The Struggle for Civil Rights: From the Emancipation Proclamation to Martin Luther King, Jr.

Posted by Doug Morrow, Assistant Cultural Affairs Officer

Читати українською

This year, we mark two important landmarks in African-American history, and in the United States’ long march toward racial equality and civil rights. January 1, 2013 was the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, in which U.S. President Abraham Lincoln freed most African-Americans from slavery. August 28, 2013 will mark the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, in which the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his famous “I have a dream” speech, calling for all people to be treated equally, regardless of the color of their skin.

Slavery and the Emancipation Proclamation

In 1860, over 3.9 million African-Americans were enslaved in the United States; in certain states such as South Carolina and Mississippi, over half of the total population was enslaved, and in states such as Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Georgia, enslaved people made up over 40% of the population. Arkansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia also had significant slave populations. That year, led by South Carolina, several southern states began seceding from the United States (to form the “Confederate States of America”), upset that the northern (“Union”) states were refusing to return runaway slaves, among other complaints, and fearing that newly-elected President Lincoln would seek to end slavery in the United States. 

 

The Electoral College

By Janine Balekdjian, Consular Intern

Читати українською

Individuals cast votes in the presidential election, but the way they are tabulated is considerably more complicated than just adding up how many people voted for each candidate. In presidential elections, a system called the Electoral College is used, a type of indirect election which allocates electoral votes from each state. Which candidate each state’s electoral votes go to is based on the popular vote in that state. There are currently 538 electoral votes, and a candidate needs 270 to become the President of the United States.

The Electoral College was established by the United States’ Founding Fathers in the Constitution as part of a system of checks and balances on the central government. The writers of the Constitution wanted to create a system that was democratic, but also preserved states’ rights in a federal system and prevented tyranny of the majority. As a result, they chose indirect democracy over direct popular vote, and the Electoral College was a compromise between those who favored direct popular vote and those who wanted the president to be elected by Congress. Each state was granted the same number of electors as it had representatives in Congress: the number of seats in the House of Representatives being based on population, and each state having two Senators. (The inclusion of electors for the two senators prevents small states like Wyoming or Delaware from only having one vote in the Electoral College.) Each state was allowed to choose its own way of selecting its electors; most chose appointment by state legislatures, with popular election increasingly becoming standard practice later in American history. The electors would then convene and cast their electoral votes. Originally, the candidate who finished first would be President, and the candidate who finished second would be Vice President. The writers of the Constitution felt that this method of indirect democracy balanced out the Legislative Branch, where members of the House of Representatives were elected by popular vote and Senators were appointed by state legislatures.

The system has changed considerably since its early beginnings. With the rise of political parties in the early 1800s, candidates began to run on “tickets” of a President and Vice President, in order to avoid scenarios like having a President and Vice President of different parties. The Twelfth Amendment to the Constitution altered the Electoral College procedures to facilitate this change starting with the 1804 election. In modern times, the electors themselves are almost entirely irrelevant. Electors generally do not use their own judgment to decide how to cast their votes; rather, every state holds a popular vote for the presidential race and all the state’s electoral votes are allocated to whoever wins the popular vote. While electors can technically cast their electoral votes for someone who did not win the state’s popular vote, it is almost entirely unheard of and in 24 states it is illegal. (The last time it happened was in 1972. In Virginia, where Republican Richard Nixon won the popular vote, one Elector cast his vote for Libertarian Party candidates John Hospers for President and Theodora Nathan for Vice President.)

The modern Electoral College is considerably more democratic than the original institution, but it still has its quirks. Because almost all states are “winner takes all,” a candidate only has to win a slight majority of a state in order to receive all of its electoral votes. For example, New York has 29 electoral votes. If President Obama wins 60% of the vote in New York, he will receive all 29 electoral votes, not just 60% of them. This means that once a candidate is confident that he or she will win a majority, however small, he or she has no further incentive to campaign in a state. The voting patterns of many states are the same in every presidential election – for example, since 1992, California has always voted Democratic, and since 1980 Texas has always voted Republican. There is very little incentive for a Democratic candidate to try to win votes in Texas or for a Republican candidate to try to win votes in California, since they will not reach a majority. Because of this, candidates focus a lot of their time, energy, and advertizing expenses on campaigning in so-called “swing states”, where voting patterns are not predictable and it is unclear whether a majority of citizens will vote Democratic or Republican. Currently, several key swing states are Ohio, Wisconsin, Virginia, Florida, and Nevada (Ohio and Florida are particularly attractive swing states due to their large numbers of electoral votes). Because of the winner take all system, some people who vote the opposite way of their state – like a Republican in California or a Democrat in Texas – feel that their presidential vote doesn’t really count. Maine and Nebraska are the only two states which allocate their electoral votes proportionately (with 4 and 5 electors, respectively).

