Crossfusion: An Open Letter to Our Nation's Leaders

"Don't be stubborn like me!"

Below is a letter written to our nation's leaders, written by my cousin Pastor John Partridge.  All I can add is that compromise and cooperation is vital. This isn't second grade. I don't care what the little Republican or Democrat did to you. Work with each other!

Crossfusion: An Open Letter to Our Nation's Leaders

What Do President Kennedy, Queen Elizabeth and Mary, Queen of Scots Have in Common?

My hubby and I need one of these.  Feed the starving writer!

We don't have a dishwasher.  We live in an older home with a small kitchen, so there isn't room for one.  Therefore, dish washing time is when my husband and I discuss daily matters.  We talk about dinner, work, our son, but usually we get into heated debates about politics, religion or history.

Yesterday, my husband informed me that while he hadn't read my post yet, he didn't like it.  Apparently he had seen my title "My Favorite Ghost Story, The 1960 Presidential Election," and decided that I was perpetuating Republican propaganda against the Democratic party.  Yes, these were big words.  He uses them a lot and my son and I just stare blankly at him.  I told him to leave a comment on my blog, which he did.  However, he insisted that I hear his argument in person.

While my son was banging on pots and pans and opening the honey container, hubby and I were in an intense, flirtatious debate about political propaganda.  This isn't the first time we have debated about historical topics.  Our most famous argument has to be the Queen Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots debate of 2006.  We were still dating at the time and began talking about the two queens.  I stated that Queen Elizabeth was my favorite.  She was a survivor, had guts, political savvy and most importantly, didn't use violence unless it was absolutely necessary.

"Mary started it!"

"What," my husband said in his half astonished/half irritated tone, "blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah."  Of course my husband didn't say blah, blah, blah, but that's what it sounded like to me.  This argument between us lasted for days until we finally agreed to disagree.  After all, he was kinda cute and I enjoyed having him around.

While my husband and I have our quirks, we aren't the only ones who like a good historical debate.  Last week at the http://www.elizabethfiles.com/, a heated debate occurred between supporters of Elizabeth I Mary, Queen of Scots.  They were contemporaries and cousins.  Elizabeth I being the daughter of Henry VIII and the infamous Anne Boleyn and Mary the granddaughter of Margaret Tudor, Henry VIII's sister.  While many viewed Elizabeth as being illegitimate and Mary the rightful heir to the English throne, Elizabeth was still crowned queen.  Assassination plots in Elizabeth's early reign were common and Mary was implicated in one of them.  Eventually, Mary, Queen of Scots, is arrested and reluctantly beheaded by Elizabeth.

While the event occurred over 400 years ago, the debate at the http://www.elizabethfiles.com/ was ugly.  The words whore, martyr, illegitimate and rightful heir were thrown around.  Some called Mary stupid, others called Elizabeth cruel.  Just like the presidential election of 1960, the rivalry between the two queens still causes intense emotions to this day.  This is why history is used for propaganda.  Immediately, a person, event or idea stirs up the desired emotions and feelings the person propagandizing wants you to feel.  History is a powerful tool, use it carefully.

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My Favorite Ghost Story, The 1960 Presidential Election
Move Over Xena: Queen Isabella Was a True Warrior Princess!
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We Pay More Taxes Than Mexicans! Quick, Start a Revolution!

A normal day at the Indianapolis Children's Museum!

Below is a link to the progressive Catholic magazine, the Commonweal.  This article analyzes the taxes Americans pay according to their income.  Not surprisingly, even the richest of the rich don't pay much in taxes.  Don't get me wrong, I believe in fiscal responsibility and I hate so called "pork-belly projects."  We have one in Indianapolis called the Indianapolis Children's Museum and instead of being the wonderful place of my youth, is has become an overcrowded, tourist monstrosity.  Lowering existing tax rates, however, will not solve our nation's problems.  Happy Reading!

http://commonwealmagazine.org/tax-myths

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Would You Like a Cup of Tea?
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Would You Like a Cup of Tea?

No tea for them!

Tea...it's wonderful for breakfast, noon, night and every hour in between, according to my husband's grandmother.  With her New Brunswick accent and her sharp Irish wit, having tea with her is never boring.  My husband's grandmother believes that no tea cup can go dry and will pour you a refill, even if you protest.  As my husband says, "Yes," means an obscene amount of tea, "No," means a small amount and her death is the only thing that will stop her from making more tea.  So I drink up and heartily listen to tales from her childhood on a small farm in Canada.

