I know I’m pretty late getting these up, but things have been really busy.

Anyway, here are the answers to the history quiz.  Do you need to take a history class?  (Answers are in bold.)

Q1. When was the Civil War?

a. 1750-1800

b. 1800-1850

c. 1850-1900

d. 1900-1950

e. after 1950

Q2. Who said “Give me liberty or give me death?”

a. John Hancock

b. James Madison

c. Patrick Henry

d. Samuel Adams

Q3. What is the Magna Carta?

a. The foundation of the British parliamentary system

b. The Great Seal of the monarchs of England

c. The French Declaration of the Rights of Man

d. The charter signed by the Pilgrims on the Mayflower

Q4. The term “Reconstruction” refers to:

a. Payment of European countries’ debts to the United States after the First World War

b. Repairing of the physical damage caused by the Civil War

c. Readmission of the Confederate states and the protection of the rights of Black citizens

d. Rebuilding of the transcontinental railroad and the canal system

Q5. Are Beavis and Butthead…

a. A radio show

b. Television cartoon characters

c. A musical group

d. Fictional soldiers

Q6. The Scopes Trial was about:

a. Freedom of the press

b. Teaching evolution in the schools

c. Prayer in the schools

d. Education in private schools

Q7. The Emancipation Proclamation issued by Lincoln stated that:

a. Slaves were free in areas of the Confederate states not held by the Union

b. The slave trade was illegal

c. Slaves who fled to Canada would be protected

d. Slavery was abolished in the Union

Q8. The purpose of the authors of “The Federalists” papers was to:

a. Establish a strong, free press in the colonies

b. Confirm George Washington’s election as the first president

c. Win foreign approval for the Revolutionary War

d. Gain ratification of the U.S. Constitution

Q9. Sputnik was the name given to the first:

a. Telecommunications system

b. Animal to travel into space

c. Hydrogen bomb

d. Man-made satellite

Q10. The Missouri Compromise was the act that:

a. Funded the Lewis and Clark expedition on the upper Missouri River

b. Granted statehood to Missouri but denied the admission of any other states

c. Settled the boundary dispute between Missouri and Kansas

d. Admitted Maine into the Union as a free state and Missouri as a slave state

Q11. Which document established the division of powers between the states and the federal government?

a. The Marshall Plan

b. The Constitution

c. The Declaration of Independence

d. The Articles of Confederation

Q12. When was Thomas Jefferson president?

a. 1780-1800

b. 1800-1820

c. 1820-1840

d. 1840-1860

e. 1860-1880

Q13. What was the lowest point in American fortunes in the Revolutionary War?

a. Saratoga

b. Bunker Hill

c. Valley Forge

d. Fort Ticonderoga

Q14. In his Farewell Address, President George Washington warned against the danger of:

a. Expanding into territories beyond the Appalachian Mountains

b. Having war with Spain over Mexico

c. Entering into permanent alliances with foreign governments

d. Building a standing army and strong navy

Q15. The Monroe Doctrine declared that:

a. The American blockade of Cuba was in accord with international law

b. Europe should not acquire new territories in the Western Hemisphere

c. Trade with China should be open to all Western nations

d. The annexation of the Philippines was legitimate

Q16. Who was the European who traveled in the United States and wrote down perceptive comments about what he saw in Democracy in America?

a. Lafayette

b. Tocqueville (TOKE-ville)

c. Crevecoeur (cre-VA-see-aire)

d. Napoleon

Q17. Identify Snoop Doggy Dog.

a. A rap singer

b. Cartoon by Charles Schulz

c. A mystery series

d. A jazz pianist

Q18. Abraham Lincoln was president between:

a. 1780-1800

b. 1800-1820

c. 1820-1840

d. 1840-1860

e. 1860-1880

Q19. Who was the American general at Yorktown?

a. William T. Sherman

b. Ulysses S. Grant

c. Douglas MacArthur

d. George Washington

Q20. John Marshall was the author of:

a. Roe vs. Wade

b. Dred Scott vs. Kansas

c. Marbury vs. Madison

d. Brown vs. Board of Education

Q21. Who was the “Father of the Constitution”?

