A Product of Where We've Been
Thoughts on a dynamic focus on history58 total reviews
Comment from JW
I do find it interesting that I would read something like this on the same evening of The State of The Union, and having watched part of the Republican debates last night.
It is a shame we could not back of time, and have those present in both events to stop and take a moment to read this. Perhaps what was spoken, and what will be spoken today would be a bit different.
Good job. JW
reply by the author on 25-Jan-2012
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I do find it interesting that I would read something like this on the same evening of The State of The Union, and having watched part of the Republican debates last night.
It is a shame we could not back of time, and have those present in both events to stop and take a moment to read this. Perhaps what was spoken, and what will be spoken today would be a bit different.
Good job. JW
Comment Written 24-Jan-2012
reply by the author on 25-Jan-2012
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Hi Jonathan - I appreciate you reading. I have to tell you that I didn't get a warm, fuzzy feeling from the State of the Union and the Republican debates are disturbing. Regards, Bill
Comment from Mastery
Hi, Bill..I do so sincerely wish I had a six star left. This is one hell of an essay, my friend. I love the way you kept the reader engrossed with fact and opinions. Bravo! (Incidentally, I just finally posted another chapter after all this time I've been away...LOL...Take Care...Bob
reply by the author on 24-Jan-2012
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Hi, Bill..I do so sincerely wish I had a six star left. This is one hell of an essay, my friend. I love the way you kept the reader engrossed with fact and opinions. Bravo! (Incidentally, I just finally posted another chapter after all this time I've been away...LOL...Take Care...Bob
Comment Written 24-Jan-2012
reply by the author on 24-Jan-2012
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Thanks Bob - a virtual six from you is great. Much better than the one I just got. Oh well - your opinion leant much more to me. Regards, Bill
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A one?????? Really? Wow!
Comment from uniqueauthor
Our nation came to be, because France waged a war on several fronts to keep England from our borders, and yet all France received for their effort was a little piece of land in Kentucky, Louis XVI was later beheaded, because Washington didn't feel it was important to give them the same assistance against England, as they gave to us. Everybody says the Frech Revollution was French, but history tells a different story. Our nation was settled by Christians, who came from all over Europe to escape Religious Tyrany, problem is, they brought it with them. Mores wars have been fought over Religion and Politica than for any separte cause. And it is so today.
I remember hearing Bush make the statement while promoting the surge in 2003, {I am going to make them a Chrisitin nation.}. If he was a true Christian, he wouildn't be trying to take another's freedom away.
I think our eyes have been blinded by lying politicians, in it for themselves. Things arent't going to change until we realize that all men were created equal.
reply by the author on 24-Jan-2012
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Our nation came to be, because France waged a war on several fronts to keep England from our borders, and yet all France received for their effort was a little piece of land in Kentucky, Louis XVI was later beheaded, because Washington didn't feel it was important to give them the same assistance against England, as they gave to us. Everybody says the Frech Revollution was French, but history tells a different story. Our nation was settled by Christians, who came from all over Europe to escape Religious Tyrany, problem is, they brought it with them. Mores wars have been fought over Religion and Politica than for any separte cause. And it is so today.
I remember hearing Bush make the statement while promoting the surge in 2003, {I am going to make them a Chrisitin nation.}. If he was a true Christian, he wouildn't be trying to take another's freedom away.
I think our eyes have been blinded by lying politicians, in it for themselves. Things arent't going to change until we realize that all men were created equal.
Comment Written 24-Jan-2012
reply by the author on 24-Jan-2012
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Hi Linda - thanks for reading. I don't think I've ever gotten a rating of 1 before. There must be something you really hate about it. Bill
Comment from peggles
I enjoyed reading your story
Not being American I don't keep up with your politics but I am sure it must relate to everywhere
I thought your post was interesting and well composed
I'm sure your dad would have a lot of stories to tell
I enjoyed reading his sons
reply by the author on 24-Jan-2012
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I enjoyed reading your story
Not being American I don't keep up with your politics but I am sure it must relate to everywhere
I thought your post was interesting and well composed
I'm sure your dad would have a lot of stories to tell
I enjoyed reading his sons
Comment Written 24-Jan-2012
reply by the author on 24-Jan-2012
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Thanks very much Peggles. I appreciate you reading and for your kind feedback. Regards, Bill
Comment from Penny 4 your thought
this is a wonderful piece of work. you do a great job getting you meaning across. you draw your reader along to the end.I am not sure about the art you have chosen to represent you work but it is a lovely piece by Jgrace. all in all a solid five.
Penny 4 your thought
reply by the author on 24-Jan-2012
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this is a wonderful piece of work. you do a great job getting you meaning across. you draw your reader along to the end.I am not sure about the art you have chosen to represent you work but it is a lovely piece by Jgrace. all in all a solid five.
Penny 4 your thought
Comment Written 24-Jan-2012
reply by the author on 24-Jan-2012
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Thanks very much for your feedback. I usually have a great time marrying the artwork with the post, but had a devil of a time with this one. The visual is supposedly of the earth all wrapped up. Warm regards, Bill
Comment from Jayson Therriault
I am half Canadian, half German, there's some screw-up for you ;) :p.
Seriously though, being a buff in history, I agree with what you say, it's always good to know where we've been, what our nation has done in the past, both good and bad. It's both sides that forms the character, may it be a person, to a whole nation.
I found your work very nicely put togetherm and in a way that kept my attention, thank you for sharing!
reply by the author on 24-Jan-2012
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I am half Canadian, half German, there's some screw-up for you ;) :p.
Seriously though, being a buff in history, I agree with what you say, it's always good to know where we've been, what our nation has done in the past, both good and bad. It's both sides that forms the character, may it be a person, to a whole nation.
