Holidays and Celebrations : Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Although my current residence is Austin, Texas and this city has many citizens of Mexican descent and Cinco de Mayo is celebrated, there isn't much for me to tell because nobody ever told me much about it. For those who might be interested in this holiday, below are a few links of interest.


Celebrate Cinco de Mayo With Vivid Images of Mexico in the 1960s – Time.com


Cinco de Mayo | Mexican history - Encyclopædia Britannica


This holiday is primarily observed by Mexican-Americans all over the United States to honor their heritage or roots. However, was born and raised in Miami, Florida and never heard of this day until we relocated to Texas.

Dancers at the annual Cinco de Mayo Festival in Washington, D.C. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Two other holidays celebrated in this state that were also unknown to me until we moved here: Texas Independence Day, March 2^nd; and Juneteenth – June 19^th.


Never knew anything about these special days. T.I.D. is unique to Texans but it's been said that Juneteenth is a worldwide celebration. Worldwide? Really?? Not sure what world I've been living in all this time, nevertheless … can no longer claim ignorance about any of these memorable events. There are important dots on the #timeline of #history of mankind and should not be ignored.  :)

© Photographer: Julioaldana | Agency: Dreamstime.com





© Photographer: Calyx22 | Agency: Dreamstime.com



© Photographer: Vipdesignusa | Agency: Dreamstime.com

Real Lost Cities: Ophir or Atlantis?

King Solomon sent ships to Ophir to bring back almug (or algum) trees, along with gold and precious stones.

Research about Ophir's geographical location is scant. 

In short, no one seems to know where it is!

If it is ever found, it will probably be by accident, because everybody keeps searching for Atlantis. 

The last bit of recorded information we have about Ophir is that the ships that set sail to go there which were sent by another king, never made it to their destination!

So I can sort of understand why people would rather go look for Atlantis.  Atlantis disappeared. Not the folks who were looking for it!!!  (O.o)

• 1 Kings 9:28  - And they came to Ophir, and fetched from thence gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon. 

• 1 Kings 10:11  - And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones. 

• 1 Kings 22:48  - Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Eziongeber. 

Photo credit: Wikipedia: Solomon and the Plan for the Temple, as in 1 Kings 6, illustration from a Bible card published by the Providence Lithograph Company


* * *

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* * * Anyway, I did manage to find two known places that have the name "Ophir", one in Colorado USA and the other in New Zealand.  Both representing 
magnificent splendor!!!

The world's first ghetto, 500 years later

History Markers : Terror From the Right: 1995 - 2014 | splc.org

Below is a concise summary of stories of plots, conspiracies and racist rampages, 1995 to 2014. Target? Democratic America. The number in parentheses is the count of how many events actually occurred.

First event was July 28, 1995: Anti-government extremist Charles Ray Polk indicted by federal grand jury for plotting to blow up the Internal Revenue Service building in Austin, Texas.

Last event dated June 8, 2014: Jerad Miller, 31, and his wife, Amanda, 22, shoot two police officers. The Millers perceived law enforcement as "oppressors" and reportedly told neighbors about their plans.

Terror From the Right: Plots, Conspiracies and Racist Rampages Since Oklahoma City
| Southern Poverty Law Center

* * NOTE: SPLC has updated this list AFTER 2014.  Events below ones I think should be mentioned.  

2015 San Bernadino, California Attack.

2017 Mass Shooting at a country-music show at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas 

Sadly, there continue to be additions to the list.  No point splitting hairs over what constitutes a "terrorist act".

Some plots are aimed at the government.  

Some people just aim at anything! Reason unknown.  (O.o)

1995 (4) 1996 (9) 1997 (9) 1998 (7) 1999 (8) 2000 (2) 2001 (4)

2002 (5) 2003 (7) 2004 (4) 2005 (2) 2006 (1) 2007 (1)

2008 (5) 2009 (8) 2010 (8) 2011 (8) 2012 (6) 2013 (2) 2014 (3)

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Study: Greatest Terrorism Threat In America Not Al Qaeda, It's Right-Wing Sovereign Citizens





DHS Warns of "Domestic Violent Extremists" Targeting Government Officials, Law Enforcement

Meet Little Miss HISTORY – She’ll Be Your Tour Guide!

Spotlight on Barbara Ann Mojica, creator of Little Miss HISTORY.

