What's the origin of Uncle Sam?
94496
"Common folklore holds that his origins trace back to soldiers stationed in upstate New York, who would receive barrels of meat stamped with the initials U.S. The soldiers jokingly referred to it as the initials of the meat supplier, Uncle Samuel Wilson, of Troy, New York."
816589
"How we won freedom through military force and defeating the enemy."  Let Uncle Chainsaw write the intro.  \n\nYou are right on.
958377
The origins of this symbol are unknown, but several theories have been proposed. According to one theory, in its original form, the jackass was born in the intense mudslinging that occurred during the presidential race of 1828 as a play on the name of Andrew Jackson, the Democratic candidate. Jackson had been called "Andrew Jackass," and the defiant Jackson adopted the nickname.\n\nOn January 19, 1870, a political cartoon by Thomas Nast in Harper's Weekly titled "A Live Jackass Kicking a Dead Lion" revived the donkey as a symbol for the Democratic Party (the symbol had also been used in the 1830s). Cartoonists followed Nast and used the donkey to represent the Democrats, and the elephant to represent the Republicans.
879854
What state does Dubya come from?  Texas I think.  Nuff said.
1084134
Can you give a little more info?  This is one theory from the right-wing attack poodles that I haven't heard yet.\n\nCan I play the game too then?  I want to pose a theory that the American Civil War started because of the supposition of the denial of the flat-world.  Abe Lincoln was a full believer in the heretic lie that the world is round, and so I think those good God-fearing Southerners made sure he knew just how wrong he was.
266663
Because the north needs this myth to justify the slaughter of 1/4 of southern men by The American army. ( as well as 5/8 of the rape)The yankee empire should give the south back to the confederacy, and they should start with georgia.
88011
My grandfather was a Freemason, and had no thoughts of founding a new world order.  He was a very spiritual man, and the Masons helped him study and express his spirituality.\n\nMany of our founding fathers were Freemasons, and their symbolism is entwined with American history.  A new world order?  Maybe it was already founded!
579450
An Irish seven course meal? A six pack and a potato don't you know! The first American St. Pats Parade, 1776 and all of what is today Washington D.C. turned out to cheer. America then accepted the Irish. The English stereotyped the Irish fleeing their attempt to starve them to death and much of their American ancestors carried that bigoted cause, second strike...most were those less than humans were ,Catholics...and all Protestants "know" what vermin they are! \n  But in all honesty one Irishman arrived with crime and a love to get others to enjoy strong drink as well as he himself did. And to this day his family does all in its power to make the world believe that it is heredity for Irish Catholics to be power mad drunken criminals...So I suppose Teddy, Patrick et all the Kennedy's are just following a long family tradition. You do know Teddy's gran built the family fortune by being a murderous bootlegger? Funny what passes for old money in America.
902097
OK I'll bit as you have asked this with different wording but I think I figured it out. If you mean what started Thanksgiving it was by the Indians and the Pilgrims getting together to give thanks and share food. If you mean who was the first President to make it a Holdiay then it would be\nTitle: President Abraham Lincoln's Proclamation for a National Day of Fasting \n\nWe have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven. We have been preserved, the many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. \nIntoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to God that made us! It behooves us, then to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness. \n\n-- April 30, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln's Proclamation for a National Day of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer. \nsee http://www.sermons.org/thanksgiving2.htm... for the rest.
1144727
The song's origins were in a pre-United States Revolutionary War song originally sung by British military officers to mock the dishevelled, unorganized colonial "Yankees" with whom they served in the French and Indian War. At the time, the most common meaning of the word doodle had the meaning of "simpleton" or "fool". It is believed that the tune comes from the nursery rhyme Lucy Locket. One version of the Yankee Doodle lyrics is attributed to Doctor Richard Shuckburgh, a British Army surgeon.\n\nThe Boston Journal of the Times wrote about a British band declaring "that Yankee Doodle song was the Capital Piece of their band music."\n\n[edit]\nEarly versions\nThe earliest known version of the lyrics comes from 1775:\n\nBrother Ephraim sold his Cow \nAnd bought him a Commission; \nAnd then he went to Canada \nTo fight for the Nation; \nBut when Ephraim he came home \nHe proved an arrant Coward, \nHe wouldn't fight the Frenchmen there \nFor fear of being devour'd. \n(Note that the sheet music which accompanies these lyrics reads, "The Words to be Sung through the Nose, & in the West Country drawl & dialect.")\n\nThe Ephraim referenced here was Ephraim Williams, a popularly known Colonel in the Massachusetts militia who was killed in the Battle of Lake George. He left his land and property to the founding of a school in Western Massachusetts, now known as Williams College.\n\nDuring the Revolutionary War, the Americans embraced the song and made it their own, turning it back on those who had used it to mock them. A newspaper account after the Battle of Lexington and Concord, a Boston newspaper reported, "Upon their return to Boston [pursued by the Minutemen], one [Briton] asked his brother officer how he liked the tune now,-- 'Damn them,' returned he, 'they made us dance it till we were tired.' -- Since which Yankee Doodle sounds less sweet to their ears."\n\nThe British responded with another set of lyrics following the Battle of Bunker Hill:\n\nThe seventeen of June, at Break of Day, \nThe Rebels they supriz'd us, \nWith their strong Works, which they'd thrown up, \nTo burn the Town and drive us.
