by Ken Macon, Reclaim The Net: In the UK, a series of AI trials involving thousands of train passengers who were unwittingly subjected to emotion-detecting software raises profound privacy concerns. The technology, developed by Amazon and employed at various major train stations including London’s Euston and Waterloo, as well as Manchester Piccadilly, used artificial intelligence […]

by Ethan Huff, Natural News: An upcoming documentary film from former Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agent J.J. Carrell called “Treason” claims that the federal government of the United States is currently constructing a huge network of internment camps in all 50 states that will be used to house political dissidents, not illegal aliens as seems to […]

from The People’s Voice: TRUTH LIVES on at https://sgtreport.tv/

  After the Romans were expelled from Britain in 409, the island entered a crucial period. Being cut off from the Roman Empire led to the Britons needing to make some important decisions. These decisions would ultimately affect the rest of the history of the island.   According to the available sources, a man named Vortigern became a powerful ruler over the Britons soon after the Romans left. He is presented in the medieval records as a foolish and wicked king.   Who Was Vortigern? Folio of De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae, 10th century, Source: The British Library, London   Because the Britons were facing attacks from the Picts and the Scots, the British leader Vortigern came up with an idea for how to deal with the problem. He decided to hire Germanic mercenaries—the Anglo-Saxons—to help defend the borders of Britain. In return, the Germanic mercenaries would be given some territory and resources. Of course, this plan eventually backfired.   The Anglo-Saxons became dissatisfied with their end of the deal. Eventually, they turned against the Britons and started conquering more territory, ultimately leading to the creation of England. Vortigern, therefore, had a profoundly important role in the history of Britain.   The first meeting of the British king Vortigern with the two Saxon Chiefs Hengist and Horsa, in the Isle of Thanet, by William Walker, 1786, Source: The British Museum   There is only one reference to Vortigern that is even close to contemporary. This is from De Excidio, written by Gildas in the 6th century. Here, Gildas refers to Vortigern as a “proud tyrant” and an “unlucky tyrant.” Most manuscripts do not include his name, but some do. In any case, later versions of Gildas’ account, such as the version written by Bede in the 8th century, definitely do provide the name “Vortigern.”   It is likely that Vortigern was some kind of high king or mini-emperor, ruling over a large portion of what had formerly been Roman Britain. We know that usurping emperors had been emerging in Britain in the early 5th century. The last historically attested one was Constantine III, who then took many of the Roman troops from Britain to invade Gaul in 407. When the Roman administration was expelled from Britain in 409, the historical context indicates that this was merely another usurper. However, evidently he chose not to spread himself too thin, focusing his interests entirely on Britain.   Coin of Constantine III, Source: Forumancientcoins.com   This is not to say that Vortigern himself was the usurper who drove out Constantine III’s administration in 409. If he had been, then Gildas would undoubtedly have mentioned that, since that would have added to the depth of his “unluckiness” (to Gildas, the departure of the Romans was a profound tragedy). Yet, this does give us a clue as to the likely position of power that he would have had in that early period after Britain left the empire.   According to the later legendary sources, Vortigern was originally the advisor to the king who took over immediately after the end of Roman rule of Britain. Although there is no direct historical confirmation of this—it is a plausible scenario. Most importantly, it is consistent with what we do know. Given Gildas’ lack of reference to Vortigern expelling the Romans, he must have come after the usurper responsible for that. Yet, given his position in the early 5th century, he cannot have come long after that original usurper. Therefore, concluding that he was the successor of the one who expelled the Romans from Britain is plausible and in accord with later legends.   