zoidknight: Actually, the slave catchers were mostly Arab – a detail lost on “Black Muslims” with their Arab names in protest to slavery. After the fall of the Songhai empire, the region was much like Europe after the western Roman empire fell – survivor tribe against survivor tribe. Europe managed to evolve back into nation states, while Africa (at least the western sub-Sahele part) was invaded by Europeans before it could recover. Songhai had normal diplomatic relations with Portugal, Spain, and most of the Italian states (a couple of centuries away from being a unified nation themselves).
None of those highly educated, deistic believers in the separation of church and state could, were they still here, be nominated for president of either of our two main parties.
“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”— Falsely attributed to Ben Franklin, but It’s still good! For the record, here, in a letter addressed to André Morellet in 1779, is what Benjamin Franklin actually did say: “Behold the rain which descends from heaven upon our vineyards, there it enters the roots of the vines, to be changed into wine, a constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy.”
gmartin: The Moors (specifically Moroccans) destroyed the Songhai empire, but it was Arabs, first operating out of Dar es Salaam (Arab name) into the Indian Ocean, and finally working their way across the Sahele (also Arab term) to the west coast just in time to meet the European invaders. Together they started the triangle trade to Europe’s Western Hemisphere colonies.
gimmickgenius over 12 years ago
Washington made whiskey at Mt. Vernon…
Phatts over 12 years ago
… right, and we’ll have beer with Ben …… liking this more and more …
revisages over 12 years ago
what george washington did most often (every day) was to drink his tea. yep, good old camellia sinensis
wroady over 12 years ago
Go Georgie!!
KenyarJad over 12 years ago
Well, at least Thaves didn’t pick the easy route and choose Samuel Adams as the one with whom he wanted to have a beer.
zoidknight over 12 years ago
Most of those civil rights activists are con men. And ignore the fact that those slaves were sold into slavery by their own kind.
burleigh2 over 12 years ago
Personally, I’d rather have a FEW Ben Franklins so I can go out for a drink. ;-)
burleigh2 over 12 years ago
Wait… I just realized something… Ben Franklin died the year before Washington got into office!
KEA over 12 years ago
says who?
iced tea over 12 years ago
I thought George Washington led a moral life. He never told a lie, remember.
hippogriff over 12 years ago
zoidknight: Actually, the slave catchers were mostly Arab – a detail lost on “Black Muslims” with their Arab names in protest to slavery. After the fall of the Songhai empire, the region was much like Europe after the western Roman empire fell – survivor tribe against survivor tribe. Europe managed to evolve back into nation states, while Africa (at least the western sub-Sahele part) was invaded by Europeans before it could recover. Songhai had normal diplomatic relations with Portugal, Spain, and most of the Italian states (a couple of centuries away from being a unified nation themselves).
markjoseph125 over 12 years ago
None of those highly educated, deistic believers in the separation of church and state could, were they still here, be nominated for president of either of our two main parties.
EdZakery69 over 12 years ago
“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”— Falsely attributed to Ben Franklin, but It’s still good! For the record, here, in a letter addressed to André Morellet in 1779, is what Benjamin Franklin actually did say: “Behold the rain which descends from heaven upon our vineyards, there it enters the roots of the vines, to be changed into wine, a constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy.”
hippogriff over 12 years ago
gmartin: The Moors (specifically Moroccans) destroyed the Songhai empire, but it was Arabs, first operating out of Dar es Salaam (Arab name) into the Indian Ocean, and finally working their way across the Sahele (also Arab term) to the west coast just in time to meet the European invaders. Together they started the triangle trade to Europe’s Western Hemisphere colonies.