A recent post on the definition of a hero inspired me to edit and post something I wrote on the most important event in American history (if you can even attempt to name one event).
When we consider what the most important event in American history is, I wonder if we can point at one event. Is it really possible to single out a certain event? After all, history is a long series of events that influence each other. Also, can you name one person as the greatest American? Again, I believe it is impossible. However, I believe that the closest thing to defining the backbone of America--the reason America is what she is today--is the common man.
I believe that the common Americans that fought, died, hoped, prayed, and built this country are the key to what it is today. Sure, we had great people like explorers, presidents, generals, etc that are remembered throughout history for their dedication and sacrifice. But I believe that the mother that waved to her son as he left for war, the wife who was widowed due to an Indian raid, the orphaned child, the struggling immigrant, the poor man fighting the elements to give his family life...I think these are the keys to American history.
The forgotten people who suffered and died without much of a nod from anyone, who lived and died in this country to make it what it is. These are the events to be cherished. These are the people to try to imitate. These "nobodys" who made it through life for their children, and their children's children. They had nothing to gain; they simply strove to survive. They had their dreams of what life should be, and gave everything they had to try to give that ideal life to their descendants.
So, in my opinion, the greatest event in American history is the fact that we have had so many people who made life what it was for their children. Who sacrificed themselves so that we now could enjoy comforts. The selfless Americans living their lives for our future must be the most important event in American history.
Well, what is your opinion on the Civil War?
The Confederates fought with more passion and vigor for independence.
are they heros?
I think the Civil War was really sad. My mom's big into genealogy, and we have quite a few ancestors that fought and died in the Civil War.
Yes, I think they are...neither the Union or the Confederacy was completely right in their views, so in some aspects of the war, the Confederates were right. Plus, they were fighting for what they thought would be a better future. I'm not saying all were heroes, but I think some definitely were.
RESPECT LIFE
http://progressiveu.org/blog/respectlife
"It is poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
~Mother Teresa
My family had both Confederates and people from the Union side in the Civil War.
but here is a question.
if someone is fighting for a cause that is not morally correct, but in their view is......are they heros?
One person's hero is another's villian.
It is all subjective.
"What a crazy random happenstance!"
Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog
Read my Blog!
There is a little ying and yang in everyone, i suppose
I agree with sawaboof's explanation. I think it all just depends on who you are, what your ideas are, and who the hero in question is. : )
RESPECT LIFE
http://progressiveu.org/blog/respectlife
"It is poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
~Mother Teresa
...is the hands down winner, IMHO.
TTFN,
Blackout
---
Check out Progressive PRIDE, a Gay-Straight Alliance for the Progressive U community.
Maybe not hands down : P But he was definitely awesome, if for no other reason than the Declaration of Independence...that's probably one of my most favorite historical documents.
RESPECT LIFE
http://progressiveu.org/blog/respectlife
"It is poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
~Mother Teresa
Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther king Jr. and Frederick Douglass.
"A person doesn't die when he should but when he can." - Gabriel Garcia Marquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude Fudge"It's the hard-knock life..."
he is one of the most influential people...a person who has had a great impact.
Personally, I am a fan of Lincoln, too.
"A person doesn't die when he should but when he can." - Gabriel Garcia Marquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude Fudge"It's the hard-knock life..."
Yeah, he was good...although I'm under the impression that one of the main reasons he won was because everyone was so sick of Hoover...he was definitely charming. : ) I don't think FDR got us out of the Depression, but he was good.
Lincoln was cool 8)
RESPECT LIFE
http://progressiveu.org/blog/respectlife
"It is poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
~Mother Teresa
excited :), just said he did some good stuff in tough times.
"A person doesn't die when he should but when he can." - Gabriel Garcia Marquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude Fudge"It's the hard-knock life..."
I wasn't knockin' you or anything. ; ) I was just inputting my thoughts since you mentioned him. : )
RESPECT LIFE
http://progressiveu.org/blog/respectlife
"It is poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
~Mother Teresa
:phew:
"A person doesn't die when he should but when he can." - Gabriel Garcia Marquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude Fudge"It's the hard-knock life..."
