I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.
Nathan Hale
Tweet of the Day
This defensiveness of Trump is beyond stupid: it's dangerous. He basically outed Israel as the source of intelligence discussion with Russia— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 22, 2017
Why would Trump even bring up Israel in the context of Russian discussions at a press conference in Israel? Who is he trying to convince?— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 22, 2017
No, the 100 or so new Notre Dame graduates who walked out on Pence's commencement address didn't violate his rights--but exposed intolerance— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 22, 2017
If you Notre Dame students can't respectfully sit through a 15-minute commencement speech, it speaks volumes about your incivility.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 22, 2017
I remember when I was on the academic market, Notre Dame had posted a position in my field. As a Catholic, I wanted to apply. Good riddance.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 22, 2017
I once had most of a class walk out on me as a calculus TA. We had twice weekly lab sessions. I reminded students attendance optional.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 22, 2017
Image of the Day
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| Via Liberty.me |
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| via LFC on FB |
Dems vs GOP: An Historical Perspective
On the Meaning Of Confederate Symbols
No, contrary to cultural Marxists, the Battle Flag/Southern Cross or Confederate statues are not a celebration of the abomination of institution of slavery (which also stained the North during the eighteenth century/before) or racism. In fact, the Confederate Battle Flag has flown outside the US, far various reasons, including separatism. A good summary by Mike Scruggs:
The Southern Cross then had a very strong Christian association to Confederate soldiers and the Southern people. As celebrated Southern historian, Shelby Foote, has said, it also came to stand for Law, in the sense of a government of Law rather than a government subject to the whim of tyrants or majorities. In that regard it stood for a strict rather than opportunistic interpretation of Law and Constitutions. It also came to be a symbol of defiance against tyranny and the right of a free people to determine their own destiny. This may be one of its most enduring meanings. The Confederate Battle Flag has been seen all over the world in this regard, on the Berlin Wall, and in the capitals of the Baltic republics and Eastern Europe, wherever free people must resist tyranny and the modern scourge of political correctness. It stood for limited government and States Rights against the dangers of concentrated and centralized power. It stood for the principles of the constitutional federal republic of 1787 that the South felt were threatened by Northern political philosophies and economic ambitions. It stood for the Rights gained and blood-sacrifices their forefathers had made in the Revolutionary War. If there was one word used more often than any other in the secession conventions, it was “Honor.” The Confederate Battle Flag came to signify the honor of the Confederate soldier and the Southern people. It has come to symbolize the South itself with all its culture.And, by the way, on the sainted Abraham Lincoln, emancipator of slaves:
More problematic were Lincoln’s views on race. He held opinions not very different from those of the majority of his racist countrymen. Even if slavery was wrong, “there is a physical difference between the white and black races that will for ever forbid the two races from living together on terms of social and political equality.” His solution was a form of ethnic cleansing: shipping blacks off to Liberia, or Haiti, or Central America — anywhere as long as it wasn’t the United States.
A Blueprint for Illinois State's Future
Against Public Education
Political Cartoon
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| Courtesy of Lisa Benson via Townhall |
Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists
Neil Diamond, "Cherry Cherry". His first Top 10 hit.
