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In 2005, I toured the house on Arch Street. The brick rowhouse, with alternate glazed bricks, is a two and a half story, eight-room rowhouse whose design was influenced by English Quakers. It’s the kind of house that the middle class would have lived in and was originally built in 1740 with a later rear addition. The rowhouse was restored in the 1930s to its 1773-1785 era. Its facade was constructed using a Flemish bond pattern of bricks of black headers and red runners. With memories of the devastating fire of London in 1661, the Quakers decreed all the houses built would be of brick, rather than wood.
It’s a small house. My feet aren’t overly large, but the steps going up were about half the size of my foot, its narrow staircase leading to tiny rooms. Its occupants must have been of small stature as the rooms aren’t very large, yet one of the residents’ daughters and her six children came to join the people who rented and lived in the house. Standing in one particular room, I actually got “goose bumps”. Because you see, it’s the Betsy Ross House - actually Elizabeth Griscom Ross Ashburn Claypoole’s house born January 1, 1752.
The house sits just a couple of blocks from the Delaware River wharfs, north of Independence Hall where our founding fathers signed our Declaration of Independence and our country was born. Walking towards the house you pass the resting spot of the Liberty Bell and past the cemetery where Benjamin Franklin and many other notable citizens are buried. In the opposite direction you have Elfreth’s Alley, our nation’s oldest residential street and site of historic row houses, only two blocks away.
"The Birth of Our Nation's Flag" by Charles H. Weisgerber
Although she may have been small in build, Betsy Ross was huge in historical significance. Not only was she a single woman, a working class businesswoman who owned her own upholstery business and an entrepreneur in colonial America during the 18th century’s Revolutionary period, she was also the woman who was commissioned by George Washington to sew the first American flag. At least so the story goes because there is no known historical document stating that as fact but was only a family story passed down through the generations. The personal story of Betsy Ross actually was a sad one. To read more about her life here’s a link to this remarkable woman.
This July 4th, while Americans recognize and celebrate collective achievements such as the writing of the Declaration of Independence or the victory in the Revolutionary War, it is individual accomplishments that are cherished the most. Thomas Jefferson’s, George Washington’s and Betty Ross’ contributions defined the course and meaning of history. When we view the flag, we think of liberty, freedom, pride and Betsy Ross. The American flag flies on the moon, sits atop Mount Everest, and is hurtling out in space. The flag is how America signs her name. It is no surprise that Betsy Ross became one of the most cherished figures of American history and I felt honored to have toured her home.
Facts About Our First Flag
What do the red, white, and blue of the flag represent? The Continental Congress left no record to show why it chose the colors. 
However, in 1782, the Congress of the Confederation chose these same colors for the Great Seal of the United States and listed their meaning as follows: white to mean purity and innocence, red for valor and hardiness, and blue for vigilance, perseverance, and justice. According to legend, George Washington interpreted the elements of the flag this way: the stars were taken from the sky, the red from the British colors, and the white stripes signified the secession from the home country. However, there is no official designation or meaning for the colors of the flag.
Why are the stars in a circle? The stars were in a circle so that no one colony would be viewed above another. It is reported that George Washington said, “Let the 13 stars in a circle stand as a new constellation in the heavens.”
If Betsy sewed the flag, who designed it? Betsy Ross’ daughter, Rachel Fletcher, testified in 1870, the following: “[The committee] showed her [Betsy Ross] a drawing roughly executed, of the flag as it was proposed to be made by the committee, and that she saw in it some defects in its proportions and the arrangement and shape of the stars. That she said it was square and a flag should be one third longer than its width, that the stars were scattered promiscuously over the field, and she said they should be either in lines or in some adopted form as a circle, or a star, and that the stars were six-pointed in the drawing, and she said they should be five pointed.”
Why would Betsy Ross be chosen to make the flag? It was usual in that day for upholsterers to be flag makers. As Betsy Ross prayed in the pew next to George Washington and had already sewn buttons for him, and she was a niece of George Ross, it is not exceptional that these members of the Flag Committee formed by the Continental Congress would call upon Betsy Ross to make the flag.
Where is the first flag? No one knows what happened to the first flag. Very few flags from that time have survived.
(All photos from the Betsy Ross House, Elfreth’s Alley, Independence Hall and U.S. History websites.)
© Copyright 2008-2009 Betty Jung. All Rights Reserved. Use of this article, photos and images without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.
