Four hundred years ago, Charles I was crowned King of England. He became king automatically upon the death of his father, James I, but his coronation was delayed for almost a year. Officially, the delay was attributed to an outbreak of plague which made public gatherings deadly when, in truth, the excuse masked another reality. […]

In 1776 – 250 years ago – General George Washington made a decision that was both pragmatic and radical for its time when he integrated the Continental Army, allowing free Black men and later some formerly enslaved men to serve alongside white soldiers. But rather than being driven by enlightened ideas or progressive principles, Washington’s […]

Two hundred fifty years ago on January 10, 1776, Thomas Paine published his influential pamphlet, “Common Sense.” In today’s word, its publication went “viral” as it was re-printed and distributed throughout the American Colonies. At the time of its circulation, the colonies were in a state of flux. British troops were engaged in active combat […]

One Hundred Fifty years ago, a small business in Pittsburgh filed for bankruptcy protection. The H.J. Heinz Company was forced to take this action when the national economy soured, its contractual obligations were over extended, and the company could not pay its debts. This public humiliation could have marked the end of the company and […]

Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday. In fact, while a few other countries have a national day for prayer or thankfulness, nothing truly resembles our Thanksgiving Day. Europe, with its more established countries, scoffs at such a notion of commemorating the virtue or emotion of thanksgiving. They might celebrate national accomplishments like successful harvests, vanquishing […]

We are increasingly embroiled in an age in which the truth is an unwanted and uninvited guest. Leaders, especially in the body politic, have no desire to find the truth, because in finding it, they might have to change, resulting in dire consequences to the longevity of their public service, if not to their constituencies. […]

No one presided over its funeral, but vestiges of antisemitism died suddenly here, and no one missed its pernicious influence. Segregation based on race was an overt policy for years, but segregation on the basis of faith was a subtle form of discrimination, permeating through our political institutions for years. Its subtlety masked its effect, […]

Three Hundred years ago this month, in a dockside community in the East End of London, John Newton was born. Following in his father’s footsteps, he would become one of the hordes of Englishmen who “go down to the sea in ships.”   Initially, he served on a commercial vessel, but while at port, he […]

In the not-so-distant past, the United States’ relationship with the Soviet Union was best summed up by the policy of containment. The idea was very simple — communism in general and the Soviet Union in particular were menaces to the world order. Communism could be dealt with intellectually, but once the Soviet Union began to […]

Before the Declaration of Independence, there was the Olive Branch Petition. Written 250 years ago today, the Olive Branch Petition was Thomas Jefferson’s first attempt to explain to King George III why the American Colonies were rebelling and ask for reconciliation. The “Shot heard ‘round the world” had been fired almost three months earlier, and […]

That great standard of liberty, the Magna Carta, is 810 years old this month. Historians and political scientists have examined its provisions extensively, carefully allocating each clause to various rights and freedoms we now take for granted. Indeed, it is a fascinating inquiry to consider that so many centuries ago, various rights now considered standard […]

America’s mainland has generally been spared the destruction of war that has ravaged so many countries in the last century. Until September 11, offensive attacks on the United States mainland were limited to sabotage efforts executed on behalf of a foreign adversary, but the responsibility for some of these attacks remains speculative at best. One very […]

World War II ended in Europe 80 years ago, but without obtaining its stated objective. The cause of the war — the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Poland — went unrealized. Poland had merely traded Nazi occupation for Russian domination. For all the high-minded conjecture about a safer, more secure world, the fate of […]

Two hundred years ago, the Marquis de Lafayette spent nine days in Alabama traveling across the midwestern portion of the state from Georgia to Montgomery and then to Selma, the Capitol at Cahawba, and downriver to Mobile. Alabamians came out of the woodwork to see him; Lafayette drew crowds that any politician or public figure […]

All beginnings are hopeful, but 50 years ago the future of the Conservative Party in Great Britain was dismal. Their leader, Edward Heath, had managed to lose two general elections in a single year — far from an auspicious beginning. Sensing rumblings among his fellow Conservatives in Parliament, Heath decided to confirm his position as party […]

January rarely affords what anyone would describe as good weather in Washington, but this January 6 was adequate and normal, though it was probably good to have a Republican cloth coat. The U.S. House of Representatives had convened at noon to consider routine matters, not the least of which was to accept the oath of […]

Seventy-five years ago, William Faulkner was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature, an accomplishment that was significant enough, but what he said in his acceptance speech is perhaps even more significant and timeless. The dawning nuclear age of the 1940s called into question the viability of civilization and continued existence of mankind. Science was in […]

We should be thankful as a nation that electing a president has matured. Two hundred years ago, it seemed certain that Andrew Jackson would be the next President of the United States. Any casual observer would notice that he had won the popular vote and was on track to win the vote in the Electoral […]

For a communist country, it was strange to have an unsanctioned gathering of a million people, but 40 years ago in Poland, the funeral of a simple parish priest brought the nation to a halt to pay their last respects. Father Jerzy Popiełuszko was not known as a great scholar or a powerful intellectual. In […]

Communication has always been critical to international growth, development and understanding, but we take the ability of people to communicate for granted as most everyone has immediate access to phones, email, and text messaging.  While instant communication is new, not too long ago, the main source of communication was the written word, transmitted primarily by […]

The US Constitution was approved in September of 1787, ratified in 1788 and implemented in 1789. While there have always been debates about its meaning, as we celebrate its birthday this month, considering some foundational ideas on which it was based seems in order. “Experience must be our only guide. Reason might mislead us.” So […]

An Englishman named Joseph Priestley made a discovery 250 years ago that marked the beginning of modern chemistry and continues to have important ramifications today. His remarkable find was, in a word: Oxygen. Unlike inventions, which create something new, discoveries acknowledge something that already exists and quantify it to explain its significance. Of course, oxygen […]

I’ve never understood why Donald Trump seems to attract such a level of hatred and vitriol. There is nothing unusual about political candidates being vilified by opponents, but after an election or a term in office, the level of animosity usually subsides, and attacks focus on policy decisions and not as much on personality. I […]

Five hundred years ago, peasants in Central Europe revolted against their overlords. Inspired by the Protestant Reformation and Martin Luther’s confrontation with church hierarchy, peasants staged an insurrection which challenged the socio-economic order. This revolt would have a lasting impact on Europe and set the stage for future conflicts between the elite aristocracy and the […]