Since the Covid-19 pandemic has killed over half a million Americans, is it historically sound to say that the disaster is "bigger" than World War II?  What do such comparisons mean, and are they illuminating?  Such questions are truly a new dilemma, since from ancient and biblical times through the First World War and the Spanish Flu pandemic, people have usually understood war and pestilence as going hand in hand.  Here, I present a recording of my recent interview with a journalist about putting pandemic and war into historical perspective, followed by an excerpt from my recent patron-only lecture on "Myth of the Month 16: The Founding Fathers."

Image:  "Death on a Pale Horse," by Gustave Dore, 1865.
Music:  Fandango, by Soler or Scarlatti, early 1700s, arranged for Midi file by El Gran Mago Paco Quito.

Please become a supporter to hear all Myths of the Month:  www.patreon.com/user?u=5530632

War & Pandemic, a Historian's Perspective; and Teaser: "The Founding Fathers"

How did Freemasonry expand in the 1700s from a small, secretive fraternity in Lowland Scotland to a massive global network, with lodges from the Caribbean to Russia to India?  Who became Freemasons in the 1700s, and what sort of opposition and persecution did they face?  What was their relationship to radical groups like the Illuminati?  We examine to the growth, expansion, and divides in Freemasonry in the eighteenth century, all of which laid the groundwork for the Craft to influence the course of the age of revolutions.

Please support this podcast and hear the recent lecture on the Founding Fathers! -- www.patreon.com/user?u=5530632

Previous lecture on the core myths and rituals of Freemasonry:  https://soundcloud.com/historiansplaining/the-freemasonry-its-origins-its-myths-and-its-rituals

Image:  Depiction of procession of the Grand Lodge of England, London, 1742

Suggested Further Reading: David Stevenson, "Origins of Freemasonry: Scotland's Century"; Margaret Jacob, "Living the Enlightenment"; Jessica Harland-Jacobs, "Builders of Empire"; Ric Berman, "The Foundations of Modern Freemasonry"; Steven Bullock, "Revolutionary Brotherhood"; Jasper Ridley, "The Freemasons";  Andre Kervella, "L'Effet Morin:  Prestige d'un Homme, Genese d'un Systeme."

Freemasonry -- Its Growth and Spread Before 1789

Unlocked for the public after 1 year on Patreon for patrons only:

The "Founding Fathers" -- the most rarefied club in American history -- stand in for everything we love or hate about this country, from its civic and religious freedom to its white supremacism.  As if carved in stone (which they oftentimes are), they loom over every political debate, even though most of us know next to nothing about them, or even who counts as one of the group.  Coined by that immortal wordsmith, President Warren Harding, the phrase "Founding Fathers" serves as an empty vessel for civic emotion, conveniently covering over the actual history of struggle, conflict, and contention that shaped the American republic.



Suggested Further Reading:  Woody Holton, "Forced Founders" and "Unruly Americans and the Origins of the US Consitution";  Gordon Wood, "The Radicalism of the American Revolution";  Gerald Horne, "The Counter-Revolution of 1776";  Charles Beard, "An Economic Interpretation of the United States Constitution";  Joseph Ellis, "Founding Brothers"

Please support this podcast to help keep it coming and hear patron-only lectures as soon as they are posted! -- www.patreon.com/user?u=5530632

Myth of the Month 16: The Founding Fathers

In this episode of The History of Christendom, His Excellency, Bp. Donald Sanborn, guides us through the age of revolution with host Stephen Heiner. This episode will take us from 1789-1814.

The music used in this show was composed by Nicholas Wilton. To enjoy more of his work go to: https://www.fourmarksmusic.com/nicholas-wilton

Original Air Date: November 26, 2022
Show Run Time: 41 minutes
Show Host: Stephen Heiner
Show Guest: Bp. Donald Sanborn
Show Sponsor: novusordowatch.org/

Episode: https://www.truerestoration.org/the-history-of-christendom-episode-4-1789-1814-revolution/

The History of Christendom: www.truerestoration.org/category/radi…-christendom/

Subscribe: www.truerestoration.org/member-signup/

The History of Christendom℗ is a production of the Restoration Radio Network. Copyright 2022. All Rights are Reserved

Season 11

Sponsor

The History of Christendom, Episode 4: 1789-1814 Revolution

Contrary to the mythology we learn in school, the founding fathers feared and hated the concept of democracy—which they derisively referred to as “tyranny of the majority.” The constitution that they wrote reflects this, and seeks to restrict and prohibit involvement of the masses of people in key areas of decision making. The following article, originally written in 2008, reviews the true history of the constitution and its role in the political life of the country.