Another complaint about the Electoral College is that, largely due to the “winner takes all” state allocation, it is possible for a candidate to lose the popular vote and become president anyway by winning the electoral vote. This has happened three times: Rutherford B. Hayes’ election in 1876, Benjamin Harrison’s election in 1888, and most recently George W. Bush’s election in 2000. However, in the vast majority of elections the electoral vote matches the popular vote. In addition, the President is just one office that citizens vote for on Election Day; members of the House of Representatives, Senators, and state and local representatives are all elected according to popular vote. While there are currently no revisions of the Electoral College under serious consideration (which would require a constitutional amendment that small states would have little incentive to approve), the system has changed before and it is possible that it will change again in the future.

 

9/11 Eleventh Anniversary: 11 Days of Remembrance. Day 4.

Posted by: Sven Olson, Bilateral Affairs Officer

Читати українькою

September 11, 2011 was a day that dramatically altered thousands of lives… I am only one of the many affected… but it’s still an emotional anniversary to remember the horrors of that day. So many years later… I have a paradox of the tremendous losses and unexpected gains from a single monumental moment in time… and it makes for confusing reflection. The chain of events set in motion that day ended a marriage of 24 yrs… however leading many years later to another love that couldn’t have happened without Sept 11th. My businesses I had built and were dedicated to, had to be transitioned to friends and family… but have survived and thrived through an economy turned dark in so many ways. The life I had before is gone… replaced with a radically different reality… both good and bad… but in all ways more difficult.

On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, I was asleep at home in Tucson, Arizona. I was three time zones west from the events as they happened in New York and Washington DC when I received an early morning call to wake up and see what was unfolding. At the time, my family was hosting a German exchange student and after waking her to watch the events with me on TV… we watched and cried together as the towers fell. I knew at that moment, literally, as the towers fell, that my life would change. I am a member of the Army National Guard. I have pledged to serve in times of need… and this NEED was clear and present on the screens of every TV in the United States.

The next day I activated for Airport Security duty… and although released shortly after… within months I was activated for multiple tours of duty… and 27 months of the next 36 months were spent on military duty around the world… including the United States, Europe and a combat tour in Iraq. In the early days of the war there was little or no support for National Guard families dealing with the stress of multiple deployments… and my family counts as a casualty. A marriage lost… a family torn apart. I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) following my tour in Iraq and only through the incredible life saving services of the Arizona Veterans Hospital… can I write this blog for you today… healthy, happy and healed inside and out!

 

The Democratic National Convention in History

Posted by: Janine Balekdjian, Consular Intern

Читати українською

This year’s Democratic National Convention begins on September 3 in Charlotte, North Carolina, a state President Obama won by 0.3% in 2008 (the first Democrat to win the state since Jimmy Carter in 1976).  Since President Obama was never seriously contested for the nomination and Joe Biden will again be running as the Vice Presidential nominee, the most exciting news expected at this convention will be which other Democrats make speeches.  But the Democratic convention wasn’t always so pro forma – in fact, some of the nation’s most significant political events have taken place at past Democratic conventions.

William Jennings Bryan delivering his “Cross of Gold” speech

Third-party political movements have made history at Democratic conventions.  Over a century ago at the Democratic Convention of 1896, William Jennings Bryan gave one of the most famous speeches in U.S. history, known as the “Cross of Gold” speech for its vehement denunciation of the gold standard.  Bryan was heavily influenced by the Populist Party, the official political manifestation of the populist movement, which saw both the Republicans and Democrats as corrupt gilded-age politicians beholden to wealthy bankers and the railroad industry.  The Populist movement and party were vehicles for ordinary Americans to articulate what they wanted out of a political system that was supposed to serve them.  The Populist movement was largely agricultural, although it had some supporters among industrial laborers.

Populism came to be characterized by the major demand of leaving the gold standard in order to free up the money supply, although the official Populist Party Platform also included nationalization of the railroads, direct election of senators, and an 8-hour workday (these second and third goals have since become U.S. law).  The Populist Party was largely unsuccessful at winning elections on a national level, but did influence the left wing of the Democratic Party.  William Jennings Bryan and his Cross of Gold speech was the result of this influence.  Bryan used Christian metaphors throughout his speech and invoked Jesus in his last line with “You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns; you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold!”  Delegates responded to Bryan’s speech with overwhelming acclamation; it took a full 25 minutes to restore order to the convention.  Prior to Bryan’s speech he was thought to have little chance of winning the nomination, but the electrified delegates voted for him as the Democratic Party nominee.  Bryan’s victory at the convention represented the high water mark for the Populist movement, as he went on to lose the presidency to Republican William McKinley.

Campaign buttons for William Jennings Bryan

The 20^thCentury’s most notable Democratic Convention was held in 1968 amidst an atmosphere of national turmoil.  The incumbent Democratic President Lyndon Johnson had announced that he would not seek a second term, opening the floor for other Democrats to seek the nomination.  Robert Kennedy, a popular liberal and brother of John F.