Retired educator and historian Barbara Ann Mojica is using her KSAs (knowledge, skills, and abilities) to write history/travel books for children. Published a series of picture books, nonfiction, the main character is a young traveler named Little Miss HISTORY, an aspiring park ranger eager to take you to famous landmarks and tell you all about them! Through her, Ms.Mojica takes readers on guided tours to well-known sites in the United States. So far LMH has visited: Mount Rushmore, the Statue of Liberty, Sequoia National Park, and Ford’s Theater.

Ms. Mojica has been recognized by BRAGMedallion.com, an organization that endeavors to recognize and promote the works of new and talented self-published authors:

B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree
Barbara Ann Mojica.

Little Miss History Travels to MOUNT RUSHMORE is the first in a new series of children’s nonfiction books featuring a funny character named Little Miss History who takes you on a journey to visit historic places. This book is appropriate for middle-grade classrooms, libraries, and homes. Ms. Mojica is an historian, parent, grandparent and retired educator-driven by a genuine motivation to help make learning history a fun experience for children. In the words of one reviewer…”I wish we had books like this when I was in school.”

Since her last trip to Mount Rushmore, Little Miss HISTORY has journeyed more than 1700 miles over land, sea and air to reach her second destination, The Statue of Liberty. This national treasure stands proudly in New York Harbor welcoming all people to the land of freedom and opportunity. In this second book of the series, Little Miss HISTORY will help you discover who thought of the statue in the first place, the values she symbolizes, the architects and engineers who built Lady Liberty, and the little known individuals who contributed their pennies to make her debut in New York’s harbor possible. You will learn about why she remains a promise and symbol of the hopes and aspirations of many people around the world and not just to immigrants coming to America. Come now and follow Little Miss HISTORY as she enlightens you about The Statue of Liberty!

Are you ready for another thrilling adventure? The Little Miss HISTORY series is a nonfiction picture book, history/travel series written with the intention of making learning fun for children and adults alike. In the third book of this series, this wannabe Park Ranger with pigtails and hiking boots three sizes too big skydives into SEQUOIA National Park. She will take you on a journey back in time to meet those who first settled in this wilderness. Through breathtaking illustrations and photographs, the reader will hike, horseback ride, and kayak through the park to view its wonders. Adventurers will encounter waterfalls, granite cliffs, giant trees, and geologic exhibits on their journey. More than three hundred species of wildlife abound in the park. Don’t be surprised if you meet a cinnamon bear or a mountain lion! Little Miss will explain the differences between sequoia trees and redwood trees, how they grow, and why they are important. Discover why the General Grant tree is called a “living memorial.” Despite the natural beauty of this park, readers will discover a deadly danger lurking within.

We are approaching the 150th Anniversary of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln in Ford’s Theater, April 15, 1865, Washington, D.C. In her fourth adventure, Little Miss HISTORY pulls up her reins at its doors to visit a place that has witnessed the best and worst of times. Its walls have heard laughter and tears. This nonfiction picture book is illustrated in somber tones that convey the mood of the tragic events that unfolded there. Little Miss HISTORY keeps spirits up by wearing a top hat like Lincoln and a Roman toga while acting in the theater, but she is well-aware that she is visiting a darker part of America’s history. Learn why many believed the building was cursed. Gaze at the Derringer pistol that fired the fatal shot. Study the boot that John Wilkes Booth wore while injuring his leg during his attempt to escape. See the bed where President Lincoln died. Crane your neck up to stare at the Tower of Books written about Abraham Lincoln in the Center for Education and Leadership. Let Little Miss HISTORY be your guide to learning how Ford’s Theater has become a living memorial to Abraham Lincoln and to the resilience of a country made whole once more.

Texas Revolution Began October 2, 1835 : Texas History : Closing the Border

The first shots for the Texas Revolution were fired on October 2, 1835.  The rest is Texas history. 

English: Texas Flag - Come and Take It. This flag was raised by Texas settlers at the Battle of Gonzales in October 1835 after Mexico attempted to retrieve a cannon which had been granted to the town of Gonzales for protection against raids by native tribes. Category:SVG flags Category:Historical flags Español: La bandera "Come and Take It" - El texto dice "Come and Take It!" ("Venga y tome!") (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Anglo-American immigrants, who had been invited to come and settle down in Texas, which had been a part of the Spanish empire, decided they wanted to break free from Mexican rulers and become their own country. 

It was not pretty. But they did it!

Read more.

