This week at In The Past Lane, the podcast about history and why it matters, we look at the fascinating history of the Ten Commandments in the U.S. You might think that a history of the Ten Commandments would be situated in Israel, but it turns out that it’s a very American story. In fact, over the … [Read more...]
Episode 033 The Ten Commandments in US History: The Making of an American Icon
Episode 013 Why We Pledge Allegiance, Betsy Ross, & More
This week, in honor of the 100th anniversary of Flag Day, we take a look at several intriguing flag-related stories. Here’s the lineup: Why Do We Pledge Allegiance? Here’s the little-known story behind this revered American ritual and the fears that inspired it. Did you know the Pledge was … [Read more...]
Lady Liberty Had Something Else in Mind – The Statue of Liberty Originally Had NOTHING to Do with Immigration
InThePastLane.com by Edward T. O'Donnell The story of the Statue of Liberty provides an excellent opportunity to examine how the icons and traditions a society holds dear often originated with very different purposes and meanings. … [Read more...]
Why Notre Dame Originally Opposed the Name “Fighting Irish”
InThePastLane January 1, 2013 by Edward T. O’Donnell As sports fans across the nation await the big NCAA college football national championship on January 7, 2013, it’s worth exploring the origins of the teams’ names. The University of Alabama’s team name—The Crimson … [Read more...]
Iconic Image – Ford to City: Drop Dead (Oct 30, 1975)
In an unfortunate coincidence, given the beating NY took from Hurricane Sandy and the need for federal disaster assistance, today is the anniversary (October 30, 1975) of the infamous NY Daily News headline, FORD TO CITY: Drop Dead. It appeared when New York (and several other major metropolises) … [Read more...]