When Did Vortigern Rule? Sutton Hoo sword, 7th century, Source: The British Museum   When exactly did Vortigern begin his reign? Gildas does not provide any dates, but since Vortigern was the one who invited the Germanic mercenaries over to Britain, his reign obviously must have started before they arrived. The earliest evidence shows that this happened in about 430 as is shown by archaeology. It is also supported by the 5th century Gallic Chronicle of 452 and the 5th century Life of St Germanus. The 9th century Historia Brittonum records that the Anglo-Saxons arrived in 428, and this early evidence suggests that this later tradition may well be accurate.   Therefore, we can conclude that the start of Vortigern’s reign was before c. 430, and probably before 428 in particular. According to the Historia Brittonum, his reign began in 425. Although this is not a contemporary source, it is the earliest evidence that we have for the date of the start of Vortigern’s reign. Given its harmony with the earlier evidence we have just considered, this date can likely be trusted.   Historia Brittonum, folio 1, Source: The British Library, London   Interestingly, the start of Vortigern’s reign likely coincides with another detail in the Historia Brittonum. This record tells us that the last Roman emperor to live in Britain was named Constantius. He ruled for 16 years, but then he was treacherously murdered. This is usually taken as a distorted reference to Constantine III, but the details do not match whatsoever. Interestingly, a later legendary account gives the name “Constantine” to the high king of the Britons who emerged after the Romans left. Most likely, the “Constantius” of the Historia Brittonum was actually this new high king, the usurper who expelled the Roman administration in 409. He was evidently confused for Emperor Constantine III, hence why he is presented as the last Roman emperor in Britain.   Counting forward sixteen years from 409 (when the Romans were expelled) takes us to 425, precisely the start of Vortigern’s rule. Notice that Constantius was said to have been “treacherously murdered.” Later tradition claims that Vortigern arranged the murder of “Constantine” the king of the Britons. Both of these are likely independent traditions stemming from the same event. A plausible scenario is that Constantius was the usurper who expelled the Roman administration, and then in 425, Vortigern had him murdered and took power.   Vortigern’s Family Vitalianus Stone, 5th century, St Brynach’s Church, Nevern, Wales, Source: Megalithic.co.uk   The earliest source which provides any information about Vortigern’s family is the 9th century Historia Brittonum. This provides the names of his immediate ancestors, his wife, and his sons and later descendants. The accuracy of these claims is obviously unknown, but it is the earliest information we have, so it is valuable. According to the Historia Brittonum, the father of Vortigern was named Vitalis. In turn, Vitalis was the son of Vitalinus.   Interestingly, there is a stone inscription which is dedicated to a certain “Vitalianus” in Nevern, Southwest Wales, likely dating to the 5th century. This may well be a dedication to Vortigern’s grandfather. In any case, it proves that the name was in use during this early period, whereas there is little to no evidence for this name in later medieval Wales. This adds some credence to the conclusion that the information in the Historia Brittonum about Vortigern is broadly authentic.   The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle folio 37r, 17th century, Source: The British Library, London   One of Vortigern’s more famous family members was his son, Vortimer. He fought fiercely against the Anglo-Saxons after they turned on the Britons. Four notable battles between him and the Saxons are recorded. These appear to be broadly supported by the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a chronicle of the English written in the 10th century. At one of these battles, the Historia Brittonum mentions another of Vortigern’s sons, Catigern. However, it is unclear whether Catigern was fighting on the side of the Saxons or the side of the Britons. Vortigern, for his part, is presented as cravenly attempting to appease the Germanic army, in contrast to his son Vortimer. Eventually, Vortimer died and Vortigern continued his rule as normal.   