Clare Meehan As a third grader, I remember re-creating the first Thanksgiving, making teepee and wigwam structures. It was fun and lighthearted. We even had a special day for us to excitedly share our creations with our parents. In sixth grade, I participated in ‘Latin American Day’, where the whole grade dedicated a day to holding a market. Students brought in … [Read more...] about Unlearning What We’re Taught in School
history
Of What Is and What Used to Be
Joseph C. Welsko I’ve watched this road freeze and melt over the winters and springs, but this year’s frost is deep and hard, down to the roots connecting everything, and the sun can hardly penetrate it, though I can’t be kept from this way for long.I walk this trail because its forests need a friend from the other side, hands to care and to keep, eyes and … [Read more...] about Of What Is and What Used to Be
Sharing My Grandfather’s Tale
If we want to know how it was, before change and the possible future, we can turn to the “Old Ones”. They will tell us the stories; if we only but listen. In one of the many recesses of his rolltop desk, my grandfather kept a small tobacco tin. If I asked, he would open it so I could spread the contents out on the table. There would be the sound then of old coin … [Read more...] about Sharing My Grandfather’s Tale
Peter’s blog: ‘Thanksgiving’
At its best, Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday—a chance to reflect and appreciate life. Unfortunately, it is often dedicated to watching football, arguing politics, and consuming vast quantities of food—and, in the process, celebrating the myth of the 'first thanksgiving'. Try to find time to read these articles — it’s important to be aware as we make the everyday choices … [Read more...] about Peter’s blog: ‘Thanksgiving’
Peter’s blog: ‘Facts & Fiction’
I saw my copy of A People’s History of the United States the other day, and it reminded me that many of the ‘facts’ we learn in school or read in the media turn out to be false—news & ‘history’ often either lack context or are simply repetitions of propaganda from the government or major corporations. Sometimes it’s easier to find the truth in a work of good fiction — a … [Read more...] about Peter’s blog: ‘Facts & Fiction’
William Rivers Pitt, via pkc: ‘The Lost, Lingering Legacy of RFK’
I remember when Bobby Kennedy was assassinated, and it was another dark moment in 1968, following the assassination of MLK a couple of months earlier. Much of the hope he inspired has been laid to waste. Some of you who are closer to my age no doubt remember this too. Unfortunately, the article identifies Sirhan Sirhan as the killer, despite a wealth of forensic evidence … [Read more...] about William Rivers Pitt, via pkc: ‘The Lost, Lingering Legacy of RFK’
Collective Memory Project of the Lehigh Valley
The Collective Memory Project of the Lehigh Valley is putting a human face on the long history of immigration here. The Project includes a multilingual team of interviewers, organizers, photographers, academics, and students who have come together to listen to and record the stories of the various cultures that make up the Lehigh Valley. One of the goals is to remind … [Read more...] about Collective Memory Project of the Lehigh Valley
Lighting Up the Dark
I just read an article by Sanjay Khanna that discusses how the government of Norway partnered with agricultural research organizations to create the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. [‘Stories That Light Up the Dark’,Yes! Magazine, September 2010.] Even more interesting than the seed vault itself is Khanna’s observation that the lore of farmers and and indigenous people can also be … [Read more...] about Lighting Up the Dark
Back to the Future
If we could travel to 1961, we could listen to outgoing President Dwight Eisenhower warning of the military-industrial complex. [Actually, the penultimate draft of his speech was more accurate—he called it the military-industrial-Congressional complex.] His farewell address included more than this general warning, however. Here's a more complete excerpt: ‘...Until the latest of … [Read more...] about Back to the Future