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3 days ago

Will December 7, 1941 be “a date that will live in infamy?" Find out more here: www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=843342721132736&set=a.507545634712448 #PearlHarbor ... See MoreSee Less

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Common Sense Civics and Citizenship

4 days ago

December 7, 1941- “A Date That Will Live In Infamy”Will December 7, 1941 be “a date that will live in infamy?’ Not if we don’t pause, reflect on the lessons of history, and pass it on to our children. This week, I taught a Jr. High Civics lesson on Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day to my students. They were particularly interested in the wreckage of the USS Arizona, the reaction of the American citizens to help in the war effort, and the process to make a yearly official Remembrance Day passed through Congress. (It took years).We say we will remember. It’s tough to do amid turmoil, isn’t it? We get consumed with the present and lose perspective. Let’s press the pause button on all of today’s challenges to recall the unbelievable resolve and bravery of our American heroes “on a date that will live in infamy”-December 7, 1941. That day, as Americans prepared for Christmas, the United States was suddenly attacked by Japan.“Eternal Vigilance Is the Price of Liberty”It may seem awkward to talk to anyone about the significance of the attack on Pearl Harbor when our nation is on pins and needles about so many serious issues. However, a generous helping of perspective helps in times like these. Take a look:In the first five minutes of the two-hour battle, the Japanese sunk 5 battleships, and 188 aircraft were destroyed at Pearl Harbor. Think about that. We were caught off-guard. Yet, as a nation, we rallied. The WWII generation put these words into action: “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.” Are we ready to preserve, protect, and defend our nation? You may be surprised to see unsung American heroes in every part of this nation doing just that. We need to seek them out and join the effort in whatever way we can. That’s what eternal vigilance requires. I write the words “eternal vigilance” on my Civics class whiteboard almost weekly. How else will students understand that liberty requires something of each one of us?After Pearl Harbor, the Navy raised, repaired, and reused the battleships that sustained damage. They made recycling great before its time. My daughter dates an Air Force pilot. She told me that they still recycle, repair, and reuse planes where able. Think about repairing old planes to make them fit to fly in a tech-savvy world. Now, consider those damaged battleships at Pearl Harbor. Imagine resurrecting those ships to serve our nation again. It’s humbling work. What tough mindsets our military forces must have! During the December 7, 1941 attack, the oil spills from the ships were ignited. Some sailors jumped into the burning oil rather than die by drowning. Yet there were brave young men saving fellow seamen on the water. Lessons of Pearl Harbor This is the lesson I hope to impart to my students: None of us can predict how we will handle the unthinkable. What dress rehearsal is there for untenable times? I believe that we do what we have to do in those moments. The dress rehearsal is in how we live every day. People jump in the water or run into burning buildings to save lives because they practice courageous thoughts and actions in their minds over time. The young men of Pearl Harbor didn’t look the other way. They ran toward the fire. It is what Americans do. On December 7, 1941, without realizing it, I believe our brave military forces had been preparing all of their lives to act at that moment.Remember Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941.This is Common Sense Civics and Citizenship.🇺🇸Please, no additional pictures or links. Keep your comments respectful to all Americans (even the ones you don’t like). This is an educational page. Disparaging remarks/language will be deleted.Image by Richard Hay from Pixabay ... See MoreSee Less

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America Will SurviveNovember 21, 2023 By Candace Donnelly America will survive. Some of you have written to me that, as a country, you think we are doomed. Last week, I heard this while driving: "Amer...

