For the History Buff on your Christmas List

Being George Washington: The Indispensable Man, As You've Never Seen Him

OVERVIEW

If you think you know GeorgeWashington, think again...

This is the amazing true story of a real-life superhero who wore no cape and possessed no special powers—yet changed the world forever. It’s a story about a man whose life reads as if it were torn from the pages of an action novel: Bullet holes through his clothing. Horses shot out from under him. Unimaginable hardship. Disease. Heroism. Spies and double-agents. And, of course, the unmistakable hand of Divine Providence that guided it all.

Being George Washington is a whole new way to look at history. You won’t simply read about the awful winter spent at Valley Forge—you’ll live it right alongside Washington. You’ll be on the boat with him crossing the Delaware, in the trenches with him at Yorktown, and standing next to him at the Constitutional Convention as a new republic is finally born.

Through these stories you’ll not only learn our real history (and how it applies to today), you’ll also see how the media and others have distorted our view of it. It’s ironic that the best-known fact about George Washington—that he chopped down a cherry tree—is a complete lie. It’s even more ironic when you consider that a lie was thought necessary to prove he could not tell one.

For all of his heroism and triumphs, Washington’s single greatest accomplishment was the man he created in the process: courageous and principled, fair and just, respectful to all. But he was also something else: flawed.

It’s those flaws that should give us hope for today. After all, if Washington had been perfect, then there would be no way to build another one. That’s why this book is not just about being George Washington in 1776, it’s about the struggle to be him every single day of our lives. Understanding the way he turned himself from an uneducated farmer into the Indispensable (yet imperfect) Man, is the only way to build a new generation of George Washingtons that can take on the extraordinary challenges that America is once again facing.

We want to Hear Your Opinions

THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL (FIJ) is pleased to announce the addition of an Op-Ed feature for our readers.

How to Submit an Article to the Op-Ed Page

THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL accepts opinion articles on any topic. The suggested length is 650 words, but submissions of any length will be considered. We ask that all submissions be sent exclusively to THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL. We will not consider articles that have already been published in print or online. Submissions may be sent in any of these ways:

• By clicking the “SUBMIT OP-ED” tab on the header bar above.
• By e-mail to: editor@franklinindependentjournal.com
• Please note that e-mailed articles should be pasted or typed into the body of the message; please do not send attachments.

We read all submissions promptly and will contact you within three business days if we are going to publish your article. If you have not heard from us within three business days, please assume that we will not be able to publish your article. FIJ is not able to return submissions.

Caught on Tape: Teachers Union President's Outrageous Remarks

Chicago Teachers Union President or standup comic?  You make the call…

Here is Keynote Speaker Karen Lewis, Chicago Teachers Union president, American Federation of Teachers vice president, October 1, 2011, Northwest Teaching for Social Justice Conference, Seattle, WA.

Education Action Group Foundation (EAG), Inc. a national organization headquartered in Michigan has a seven-person full-time staff. EAG is a non-partisan non-profit organization with the goal of promoting sensible education reform and exposing those with a vested interest in maintaining the status quo. 

In a recent piece at Public School Spending.com the online publication wrote:

Some well-meaning people still cling to the notion that teachers union collective bargaining is healthy for public schools. 

We feel comfortable stating that we believe that a minority faction of Franklin School Board members and administrators would probably agree with that.  For evidence of this, we point to remarks made to a group of Franklin school teachers concerning health insurance benefits during the August 18, 2011, school board meeting when president Debbie Larson assured those teachers in attendance that the Board and the District would get their input in making the decision [on the insurance carrier].  Read our story Wisconsin’s Second Largest Group Health Insurer owned by WEAC.

RELATED MEDIA

• Truths and Excesses Do Battle in Speech by Teachers Union Leader (NYT)
• Angry Teachers Union President Spews Insults—blames media for backlash (Big Government.com)
• Unions Use Scare Tactics to Frighten Schools Away From Outsourcing and Big Savings (EAG)
• Public School Spending.com

A Mini-history of Ben Franklin

Here is a brief and entertaining history of, who many historians believe, was the essential founder.  Find out how much you know about our city's namesake.

