Archive for the ‘Modern Era’ Category

Nincompoop Hollywood writer/director Oliver Stone told the Sunday Times of London (would link to it but you have to pay, a simple internet search finds commentary on this topic) -- while promoting his documentary South of the Border about South American politics -- that "Hitler was a Frankenstein but there was ... Full story

(I gave this a few days since his death out of respect for the man, but the question deserves asking.) Will he be remember as a Racist? KKK Member? Esteemed Senator that brought home the bacon for his state? Democrat (remember, the Democrats were the traditional and historic "Slave Party") Senator Robert Byrd joined the ... Full story

The government wants to regulate and in some instances start taxing blogs and other websites. Great! More government cuz you know it does such a good job regulating and taxing and dealing with oil spills and hurricanes.... yea, more government can't wait for government run health care! But I digress. Read these news stories:... Full story

It took place 100 years ago and was much bigger than the current BP spill It is known as the "The Lakeview Gusher" and began in 1910 when an oil line in California failed and exploded releasing a geyser of 90-100,000 barrels of oil a day and lasted for a ... Full story

I am embarrassed to admit that I myself did not even remember until today that the Anniversary of one of the most important World War 2 events had just passed. The largest amphibious landing in history and one that almost failed. Yet the warriors of our second Great Generation (I tend to count ... Full story

Robert H. Wiebe is the professor of history at Northwestern University, and is the author of The Segmented Society and Self Rule: A Cultural History of American Democracy, and The Search for Order, 1877-1920, the focus of this short post. This is a book assigned to me in my graduate class and I am ... Full story

The following (below) is Sanchee H.S. HISTORY teacher Ron Gochez, at a La Raza Rally on the UCLA campus: Part of his rant: I want to start off by saying that the young man who spoke a little while ago was one of my students. That made me so proud, because ... Full story

Military presentation leaves many Dumbfounded. 'When we understand that slide, we'll have won the war,' General Stanley McChrystal, the US and NATO force commander, remarked wryly when confronted by the sprawling spaghetti diagram in a briefing. Read more... Full story

The prompt for this week's discussion in one of my graduate classes and based on the numerous readings was: "If you had to select one defining moment, challenge, social cause, technological achievement, or political struggle that marked the start of the century what would it be and why?" Some great discussions thus far and ... Full story

Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-NC) announced recently that Ulysses S. Grant's portrait on the current $50 bill should be replaced with Ronald Reagan. I am one of those who happens to think Reagan was a great president, but nonetheless, I would not support this bill. Sean Wilentz, professor of history at Princeton, is the ... Full story

Indiana, 1818. Moonlight falls through the dense woods that surround a one-room cabin, where a nine-year-old Abraham Lincoln kneels at his suffering mother's bedside. She's been stricken with something the old-timers call "Milk Sickness." "My baby boy..." she whispers before dying. Only later will the grieving Abe learn that his mother's fatal affliction was actually ... Full story

There were a slew of news stories last week that specifically mentioned that Stone worked with two unnamed historians for his up-coming documentary on Hitler and other mass murders in an attempt to give us "empathy" for them and "provide" us with historical context to their rise to power. According to hundreds ... Full story

I mean this sincerely. I am saddened by the passing of Howard Zinn. From the Associated Press: Howard Zinn, the leftist academic whose alternative history of the United States became required reading for millions of ordinary people, as well as a following of celebrities, has died. He was 87. Zinn's death was confirmed by his website, ... Full story

Oliver Stone is no stranger to conspiracy theories and to gross historical inaccuracies (see JFK for starters, Oswald was the lone shooter), and it looks like he is taking on yet more "misunderstood" events and people (thank God for Oilver Stone or we would all be , as he says "ignorant."); only this time his focus ... Full story

Elvis would have been 75 today, happy birthday to the King of Rock and Roll! My mother was a huge Elvis fan and I have to admit I own a couple of his songs on my iPod. Anyway, to another shining example of American Exceptionalism (and tragedy), Elvis Presley. That he borrowed indiscriminately - ... Full story

The Enemy of American Exceptionalism posted this remarkable video as an apology to Eric Wittenberg over the recent debate (which predictably became personal!) they had concerning John Latschar. Eric accepted Kevin's apology, sorta. Anyway, what is remarkable to me is Levin's meandering video that I include below. Does the word narcissist come to mind? My God, this guy thinks the world revolves around him ... Full story

Interesting how the comments pour in stating how I am comparing Obama to Hitler. I did no such thing.  The singing of a religious song and inserting our current President's name is frankly creepy and at best stupid and at worst hero worshiping. I am happy people can take pride in our President. But this kind of thing opens them up to radical (which is ... Full story

Can you imagine if this was done in honor of Bush or any other President? How about in the name of God or Jesus? The Press would be all over it and would condemn it. This is very disconcerting. I have to as WHY? Why are we teaching children to sing a song for Obama? Is he special? I know, call me crazy.... Full story

The Liberalization of the History Channel now brings us such needed and informative documentaries as "History of Prostitution" and "High Tech Sex." (Both were on tonight!) You know, I'm sure some people might think this is "history" but I find it disgusting. I have kids who watch the history channel and students, and I can tell you I do not want them watching this. I ... Full story

Very interesting recordings it sounds like are being released by the Nixon Presidential Library. As the movie Frost/Nixon identified, Nixon was a complex man. It stands to reason that we don't really learn about a President until many years after their leaving office. It will be interesting how our most contemporary Presidents will be judged in years to come: Obama, Bush W., Clinton, Bush H., ... Full story