ALL ABOUT…..Portland.Oregon.Real Estate by Betty Jung is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at WordPress.
(For more local and national real estate information, go to www.bettyjung.com).
As a self-employed Realtor®, I am always working for today, tomorrow and 5 years from now. I need to make sure I have a steady stream of clientele in the hopper that will want/need to purchase or sell a home today, tomorrow and in the future. I think the economy can only be fixed with this same principle.
TODAY
I’ve been talking a lot in my posts about fixing the housing problem. You hear a lot of it in the news. However, now I feel the most important goal should be to jump start our economy with a focus on jobs, jobs and more jobs. No one will be buying houses, cars, or anything else until there are more jobs that give people the earning power to pump money and credit back into our economy. Our government is doing many things to hopefully make that happen.
TOMORROW
Senator Chuck Schumer, Jack Welch, David Leonhardt and Martin Feldstein were on The Charlie Rose Show. Professor Feldstein said that any plans to fix the economy need to be short-term and long-term. In order to deal with this financial crisis it was important to place emphasis on jobs, housing, then banking and ultimately the credit crisis. Professor Feldstein said given tax breaks people will either pay off bills or put the money into savings, which won’t stimulate the economy. We have had no “great” innovation in many, many years and to return to a super power and a great economy we need new innovations.
I’ve seen Paul Krugman many times on TV and lately have been also reading a lot by Nobel Prize Winner and economist Paul Krugman. He said what I have heard others, including Warren Buffet say. Recently, he was here in Portland. Paul Krugman says we need new innovation much like the railroad and what it did for America. He suggested green technology could be the answer. (Note: Mr. Krugman says first green technology is the answer then says it isn’t. He also contradicts himself when he says initially a recovery will ocur in 2011 and then in another interview says early next year. Yet another economist who just doesn’t know!). Mr. Krugman is an esteemed economist, yet hasn’t been consistent with his forecasts. I realize he is a Nobel Peace Price winner; however on other interviews I’ve seen him, his predictions have been pretty bleak. The links above will take you to three separate interviews or remarks made by Krugman. There was also a lengthy article in The Oregonian again contradictory.
There have been no new technologies developed since the birth of the Internet. Where will that innovation come from? Will education be the answer? A new entrepreneur? I do agree with Professors Krugman and Feldstein that the stimulus just isn’t large enough.
5-10-20+++YEARS FROM NOW
The other evening on the Bill Moyers Journal, Vartan Gregorian said education should be a part of any stimulus because that will impact our future economy. He said:
“As an immigrant I have a different view of America. I see America in perspective. As a historian, I see the depth of it as well. And, there are great moments in American history. Since President Obama is fond of Abraham Lincoln, I’ll start with Abraham Lincoln. In the middle of the Civil War, (the) worst tragedy that happened to America, Abraham Lincoln signed (the) Morrill Act, (that) established land grant universities. Imagine now (today) any president doing that in the middle of all the calamities we have, Afghanistan, Iraq, economy, and Iran and the Middle East, somebody spending that much effort on (that) because he wanted to see the future of America.”
“In the middle of (the) Civil War, Lincoln established a National Academy of Sciences, (in) 1863, because he wanted to see the future of America. In the middle of (the) Civil War, he established a commission to study the merits of (the) metric system for America. Because he wanted to see not one year, one to four year (s); he wanted to see 20, 30, 40 years. Second thing that happened(was) in the middle of the war. World War II, ‘44, Japan is still fighting, Germany’s still fighting, Roosevelt established (the) Servicemen’s Act, which later became (the) GI Bill, to see what will happen if ten to eleven million soldiers return without jobs. Would it unleash a new major depression? What? (He) Came up with this brilliant idea to give them (an) opportunity to be educated”
“Yet we’re the greatest country in the world. Well, on what basis? Just (the) economy does not make that right. We need also (to have) values. We need also to participate as citizens in the fate and future of our country. So we cannot have a democracy without its foundation being knowledge, in order to provide progress. And knowledge does not mean only technical knowledge. But also you need to have knowledge of our society, knowledge of the world. If we’re a superpower, world’s greatest power, we should know about the rest of the world”.
“We cannot afford duplication. We have to bring collaboration and (a) twenty-year vision, twenty-year plan, how to bring higher education of United States, both public and private, to help re-engineer, re-ignite, and keep the momentum of the United States and its progress by educating its workforce, by educating its leadership.”
