Credits
The original intention of Memorial Day was to honor the union soldiers who died fighting the civil war. In celebration of the first official observance of Memorial Day, in 1868, women would place flowers on the graves of soldiers, and men would raise the American flag, except in the south. In the south, people had been honoring their fallen soldiers for years before General John A. Logan issued the order that all Americans observe the recognized holiday. Southerners refused to recognize the official holiday until after World War 1.

What many people don’t know is that the actual first Memorial Day was in fact celebrated in 1865 by a group of freed slaves in Charleston. The location had been a Confederate prison camp, and then became a mass grave for Union soldiers who had perished while imprisoned. The liberated slaves removed the dead Union soldiers from the mass grave and reburied them in separate graves, fenced in the graveyard, and even built an entry arch proclaiming it a Union graveyard. They proudly declare this to be “Decoration Day” which they observed every year even though it was extremely dangerous for them to do so. The south was not a Union friendly sort of place in those first few years after the war, and it would be nearly another century before anyone with really dark brown skin was made to feel appreciated.

The freed slaves were grateful and appreciative to all of the soldiers who died to assure their freedom. In return, the American government appropriated this day of respect and named it their own. Hmmmmmmm, pretty much the same way they did for the African slaves themselves, and the Native Americans, and the country of America itself too.

After the First World War, the observance of Memorial Day was altered to include every soldier who died in defense of America. During Memorial Day speeches fight up until the last decade, the word “woman” was not mentioned among those who should be honored, even though many women served and died in the armed forces.

I think there should be some replacements of holidays, and a few other days added to the calendar of American holidays.

Apologize to the African Day

Honesty Not Hypocrisy Day

Native Americans, Please Forgive Us Day (Instead of Thanksgiving)

Guilt and Retribution Day (Instead of Columbus Day)

We Should Have Done Things Differently Day (Instead of Independence Day)

It’s Perfectly Okay to Be Single Day (Should Be Celebrated the Day after Valentine’s Day)

Credits
The death of renowned model and superstar actress Marilyn Monroe has long been the subject of considerable speculation. The theories are numerous, but the ultimate reason for her inevitable demise has been narrowed down to three overall popular opinions.

One is that Monroe’s untimely death was the result of a suicide attempt. This does seem to hold some water, though not much, as Marilyn Monroe had been known to attempt suicide on two prior occasions. The holes in this particular theory begin with the fact that in Monroe’s prior attempts, she had been publicly seen in a somber mood. It was obvious to everyone that Monroe was depressed and sad. Her prior attempts at suicide did not come as any surprise. This time, however, Monroe had been noted as being jubilant and happy. She had been in high spirits that very day and had discussed long term future plans with acquaintances. Hardly the behavior one would expect from someone planning to take their own life.

The second theory is that of accidental death. Rumors spread throughout Hollywood that Monroe had been prescribed medication by two separate doctors, each one not knowing about the other prescription. This too has more holes than Swiss cheese. One of the two doctors featured in this theory denies prescribing or using any drugs at all on Monroe. Of course, this could very possibly be a cover-up by the physician in question, to protect their own career, but there is a little more beneath the surface of the whole situation than that.

The Monroe Conspiracy actually expands to a national level. You see, Marilyn Monroe was repeatedly seen with two of the Kennedy brothers. John Kennedy was president of the United States at the time, and was “happily” married. John’s brother Robert was the other individual that was purportedly seeing Monroe. The plot thickens considerably here. On many occasions Marilyn had been reported as verbally stating that her long term life goal was to become the First Lady, wife to the President of the United States.

Consider the situation we have here. We have a United States president who is in danger of losing his career, a presidential first lady who is in danger of losing her husband, and a government that is very concerned about the damage that could be done to the presidential office if Mrs. Monroe did not stop running her mouth all over the place. Rumors were spreading like mad.

At this point Robert Kennedy decides to break up with Monroe, cutting the ties before things got too far. Perhaps John Kennedy waited too long? Perhaps the distraught Monroe rented that hotel room that night with the sole purpose of committing suicide. This is possible, but how possible is it when you take into account that there were so many high profile government officials whose careers were at stake? If you go by odds, the government would be number one on the list of suspects, be it the president, his brother, the first lady, or simply those in charge of keeping government politics in a positive light.

