LINES OF THE DAY

". . . But the past does not exist independently from the present. Indeed, the past is only past because there is a present, just as I can point to something over there only because I am here. But nothing is inherently over there or here. In that sense, the past has no content. The past -- or more accurately, pastness -- is a position. Thus, in no way can we identify the past as past." p. 15

". . . But we may want to keep in mind that deeds and words are not as distinguishable as often we presume. History does not belong only to its narrators, professional or amateur. While some of us debate what history is or was, others take it into their own hands." p. 153

Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History (1995) by Michel-Rolph Trouillot

Monday, June 18, 2012

Today - Official Start of the War of 1812


It was on June 18, 1812, that Pres. Madison officially signed into law the declaration of war against Britain.

The outcome? Something of a draw for both the U.S. and Britain. The winners were the Canadians, who consider the War of 1812 with a great deal more seriousness than either the U.S. or the UK. They were the ones the U.S. invaded, as the Brits invaded the Chesapeake region here. At one point we burned York, which is what Toronto was called then. Nevertheless we failed, and failed miserable to even get a toehold of conquest in Canada. Some slaves won too, meaning they got their freedom, though almost all of them were embarked on a journey that was anything but easy or short, filled with pain and uncertainty and poverty, and for many ultimately death, due to disease or other reasons. The really big losers, of course, were the Native Americans.

hip hip you all ....
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