Protestors at the 1968 Democratic National Convention

Kennedy, had been assassinated while campaigning for the nomination, and Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated earlier in the year.  As was the case in 1896, the convention of 1968 took place in a political environment where large portions of the population trusted neither party.  Hippies, peace activists, and student radicals were often far to the left of the Democratic Party, and the Democrats continued to support the Vietnam War, which was protested by millions throughout the country.  During the convention, which took place in Chicago, a group of radicals known as Yippies staged a 10,000 person protest outside the convention, and Mayor Daley called in 23,000 policemen and National Guard members to confront them.  Violence erupted, instigated by the police but returned by the protestors, and the police used so much tear gas against the protestors that it reached the Democratic nominee Hubert Humphrey in his room in the Hilton Hotel.  The media decried the police brutality – CBS News anchor Dan Rather was even punched – but the abuse of authority by Chicago’s police and mayor was overshadowed by continuing concerns over the Vietnam War and urban lawlessness.

Fortunately, no violence on the scale of 1968 has taken place at any convention since then.  President Obama is uncontested as the Democratic nominee, but anyone watching the convention can hope for a speech just as electrifying as William Jennings Bryan’s. ^*

* Or, perhaps, get a glimpse of the next Democratic president. The keynote speakers for the 1988 and 2004 conventions, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, each went on to become president four years later.

 

9/11 Eleventh Anniversary: 11 Days of Remembrance. Day 1.

Posted by: David Meale, Economic Officer

Читати українською

A view of the World Trade Center 9-11-11 Tribute In Light
Photo by Kim Carpenter

For me, the 9/11 attacks occurred at night because I was living in Taiwan. I immediately called my wife in the United States. She was eight-months pregnant and getting ready to deliver our second child. We stayed on the phone for a long time, watching the tragedy unfold and yelling, “I can’t believe this!” to each other, over and over again.

During the weeks that followed, the work I did as an economic officer changed very quickly. The United States Government suddenly became very interested in laws and activities around the world that might have bearing on the ability of terrorists to transfer money in support of future attacks. All of us rapidly learned a new language for engaging host governments. Expressions like “suspicious transaction,” “Financial Action Task Force,” and “hawala.”

Meanwhile, my wife’s pregnancy advanced, and I prepared for travel to the United States for the birth of my son. During those weeks, the anthrax attacks unfolded, and it felt like there was no limit to how bad things might get just as my family was growing. When I arrived in the United States a month later, it was shocking to see armed members of the National Guard patrolling the airport and flags and ribbons of support for our country attached to cars everywhere.

My son’s birth on October 18 went well, but I knew that day that he had been born in a changed United States of America. The 11 years since have certainly demonstrated my country’s resilience, but it still surprises me to watch my son’s confused face when I tell him about the days before the attacks… a time when you didn’t have to take your shoes off while passing through airport security and when two 1,350 foot (411 meters) tall buildings – my son loves skyscrapers – gave a unique silhouette to the Southern tip of Manhattan.

The former Twin Towers at the World Trade Center

 

The Republican National Convention in History

By Janine Balekdjian, Consular Intern

Читати українською

This year’s Republican National Convention will be held in Tampa Bay, Florida, from August 27-30. During it, Mitt Romney will officially become the Republican nominee, having secured enough delegates to do so in May, and other Republican leaders will make speeches to get the voting base fired up – particularly in the important state of Florida (a state with a large population that swings between supporting Democrats and Republicans for president). While in the distant past, there might be some doubt at a party convention about who would be the nominee, the modern system of primary elections and caucuses in the states has removed almost all sense of drama. It is highly unlikely that a disgruntled party leader will storm out of the convention to create his own political party with which to challenge both Romney and Obama. But that exact scenario happened at a Republican National Convention a century ago, in 1912. 

 

50 States in 50 Days: South Dakota – Great Faces, Great Places

Posted by: Samuel Gabel, Public Affairs Section Assistant

Читати українською

Introduction

South Dakota is a land of natural beauty and diversity. The types of landscapes found here range from, rolling hills, oceans of waiving grass, and lakes that cover the eastern part of the state, to the alien beauty of the Badlands, to the majestic granite peaks and pine forests of the Black Hills. Here the Midwest meets the West. Here, one can find both fields filled with amber waves of grain, as well as cattle ranches and cowboys. This is the land where the proud and fierce Sioux tribes once roamed. It is also the setting for some of the most dramatic History of the Old West.

Mount Rushmore
Photo by Dean Franklin

My Experience Here

South Dakota is my home state. Here I have passed many memorable childhood summers, boating, hunting, fishing, walking through the tall prairie grass, driving old tractors and setting off fireworks on Independence Day. I like the sense of security that people have here, the friendliness found in the various small towns, the wide-open landscapes and the way the sky seems bigger and more beautiful here.