Unfortunately, this post isn't about one of her tales, although she would probably interrupt me now and offer me more tea and cookies.  The tea I would be reluctant to sip, however, is from the non-for-profit group Tea Party Patriots.  This group is all over television, internet and radio.  They stage protests across the country and draw thousands of protesters.

More tea?

The Tea Party Patriots named themselves after the Boston Tea Party, where Bostonians dumped 90,000 pounds of tea in protest of the Tea Act of 1773.  Political groups, often use positive historic events or persons as propaganda for their agenda.  Whether it is Gay Rights Movement evoking the image of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's or the Nazi's using the myth of an Arian race during World War II, history is often used to promote political agendas.  While using history as propaganda isn't always bad, people need to be aware of the events or persons being used and the actual beliefs of those promoting the agenda.

The Tea Party Patriots state they are for fiscal responsibility, limited government and free markets, but is seems their main obsession is taxes.  According to their mission statement page, the Constitution was enacted to protect our fiscal and economic rights and government regulations hamper a person's ability to make money.  For the tea partiers it's all about the money and apparently they believe this was the same thing that motivated the Bostonians to dump over one million dollars worth of tea into the harbor.

While monetary considerations were present for many American merchants, since the East India Company could ship its tea directly to the colonies, thus underselling the American merchants.  It wasn't, however, just about money or taxes.  Many American colonists, especially in New England, were of English stock.  They had read the history of the English Civil War, which was waged against a king who levied new taxes, but refused to call Parliament.  Money and taxes wasn't their main concern, instead it was their ancient rights as Englishmen that was being violated.  Taxes, they believed, could only be levied by a Parliament that they had elected.

The Tea Party Patriots are free to use propaganda in their message, every political group does.  Perhaps, though, they should reread their history books and find a more appropriate event for their cause.  Or maybe, just maybe... realize that there is more to life than taxes.

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These Ain't Your Mama's Puritans!
A Mosque Near Ground Zero
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George Washington Was a Fascist and Lincoln a Dead Beat!

Don't blame me!  You're not participating in class.

If you are reading this, I have gotten your attention!  One of the tricks I learned as a professor is to say something outrageous when you want dialogue from the class.  While I have gotten a few comments, I was hoping this blog would be more of a conversation between myself and my readers.  I don't believe in passive history.  I like opinions and a hearty debate!  Besides, I am a stay at home mom and desire nothing more than intellectual stimulation.  While my son is excessively verbal for his age, I have grown tired discussing the moon. 

My life this week has revolved around the moon.  No pun intended.

Explore, analyze, critique and most importantly comment on my blog. (No moon comments, please)  My archives and most popular posts on on the right hand side.  Remember, a percentage of your grade is based on participation.

Blog O' The Irish: Irish Halloween Book Recommendation..

Ireland always has good ghost stories! You may still have time to check out this book from the library and it's review at this blog:  Blog O' The Irish: Irish Halloween Book Recommendation..

What! Belgium Has a Monarchy?

Liege, a beautiful city in Belgium.

Belgium is an easy country to fall in love with.  The smell of ham and wine linger through the air, as the aromas blend with smell of chocolate making.  Ok, Belgium doesn't always smell like that, especially in Brussels, but the month I spent in Louvain La Neuve made me a Belgian at heart.


While I was in Belgium, I was embarrassed to learn that Belgian had a monarchy.  I was a history major, well versed in foreign cultures and had taken French, yet I had failed to acquire this important fact.  Yet more embarrassing still, I learned this at a morning reception at the mayor's house, which was flowing with wine.  We (Americans) kept drinking in honor of the king and before I knew it I was a little tipsy.  Not only was I the ignorant American, but I couldn't hold my wine like the Belgians.

Who doesn't like bread, cheese and wine?

The current Belgian king is Albert II and is descended from the same royal family as the English monarchy, the Saxe-Coburg family.  Many Belgians find the monarchy a relic from the past, however, and desire a president of sorts.  I am an American, so I see no need for monarchy, but I have been fascinated by two fellow bloggers dedicated to Belgium and her monarchy:  The Cross of Laeken and the Exiled Belgian Royalist.

Well written (in English), informative, with a hint of nostalgia, describes these blogs. So read a little, or a lot from these blogs and discover another aspect of European history and culture.  All I ask is that you leave me a bite of chocolate!

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