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Tea Party Debt Commission Shut Down by Chuck Schumer?

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

United States Constitution Bill of Rights

The United States Congress has once again silenced the voice of the American people.

When the Tea Party Debt Commission showed up on Capitol Hill last week to release its final report—which includes almost $10 TRILLION in cuts—the Democrat-controlled Senate Rules Committee shut them down.

The First Amendment guarantees the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

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The Inspiring Story of How the Town of Vernon, New Jersey Saved Itself

…whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness…

—Declaration of Independence

Whoever said “you can’t fight City Hall,” never met a citizen of the Township of Vernon, New Jersey, a small town that changed the way that their government worked for the better.  According to its website, picturesque Vernon Township is located in the beautiful rolling hills and glacial lakes of Northern Sussex County.  More than 24,000 people call Vernon Township home...

Dignity and respect.  What will it take for the people of the City of Franklin to say we’ve had enough ofMayor Tom Taylor, the Franklin Common Council and the Franklin School Board?

RELATED MEDIA

• The Revered Review, Vernon, NJ (Home page: Number One Online News Source in Sussex County, NJ)
• A Case Against Veracity, Virtue & Common Sense on The Franklin Water Commission
• City Hall’s Culture of Corruption: The Beat Goes On
• Mayor Taylor’s $10,000 Forgiveness Letter
• Mayor Taylor’s $1.2 billion Fairy Tale
• Franklin citizens group disbands
• Franklin’s Culture of Political Corruption
• BATTLE JOINED blog (Franklin blog) stories categorized “Mayor Taylor” in Mayor Taylor.
• THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL stories categorized “Mayor Taylor.”
• 'Boomgaard' idea bombs for some
• THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL stories categorized “Franklin Public School District.”

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Happy thanksgiving!

"I do recommend and assign Thursday ... next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be."

--George Washington, October 3, 1789.

Get off the Internet and get back to your family!

The History of Thanksgiving

Although Thanksgiving celebrations dated back to the first European settlements in America, it was not until the 1860s that President Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday of November to be a national holiday.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Urban or Rural?

Is this Wisconsin DNR public hunting grounds located in Tichigan, Vernon, Franklin  or Oconomowoc?

For additional photos (clues) see our picture gallery.

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The Economic Impact of Fishing and Hunting in Wisconsin

Can any of you Wisconsin sportsmen identify which Wisconsin DNR Public Hunting grounds is pictured above?  please send your answer via our Comments link below.

Do you know that since 1876, the State of Wisconsin has been acquiring land to meet conservation and recreation needs?  Public lands managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) provide many opportunities and public spaces for you and your family to hunt, fish, trap, hike, canoe, rock climb or watch or photograph wildlife.  By most measures Wisconsin is truly a Sportsman’s Paradise.  The economic impact that fishing and hunting has in Wisconsin is easily seen in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-associated report.

Wisconsin offers a variety of hunting opportunities; from the big game of white-tailed deer and black bear to the smaller game of wild turkey, ring-necked pheasant and various waterfowl.

According to one WDNR website there are no less than seven Public hunting grounds in Southeast Wisconsin alone.

This report states that in 2006, a total of 1.2 million resident sportsmen in Wisconsin spent $8.6 million a day for an annual total of $3.1 billion. This amount of money definitely has an economic impact on the state of Wisconsin as well as an impact on many lives.

The 1.2 million resident sportsmen in Wisconsin were responsible for adding $1.4 billion in salaries and wages. They also added $344 million in federal taxes as well as $400 million in state and local taxes. The money spent by these sportsmen in Wisconsin also adds a ripple effect in the Wisconsin economy of $5 billion.

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Lost JFK Assassination tapes for Sale

Looking for what just may be the perfect Christmas gift for the history freak or JFK assassination conspiracy theorist in your life?  If you have $500,000 budget we have the gift.  The Boston Globe and other news agencies are reporting that a long-lost version of the Air Force One recordings made in the immediate aftermath of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, with more than 30 minutes of additional material not in the official version in the government’s archives, has been found and is now for sale.  Read the full article here.