On a website recently I saw this paragraph:
“The two most traumatic experiences in the nation’s history were the Civil War (1961-65) and the Great Depression of the 1930s. Buoyed by victories in World Wars I and II and the end of the Cold War in 1991, the US remains the world’s most powerful nation state. The economy is marked by steady growth, low unemployment and inflation, and rapid advances in technology.”
I found it interesting that at the G-20 European Summit, President Obama also spoke on the need for new innovations in the U.S. Unfortunately, we no longer have an economy with steady growth, low unemployment nor are we advancing in technology. Hopefully things are starting to get better and we will return as a strong nation once again with major innovations – one can only hope.
ALL ABOUT…..Portland.Oregon.Real Estate, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License. © Copyright 2008-2009 Betty Jung. All Rights Reserved. Use of this article, photos and images without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws. Based on a Blog at WordPress.
(For more local and national real estate information, go to www.bettyjung.com).
Portland
At a real estate convention many years ago I heard Lee Greenwood sing his famous song – ‘God Bless The U.S.A‘. Today, I am 
hearing that song ring true in my head as we now have crossed the divide and are all on the same page. Today, I’m proud to be an American. Whether you voted for Mr. Obama or not, you have to feel the power, the intensity, the strong sense of hope and patriotism as we see our new President take office.
I cannot imagine what it must feel like to be a Black American. As a little girl growing up in Pennsylvania, my mother and I took the bus to my music lessons. On those bus rides, I remember the Blacks having to sit in the back of the bus. That is a memory I have never forgotten because I didn’t understand why they had to sit in the back.
Today, however, we all share in this great historical event unfolding before our eyes. There must be music in heaven today as all who came before Barack Obama are jubilantly dancing on clouds in celebration.
Congratulations Mr. President and to America for finally getting it right.
© Copyright 2008-2009 Betty Jung. All Rights Reserved. Use of this article, photos and images without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.
ALL ABOUT…..Portland.Oregon.Real Estate by Betty Jung is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.
Based on a Blog at WordPress.
(For more local and national real estate information, go to www.bettyjung.com).
It suddenly occurred to me today after reading all the negative news in my local paper to question what really is the American Dream? I went looking 
for its true meaning and was convinced a President or statesman must have coined that phrase. So, what really is the American Dream? We keep grasping for it. We keep talking about it. Where did that phrase ever come from?
Wikipedia says:
Historian and writer James Truslow Adams coined the phrase “American Dream” (The movie title) in his 1931 book Epic of America:
“The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position.”
It further states that the American Dream is a belief in the freedom that allows all citizens and residents of the United States to achieve their goals in life through hard work and free choice. Today, it often refers to one’s material prosperity, which is dependent upon one’s abilities and work ethic, and not on a rigid class structure. The belief is that there’s a promise to access capital based on ability. We have economic freedoms with unlimited opportunities.
Although the phrase’s meaning has evolved over the course of American history, for some people, it is the opportunity to achieve greater material prosperity than was possible in their countries of origin. For others it is the opportunity for their children to grow up and receive an education and its consequent career opportunities. It is the opportunity to make individual choices without the restrictions of class, caste, religion, race, or ethnic group.
It doesn’t say we have the right or are entitled to own that “McMansion”, buy a piece of land or get in over our heads in debt. It does, however, say that we have the ability to achieve anything we want with hard work. I interpret that to mean saving for a down payment, working hard towards achieving our dreams and buying that piece of real estate without a government hand-out.
Pete Flint, CEO and co-founder of Trulia recently noted that his company commissioned a study which found that the so-called American Dream of homeownership is definitely not a dream shared by all. Less than half of the respondents said that homeownership is a great long-term investment and that only 56% said that homeownership is “part of achieving the American Dream”.
It also doesn’t say anything about instant gratification. Somewhere along the way we’ve lost the true meaning of the American Dream and feel we have a sense of entitlement instead. It’s been too easy up until now to just buy things we really don’t need with our multiple credit cards. As I’m writing this post I keep hearing Donald Trump’s Apprentice show’s theme song playing in my head…..money, money money! Here’s what the Library of Congress has to say about the American Dream.
When my family and I legally immigrated to the United States we came with only one suitcase. I was too young to know where I was going let alone what my life would be like in this new country. My parents, because they were immigrants, were spit on at their jobs while working towards our American Dream. This “great America” did not want us immigrants here. However, we ultimately became citizens in the mid-60s during the Kennedy era.
