LAD #9: Jefferson's First Inaugural Speech

          Much like Washington concluded his presidency in his farewell speech, Jefferson began his first term with his inaugural speech which began with his thanking of the American people for doing him the honor of electing him president. He proceeds to mention several principles of the constitution, including "that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression" He encourages the American people to unite under the new policy of religious freedom and tolerance. Jefferson regards America as having the strongest government in the world, and trusts the will of the American people. In his final two paragraphs, he again reiterates his understanding of the principles of the constitution, and asks for the people's confidence in his future actions as well as apologizing for any wrong he may do.

Columbus Blog #8

          When children in first grade learn about Columbus they are taught a rhyme to remember what he did; "Columbus sailed the ocean blue, in 1492.". They are taught about the three ships he took; the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria. They are taught that he was a hero, discoverer of the great Americas, without him we would not be here, in the US. The teachers obviously must know of the dark side of Columbus, the one disguised by popular belief and good will. I wounder if they think about that as they listen to the children recite the rhyme they had been taught. Columbus Day is not a holiday that shows both sides of the pancake, and really when its thought of, perhaps should not even be celebrated. Yes Columbus was the first European to set foot in the Americas (other than Leif Erickson and the Norse, of course), but this one accomplishment skews all other knowledge of the expedition and its overall impression. In reality, if Columbus hadn't "discovered" America, surely someone else would have, and Columbus would no longer be considered a hero, but a villain, charged with cruelty and brutality paralleling that of Hitler and the Nazi party; the plundering of resources; the forcing of natives into slavery; and ultimately, the extinction of a people and their culture.