a. George Washington

b. Thomas Jefferson

c. Benjamin Franklin

d. James Madison

Q22. Who said, “I regret that I have only one life to give for my country”?

a. John F. Kennedy

b. Benedict Arnold

c. John Brown

d. Nathan Hale

Q23. What was the source of the following phrase: “Government of the people, by the people, for the people”?

a. The speech: “I have a Dream”

b. Declaration of Independence

c. U.S. Constitution

d. Gettysburg Address

Q24. Who was the second president of the U.S.?

a. Thomas Jefferson

b. James Madison

c. John Adams

d. Benjamin Franklin

Q25. Who was president when the U.S. purchased the Panama Canal?

a. Theodore Roosevelt

b. Jimmy Carter

c. Franklin D. Roosevelt

d. Woodrow Wilson

Q26. Who was the leading advocate for the U.S. entry into the League of Nations?

a. George C. Marshall

b. Woodrow Wilson

c. Henry Cabot Lodge

d. Eleanor Roosevelt

Q27. Who said, “Speak softly but carry a big stick”?

a. William T. Sherman

b. Sitting Bull

c. John D. Rockefeller

d. Theodore Roosevelt

Q28. The Battle of the Bulge occurred during:

a. The Vietnam War

b. World War II

c. World War I

d. The Civil War

Q29. Which of the following was a prominent leader of the Abolitionist Movement?

a. Malcolm X

b. Martin Luther King Jr.

c. W.E.B. Du Bois

d. Frederick Douglass

Q30. Who was the president of the United States at the beginning of the Korean War?

a. John F. Kennedy

b. Franklin D. Roosevelt

c. Dwight Eisenhower

d. Harry Truman

Q31. When the United States entered World War II, which two major nations were allied with Germany?

a. Italy and Japan

b. Italy and Poland

c. Italy and Russia

d. Russia and Japan

Q32. Social legislation passed under President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society Program included:

a. The Sherman Antitrust Act

b. The Voting Rights Act

c. The Tennessee Valley Authority

d. The Civilian Conservation Corps

Q33. Who was “First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen”?

a. George Washington

b. Woodrow Wilson

c. Dwight Eisenhower

d. Abraham Lincoln

Q34. Who was the leader of the Soviet Union when the United States entered the Second WorldWar?

a. Peter Ustinov (YOU-stin-off)

b. Nikita Khrushchev (CRUZ-chev)

c. Marshal Tito

d. Joseph Stalin

The following is taken from a letter I received from Hillsdale College: 

In April of 2004, the American Council of Tustees and Alumni (ACTA) released the results of a 50-college study in a booklet titled “The Hollow Core.”  The purpose of the study was to determine if America’s colleges and universities were meeting their obligation to provide today’s students with a core group of courses “that ensure a solid general education.”  The study showed less than desirable results, concluding the “America’s colleges are, in truth, offering little more than a ‘hollow core.’” 

I read through The Hollow Core, and found it interesting, but disturbing.  I think it is sad that there is such a lack of really important things being taught in our colleges and universities, especially history.  But, why should anyone really care about history?  Well, as the old cliche says, those who don’t know their history are doomed to repeat it.  We must learn from those who came before us.  Our history is also part of who we are.  It is our heritage.  The following was written in the ACTA’s “Losing America’s Memory” about why learning history is important. 

 As ACTA chairman and former NEH chairman Lynne V. Cheney observes, in Telling the Turth,  “[I]t is from our colleges and universities that messages radiate–or fail to radiate to schools, to legal institutions, to popular culture, and to politics about the importance of reason, of trying to overcome bias, of seeking truth through evidence and verification.”  If our graduates leave school without knowing the foundations of American society, children they teach will certainly do no better. 

It is sometimes said that historical facts do not matter.  But citizens who fail to know basic landmarks of history and civics are unlikely to be able to reflect on their meaning.  They fail to recognize the unique nature of our society, and the importance of preserving it.  They lack and understanding of the very principles which bind our society–namely, liberty, justice, government by the consent of the governed, and equality under the law. 

