History From Our Doorstep: 1990s And Since 17 Years

History To Our Doorstep 1990s And Since7 Score And 17 Years Agoamer

History To Our Doorstep: 1990s and Since 7 Score and 17 Years ago… America beheld a landscape of destruction. Charleston, S.C. 1865 On September 11, 2001… … Americans beheld a new landscape of destruction. Conjured from the mythic landscape… … a familiar “frontier” hero character. “The liberation of Iraq is a crucial advance in the campaign against terror. We've removed an ally of al Qaeda, and cut off a source of terrorist funding. And this much is certain: No terrorist network will gain weapons of mass destruction from the Iraqi regime, because the regime is no more.” -- President George W. Bush, “Mission Accomplished” speech, May, 2003, aboard the USS Lincoln. Just as another East Coast Ivy League politician from America’s past… … wore the costume of the cowboy-as-warrior Theodore Roosevelt in Cuba, 1898, the “rough rider.” In the Gettysburg Address Lincoln declared that America would have “a new birth of freedom.” Attorney David Boies argues before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on a case involving California’s gay marriage ban Monday, December 6, 2010.

And we still debate what freedom means and who gets it. Protestors object to a Florida bill passed in 2022 to limit what educators can say about gender and sexuality. A nation of immigrants… … that doesn’t like immigrants? Our landscapes of immigration… "You have people come in and I'm not just saying Mexicans, I'm talking about people that are from all over, that are killers and rapists and they're coming to this country," Donald Trump, CNN June 2015. “PHOENIX — Gov. Jan Brewer of Arizona signed the nation’s toughest bill on illegal immigration into law on Friday. Its aim is to identify, prosecute and deport illegal immigrants. … still inspire debates over who Americans are, who we say we are, and who we should be. Though walls have never stopped... ...global travelers belonging to the family viridae “Pandemic” Residents of Sacramento during the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 (above) and the Coronavirus pandemic of 2020. From steel to silicon…. Our landscapes of production have been transformed. 386,000 high tech jobs spread throughout the Bay Area … and the captains of industry still reign. From Andrew Carnegie and steel to Elon Musk with electric cars & rockets … and our fascination with technology still inspires. (left) Alexander Graham Bell demonstrates the prototype telephone, 1876; (below) Steve Jobs presents the Apple iPhone. Technology gives us a mirror... 1893, a kid watching a 40 second film through the peephole of a Kinetoscope. 2020, kids watching a 15 second video using the TikTok app ...And We.

Can’t. Stop. Watching. We remain fascinated by sports and celebrity… …and the markets they create. … and captivated by “reality” … even if it is staged and unreal. Women’s voices still challenge the status quo… “This is why a middle ground approach to our climate crisis is unacceptable….You’re either fighting for our future or you’re not." - Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez “No woman can call herself free until she can choose consciously whether she will or will not be a mother.” - Margaret Sanger And patriarchy is still a target… Women march for voting rights in 1913 (above) and for solidarity at the Women’s March 2017 (right) ... as is police violence against Black bodies... ... in a country that promises equality, liberty, and justice for all.

Left: Alabama state troopers beat unarmed protestors in Selma, 1965; Middle: Minneapolis police Derek Chauvin kills unarmed resident George Floyd; Below: memorial mural for George Floyd. And what we are taught as kids... ... about the Constitution and how checks and balances are supposed to work? 1873 Colfax Massacre saw ex-Confederates banded together as a paramilitary ‘militia’ marched on the court house and killed over a hundred Black residents of Colfax, Louisiana for lawfully practicing their Constitutional rights. On Wednesday, January 6, 2021 a crowd of self-styled patriots and militia members stormed the nation’s capitol building and attempted to prevent the certification of a lawful election.

