Last week I obtained my Virginia driver's license and today I received my Virginia license plates. I guess it's official - we're Virginians (that doesn't really sound right, does it?). Just look at the number of plates one gets to choose from. This is one window full of options. There is another one with just as many more options in it at the opposite entrance. We chose the Jamestown option because we recently learned that in 1607, 13 years before the Pilgrims landed in Massachusetts, a group of 104 English men and boys began a settlement on the banks of the James River, earning the distinction of being America's first permanent English colony. I still wonder why children are taught that the Pilgrims landing at Plymouth Rock were the first American settlers.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Officially a Virginian? 51/365
Last week I obtained my Virginia driver's license and today I received my Virginia license plates. I guess it's official - we're Virginians (that doesn't really sound right, does it?). Just look at the number of plates one gets to choose from. This is one window full of options. There is another one with just as many more options in it at the opposite entrance. We chose the Jamestown option because we recently learned that in 1607, 13 years before the Pilgrims landed in Massachusetts, a group of 104 English men and boys began a settlement on the banks of the James River, earning the distinction of being America's first permanent English colony. I still wonder why children are taught that the Pilgrims landing at Plymouth Rock were the first American settlers.
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speaking as the son of a history teacher, i'd say it is mostly because of lazy history teachers. i am from massachusetts i bear no plymouthian superiority - give jamestown it's due. but in all fairness things didn't turn out so well in jamestown.
ReplyDeletethat comment wasn't clear... my mom was NOT one of the lazy ones. she was an ace teacher!
ReplyDeleteoh and some of those plates are a hoot. i like the jamestown one too though.
We need more teachers like your mom! Jamestown settlers did have their difficulties, but it is an interesting bit of history I'm glad I know now. Who would have guessed that our early ancestors (on American soil) had to resort to cannibalism in order to survive because rats ate their stockpiled food.
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