State Wars

Virginia vs. Massachusetts

There's an article in the London Times online edition (HT: WorldNetDaily) about one of the founders of the colony of Jamestown. The body of a man believed to be Bartholomew Gosnold was discovered in 2003 in the Jamestown site in Virginia. He organized and financed the three-ship expedition to the New World, as well as being captain of one of the ships. This venture led to the founding of Jamestown in 1607.

What makes this news is that archaeologists believe they have located the grave of Gosnold's sister, Elizabeth Tilney Gosnold (did the British put a woman's married name in the middle and leave the maiden name at the end back then?) in Suffolk, England. They are exhuming her body to do a DNA match in the hopes that this will identify Bartholomew's body.

According to the Times, "It is the first time that Anglican authorities have granted permission for a grave to be opened in a British church for scientific research." We won't have the answers any time soon, though. "The results of the dig will form part of the 400th anniversary celebrations in 2007 of the founding of America."

But way down at the end of the article is this little jab at Massachusetts from Matt Erskine of the Virginia Governor's office: “It was an English-speaking capitalist venture and Jamestown was the birthplace of modern America. Bartholomew Gosnold was such an important member of it and was one of the six original governors of the colony. The Mayflower didn’t arrive for another 13 years.”

Yes, the Virginia colony of Jamestown (1607) beat out the Massachusetts colony of Plymouth (1624). Yes, Jamestown was a capitalist venture, and America theoretically practices capitalism. But the heart and soul of what America is can be found in the Plymouth colonial desire for religious freedom and its sister goal of helping others freely. We can trace America's finest traditions--the structure of our Republic, our love of freedom, our desire to help other nations during their times of suffering--to the founders and early citizens of Massachusetts.


Colorado vs. Minnesota

The blogosphere has been giving coverage to The Great Quarter War. In fact, David Harsanyi (HT: Hugh Hewitt), of the Denver Post, has chimed in as well, with his chronicle of events (full story here), which only contributes to uproar, particularly this quote: "While Colorado's new auarter design is hardly exhilarating, we should be grateful that it's less atrocious than the design from an inferior state, like, say ... Minnesota."

Although Harsanyi doesn't mention it, the war was started on Hugh Hewitt's radio show (Hugh's take on it here). Hugh has a knack for instigating rivalry between the governors he books on his show, while at the same time shamelessly soliciting meaningless titles from them to add to his collection. The titles that come to mind include: California's Sommelier, Colorado's Warden of the Collegiate Peaks, and most recently, Gymnasiarch of the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.

Radioblogger has the transcript of the original conversation with both Colorado's Governor, Bill Owen and (separately) Minnesota's Governor, Tim Pawlenty (transcript here). From this, the conclusion is clear: Colorado started it.

The controversy: Our commemorative quarter is better than yours! Colorado's quarter is to have a mountain range and the motto, "Colorful Colorado." Minnesota's quarter is to have some low hills with trees, some fishermen in a boat, a loon (often mistaken for Minnesota's state bird, the mosquito), and an outline of the state, with the motto, "10,000 Lakes." Radioblogger currently has a poll at the top of his blog that anyone can participate in. He also has updates here, here, here, and here.

Personally, I prefer Colorado's quarter, although I must agree with James Lileks, as quoted in the above transcript (his comments are between the two governors' comments). It is a bit odd to have a monochromatic mountain range on a quarter declaring the state "Colorful."

Wars have been fought and won over lesser ideals. Let the Games begin--or rather, continue...