In other words, America remains just as complicated, violent, contrary, and confounding as ever… “I am the son of a black man from Kenya and a white woman from Kansas. I was raised with the help of a white grandfather who survived a Depression to serve in Patton’s Army during World War II and a white grandmother who worked on a bomber assembly line at Leavenworth while he was overseas. I’ve gone to some of the best schools in America and lived in one of the poorest nations. I am married to a black American who carries within her the blood of slaves and slaveowners – an inheritance we pass on to our daughters. I have brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, uncles and cousins, of every race and every hue, scattered across three continents, and for as long as I live, I will never forget that in no other country on Earth is my story even possible.” -- Barack Obama, Philadelphia, March 18, 2008 … an unfinished story.

Paper For Above instruction

The passage provided reflects a comprehensive exploration of America's complex history from the 1860s to recent times, capturing moments of national trauma, progress, conflict, and identity. It highlights pivotal events such as the aftermath of the Civil War in Charleston 1865, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Iraq War, and the ongoing debates on freedom, immigration, and civil rights. This narrative underscores America’s continuous struggle with its identity, security, and values, illustrating how historical memory influences present-day discourse.

One significant theme in the passage is America's experience with violence and destruction, dating back to the Civil War and continuing through contemporary events like the storming of the Capitol in 2021. The Civil War's devastation at Charleston symbolizes a nation torn apart by internal conflicts over slavery and union. Similarly, the depiction of September 11 and the Iraq conflict illustrates the ongoing investment in military intervention and national security as responses to perceived threats. These events underscore America's paradoxical reality of promoting liberty while engaging in violence and war, raising questions about the true meaning of freedom and justice.

The narrative also examines America's shifting notions of freedom and civil rights. The reference to Lincoln's Gettysburg Address highlights the aspiration for a "new birth of freedom," yet ongoing debates around issues such as gay marriage, gender rights, and immigration reveal persistent inequalities. The contrasting quotes from Donald Trump and historical figures like Margaret Sanger and Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez symbolize the evolving discourse surrounding individual rights and societal inclusion. These discussions reveal America's internal struggle to reconcile its ideals with its actions, particularly regarding marginalized communities.

Immigration emerges as another crucial theme, reflecting both historical and contemporary tensions. The United States' identity as a nation of immigrants is challenged by restrictive policies and rhetoric that often demonize newcomers. The quote from Trump exemplifies xenophobic stereotypes, while historical figures like Jan Brewer exemplify legislative efforts to control immigration. Despite these barriers, the nation continues to be shaped by diverse peoples contributing to its cultural and economic landscapes, demonstrating resilience and ongoing debates about national identity.

The transformation from steel to Silicon Valley symbolizes America's technological evolution and economic ingenuity. The progression from Andrew Carnegie to Elon Musk reflects the nation's emphasis on innovation and progress. Demonstrations of invention, from Bell's telephone to Jobs' iPhone, show how technological advancements mirror societal changes and serve as tools for communication, entertainment, and knowledge dissemination. The modern obsession with short videos like TikTok underscores contemporary youth culture's engagement with rapid, entertaining content, highlighting both technological innovation and societal fascination with spectacle.

Throughout, the narrative illustrates America's cultural engagement through sports, celebrity, and media spectacle, emphasizing how these arenas shape identity and social values. The mention of women's ongoing activism and protests against police violence underscores the persistent efforts to challenge patriarchy and racial injustice. These movements reflect deep-seated issues within America's political fabric and demonstrate an enduring pursuit of equality and human rights.

The historical references to the Colfax Massacre and the January 6 attack on the Capitol illustrate America's violent history and ongoing political polarization. These events serve as stark reminders of the fragility of American democracy and the persistent challenges to the rule of law and constitutional rights. When Obama describes his multicultural background, it underscores the fluidity of American identity and the potential for unity amid diversity, though systemic issues remain.

In conclusion, the passage presents a layered portrait of America—its triumphs and tragedies, conflicts and advances—highlighting that the nation's story remains unfinished. It underscores the importance of understanding historical memory to comprehend ongoing debates about freedom, identity, and justice, emphasizing that America's future depends on reckoning with its past while striving toward a more inclusive and equitable society.

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