Before you make your final judgment, take into consideration the ultimate fate of John F. Kennedy. What are the odds of the president’s mistress dying of mysterious causes and the president also dying of mysterious causes a short time later? A true conspiracy indeed!

My major peeve with most of them is the fact that at the time they were written, the majority of the American people who were free were greatly outnumbered by freedom less people. There was very little justice in the air either.

The soldiers fighting the wars to make this country independent and strong were slaves of one sort or another. Either because of their heritage, race, or their financial circumstances. Moreover, for most civilians, well it would be centuries before they had any rights at all.

Take a good look at the lyrics to some of our patriotic songs, and give them just a little honest thought. Even if the words had been true and honest at the time of writing, during most of the conflicts when Americans sing the songs most proudly, we’ve raised our voices while keeping our eyes downcast to avoid seeing some things we should have been ashamed of.

The Star Spangled Banner

Composed by Francis Scott Key, “In Defense of Fort McHenry”, September 20, 1814.
Congress proclaimed it the U.S. National Anthem in 1931.
Midi by Lesley Nelson

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro’ the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watch’d, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro’ the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen thro’ the mists of the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:
‘Tis the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash’d out their foul footsteps’ pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand,
Between their lov’d homes and the war’s desolation;
Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the heav’n-rescued land
Praise the Pow’r that hath made and preserv’d us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

America (My Country, ‘Tis of Thee)

Text: Samuel F. Smith, 1808-1895
Music: Thesaurus Musicus
Tune: AMERICA, Meter: 664.6664

My country,’ tis of thee,

Sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing;

Land where my father’s died,

Land of the pilgrims’ pride,

From every mountainside let freedom ring!

My native country, thee,

Land of the noble free, thy name I love;

I love thy rocks and rills,

Thy woods and templed hills;

My heart with rapture thrills, like that above.

Let music swell the breeze,

And ring from all the trees sweet freedom’s song;

Let mortal tongues awake;

Let all that breathe partake;

Let rocks their silence break, the sound prolong.

Our fathers’ God, to thee,

Author of liberty, to thee we sing;

Long may our land be bright

With freedom’s holy light;

Protect us by thy might, great God, our King.

America the Beautiful

Words by Katharine Lee Bates,
Melody by Samuel Ward
MIDI sequencing provided by Melody Lane

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!
O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for halcyon skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the enameled plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
And music-hearted sea!
O beautiful for pilgrims feet,
Whose stem impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through
wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee!
O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man’s avail
Men lavished precious life!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till nobler men keep once again
Thy whiter jubilee!

Credit
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America

And to the Republic for which it stands,

One Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Hmmmmmmm. I sat next to my child in her school classroom and listened to her proudly recite the pledge. I bit my tongue and then praised her for her accuracy when she was done. When we got home, I fumed and ranted alone in my room until the anger had subsided.

I don’t mean to sound anti American, because I’m not I consider myself an American woman, a white skinned Native American woman. I would not live in any other county but this one. I want my children to grow up and be proud of this country. However, I’m not willing to sacrifice my sense of right and wrong to teach that to them. I want them to understand that mistakes were made in the formation of today’s America. To accept and forgive the “founding fathers” for the heinous acts committed in the name of Democracy and progress.

It goes against everything I believe in to have my children required to recite The Pledge of Allegiance in school. I can only be grateful that they are no not required to pray.

The issues that I have with the pledge are these;

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America

Why do my children have to declare loyalty to a piece of cloth? They don’t even yet understand what the flag represents. They have no ideas what the stars and stripes are even for. Or why the flag was created, or when.

…and to the Republic for which it stands

America isn’t exactly as much of a republic as it would like the world to believe. The only definition of republic that America can honestly use is that it has elected officials. Although, how those officials are elected should be a cause for consideration. However, that’s another topic altogether.

The other definition of republic is that it is a group of people who are considered to be equals, have a collective interest, objective or vocation. Equality among the people in America at the time of the writing of the pledge, was non-existant, it isn’t really much improved today.

…one Nation under God

In America, people were and still are supposed to have religious freedom. Not everyone in this nation believes in God. My children will be allowed to decide for themselves if they want to believe in religion of any sort, and I will not influence that decision in any way. In kindergarten, I really don’t feel that they are ready to make that decision. No one should be forced to swear an oath of loyalty and allegiance to God, most certainly not children.

…indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

The American nation has proven repeatedly that not only are her people easily divided, the government actually encourages it.

Here in America, liberty and justice are benefits that those who can easily afford them actually enjoy. The rest of us have to take our justice and liberty where can find it, and hold it close lest it be snatched away. At the time that pledge was adopted, only wealthy white men had any liberty or justice. They were also the ones who decided which other white men would receive those particular gifts and under which specific circumstances.

In many cases, the American people who are not upper class white men in this modern age of liberty and justice would question whether those two gifts are actually given freely to everyone, as they should be.

I know that I do.

Do you?

In the month of July in 1947, perhaps the worlds’ most famed conspiracy took place, and possibly one of the most obvious. On that fateful day government aircraft reported sighting a “disc-like” aircraft. The exact details between the initial sighting and the recovery are unknown, but a few hours later the military leaders reported that the aircraft was being relocated from a crash site in the desert to an undisclosed area. The following quote was from the Roswell newspaper the next day:

“After an army announcement from Roswell, New Mexico that an object resembling a flying disc had been found there, the commander of the Eighth Air Force said that the object was being sent to the research centre at Wright Field Ohio for examination.”

After than announcement, a hush was placed on the whole scenario, with government agencies ordered to respond in only two words regarding the Roswell Incident, “No Comment!”

Today, Roswell stands as one of the most famed controversies and cover-ups of all time. When the freedom of information act was created, there were no records found regarding the Roswell Incident in terms of an unidentified Flying Object. Of course, records have, since those times, been made public about a classified weather balloon project that was supposedly being tested at the time. Convenient, wouldn’t you say?

Of course, the overall issue here is of alien life-forms. Was there an alien craft located at the Roswell crash site? Were there aliens onboard? Was there a government cover up? The world will, undoubtedly, never know the real truth, as our government is very thorough in covering up the past these days. Unfortunately for them, though, in 1947 they were not all that thorough. Let’s take a look at the facts.

First, a craft was found. It was reported by government officials. For them to say that nothing was found would be a lie. Next, we have the weather balloon farce. The balloon that was revealed by the government to be the one that crashed at Roswell was 12 feet in length. That’s all. It was barely enough to even notice. To have misconstrued this tiny little balloon with a flying saucer is absolutely ludicrous at the very best! We’re not Stupid, Uncle Sam!

So why, if this was just a weather balloon, did military personnel raid the area, take this craft apart (also proof that it wasn’t a balloon) and transport it to a military complex and actually report to the paper that it was a Unidentified Flying Object? And then, after a high ranking Air Force commander actually told a newspaper about it, he denied it publicly. He said it was true, and then he said it wasn’t. At the very least, this individual lied to the public at least once! Odds are, it was the second statement that was the lie. If not, then why bother retracting it?

In the end, the only way that we will ever find out if there was a spacecraft at Roswell is that aliens come publicly to the earth, unless….they are already here and have been since 1947. Hmmm, now that would explain a lot, wouldn’t it!

The Watergate conspiracy came to public light when five individuals were seen and apprehended as they were unlawfully breaking into the DNC (Democratic National Committee) building at Watergate. This was, of course, during the presidency of Richard Nixon. To say the least, this was not the United States proudest moment.

After these individuals were apprehended, a massive investigation went into effect by virtually every governmental law enforcement agency, from the CIA all the way to the FBI. Unfortunately for President Nixon, these thieves were not as faithful as he would have assumed. They readily informed law enforcement agents that they were working directly for President Nixon and his staff. There was, however, more to the break in as simply that. The river of lies ran much deeper.

It took almost 2 years for the entire story to be uncovered. In the end, it was not pretty, to say the least. As fate would have it, President Nixon and certain members of his immediate staff had committed some of the worst crimes imaginable over a period of time. There was positive evidence of espionage, sabotage of other political leaders, money laundering, breaking and entering, tax fraud, and illegal wire tapping. These are the crimes that came to light. When one digs a little deeper, it is a safe assumption that these may have been the least of the Nixon staff crimes. If one is going to go to these extremes to reach an end, murder hardly seems like a large leap of the imagination. It is likely that the more serious crimes were covered up, downplayed to save face for the government.

