It has been 129 years since Billy the Kid met his end at the hands of Sheriff Pat Garrett near Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Surprisingly however the validity of Pat Garrett's account is being brought into question today. Questions are being raised as to whether Garrett even killed Billy the Kid or another individual and simply tried capitalized on his disappearance. Some people believe that Billy the Kid moved to Texas and went by the name "Brushy Bill" Roberts and died at age 90 in 1950 of a heart attack. Garrett on the other hand, along with a friend, authored a book on the life of Billy the Kid which built up the legend of this now notorious gunslinger. Since these questions have arisen, Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico is actually having historians look into the claims of Garrett and find out what it would mean to pardon Billy the Kid for his crimes. This all started when Richardson backed a notion in 2003 when the Sheriff then, Tom Sullivan, wanted to reopen the investigation on the death of Billy the Kid. Not surprisingly Garrett's descendants are angry over the notion because pardoning him would destroy the legacy and heroism of Sheriff Garrett. Their argument is that whether or not it was Billy the Kid he was a killer including many of them law enforcement officers and if he were loose today he would of course be locked up for life.
First it is difficult for me to understand why government officials are taking their time to look into the life of a criminal from the nineteenth century with probably more important things to do. Secondly I would say pardoning Billy the Kid could potentially destroy the legend that has been built up around him. The reason this is such a big discussion in New Mexico is because of the popularity that has been capitalized upon his life and death. I would argue that by pardoning the outlaw you will destroy that legend and possibly lose tourism dollars that could have been gained by people visit his grave site and locations in which he is famous for being.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/07/30/new-mexico-governor-considers-pardon-billy-kid
Friday, July 30, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Propaganda in the American Revolution
To think that the entire cause of the American Revolution was righteous anger against an oppressive mother country is a little naive. We are brought up believing that the evil English Empire was trampling upon the rights of the lowly Americans. Realistically, did you know that the standard of living was higher in the American colonies than in England itself. In addition, the tax burden was less despite the English government investing large sums of money in fighting the French on the western border of the colonies. Many of the people in the colonies had to be convinced that the English were an oppressive people and we as Americans needed to break away from their rule. In the aftermath of the Battle of Lexington and Concord, Dr Joseph Warren tried to accomplish that very thing.
It is important to understand a little of how and why the battles transpired. First of all the tensions between the British government and the American colonists were growing but only in certain regions. The hottest of these regions was by far Boston, Massachusetts. With the major headlines being the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party the British government felt they needed to make sure that no armed resistance would break out between them and the citizens in Northeast. Word spread quickly that the local militia was stockpiling guns and cannons in Concord, Massachusetts for possible hostilities against the British. The decision was made for British troops to march to Concord and seize those munitions. This is where Paul Revere made his midnight ride to warn the people that the British were coming. This is where the great moment of "the shot heard round the world" occurred. Such indelible moments which defined beginning of the American Revolution.
When the British arrived in Lexington it was like a wild west showdown. Except it was 700 trained British troops up against 77 farmers and workers. What isn't really said in the history books often is that neither side wanted to start shooting and Captain Parker, who led the Lexington militia, even started to order his men to disperse but not everyone heard that order. Once the shooting started both sides tried to stop it immediately but it was inevitable that everyone would commence firing. When the shooting stopped from both sides and the smoke cleared eight men lay dead on the side of the Americans with only one British solider wounded.
Now word was spreading more rapidly than ever that the British meant business and they were heading toward Concord. Militia from everywhere were moving in. By the time the British arrived in Concord there were nearly 400 militia waiting for them. With the British commander Smith splitting up his troops it made overtaking the city difficult and the British were forced to surrender and retreat along a single road all the way back to Boston, nearly 18 miles. Along this entire road is where the British really got into trouble. As many as 3800 American militia poured into that area and began firing upon the retreating British. With the road being in a slight valley it became very easy for the American militia to shoot down upon a helpless retreating army. The militia men would basically take a shot, reload while running down the row and take another shot, over and over again. The British made attempts to break up this constant shooting gallery however they were not incredibly successful. They drove the British all the back to Boston and forced them to stay there without any option for a major counter attack. In the end the British lost 73 men with 174 wounded. Compared to the Americans who only had 49 killed and 39 wounded. With the British achieving no objectives that they set out to do, being forced to retreat back to Boston, and losing far more troops than the Americans one could look at the outcome of this and say it was a victory for the American colonists. However Dr Joseph Warren published a news article throughout the colonies that painted a much different and darker picture of the events that occurred at Lexington and Concord.