As Lynne Cheney has also written, “Knowledge of the ideas that have molded us and the ideals that have mattered to us functions as a kind of civic glue.  Our history and literature give us symbols to share; they help us all, no matter how diverse our backgrounds, feel part of a common undertaking.”

So, all that being said, I thought I’d pass along the test that they gave to college seniors, who did pretty badly.  These are high school questions.  See what you know.  Do you need a course in American History? 

Q1. When was the Civil War?

a. 1750-1800

b. 1800-1850

c. 1850-1900

d. 1900-1950

e. after 1950

Q2. Who said “Give me liberty or give me death?”

a. John Hancock

b. James Madison

c. Patrick Henry

d. Samuel Adams

Q3. What is the Magna Carta?

a. The foundation of the British parliamentary system

b. The Great Seal of the monarchs of England

c. The French Declaration of the Rights of Man

d. The charter signed by the Pilgrims on the Mayflower

Q4. The term “Reconstruction” refers to:

a. Payment of European countries’ debts to the United States after the First World War

b. Repairing of the physical damage caused by the Civil War

c. Readmission of the Confederate states and the protection of the rights of Black citizens

d. Rebuilding of the transcontinental railroad and the canal system

Q5. Are Beavis and Butthead…

a. A radio show

b. Television cartoon characters

c. A musical group

d. Fictional soldiers

Q6. The Scopes Trial was about:

a. Freedom of the press

b. Teaching evolution in the schools

c. Prayer in the schools

d. Education in private schools

Q7. The Emancipation Proclamation issued by Lincoln stated that:

a. Slaves were free in areas of the Confederate states not held by the Union

b. The slave trade was illegal

c. Slaves who fled to Canada would be protected

d. Slavery was abolished in the Union

Q8. The purpose of the authors of “The Federalists” papers was to:

a. Establish a strong, free press in the colonies

b. Confirm George Washington’s election as the first president

c. Win foreign approval for the Revolutionary War

d. Gain ratification of the U.S. Constitution

Q9. Sputnik was the name given to the first:

a. Telecommunications system

b. Animal to travel into space

c. Hydrogen bomb

d. Man-made satellite

Q10. The Missouri Compromise was the act that:

a. Funded the Lewis and Clark expedition on the upper Missouri River

b. Granted statehood to Missouri but denied the admission of any other states

c. Settled the boundary dispute between Missouri and Kansas

d. Admitted Maine into the Union as a free state and Missouri as a slave state

Q11. Which document established the division of powers between the states and the federal government?

a. The Marshall Plan

b. The Constitution

c. The Declaration of Independence

d. The Articles of Confederation

Q12. When was Thomas Jefferson president?

a. 1780-1800

b. 1800-1820

c. 1820-1840

d. 1840-1860

e. 1860-1880

Q13. What was the lowest point in American fortunes in the Revolutionary War?

a. Saratoga

b. Bunker Hill

c. Valley Forge

d. Fort Ticonderoga

Q14. In his Farewell Address, President George Washington warned against the danger of:

a. Expanding into territories beyond the Appalachian Mountains

b. Having war with Spain over Mexico

c. Entering into permanent alliances with foreign governments

d. Building a standing army and strong navy

Q15. The Monroe Doctrine declared that:

a. The American blockade of Cuba was in accord with international law

b. Europe should not acquire new territories in the Western Hemisphere

c. Trade with China should be open to all Western nations

d. The annexation of the Philippines was legitimate

Q16. Who was the European who traveled in the United States and wrote down perceptive comments about what he saw in Democracy in America?

a. Lafayette

b. Tocqueville (TOKE-ville)

c. Crevecoeur (cre-VA-see-aire)

d. Napoleon

Q17. Identify Snoop Doggy Dog.

a. A rap singer

b. Cartoon by Charles Schulz

c. A mystery series

d. A jazz pianist

Q18. Abraham Lincoln was president between:

a. 1780-1800

b. 1800-1820

c. 1820-1840

d. 1840-1860

e. 1860-1880

Q19. Who was the American general at Yorktown?