RELATED MEDIA

• Air Force One recordings (Raab Collection)

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Country Music Friday: LeAnn Rimes

LeAnn Rimes has released this powerful and moving video for her new single "Give" from her recently released album Lady & Gentlemen album.  In this video, Rimes’ signature voice is wrapped around inspirational and uplifting lyrics.  Thanksgiving is next Thursday...

Another Developer Taps City for Financial Assistance

City of Franklin leaders seem to be getting a reputation as an easy touch for taxpayer funded private development.  JSOnline reported earlier this month that the developer of a 101-room Hampton Inn and Suites proposed for Franklin has approached city officials to see if public financing assistance might be available.  No further details were given concerning the exact type of public financing assistance Eldridge is seeking.

In a 2009 article on this same project, Eldridge had this to say:

"The hospitality industry is taking a big, big beating right at the moment," adding, "but it is expected to recover by the time the hotel would open in 2010.”

The Common Council went into closed session at a recent meeting to discuss the possibility, but took no action.

Stay with THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOUNAL (FIJ) for further developments on this story.

RELATED MEDIA

• Smith Travel Research Reports US Hotel Pipeline for Oct. 2011(Hospitality Trends) … The U.S. hotel industry is expected to report smaller increases in all three key performance metrics for year-end 2012 than previously forecasted, according to STR’s updated industry forecast.

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What’s the difference between Democrats and Republicans?

Presidential Candidate Ron Paul—a Librarian—speaks on his new first place poll results in Iowa and why the Republicans are looking for some new taxes.   Is the so-called “Super Committee” is a SUPREME  FAILURE and a public relations con-job on the American people by both parties?!

 RESOURCE MATERIAL

• Keynesian Economics (Library of Economics & Liberty)

Introduction to the Constitution: PartVII: Final Session

In this final session of the Introduction to the Constitution series, Hillsdale College president Dr. Larry Arnn is joined by nationally syndicated radio host Hugh Hewitt for an hour-long webcast, where they will discuss the main points of the series, and answer questions submitted by online viewers.  Click here to be redirected to Part VII.

If you have missed any of the programs in this seven part series click here.

Country Music Fridays

On Friday, August 19, we started Country Music Fridays on our blog BATTLE JOINED, which became rather popular before we shuttered the blog on September 9.

Today we're announcing the addition of Country Music Fridays to the list of THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL's regular features.  Today's artist is  Ronnie Dunn formerly of Country superstar duo Brooks and Dunn, with his latest single Cost of Livin'.

When we started this featue on tBATTLE JOINED we wrote Country songs [are often] based on true-life experiences of the artist.  But, more often than not, they capture the essence and spirit of America and Americans.  In the weeks ahead you’ll see that this ain’t your Daddy’s Country Music.

I have a bad feeling about what the unemployeement picture will look like in early 2012, but at least they'll be home.

Introduction to the Constitution: PartVII: Concluding Session

Tomorrow we will present our  seventh and final installment of Hillsdale College’s webinar; Introduction to the Constitution.

In this final session of the Introduction to the Constitution series, Hillsdale College president Dr. Larry Arnn will be joined by nationally syndicated radio host Hugh Hewitt for an hour-long webcast, where they will discuss the main points of the series, and answer questions submitted by online viewers.

If you have missed any of the programs in this seven part series click here.

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Osama bin Laden "was dead in 90 seconds"

A controversial new account of the killing of Osama bin Laden has challenged the official story of the how the al-Qaeda leader died during the raid on his Pakistani hideout in May.

Wreckage in the Bin Laden compound after the US raid Photo: REUTERS

I can’t think of a better day than Veteran’s Day, to publish this compilaion of stories exposing more lies coming from the Obama White House, especially when it has to do with our Navy SEALs and the killing of bin Laden.

