Dred Scott’s Revenge by Judge Andrew Napolitano: A Review

// August 31st, 2009 // No Comments » // Books, Daily Life, History, People

It’s always a privilege to review a book as a Book Review Blogger for Thomas Nelson. I happen to love history, especially American history. I’ve heard Judge Nap on Fox News a lot and was intrigued to see this book as an option in the BRB selections. With our first black President in office, I thought this might help me understand a little better the dynamics of race in America and it’s history. This book did that and more.

Judge Nap takes us on a journey through a legal history of race in America. He has studied this thoroughly and his references are well documented. Beginning before the Revolutionary War and working right up to our present times, the Judge details the attempts to rid America of slavery, who was at the forefront, and the reasons why racism is still prevalent today.

The most troublesome section for me was frankly the role President Lincoln played. I’d always thought he was foremost the anti-slavery president. According to Judge Nap and his meticulous research, when it came right down to it, keeping the Nation together was more important than freeing ALL slaves. Want proof? Why did the emancipation proclamation not end slavery and racism? Lynchings and segregation existing right up until recently. Lincoln wasn’t the only one. The founders also realized that if slavery was abolished entirely, a UNITED states would not have been possible.

If there is one thing that saddens me most, it is how the black community has been used over and over again for political expediency. Many church leaders were the worst culprits in promoting racism. I urge you to read this book. It will surely open your eyes to a race that has been held down both legally and emotionally for 300 years on this continent. You will surely look at people of color differently and with a heart of compassion.

This Memorial Day Consider a Child

// May 25th, 2009 // No Comments » // History, Military, Music

Roger Waters of Pink Floyd fame, and an incredible songwriter, owes much of his fame unfortunately to the death of his dad in World War II.  The Walland The Final Cutare stinging rebukes to the leadership in England and how in his mind nothing is worth losing a father over.  On a previously unreleased track from The Final Cut, Waters laments:

It was just before dawn one miserable morning in black ‘forty four.
When the forward commander was told to sit tight when he asked that his men be withdrawn.
And the Generals gave thanks as the other ranks held back the enemy tanks for a while.
And the Anzio bridgehead was held for the price of a few hundred ordinary lives.

And kind old King George sent Mother a note when he heard that father was gone.
It was, I recall, in the form of a scroll, with gold leaf and all.
And I found it one day in a drawer of old photographs, hidden away.
And my eyes still grow damp to remember his Majesty signed with his own rubber stamp.

It was dark all around.
There was frost in the ground when the tigers broke free.
And no one survived from the Royal Fusiliers Company C.
They were all left behind, most of them dead, the rest of them dying.
And that’s how the High Command took my daddy from me.

“When the tigers broke free”  - Pink Floyd, The Final Cut

I grew up listening to these albums without really paying attention to the words or the themes.  The music was great.  “Another Brick in the Wall” caused much angst among teachers I recall.  As I look back and listen again today, I can only think that Waters spent much of his youth and most of his adult life angry and confused, if these and other lyrics are any indication.  To a child, war doesn’t make sense.  Losing a parent to something that doesn’t make sense makes it doubly tough.

When a child loses a parent to war, especially an unpopular one, the risk is substantial that the honor and respect — the legacy — due the parent by all Americans will be forgotten.  It’s tough for children to overhear things like “illegal war” and “misguided ideologies” and “torturers” and not come away feeling angry and confused, much like Roger Waters did.

A Soldier’s Child Birthday Foundation was established in an effort to remind children of fallen military personnel that their mom or dad did make a difference and were in fact heroes just by the mere fact that they chose to don a uniform of the United States.  It is our hope that you might consider joining us to keep the legacy of dad or mom alive by helping us provide a birthday present to a child each year up to age 19.  This Memorial Day, consider a child.  Read more HERE.

Civics 101 - Answers from Yesterday

// January 13th, 2009 // No Comments » // Economy, History, Mind

These are the answers to the Civics quiz from yesterday. So how’d you do?

1. a

2. a

3. a

4. d

5. d

6. b

7. d

8. d

9. c

10. a

Civics 101 - So you think you know your civics?

// January 12th, 2009 // No Comments » // Daily Life, History, Mind

This is a critical time to be smart. One area that concerns me is the apparent and seemingly intentional dumbing down of us citizens in our understanding of basic civics and civic responsibility.  Below I’ve gathered some questions to test your knowledge of basic civics? These are the kind of test questions that immigrants will see as part of the naturalization process. There are some in this country that think you’d be better off dumb and happy with a fat government handout.  I think being smart is better.  Tougher, but better.

1. How many Senators are there?

a. 100

b. 50

c. 435

d. 102

2. Whose rights are guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights?

a. everyone (citizens and noncitizens living in the United States)

b. registered voters

c. the president

d. natural-born citizens

3. Can the Constitution be changed?

a. yes

b. no

c. yes, but only by the president

d. yes, but only by the voters

4. What do the stripes on the flag represent?

a. the states in the Union

b. the articles of the Constitution

c. the Cabinet

d. the 13 original Colonies

5. Which of the following is not a constitutional requirement in order to become president?

a. The person must be at least 35 years old by the time he or she would serve.

b. The person must have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years.

c. The person must be a natural-born citizen of the U.S.

d. The person must have served as a governor.

