Category: History & Culture
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In Support of Pluralism
I was reminded again this weekend the wide range of views that people, even in my circle of friends, tend to have on various topics. The hot topic this past weekend was President Obama’s remarks about the Crusades and Inquisition at the a prayer breakfast. The views from the right wanted to crucify him for…
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Know Your History: FDR’s Big Mistake
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was well-liked in many circles, revered in others, and generally looked upon in a favorable manner by historians. Of course, there are those on the right who criticize his big government model of the 1930s, which greatly expanded government power and reach – something we can all agree hasn’t been diminished since.…
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Is Society More Dysfunctional Than It Used to Be? (not really)
It’s easy to think that we live in a dysfunctional society. When’s the last time Congress worked together on an issue to accomplish a big task? Hmmmm … ??? We complain about everything. Education (Common Core), Health Care (Obamacare), Economy, civil rights, and whatever are the big issues of the day. I think that’s the…
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Know Your History: Christmas Invasion of Cambodia, 1978
The beginning of the end of the dark periods of modern history began on December 25, 1978, when a sure-footed, well-oiled, Vietnamese fighting machine crossed the border, heading straight towards the nearly deserted Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh. The ramifications and irony of such an invasion were lost on many people at that time, and…
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A TIME RIPE FOR CHANGE ON THE ARABIAN PENINSULA (part 2)
Here’s part two of an essay on the historical emergence of Islam. Part I HERE The Bedouin lifestyle, the pre-Islamic religious make-up of the peninsula, and the Bedouin penchant for language all helped to pave the way for the message of Muhammad. The close societal bonds of Islam cemented support around the cause of Allah. This…
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A TIME RIPE FOR CHANGE ON THE ARABIAN PENINSULA (part 1)
Here’s part I of an essay which explores the historical conditions on the Arabian peninsula which led to the rise and spread of Islam. A quick perusal of history reveals a plethora of individuals who have impacted the historical narrative in profound ways. The underlying question that remains concerning these great persons of history is…
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World War I: Historical and Literary Descriptions (Part II)
Read Part I: HERE! Part II: continued. In the battle of the Somme, the English were caught flat-footed in no-man’s land. The six days of bombardments and the barrage did not cut through the wire as they anticipated and many battalions would be caught in the middle and would either luckily find a way through or…
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World War I: Historical and Literary Descriptions (Part I)
Here’s an essay I wrote which looks at both the historical and literary descriptions of World World II. The historical descriptions are from noted historical John Keegan, and the literary descriptions are from Erich Maria Remarque’s classic novel, All Quiet on the Western Front. World War I had an ebb and flow to it like no…
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Stalin in the 1930s Part II: The Great Terror
Read Part I HERE! In his biography Stalin, Robert Service writes of Joseph as a young child being someone who was determined to prevail. “No matter how many times he was knocked down, he got back up and fought on. He broke the rules if it helped him win. Joseph was sly. He was also ambitious:…
Author Mark W Sasse 