Texas Revolution – TSHA

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Diversity Topics: Things to Know About the Irish

Fancy myself a freelance writer so I joined various online writing communities that allow me to publish my jibber jabber.  Wizzley and HubPages are such communities.  In addition to these publishing platforms being great places to write and express yourself; they are equally fantastic places to read and learn about almost anything! For example, traveling around the world is only a dream for me; but the writers at these sites take me to all the wonderful places I'd like to go.  Some take me to magical historical places like Ireland.



Image credit: Kells Priory, Kells, Ireland : Photo by Richard Shaffer | flickr.com


Sharing a few articles that are very informative, educational and enjoyable reading!

• The Irish Diaspora - Places Where You Don't Expect to Find Irish

Beginning in the 1700, countless numbers of Irish people left their homeland and settled ...

• Irish Slaves in the Caribbean and Americas

Indentured servants were shipped to the Caribbean from Ireland during the 1600's to... Archived copy retrieved via the Wayback Machine: http://wizzley.com/irish-slaves-in-the-caribbean-and-americas/

• Blood of the Irish: What DNA Tells Us About the Ancestry of People in Ireland

Examining what it means to have Irish blood, outlining where Irish DNA comes from and who are the closest genetic relatives of the Irish in Europe. Of interest to anyone with Irish ancestry who wants to understand their genealogy.

***

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• \

The Ultimate, Super-Helpful Guide to the Tense Situation in Ukraine (Historical Reference Point)

Every time situations disrupt around the globe, we are always glad that someone was keeping their finger on the pulse or someone exists with a sharp mind who can gather facts quickly and bring you up to date on matters that have been brewing for years.

In this instance, NYU student Susannah Griffee has presented for our education her Ukraine 101 quick study. Click link above.  Thank you Ms. Susannah.

• The Ultimate, Super-Helpful Guide to the Tense Situation in Ukraine

Update Sep 2017: Replacement link:

Yuhas, Alan. “Ukraine Crisis: an Essential Guide to Everything That's Happened so Far.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 13 Apr. 2014, www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/11/ukraine-russia-crimea-sanctions-us-eu-guide-explainer.

Link to my understanding based on Ms. Griffee’s excellent synopsis.

• Historical Marker: Guide to the Tense Situation in Ukraine

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons
***

*** NOTE: Previously posted at cmoneyspinner.wordpress.com, March 3, 2014. The following comments were left behind:

Jakob Gamertsfelder March 4, 2014 at 3:35 PM

We could look at the opposite of war for a different perspective. The common idea is that the world has only had some 26 days of peace since WWII, not sure how accurate that is. But it sounds about right.

We are not a peaceful breed. There is always violent conflict simmering along. The question then becomes what causes the larger flare-ups, the World Wars.

The personalities of a few men will determine if war happens. And given our history and given how “determined” world leaders have to be to get those jobs, then war is always on the cards.
I don’t think this will cause a World War, in the traditional sense I don’t think that’s possible anymore. We have wars that involve a lot of countries. Iraq and Serbia for examples. But we don’t think of them as world wars, maybe we should.

Reply:

• cmoneyspinner March 4, 2014 at 4:58 PM
  

  Interesting you should make that point that “maybe we should”. When explaining conflict to my children so that they could get the sense of it I always tell them “Try to think of the country as your next door neighbor. Wouldn’t you much rather be at peace with the person who can easily walk right up to your front door and get in your face?” Of a truth, perhaps viewing it as a “world war” causes the disconnect and insensitivity. Maybe we should think of war or conflict as having a huge unnecessary violent fight with our next door neighbor which results in blood that need not have been shed.
  Thanks for visiting and leaving your remarks.
  
  
  

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Research Guides: Crisis in Ukraine: What Happened and Why

This libguide provides up-to-date information, news, analysis, maps, and videos from multilingual sources on the Russian-Ukrainian crisis. Reasons for conflict through timelines, historical background, maps, and a variety of views...

Ukrainian flag

Ukraine | World news | The Guardian

Russia's bridge link with Crimea moves nearer to completion...
*

Russia's bridge link with Crimea moves nearer to completion

Are Protest Marches Effective?

Marching is a clearly defined collective act of the people! It's proof that in a free country you can do something to get your voices heard by the elected officials you are allowing to serve you, to do what needs to be done for the good of all the people. 

Or at least... get them to think about it. 

Also, sometimes if you write letters, they might get lost in the mail or never even delivered. It's kind of difficult to ignore a large mass of people all moving together coming at you. :)

Americans Love Their Firsts (Republish to Remind and Refocus US)

We Americans love our “firsts”. When Obama was elected, it was said and is still being said and will continue to be said, he is “the first African-American” to hold the highest office in the land!! Toot! Toot!!!