In the end, Nixon faced impeachment and chose instead to become the very first United States presidential leader to simply walk away from the presidency. If those first thieves had not been caught so long ago, then today there would be nothing more than conspiracy theories regarding the Nixon administration. This is the ultimate proof that conspiracy theories are not always just theories. In some cases, likely more than you would believe, conspiracy theories are actually conspiracy facts.

The next time you decide to scoff at a conspiracy theory simply because of what it is called, consider the Nixon administration and the Watergate scandal. Are you absolutely sure that the theories are not facts? Food for thought!

LMAO. Have you ever heard this line from an honest to goodness old-fashioned racist?

“If I had my way, the first thing I’d do would be send all the black people back where they came from.”

As if it were their choice to dragged across oceans in chains, abused, starved, murdered, and worse. As if, they were begging to be taken from their homes and families, their culture and traditions so that they could work and die for the profit of a supposedly more civilized race.

When the European people came to the Americas and found that too many of the natives were dead or dying, or had been taken as slaves back to Spain, they brought Africans to take up the slack.

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

In 1526, a Spanish expedition consisting of 500 Spaniards and 100 African slaves founded and formed a town in what is now South Carolina. During the first few months, disease and disputes with the natives resulted in many deaths of all involved. However, in November, the slaves and the natives had had enough. The slaves revolted with violence, and joined with the natives.

When the dust settled, there were only 150 Spaniards surviving, these fled to Haiti. The Africans remained with the natives and became part of the tribes.

Before 1450, the Europeans did not really consider or treat the Africans as lesser beings. It wasn’t until the slave trade had become such an easy and profitable enterprise that the Europeans began to deplore the inferiority of the Africans.

In 1748, a French philosopher stated, “It is impossible for us to suppose these creatures to be men, because allowing them to be men would cause us to wonder if we are indeed Christian”

Europeans began to forget all that the Africans had brought with them, such as the priceless education and learning from the Moors that in fact was crucial to the Renaissance. They conveniently disremember that Timbuktu was a renowned center of learning long before the Europeans ever set eyes or hands upon the place or its people.

In schools, both here and overseas in the countries that also played a part in the enslavement and destruction of the African people and their culture, our kids are now learning that it wasn’t really as bad as we used to think. Sure, slavery is wrong, but really, the Africans didn’t really have it so bad.

Right, just ask one who’s heritage includes a slave or two.

Of course, if you follow politics any at all, then you are aware of the existence of Reverend Jeremiah Wright. Write is an African American preacher in the church where the Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama attended, at least until recently. Wright is not the type of preacher to sugar coat his sermons and tell the congregation that the world is a happy little place where nothing goes wrong and where everyone is good. No, he pretty much lays it down raw and to the point, as he did recently in a statement that raised quite a few political hairs.

Write was quoted as stating that he believed that the AIDS (Advanced Immune Deficiency Syndrome) virus was created as a means to destroy the black race. It was an attempt, basically, at genocide on a global level. Of course, the minute that the public got wind of this, Obama headed South and has not attended the church since. Truth be told, however, this theory is not a new one. It has actually been rumored for years. Let’s take a good look at the facts.

First, if you are over the age of 35, then you can remember a time when you never heard of the AIDS virus. Before June 5th in the year of 1981, there were no cases in all of history. So where did it come from? All of a sudden a deadly virus just bursts into existence and strikes down hundreds of thousands of people in thirty years? If you believe that, I have this beautiful tower in Paris that I can make you one heck of a deal on.

Secondly, isn’t it ironic that of all the people plagued by this deadly virus, more than sixty percent of them are African? On top of that, the majority of the cases, including all of the earlier ones, are in Africa, the country itself. If I wanted to wipe out a race, I would definitely pick the country where they were most prominent to start in.

One of the more popular theories is that Aids began from a disease that only occurred in monkeys. The theory says that the disease suddenly mutated and jumped to humans, though there is no proof of this. It’s just a theory. On top of that, it’s the most stupid theory that I have ever heard in my life!

Take a look at all the other diseases that mankind has suffered from since the beginning of time. Consider how many of them just exploded into existence one day. Also take into consideration how many of them were originally animal diseases that suddenly decided to become human diseases. Lastly, consider the fact that bacteria warfare was a prominent consideration in the early 1980’s, when Aids came into being. We had the technology to create diseases.