a. William T. Sherman

b. Ulysses S. Grant

c. Douglas MacArthur

d. George Washington

Q20. John Marshall was the author of:

a. Roe vs. Wade

b. Dred Scott vs. Kansas

c. Marbury vs. Madison

d. Brown vs. Board of Education

Q21. Who was the “Father of the Constitution”?

a. George Washington

b. Thomas Jefferson

c. Benjamin Franklin

d. James Madison

Q22. Who said, “I regret that I have only one life to give for my country”?

a. John F. Kennedy

b. Benedict Arnold

c. John Brown

d. Nathan Hale

Q23. What was the source of the following phrase: “Government of the people, by the people, for the people”?

a. The speech: “I have a Dream”

b. Declaration of Independence

c. U.S. Constitution

d. Gettysburg Address

Q24. Who was the second president of the U.S.?

a. Thomas Jefferson

b. James Madison

c. John Adams

d. Benjamin Franklin

Q25. Who was president when the U.S. purchased the Panama Canal?

a. Theodore Roosevelt

b. Jimmy Carter

c. Franklin D. Roosevelt

d. Woodrow Wilson

Q26. Who was the leading advocate for the U.S. entry into the League of Nations?

a. George C. Marshall

b. Woodrow Wilson

c. Henry Cabot Lodge

d. Eleanor Roosevelt

Q27. Who said, “Speak softly but carry a big stick”?

a. William T. Sherman

b. Sitting Bull

c. John D. Rockefeller

d. Theodore Roosevelt

Q28. The Battle of the Bulge occurred during:

a. The Vietnam War

b. World War II

c. World War I

d. The Civil War

Q29. Which of the following was a prominent leader of the Abolitionist Movement?

a. Malcolm X

b. Martin Luther King Jr.

c. W.E.B. Du Bois

d. Frederick Douglass

Q30. Who was the president of the United States at the beginning of the Korean War?

a. John F. Kennedy

b. Franklin D. Roosevelt

c. Dwight Eisenhower

d. Harry Truman

Q31. When the United States entered World War II, which two major nations were allied with Germany?

a. Italy and Japan

b. Italy and Poland

c. Italy and Russia

d. Russia and Japan

Q32. Social legislation passed under President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society Program included:

a. The Sherman Antitrust Act

b. The Voting Rights Act

c. The Tennessee Valley Authority

d. The Civilian Conservation Corps

Q33. Who was “First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen”?

a. George Washington

b. Woodrow Wilson

c. Dwight Eisenhower

d. Abraham Lincoln

Q34. Who was the leader of the Soviet Union when the United States entered the Second WorldWar?

a. Peter Ustinov (YOU-stin-off)

b. Nikita Khrushchev (CRUZ-chev)

c. Marshal Tito

d. Joseph Stalin

I’ll post the answers in a few days. 

In light of the terrible attack on Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan, I feel compelled to express my views on Al-Qaeda. The following is a paper I wrote for a class I took called Terrorism and Political Violence. I think it is important to understand these people, or we will never be able to defeat them. 