Uhmm Ben Franklin
to read about him and hear about him, they start to despise him (talking about me)
"A person doesn't die when he should but when he can." - Gabriel Garcia Marquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude Fudge"It's the hard-knock life..."
You all have mentioned some really great people.
I think I am the most important person in America...but in all of history I think I would shock the world by saying that the hero is, as it should be, my mom. We do not get along at all but she is the epitome of strength and perseverance that we should all as Americans have a grain of and take example by. She also has the qualities this blog was speaking of...
Love is like a box of chocolates; if you chose wisely you won’t be disappointed and have to spit it out. ~T
The Prophet Muhammad (SAW)
but moms are truly great and your mom must be the unsung hero that O(bama)
talked about.
"A person doesn't die when he should but when he can." - Gabriel Garcia Marquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude Fudge"It's the hard-knock life..."
Why on earth would you mention President elect Obama?
He was talking about MY mom?
Doubt it because she worked for her life and ours and took not a single handout or and ounce of goverment assistance...although we would have qualified for it. Her point was that we would be better off to learn to fend and care for ourselves and have respect for what we had earned with our personal sweat then to learn nothing and trash our unearns. I guess it had something to do with self respect.
I guess this should be a topic for another time...
*this is in no way any sort of bashing the pending commander in chief*
Love is like a box of chocolates; if you chose wisely you won’t be disappointed and have to spit it out. ~T
the day before the election, and how she was one of the many unsung heroes, that are present all across America
TRULY did not mean to upset you to that extent. So I apologize.
I was going to give a link, but then just by the sheer force of your emotions...I feel quite guilty which is why I will not. I am thinking, you already know where he mentioned her(his grandmom) and them in a speech.
"A person doesn't die when he should but when he can." - Gabriel Garcia Marquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude Fudge"It's the hard-knock life..."
: ) Moms are definitely incredible...my parents shock me with their patience and incredibleness (although, I'd NEVER in a million years tell them that : P Then they'd think I was a mush and Mom would have reason to tell me I'm sweet...nope, no way).
Your mom sounds awesome! I heard someone say (it might have been my dad when he was lecturing us on our behavior : P) that children reflect their parents...if so, then I KNOW your mom was awesome. ; )
RESPECT LIFE
http://progressiveu.org/blog/respectlife
"It is poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
~Mother Teresa
You ARE so sweet!
:grin:
Love is like a box of chocolates; if you chose wisely you won’t be disappointed and have to spit it out. ~T
Just honest ; ) I've enjoyed getting to know you over the past few months. : )
RESPECT LIFE
http://progressiveu.org/blog/respectlife
"It is poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
~Mother Teresa
Johm Adams was the essential founding father except of course George Washington.
I think Jefferson might have been the smartest or at least the most thoughtful. I get a lot of my libertarian ideas from him. He wrote the Declaration of Independence but it was Adams key role in the subsequent debate that caused it to be adopted. He is really the guy who started the War for Independence. Adams also layed the intellectual foundation for the US Constitution. He had drafted the Massachusetts Constitution a decade earlier and his thoughts were widely copied in other State Constitutions and many of these thoughts made it into the US Constitution.. Particularly he was the person most responsible for the thinking about "Checks and Balances". Hamilton was a big central government guy and I am surprised that more of the liberals on the forum don't like him. Adams was the guy who kind of brought balance to the very opposing views of Hamilton and Jefferson and made things hang together thru those tough early years.
Adams was pretty neat : ) We watched a documentary on him and the letters between him and his wife were incredible. : ) The documentary described him more as the overlooked guy...like he does a lot, but no one really appreciated him. I think (and I might be mixing it up with another document) that he was offered to write the Declaration, but he said no because he didn't think people would go for it if he wrote it.
RESPECT LIFE
http://progressiveu.org/blog/respectlife
"It is poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
~Mother Teresa
Both Adams and Jefferson were part of a committee of five assigned to write the Declaration of Independence. The committee suggested Jefferson write it, but he really didn't want to so he suggested Adams, who, like you said, thought is unpopularity might get in the way.
Like what you've read? Well, then here's more:
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/tricia0711
It is not the giants of American History that made this country great. It is the people that made these giants of American History great. We can throw around names all day, but the real heroes are the ones that blend into the background, and they know they did what they had to not for glory and fame, but because it was the right thing to do.