil Robertson and Duck Dynasty. I know that I have contributed to it by a recent post on my blog, and I have commented on several news media sites as well as Facebook posts. Nevertheless,  I feel like I need to say a few more things on the issue.
 First of all, most of you must already realize that the Phil Robertson himself does not seem all that concerned with all the things happening around him. I really did not think that he would as he seems to be the type of person that just lets things be as they are. He recently posted a video on Facebook about hunting ducks and what it meant to him. By the way, it was a pretty cool video. Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFIX6Palc9E&list=PLbseTHRyg6oblxY0p4nKEX6v3UVlAuzfh&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DuFIX6Palc9E%26list%3DPLbseTHRyg6oblxY0p4nKEX6v3UVlAuzfh&app=desktop
Before that he posted on December 20, 3013 about donating blood at the warehouse. I have to say I like that he is taking this approach because it shows his true personality. I believe he is a standup guy, and this just proves this.

Now on December 19, 2013 the family released an official statement telling everyone their thoughts on this matter. It said, “We want to thank all of you for your prayers and support. The family has spent much time in prayer since learning of A&E's decision. We want you to know that first and foremost we are a family rooted in our faith in God and our belief that the Bible is His word. While some of Phil’s unfiltered comments to the reporter were coarse, his beliefs are grounded in the teachings of the Bible. Phil is a Godly man who follows what the Bible says are the greatest commandments: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Phil would never incite or encourage hate. We are disappointed that Phil has been placed on hiatus for expressing his faith, which is his constitutionally protected right. We have had a successful working relationship with A&E but, as a family, we cannot imagine the show going forward without our patriarch at the helm. We are in discussions with A&E to see what that means for the future of Duck Dynasty. Again, thank you for your continued support of our family.” I have to say that I am not surprised by this statement because this is a family that sticks together. I am glad to see them doing just that.  

Here is something funny I have realized over the last few days. The Tea Party is eating this up. I would say that Phil Robertson is the new spokesman for the party. Now do not go getting me wrong here. I apparently like the Tea Party, or I would not have liked their page on Facebook. I believe they have good opinions on things and like that they are standing with Phil. Even so, I cannot help but feel that they are going to the extreme with these posts! Just two hours ago they posted something with the title; America to A&E: ‘Duck You’. Pretty funny huh… but the list goes on. Altogether, I counted 18 posts pertaining to Phil Robertson ( and I just did a quick count). I think their heart is in the right place, but something has to give.

News media is having a field day with this as well. I cannot tell you how many posts on Facebook from news outlets that I have seen. Then you include all the ones I normally check out daily (and that is a lot) and what I watch on television (again, A LOT) and it seems like all I hear about it Duck Dynasty, Phil Robertson, and A&E. I am just waiting for a statement from President Obama, although I am sure he will avoid this at all costs because he will more than likely side with A&E, and his approval ratings will become non-existent then!  

There is one good thing coming from all of this. It seems more Americans are coming together on this one issue than on any other thing that has happened recently. It gives me hope in America again. Furthermore, I am proud that there are so many people out there willing to stand up for American's rights and Christ. Even those that are not believers in God are standing up for Phil’s right to religion and free speech. Seeing this makes me proud!

Here are my thoughts right now. To all of you telling the Robertson family to just move to another network, I would say you might want to give up on that. I think that if they leave A&E, then they will not continue with the show at all. This is definitely something I do not want to happen, but I fear it may come to that. (Please do not do this Robertson family!)

 I see most people saying that they should switch to the History Channel. Again this is not likely to happen. If you did your homework before you spoke, then most of you would know that the History Channel and A&E are sister channels owned by the same people (General Electric). The only difference is that A&E is co-owned by Disney as well. So though I do not think it makes much of a difference or that this switch would happen. I may get proved wrong.
I cannot help but urge those of you using threats and explicit language and then saying God Bless you at the end of your rant enough to stop doing those things. It somewhat defeats the purpose of your comment and your support of this Godly man. It goes against what you are representing here. If you are going to Boycott A&E and Cracker Barrel, then do it! However, do not state during the process that you are doing it and others should do it to hit them where it hurts (meaning their pockets). This is not going to get you anywhere or make a point. Just simply say I will not take part in a channel that does not support…. This is more effective, in my opinion. Sometimes less is more!

