#OTD in #History 1888, Irving Berlin was born. He was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his song “God Bless America.” It continues to provide patriotism when needed most, like in #WW2, & on #September11, when #Congress spontaneously sung it on the steps of the #USA Capitol
#OTD in #History, 1906, Carl Schurz passed away. He was the 1st German-American Senator, dedicated his life to reform, and rejected “My country, right or wrong,” preferring “the watchword of true patriotism: ‘Our country—when right to be kept right; when wrong to be put right.’”
#OTD in #History 1918, the Sedition Act was passed. It banned in WW1 “abusive language” vs the #USA. Dissenters included Sen. La Follette: the US was “founded on the right of the people freely to discuss...in this Government the people are the rulers in war no less than in peace”