It doesn't take long to see how the writer is painting that vivid picture of an evil empire of men out to kill and murder every member of this society. The reality however is much different. The British did not march toward Concord with the intent of killing colonists but rather to prevent future hostilities that would cause death and destruction. In addition, the British troops never fired upon the colonists until they were provoked which is basically what happened when 77 armed men stood their ground in Lexington. To say that Dr. Joseph Warren used propaganda effectively is an understatement. For those colonists not present at the battle it would be easy for them to read this and believe that the British had every intention of storming upon their houses and killing their entire family with zero provocation.
I truly find this kind of information enlightening and important to understanding the small factors that led to the American Revolution. Without Dr. Joseph Warren writing this piece of propaganda to the colonies than many men might not have heeded the call and joined the militias that headed to Cambridge, Massachusetts which overlooked Boston. Without all those men joining in the outset the Battle of Bunker Hill might not have turned out as well as it did and who knows how the rest of the American Revolution might have transpired.
It is important to understand a little of how and why the battles transpired. First of all the tensions between the British government and the American colonists were growing but only in certain regions. The hottest of these regions was by far Boston, Massachusetts. With the major headlines being the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party the British government felt they needed to make sure that no armed resistance would break out between them and the citizens in Northeast. Word spread quickly that the local militia was stockpiling guns and cannons in Concord, Massachusetts for possible hostilities against the British. The decision was made for British troops to march to Concord and seize those munitions. This is where Paul Revere made his midnight ride to warn the people that the British were coming. This is where the great moment of "the shot heard round the world" occurred. Such indelible moments which defined beginning of the American Revolution.
When the British arrived in Lexington it was like a wild west showdown. Except it was 700 trained British troops up against 77 farmers and workers. What isn't really said in the history books often is that neither side wanted to start shooting and Captain Parker, who led the Lexington militia, even started to order his men to disperse but not everyone heard that order. Once the shooting started both sides tried to stop it immediately but it was inevitable that everyone would commence firing. When the shooting stopped from both sides and the smoke cleared eight men lay dead on the side of the Americans with only one British solider wounded.
Now word was spreading more rapidly than ever that the British meant business and they were heading toward Concord. Militia from everywhere were moving in. By the time the British arrived in Concord there were nearly 400 militia waiting for them. With the British commander Smith splitting up his troops it made overtaking the city difficult and the British were forced to surrender and retreat along a single road all the way back to Boston, nearly 18 miles. Along this entire road is where the British really got into trouble. As many as 3800 American militia poured into that area and began firing upon the retreating British. With the road being in a slight valley it became very easy for the American militia to shoot down upon a helpless retreating army. The militia men would basically take a shot, reload while running down the row and take another shot, over and over again. The British made attempts to break up this constant shooting gallery however they were not incredibly successful. They drove the British all the back to Boston and forced them to stay there without any option for a major counter attack. In the end the British lost 73 men with 174 wounded. Compared to the Americans who only had 49 killed and 39 wounded. With the British achieving no objectives that they set out to do, being forced to retreat back to Boston, and losing far more troops than the Americans one could look at the outcome of this and say it was a victory for the American colonists. However Dr Joseph Warren published a news article throughout the colonies that painted a much different and darker picture of the events that occurred at Lexington and Concord.
"Gentlemen,- The barbarous murders committed on our innocent brethren, on Wednesday, the 19th instant, have made it absolutely necessary that we immediately raise an army to defend our wives and our children from the butchering hands of an inhuman soldiery, who, incensed at the obstacles they met with in their bloody progress, and enraged at being repulsed from the field of slaughter, will, without the least doubt, take the first opportunity in their power to ravage this devoted country with fire and sword. We conjure you, therefore, by all that is dear, by all that is sacred, that you give all assistance possible in forming an army. Our all is at stake. Death and devastation are the instant consequences of delay. Every moment is infinitely precious. An hour lost may deluge your country in blood and entail perpetual slavery upon the few of your posterity who may survive the carnage. We beg and entreat, as you will answer to God himself, that you will hasten and encourage by all possible means the enlistment of men to form the army, and send them forward to headquarters, at Cambridge, with that expedition which the vast importance and instant urgency of the affair demand."
It doesn't take long to see how the writer is painting that vivid picture of an evil empire of men out to kill and murder every member of this society. The reality however is much different. The British did not march toward Concord with the intent of killing colonists but rather to prevent future hostilities that would cause death and destruction. In addition, the British troops never fired upon the colonists until they were provoked which is basically what happened when 77 armed men stood their ground in Lexington. To say that Dr. Joseph Warren used propaganda effectively is an understatement. For those colonists not present at the battle it would be easy for them to read this and believe that the British had every intention of storming upon their houses and killing their entire family with zero provocation.
