Sunday, May 11, 2008

A quiet sesquicentennial

150 years ago today, President James Buchanan made the biggest mistake of his presidency (which is saying something given the US split under his watch), and granted Minnesota statehood. He had one last chance to get with the British and re-attach it to Rupert's Land, but instead he made Minnesota a state. And the rest of America has been paying for it ever since. Silly accents, Scandie culture, Walter Mondale, Gus Hall, and the Vikings are just some of the horrible injuries inflicted on the Republic ever since Minnesota was granted statehood. I think if Buchanan knew what pain Minnesota would cause America, he would have handed it over to the British in a heartbeat.

Hmmm....I wonder if that might bring some traffic over here? Minnesota-bashing on its 150th birthday?

OK, I am kidding! It is Minnesota's 150th birthday, but I swear you wouldn't know it unless you were really paying attention, or if you stumbled into the Minnesota History Center over in St. Paul. Nick Coleman of the Star Tribune has lamented this a few times, although his reasoning is questionable at best....we can't celebrate Minnesota's 150th well because of the fishing opener and Mother's Day? He is right about one thing though...Wisconsin did a better job in 1998. If you had even set foot in the state between 1996-1998, you knew Wisconsin was celebrating its sesquicentennial. But, I have heard very little about Minnesota's until today. Now, the official celebration is supposed to take place next weekend. Hopefully it will be a celebration that is good enough for Minnesota, with plenty of 3.2 beer and lutefisk for all (kidding).

Happy 150th, Minnesota! Minnesota has been pretty good to me in the almost 10 years I have lived here, so maybe I will have a Grain Belt to help celebrate.

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