I also want to say that I have been hearing so many people say that his comments were offensive to me or to this group. This is why he was suspended from the show after all. Here is what I COULD reply to all of you; I am sorry that his opinion offends you. The thing is I am offended by your lifestyle. I am offended by your choices. I am offended when I have to agree to gay marriage. I am offended when you voice your personal opinion to me and others. I am offended on a daily basis, and it stinks! The thing is I accept these offences and think outside the box. Just because you do these things does not make you a bad person, and you can be a potential friend even. We must agree to disagree and move on. If Phil Robertson is not allowed to publicly state his opinion, then I feel it is not fair to allow gay marriage as it shows these persons opinion publicly. It is not just to practice religion openly as it offends people. This battle can open Pandora’s Box, and I am thinking the outcome might not be what everybody wants. Maybe we should rethink things, and A&E should rethink their actions. It would have sufficed if this network released a statement saying that they did not agree with Phil’s comments and do not endorse his teachings and left out the suspension. I am just waiting to see what will come next from the entire ordeal.  

Links you may like:



Photo Credits:



 

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Winter Solstice and History


Today is the day of Winter Solstice. This is a day that has been acknowledged for many a centuries and has been celebrated in many ways.  December 21, marks the occurrence of the beginning of days once again get longer. Believe it or not the word Solstice actually means “sun stands still”. In Latin “sol” stands for “sun” and “sistere” stands for “stand still”. This seems to be exactly what the sun does on the days of the solstices though in reality we know that this is really caused because of the shift on its axis by Earth. Regardless of why it happens and why we call it as we do we should still understand why this day was so important in history. Can you imagine what it was like to live in ancient times and struggle so bad every year to survive through the winter? I would say that it would be great cause to celebrate a day that marked the end of those days. These people realized that this day meant longer sunlight and warmer days were just ahead and rejoiced in the occasion.

The Romans celebrated this day as a seven day holiday. It was called The Saturnalia. They would perform ritual rites and sacrifices. Then there would be a huge banquet feast and later offerings to the god (Saturnalia) at the temple. There are witness accounts that say this was a great holiday for the people. It was said that they shared food and spent time with family and friends. They would exchange gifts as well. This day back then was actually on December 25. To me this sounds a bit like Christmas for us now.
Another way this day was marked and celebrated was by one of the biggest mysteries on Earth. Stonehenge is a circle of huge stones in southern England that no one knows for sure why they are there. What we do know however is that on the winter solstice at sunset the sun aligns perfectly with the center Altar Stone and the Slaughter Stone.  Some may agree that this was a place that ancients used to celebrate the event. Still, others might argue that this was a burial place, a soundscape, or a place of healing.

The Mayans were known to observe the stars and of course this day as well. In Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula is a place called Chichen Itza. Thought the city is old and in ruins, many of the buildings still stand. One of these buildings is called El Castillo. This is a pyramid with steps on all four sides. It is said that this building was to relate to the Mayan calendar because the total number of steps on this pyramid equal 364. The step taken to enter the temple would then total to 365 and that the total number of days in a year. On the day of winter solstice, the sun rises and enters a hole at the top of the building creating a starburst effect inside. Also as the sun rises it seems to climb up one side of the temple and stop for a bit at the top. Then it seems to climb back down the other side.

There is a burial mound in Newgrange Ireland that seems to have something to do with this day as well. Inside this mound there are tunnels leading to main chambers. Outside it has a grass roof and looks as if it comes from the ground. What makes this place unique is the fact that when the sun rises on the winter solstice, the main chambers are filled with sunlight.
There are many traditions that we still celebrate today that many think or know derive from celebrations of this day in history. Christmas is celebrated with sharing time with family and friends as Romans and a few other cultures did in history. We also like to string lights on trees and sit by a cozy fire. These things were the common way to get through the dark and cold winters when these people lived. The used candles and fire to survive and so we get the idea of Christmas. Going with that thought we can look to Hanukkah or “festival of lights”. Some might think that this is a good interpretation of celebrating the slow return of sunlight. The Yule Log is another example of traditions used to celebrate this day for some that still exists today.

