Category: government

House Republicans Demonstrate the Dangers of Not Learning from Great Literature

January 5, 2023

“Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Sir Winston Churchill (paraphrasing a similiar earlier quote by George Santayana). I am biased, because I am a literature teacher, but I would make a similar statement about studying literature. Those who don’t learn the great lessons from great literature at least open … More House Republicans Demonstrate the Dangers of Not Learning from Great Literature

An Educator’s Personal Perspective on the Big Divide

November 8, 2022

Recently I wrote a post about my concerns about the current election process and how I found inspiration to counter my fears and doubts with hope (click here to read that post). One of my long-time readers and faithful commenters left a great comment that made me think about things a little deeper, and so … More An Educator’s Personal Perspective on the Big Divide

July 4th Thoughts from US Senator Cory Booker: “If America hasn’t broken your heart, you don’t love her enough.”

July 6, 2022

Wow! If that isn’t a true quote, not just about America, but about everyone and everything I’ve ever loved, I don’t know what is! If you are not familiar with Senator Booker, he is an African American and former mayor of Newark who is now a US Senator for New Jersey. Long-time readers know that … More July 4th Thoughts from US Senator Cory Booker: “If America hasn’t broken your heart, you don’t love her enough.”

Finally, the Jan 6 Diogenes Found His Honest Man. Turns Out It’s a Millenial Woman from New Jersey

July 2, 2022

If you remember from your school days, Diogenes was an ancient Greek philosopher who was said to have carried a lamp around, “searching for an honest man.” To me, that resembles the work of the Congressional January 6 Investigation Committee. They are examining an assault on the US Capitol that was broadcast live in real … More Finally, the Jan 6 Diogenes Found His Honest Man. Turns Out It’s a Millenial Woman from New Jersey

July 23, 2022: It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times

June 24, 2022

As I read the news this morning about yesterday’s events at the US Capitol, the literature teacher in me could not help but recall the famous opening passage to Charles Dicken’s classic novel, A Tale of Two Cities: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of … More July 23, 2022: It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times

What We Really Need to Remember from 9/11

September 12, 2021

It may not surprise you that George W. Bush is not my favorite of the living US ex-Presidents. Except for yesterday. Yesterday, he was ex-President #1 in my opinion. Yesterday, the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in New York, Pennsylvania, and the Pentagon building outside Washington DC, all the living Presidents/ex-Presidents attended memorial services … More What We Really Need to Remember from 9/11