I truly find this kind of information enlightening and important to understanding the small factors that led to the American Revolution. Without Dr. Joseph Warren writing this piece of propaganda to the colonies than many men might not have heeded the call and joined the militias that headed to Cambridge, Massachusetts which overlooked Boston. Without all those men joining in the outset the Battle of Bunker Hill might not have turned out as well as it did and who knows how the rest of the American Revolution might have transpired.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Lost Languages Could Soon Be Revealed
There are five languages that even to this day go undeciphered. The scripts have been studied for years however because the languages are lost to centuries of time there is no way to determine what the symbols mean, until now. Researchers at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) plan to use a computer to help decipher the hidden mysteries on reading these ancient languages.
The program takes other scripts and compares the similarities determining possible combinations for the meaning of the symbol. The researchers were successfully able to use the computer to decipher the Ugaritic alphabet which has 30 total letters. However it won't be like using Google Translator and it immediately pop out the results. Professor Regina Barzilay pointed out that deciphering the Ugaritic language took years and a lot of luck including the discovery of an axe which had the word "axe" written on it. It is believed that despite many variables it will speed up a lot of the process of deciphering the language. It's early to tell however this could be the first steps to discovering our world's ancient past.
The Five Undeciphered Languages:
1) Etruscan - Repeated attempts to decipher this language have led little further than the numbers one to six.
2) The Rohonc Codex - Discovered in Hungary, it contains 10 times more symbols than any known alphabet
3) Rongorongo - Discovered on Easter Island, scientists are not even sure if it is language
4) Linear A - An ancient Minoan script from Crete from around 1900-1800 BC
5) Vinca symbols - Believed to be the earliest 'proto-language' known to man, these symbols were found in Hungary in 1875. They date from around 4000 BC
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1296214/Computer-program-translates-ancient-language.html#ixzz0uLXvLn8l
The program takes other scripts and compares the similarities determining possible combinations for the meaning of the symbol. The researchers were successfully able to use the computer to decipher the Ugaritic alphabet which has 30 total letters. However it won't be like using Google Translator and it immediately pop out the results. Professor Regina Barzilay pointed out that deciphering the Ugaritic language took years and a lot of luck including the discovery of an axe which had the word "axe" written on it. It is believed that despite many variables it will speed up a lot of the process of deciphering the language. It's early to tell however this could be the first steps to discovering our world's ancient past.
The Five Undeciphered Languages:
1) Etruscan - Repeated attempts to decipher this language have led little further than the numbers one to six.
2) The Rohonc Codex - Discovered in Hungary, it contains 10 times more symbols than any known alphabet
3) Rongorongo - Discovered on Easter Island, scientists are not even sure if it is language
4) Linear A - An ancient Minoan script from Crete from around 1900-1800 BC
5) Vinca symbols - Believed to be the earliest 'proto-language' known to man, these symbols were found in Hungary in 1875. They date from around 4000 BC
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1296214/Computer-program-translates-ancient-language.html#ixzz0uLXvLn8l
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
History Links: Teaching American History
Now and again I want to start introducing everyone to historically oriented websites that I have found beneficial and valuable in my learning and teaching. The first one I want to introduce you to is a project sponsored by Ashland University known as: www.teachingamericanhistory.org
Although the website is definitely geared toward teachers and providing them the necessary resources to introduce students to American History, I believe this site is wonderful for all students of history. The documentary library provided is the most comprehensive tool which is divided up into multiple eras allowing for quick access to primary resources on a multitude of topics. Teaching American History also provide audio lectures from professor on various topics of history and biographies of individuals. Despite being long they can help steer one in a general direction. Additionally, they offer seminars for teachers to attend throughout the year. Conveniently they provide times and locations that make it accessible for teachers in multiple areas. With lesson plans and even a grant available on the website, teachingamericanhistory.org is a fantastic site for all teachers and students of history
Although the website is definitely geared toward teachers and providing them the necessary resources to introduce students to American History, I believe this site is wonderful for all students of history. The documentary library provided is the most comprehensive tool which is divided up into multiple eras allowing for quick access to primary resources on a multitude of topics. Teaching American History also provide audio lectures from professor on various topics of history and biographies of individuals. Despite being long they can help steer one in a general direction. Additionally, they offer seminars for teachers to attend throughout the year. Conveniently they provide times and locations that make it accessible for teachers in multiple areas. With lesson plans and even a grant available on the website, teachingamericanhistory.org is a fantastic site for all teachers and students of history
Thursday, July 15, 2010
18th Century Ship Found at World Trade Center Site
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/14/18th-century-ship-found-at-trade-center-site/
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