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The American Profile

theamericanprofile

About Me

Thanks for visiting!The American Profile is a website (in progress) which is dedicated to a truthful portrayal of American history, society, and culture. This website is in no way affiliated with any company, organization, or institution of any kind, and its editor, 10-18, does not represent any individual or group herein. All images via Photobucket and Youtube, except The American Profile's "Pics". All "pics" and original text are the property of 10-18. While The American Profile may contain mature material or address sensitive issues, respect for all people is non-negotiable and any offensive material, whether explicit or implicit, will not be tolerated.

The Great Experiment

The aim was simple - to gain independence from the tyranny of King George III; the challenge was to create the world's first true democracy. Interestingly enough, fighting a war against the most powerful nation in the world at the time was the easy part...

The grand ironies were soon revealed. While freedom from the tyranny of Britain was accomplished, freedom eluded the Native American Indians who suffered a brutal westward campaign of state-sponsored genocide. Back in the east, the slowly congealing American government was perplexed as to just how its government ought to go about providing for an effective central authority, which would still allow the states to resist the abusive tendencies of national power. The concept of freedom turned out to be the cornerstone of America's fiercest arguments, in both Congressional debates and the public conversation alike. What did freedom mean to those who conceived America? What does it mean to Americans now?

The Consitutional Convention of 1787 was a prime example of this political high-wire maneuvering. Congressional polarization and partisanship had already dug in its heels, providing for the first, true Continental Divide. To add, the delegates in Philadelphia agreed about relatively little, once they realized that the nation was destined to expand, and that the institution of slavery was under attack. When Alexander Hamilton - with help from John Jay - presented the Federalist Papers, it became clear that the Articles of Confederation did not allow for a strong federal government that could levy taxes, apportion expenses, or regulate commerce. Modern state-building, and the practical test of American democracy, was officially underway. Thus the grand convention in Philadelphia was unofficially billed as America's first great compromise; however, both sides would secretly continue to cling to their versions of destiny, and the elephant in the room was never addressed. Three generations later, the old resentments resurfaced, came to a rolling boil, and nearly ended the experiment. While time has begun to heal America's wounds, the scars remain, and the resentments of centuries past still reverberate through the American fabric.

From The Desk of 10-18:


Hello Family! Unfortunately, your loyal editor has encountered some networking problems, but the daily article "On This Date In History" will certainly return soon. Thank-you so much for your friendship and support - we'll have this little snafu worked out and will be back online as soon as possible :)

My Interests

Gorging on hot dogs and beer while cheering for the home team. Jazz clubs and country line dancing. Hiking through Appalachia in autumn. Big Sur sunsets over the Pacific Ocean. Driving to Philladelphia on a whim - for a cheesesteak. Bass fishing on Lake Erie. All theme and amusement parks. Shopping addictively. Doing anything addictively. Long, scenic drives on the open road, especially down I-95, US-50, and the PCH. Sunday at the San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf. Family vacations at the Grand Canyon. Movies and television. More movies and television. Backyard barbeques. Running down the dunes of Kitty Hawk, barefoot. Lounging in the MGM Grand casino until 5:00 in the morning. But most of all, watching the fireworks over the National Mall on the Fourth of July.

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I'd like to meet:

The American Profile is currently seeking:

An American of any race or nationality. Patriotic duties include: learning about American history, participating in the democratic process, and, when necessary, fighting to make America a better place for all to live - even if duties require dissent. Applicant must be willing to relocate, as the territory is vast and plentiful. The job requires someone who is proficient in environmental planning, advocacy, marketing, policy analysis, and most of all, the art of negotiation. Must be tolerant, loving, honest, fair, hardworking, and prudent. While this is usually a volunteer position, successful applicants will receive benefits which include (but are not limited to): life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Music:

Immigrant Song

I was born on African slaveships, raised in cotton fields, and educated in a church. After further training in the coal mines of Birmingham and the Mississippi Delta, I moved up north to pursue my destiny. I had a bad case of mono until the early 1930's. Wherever you would find potted palm trees, you would surely find me. I was once a celebrity for Chesterfield cigarrettes. My agents have been hailed as dukes and kings. I can tell you of at least two people who have sold their souls to the devil for my delight. I have starred in at least 33 successful films. I'm great at English, but I don't know much biology. I was invaded by the British - in 1963. Two good words to describe myself would be smoky and miraculous. I've slept with an older woman. Some of my favorite cities are Los Angeles, Chicago, Nashville, New York, and New Orleans. I carved a fleaspeck of a New York town into America's cultural landscape, and I was there the day the music died. While I have undergone many changes since those good ol' days, and some may say that i'm over the hill, one thing remains certain: I am the soul of a nation and an inspiration to all the world.

I Am American Music.