The ruling class of today—the political and social successors to the “founding fathers”—continues to have a fundamental disdain for popular participation in government. The right wing of the elite is engaged in an all-out offensive against basic democratic rights and democracy itself. This offensive relies heavily on the Supreme Court and the legal doctrine of constitutional “originalism”. Originalism means that the only rights and policies that are protected are ones that are explicitly laid out in the constitution, conforming with the “original” intentions of the founders. As the article explores, this was a thoroughly anti-democratic set up that sought to guarantee the power and wealth of the elite.

Read the full article here: https://www.liberationschool.org/class-character-of-the-u-s-constitution/

Of, by, and for the elite: The class character of the U.S. Constitution

Benjamin Miller is joined by Nathan Raab, principal at the Raab Collection, a purveyor of historic documents, manuscripts, and autographs that range from medieval codices to notes, signatures, and letters by the likes of Napoleon and Amelia Earhart. The firm’s inventory includes several items of especially national significance, such as the never-before-seen missive by George Washington—written just before the Continental Army’s encampment at Valley Forge for the winter of 1777–1778—that is the subject of this episode.

Curious Objects

Curious Objects: A Newly Unearthed George Washington Letter, with Nathan Raab

A Newly Unearthed George Washington Letter, with Nathan Raab

We examine the tumultuous history--from the Portuguese Inquisition to the American Revolution to modern-day multi-million-dollar legal fights--surrounding a pair of rare colonial Jewish ceremonial artworks called "rimonim" or Torah finials. We consider the unique life and career of the Jewish silversmith who made them, and the symbolism that they encode, centering on life, hope, and regeneration.

Please support this podcast! -- https://www.patreon.com/user?u=5530632

See my latest video on “Red, White & Royal Blue” on youtube: https://youtu.be/MoaQXcLhkx4 – or without ads on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/110423206

Suggested further reading: Laura Leibman, “Messianism, Secrecy, and Mysticism: A New Interpretation of Early American Jewish Life”; Guido Schoenberger, “The Ritual Silver Made By Myer Myers,” Publications of the American Jewish Historical Society, Sept. 1953.

History of the United States in 100 Objects -- 23: The Touro Synagogue Torah Finials

Songs from the American Revolutionary War era.

Rough Cut 2

Yorkshire March

In the first half of my discussion of Patrick Deneen's "Why Liberalism Failed," I examine the structure of Deneen's argument, tracing his effort to connect present-day crises in education, science, culture, and morality to the fundamental flaws in "liberalism," which he calls the "operating system" of modern Western society, and which he claims has left us isolated, lonely, and afraid, with our social system possibly on the brink of collapse into a totalitarian nightmare.  Cheers!

Please support Historiansplaining, in the spirit of knowledge and inquiry, and to get more free lectures in the bargain!
Sign up here to listen to this review, part 2:  https://www.patreon.com/posts/23955111

Book Review: "Why Liberalism Failed" -- Part 1

Did George Washington's favorite dog launch his political career? A quick look at a few presidential dogs that have shaped history.

Featured music: Pitman's Gramaphone Course of Typewriter Keyboard Instruction
New York Military Band and the American Quartet, "Patriotic Songs of America"
Ed Morton, "What Do You Mean You Lost Your Dog"

Footnote Short:  All the President's Hounds

History lectures by Samuel Biagetti, a historian (and antique dealer) with a Phd in early American history; my dissertation was on Freemasonry in the 1700s. I focus on the historical myths and distortions, from "the Middle Ages" to "Race," that people use to rationalize the world in which we live.   More info at www.historiansplaining.com

Please see my Patreon page, https://www.patreon.com/user?u=5530632, if you want to keep the lectures coming, and to hear the patron-only materials.

Because history shouldn't be silent.

Footnote is a look at all people, places and events that never quite made it into history class.

Through interviews with leading figures in the world of fine and decorative arts, Curious Objects—a podcast from The Magazine Antiques—explores the hidden histories, the little-known facts, the intricacies, and the idiosyncrasies that breathe life and energy into historical works of craft and art.

Learn & Live the Catholic Faith: Catholic Radio, Video, Podcasts, Books. Traditional Catholic Podcast Courses https://www.truerestoration.org - True Restoration - Member Supported Restoration Radio [The Restoration Radio Network]

Socialist news and analysis from the front lines of struggle. Project of the Party for Socialism and Liberation.

Popular tracks tagged #american revolution