The Peregrin Falcon

As those who read my blog know, I occasionally reply to others here because most blogs put a limit on the posted replies. I understand why and do not fault them, entirely, for this; but the points I make usually last more than the small boxes they want to put me. So, this is a reply to a post entitled ” Nothing Hitler Did Was Illegal ”

I have heard these argument before.

In fact, in my education and in groups on more times than I want to recall, the “What would you do if you were in Germany circa 1938?” is very familiar.

The basic elements boil down to some common things that would need to be defined.
What socio-economic level would you be from? Remember that the poor in Nazi-Germany had themselves pressed into service at the barrel of a gun and were constantly watched by each other for opportunities to rat out others to save their own families.

What race would you be from? The Jewish people were not the only ones looked upon as ‘unfit’ and were mainly used as scapegoats for the terrible poverty resulting from the loss and subsequent sanctions stemming from WWI.

Have you ever been in a argument with an armed person who points a weapon directly at you? I have, and let me tell you, your right and wrong compass has never been tested like that unless you have lived it.

As for the politics, these points seem rather thin, and definitely unsupported by both long-term and recent history.

Why don’t we have a “universal” health system that takes care of everyone ‘free’ of charge? Because ‘free’ is a fallacy. No one can give you anything without it costing someone else. Eventually, there will not be anyone else to take from because the producers are either out of supply or have moved on to a more fruitful pasture were they can be well compensated for their labor. We could do yards better by getting rid of the portability restriction and allowing true competition, by reigning in out of control lawsuits, and by allowing doctors to choose what procedures are necessary without forcing them into more expensive corners. Funny thing is, the Nazi practice was to take from one group and give to another because they were more deserving. Usually the Nazi argument is the end of all logical debate, but since it was broached by the topic, I think it fits here.

Why haven’t we changed the definition of the term “marriage” to include same-sex couples? Because the very term itself is made to define a relationship of life-long commitment between a man and a woman. The term was birthed to let other males know that the particular female they were in front of was off-limits. It would seem that the common cool kid today wants to change the definition of centuries of human history to fit their current needs. Another clear line with the Nazi party was their wonton re-writing of history to suit their wishes. If civil-unions have the same rights as marriage, fine by me; but don’t do changing the definition of a word because you feel left out, it is what it is and calling the sky magenta does not make it so.

That’s just my take, I could be wrong.

Here are some basic questions I believe everyone should know the answers to in order to make an educated and informed vote for any elected official. These are all questions that any high school history student has seen before. However, how many adults learned the lessons? How can we be a great nation when so many of us fail to understand our basic historical foundations?

These questions are just some of the most important. They outline the basics for the reasons behind our founding; how we got to where we are today; what framed the original classic divides of the modern era of politics and why a voter should care.

In my humble opinion, these questions form a foundation, like that of a house made of bricks. One or two missing bricks in a supporting wall and the house will stand. However, enough missing bricks and the house will crumble. See how many of these questions you can answer without Googling them. How many can your friends answer? How many can your adult family members and co-workers answer?

Listed in no particular order:

1. What was the case Plessy v. Ferguson about and why is it important?
2. What was the Dredd Scott case and how did it affect race relations in America?
3. What was the Stamp Act and how did it affect American history?
4. Who were the Molly MacGuires?
5. What was the Louisiana Purchase?
6. Who is William Jennings Bryan?
7. What was the Scopes Monkey Trials?
8. What are the Rights granted in the Bill of Rights? And who grants these Rights?
9. What is the difference in the original terms between Natural Conservationists and Environmentalists?
10. Who was Standard Oil, and why is knowing that important?
11. Why did the founders protest with the phrase “No Taxation without Representation”, if there were representatives for the colonies in the British Parliament?
12. What was the Iran-Contra affair? And how did it reveal the political atmosphere in Washington D.C.?
13. What was the Land Act of 1820 and how have we changed since then?
14. What specific powers are given to the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches of the government according to the U.S. Constitution as ratified by the Continental Congress?
15. What rights were are granted in the Geneva Convention? Who granted them?
16. Who was Martin Luther? Why is he important?
17. Who voted to abolish Jim Crowe laws in the South? Who voted to uphold them?
18. What was Medicaid /Medicare/ Social Security originally setup for? What was the original cost estimate per year?
19. Who was the Mujahideen? How did the US help them? Who did they become?
20. Who were the Vietcong? Who backed them throughout the Vietnam War?
21. Throughout the history of ‘voting’ societies, Greece and Rome, what criterion for the ability to vote was constant? How did the U.S. compare at its foundation? Why did it change?
22. Who were the Axis, and who were the Allied powers in WWII?
23. Who first coined the term “Iron-Curtain”? Why?
24. Who are Stalin, Lenin, Gorbachev, and Khrushchev? Why is that important?
25. Who were the Bolsheviks?
26. What is the difference between Communism, Socialism, Marxism, and Capitalism?
27. What is a Representative Republic v. a Democracy?
28. Who are the Palestinians? And who were they prior to the creation of the state of Israel after WWII?
29. What U.S. President served for the longest period of time and what major historical events occurred under his watch?
30. What does the phrase “E Pluribus Unum” translate into, and why would the U.S. choose it as a motto?