The United States of America affords each and every one of its citizens an opportunity to reach their goals. No other country in the world lets its people do that. To paraphrase President Abraham Lincoln…the purpose of life is to strive. That’s the root of the American Dream!
© Copyright 2008-2009 Betty Jung. All Rights Reserved. Use of this article, photos and images without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.
ALL ABOUT…..Portland.Oregon.Real Estate by Betty Jung is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.
Based on a Blog at WordPress.
(For more local and national real estate information, go to www.bettyjung.com).
As I was doing research for another post, I came across “The American’s Creed”. Now that we have a new President, I thought it would be good to revisit it. My hope is that we come together now as one nation, together solving the many issues that stand before us individually and as a country. HAIL TO OUR NEW CHIEF! Mr. President, Barack Obama!
THE AMERICAN’S CREED
“The American’s Creed” is a U.S. patriotic document written in 1917 by William Tyler Page, clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. The document was adjudged to be the best brief summary of the political faith of the United States of America from among the several thousand entries submitted in a national citizens’ creed contest. On April 3, 1918, the U.S. Commissioner of Education read “The American’s Creed”in public for the first time before a session of the House of Representatives, where it was formally accepted in the name of the U.S. Government. The creed reads as follows:
“I believe in the United States of America as a Government of the People, for the People; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a republic; a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect Union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes”.
“I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it; to support its Constitution; to obey its laws; to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies”.
(Source: Encyclopedia Britannica)
© Copyright 2008-2009 Betty Jung. All Rights Reserved. Use of this article, photos and images without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.
ALL ABOUT…..Portland.Oregon.Real Estate by Betty Jung is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.
Based on a Blog at WordPress.
(For more local and national real estate information, go to www.bettyjung.com).
Over a year ago, I saw a show where Iranian students through some world foundation were told to visit different parts of the United States and report on what they found. I don’t remember the foundation they worked for; however, the two students travelled from east coast to west and from our northern border to the south. What they found were dramatic differences in styles, opinions, prejudices and people within our boundaries.
Generally, they liked the United States far better than they ever imagined they would but did find prejudices against them in certain parts of our country, although they were tempered. They were also surprised that they could get into gentlemanly disagreements with people and express their own opinions without fear of retaliation. Most of those times were with people who lived in the southern U.S. What was interesting; however, is when they got back to Iran their friends and peers didn’t believe them when they said how nice it really was here. Their friends were convinced that the United States had brain-washed them. No matter what they said to their friends, they still didn’t believe the two students.
Just recently I saw Howard Stringer, CEO for Sony, being interviewed. A question directed at him was how he felt the U.S. was viewed by the rest of the world. I had already started thinking about writing this post when his interview inspired me further. I’ve been wondering how the world was seeing us now that we are entrenched in a global financial disaster where many, still silently, blame us for causing. We’ve been telling the rest of the world that capitalism is the cure-all and end-all and now we have to admit we have failed; or rather, other countries are telling us we have failed. Therefore, I’ve been interested in the views of people from around the world. One reason I like reading blogs is because they are uncensored and from everyday people just like you and me. You get varied opinions other than from the U.S. media.
Following are just some of what I have seen in blogosphere that I think are interesting.
Here’s a quote from a blogger in India on how he views our situation:
“First, such lending was popularised from the White House to ordinary American homes as achieving a noble purpose, namely, it was necessary, as the unfolding story reveals, to induce Americans to borrow and shop for their country. That is, it was part of the patriotic duty the Americans as a whole to borrow and shop.”
From a Bosnian blogger came this:
“The global financial crisis will see the US falter in the same way the Soviet Union did when the Berlin Wall came down. The era of American dominance is over.”
A blogger from Shanghai said this:
“The United States has plundered global wealth by exploiting the dollar’s dominance, and the world urgently needs other currencies to take its place.”
This came from a Czechoslavkian blogger:
“The greatest city of the world, the city of money and Wall Street, the world’s financial center, brought to its hands and feet.”
An Asian blogger had this to say:
“Americans will not easily give up the illusion that ever-expanding wealth is their birthright.”