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Common Sense Civics and Citizenship

1 week ago

When the Colonies Tried Communism (and it failed)(Please note: We have many new followers and participants in addition to our regulars. Welcome all!Keep your comments respectful, educational, civil, and to a minimum, so others have a chance to convey their thoughts).------Let's talk about a time in our early American history when the Colonies (specifically, the Pilgrims) tried Communism, which failed. A point often overlooked is that what goes around comes around. It seems like Americans are being sold Communism all over again (which, by any other name, is still Communism). With this in mind, our younger generations are buying this failed system's promises "hook, line, and sinker." After all, isn't doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results defined as "insanity?"I am grateful to one of my favorite historians, Bill Federer, for his article on this subject and his contributions to today's post. (1) The Lead Up to Communism- A Bit of BackgroundA time after the Mayflower Compact (1620), there were three types of colonies recognized by European monarchies:Company Charter ColoniesRoyal Crown ColoniesProprietary ColoniesHow These Colonies WorkedFirst were Company Charter Colonies- If you wanted to found a colony, you risked your own money, not the King's treasures, to start your own settlement. The King gave you permission to do so. In exchange for his permission, he received a portion of your profits. You may recall from your studies a type of Company Charter Colony with names like The Dutch East India Company, The British East India Company, and the Virginia Company of London. The Dutch and British East India Companies were highly successful and profitable, but the Virginia Company of London failed due to famine, disease, and death by natives. So, the failed colony venture was returned to the King, who began the Royal Crown Colonies. The failed Virginia Colony was one of these Royal Crown Colonies, which the King ruled through one of his appointed Governors. If you lived in the Virginia Royal Crown Colony, the King's appointed Governor let you decide how you, as a colony, would make a profit to pay him because the King provided no funding. You may recall that the Virginia House of Burgesses was the people's legislature that made laws to make this Virginia Colony work.But then there were Proprietary Colonies, where the King gave land as private property to a person. This was not a company or a joint venture. Maryland, Pennsylvania, and the Carolinas began as this type of colony.Communism and the Pilgrims' Plymouth Plantation ColonyThe Plymouth Plantation Colony was a company colony with investors who loaned the Pilgrims money to make their trip. The investors expected to be paid back and make a profit. Now, here's where the experiment goes sideways. The Pilgrims set up a Communist-style government with the agreement of the investors. All property was held in the community (think: Communist, i.e., you will own nothing but share everything- land, homes, goods, furniture, livestock, etc. All their profits were to be held in common and shared equally with the investors. There were no consequences for those who didn't work hard and no special benefits for those who did. If you busted tail to make the communal living experiment work, good for you, but no additional compensation.Unquestionably, this Communist arrangement was a failure. If you have ever been involved in a work situation where you bear all the burden but don't get rightly compensated, you know the pitfalls. If you love to win and succeed, but your team couldn't care less, well, you get the idea.The Pilgrims tried this for several years before declaring the communal redistribution of wealth a failure. With input from the people, the Governor began to let every family own a parcel of land and farm it. Now, they could be charitable and help others by their own will, not force and involuntary servitude. Instead, the Pilgrims could keep the fruits of their labor and govern themselves in peace.Why isn't this history taught today as a failure of Communism rather than labeling early settlers with a derogatory twist of the term "colonizers?"The Colonies tried Communism, and it failed.This is Common Sense Civics and Citizenship. 🇺🇸Note: Do not name political figures or parties. Commenters manage to make their educational point without starting a firestorm of naming, blaming, etc. It only leads to uncivil discourse. No additional pictures or links, please). (1) americanminute.com/blogs/todays-american-minute/pilgrims-experimented-with-communism-and-rejected... ... See MoreSee Less

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Common Sense Civics and Citizenship

2 weeks ago

Thanksgiving is a holiday of gratitude. We look back to our blessings, to God's faithfulness, and forward to the future with hope. I think about how I've made it this far and am grateful for the journey. We will celebrate with the traditional Thanksgiving dinner (Yes, even the green bean casserole 🙂 and recall our blessings together. (If the Lions win, my husband will count that as a plus!) How will you be celebrating Thanksgiving this year? Let us know in the comments. As always, no naming or blaming political parties or prominent people. Let's focus on our families and on gratitude as our forefathers did, and carry on the beautiful tradition of Thanksgiving.This is Common Sense Civics and Citizenship. 🇺🇸No additional pictures or links, please. ... See MoreSee Less

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