6. How many justices comprise the Supreme Court?

a. ten

b. nine

c. three

d. thirteen

7. Why did the Pilgrims come to America?

a. to meet the Indians

b. to escape the Revolutionary War

c. to search for gold

d. to have religious freedom

8. What are the first ten amendments to the Constitution called?

a. the First Ten Amendments

b. the Preamble

c. the Articles of Confederation

d. the Bill of Rights

9. What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

a. It freed the Indians.

b. It ended the Civil War.

c. It freed many slaves.

d. It ended World War II.

10. What is the maximum number of terms a president can serve?

a. two

b. three

c. four

d. There is no limit.

How’d you do?  Answers Tomorrow

From Virgil’s Aeneid

// September 26th, 2008 // No Comments » // Art, History

I’ve been trying to track down the history of my first name forever.  I’d heard that it was based in mythology or from one of Homer’s (not Simpson) writings.  A recent Google search found that my name shows up primarily in Virgil’s “The Aeneid”.  Oh valiant warrior that I was, I tried to take on the prince, but alas tragedy strikes.

Now Turnus leads his troops without delay,
Advancing to the margin of the sea.
The trumpets sound: Aeneas first assail’d
The clowns new-rais’d and raw, and soon prevail’d.
Great Theron fell, an omen of the fight;
Great Theron, large of limbs, of giant height.
He first in open field defied the prince:
But armor scal’d with gold was no defense
Against the fated sword, which open’d wide
His plated shield, and pierc’d his naked side.

So now I know the rest of the story.

The expense of time

// July 30th, 2008 // 2 Comments » // Daily Life, History, People, Travel

I visited a small city in Russia a few years ago. It’s really not that small. Formerly Stalingrad, now Volgograd, it’s a city where history lives just down the street from my good friend Vitaly (and a million or so others). I met Vitaly on a trip there with a all-volunteer orchestra from the US. Vitaly and I hit it off quickly. He knew English well enough and had a neat sense of humor. He is a taxi van driver and the pastor of a small church there. He gets paid by doing the former so that he can help others doing the latter.

So we’ve been keeping in touch via email regularly. I got to visit him again last year when I visited Moscow, Tomsk (Siberia), and Volgograd performing with a big band jazz group. This is one of those friendships that just picked up again as if I had only gone down the street for some groceries. He tells me his English is good but he always confuses kitchen and chicken in translation.

I sent him an email asking if he’s experienced the same kind of thing I had where weeks go by and the time in between vanished as if stolen by a thief. He responded well.

You said interesting thing about time. It is true. It is difficult to understand that every minute or hour which God gave us costs “very expensive”, and we shall to spend it very very wise. I pray to God about that regular. Life is short, pray hard.

Such truth from halfway around the world.  I look forward to visiting him again next year as our family plans a trip around the world with stops in Moscow, Volgograd, and then Taipei.  And don’t you forget to visit the  online destination called Watercooler Wednesday each week at Ethos.

John Adams - A Great American

// July 14th, 2008 // No Comments » // History, People

We’ve been watching the HBO miniseries on John Adams life. Man, times were tough back then. John had a strong personality and had to persuade much of the continental congress that independence was the right thing. It was uphill all the way. He had some great quotes which I provide here.

We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution is designed only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for any other.

Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.

But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.

I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.

and perhaps my favorite…

In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress.

About Freedom

// July 4th, 2008 // No Comments » // Daily Life, History, Military

This fourth of July I’ve decided to spend a lot more time studying and relearning American history. I’m fascinated with our history and my limited but growing knowledge of such. It may be related to the current political scene and the various approaches that some have proposed for the future of our country. It may be the idea of firsts. No other country in the history of the world ever tried anything like our founders did. Allowing regular people to make decisions for themselves that only kings and nobleman did prior… crazy talk back then.

In the last few years, some really great books have been written about the people and places of the American Revolution. It’s a good thing too, as I’ve read and been intrigued by them, though I wish more average Joe’s like me would take the time to do the same. Though it’s not always to good to stay focused on the past, it sure is rough when you completely ignore it. Not at first always, but always just the same.

So the big question for me this 4th of July. Why? Why would men of reputation and means lay it all on the line. To lose meant death by hanging. To win meant liberty (and with it came many significant challenges). But to do nothing was worse than both. And today… Why do men and women rush into a burning building to save people they don’t know? Why do military personnel go back voluntarily for a second term to a hostile environment? There are countless examples of similar selfless acts. The one thing in common… they believe in something bigger than themselves. Whatever sacrifice they make is worth it.

The next question? Would I have the courage to do the same?

Mt. Soledad veterans memorial

// August 7th, 2006 // No Comments » // History, Military, moBlog

Mt. Soledad veterans memorial

Originally uploaded by icon tact.

This cross has been the source of controversy for some time. Some local atheist wants it removed even though it`s on private property. It provides a fantastic 360 view of la jolla down to mission bay and over to the downtown area.