According to this same source, the Historia Brittonum, Vortigern married the daughter of the main Anglo-Saxon king. Later records give her the name Rowena. Again, while there is no earlier confirmation of this, such marriage alliances were very common in the ancient and medieval world.   When Did Vortigern Die? Illustration of Germain of Paris, from the Book of Hours, by Jean le Tavernier, 15th century, Source: Wikimedia Commons   The battle at which Vortimer is described as dying seems to correspond to the Battle of Crayford recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. That chronicle places the battle in 457. According to the Historia Brittonum, Vortigern continued ruling for some time after this. Therefore, his death is definitely placed well after 457.   After a treacherous slaughter of the British kings by the Saxons, the Historia Brittonum says that the Britons made Germanus their commander against the Saxons. This Germanus pursued Vortigern and eventually killed him. For chronological reasons, this cannot be the famous Germanus of Auxerre, who died in 547. It must instead be Germanus the disciple of Saint Patrick. He was active in the mid-to-late 5th century.   A later source claims that Ambrosius Aurelianus pursued and killed Vortigern. Bede places Ambrosius’s military career in the 470s at the earliest. Whether it was really Ambrosius or Germanus who killed Vortigern, (or both), Vortigern’s death evidently occurred in the second half of the 5th century. A date in the 470s seems plausible in view of the fact that he was unlikely to have been younger than 25 when he became king in 425.   What We Know About Vortigern Depiction of Aurelius Ambrosius from a manuscript of Historia Regum Britanniae, 15th century, Wales, Source: Wikimedia Commons   Our trustworthy historical information about Vortigern is very limited. All we can say with near certainty is that he was a powerful ruler in the immediate Post-Roman Era who arranged for Anglo-Saxon mercenaries to settle in Britain. It is very likely that he was the successor of the usurper who expelled the Roman administration from Britain in 409. His reign must have started in about 425, and it seems that he invited the Saxons over quite soon after he began ruling.   Whether “Vortigern” was even really his name is unknown, although all later tradition unanimously agrees that it was. He had several sons, and the eldest, Vortimer, fought fiercely against the Saxons. Eventually, his son died and Vortigern continued attempting to appease the Saxons. His legendary marriage alliance to the daughter of the Saxon leader is not historically confirmed, but it is exactly the kind of thing that we can expect to have happened. Eventually, Vortigern’s reign came to an end when Germanus, Ambrosius, or both, pursued and killed him, likely in the 470s.

The blues stands as a grand musical tradition, rooted in the experience of American slavery, that bears witness to the catastrophic circumstances of individual and collective life. The blues delves into themes of hardship, struggle, loss, dignity, and resilience. Despite the evolution of the blues in different directions, and its fusion with other musical forms, it has generally maintained its traditional pattern of four-beats–per-bar within a 12-bar structure. Both directly, and indirectly, the impact on the blues on the modern history of Western music has been profound.   Robert Johnson   Robert Leroy Johnson (1911-1938) was born and raised in Mississippi. He took up guitar at a young age and became a traveling musician, living for stretches in Arkansas and Tennessee. Johnson was a pioneer of the Delta blues, with a powerful, haunting voice, and a remarkable guitar style for the era; he could seamlessly blend rhythm, slide guitar, and walking bass at the same time.    Although his music was largely overlooked in his lifetime, his posthumous influence has been immense. Icons like Bob Dylan and Robert Plant have cited his impact, with Eric Clapton hailing him as “the most important blues musician that ever lived.”   Yet, when it comes to Johnson, the myth often precedes the man. Legend has it that his talents stemmed from a pact with the devil. Driven by an insatiable desire to become a master of the blues, he purportedly exchanged his soul at a crossroads, in return for mastery of the guitar.     