A Backwards Looking People and an Infidel Nation

On September 11, 2001, the United States incurred the worst terrorist attack in its history when two hijacked airplanes crashed into the World Trade Towers in New York. Another hijacked airplane crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., while yet another one bound for the Capital crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. This attack hit the heart of America. Many of us cried and reeled as we watched the Trade Towers collapse right before our eyes, and thought of all the people inside of them. Thousands of people died that day, and bodies were found for weeks to come. This horrific act left many Americans asking who was behind it. Who would commit these terrible attacks? In the days that followed, we learned that a radical Islamic terrorist group named Al-Qaeda was responsible. Many Americans had never heard of this group, but it would soon become a household name and we would learn much more about them and their leader Osama bin Laden.
So, what would motivate Al-Qaeda and bin Laden to want to attack the United States? Many people believe the reason lies only with the Islamic religion, however, that is not true. There are many factors that come into play, and most are found in history.
Much of the problem started in 1095 when Pope Urban II began a series of Crusades in order to regain Christian control over the Holy Land, which was under Muslim control at the time. During this first Crusade, the Crusaders were able to capture the key cities, and eventually Jerusalem. Seven other Crusades followed over the next two hundred years. None of these proved to be as successful as the first. During the second Crusade, the Muslim leader, Saladin, used tactics of deceit, which are still admired and used today.
Muslims hate the Crusades because their land was taken from them. They believe that if land was ever under Muslim control then it forever belongs to the Muslim people. This is a big issue for groups like Al-Qaeda. They believe their land is being unfairly occupied. This is the fuel for much of the terrorist activities against Europe. At one time most of Europe was under Muslim control.
The Crusades are important to the United States for another reason. In 1118, nine French knights took an oath to protect the Christian land and people (including the Crusaders). These knights became known as the Knights Templar. The organization grew rapidly and became very wealthy. They were accountable only to the Pope, and carried with them a great deal of power. However, the Knights dissolved in 1307 when King Philip IV and Pope Clement turned against them. Many were arrested, tortured, and executed. Although the Knights Templar had dissolved, many of those in the organization formed new orders with new names, one of which was the Freemasons of the Europe, and eventually the United States.
When Europeans came to the United States, many of them were Freemasons. Most of the founding fathers were Freemasons. This is one reason why many Muslims hate the United States: it was founded by Crusaders. In fact, in his declaration of war against the United States and subsequent statements, Osama bin Laden continually refers to Americans and our allies as Crusaders. It has been said that Muslims are a backward-looking people. This is apparent when you see that they have been holding onto their feelings about the “West” for over nine hundred years. Bin Laden himself even says, “The struggle between us and them began centuries ago, and will continue (bin Laden).”
Muslims do not believe the Crusades ended in 1291. They view the establishment of the Jewish state, Israel, to be the ninth Crusade. This again took away Muslim control of the land. The distinction needs to be made, however, that “Arabs do not hate the West because of Israel. Instead, they hate Israel because of the West (Davis).” They already hated the West, and the creation of Israel brought the West into their land. The Muslims also believe there is a tenth Crusade in progress right now. That is, the United States’ War on Terror.
Osama bin Laden holds to the idea that because we continue to fight them and because our troops are in their land, that we continue to have an evil influence on their people. Bin Laden regards the American people as infidels and the nation as an infidel nation. He also sees our allies as infidel nations. Our values and ideals are fundamentally different from Islam, and therefore evil. We were built upon capitalism and freedom and democracy, all seen as evil in the eyes of bin Laden, and many Muslims, especially radicals. They cannot stand to have our influence among their people. They do not want the evil ideologies spread.
Another reason Al-Qaeda attacks the United States is because, historically, terrorism has been allowed, or rewarded. Some groups, such as Hizballah, have gotten what they wanted. Other times, there has been no retaliation, which is in some ways a reward. The attack on the USS Cole, for example, incurred no repercussions for the terrorists. So, why wouldn’t Al-Qaeda attack the United States when they feel they won’t get punished for it, or that they may receive something they want?
The Muslims also believe in Jihad. Although there are three types of Jihad, there is one that greatly influences their feelings toward the United States. This is the Lesser Jihad, or the neglected jihad. This is the jihad against non-Muslims. This is the belief that all who are not Muslim must be converted or destroyed. They believe that all governments must be under Islamic control, otherwise they are evil. Bin Laden and many radicals believe it to be their sacred duty to carry out jihad. “Apostates or unbelievers are the very epitome of evil (Reich 111).” And according to Faraj, author of Neglected Duty, Muhammed and the Qur’an teach that they must fight, “which means confrontation and blood (Reich 110).” According to Reich, “The classical Sunni view is that the necessity for jihad would disappear only when Islam embraced the whole world (Reich 110).” This is the belief that Osama bin Laden holds on to. This is another reason to attack the United States.
So, why resort to terrorism? Osama bin Laden would never sit down at a table and negotiate. In his mind, there is nothing to negotiate. The idea of compromise would be an insult to him. Besides, what would there be to negotiate about? There could be no compromise, no negotiation. You cannot negotiate with someone who is not willing to give. I don’t think either side would be willing to give. The United States isn’t going to convert to an Islamic state and adopt Islamic values, and Al-Qaeda isn’t going to stop thinking we are evil.
The only option available to Al-Qaeda is terrorism, although they don’t view themselves as terrorists. To them, they are following God’s command, and waging a holy war. The ends justify the means. They think they are right and it is their sacred obligation to do whatever it takes to accomplish their holy purposes.
Unfortunately, Al-Qaeda is not going to change their beliefs. As long as they are alive and functioning, the United States, and other western nations are subject to terrorist attacks by them. They will never give up, for they believe they have a holy purpose. We must be ruthless in our defense against them. We cannot fight a traditional war against this enemy. There is no front line. There is no clear cut picture of the enemy. They are fighting a new type of war. We must adapt to that, or we will never be successful. We must completely annihilate these terrorists, or the problem will never get any better.

