January 14

1784 - The United States ratified the Treaty of Paris, formally ending the Revolutionary War.

It took almost 10-years, but the Colonists proved to the world that Americans would never live under a monarch again.

It's important to remember how difficult it was to gain freedom, and how long it took as well...We must keep this in mind as countries around the world take their time establishing a modicum of freedom in previously tyrannical lands.

Freedom isn't free, nor is it easy to obtain...It is even more difficult to maintain.

Sadly, I'm also afraid it isn't for everyone.

1526 - Charles V and Francis I signed the Treaty of Madrid. Francis was forced to give up French claims in Burgundy, Italy and Flanders.

The reign of Charles V is one of the most impressive in all of history...His holdings were greater than that of any previous European ruler (including the Romans and Charlemagne), and matched that of any in world history.

Charles' largest holdings: He was Holy Roman Emperor (Germany, Austria, etc.), and King of Spain (including Spanish America, the Netherlands, the Low Countries and parts of Italy).

Unfortunately for Charles, his holdings were extremely contested, and he spent most of his reign defending them in almost constant warfare...There was also a German priest who raised Hell during his rule as well - Martin Luther - and the never-ending threat of invasion from the Turks.

1942 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered all U.S. aliens to register with the government:  WWII.

Sounds like a good idea. All U.S. citizens are registered with the government (birth certificates, SS#'s, etc.), so why is it such a big deal to do the same with aliens? Hmmmmm?

1963 - George Wallace was sworn in as Governor of Alabama, with a pledge of:  "Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever!"

I hope everyone realizes the Governor was a good ol’ Democrat...As were most of the hard-line segregationists.

Also, you know President Lincoln was a Republican right? The guy who made the Emancipation Proclamation...Ike was also a Republican president - he's the one who forced Gov. Wallace to accept segregation.

I’m sure this history isn’t properly taught in schools however, because Liberal educrats have never been too worried about history which doesn't fit their propaganda.

1980 - The U.N. General Assembly voted to "deplore" the USSR for invading Afghanistan.

Really?  What a joke!

The Soviets weren't cowed at all by this resolution, and the only thing that got them out of Afghanistan was a good ol' fashioned ass kicking by the Afghanis and their Jihadi pals.

2011 - Tunisian dictator Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia.

It's always good to see dictators deposed - even better when they are killed - but we need to be very careful in our hopes for a better Muslim world after the current crop are kicked out...What follows may be much worse.

I made that comment in 2012...I was correct, even though it must be admitted Tunisia has been much more stable than the other Arab Spring countries.