The Battle for New Orleans

Some of my favorite memories of my dad have to do with his Ford F150 black truck and the 8 track player in it. As a little girl, I spent hours in it listening to two tapes over and over again--Johnny Cash and Johnny Horton. Not only did both have catchy tunes, they sang about the common man and his struggles AND about historical events. As we complete our study of the War of 1812, I'd like to share Horton's song with you.



Kudos to Evan Bell, who shared this version with me. It's so much more fun than just the song (though my first thought was WHO has this much time on their hands?).

To bring the topic full circle, evaluate to what degree New Orleans' struggles serve as a barometer of American society in general.

The People Have Spoken

President-elect, Barack Obama at Billings West High School

In these days following the election, we are up to our arm-pits in political analysis of every kind. Was it the youth vote that propelled Obama to a victory? Was it McCain's vice-presidential pick? Was it... the list could go on and on.

While some of that is necessary--and certainly interesting--something larger is on my mind. The theme of "change" was central to both campaigns, and to the American public. Without doubt, something hard to put a finger on has certainly changed; the winds are blowing from a new direction. In so many ways, it reminds me of the 1960s. And who better to serve as a spokesman than Bob Dylan?

Tyranny Is Tyranny

In the spring of 1776, Colonial leaders met at Independence Hall in Philadelphia to voice and deliberate many concerns--including the increasingly tyrannical nature of England. Often, the discussions centered around the notion of equity; more specifically, about the lack of it afforded to the colonists, who were English subjects.

Demonstrating a keen political mind, Abigail Adams borrowed from Locke's ideas of natural and inalienable rights and extended them to include women. In a famous letter to her husband, she implores colonial leaders to "Remember the Ladies." Unfortunately, nearly 150 years would pass before the idea of womens' suffrage became a reality.

Now, in 2008, the natural question becomes "Are We There Yet?" Is political equity a reality for all Americans?

Revolution!

So you're probably familiar with these lyrics from the Beatles:

"You say you want a revolution
Well you know
We'd all want to change the world
You tell me that it's evolution
Well you know
We'd all want to change the world!"

But, how much do you know about the anatomy of the American Revolution?
Why would loyal English subjects choose to sever the umbilical cord with the Crown?
Here's a great link from "how stuff works" to get you started reviewing.

To bring this discussion full circle, what inspires people to yearn and fight for revolution today--sometimes at great danger to themselves and their families?
What issues--if any--would you consider important enough to fight for change?

...Or, what songs/lyrics do you know that deal with this topic?