Fords Theatre Receives a Makeover

Fords Theatre in Washington D.C., the site of the assissination of Abraham Lincoln, is to open tomorrow for the bicentennial celebration of the death of President Abraham Lincoln. The theatre has been closed for eighteen months undergoing a complete renovation. The box where Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth can clearly be seen in the left hand corner of the picture above. The American flags are draped in the same way with the picture hung in the middle of them as they were that night he was assassinated.

It is quite humbling and chilling to see the place where such a great man died. The theatres director Paul Tertrault says that more than one million visitors from all over the world come to look over the theatre every year. I wonder if anything is actaully original to the night Lincoln died, such as the flags, floorboards or wallpaper/paint? It is funny that as a people we feel closer to an individual if we walk in the same place they did, or sit on the same chair. Great men are very attracting and Lincoln, in the two hundreth year since his birth proves this.

Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial

Abraham Lincoln, Civil War

Abraham Lincoln 1846/7

White House 1861 Sentry on duty to protect the President

Abraham Lincoln was born almost 200 years ago. Ferbruay 12th, 1809.

In these diffiicult economic times I am reminded of the great man that he was and all that he achieved during his presidentcy. Above are a selection of my favourite pictures concerning Lincoln, his family or just the civil war in general.

Old Pictures of New Orleans

Decatur

Camp St 1927

Bourbon 1963

Bienville 1960

Pictures from City Archives, New Orleans Public Library

Education is the Answer

I am afraid I am far too cynical when it comes to poverty in America. I read an article today about people on food stamps who couldn't get enough to eat. People who couldn't find jobs. In short, people who could not provide for themselves and so had to accept money (aid) from the government.

I am afraid there is a cycle that Americans have to break. If they ever want to live the American dream, instead of inhabiting poisonous neighborhoods and never having enough, they need to stay in school. I believe it is as simple as that.

Witnessestopoverty.org is a website with so many racial cliches, not even puropsefully. I read some of the stories of people on welfare today and I'm afraid it is the same story over and over bar a few. Black, hispanic women, two or three children, no father, zero education, no chance to get out. They are literally dying in this same cycle that is repeated generation after generation.

They themselves drop out of school before graduating (high school!!) and get pregnant. (Oh how cynical I am!) They have a couple of children, different fathers for each, and then have no way of supporting themselves or their offspring. They cannot break the cycle. They collect welfare checks and food stamps and life goes on. They barely scrape by and then get pregnant again. Life goes on. Thier children drop out of high school themselves as they have never had any real example of achievement and they either get pregnant themselves for the girls, or they father the children and sell drugs for the boys.

Is this cynical? Is this not happening right now in our cities across America? This deadly cycle is upon us. Only the strong can escape it. Only the people who stay in school, get an education and get a job have a chance.

I read a profile about a woman with three children who couldn't possibly work as she had to take care of them. They were living in poverty. This shouldn't be allowed! They should be forced to work to provide a better life for their children and an example of how to achieve something which is so important for their futures. The government helps with day care, the government will help you with education to get a job. The government will give you money for food. And the government will give you money to pay your bills. This money comes from me, and you and all Americans who do work. Who stayed in school, who got and education (through loans on my part!!) and made something of themselves. We then prop up a lifestyle with our taxes that encourages this terrible cycle.

Education is the answer. I truly believe this. Education to finish high school. Education not to have a baby until you are financially able to take care for one without the goverments help. Education to use contraception and education to get a good job to build a life for yourself.

EDUCATION IS THE ANSWER!!!!


Keep your kids in school. Encourage them. Help them with their homework and nurture them. Society is drowning in the section who have no education and cannot care for themselves. Lets not add to them.

Mardi Gras Photos

From NOLA.com