In Guns, Germs, and Steel, Jerod Diamond makes an interesting observation about peninsulas: the landform, much like an island, isolates a people. Peninsulas act as a force multiplier, granting a space easier defense, so that a polity might survive invasion by a much more powerful culture. (Think: Hot Gates and Isthmus of Corinth.) Conversely, a spit can bring the closed-culture [...]
Posts under ‘RED/People’
Heroes
What is a hero? What is an American hero? These were questions raised at a recent workshop at James Madison’s Montpelier http://www.montpelier.org/ . On display in the lobby of one of the buildings, there is a bust of “Jemmy” more than a bit out of proportion to his actual (slight) dimensions. However, artists sometimes exaggerate in [...]
Are We One Yet?
I nearly titled this post, “Seth’s People of Circles.” His extension of Will’s boxes included adding all kinds of little circles to the red box indicating the many different groups present in the American people. Religious groups, community organizations, and even some families may earnestly assert a covenant they’ve made and hold above that of [...]
"Rationally Ignorant" for U.S. Senate
I am at an FTE seminar and as I was doing one of the readings I found something that I thought supported my argument that we should be return the way U.S. senators are elected to having the State Assemblies elect the state’s U.S. senators. The book ‘The Economics of Public Policies’ says, ” many [...]
Constitutional Teaching: To Form a More Perfect Union
A post during the first session at Montpelier initiated this series of inviting us to think about our role as teachers and officers of the U.S. Constitution. The task was to discuss each goal of the Constitution in our own terms and share how we support these goals in our work as teachers. For this [...]
Wall-E: Perfectly Constituted Disorder
I saw the most frightening childrens’ movie this weekend, Pixar’s “Wall-E.” The child in the row behind me squealed with delight over every adorable character. She punctuated each screen debut with the character’s name. She faithfully announced Wall-E and Eve each time, convinced we were as excited as she was. She had no idea I [...]
Essence of an Anti-Federalist
On the same note as the essence of a federalist, What is the essence of an anti-federalist? –Keith J Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Recommend on Facebook Share on Linkedin share via Reddit Share with Stumblers Tumblr it Tweet about it Bookmark in Browser Tell a friend
Essence of a Federalist
I have what at first seems to be a simple question, until you begin to try and answer it: What is the essence of a federalist? –Keith J Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Recommend on Facebook Share on Linkedin share via Reddit Share with Stumblers Tumblr it Tweet about it Bookmark in Browser Tell [...]
A People United by Links
A number of links and web resources were discussed during the NEH Landmarks Institute at Montpelier. I’m going to post a few that I caught and ask that everyone add to the list by posting a comment to share your best kept secrets on the web. Sue Leeson shared this resource created by Gordon Lloyd. [...]
Must See: Declaration of Independence
Weather the four-minute introduction to see some of your favorite actors read the document in Independence Hall. Notice what is read in an individual’s voice and what is read as a chorus and contemplate the document’s ongoing significance… From Morgan Freeman’s introduction, “The real glory has been our nation’s epic struggle throughout history to close [...]
