History

October 12, 2015April 18, 2020

The Time For Columbus Day Is Over

Today, in my part of the world, is Columbus Day. It’s suppose to honor Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas in 1492. Like alot of holidays observed in this country Columbus Day is full of myths and missing history. In Columbus’ case the history that tends to be overlooked should not be overlooked. I think it’s time to stop with Columbus Day and replace it with a holiday that honors the people who were in the New World first – the Native Americans.

Christopher Columbus was known as the Donald Trump of his era – a tireless self-promoter who used sometimes unethical methods to advance himself. Columbus was also ignorant of the Indigenous people he met and started the systematic subjugation and genocide of the native population of the islands he visited.

July 14, 2015April 18, 2020

If You Ignore The Real History About The Confederate Flag Then You’ve Lost Any Argument

The Flag of Racism

An old saying goes that you are entitled to your own opinion, but you are not entitled to your own facts. The storm surrounding the confederate battle flag is a good case study for the saying. This is not about an attack on freedom of speech and if you ignore the real history about the confederate flag then you’ve lost any argument about it.

I don’t have much time to waste on people who try to “whitewash” southern history to make it seem like the south didn’t lose the civil war and that the confederate flag is just a symbol of southern heritage.

June 22, 2015April 18, 2020

For Lisa: Gone Too Soon

Today, my sister would have turned 52 years old. She passed away from cancer in 2003 at the age of 40. Even after all these years she’s been gone, she is not far away in my memories. Countless times I’ve remembered funny things she did and I also remember the challenging times due to her being mentally challenged. I wanted to honor her on her birthday and to share the eulogy I wrote and gave at her funeral.

June 19, 2015April 18, 2020

The Charleston Shooting Was Not About Religion

Emanuel A.M.E. Church Charleston SC

White conservatives, led by FOX ‘news’, have tried to spin the Charleston shooting as an attack on Christians. It continues their effort to marginalize and trivialize African-Americans and their experiences. Of course the issue this time isn’t debatable. Don’t let white conservatives try and distract from the real reasons for the shooting.

The evidence for this being a terrorist attack on blacks comes from the mouth of the shooter himself:

May 29, 2015April 18, 2020

An Inventor And An Author Added To Famous Findlayians

I recently updated my Famous Findlayians page to add two new people. James B. Hill invented the Buckeye Traction Ditcher that helped drain the Great Black Swamp and James Purdy was an author who was ahead of his times but he influenced a number of writers.

Hill lived in Findlay for a number of years early in the 20th century and is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery.