February 24

My sister bought me a lovely desk calendar for Christmas called, "The Secret Lives of US Presidents and First Ladies." It's a pretty neat calendar and I've learned lots of new things so far. The authors certainly have a sense of wit, as well. I thought I'd share todays fact:

Feb. 24
Tuesday

George H.W Bush invaded Panama in 1989, kidnapping Manuel Noriega to stand trial back in the States for drug charges. But real martial glory was afforded the commander in chief in 1990, when he organized an unprecedented coalition to throw back Iraqi aggression. Unfortunately, nothing is that simple. Bush went a little overboard by comparing Saddam Hussein to Hitler, and people the world over couldn't help feeling that the whole bloody affair was really over oil - a fact driven home when the coalition smashed Iraqi forces only to leave Saddam in power to wreak murderous havoc on his own people.

PS- It's flag day in Mexico.

Collecting Political Pins

History geeks are often known for really enjoying things that the average person might not find all that enjoyable. We like taking pictures of old things on vacation more than going the beach. What others might see as "junk," we see as a glorious piece of history.

That being said, I have a new obsession: collecting political pins. Yes, I like to pay money for pins that are 25, 50, or even 100 years old. I love holding a pin in my hand and knowing that it served an integral political purpose many years ago. The "Welcome Buddy" pin in the picture to the left was issued and distributed as a way to support soldiers returning home from WWII. Jimmy Carters green pin represents the type of change the country needed in 1976. JFK's young face on his political pin during the 1960 election is a reflection of the hope and optimism the country placed in this young leader.

I started my collection in the summer, buying authentic pins on Ebay, or looking for them at independent antique shops in the area. The picture here is just a small portion of my collection, and I hope to continue building it. I've read literature on the relevance, value, and authenticity of political pins and buttons, and even had the wonderful opportunity to visit the Historical Society in Buffalo, NY over the summer to see their large exhibit of political pins.

Call me a geek, but I love owning small pieces of our nations history.