Rolling hills and wide open sky near Pierre

People and Cultures

My family, and a fair sized portion of the population, are ethnically German. However, probably the most distinctive ethnic group is the Sioux Nation (also known as the Lakota or Dakota). It is from these people that the state gets its name. South Dakota’s native tribes make up a relatively high portion of the population (even greater than in Oklahoma). Traditionally, the Sioux were a nomadic warrior people. Today, most live in several reservations scattered across the state. The Akta Lakota Museum and Cultural Center, near Chamberlain offers an opportunity to learn about the history and traditions of the Sioux. There are also a number of powwows (tribal gatherings generally involving dancers in costume) all across the state. A number of them welcome visitors (provided said visitors are respectful).

 

50 States in 50 Days: Washington, D.C. – A Capitol City

Posted by Natalya Smith, Consular Officer

View of the Washington Monument from Kennedy Center rooftop

Читати українською

My name is Natalya Smith, and my favorite city in the world is Washington, D.C. It is commonly referred to as the District, short for the District of Columbia. DC is not a state, but rather an administrative area located on the land donated by the state of Maryland along the Potomac River. It’s the capital of the United States, and is famous for its monuments, museums, the White House, the Capitol Building, and its universities and historic sites.

My absolute favorite thing to do in Washington is to visit the Kennedy Center (the National Center for the Performing Arts) after work, getting a bite to eat at the rooftop cafe, and enjoying the view of the city, the Potomac river, and the planes coming in for landing at the Reagan National Airport. And then, I can enjoy an evening full of opera, ballet, or classical music performed by some of the best musicians and entertainers in the world. If residents or tourists cannot afford full price tickets, every evening there are also free shows at the Millennium Stage welcoming everyone to enjoy and appreciate the art of singing, dancing, and music.

The National Mall is a cluster of monuments, museums, and historic sites in the heart of Washington, D.C. On the one end of the Mall is the Capitol Building which houses the legislative branch of our government. It is open for visitors and provides a thrilling opportunity to watch members of Congress debate and vote on what may become U.S. law.

Lincoln Memorial and the Replecting Pool

On the other side of the Mall are the Lincoln Memorial and its reflecting pool — an impressive tribute to the President who lead the nation at the turbulent time of the Civil War. But when I think of the Lincoln Memorial, I immediately envision Dr. Martin Luther King during the civil rights movement, addressing thousands of Americans against the background of the Lincoln Memorial with his famous “I Have a Dream” speech and painting the future of a more just, equal, and tolerant nation.

 

50 States in 50 Days: Wisconsin – America’s Dairyland

Posted by: Marian Cotter, Regional Security Officer

Читати українською

State Capital: Madison
Motto: “Forward”

Wisconsin dairy farm

Born and raised in a small town in Wisconsin, I am grateful for influence the State and its culture has had on my life. Located in the upper Midwest, Wisconsin is known for its agriculture, natural beauty, and a history of progressive politics (for example, the first workplace injury compensation law and the first state income tax). Its nickname as “America’s Dairyland” attests to the importance of agriculture in the state’s economy. Wisconsin leads the nation in cheese production and is number two in milk production. The economy also includes a diverse manufacturing base – home to internationally known companies such as Kohler Company (plumbing fixtures), Mercury Marine (the world’s finest marine motors — made in my hometown), Briggs & Stratton (gasoline engines), and Harley Davidson (I don’t need to tell you what they make).

Local Culture and Famous People

Early settlers came to the region as fur traders, while lead mining later attracted more people to migrate. Many of these miners built themselves homes dug into the hills – giving residents the nickname “badgers.” Subsequently, the University of Wisconsin adopted the badger as its mascot. Officially we are called “Wisconsinites,” but another popular nickname, thanks to all of the milk and cheese that we produce, is “cheesehead.” Waves of German immigrants in the 19th century brought beer and sausage making to the state – including Miller Brewing and Oscar Mayer. There is nothing more a Wisconsinite loves than to enjoy some cheese and crackers and a bratwurst, with a few cold beers, during a Green Bay Packers football game (American football, of course). Our Packers, who have been around since 1921 and hold the most National Football League (NFL) titles, are the only community-owned team in the NFL. Our loyalty runs deep.

Green Bay Packers (left) and their fan, the “cheesehead” (Photo by Heinz Kluetmeier/Sports Illustrated)

 

50 States in 50 Days: Texas – The Lone Star State

Posted by Alyona Gorbatko, Information Assistant

When I found out that I would spend a year in Texas as an exchange student, I was a bit disappointed. I thought Texas was far less interesting than the rest of the United States. Now I can say, I wasn’t bored exploring the diverse areas of The Lone Star State.

The name Texas is based on the Caddo word ‘tejas’ meaning ‘friends’ or ‘allies’

To begin with, Texas is very different from the rest of the United States. Because of its unique history and culture the official Texas slogan is “Texas: It’s Like a Whole Other Country.” And it is. They say everything is bigger in Texas – well, no wonder, since Texas is the second largest state in the country (after Alaska), covering 262,017 square miles (the size of France). This huge area features many natural attractions, historical locations, scientific sites and recreation areas. It is a “Land of Cowboys, Oil, and Space.”