In a November 3 article by Jon Swaine, a New York correspondent for the UK’s Daily Telegraph, we learn that:

Chuck Pfarrer, a former commander of US Navy SEAL Team Six, whose members carried out the assault, claims bin Laden was shot dead almost instantly rather than killed in a 45-minute firefight. US Navy SEAL team who killed Osama bin Laden were interviewed for new book.

Details of the US Navy SEAL team who killed Osama bin Laden have been disclosed in the first account of the raid said to have been based on interviews with them.… Read the full Daily Telegraph story>

RELATED MEDIA

• US Navy SEAL team who killed Osama bin Laden interviewed for new book (London Daily Telegraph)
• Bin Laden Is Dead, Obama Says (NYT)
• Press Briefing by Senior Administration Officials on the Killing of Osama bin Laden (The White House, Office of the Press Secretary)
• The Six Biggest Discrepancies in Accounts of the Bin Laden Raid (The Atlantic Wire)

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"... with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service..."

"To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"

 —November 1919, President Wilson proclaiming November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day. Read more…

 

 

On this very important holiday we are presenting interviews with three veterans of WWII. WWII veterans are passing away at a rate of nearly 1000 everyday.

 

To honor the Greatest Generation we are presenting the stories of three WWII veterans including the experiences of Congressional Medal of Honor recipient (CMOH) Walter Ehlers’ at Normandy, France on D-Day, June 6, 1944, where Ehlers led his unit through the beach at Normandy and eight miles inland, where they destroyed several machine-gun nests and severely weakened the German defenses...

 

Follows is Walter Ehlers’ CMOH Citation:

 

 EHLERS, WALTER D.

 

 Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, 18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. Place and dare: Near Goville, France, 9-10 June 1944. Entered service at: Manhattan, Kans. Birth: Junction City, Kans. G.O. No.: 91, 19 December 1944. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 9-10 June 1944, near Goville, France. S/Sgt. Ehlers, always acting as the spearhead of the attack, repeatedly led his men against heavily defended enemy strong points exposing himself to deadly hostile fire whenever the situation required heroic and courageous leadership. Without waiting for an order, S/Sgt. Ehlers, far ahead of his men, led his squad against a strongly defended enemy strong point, personally killing 4 of an enemy patrol who attacked him en route. Then crawling forward under withering machinegun fire, he pounced upon the gun crew and put it out of action. Turning his attention to 2 mortars protected by the crossfire of 2 machineguns, S/Sgt. Ehlers led his men through this hail of bullets to kill or put to flight the enemy of the mortar section, killing 3 men himself. After mopping up the mortar positions, he again advanced on a machinegun, his progress effectively covered by his squad. When he was almost on top of the gun he leaped to his feet and, although greatly outnumbered, he knocked out the position single-handed. The next day, having advanced deep into enemy territory, the platoon of which S/Sgt. Ehlers was a member, finding itself in an untenable position as the enemy brought increased mortar, machinegun, and small arms fire to bear on it, was ordered to withdraw. S/Sgt. Ehlers, after his squad had covered the withdrawal of the remainder of the platoon, stood up and by continuous fire at the semicircle of enemy placements, diverted the bulk of the heavy hostile fire on himself, thus permitting the members of his own squad to withdraw. At this point, though wounded himself, he carried his wounded automatic rifleman to safety and then returned fearlessly over the shell-swept field to retrieve the automatic rifle which he was unable to carry previously. After having his wound treated, he refused to be evacuated, and returned to lead his squad. The intrepid leadership, indomitable courage, and fearless aggressiveness displayed by S/Sgt. Ehlers in the face of overwhelming enemy forces serve as an inspiration to others.

To view this entire interview click here.

Click to read more ...

On This Day in History: WWI Ends

At the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the Great War ends. At 5 a.m. that morning, Germany, lacking manpower and supplies and faced with imminent invasion, signed an armistice agreement with the Allies in a railroad car outside Compiégne, France. The First World War left nine million soldiers dead and 21 million wounded, with Germany, Russia, Austria-Hungary, France, and Great Britain each losing nearly a million or more lives. In addition, at least five million civilians died from disease, starvation, or exposure.