103967
It's just a comic acronym for the government of the UNited States of AMerica ! \n...Since the government is always asking its soldiers to go somewhere, fetch something, or do some of its own (dirty !) work, just as any biological uncle probably would, the 'boys' had coined this nick !
1037257
Hey, do you really think the US is kind old Uncle Sam ??? The US also wants its own Empire.
586978
Speculations as to the origins vary as has been discussed earlier. Personally, I am with the small crowd that does not believe it strictly came from the stone masons. Stone masons, however, were one of the very few groups of men who were not tied to the land and could travel in small groups. OK, I like the Templar theory, but it is MY liking. Freemasons are that, free to speculate.\n\nMany rituals harken back to the ancient mystery schools. More than that I cannot say. I would refer you to my Order's website (link below) for more information. I am a Co-Mason (women and men in Lodge together).\n\nFreemasons have not conducted Inquisitions nor burned people for not believing as they do. We encourage people to think and to explore, to extend the hand of friendship to people of all faiths. I know of few RELIGIONS which do that.
927731
Rite now, Uncle Sam would prevail.  Clearly, Red China has the numbers advantage, but Uncle Sam's got the war tools.  The US does NOT want to get into a land-war w/ Red China.  Also, consider the major economic ties, which exist between Uncle Sam and Red China.  Allahu Akbar.
899057
yesterday's terrorist is todays patroit, depends on whos side youre on, the founders of the USA were labeled insurgents and terrorists by the crown during the revolutionary war, the south was labeled a terrorist stae by the union during the civil war, terrorist or freedom fighter? Historically the victors are patroits and the losers were terrorists, as history is normally recorded by the victor. Great question a thumbs up to you
1134382
Well, here's one answer, but it's in terrible English:\n\nhttp://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-bob1.htm\n\nHere's a much more abbreviated explanation:\n\n"The most plausible theory for the origin of 'Bob's your uncle' refers to a case of nepotism wherein Lord Salisbury (Robert, or 'Bob') appointed his nephew to the post of Chief Secretary for Ireland (1887). " (taken from http://www.yaelf.com/questions.shtml )\n\nFYI- Nepotism means, "favoritism shown to relatives or close friends by those in power (as by giving them jobs)" or "Favoritism shown or patronage granted to relatives, as in business." (from dictionary.com)\n\nSo, that's where it came from.  It means, according to the first website I cited:\n"It’s used to show how simple it is to do something: 'You put the plug in here, press that switch, and Bob’s your uncle!'”\n\nSo, like Lord Salisbury's nephew had a sure position because of his uncle's favor, so whatever you're going to do will be easy and sure.  The American equivalent might be, "It's a piece of cake!"\n\nAm I explaining this well?
636800
It was started as sort of a joke by the Rothschilde family shortly after the American revolution, borrowing methods and rituals from other "secret orders" of the time, like the Freemasons.  Where Freemasonry was dedicated to preserving thought and knowledge despite the oppressiveness of Church rule, the Illuminati was originally a coterie of financiers that sought to progress an elitist agenda through our current system of financing loans, essentially creating a society of debt-serfs and wealthy nobles (bankers).  It is thought that the Illuminati spawned an off-shoot, the Skull and Bones, in the 1840's, of which the Bush Family and Kerry family are a part.\n\nThere has always been a conflict between these two beliefs in our society since its inception, with the Illuminates hijacking the "conservative" movement and controlling the media, with the Freemasons continuously finding new ways around them.