Texas became the 28th U.S. state on December 29, 1845. However, it is the only state to enter the United States by treaty instead of territorial annexation. It also is the only state that used to be an independent country, from 1836-1845. After Texas’s annexation, Mexico broke diplomatic relations with the United States, a contributing factor in the Mexican-American War. The two nations fought from 1846 through 1848, when they signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. That treaty gave the United States more than 1.2 million square kilometers (500,000 square miles) of Mexican territory in what now makes up parts of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado and Wyoming. Some say that without Texas independence, the U.S. map would look very different today.

Alamo, San Antonio

Texas is widely associated with the image of the cowboy. This is due to its long history as a center of the cattle industry that thrived after the Civil War. Yes, there are still cowboys in Texas, but they don’t represent the majority of the state’s population. Despite the popular stereotype, not all Texans ride horses, and it’s quite unusual to drive down the highway and see someone riding a horse. However, it’s quite usual to see people wearing cowboy hats and boots as a sign of their Texan pride.

Another nationally recognized statement of Texan pride is a sign that says “Don’t Mess with Texas”, which you might spot driving through the state. Now a trademark of the Texas Department of Transportation, the phrase was a slogan of a statewide anti-littering campaign in 1986. Having become a Texas cultural phenomenon, it nowadays appears on countless items of tourist souvenirs.

 

50 States in 50 Days: Alabama – Sweet Home

Posted by: John Gregg, Visa Chief

Читати українською

Growing up in Alabama, I learned about the victories of the civil rights movement in my state from an early age. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. conducted some of his most famous marches here in places like Montgomery, Selma, and my hometown of Birmingham. You can visit sites from this history today among many others in a green, friendly, and sports-mad state.

Alabama Civil Rights Trail

Europeans settled Alabama in large numbers in the early 1800s. The settlers replaced the Native American population and developed an agricultural economy based on slavery. Alabama became the United States of America’s 22nd state in 1819, but seceded with several others at the start of the U.S. Civil War. The Confederacy’s first capital was in Montgomery, and even after the war, racial discrimination persisted for a long time. It took Dr. King and countless other civil rights activists to push Congress to end legal discrimination in the 1960s. Today, an entire district of Birmingham’s historic downtown is devoted to memorials of the protest era. The state’s economy is considerably more diversified that the cotton farms of the past. For instance, Birmingham has both a large steel industry and a significant medical sector, based at the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville

The city of Huntsville played a key role in another aspect of America’s history: the space race. The rockets and capsules that carried American astronauts to the moon were developed there, and many have been preserved at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center along with other attractions. These include Saturn moon launch vehicles, Apollo Program command and lunar modules, and the U.S. Space Camp which attracts children from around the world.

 

50 States in 50 Days: Louisiana Welcomes Visitors with its Distinct Food, History, and Hospitality

Posted By: Gareth Vaughan, Political Officer

Arguably one of the most distinctive of the United States of America’s 50 states, Louisiana is perhaps best known for its annual Mardi Gras celebration. In traveling throughout the state, however, any visitor will quickly realize that there is far more to Louisiana than Bourbon Street. Named for King Louis XIV, the French were the first to claim the Louisiana territory as their own. As settlers from such areas as French Acadia (now part of Canada) moved to Louisiana, they brought with them slaves from Africa and the Caribbean, and the state’s unique Creole and Cajun cultures began to develop. The impact of Louisiana’s French ancestry can still be felt today across Southern Louisiana, from French language news reports in Lafayette, to New Orleans, where such world famous restaurants as Galatoire’s and Café du Monde serve Creole dishes like shrimp etouffee and powdered sugar donuts known as beignets.

Mardi Gras Parade in New Orleans

Louisiana’s inimitable mixture of French, Spanish, African and general U.S. cultures makes it a food lover’s paradise. Most visitors likely find themselves overwhelmed by the sheer diversity of Louisiana’s food. Although most people tend to think of New Orleans restaurants when they think of Louisiana, delicious food can be found in all of the state’s varied regions. I am not a native Louisianan, but I have had the opportunity to spend a significant amount of time traveling throughout the state, and while one of my favorite spots for fried shrimp in Cameron Parish may or may not have survived Hurricane Gustav in 2008, there are still a great number of places that I am hoping to visit on my next trip back to the United States.

Shrimp Po’Boy sandwich

New Orleans is undeniably the center of Louisiana cuisine. Some of the best known chefs in the world have worked here, including Chefs Emeril Lagasse and Paul Prudhomme. Today, millions of food lovers visit New Orleans to feast on its world famous Po’Boy sandwiches and sip Sazeracs in any of the city’s hundreds (thousands?) of bars. Alongside the muffelatta, an often massive sandwich that features a variety of Italian meats paired with an olive salad, the Po’Boy is likely New Orleans’ most well-known culinary creation. The Po’Boy sandwich typically consists of fried shrimp or oysters or roast beef. Order it dressed with shredded lettuce, tomato and mayo – or without. For the more adventurous, most restaurants serve such traditional Cajun and Creole delicacies as boudin balls (deep fried and battered pork and rice sausage), hog’s head cheese (essentially what it sounds like), and fried alligator.