Lead Belly Lead Belly, King of the 12-string guitar, at the National Press Club, Washington DC, between 1938 and 1948, Source: Wikimedia Commons   Huddie William Ledbetter (1888-1949), better known as Lead Belly, was a country bluesman and folk singer, renowned for his mastery of the 12-string guitar. He spent his youth wandering the South, picking cotton, playing the guitar, and learning songs that dated back to slavery. Lead Belly’s adult life was marred by his propensity for violent crime. In 1918, he was sentenced to 35 years for murder but astonishingly received a pardon in 1925 after singing to the prison governor for his freedom.    In 1933, folklorist John Lomax “discovered” Lead Belly serving yet more time in Angola State Penitentiary, and recorded him for a Library of Congress project documenting the history of American folk music. He traveled to New York to record his songs in 1935 and gained temporary fame as the “singing convict” – though commercial success eluded him. Influencing a wide range of artists, from Bob Dylan to Kurt Cobain, Lead Belly is considered one of the greatest folk singers and blues musicians of all time.    Ma Rainey The Mother of the Blues, Gertrude “Ma” Rainey, pictured in 1917, Source: Wikimedia Commons   Gertrude ‘Ma’ Rainey (1886-1939) pioneered the blues in Vaudeville and Minstrel shows across the American South. Born in Columbus, Georgia, Gertrude Pridgett performed in Black Minstrel shows as a teenager. She started singing the blues in 1902, and in 1904, she married William “Pa” Rainey and took on the stage name “Ma” Rainey.    Renowned for her commanding, soulful, and “gravelly” voice, Ma Rainey’s blues were shaped by the post-Civil War conditions of the Jim Crow South and the raw legacy of slavery. Her music offered an unflinching portrayal of black life in all its complexity.    Through her songs, Ma Rainey told stories of black life, love, and sexuality, encapsulating the collective experience of black freedom amid the context of her times (Davis, 1998). Together with her lover, protege, and fellow traveler Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, the “Mother of the Blues”, shaped the first classic blues recordings in the early 1920s.   Elizabeth Cotten   Elizabeth “Libba” Cotten (1895-1987) was born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. As a young girl, she learned to play the banjo and guitar on her brother’s instruments whenever he was away. Being naturally left-handed she flipped them upside down to make them earlier to play. Cotten was a supremely talented player and quickly developed a unique fingerstyle method of playing simple bass figures with an alternating thumb, blended with syncopated counter-point melodies – that came to be known as “Cotten Pickin.”   Despite her talents, Cotten remained in the shadows for much of her life. Pressured by her church, she refrained from playing “worldly songs” on the guitar for 25 years. It wasn’t until she was in her sixties that she became a professional musician. Best known for her timeless classic “Freight Train,” Elizabeth Cotten’s musical achievements were finally officially acknowledged in 1985 when she won a Grammy, at the age of 91.   Muddy Waters Muddy Waters, King of the Electric Blues, performing in Paris, 1976, Source: Wikimedia Commons   McKinley Morganfield (1913-1983), better known as Muddy Waters, was raised on Stovall Plantation, near Clarksdale Mississippi. He began singing in church as a child and inspired by the sounds of the Delta Blues, spent his teenage years learning to play harmonica and guitar.   In the 1930s, he was playing harmonica on tours of the Delta and performing his songs in and around Clarksville. His breakthrough came in 1941 when folklorist Alan Lomax recorded him for the Library of Congress. Two years later he left for Chicago to pursue a full-time music career.    Muddy Waters pioneered the sound of the modern Chicago blues. Yet his influence extended far beyond the city. In America, he influenced a new generation of artists, from Bob Dylan to Jimi Hendrix, who claimed that he was the influence that mattered to him the most. His 1958 tour of Britain kick-started British blues-rock. The Rolling Stones even named themselves after his 1950 hit “Rollin Stone.”