What do you expect from US? We're still a baby country experiencing our “first steps” in many ways. When a baby takes his or her first steps doesn't everybody applaud the monumental achievement and encourage the little one to keep on going forward?? So let US blow our horn!

George Washington was, of course, our 1st POTUS.

Abraham Lincoln was our 1st Republican POTUS.
- Sadly he was also our 1st POTUS to be assassinated.

Andrew Johnson was the 1st POTUS to be impeached, but he was not removed from office (narrowly escaped).

Ulysses S. Grant was the 1st American since George Washington to hold the rank of full general.
- He was also the 1st to publish his “Personal Memoirs”.

Theodore Roosevelt was the 1st to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Franklin D. Roosevelt was the 1st (and only) POTUS to serve 3 terms.

John F. Kennedy was the 1st Roman Catholic ever elected as President.

Lyndon Johnson was the 1st to nominate an African-American (Thurgood Marshall) for the Supreme Court.

Richard Nixon was the 1st of our country's leaders to be impeached who had to go home!

Ronald Reagan was the 1st POTUS to appoint a woman (Sandra Day O'Connor) to the Supreme Court.
- By God's grace, he was also the first to survive an assassination attempt by John W. Hinckley, Jr.


So there you have just a few remarkable “first moments” in the history of the United States of America.



* (Just an aside trivia note: Ronald Reagan and Bob Marley share the same birth date, February 6th. Marley died in 1981, the same year as the failed attempt on Reagan's life.)


Image credit: Public domain.

* * More Interesting Trivia: * *
- In 1872, Victoria Woodhull was the first woman to run for President of the United States.
- 100 years late in 1972, Shirley Chisolm was the first black woman to run for President.

***
Original Post, Feb 22, 2014 at TreasurePen

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Washington Versus Jefferson - RE: French Revolutionary Wars

The fourth of July was just celebrated a couple of days ago but this blog publisher is still on a “patriotic high”, so bear with me and lets continue taking a look back at America's beginnings.  



glitter-graphics.com

The French Revolution occurred between 1789 – 1799.

• The French Revolutionary Wars occurred between 1792 – 1802, overlapping the French Revolution; and Revolutionary France fought two coalitions of European powers.
  • First coalition (organized in 1792) was comprised of Austria, Prussia, Sardinia, Britain, Spain and the Netherlands.
  • Second coalition (organized 1798) included Britain, Russia, Austria, Naples, Portugal and Turkey.
• Despite the opposition, Napoleon Bonaparte emerged as a military and political leader. From 1799 – 1804, he set himself up as a dictator; and in 1804, proclaimed himself emperor of France.

Meanwhile ... 
 

George Washington was serving as the first president of the United States from 1789 – 1797.  Washington maintained a neutral stance on the French Revolutionary Wars, not deeming them a national priority requiring U.S. involvement. 

Thomas Jefferson opposed this stance and favored strong federal involvement in foreign affairs. It is likely Jefferson had more insight because he served as a minister to France during Washington's presidential term.  Perhaps the first POTUS should have deferred to his judgment.

Who was right?

Click here to participate in the poll.  
Thank you in advance for your VOTE. 

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Character Study: Ruth: The Beautiful Gleaner

RUTH

How many stories have you heard of a woman begging to live the rest of her life with her mother-in-law?

Image credit: Debby McCann on Flickr.com

   the  



Ruth is a shortened version of ‘retut’, which means “lovely friend”. Ruth was a Moabitess, who married into a family of Israelites. She was subsequently widowed. The Book of Ruth is a short book in the Old Testament that tells the story of this “beautiful gleaner”. She is remembered for her loyalty to her mother-in-law, Naomi, and her conversion to Judaism. The earnestness of her plea and her sincerity was expressed almost in the form of a prayer.

Ruth in Boaz's Field (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

They were both destitute and Naomi tried to convince Ruth that she could offer her nothing but bitterness. Yet to Naomi she pleaded: “Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God, my God.” (Ruth 1: 16) Ruth’s steadfastness ultimately resulted in her marriage to her deceased husband’s wealthy kinsman Boaz, who was the father of Obed, who was the father of Jesse, who was the father of King David, the shepherd boy who became an anointed king of Israel.

Bible References:  RUTH – RUTH 1: 1 – 4: 22; MATT 1: 5

The Book of Ruth (Oprah’s Book Club)

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