 

50 States in 50 Days: Vermont

Posted by: Frances Westbrook, Regional English Language Officer

Vermont’s Equinox Mountain

Читати українською

The Green Mountain State, Vermont, joined the federal union as the fourteenth state in 1791, and was the first state to join after the original thirteen colonies. Vermont is the second least populous state in the United States (Wyoming is the least), and Vermonters often boast that there are more cows than people living in the state.

The first inhabitants of Vermont were Native Americans, mostly Algonquian and Iroquois tribes. The French explorer Samuel de Champlain claimed the region for France in 1609, with French settlements starting in the area in 1666. Vermont remained part of France until after the French and Indian War, when it was claimed by Great Britain. Today many people of French or French-Canadian origin remain in Vermont, and the northern part of the state is located on the border with French-speaking Quebec, Canada. In fact, roughly three percent of Vermont’s population speaks French as their first language.

 

50 States in 50 Days: Chautauqua – a Hidden Gem of Western New York

By James Wolfe, Press Attaché

A Chautauqua Institution House
Photo by James Wolfe

Читати українською

On a small point on Chautauqua Lake, in the southwest corner of New York State, Reverend John H. Vincent and businessman Lewis Miller launched a small experiment in adult education for Methodist Sunday school teachers in 1874 that quickly started a nationwide movement and profoundly changed the face of education in the United States. Vincent’s The Chautauqua Movement (1886) has been hailed as “the first modern theory of adult education in the United States.” For 9 weeks every summer, people from all across the United States still gather in the idyllic grounds of the Chautauqua Institution to enjoy the ongoing programs based on the four pillars of Arts, Education, Religion (multi-denominational), and Recreation. In the 1980s, Chautauqua hosted a “Soviet Week” program that featured the exchange of performers, scientists, and lecturers with the Soviet Union until the latter dissolved.

Athenaeum Hotel in Chautauqua Institution
Photo by James Wolfe

In its heyday, the Chautauqua Movement saw hundreds of copycat “Chautauquas” spread throughout the country, either in fixed locations like the original or traveling from town to town with giant tents. The original Chautauqua University was a correspondence program that conducted most classes through the mail and targeted adults. Programs at the original and “daughter” Chautauquas included music, theater, dance, classes in the arts and performance, and lectures. Guest lecturers at the original Chautauqua Institution included Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the latter delivering his famous “I Hate War” speech there.

 

50 States in 50 Days: The Other New York

Posted by: Fran Westbrook, Regional English Language Officer

Vew of New York City from the Empire State Building (Photo by Hubert K)

Читати українською

Bright lights…big city. That’s the first thing that comes to many people’s minds when they hear the words “New York.” New York City, the most populous city in the United States, is an important metropolis—but New York is more than just the city: it is also an important state.

New York State is the third-most populous state (after California and Texas) in the U.S. The original inhabitants of New York State were Native Americans, mostly from the Algonquian and Iroquois tribes. The first known European settler active in this region was Henry Hudson, who claimed the territory for the Dutch East India Company in1609. New York was then annexed by the British in 1664. The original European settlements in New York State were in the area known as the Hudson Valley. This region was the setting for Washington Irving’s famous stories, including “The Headless Horseman” and “Rip Van Winkle.” Other famous New Yorkers include abolitionist Frederick Douglass, women’s rights activist Susan B. Anthony, inventor George Eastman, and virologist Jonas Salk. New York was and is home to a host of writers, actors, actresses, composers, musicians, and choreographers, due in part to the vibrant art scene in New York City.

Adirondack Park
Photo by Teddy Llovet

New Yorkers played important roles in the American Revolution. The Sons of Liberty were founded in New York, and New York endorsed the Declaration of Independence. Some say up to one-third of the battles of the Revolutionary War were fought in New York State. New York was the eleventh state to ratify the United States Constitution in 1788.

 

50 States in 50 Days: Maryland – Birthplace of the U.S. National Anthem

Posted by: Samuel Gabel, Public Affairs Section Assistant

Читати українською

A Short History of The Star Spangled Banner

Baltimore Skyline at Night
(Maryland Office of Tourism, Film and the Arts)

Due to a complicated series of events, the United States and Great Britain found themselves once again at war in the years 1812 to 1814. The war is called by some the “Second War for Independence,” but is more commonly known as the War of 1812. The British forces wanted to capture the major American city of Baltimore, Maryland. However, to do so, they would first need to get past Fort McHenry, which guarded Baltimore’s harbor. The commander of the fort, Major George Armistead, was determined to defend his position against the invaders. To signify that determination, he had a massive United States flag, measuring 30 feet by 42 feet (9 meters by 12.6 meters), hoisted above the fort. On September 13, 1814, the British began their attempt to bombard the fort into submission. The bombardment lasted some 25 hours.

The Star Spangled Banner at the Smithsonian Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.