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Meet Bruce Hornsby, an American Composer

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Books:

(Further Reading)

Freedom: A Photographic History of the African-American Struggle, Marable, M., Mullings, L.; Spencer-Wood, S.(ed); The State of Native America: Genocide, colonization, and resistance, Jaimes, M.A.(ed); The Souls of Black Folk, Dubois, W.E.B.; Carry Me Home: Birmingham, Alambama..., McWhorter, D.; Toward the Millenium: The Elections of 1996, (ed) Sabato, L.J.; The American Heritage New History of the Civil War, Catton, B., McPherson, J.M.; In Search of America, Jennings, P., Brewster, T.; The Girl in the Picture: The story of Kim Phuc, the photograph, and the Vietnam War, Chong, D.; Why We Can't Wait, King, M.L.; Founding Brothers, Ellis, J.J.; The Audacity of Hope, Obama, B.; The Fate of Liberty: Abraham Lincoln and Civil Liberties, Neely, M.

Heroes:

American Heroes

The late Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., The Last Prophet, The American Savior of Racial Righteousness. This was his last, prophetic speech, delivered the night before he died at the Masonic Temple in Memphis, Tennessee, 3 April 1968. Our immortal beloved, MLK, Jr.

Our last hope for decades to come. An elected official who honestly comprehended what civil rights meant to America, who fought for the poor and the downtrodden, and who truly understood the absolute meaning of "We the People..." This is an extraordinary video, complete with his funeral eulogy in its entirety. Our fallen patriot, "Bobby"

How Well Do You Know Me?


George Washington, The Frontiersman


Thomas Jefferson, Independence Man


Alexander Hamilton, The "Little Lion"


Frederick Douglass, The Northern Star


John Brown, The Sympathizer

Susan B. Anthony, The Suffragist

Black Kettle, The Peaceful Warrior


Harriet Tubman, Light of the Northern Star


Mary McLeod Bethune, The Benevolent Educator

Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady Extraordinaire

Albert Einstein, Proponent of Peace

Cesar Chavez, The Farmer's Advocate

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My Blog

THE BOOK REVIEW: Freedom

The Book ReviewFreedom: A Photographic History of the African-American Struggle, Marable, M., Mullings, L.; Spencer-Wood, S.(ed) (2002). New York; Phaidon.- (Archival-bound softcover, b/w + color, 512...
Posted by The American Profile on Tue, 03 Jun 2008 08:52:00 PST

HR 4437 AND THE FUTURE OF IMMIGRATION (2nd ed.)

H.R. 4437, AND THE FUTURE OF IMMIGRATION (2nd ed.)     In the (past year) 2006, Americans once again sought to bring the issue of immigration to the forefront of the politic awaren...
Posted by The American Profile on Thu, 21 Feb 2008 03:49:00 PST

INTO THE LIGHT: A discourse on the contemporary nature of racism in America

"In those somber forests of his striving his own soul rose before him, and he saw himself - darkly, as through a veil..."    ~W.E.B. Dubois,  The Souls of Black Folk  -...
Posted by The American Profile on Fri, 02 May 2008 02:34:00 PST

INTO THE LIGHT: The 2000 Census, and References/Works Cited

Into The Light: a discourse on the contemporary nature of racism in AmericaSegregation (continued)Perhaps most important when shuffling through these particular statistics is the fact that the 2000 ce...
Posted by The American Profile on Sun, 04 May 2008 08:06:00 PST

ROMANTICIZING AMERICA (rev)

Romanticizing AmericaIn case anyone was wondering, we no longer live in the first half of the 20th century; we live in the year 2008ad, and life in America, for better or worse, has grown more complex...
Posted by The American Profile on Sun, 27 Apr 2008 04:17:00 PST

A PROFILE OF AMERICAN MUSIC, vol. 1

Meet Bruce Hornsby, an American Composer"Ol' Spider Fingers"Bruce Hornsby's 1986 landmark album The Way It Is not only won over a very diverse and discriminating music community, it also garnered crit...
Posted by The American Profile on Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:29:00 PST

BEFORE YOU VOTE...

10 things you should know about John McCain (but probably don't):1. John McCain voted against establishing a national holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Now he says his position has "evol...
Posted by The American Profile on Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:01:00 PST

i Believe in Living

i Believe in Livingby Assata Shakuri believe in living i believe in the spectrum of Beta days and Gamma people. i believe in sunshine. In windmills and waterfalls, tricycles and rocking chairs; And i ...
Posted by The American Profile on Thu, 13 Mar 2008 12:11:00 PST

Consistency and Integrity: Barack Obama, 1995

A Time For ChangeJust as sure as sugar - exactly as one of my sociology professors predicted - a clamoring for political change is sweeping America.  While other significant events in the nation ...
Posted by The American Profile on Sat, 16 Feb 2008 06:04:00 PST