History, Scribblings, Special Events, The Features

American Indians, American Presidents…And a Heritage

Photo courtesy of
‘In the land of the Sioux’
courtesy of ‘Smithsonian Institution’

Ask someone on the street about Native American history and more often than not, they’ll most likely recall the “Thanksgiving story,” the Indian Wars of the late nineteenth century, “Custer’s Last Stand,” or probably the (abysmal) movie Dances With Wolves. It’s an era of our nation’s history that I think many know little about – or choose to look the other way – and I cannot blame them for it. It’s not a pretty period of history, nor is it exactly the United States’ most proudest collection of moments.

When I saw the National Museum of the American Indian’s (NMAI) press release regarding the variety of activities in celebration of Native American Indian Heritage Month, one of the events that caught my eye was today’s lecture with NMAI Director Kevin Gover and museum historian Mark Hirsch. They were speaking regarding a book the Smithsonian released last year, American Indians, American Presidents: A History, edited by Clifford E. Trafzer. While I couldn’t attend the lecture, I had wanted to interview both Director Gover and Mr. Hirsch regarding the book and its impact but despite both NMAI and my best efforts, we couldn’t quite make things work out.

Nonetheless, I decided to forge ahead with a look at this book – even though it was released last year – for a variety of reasons. Native American history is a subject very close to me, for starters, and is an era of history I feel is mostly glossed over in classrooms. The struggle of Native Americans during this country’s formation and rise to power is something that cannot be ignored and, I believe, contains lessons for our future as a nation and as a people.

So I asked NMAI for a copy of the book, eager to see what new perspectives awaited within. And…I was left wanting. Continue reading

The Daily Feed

Presidential Picks – Obama Takes Kansas to Win

Photo courtesy of

courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

He was right last year with North Carolina, but will he be right again?

President Obama unveiled his winning pick for the Men’s NCAA 2010 Tournament earlier today.  And surprise, surprise it’s Kansas.

No Cinderella stories here. Kentucky, Kansas State, and Villanova round out the Presidential Bracket’s final four.

How does your bracket match up?

The Daily Feed

Lincoln’s Watch Vandalized

photo by philip-odegard

I’m fascinated by all things related to the presidency.  I’m no history buff by any means and I can’t spout off useless presidential facts (you don’t want me on your Trivial Pursuit team), but the office of the POTUS is probably the most unique position anyone could ever be in.  Heck, if I was married, had kids, was religious, had powerful connections, and was a millionaire, I’d even think about running for president one day.  Now there’s a scary thought.

Continue reading

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Commemorative Historical Papers

W Legacy

Well the Washington Post can keep flogging that election day paper and selling inauguration day printed blog entries messages to Obama if they want to be unimaginative. The Reverend Sun Myung Moon, on the other hand, knows that it’s foolish to sell one day’s worth of paper when you can sell an aggregation of eight year’s worth! Coffee table book “W” – not a novelization of this film – will contain a selection of the Washington Times‘ unbiased reporting from the Bush Presidency, described thusly:

this compelling coffee table styled book about an extraordinary president in turbulent times. “W” is packed with gripping pictures and stories

Way to show your impartiality, WT.