Prior to the Bombardment, Francis Scott Key, a Maryland native and lawyer, had sailed out to the British fleet as part of a delegation to negotiate the release of some American prisoners. However, they were detained by the British, and could do little but watch as the British fired more than 2,000 rounds of ammunition at the little fort. The bombardment lasted well into the night. Key waited anxiously for the dawn’s early light to see if the American flag was still flying, or if Armistead had hoisted the white flag of surrender. To his relief and joy, as the morning broke, he could see the massive star spangled banner still waving proudly over the fort. Inspired by this sight, Key took out some paper and jotted down the first verse of a poem entitled “The Star Spangled Banner.” The poem was later set to music, and went on to become a popular patriotic song. It was officially adopted as the national anthem in 1931.

 

Ukraine’s Georgetown Alumni Meet Their Most Senior Fellow Alumnus: Ambassador John Tefft

Posted by: Major Patrick Self, Assistant Air Attaché, Defense Attaché Office, U.S. Embassy Kyiv

On March 7th U.S. Embassy Kyiv hosted 2012’s first meeting of the Georgetown Club of Ukraine, featuring a conversation with U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John Tefft on Ukraine’s Place in U.S. regional foreign policy for Eastern Europe and the CIS Countries. The event saw over 20 Ukrainian and American alumni of Georgetown University coming together to engage in a fascinating discussion with Ambassador Tefft. The participants enjoyed networking during the subsequent cocktail hour, continuing a tradition that brings closer a worldwide network of individuals who all share the same unique experience of studying at Georgetown University.

Former Ukrainian First Lady Kateryna Yushchenko and Ukraine CitiBank Director Steve Fisher attended the event, along with a number of young professionals from Ukraine’s vibrant public and private sectors, including professionals from investment banking, legal, academic, media, public policy, political and government circles. U.S. Embassy Kyiv alone counts about 14 Georgetown Alumni, mostly employees, but also spouses. An especially remarkable “Georgetown family” among these is that of Ambassador Tefft, who graduated from Georgetown University along with his wife, Mariella, and one of his daughters.

 

It’s a Long Road from Seneca Falls

Posted by: Jason Gilpin, USAID

When I moved to Ukraine in 2007, I was pleasantly surprised that Women’s Day is a national holiday. Given all the inequality and injustice that women all over the world have faced and continue to face, I wondered why we in the United States hadn’t thought to celebrate a day outside Mother’s Day to honor the more than half of the world who get less than a quarter of the credit.

The origin of women’s rights in the United States is the Declaration of Independence of 1776, which declared that “all men are created equal.” As the English Dictionary, Merriam Webster points out, a definition of “man” is “the human race: mankind.” Unfortunately, it took my countrymen about a century and a half after 1776 to establish that “men” in the Declaration of Independence didn’t refer to the “male human,” it meant “the human race: mankind.” American women were denied the right to vote until 1920, but even at the time of America’s founding, the nation’s strength was dependent on the wisdom, prudence and perseverance of its women.

Even though women in revolutionary America were prohibited from voting, serving on juries, or even signing contracts, I wonder today how the

Martha Washington (June 2, 1731 – May 22, 1802)

young USA could have succeeded without the wisdom, foresight, and courage of its founding mothers, such as Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, Margaret Catharine Moore Barry, and Dolley Madison (that’s not a typo – she spelled her name Dolley, although most people think it’s Dolly!).

Martha Washington is honored for having set the standard for intelligence, sensibility, and indefatigable patriotism in American women. She also continually encouraged her husband onward in the Revolution, despite the threat that she might very well lose everything she had, which was not at all insignificant, considering the fact that George Washington owed most of his wealth and economic status to her inheritance.

 

The Secret History of Women’s Day: Or, How an American Strike Became a Soviet Tradition

Posted by: Eric A. Johnson, Public Affairs Officer

As March 8 approaches, Ukrainian women often ask me what Americans do to celebrate International Women’s Day. My short answer is: nothing. But before anyone can get offended, I rush to explain that we honor the important women in our lives on two other days. On St. Valentine’s Day (February 14), every right-minded American man celebrates the main woman in his life (be she wife, lover, girlfriend) by taking her out to dinner (or cooking it for her) in addition to buying a card, chocolates (often in the shape of hearts), and flowers (usually red roses to signify true love). And then on Mother’s Day (the second Sunday in May), Americans honor their mothers by taking them out to lunch or dinner – or, better yet, cooking it for them. But given that so many men can’t cook, Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day tend to be the two days of the year when it’s almost impossible to find a free table in a good restaurant.

Starting in New York City in 1857, women workers made a tradition of labor actions and protests on March 8. In 1910, the first International Women's Day was celebrated on the same day. This photo shows an early Women's Day protest.

All holidays begin somewhere. Mother’s Day is the relatively recent invention of American Anne Jarvis who suggested a holiday honoring mothers after the death of her own activist mother in 1905. Jarvis – who never had any children of her own – first proposed the holiday in 1912 and by 1914 U.S. President Woodrow Wilson had turned it into a nationally recognized day. By the 1920s, Mother’s Day was celebrated across the country.

