Recently in History Category

Iron Horse points out the obvious here. Part of our Revolution was a response against the abuses of the Dutch East India Company so why would our Founder be pro-business again?

It's nice to know that historians - particularly those in Texas - are lining up against the Texas state "reforms" that teach stuff like slavery wasn't so bad and Joe McCarthy was a nice guy or whatever lies they are selling.

Plus, another view supporting California's move to reject any textbook that is printed that includes the Texas lies.

Seriously, people in general are pretty stupid. Willingfully lying to children because you are bigoted and hate others is just cruel. Our children are supposed to be *better* than us, not force fed bullshit that doesn't reflect reality.

This is absolute genius. Give a listen.

There are a ton of misconceptions about Cinco de Mayo. Hopefully this addresses some of them.

More on the day at Wikipedia.

Honestly, it's basically Mexican St. Paddy's Day to me. Still, a good excuse for a drink is not one to easily pass up.

This isn't about "honoring" the past--it's about an inability to cope with the present.

Ta-Nehisi Coates on how - yes - the Confederacy was about slavery and any whitewashing of the past ignores both that truth and that much of the "honoring" of the Confederacy these days has more to do with the racism and fear of "others" in those suggesting that honoring treason is patriotic.

I've got to get this book. A history of states that might have been.

If you follow land purchases out here in the West, Deseret may still happen, formally or not.

My sentiments exactly.

Nice to know that some conservatives believe in education. Too bad their attention only comes from trying to destroy it. From denigrating science to outright lying about sex education, it shouldn't be a surprise that lies and deceit are part of their literal whitewashing of history. Here are the worst lies and coverups they plan on implementing.

THIS is what anti-Americanism is. Our nation is better when we are open about our past, not trying to make golden Baal statues of Reagan or whatnot.

The historical long view of why America is still a force for good in spite of the GOP.

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I've seen this a few times and kept forgetting to link it. Here is a bit of backstory on it.

More on the recent passing of Howard Zinn, including some videos clip on this page plus an excerpt from his latest - and last - book.

"What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places-and there are so many-where people have behaved magnificently, it energizes us to act, and raises at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction. And if we do act, in however small a way, we don't have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory."

Bob Herbert wrote a very good article on Zinn. It really should be read as a personal homage to the man.

I have some more articles at home I'm hoping to link to. Hopefully I'll remember to do that soon.

Apparently our ancestors were no landlubbers. Turns out they took to sea to find new lands long before anyone had thought they did.

Meanwhile, most of us are content to lay back in our living rooms and veg.

Some music for your Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Also, news of a missing King speech recently found.

The bulk of our nation would not exist if not for Haitians fighting for their freedom from slavery.

Racist bigots like Pat Robertson and his ilk should appreciate this fact, not trying to cast a bunch of people as satanists. If Talibangelicals were capable of shame, they should be feeling it now.

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Some historical looking back on how China have taken the initiative in a variety of areas over the US specifically and the West in general.

A lot of food for thought.