Links you may enjoy:

Roman Feast
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/calendar/saturnalia.html

Stonehenge
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/stonehenge/

Mayan Temple
http://chichenitza.inah.gob.mx/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16&Itemid=17

Ireland Mound
http://www.newgrange.com/

Christmas Traditions
http://ascension-research.org/Origins_of_Christmas_are_Ancient_and_Sacred.html


Hanukkah Traditions
http://www.history.com/topics/hanukkah
http://www.myjewishlearning.com/holidays/Jewish_Holidays/Hanukkah.shtml

Yuletide Traditions
http://wicca.com/celtic/akasha/yule.htm
http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/december-solstice-customs.html

Video Links you may enjoy:

AMERICA UNEARTHED offers a some episodes that take you to a few places I mentioned above. Stonehenge and the burial mound in Newgrange Ireland are included. I love this show by the way so maybe you can check them all out.
http://www.history.com/shows/america-unearthed/videos

 
Credits for pictures used:
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap071222.html




Thursday, December 19, 2013

Phil Robertson and His Suspension from A&E.

I am not going to say much on this topic as I am aware of all the talk going around as it is.  What I am going to say is this:
This is the one show that any family can watch on television right now.  It is a well known fact the family as a whole are Christian and firm in their beliefs.  They have never swayed in that area and as most of you know frequently discuss this on the show as well as say a prayer at the end of every show. My question is this,  why are all these people or even this network acting shocked or angry about Phil's personal opinion on a question he was asked?

If I am not mistaken, the question was "What do you find sinful?" Here is a person asking another person his OPINION of what sin means to him.  So why was Phil Robertson's answer his undoing on this network? Why is he being made out to be a good for nothing kind of guy? Wow, this world is really a great place to be a part of.

I feel that he is entitled to his opinion and faith whether everyone agrees or disagrees. I feel he is a good man that promotes peace and love and we need more of that in this world.  I respect this man,  though I never met in him real life,  and I applaud him for being big enough and brave enough to continue to stand by his words and his faith. I want more role models like this for my children. I am a Christian and raise my children to be Christians. I stand with him for his principles,  his morals, and his good influence on me and my family.

I have heard from a few people just today that they think all of this is a publicity stunt to gain more ratings.  I even overheard a group of people at the local Walmart discussing the very same thing.  I would tend to disagree with this theory.  I believe this is a very real event that is taking place and that it is very sad indeed. 

I would like to note that for as far back as the Romans and much further than that in History, followers of Christ have been persecuted for their beliefs. Many other religions as well for that matter.  This is yet again history repeating itself because we have yet to learn from our past.  So I say to the whole ordeal that it is all a big screw up on more than one persons behalf.  And this is really silly and sad.
 
I stand with Phil Robertson for the principal of the matter.  I stand with Phil Robertson for many other reasons as well but come on guys... Think about the whole picture not just what your feelings are or your beliefs or views are.  What is the big picture here? 

He has rights as an American.  He has rights as an individual.  He has rights for his faith.  I proud of who I am and what I think may offend many people but they offend me too.  This is the great thing about America.  We can have these opinions and accept the difference between us all and still live peacefully with one another. Or at least I thought that was what was so great about this country!

Okay,  I will end here because I have said more than I wanted already. I have to get back to my Literature homework.  I'm really struggling with this class! 

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

A Little Something to Think About

"We learn from history that we learn nothing from history. "
George Bernard Shaw
This seems to speak great volumes to me.  Makes me think of all the issues today and how we seem to be making the same mistakes over and over again. 

Please Forgive My Absence

I want to apologize for not posting new content on here very often.  If you read my bio then you may know that I am currently a student at Ashford University. I am in a Literature class that requires a great deal of reading and studying.  I am in heaven with that but it does take up a great deal of my time. Being the time of year it is also is taking its toll on my time.  I am working extra hard trying to earn a bit of last minute Christmas money and also trying to spend some time with family.  I always make time for my kids and family no matter what.  They come first without a doubt! After all that I take at least an hour a day to work on my novel in progress and by then most of the time I am out of hours in the day. I am going to bed super late every night just trying to cram those things in so my blog seems to be on the back burner right now. I am gong to strive to do better in the future.  The are times when I do not have much to do and that is when I will sit and blog for hours.  Sometimes I will post a few posts a day and that is because I have had all that stuff on my mind for some time and finally got the opportunity to sit down and write it. I am just asking that you all do not judge me to harshly and hang in there for a bit longer.  Maybe I will start posting at least one thing a day even if it is just a sentence. Okay I am done rambling now.  It is late,  or should I say early,  and I really need to get some sleep. Look over any typos please as I posted this from my phone and I am completely exhausted!  Oh by the way, if you do not know yet there is a new movie coming out on Christmas Day called The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. I was able to read tidbits of the book in class this week and it seems fantastic.  I am going to purchase the book so I can read it all.  I honestly can't wait for the movie now either.  I am going to look into the details of the movie and I will let you all know what I thought if I find anything interesting.  Okay then,  good night to all! 