I found your work very nicely put togetherm and in a way that kept my attention, thank you for sharing!
Comment Written 24-Jan-2012
reply by the author on 24-Jan-2012
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Hi Jayson - thanks for reading and the kind feedback. Regards, Bill
Comment from Gloria ....
Very well written essay and the beginning of a dialogue of "truth" that all nations must engage. We define ourselves by our stories that are passed down from generation to generation. It has been the dominant forces that determined which stories would be told and which ones would be silenced. Which leads to the logical question, what has that got to do with truth? When other nations engaged in historical sanitization it is called propaganda, when we do it, it is called the truth or necessary.
I am a Canadian and have become weary of self-serving, manipulative comments that we are peaceable by nature despite mountains of evidence to the contrary. Moreover, how likely is it that Canadians are so different from the rest of humanity?
"We can all benefit from examining how we hide the real and show the false because unexamined deception is now threatening our survival more than enhancing it." The "truth" cannot be separated from context and truth is indeed fluid.
With the Internet, chances of hiding the facts have become slim to none, as recent events in northern Africa have shown. Now we can see for ourselves what has transpired and even at that we must remain discerning because our paradigms are vastly different as you so aptly illustrated with, "To the Chinese, fifty years represents the blink of an eye."
I laughed out loud when I read: "It was mean, deceitful and just plain sneaky; certainly not the American way." My own family spins history like that. Just take out American and insert family last name.
Very nice job. Your essay is informative and entertaining and if I also may add, honestly patriotic.
Cheers,
MissyX
reply by the author on 24-Jan-2012
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Very well written essay and the beginning of a dialogue of "truth" that all nations must engage. We define ourselves by our stories that are passed down from generation to generation. It has been the dominant forces that determined which stories would be told and which ones would be silenced. Which leads to the logical question, what has that got to do with truth? When other nations engaged in historical sanitization it is called propaganda, when we do it, it is called the truth or necessary.
I am a Canadian and have become weary of self-serving, manipulative comments that we are peaceable by nature despite mountains of evidence to the contrary. Moreover, how likely is it that Canadians are so different from the rest of humanity?
"We can all benefit from examining how we hide the real and show the false because unexamined deception is now threatening our survival more than enhancing it." The "truth" cannot be separated from context and truth is indeed fluid.
With the Internet, chances of hiding the facts have become slim to none, as recent events in northern Africa have shown. Now we can see for ourselves what has transpired and even at that we must remain discerning because our paradigms are vastly different as you so aptly illustrated with, "To the Chinese, fifty years represents the blink of an eye."
I laughed out loud when I read: "It was mean, deceitful and just plain sneaky; certainly not the American way." My own family spins history like that. Just take out American and insert family last name.
Very nice job. Your essay is informative and entertaining and if I also may add, honestly patriotic.
Cheers,
MissyX
Comment Written 24-Jan-2012
reply by the author on 24-Jan-2012
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Thank you Missy - getting a six is always appreciated, but your candid feedback was equally appreciated. Regards, Bill
Comment from debskatz
Hi bhogg,
Thank You for showing us our history in a different & more accurate way. So many people think the U.S. is God-ordained and can do no wrong. Where do we get off with this type of thinking?
BTW, your essay is well-written with no spag that I could find.
Thank you for being brave enough to speak out on America's short comings.
smiles,
deb
reply by the author on 24-Jan-2012
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Hi bhogg,
Thank You for showing us our history in a different & more accurate way. So many people think the U.S. is God-ordained and can do no wrong. Where do we get off with this type of thinking?
BTW, your essay is well-written with no spag that I could find.
Thank you for being brave enough to speak out on America's short comings.
smiles,
deb
Comment Written 24-Jan-2012
reply by the author on 24-Jan-2012
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Thank you very much for reading and your kind and generous feedback. Regards, Bill
Comment from Piggies Grandma
I enjoyed reading your story very much bhogg. It is cleverly written and very well thought out. I'm sure your father would have a lot of stories to tell.
reply by the author on 24-Jan-2012
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I enjoyed reading your story very much bhogg. It is cleverly written and very well thought out. I'm sure your father would have a lot of stories to tell.
Comment Written 24-Jan-2012
reply by the author on 24-Jan-2012
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Thanks for reading PG - my dad will only rarely talk about his experiences.
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My grandfather was the same.
Comment from slapdasch
Very nice job of making the point that casting a critical eye on your native country's failed policies and historical shortcomings isn't incompatible with being patriotic.
A good example of some of the terrain you cover here can be found in much of the American public's reaction to the events of 9/11. "We didn't know they hated us so much," was an idea that was expressed again and again.
Why the surprise? One suspects a big part of the failure to understand can be connected to a lack of knowledge and/or interest in foreign history, languages and cultures. These kinds of things happen to be building blocks of a traditional liberal arts education, which in the recent past has been devalued and dismissed by many as "not practical."
Again,in reference to 9/11, what could be more 'practical" than saving lives?
reply by the author on 24-Jan-2012
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Very nice job of making the point that casting a critical eye on your native country's failed policies and historical shortcomings isn't incompatible with being patriotic.
A good example of some of the terrain you cover here can be found in much of the American public's reaction to the events of 9/11. "We didn't know they hated us so much," was an idea that was expressed again and again.
Why the surprise? One suspects a big part of the failure to understand can be connected to a lack of knowledge and/or interest in foreign history, languages and cultures. These kinds of things happen to be building blocks of a traditional liberal arts education, which in the recent past has been devalued and dismissed by many as "not practical."
Again,in reference to 9/11, what could be more 'practical" than saving lives?
Comment Written 24-Jan-2012
reply by the author on 24-Jan-2012
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Thanks for reading and for your very interesting reply. Bill