Many thanks to The State for publishing Dr. W. Eric Emerson's article on the importance of the Ordinance of Secession. The creation of this document, no matter what your feelings are surrounding the time period in which it was written, changed the nation forever. It is incumbent upon us to "explore exactly how this occurred and to reshape long-held notions regarding
the document's place in our state's past and future." (excerpted from the editorial "How South Carolina Changed the World" by Dr. Emerson that appeared on 12/12/2010)
The 150th commemoration of South Carolina's Secession is a somber occasion to reflect on all aspects of that time in our history and take the opportunity to explore all causes including slaery. We are not dismissing the notion that slavery was the cause. It is our responsibility to recognize that cause as well as the other factors that helped motivate the creation of the document. We are more educated if we look at all pieces of the puzzle and not just the straight edges around the border.
The South Carolina Department of Archives and History's exhibit, From Confretonation to Conflict, depicts South Carolina's path from Nullification to Secession through historical documents. Please join us for the opening of the exhibit on Friday, December 17th at 11 am and check them out for yourself.
We would not presume to expect you to change your opintion on that period of our history, merely to open your mind to historical facts depicted in official state documents. You might be surprised.
To see the full article published in The State, please use this link: http://www.thestate.com/2010/12/12/1600767/emerson-how-south-carolina-changed.html
Monday, December 13, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
Flower of the Holy Night By Caleb Miller
Euphorbia pulcherrima is a flowering plant that grows in Mexico and Central America. It is commonly known as the Poinsettia Flower, named after South Carolinian, Joel Roberts Poinsett. He was the first U.S. Minister to Mexico and found the plant in an area of southern Mexico called Taxco del Alarcon. He sent some samples back home and introduced the flower to the United States. The flower is known in Mexico as the "Christmas Eve Flower." Acco
rding to legend, a poor young girl had no gift to give at the Christmas Eve celebration. An angel told her that any gift given in love is a wonderful gift. She then picked weeds from the side of the road and wrapped them in a bouquet. She presented her weeds at the celebration and because of her sincerity, the weeds transformed into a beautiful red flower. That's how it became known as the Flower of the Holy Night. Poinsett died on December 12th, 1851 and in 2002 Congress created National Poinsettia Day to honor the poinsettia plant industry to be celebrated on December 12th every year.
rding to legend, a poor young girl had no gift to give at the Christmas Eve celebration. An angel told her that any gift given in love is a wonderful gift. She then picked weeds from the side of the road and wrapped them in a bouquet. She presented her weeds at the celebration and because of her sincerity, the weeds transformed into a beautiful red flower. That's how it became known as the Flower of the Holy Night. Poinsett died on December 12th, 1851 and in 2002 Congress created National Poinsettia Day to honor the poinsettia plant industry to be celebrated on December 12th every year. Editor's Note: For more information on Joel R. Poinsett, there is a great biography of him available in "A History of the War Department of the United States; With Biographical Sketches of the Secretaries" by Lurton Dunham Ingersoll published in 1880 by F. B. Mohun. It is available on google books: http://books.google.com/books?id=mAsSAAAAYAAJ
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Pearl Harbor by Caleb Miller
December 7th mar
ks the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii in 1941. Six Japanese aircraft carriers launched a total of 414 aircrafts to attack the harbor. Five midget submarines were sent as well. The aircraft had a total surprise advantage in the first wave, which was led by Commander Mitsuo Fuchida. Fires quickly erupted on ships and explosions rang through the air. A second wave of aircraft added to the damage. The cost for the Americans was high. Four battleships, two destroyers, and one other ship were sunk. The old battleship Utah, which had been commissioned as a target ship, capsized, which killed six officers and fifty-two other men. Eighteen planes had been destroyed and 155 were damaged. Casualties were high for the US military, with 2402 dead and 1,247 wounded. Civilians were also caught in the fire with fifty-seven dead and thirty-five wounded. The Japanese were not unscathed. Twenty-nine planes were shot down and all five submarines did not return. Fortunately for the US, most of the ships would be raised and/or repaired. Sadly, the battleships Oklahoma and Arizona would not serve again. The Oklahoma was capsized and was sold for scrap while the Arizona was broken by an explosion and left on the bottom of the harbor. She is still there today. The battleship Utah could also not be raised and is still at the harbor. Americans were outraged at the treacherous attack. Ironically, Japanese diplomats had been talking to the State Department thirty minutes before the attack. There are theories that the US Government had advance-knowledge of the attack, but we are still unsure. The President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave a famous speech about the attack, where he called it "a date which will live in infamy." We honor those who died in this infamous attack on its 69th anniversary.
ks the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii in 1941. Six Japanese aircraft carriers launched a total of 414 aircrafts to attack the harbor. Five midget submarines were sent as well. The aircraft had a total surprise advantage in the first wave, which was led by Commander Mitsuo Fuchida. Fires quickly erupted on ships and explosions rang through the air. A second wave of aircraft added to the damage. The cost for the Americans was high. Four battleships, two destroyers, and one other ship were sunk. The old battleship Utah, which had been commissioned as a target ship, capsized, which killed six officers and fifty-two other men. Eighteen planes had been destroyed and 155 were damaged. Casualties were high for the US military, with 2402 dead and 1,247 wounded. Civilians were also caught in the fire with fifty-seven dead and thirty-five wounded. The Japanese were not unscathed. Twenty-nine planes were shot down and all five submarines did not return. Fortunately for the US, most of the ships would be raised and/or repaired. Sadly, the battleships Oklahoma and Arizona would not serve again. The Oklahoma was capsized and was sold for scrap while the Arizona was broken by an explosion and left on the bottom of the harbor. She is still there today. The battleship Utah could also not be raised and is still at the harbor. Americans were outraged at the treacherous attack. Ironically, Japanese diplomats had been talking to the State Department thirty minutes before the attack. There are theories that the US Government had advance-knowledge of the attack, but we are still unsure. The President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave a famous speech about the attack, where he called it "a date which will live in infamy." We honor those who died in this infamous attack on its 69th anniversary.
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