In the end, it comes to two standpoints. One is Reverend Wrights, that the AIDS virus was an attempt at genocide. The other is that monkeys flew out of someone’s butt. Which one do you believe?

Area 51, also known as Groom Lake, is a military complex located in Southern Nevada. Now, for years the United States Government has been ardently arguing that this is nothing more than a training base. However, there are thousands of other training bases in the United States that you can walk into and look around without too much trouble. This is not the case with Area 51. This fenced off complex is strictly off-limits unless you have some major connections.

There are many theories about area 51, but of course the most prominent is that of it being a research complex for alien life forms and alien spacecraft. Now, before you laugh this theory off, think about it. Are we so full of ourselves to believe that in a universe that is endless that we are the only life forms? That is ludicrous. If you actually knew the odds, you would find that the odds are more for the existence of other life forms out there than against.

It is overly obvious that Area 51 is not just a training base. This is evident in the fact that there have literally been thousands of sightings of unidentified flying objects and unusual lights in this area. Of course, after these increased to a point in which the government could no longer deny it, it was explained away as a testing site for new aircraft technology. Odd that it would go from a training course to a testing facility overnight, isn’t it?

Now, here’s another strange coincidence for you. Thought the government constantly defends the base, stating it is for training, and/or aircraft testing, if you look up the base in military records, it is not listed. According to lists of bases, this place is not even there. Area 51 houses over 1000 military people, yet it is not listed as a base, or even as existing?

If that isn’t enough to make you wonder, then try this. Explain why even military pilots and individuals who enter the base land or air are punished? That’s right, they are punished as if they committed a crime against the United States government. Why would a military individual get into trouble for being on a military installation, unless, of course, they were hiding some big secret.

Lastly, there is the Freedom of Information act. According to this act, the average citizen could easily find out what is going on at Area 51. That is, unless someone of great power says no. That is exactly what happened, and happens again every year. Every single year the President of the United States signs a document stating that Area 51 is not included in the Freedom of Information Act.

Now, those are some serious points of evidence. Do you still think that something fishy isn’t going on in area 51? If not, then you are living in your own safe little fantasy world where there is an honest government, and little cute fairy butterflies going to and fro. Face it, something weird is going on at Area 51!

If you don’t believe me, visit here http://www.usflag.org/index.html

Independence Day celebrations in the public schools of America usually include a heartwarming reenactment of the creation of the flag. An adorable little George Washington impersonator beseeches an equally delightful small imitator of Betsy Ross to give him something with which he can unite and represent the strong and proud new country. Little Betsy then sits calmly in her rocking chair and sews the flag while little George impatiently paces the floor behind her.

The pageant makes parents across the states smile with pride; the children are thrilled to show what they have learned about an important historical event.

Too bad the story is only make believe.

In 1870, some descendants of Betsy Ross invented and spread the completely fabricated account of Betsy’s involvement with the creation of the flag in order to build a tourist attraction in Philadelphia.

Betsy was married to John Ross, though he died in 1776, and she had 2 other husbands after him. She really was a flag maker, and she did do some sewing work for George Washington and also flag sewing commissioned for the Pennsylvania State Navy.

In authenticated government documents, Francis Hopkinson is acknowledged as the true designer of the United States flag. Mr. Hopkinson was a lawyer, a congressman, poet, and artist, and it was during his service on the Continental Navy Board that he created the design for the flag. Even though Hopkinson submitted several bills to the Treasury and other government departments beginning in 1780 for payment of his services, he never was paid for the work he did on the flag and several other ornaments and decorative pieces commissioned by Congress and others.

There is a long list of other seamstresses and upholsterers that were also employed in Philadelphia during the years of 1775-1777, who might have done the sewing of the first flag.

This list includes:

• Rebecca Young was making flags for the Continental Army during the Revolution

• Cornelia Bridges sewed flags and other items for the Continental Navy in 1775

• Margaret Manny was the most regularly commissioned seamstress employed by the Continental Congress beginning in 1773.

Many historians are convinced that it was in reality Margaret Manny who did the sewing of the first United States flag. Unfortunately, there are apparently no clear records stating decisively which person actually deserves the credit.

The only thing that is abundantly clear is that Betsy Ross does not.