History
9/11 Memorial on 11/19
The last time I was in New York City, I regretted not making it downtown, down to see whatever progress the city had made on the memorial and the new building. On this occasion, well past 9/11 and deep into…
All Those Bitter Elections
For almost twenty years now, two of my favorite Americans have also been one-term presidents, John Adams and his son John Quincy Adams. It wasn’t their presidencies that drew my affection, but their principles, their love of family, and their…
What Have They Heard
Teaching on 9/11 has always been a peculiar experience. My first year in the classroom was 2010, in fourth grade, when my students were all nine years old, either not born yet in 2001 or too young to have any…
At the Foot of Mt. Rushmore
In the company of crowds, where conversations tend to blend together, I sat down at the foot of Mount Rushmore to finish the last 100 pages of Great White Fathers and heard three distinct comments. One involved a husband telling…
Never the Pot. Never the Water.
On August 11, 1965, five days after Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law and claimed to have overcome the “last major shackle” of the era, an officer pulled over two black men at the corner of 116th…
Teachers in Quarantine, a History
The term “unprecedented” is often used to describe our current situation, with schools closing well beyond a day or two of heavy snow or impending winds and rains, with teachers trying to figure out what to do in the meantime,…
On the Course of Impeachment
In the days ahead, one thing is certain. Any decision about whether to impeach or remove the sitting president will not favor any person, any party, or any nation. Certainly not ours. One side may believe they have the facts,…
Our Chappaquiddick Journey
We took the ferry over to Chappaquiddick at a time when the island was mostly vacant, less than 200 residents and no open stores or businesses. We went in search of the fifth and most elusive lighthouse on Martha’s Vineyard,…
How Generations Move Forward
Never forget, and always remember, and forever, forever stay in our hearts. These are the terms of endearment we offer to ourselves and each other after a tragedy, a temporary promise that we will keep our memories sharpened by the…
A Comic Look at the White House
Last night, I finished book #53 on the year, #150 in my personal library of presidential history. Turns out, “Thanks, Obama” is the Rated R version of the Obama Administration. Just think Bachelor Party meets A Few Good Men meets…