  After the Romans were expelled from Britain in 409, the island entered a crucial period. Being cut off from the Roman Empire led to the Britons needing to make some important decisions. These decisions would ultimately affect the rest of the history of the island.   According to the available sources, a man named Vortigern became a powerful ruler over the Britons soon after the Romans left. He is presented in the medieval records as a foolish and wicked king.   Who Was Vortigern? Folio of De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae, 10th century, Source: The British Library, London   Because the Britons were facing attacks from the Picts and the Scots, the British leader Vortigern came up with an idea for how to deal with the problem. He decided to hire Germanic mercenaries—the Anglo-Saxons—to help defend the borders of Britain. In return, the Germanic mercenaries would be given some territory and resources. Of course, this plan eventually backfired.   The Anglo-Saxons became dissatisfied with their end of the deal. Eventually, they turned against the Britons and started conquering more territory, ultimately leading to the creation of England. Vortigern, therefore, had a profoundly important role in the history of Britain.   The first meeting of the British king Vortigern with the two Saxon Chiefs Hengist and Horsa, in the Isle of Thanet, by William Walker, 1786, Source: The British Museum   There is only one reference to Vortigern that is even close to contemporary. This is from De Excidio, written by Gildas in the 6th century. Here, Gildas refers to Vortigern as a “proud tyrant” and an “unlucky tyrant.” Most manuscripts do not include his name, but some do. In any case, later versions of Gildas’ account, such as the version written by Bede in the 8th century, definitely do provide the name “Vortigern.”   It is likely that Vortigern was some kind of high king or mini-emperor, ruling over a large portion of what had formerly been Roman Britain. We know that usurping emperors had been emerging in Britain in the early 5th century. The last historically attested one was Constantine III, who then took many of the Roman troops from Britain to invade Gaul in 407. When the Roman administration was expelled from Britain in 409, the historical context indicates that this was merely another usurper. However, evidently he chose not to spread himself too thin, focusing his interests entirely on Britain.   Coin of Constantine III, Source: Forumancientcoins.com   This is not to say that Vortigern himself was the usurper who drove out Constantine III’s administration in 409. If he had been, then Gildas would undoubtedly have mentioned that, since that would have added to the depth of his “unluckiness” (to Gildas, the departure of the Romans was a profound tragedy). Yet, this does give us a clue as to the likely position of power that he would have had in that early period after Britain left the empire.   According to the later legendary sources, Vortigern was originally the advisor to the king who took over immediately after the end of Roman rule of Britain. Although there is no direct historical confirmation of this—it is a plausible scenario. Most importantly, it is consistent with what we do know. Given Gildas’ lack of reference to Vortigern expelling the Romans, he must have come after the usurper responsible for that. Yet, given his position in the early 5th century, he cannot have come long after that original usurper. Therefore, concluding that he was the successor of the one who expelled the Romans from Britain is plausible and in accord with later legends.   When Did Vortigern Rule? Sutton Hoo sword, 7th century, Source: The British Museum   When exactly did Vortigern begin his reign? Gildas does not provide any dates, but since Vortigern was the one who invited the Germanic mercenaries over to Britain, his reign obviously must have started before they arrived. The earliest evidence shows that this happened in about 430 as is shown by archaeology. It is also supported by the 5th century Gallic Chronicle of 452 and the 5th century Life of St Germanus. The 9th century Historia Brittonum records that the Anglo-Saxons arrived in 428, and this early evidence suggests that this later tradition may well be accurate.   Therefore, we can conclude that the start of Vortigern’s reign was before c. 430, and probably before 428 in particular. According to the Historia Brittonum, his reign began in 425. Although this is not a contemporary source, it is the earliest evidence that we have for the date of the start of Vortigern’s reign. Given its harmony with the earlier evidence we have just considered, this date can likely be trusted.   Historia Brittonum, folio 1, Source: The British Library, London   Interestingly, the start of Vortigern’s reign likely coincides with another detail in the Historia Brittonum. This record tells us that the last Roman emperor to live in Britain was named Constantius. He ruled for 16 years, but then he was treacherously murdered. This is usually taken as a distorted reference to Constantine III, but the details do not match whatsoever. Interestingly, a later legendary account gives the name “Constantine” to the high king of the Britons who emerged after the Romans left. Most likely, the “Constantius” of the Historia Brittonum was actually this new high king, the usurper who expelled the Roman administration in 409. He was evidently confused for Emperor Constantine III, hence why he is presented as the last Roman emperor in Britain.   