History Matters
“We’ve seen a force that would shatter our nation rather than share it, would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy. And this effort very nearly succeeded. But while democracy can be periodically delayed, it can never be permanently defeated.
In this truth, in this faith, we trust. For while we have our eyes on the future, history has its eyes on us.” – Amanda Gorman
BBC: Mystery of a Victorian-era wreck in Arctic waters
Researchers in Canada have been exploring HMS Terror from the ill-fated Franklin Expedition. Mystery of a Victorian-era wreck in Arctic waters Researchers in Canada have been exploring HMS Terror from the ill-fated Franklin Expedition.
New York Times: Why They Killed Chico Mendes
Francisco Alves Mendes Filho, better known as Chico Mendes (December 15, 1944 – December 22, 1988), was a Brazilian rubber tapper, trade union leader and environmentalist. He fought to preserve the Amazon rainforest, and advocated for the human rights of Brazilian...
Wired: America’s Decades-Old Obsession With Nuking Hurricanes (and More)
If you think dropping a nuclear bomb into the eye of a hurricane is a bad idea, wait'll you see what they had in mind for the polar ice caps. America's Decades-Old Obsession With Nuking Hurricanes (and More)Sunday night, Axios's Jonathan Swan broke news that...
75 years later, World War II veterans go back to Paris
War, he says, is "nasty, smelly, terrible." But he maintains, "it was important for someone to do this," to stop Hitler from taking over more of the world. We defeated them once. We'll do it again. 75 years later, World War II veterans go back to Paris PARIS -...
Washington Post: Gabriel’s revolt
In 1800, he was savvy, armed and determined to end slavery in Virginia’s capital. But on the day of the bold slave insurrection, disaster struck. Gabriel's revolt: In 1800, he was savvy, armed and determined to end slavery in Virginia's capital August 23 More...
Washington Post: Aaron Burr had a secret family of color, new research shows
The vice president is best known for killing rival Alexander Hamilton in an 1804 duel. But he was also a notorious rake, historians say. Aaron Burr - villain of 'Hamilton' - had a secret family of color, new research shows August 24 at 1:20 PM Within a week of...
The politics of fear can’t solve the challenges of our time.
"Most of all, Eisenhower emphasized the country’s “spiritual strength,” the importance of which he said was at that moment “just as great in its requirements as it has ever been in our whole history.” This meant steadfast commitment to the values reflected in the Bill...
Washington Post: A dark account of how unrestricted power can turn men to beasts
When some people have unrestricted and unreviewable power over others — when no one can be compelled to answer for his actions when asked: “Why?” — some of those with power will behave like beasts simply because they can. And because absolute power corrupts...
Washington Post: Living the Existential Lie
The Tea Party (remember them?) chose to so name themselves because they aspire to be known as "those who possess a strong belief in the Judeo-Christian values embedded in our great founding documents." This isn't much of a description, but by associating themselves...
NYT: 400 years of African struggle in America
Racism is like alcoholism. You can' recover from it until you admit you have it. The 1619 Project In August of 1619, a ship appeared on this horizon, near Point Comfort, a coastal port in the British colony of Virginia. It carried more than 20 enslaved Africans, who...