A friend I met via this very blog sent me two articles earlier this week about a move in Quebec to remove all religious symbols in the public sector. Read this news article about it and then read McGill University’s response. My thoughts follow. So-called Western democracies pride themselves on being harbingers of freedom, equality,Continue reading “Why “Freedom of Religion” can never mean “Freedom from Religion””
Monthly Archives: September 2013
History Repeats Itself, Why I Study History, and History as a Science
There I said it. History. Repeats. Itself. I’ll say it again. History. Repeats. Most historians balk at this notion with a series of well-intended but nonetheless vehement objections. In my experience, we respond, “No. Absolutely not. History doesn’t repeat.” Before continuing, we have to interpret what “repeat” means. According to the dictionary: According to theContinue reading “History Repeats Itself, Why I Study History, and History as a Science”
“Never forget” – Hidden Power of Words Series, #1
Yesterday was the 12th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Around the Internet there were postings calling for remembrance. I even made such a posting here. Almost all of these said “never forget” in one form or another. As used, never forget means to remember the tragedies that happened that day and the following weeks, rememberContinue reading ““Never forget” – Hidden Power of Words Series, #1”
Remembering 9/11 and Flashbulb Memories
On the morning of September 11, 2001, somewhere between 8:30 am and 9:30 am (Texas time) I learned that our nation had been attacked. I was in 8th grade at the time. I had just walked into the school library. As I was walking down the long aisle you had to pass in order toContinue reading “Remembering 9/11 and Flashbulb Memories”
Brief Guide to Studying Primary Sources: A Methodology to Increase Critical Thinking
Since the Spring 2010, I’ve developed the following guidelines to help students in my classes read effectively. Every semester I tweak them in someway or another. While they were originally designed with primary source documents in mind, they should also work, at least conceptually, for secondary works. So far they have worked really well forContinue reading “Brief Guide to Studying Primary Sources: A Methodology to Increase Critical Thinking”
History as Fiction, Fiction as History, and Comments about “The Butler” (2013)
(Feb. 29, 2016: Please note that my views regarding The Butler have changed significantly. Please see my dissertation when it is published for my revised analysis.) The Butler follows the life of the fictional Cecil Gaines, his wife, and kids from the time he is a child working as a sharecropper until directly after the electionContinue reading “History as Fiction, Fiction as History, and Comments about “The Butler” (2013)”
“You know, I really don’t know my history”: Historical Memory, Slavery, and Plantation Day [Preview]
Probably about a month ago now as I was leaving a local restaurant I saw a sign advertising “Plantation Day.” It didn’t fully soak in until I was on the way home. After looking around on the Internet, I couldn’t find the flyer anywhere, so I emailed the Lake Jackson Historical Association. They sent me a copyContinue reading ““You know, I really don’t know my history”: Historical Memory, Slavery, and Plantation Day [Preview]”
21 Examples of Academic Privilege, Personal Reflections Part II
As with all systems of privilege, we are so accustomed to the associated benefits that they go unnoticed, unless we are keenly conscious. This posting serves as a kind of part 2 (see part 1 here) of my personal journey to understand privilege in my own life. Below are 21 examples of academic or scholarlyContinue reading “21 Examples of Academic Privilege, Personal Reflections Part II”
Dr. Andrew Joseph Pegoda 