A Russian blogger said this:
“In the United States, most people get their food from a supermarket, which is supplied from far away using refrigerated diesel trucks. Many people don’t even bother to shop and just eat fast food. When people do cook, they rarely cook from scratch. This is all very unhealthy, and the effect on the nation’s girth, is visible, clear across the parking lot. A lot of the people, who just waddle to and from their cars, seem unprepared for what comes next. If they suddenly had to start living like the Russians, they would blow out their knees.”
Howard Stringer said that what will bring the U.S. back as a super power is a “handshake”, a President who is willing to sit down, talk and reach his hand across the table. Today is ELECTION DAY and I hope we get that kind of President elected so we can show the world our compassion, our richness, our strengths so that all of us will become even stronger.
Here in Oregon, we have a mail-in ballot and have already voted. For the rest of the country, please VOTE!
© Copyright 2008-2009 Betty Jung. All Rights Reserved. Use of this article, photos and images without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.
ALL ABOUT…..Portland.Oregon.Real Estate by Betty Jung is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.
Based on a Blog at WordPress.
(For more local and national real estate information, go to www.bettyjung.com).
There are lots of blogs I read. I’m not obsessive about it, but on occasion I will drift from one to another.
Donald Trump’s blog is one I read every now and then. Mr. Trump relayed what author and Presidential Historian (and regular guest on The Charlie Rose Show) Donna Kearns Goodwin wrote about which leadership strengths a good President should have by looking at what traits past Presidents have shared. It was suggested we look at our Presidential-nominees and question whether they have those same leadership skills.
It’s never been more important than this Election that you VOTE! This country needs a strong leader to keep this country strong as well. Robert Kiyosaki recently said: “We’re starting to lose the very freedoms this country was founded on and what most of the world yearns for”. Please vote and exercise your freedom as an American because we’re all counting on you.
(You can read his blog at http://www.trumpuniversity.com or go directly to his post (http://www.trumpuniversity.com/blog/post/2008/09/presidential-list.cfm).
“Presidential List” from Donald Trump’s blog and written by Donna Kearns Goodwin:
1. The courage to stay strong.
This means a President needs to be able to withstand adversity. Lincoln is a terrific example, as he dealt with poverty and polio and was able to lead this country at a tremendously difficult time in history.
2. Self-confidence
Lincoln surrounded himself with people of differing perspectives who would disagree with him and say so. Self confidence doesn’t require yes men and women as advisors.
3. An ability to learn from errors
The first step is to acknowledge an error and the second is to effectively move forward. Both Lincoln and FDR were able to do this. When FDR’s program didn’t work as he had planned, he created a new one in its place, learning from the mistakes he’d made.
4. A willingness to change
FDR incurred the wrath of industrials during his New Deal, but when war came, he made peace with them, knowing their commitment was necessary for a victory.
5. Emotional intelligence
Both Lincoln and FDR shared credit for successes, and FDR had a gift of making others feel confident they could do their best.
6. Self control
Leaders can manage their emotions and remain objective and productive in times of calamity. When Pearl Harbor was attacked, FDR remained calm, absorbing the news while deciding what to do. Lincoln had the habit of writing a ‘hot letter’ when he was angry, putting it aside, and never sending it.
7. A popular touch
The best Presidents appear to have an intuitive sense of what the public wants or needs to hear. FDR held his ‘fireside chats’ but only when he felt the timing was right.
8. A moral compass
Lincoln was warned that if he didn’t renounce emancipation, he would have no chance of re-election. He said, “I should be damned in time and in eternity” if he chose to turn his back on the slaves to whom he had pledged freedom. He turned his party’s leaders away and the rest is history.
9. A capacity to relax
Both FDR and Lincoln knew the importance of laughter. Lincoln had a good sense of humor and told long tales, and FDR had an evening cocktail hour at the White House with two rules: Politics and war could not be discussed.
10. A gift for inspiring others
FDR’s first inaugural address was at the height of the Depression, yet his deep confidence in his country gave new hope to millions of people. His communication skills were remarkable, as were Lincoln’s. They both shared a love and knowledge of poetry and drama, and used that knowledge effectively. They knew how to educate the public while inspiring them.
In a recent post I wrote about Measure 63. That post includes a link to all the ballot measures coming up in the Election. Here’s the post that will link you to those ballot measures.
© Copyright 2008-2009 Betty Jung. All Rights Reserved. Use of this article, photos and images without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.
ALL ABOUT…..Portland.Oregon.Real Estate by Betty Jung is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.
Based on a Blog at WordPress.
(For more local and national real estate information, go to www.bettyjung.com).
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