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

A True Love Story


I recently watched The Civil War, a documentary by Ken Burns, on PBS. There was one part of the show that stuck out to me. It was a letter wrote by Sullivan Ballou.  This is a true love story!
 
 Sullivan Ballou fought in the Civil War and died on July 21, 1861 at the first battle of Bull Run. He left behind a wife (Sarah) and two sons. A week before he sat down and wrote a letter to his wife and this is what it said:

My very dear Sarah:
 The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days—perhaps tomorrow. Lest I should not be able to write again, I feel impelled to write a few lines that may fall under your eye when I shall be no more . . .

  I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter. I know how strongly American Civilization now leans on the triumph of the Government and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and sufferings of the Revolution. And I am willing—perfectly willing—to lay down all my joys in this life, to help maintain this Government, and to pay that debt . . .
 Sarah my love for you is deathless, it seems to bind me with mighty cables that nothing but Omnipotence could break; and yet my love of Country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me unresistibly on with all these chains to the battle field.

 The memories of the blissful moments I have spent with you come creeping over me, and I feel most gratified to God and to you that I have enjoyed them for so long. And hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes of future years, when, God willing, we might still have lived and loved together, and seen our sons grown up to honorable manhood, around us. I have, I know, but few and small claims upon Divine Providence, but something whispers to me—perhaps it is the wafted prayer of my little Edgar, that I shall return to my loved ones unharmed. If I do not my dear Sarah, never forget how much I love you, and when my last breath escapes me on the battle field, it will whisper your name. Forgive my many faults and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless and foolish I have often times been! How gladly would I wash out with my tears every little spot upon your happiness . . .

 But, O Sarah! If the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they loved, I shall always be near you; in the gladdest days and in the darkest nights . . . always, always, and if there be a soft breeze upon your cheek, it shall be my breath, as the cool air fans your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by. Sarah do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for thee, for we shall meet again . . . (Burns, 2002).

Now this is love! This letter never made it to Sarah but she still never remarried and is buried beside her late husband. I highly recommend this documentary as it really brings the Civil War to life as simple as it is. It is amazing! 

References:

Burns, K. (2002). Historical document: Sullivan Ballou letter. Retrieved from: http://www.pbs.org/civilwar/war/ballou_letter.html

Interesting links you may enjoy:
Video clip of the letter being read on The Civil War.
 

Friday, November 22, 2013

Child Bullying: Who Do We Blame?


I am sure that many of you have noted the anti-bullying campaigns flying around social media and everywhere for that matter.  I have heard many stories of children getting bullied recently. In fact, I went through something similar not too long ago with my sixteen-year-old sister. My question is why is this still an issue? We have all seen the results of bullying, and many have claimed to be against it. Why then, is it still such a common occurrence? Who is to blame? And why does it seem to be starting so early, as in Kindergarten?