Counting forward sixteen years from 409 (when the Romans were expelled) takes us to 425, precisely the start of Vortigern’s rule. Notice that Constantius was said to have been “treacherously murdered.” Later tradition claims that Vortigern arranged the murder of “Constantine” the king of the Britons. Both of these are likely independent traditions stemming from the same event. A plausible scenario is that Constantius was the usurper who expelled the Roman administration, and then in 425, Vortigern had him murdered and took power.   Vortigern’s Family Vitalianus Stone, 5th century, St Brynach’s Church, Nevern, Wales, Source: Megalithic.co.uk   The earliest source which provides any information about Vortigern’s family is the 9th century Historia Brittonum. This provides the names of his immediate ancestors, his wife, and his sons and later descendants. The accuracy of these claims is obviously unknown, but it is the earliest information we have, so it is valuable. According to the Historia Brittonum, the father of Vortigern was named Vitalis. In turn, Vitalis was the son of Vitalinus.   Interestingly, there is a stone inscription which is dedicated to a certain “Vitalianus” in Nevern, Southwest Wales, likely dating to the 5th century. This may well be a dedication to Vortigern’s grandfather. In any case, it proves that the name was in use during this early period, whereas there is little to no evidence for this name in later medieval Wales. This adds some credence to the conclusion that the information in the Historia Brittonum about Vortigern is broadly authentic.   The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle folio 37r, 17th century, Source: The British Library, London   One of Vortigern’s more famous family members was his son, Vortimer. He fought fiercely against the Anglo-Saxons after they turned on the Britons. Four notable battles between him and the Saxons are recorded. These appear to be broadly supported by the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a chronicle of the English written in the 10th century. At one of these battles, the Historia Brittonum mentions another of Vortigern’s sons, Catigern. However, it is unclear whether Catigern was fighting on the side of the Saxons or the side of the Britons. Vortigern, for his part, is presented as cravenly attempting to appease the Germanic army, in contrast to his son Vortimer. Eventually, Vortimer died and Vortigern continued his rule as normal.   According to this same source, the Historia Brittonum, Vortigern married the daughter of the main Anglo-Saxon king. Later records give her the name Rowena. Again, while there is no earlier confirmation of this, such marriage alliances were very common in the ancient and medieval world.   When Did Vortigern Die? Illustration of Germain of Paris, from the Book of Hours, by Jean le Tavernier, 15th century, Source: Wikimedia Commons   The battle at which Vortimer is described as dying seems to correspond to the Battle of Crayford recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. That chronicle places the battle in 457. According to the Historia Brittonum, Vortigern continued ruling for some time after this. Therefore, his death is definitely placed well after 457.   After a treacherous slaughter of the British kings by the Saxons, the Historia Brittonum says that the Britons made Germanus their commander against the Saxons. This Germanus pursued Vortigern and eventually killed him. For chronological reasons, this cannot be the famous Germanus of Auxerre, who died in 547. It must instead be Germanus the disciple of Saint Patrick. He was active in the mid-to-late 5th century.   A later source claims that Ambrosius Aurelianus pursued and killed Vortigern. Bede places Ambrosius’s military career in the 470s at the earliest. Whether it was really Ambrosius or Germanus who killed Vortigern, (or both), Vortigern’s death evidently occurred in the second half of the 5th century. A date in the 470s seems plausible in view of the fact that he was unlikely to have been younger than 25 when he became king in 425.   What We Know About Vortigern Depiction of Aurelius Ambrosius from a manuscript of Historia Regum Britanniae, 15th century, Wales, Source: Wikimedia Commons   Our trustworthy historical information about Vortigern is very limited. All we can say with near certainty is that he was a powerful ruler in the immediate Post-Roman Era who arranged for Anglo-Saxon mercenaries to settle in Britain. It is very likely that he was the successor of the usurper who expelled the Roman administration from Britain in 409. His reign must have started in about 425, and it seems that he invited the Saxons over quite soon after he began ruling.   Whether “Vortigern” was even really his name is unknown, although all later tradition unanimously agrees that it was. He had several sons, and the eldest, Vortimer, fought fiercely against the Saxons. Eventually, his son died and Vortigern continued attempting to appease the Saxons. His legendary marriage alliance to the daughter of the Saxon leader is not historically confirmed, but it is exactly the kind of thing that we can expect to have happened. Eventually, Vortigern’s reign came to an end when Germanus, Ambrosius, or both, pursued and killed him, likely in the 470s.

