Archive for November 11th, 2008

11
Nov

Pieces of Wisdom – James Madison Edition

   Posted by: Aurelius    in Pieces of Wisdom

All courtesy of Brainyquote:

A well-instructed people alone can be permanently a free people.

All men having power ought to be distrusted to a certain degree.

America was indebted to immigration for her settlement and prosperity. That part of America which had encouraged them most had advanced most rapidly in population, agriculture and the arts.

Americans have the right and advantage of being armed – unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms.

By rendering the labor of one, the property of the other, they cherish pride, luxury, and vanity on one side; on the other, vice and servility, or hatred and revolt.

I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent
encroachments by those in power than by violent and sudden usurpation’s.

It will be of little avail to the people that the laws are made by men of their own choice if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood.

Madison was one of the founding fathers whose contributions to the Constitution, the Federalist Papers, and the nation, were prodigious.  He was the author and primary proponent of the Bill of Rights.

Madison served in Congress, as Secretary of State to Jefferson, and was the first Congressman to be elected President.

His wife Dolley set the standard for future first ladies (serving in that role unofficially for Thomas Jefferson during his administration as well).

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11
Nov

Veterans Day

   Posted by: Aurelius    in Military, National

A big Shout Out to all the Veterans out there.

The American Veteran is a Liberator.  A friend to the oppressed; an enemy to the oppressor.

Courtesy of Military.Com, here is a history of Veterans Day:

Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place on November 11, 1918. In legislation that was passed in 1938,November 11 was “dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as ‘Armistice Day.’” As such, this new legal holiday honored World War I veterans.

In 1954, after having been through both World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress — at the urging of the veterans service organizations — amended the Actof 1938 by striking out the word “Armistice” and inserting the word “Veterans.” With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, Nov. 11became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

In 1968, the Uniforms Holiday Bill ensured three-day weekends for federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. Under this bill, Veterans Day was moved to the last Monday of October. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holiday on its original date. The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on Oct. 25, 1971.

Finally on September 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of Nov. 11, beginning in 1978. Since then, the Veterans Day holiday has been observed on Nov. 11.

There is a lot more good information and background there.  Please stop by.

And while you are enjoying this holiday, please remember those who have served, and those that serve today.

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