Title: Oval Office rug gets history wrong [Cpt. John Parker's legacy lives on!]
Post by: Sie on September 05, 2010, 05:02:45 PM
Post by: Sie on September 05, 2010, 05:02:45 PM
I came across this article today on washingtonpost.com and thought some folks may find it interesting and/or amusing. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/03/AR2010090305100.html (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/03/AR2010090305100.html)
Apparently, the Oval Office underwent a makeover while the President has been on vacation. As part of the makeover, a rug has been placed in the Oval Office embroidered with some of Obama's favorite quotes from American historical figures. One quote, attributed to MLK, Jr., is said to be "Barack Obama's favorite quotation," per Obama's biographer, David Remnick. This is the quote: "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice."
One small problem. While Dr. King was fond of reciting this quote, it did not originate with him, nor did he ever claim credit for it. "The words belong to a long-gone Bostonian champion of social progress. His roots in the republic ran so deep that his grandfather commanded the Minutemen at the Battle of Lexington."
The man is Theodore Parker, grandson of Captain John Parker.
I won't comment on whether I think the misattribution is deliberate. Check it out. The article is worth reading.
Edit: The rug also quotes Lincoln from his Gettysburg Address in 1863 ... "government of the people, by the people and for the people." Curiously, Parker wrote in 1850, "A democracy -- that is a government of all the people, by all the people, for all the people." Hmm...
Apparently, the Oval Office underwent a makeover while the President has been on vacation. As part of the makeover, a rug has been placed in the Oval Office embroidered with some of Obama's favorite quotes from American historical figures. One quote, attributed to MLK, Jr., is said to be "Barack Obama's favorite quotation," per Obama's biographer, David Remnick. This is the quote: "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice."
One small problem. While Dr. King was fond of reciting this quote, it did not originate with him, nor did he ever claim credit for it. "The words belong to a long-gone Bostonian champion of social progress. His roots in the republic ran so deep that his grandfather commanded the Minutemen at the Battle of Lexington."
The man is Theodore Parker, grandson of Captain John Parker.
I won't comment on whether I think the misattribution is deliberate. Check it out. The article is worth reading.
Edit: The rug also quotes Lincoln from his Gettysburg Address in 1863 ... "government of the people, by the people and for the people." Curiously, Parker wrote in 1850, "A democracy -- that is a government of all the people, by all the people, for all the people." Hmm...
Title: Re: Oval Office rug gets history wrong [Cpt. John Parker's legacy lives on!]
Post by: desertrat144 on September 05, 2010, 09:03:07 PM
Post by: desertrat144 on September 05, 2010, 09:03:07 PM
Interesting... VERY Interesting! (apologies to Arte Jonson & Laugh In writers)
Tom
Tom
Title: APPLESEED PROMOTION BANNER- John Parker's legacy lives on!
Post by: Castle Mountain on September 06, 2010, 02:43:01 PM
Post by: Castle Mountain on September 06, 2010, 02:43:01 PM
"Very Interesting, but stupid" said Arte. Well said.
History revision and deliberate misquote most likely indeed.
Time that Captain Parker became an National Appleseed Icon
and that his Memorial Banner fly at every Appleseed shooting Event
to promote Captain Parker's memory (a true 'American' Patriot and Hero)
You can get your APPLESEED BANNER of CAPTAIN PARKER here:
Call Scott at: FAST SIGNS
Telephone # 1-309-683-5300
Cost should be about $88.00 I seem to recall.
Best regards,
CM
Quote from: desertrat144 on September 05, 2010, 09:03:07 PM
Interesting... VERY Interesting! (apologies to Arte Jonson & Laugh In writers)
Tom