I just checked my "unofficial" student transcript online and my M.A. is posted to them. Now I can request copies for a variety of places - some of which need them ASAP. This is true for both teaching positions and my PhD program application, which is due January 1st.
Over the weekend, Heather (my lovely wife) and I flew to Texas for commencement and an early Christmas with my parents, sister, and brother-in-law. Going down to SHSU was a really interesting experience, particularly since it was the first time I set foot on the campus. The best part of the actual ceremony was getting to meet some of my classmates for the first time. I really recommend that anyone reading this that is in a similar program go to their graduation ceremonies. It certainly made me feel more part of a group.
The New England Journal of Medicine posted a photo essay illustrating medical facilities for our troops in Iraq, and the types of injuries they suffer. Some of the wounds are so severe, that I don't know that we're doing some of these guys a favor by saving them.
WARNING: SOME OF THESE PICTURES ARE EXTREMELY GRAPHIC! PROCEED YOUR OWN RISK!
One class down, one to go. "American Cultural & Religious History" is successfully in the bag. I'm happy with the grade I received for this one (an "A"), but I'm not really happy with the amount of effort I put into the class. I really feel like I sort of coasted on it. Oh, well.
I have one last assignment due for "U.S. Diplomatic History": a book review of Ross Terrill's The New Chinese Empire. This class was a real chore, as the amount of writing involved was just ridiculous. Still, I'm hoping for another "A", even though I was decidedly not satisfied with the paper I submitted this morning.
This will all be over in a couple of days.
Today my historical brain power is directed at writing a reasonably coherent comparative book review of Stein's Communities of Dissent and Gaustad's Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land. This small task represents my last assignment for "American Cultural & Religious History". It really isn't too bad: both books are in the 150 page range, both are pretty well written, and they address similar issues, albeit in different ways.
Gaustad examines the history of religious freedom in the United States, starting with Colonial America. There are two interesting topics here: the general lack of religious freedom in Europe and the Colonies before 1791, and the belief of influential 18th century Americans (like Thomas Jefferson and James Madison) that religious freedom was the most basic kind of freedom - after all if the government can dictate religious belief and practice, then nothing else really matters. This falls into the "control the mind and the body will follow" concept.
On the other hand, Stein discusses "alternate" or "dissenting" religious belief in the United States, along with the disparty in views of political and religious dissent. The religious dissenters were commonly attacked well into the 20th century. Stein is interested in the phenomenon of religous dissent, the applicability of the 1st and 14th Amendments in protecting religious dissent, and how some alternate religious groups manage to survive and spread.
Strangely enough, both topics are applicable to modern issues. Specifically, how the rights of American Muslims are protected (or not) after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the WTC and Pentagon (ed. note - I'm sitting on the 25th floor of Denver's "World Trade Center" as I type). Gaustad also examines the workings of the Supreme Court as it addresses separation of Church and State, particularly with Justices Rhenquist and Scalia on the court - evidently the Supreme Court's involvement in this particular 1st Amendment issue is a 20th century development.
If the review turns out ok, I'll post it here tomorrow.
I've been contempating changing the focus of this site from politics to history for some time now. Part of this is driven by my increasing focus on history as a career, part of it out of simple enjoyment of things historical, and part of it by the simple fact that American politics is driving me nuts. Sometimes I'm fired up to go out and help save America, but at others despair at the poors reporting, spineless politicians, and the almost willful ignorance of my fellow Americans.
Unfortunately, I find that I can't just give up the additcion to politics. I'm obsessed. So after graduation later this month, I'm going to try a compromise to satisfy my addiction to political news and my budding career as a professional historian. I'm going to attempt this by posting a few historical essays, links to interesting sites, some book reviews, etc...
We'll see how it goes. Maybe I'll find a bigger audience, or be able to post more regular and coherent items. Of course, it could crash and burn.
I passed my oral comprehensive final, so I will be graduating as planned on December 18th.
Thank God that's over. Now I just have three books to read, two book reviews to write, and some discussion questions to do. Oh, and finish my PhD program applications.