A lot has been happening the last week or so. First of all, to address my last post: that horrible immigration bill was defeated! (At least for now.) Hooray!! I’m so glad. Now we shouldn’t see a revisit of that until 2008, so we’ve got a little bit of time anyway.
Next, on Monday night, our sweet little baby puppy died. He just stopped breathing. Adam tried CPR and mouth to mouth to get him breathing again, but it just wasn’t meant to be. We buried him in the backyard Tuesday morning. We were all upset about it, but I think I took it the hardest. I’m feeling better now, but I really miss him.
Here he is with Adam, just 2 days old.

Ok, what else? Saturday, we started laying the new flooring in our house. I’m so excited about it! It looks great! I am so very grateful to our wonderful friends who came to help us! It took 7 hours on Saturday just to do the one room. I’ll have to find some way to repay them all! Then, Tuesday, my dad and Adam got another room done, which took about 4 hours. So now, I think we are about half way done. Oh, I will be so excited when it’s all done.
So, yesterday was Independence Day. I love this holiday! It’s so wonderful to celebrate our nation and the freedoms we all enjoy. I think we often take for granted what we have been so blessed with. There is no better country on the face of this earth. There is no other country where the people are free in thought, religion, work, school, where they live, everything. It is amazing. I know that the Lord had a hand in establishing this nation, and that the founding fathers were truly inspired by Him. It is remarkable to be here, and I wish more people would realize that.

Today is the 63rd anniversary of D-Day. On June 6, 1944, we were fighting against an evil enemy, bent on destroying everything we hold dear. As I was listening to Boortz this morning, he played the speech that President Roosevelt made that day. It was actually a prayer. (Yes, the Pres. actually said a prayer over the radio.) Anyway, while I was listening to this, I realized that this same exact prayer could be given today. Everything, except the location, applies to our troops and country today. Isn’t it amazing? People need to realize that this wonderful freedom we have has come at a great cost. I don’t think we can ever stop fighting for the cause of freedom.

A lot has been said the last few days about Memorial Day. John Edwards is calling for protests against the war in Iraq to take place that day, totally dishonoring the memory of fallen soldiers. Others, though, are trying to remind the American public what Memorial Day is really suppose to be about. I wanted to share part of an e-mail I got today. The message was written by LtCol Oliver L. North, USMC (Ret.):

Heroes aren’t athletes who set new sports records or Hollywood actors who make “daring” films, or politicians who make bold promises. Heroes are people who place themselves at risk for the benefit of others.

America enjoys freedom today because true heroes – the men and women of the United States Armed Forces – our courageous soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Guardsmen – sacrifice their tomorrows for us.

Memorial Day is an opportunity for Americans to say “Thank You” to our brave defenders of freedom and their families, especially the children they have left behind. In declaring a day of memorial to those who had died in service to our country, General John Logan, then Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, proclaimed on May 5, 1868:

“…let us in this solemn preserve renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us as sacred charges upon the Nation’s gratitude – the soldier’s widow and orphan.”

I really love that last quote. Let’s remember what this day is really suppose to be about!