Kenneth C. Davis's Blog, page 119

Don't Know Much About® Flag Day (DKMAM #20)

FLAG DAY is celebrated on June 14 in honor of the adoption of the American flag by the Second Continental Congress in 1777.

In 1877, Congress ordered the flag to be flown from every government building on June 14 to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the official birth of the American flag. With its thirteen red and white stripes in honor of the original states, the U.S. flag has has changed a lot since 1777, with 50 stars now representing the states. But the familiar symbol of...

Don't Know Much About® Flag Day

FLAG DAY is celebrated on June 14 in honor of the adoption of the American flag by the Second Continental Congress in 1777.

In 1877, Congress ordered the flag to be flown from every government building on June 14 to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the official birth of the American flag. With its thirteen red and white stripes in honor of the original states, the U.S. flag has has changed a lot since 1777, with 50 stars now representing the states. But the familiar symbol of...

Don't Know Much About® Memorial Day (DKMAM #19)

It's not about the barbecue or the Mattress Sales. Obscured by the holiday atmosphere around Memorial Day is the fact that it is the most solemn day on the national calendar. This video tells a bit about the history behind the holiday.

You can read more about Memorial Day in my Huffington Post piece, Memorial Day and our "Hidden Wars"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kenneth-c-davis/memorial-day-and-our-hidd_b_582222.html

One way to mark Memorial Day is by simply reading the Gettysburg Address.

Memorial Day and Hidden Wars

Okay, it is official. "Summer" is here. A few days ago, I saw the first article promising higher prices at the pump for Memorial Day. The traditional kickoff to the summer season always brings front-page stories about travel costs, traffic snarls, picnic tips, and what to wear at the beach. Can a bathing suit sale be far off?

But this Memorial Day comes with darker news– the announcement that the United States military had surpassed more than 1,000 service members killed in...

Highlights in the History of a Christian Nation

In a recent Fox News colloquy, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin explained America's religious traditions to Bill O'Reilly. Discussing the National Day of Prayer in May 2010, both underscored their belief that America is a "Christian Nation," founded upon Judeo-Christian principles and the Ten Commandments. Speaking of the Founders and the nation's founding documents, Palin told O'Reilly,

"They're quite clear — that we would create law based on the God of the Bible and the Ten...

Highlights in the History of a "Christian Nation"

In a recent Fox News colloquy, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin explained America's religious traditions to Bill O'Reilly. Discussing the National Day of Prayer in May 2010, both underscored their belief that America is a "Christian Nation," founded upon Judeo-Christian principles and the Ten Commandments. Speaking of the Founders and the nation's founding documents, Palin told O'Reilly,

"They're quite clear — that we would create law based on the God of the Bible and the Ten...

DKMA Minute #18 The Bible Riots

The Bible Riots of 1844 (DKMA Minute #18)

In May 1844, Philadelphia –the City of Brotherly Love– was torn apart by a series of bloody riots. Known as the "Bible Riots," they grew out of the vicious anti-immigrant and anti-Catholic sentiment that was so widespread in 19th century America. Families were burned out of their homes. Churches were destroyed. And more than two dozen people died in one of the worst urban riots in American History.

The story of the "Bible Riots" is another untold tale that I explore in my new book (on sale...

The Founding Immigrants (Revisited)

-A politician claims that he can tell immigrants "by their shoes."

-A candidate for Governor of Alabama proclaims that in his state, "We speak English."

-Arizona passes an immigration law that one critic calls "appalling."

These are but a few of the blowups in the firestorm over immigration ignited by Arizona's recent legislation. That law prompted Linda Greenhouse, the eminent, longtime New York Times Supreme Court correspondent, to call Arizona "a police state."

All of this reminds me that...

More than Dots and Dashes

On this date, April 27 in 1791, Samuel F.B. Morse was born. If you remember your grade-school history –or you were a Boy Scout who learned "Morse Code"– his name is still familiar. He is credited with developing the telegraph and the dots and dashes code that bears his name..

But there is something else about Morse that your schoolbooks probably left out. He wrote vitriolic anti-Catholic and anti-immigrant essays, published by his brother's New York newspaper. Morse even ran for Mayor of New ...