Editor’s note: This piece from Dennis Prager was originally published in 2007. We at The Daily Signal thought Dennis’ idea was worth revisiting as we approach Independence Day 2024. Perhaps the major reason Jews have been able to keep their national identity alive for 3,000 years—the last 2,000 of which were nearly all spent dispersed among other nations—is ritual. No national or cultural identity can survive without ritual, even if the group remains in its own country. Americans knew this until the era of anti-wisdom was ushered in by the baby boomer generation in the 1960s and ’70s. We always had national holidays that celebrated something meaningful. When I was in elementary school, every year we would put on a play about Abraham Lincoln to commemorate Lincoln’s Birthday and a play about George Washington to commemorate Washington’s Birthday. Unfortunately, Congress made a particularly foolish decision to abolish the two greatest presidents’ birthdays as national holidays and substituted the meaningless Presidents Day. Beyond having a three-day weekend and department store sales, the day means nothing. Columbus Day is rarely celebrated since the European founding of European civilization on American soil is not politically correct. Christmas has become less nationally meaningful as exemplified by the substitution of “Happy Holidays” for “Merry Christmas.” Memorial Day should be a solemn day on which Americans take time to honor those Americans who fought and died for America and for liberty. But, again, fewer and fewer Americans visit military cemeteries just as fewer communities have Memorial Day festivities. We come, finally, to the mother of American holidays, July Fourth, the day America was born. This day has a long history of vibrant and meaningful celebrations. But it, too, is rapidly losing its meaning. For example, look around—especially if you live in a large urban area—and see how few homes display the American flag. For most Americans it appears that the Fourth has become merely a day to take off from work and enjoy hot dogs with friends. Our national holidays were established to commemorate the most significant national events and individuals in our history; they now exist primarily to provide us with a day off. This was reinforced by the nation’s decision to shift some of the holidays to a Monday—thereby losing the meaning of the specific date in order to give us a three-day weekend. National memory dies without national ritual. And without a national memory, a nation dies. That is the secret at the heart of the Jewish people’s survival that the American people must learn if they are to survive. When Jews gather at the Passover Seder—and this is the most widely observed Jewish holiday—they recount the exodus from Egypt, an event that occurred 3,200 years ago. We Americans have difficulty keeping alive the memory of events that happened 231 years ago. How have the Jews accomplished this? By the ritual of the Passover Seder. Jews spend the evening recounting the exodus from Egypt—and as if it happened to them. In the words of the Passover Haggadah—the Passover Seder book—“every person is obligated to regard himself as if he himself left Egypt.” The story is retold in detail, and it is told as if it happened to those present at the Seder, not only to those who lived it 3,200 years ago. That has to be the motto of the July Fourth Seder. We all have to retell the story in as much detail as possible and to regard ourselves as if we, no matter when we or our ancestors came to America—were present at the nation’s founding in 1776. The Seder achieves the feat not only through detailed recitation of the story, but through engaging the interest of the youngest of those at the table (indeed, they are its primary focus), through special food, through song and through relevant prayer. Obviously, just as secular Jews tend to avoid the prayer part of the Haggadah, so, too, secular Americans are free to avoid the prayer part of an American Seder Book. But someone—or many someones—must come up with a July Fourth Seder. A generation of Americans with little American identity—emanating from little American memory—has already grown into adulthood. The nation whose founders regarded itself as the Second Israel must now learn how to survive from the First. 4th-of-July-DeclarationDownload We publish a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Daily Signal. Republished with permission from Salem Media Group. The post America Needs a July Fourth Seder appeared first on The Daily Signal.

For decades, investigators and sleuths were unable to crack the case of two women murdered while camping at a national park in 1996. Now, things have taken a radical turn as the FBI says a new round of tests has identified the perpetrator and solved this grim cold case. The...