[November 16, 2021] In 2012, China formally adopted an idealistic set of 12 “core socialist values” at their 18th National Congress.1 This set of values, not unlike core values I’ve written about here in my blog, attempt to set the stage for how citizens of China see themselves in relation to citizens of other nations and among themselves. … Read More »
[November 15, 2021] Robert Reid, the President of the Absecon Historical Society (of New Jersey), invited my wife and me to one of their meetings. I found the townsfolk to be warm and accommodating, informed, and happy to hear my comments on the Iraq War. We didn’t catch what happened earlier in the day. The Historical Society opens… Read More »
[November 14, 2021] The allure of irresponsibility is too strong to resist. Our most admired institutions (academia, the military, large corporations) are failing American citizens and hurting democracy through their encouragement of irresponsibility. In academia, we are unfocused, individualized, and scattered. A cultural void has descended upon us and hit unexpectedly, for we were not on guard. Ignorance… Read More »
[November 13, 2021] Holding onto flawed ideas is not a way to achieve success in our lives. Yet, we continue to hold onto them, however ill-founded they are, stubbornly, painstakingly, and with great emotional attachment. We are comfortable doing so, yet intellectually we understand the disadvantages of what we do. This problem is why good leadership means committing… Read More »
[November 12, 2021] No, we are not brave! This admission may come as a shock to many, but nearly every person I’ve ever met, whether in the military or civilian life, are cowards, and so am I. We put up a good front, of course, and we do this by talking big, owning cool stuff, and belonging to… Read More »
[November 11, 2021] For more than two centuries, ordinary men and women held their hands up as they were sworn to “protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” From that small beginning, our Veterans began a journey that took them where very few go. Why do people, and our society, look up to our Veterans? The… Read More »
[November 10, 2021] I was handed the answer to a common question. What is a Veteran? The answer is by Father Denis Edward O’Brien. While I could not confirm Father O’Brien actually wrote this, I did find the answer enlightening. In preparation for Veterans Day tomorrow, I thought this most appropriate. Some veterans bear visible signs of their… Read More »
[November 9, 2021] Our Drill Sergeants in Basic Combat Training took sadistic pleasure in screaming at us raw recruits … at least it seemed that way. After a long march or any similar difficult task, they would say to us, “time for a gut check.” In other words, they wanted to know if we had the intestinal fortitude… Read More »
[November 8, 2021] I have a general rule that I don’t argue with close-minded people. Good counsel says, “Never wrestle with a pig, you both get dirty, and the pig likes it.” And for that reason, I also rarely offer advice. In today’s article, I will tackle the problem of arguing with or giving advice to “woke” teenagers.… Read More »
[November 7, 2021] I know what you’re thinking; our education system in American is a target-rich environment for bashing. That is undoubtedly tempting, but my purpose here is to show a few reasons why school choice works and that mandatory public school education may not be the best path for the future of any country. We hear a… Read More »