I want to tell you my sister’s story first so that I can explain how I have a connection to the issue on a personal level. I am 28 years old, and my sister is 16. I have always been a big part of her life and when her father was not able to go to school to take care of things, I did. When she was in elementary school, she had some issues that made her very different from other children her age. It was in the third grade that she started showing signs of being bullied. So we, her father and I, sat down and asked her all about it. She explained that she was being made fun of at school and wanted to stop going to school. We explained to her that she was beautiful, and she would encounter people who were going to be hateful to her all of her life. She just needed to keep her head up and move forward. She did exactly that. This girl was a survivor I tell you! Every now and again, she would come home and cry and tell me how bad things were, but she never doubted that she was not good enough. She knew she was perfect! After the third grade, we moved. She went to a new school and all seemed fine for a few years. Then high school came, and it seemed we were right back to square one. This time, however, she was not going to take the bullying. So she began to get into arguments and even fights with people at school. I was called several times to meeting with the counselor and principal. They all told me she was a trouble maker. Her father and I were constantly punishing her for her actions. She kept complaining that she was only defending herself. I advised her to tell the counselor or principal then next time it happened instead of taking matters into her own hands. A few days later this girl began to attack my sister verbally at school again, and so she reported it. No action was taken against the student. The next day this same girl spits on my sister during a pep rally and she reports the event and again, no action was taken. I went the next day to report it to the principal. She assured me that this girl would be punished. The girl was never punished and the very next day the girl started again on my sister. This time there was a big fight with a teacher to witness the event. I attended a disciplinary hearing where my sister explained that she was tired of being bullied, and that is why she got into the fight. The director of the board of education’s response to her was “What exactly is your term of bullying? This word keeps getting thrown around these days. I see nothing of the sort in the situation that you could call bullying. None of your claims are considered bullying.” I was shocked! So if this is not bullying, what is? Needless to say my sister was sent to alternative school. She is a strong girl, and I am sure all will be well with her but what if she decided to end her life because of it all? We have heard of this happening before, it is not uncommon, as sad as it is.

I have seen other families going through the same thing. I know a boy with a form of Autism called Asperger. To make matters worse for this young man he comes from a family of giants. So he is a big boy. He is ten years old, 5’7, and at least two hundred pounds. There are things that trigger him, and he acts out sometimes. He is not the type of person who makes friends easy. These are all symptoms to his medical condition. I will not go into full detail, but I will say that this poor child has been picked on from day one in school. I do not know how much damage it can cause in the long run for a five-year-old  to have to worry about things like this, but I am sure that they are much worse than we think. I also just read on Facebook about a ten-year  old little girl getting made fun of for being over weight! Come on, what in the world are we the parents teaching our children? Is it even our fault?

Who can prevent this from happening? I do think it starts at home. I am constantly telling my children that they are not in any way better than the next person. I make sure they know how much I love them, how smart they are, how pretty they are, and how proud I am of them. When they notice that someone that is different I explain that they are smart in their own way, they are pretty in their own way, and I am sure that their mom and dad are very proud of them. I have never had a problem with my children being a bully. In fact, my son’s teacher tells me that my son is friends with everyone in class and is well loved by everyone. When he misses school, every student in the classroom notices and is upset by it.  I am proud of this fact!

I also feel that teachers and school faculty has a responsibility to the students. I think they should pay closer attention to each of their students so that when they notice a change in behavior, they can immediately reach out and take action. I do not feel like enough is done in schools to prevent students who are different from being made fun of. I also do not feel that enough is done to discipline known bullies.

I think the community needs to be involved. I firmly believe that it takes a village to raise a child. If the community is against bullying, then it will make it harder for the schools or parents to let it slide!

I encourage everyone to look at the bigger picture. I am not trying to make a political statement here, I am simply saying for the welfare of our children, even adults, in this world we need to do everything we can to stop this from happening. Children are killing themselves over this; people are dying over being bullied. I think it is way past time to STOP BULLYING!

Interesting links you should look at:




Indentured Servants and Natives in American History: A Quick Review


 I would like to very quickly list a few references that all of you may want to look over that explains some other issues on American history and the suffering by the white people and immigrants that took place. I recently received a comment that offered the advice that I write something on the subject. This is not all I intend to post in fact; I will be working diligently over the next few weeks researching all the facts so that I can write an article on the topic.  As for now I want to supply a few links that might give some insight to those of you that may not understand what it truly took to create a country as grand as the United States of America. It may not be as pretty as you thought. And this is not including what African Americans went through. This only focuses on white people and white immigrants.

Here are the links:

·        Clark, F. E. (1912).  Our immigrants at Ellis Island. Boston, MA: United Society of Christian Endeavor. Retrieved from the Library of Congress at http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/primarysourcesets/immigration/pdf/our_immigrants.pdf

This link is an account of what immigrants coming to America had to endure upon arrival. I highly recommend this link if you want to understand what it felt like if you were a foreigner coming to make a new life in America. From the beginning, you were inspected from head to toe and questioned several times. It is a sad but true account of how we managed immigrants. I loved the conversation between Pat O’Flaherty and the inspector. I give this man a round of applause!


