History

Paul Kane painting of a native American encampment

The URI President’s Questionable Claims About Farming and “Unceded Territory”

By Justin Katz | November 29, 2021 |

URI’s newly imported president is casually asserting priorities and history that may undermine his own institution and disrupt Rhode Islanders’ ability to determine their own destiny.

A chart of Native American life expectancy vs. the average

Encouraging fixation on historical harms isn’t helping the disadvantaged.

By Justin Katz | November 18, 2021 |

At the risk of expressing a forbidden opinion, this is not a healthy perspective: Even if Indigenous people spend Thanksgiving with family and festivities, [Tomaquag Museum executive director Lorén Spears] said, “They still know that this isn’t always a happy time for us because it reminds us of all the trauma and loss that our…

Kansas anti-mandate protesters

Historical analogies for the hated other.

By Justin Katz | November 17, 2021 |

If history repeated with a twist, would you notice?  I’ve wondered that often, over the years, and have marveled how difficult it seems for people to spot trends and recognize analogies. A recent example came courtesy of Paul Dion when he commented, “Absolutely disgusting,” while sharing a tweet by “they/them” California techy Chad Loder: In…

A water drop and ripples

Bonhoeffer’s theory of stupidity may explain our current predicament.

By Justin Katz | November 1, 2021 |

This whiteboard video describing Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s explanation of how stupidity was to blame for the rise of Nazis in Germany seems highly relevant to our current experience.

Richard August and Brian Newberry on State of the State

State of the State: Civics, Black History, and Other Matters

By Richard August | October 31, 2021 |

State Representative Brian Newberry, (R; Burrillville, North Smithfield) joins Richard August to discuss a wide range of legislation and concerns including but not limited to civics and Black history to be taught in RI schools; behind the scene political power struggle; immigration; need for affordable housing; growing state budget; proposed hospital merger and more. Regarding public school curriculum, Newberry encourages parents to become more involved in what is being taught to their children.

A water drop and ripples

Time for the counter-offensive of raisingmore statues.

By Justin Katz | October 27, 2021 |

I like John Steigerwald’s idea (via Instapundit): Instead of waiting for liberals to attack the Founders by attacking the statues that memorialize them, Republicans should be looking for places to put new ones, while, in the process, educating people about how Jefferson, who was born into slave ownership, helped to create the country that ended…

Theodor Aman's The Battle With Torches

Hate on Patrick Conley Exposes Progressives’ Need to Dominate

By Justin Katz | October 13, 2021 |

Phil Eil’s attack on RI Historian Laureate Patrick Conley is not the perspective of a tolerant person; it is the voice of an ideological movement that seizes power through division and dishonest appeals to fairness and then crushes all dissent the moment it thinks it has succeeded.

Dan McKee cuts a ribbon

Politics This Week with John DePetro: The Flustering McKee

By Justin Katz | October 12, 2021 |

John and Justin discuss ways in which the controversies of the day illustrate a surprising (and disappointing) tendency of the McKee administration.

A water drop and ripples

Modern autocracies are benefiting from the Sparta spin.

By Justin Katz | October 8, 2021 |

In an EconTalk episode, Russ Roberts evoked a fascinating response from University of North Carolina historian Bret Devereaux when he asked why, considering that the Spartans were so evil by today’s standards and also mediocre at warfare, they’ve enjoyed such a positive legend: The Spartans get really good press in our ancient sources. And part…

Pawtucket William Blackstone statue

WPRI promotes division, declaring a new holiday in solidarity with progressives.

By Justin Katz | October 8, 2021 |

Don’t bother looking on your calendar as you attempt to interpret this headline on an Eli Sherman article on WPRI: William Blackstone statue rally planned for Indigenous Peoples Day in Pawtucket By “Indigenous Peoples Day,” WPRI means Columbus Day.  It’s just that radicals looking to divide our nation have been insisting we change the name of…