St. Valentine’s Day has much older roots dating back to pagan celebrations in Greece and Rome which revolved around Hera (Juno), fertility, and her marriage to Zeus (Jupiter). With the death of the Christian martyr Valentine of Rome (killed AD 269 and buried on February 14), the holiday evolved into a Christian feast day. However, it wasn’t until English poet Geoffrey Chaucer was inspired by the Italian Renaissance to write his Parliament of Birds (1382) that St. Valentine’s Day became associated with romantic love – and love letters – in the popular imagination. The holiday, however, did not come to resemble something that we might recognize today until 1847 when another American woman – Esther Howland – began producing St. Valentine’s Day cards for her father’s store in Worcester, Massachusetts. The rest, as we say, is history.

 

African American History Month Essay Competition

In honor of African American History Month, we invite you to write an essay or story in English or Ukrainian of no more than 500 words highlighting some aspect of African American History. You might, for example, write a story about your own experiences with African Americans (in real life or via the media), tackle some interesting part of African American History, or discuss how the African American experience parallels (or doesn’t parallel) the experience of ethnic minorities in Ukraine. Or come up with your own creative possibilities!

The winner of the competition will receive a collection of Jazz music and classic books by African American authors, and the winning entry will be posted on our blog!

Terms and conditions: Only Ukrainian citizens over the age of 13 who are living in Ukraine are eligible to participate in this competition. Neither employees or contractors of the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine nor their immediate family members are eligible for this competition. Entries should be sent as text, Word documents, or PDF to USEmbassykyiv@gmail.com; only those entries received by 11.59pm Ukraine time on Wednesday, February 29, 2012 will be considered by the judges, who will be selected from the Public Affairs Section at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv. Entries which plagiarize from existing texts will be disqualified. Participants retain ownership of the essays submitted to the competition. However, submission of an essay or story constitutes acknowledgment of the right of the U.S. Embassy to use, reproduce, or distribute, without royalty, any portion or all of the submission on our blog, Facebook page, Embassy website, other social media platform, or in print.

 

It’s Thanksgiving Everywhere

Posted By Jason Gilpin, Contracting and Agreement Officer, USAID Regional Mission for Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova

For many people around the world, Thanksgiving is a quintessentially American Holiday. This holiday combines an assortment; a plate of folklore, a great bounty of food, a side of sports and a generous helping of commercial mass media, all set out on a board of essential purpose – of giving thanks for who and what we have, and appreciating all the goodness of this world for all its worth.

The story of destitute Europeans arriving on a strange shore, being helped by erudite Native Americans and breaking bread together in thanks is legendary. Like any folk story, historically speaking, it is partly true and partly false. But also like any folk story, its intent and meaning are crucial, and its historical veracity, less so. For me, the folklore of the Indians and the Pilgrims brings to mind a cornucopia of important themes: America’s diversity; the ancient wisdom, respect and resourcefulness of the Native Peoples; the courage and conviction of the Pilgrim adventurers in crossing the unknown; and last but not least the appreciation, which is universal among all peoples, for our lives, liberty, land and bounty.

 

Veterans Day and American Indian Heritage Month

Posted by: Daniel Cisek, Deputy Press Attaché

November 11 is Veterans Day and November is American Indian Heritage Month. To mark both occasions, we are posting an article that originally appeared on the website of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State.

Veterans Day and the Navajo Code Talkers

Navajo Code Talkers, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, June 1944

American Indians have a long history of participating with distinction in United States military actions — an important point to remember on Veterans Day, November 11, and during American Indian Heritage Month. As scouts and auxiliary troops, Native Americans assisted U.S. troops in the War of 1812 and the Civil War and on the American frontier. More than 12,000 served in the U.S. military in World War I and 44,000 served in World War II, according to the Naval Historical Center.

 

Columbus Day Observance

Posted by: Oksana Kluchko, Journalist/Embassy Community Member

Portrait of Christopher Columbus by Ridolfo Ghirlandaio

One can argue that Columbus Day has come to symbolize the power of thinking “outside the box.” In Christopher Columbus’ day and age, “outside the box” meant thinking the world was round. In the fifteenth century, despite all the advances in learning, science, and contact with other world cultures, most people still believed the world was flat.

The Italian adventurer Christopher Columbus was bold enough to argue otherwise. Failing to convince his Italian sovereign, as well as the kings of Portugal and England, Christopher Columbus was persistent. He finally convinced the Queen of Spain to finance an expedition of great importance. At that time, spice merchants were in search of an easier route to Asia. The most common route was sailing completely around Africa, past the Cape of Good Hope, before continuing eastward.

Columbus’ argument was simple – if the world is indeed round, then logic dictated that sailing directly west would lead to the rich treasures of India and Asia. Such a discovery would bring new opportunities of wealth to Spain. The Queen of Spain was so impressed with his argument that she promised him a 10% share of the wealth he brought to Spain as a result of his discoveries.