This discusses what indentured servants went through. For those of you that do not know what an indentured servant is, let me explain. The term indentured servant basically meant a form of bondage. Mostly, this was debt bondage because the wealthy would pay for the poor man’s (or women’s) trip to America, as long as they worked for them for a time period. Normally, this was seven years. This is a pretty good link that provides insight to the indentured servant’s life.


This link goes over the Jamestown Settlement and the Natives there. It is a good way to understand early America and the Natives thoughts.


This link explains that it is thought that the first slave owner in America was actually a black man.


This link is all about white slaves. The title says it all. The Forgotten Slaves: Whites in Servitude in Early America and Industrial Britain.

I hope that everyone seriously takes the time to go over these links and maybe learn something new. I wish I had enough time to tell you all about this topic, but I am slammed with other projects right now. Let me know if you liked something you have seen, or if you have any recommendations on references for the upcoming blog on this topic.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

President Obama Omitted the Words "Under God" in the Gettysburg Address


 
I have been hearing a lot of uproar over President Obama’s omission of “under God” during his recitation of the Gettysburg Address. Though I completely understand why this is causing such a controversy throughout America; I also understand why he did it. It is said that there are actually five versions of the speech written by President Abraham Lincoln. Being a Christian myself and a firm believer in God, it would bring joy to my heart to believe that the real Gettysburg Address contained the words “under God” in it. However, knowing my history the way I do can make the fact that it may not believable.

What is the scoop?  
 
So the story hitting the media is that Chris Plante, a Washington DC radio host, noted an odd change in President Obama’s recitation of the Gettysburg Address for documentary producer Ken Burns. It seems that instead of saying, "that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom," President Obama conveniently left out the words “under God." This is a big deal, right? Well, for most of us that are Christian it is. Even so, what is the truth behind the situation?

The History behind the Gettysburg Address.
 

President Abraham Lincoln may not have said the words “under God” in his original address. In fact, there are actually five different copies of the written address by Abraham Lincoln. The Library of Congress holds the two earliest versions of the address. It is said that he wrote one of those before the speech and is considered to be the Nicolay version. This is because he gave the document to John Nicolay, one of his secretaries who later donated it to the Library of Congress. The three other copies of the famous Gettysburg Address is scattered throughout the country. In the Nicolay version, the words “under God” do not exist. Why you ask do the words exist in the other versions but not this one?

Well, some historians consider this version to be a rough draft of the speech, while others argue something else entirely. The truth about the matter is, President Lincoln may not have written the words “under God" initially. In fact, he was a man who had little faith in God in his early years. He was not committed to a church family or a certain religion. This did not mean that he did not believe in God. The late president once stated, “That I am not a member of any Christian Church, is true; but I have never denied the truth of the Scriptures; and I have never spoken with intentional disrepect of religion in general, or of any denomination of Christians in particular,”(Lincoln, 1846). So is the idea that he omitted the words “under God” really all that unbelievable? Yes, by the time he gave the speech he had grown remarkably in his faith. He also was a politician. He realized that Americans were religious people and there were times where he used faith to make a point. Take, for example, a quote from President Abraham Lincoln, “Near eighty years ago we began by declaring that all men are created equal; but now from that beginning we have run down to the other declaration, that for SOME men to enslave OTHERS is a "sacred right of self-government." These principles cannot stand together. They are as opposite as God and mammon; and whoever holds to the one, must despise the other" (Lincoln, 1854). I do not think it impossible that he eventually added the words “under God” in the copies he wrote for Charities.

Conclusion

Let us now get back to the present. Ken Burns has stated that he asked President Obama to recite the Nicolay version of the Gettysburg Address and so the president did just that. I do not think that he intentionally left out the words “under God". I think he was merely reciting the version specified to him. I am not a huge Obama fan. I do not like how he is running our country, and I detest ObamaCare immensely. This is my opinion, and everyone is entitled to theirs. However, I will give him credit on this issue as bad as I hate to admit that.  

References:

American Treasures of the Library of Congress. (2010). Picture of “Nicolay Copy” Gettysburg Address. Retrieved from website: http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/images/frstdrt1.jpg



Pictures and signature credits:

Abraham Lincoln (1863). Foto: Alexander Gardner. Retrieved from website: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln

American Treasures of the Library of Congress. (2010). Picture of “Nicolay Copy” Gettysburg Address. Retrieved from website: http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/images/frstdrt1.jpg

Links that may interest you: