"Oh, Say Can You See..." In Context
20/04/24 09:21
April 20, 2024 (Vol. 18 No. 20) - I guess it was inevitable. Within days of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge at the mouth of the Baltimore harbor, a self-appointed group of community activists proclaimed that the replacement bridge should be christened under another name. It seems that, at least in their eyes, Francis Scott Key was an unredeemable racist who should be stricken from our history. They propose that the replacement bridge be named for the late Congressman Parren Mitchell, a civil rights pioneer and first black man elected to Congress from Maryland. Make no mistake about it, Mitchell is worthy of the honor, However, as a historian, I happen to believe that Key is, as well. There are those among us who want to view history through a 21st century filter that ignores the context of past events. Yes, there are aspects of Key's record that do not appear favorable in the light of today's reality. But here's the rub: Francis Scott Key did not live in the 21st century. He lived in the 19th century, a time where he was honored among his peers and was even considered somewhat liberal when it came to his attitudes toward race. I have no problem in pointing out the flaws in the man. But can't we do so with an understanding of the social, moral and political constraints of his time? I have no problem removing confederate civil war statutes that glorify "The Lost Cause" from public grounds. After all, by definition, the confederates were engaged in treason. On the other hand, I have no problem of public remembrances of the Civil War, including the recognition of those who sacrificed their lives for a misguided cause. I feel the same way about Key. Frankly, whether or not he was "a good man" is not a slam dunk either way. My view is, that in the context of his time, the good Key did for the people of Baltimore, Maryland, and the United States - black and white - outweighs the negatives. I don't believe we should whitewash our history. But I also don't believe we should erase it, either. The only ethical approach to the study of history is to do so within the context of the times. That's it for now. Fear the Turtle.Time to Keep Our Heads Cool and Our Powder Dry
14/04/24 08:04
April 14, 2024 (Vol. 18 No. 19) - No one should be surprised that Iran launched a heavy drone and rocket attack against Israel yesterday. From the Iranian perspective, they had no choice. The unprecedented direct attack from Iran on Israeli territory was a response to Israel's deadly attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria. And make no mistake about it, Israel's attack on a foreign embassy was a violation of international law. However - no surprise here, either - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doesn't give a damn about international law. Yes, Israel has the right to defend itself. I have said as much in this space. But it also has a moral imperative to conduct itself in a civilized manner - something I have also said in this space. (In fact, it is an argument I have been making for literarily decades, long before anyone had even dreamed of the idea of blogging.) The actions of Israeli troops under his command in Gaza constitute war crimes - not that anyone will be held accountable as long as the West is held hostage by its strategic need to defend Israel. As I stated in an earlier blog post, Israel has become America's albatross. And as long Netanyahu is in charge over there, the world is becoming an increasingly dangerous place. Let's be clear: Netanyahu wants war. He needs war. He's using the events in Gaza as a political cover to help keep his corrupt administration in office. Make no mistake, this is a dangerous moment. And cooler heads should prevail. I saw former Trump stooge and national security advisor John Bolton on network television this morning blaming President Biden for the attack - an attack Biden had known was coming and warned others about for days - and urging Israel to "hit back hard" at Iran. Considering that the drone and rocket attack was ineffective, did little damage and resulted in one minor injury, I'd say that old Joe and the Allies did a pretty damn good job of protecting Israel. Bolton's advice is stupid and should be rejected. There are ways Israel can respond to his latest provocation without starting World War Three. And consider this: It may be that Iran's attack was deliberately ineffective because they had the same goals in mind. They don't want a war with the West any more than we want one with them. In the meantime, House Republicans need to get off their oversized arses and pass national security funding that will aid Israel, help Ukraine, and provide additional resources to deal with the crisis at the southern border. In other words, it is time to keep our heads cool and our powder dry. We can protect Israel, prevent Russian aggression and secure our borders at the same time. At least, the Democrats can. The Republican House of Representatives has yet to show that it can both walk and chew gum. That would be funny if they weren't putting us all at risk. That's it for now. Fear the Turtle.The Man From Vlad
11/04/24 11:36
April 11, 2024 (Vol. 18 No. 18) - One can't help but wonder what Vladimir Putin is holding over his favorite American politician, Donald Trump. Is it the alleged "Pee-Pee Tape?" Perhaps it is an illegal loan he got from his Russian pals to help prop up Trump's phony financial empire. Or maybe it is just that America's Flim-Flam Man is enamored with a guy is who just as morally corrupt as he. In any event, the Defeated Former President continues to do the Kremlin's bidding at the expense of our nation's security. His latest gambit is an attempt to block reauthorization of a critical surveillance program, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), that helps American intelligence agencies keep tabs on people who want to do us harm. It should have been easy for Congress to dispose of this matter. However, the Moron from Mar-a-Lago continues to do what he does best - sow chaos that benefits America's enemies. A handful of MAGA minions joined with House Democrats, reveling in the GOP's discord, to block consideration of the bill. (By the way, the Democrats run the risk having blood on their hands if they continue to play these silly games.) Trump stooge Marjorie Taylor Greene is angling to oust Speaker Mini-Mike Johnson if he allows a vote FISA, gives money to Ukraine or does anything that may draw the ire of the already angry MAGA maggot mob. Meanwhile, Putin is smiling, drinking his vodka and riding his horse shirtless and bareback. He helped engineer the election of a useful idiot to the presidency in 2016 and, if you believe the polls, he has a good chance of doing it again this fall. And make no mistake about it, his favorite presidential candidate, The Man From Vlad, is planning to dismantle constitutional checks and balances the minute he reenters the White House. How do we know this? Just listen to what the philandering and seditious sexual offender has been saying. And the crazy thing is that about one-third of the American electorate seems happy at the prospect. They do not realize that a return of the Republican chaos of 2017-2021 would have a direct and dramatically negative impact on their lives. The Man From Vlad and Putin's Puppets in Congress will destroy the world's faith in the United States - not that they haven't significantly damaged it already. Foreign adversaries will attack us on a variety of fronts. Their "lazy-fair" approach to government (as opposed to laissez-faire) will lead to an erosion of individual rights, a significant weakening of the nation's economy and, quite possibly, a war. This year's presidential election is not only the most important of our lifetimes, if it goes the way Putin and our adversaries hope, it well could be our last. The stakes are that high. To repeat something I have said before, there is not a single Republican in the House, Senate or the White House, who deserves your trust. That's it for now. Fear the Turtle.Why Age is Just a Number
01/04/24 06:29
April 1, 2024 (Vol. 18 No. 17) - As Americans debate whether the two men most likely to be elected President this November are too old for the job, it is important to remember the effective presidency of one of the oldest men to occupy the Oval Office, Dwight David Eisenhower. Ike was (gasp) 70 years old when he left office in 1961. Historians and pundits at the time said that the Eisenhower presidency had been inconsequential. Sandwiched between the Roosevelt era's war and Depression and the legendary Camelot of John Kennedy, the Eisenhower years had been described as serene. However, with the passage of time and declassification of 1950s government documents, historians have come to realize that Ike was sitting on a powder keg. It was only through his enlightened leadership that Eisenhower navigated the United States and world away from a third, more deadly global conflict. The man who was the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force that liberated Europe during World War Two, was a champion of peace. It was historian Fred L. Greenstein in his seminal book The Hidden Hand Presidency: Eisenhower as Leader, who was the first to redefine how Ike led America through dangerous times. I am currently reading Eisenhower 1956: The President's Year of Crisis by David A. Nichols. It describes how President Eisenhower, despite his own personal health crises, guided America and the world during the Suez Crisis, a potential East-West conflict that could have resulted in World War Three. Since then, Eisenhower's stature among historians has risen. Ike has been described as one of best presidents in American history. (To no one's surprise, Donald Trump is listed among the worst.) I still like Ike. And for anyone who suggests that the 81-year-old man currently occupying the White House is too old, I suggest that you look past the number and look at what he has actually accomplished - especially in comparison to his do-nothing bumbling predecessor. If Dwight Eisenhower has taught us anything, it is that age is just a number. That's it for now. Fear the Turtle. Photo courtesy Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library.Disaster at Key Bridge
26/03/24 07:38
March 26, 2024 (Vol. 18 No. 16) - Bridges are more than traffic infrastructure. They are conveyances of communication, culture and commerce. They are literally lifelines for communities. As one who has written a book about bridges in the state of Maryland, specifically the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, news of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge that spans the mouth of Baltimore harbor comes as a shock. At the time of this writing, rescue operations are underway with at least seven people reported missing. Considering how cold the water is and that sonar has indicated that are several automobiles detected under the water, there could be a high human toll. That it be a major economic disaster for the nation's ninth busiest port. Key Bridge, a major component of next of I-695, the Baltimore Beltway, handles 31,000 vehicles daily. This is not just local traffic - much of it is interstate commerce traversing the East Coast. Cross-harbor traffic will now to diverted to the city's two already congested harbor tunnels. A larger consideration is the impact on shipping. Baltimore harbor handled record tonnage last year - a welcome development follow the COVID-related economic slump. It may be weeks or months before ships can enter the port. The Key Bridge is among several water crossings - including the Chesapeake Bay Bridge - made possible by the state's innovative Primary Bridge Program. The PBP is a toll-revenue sharing program that gives the state budgetary flexibility to meet the state's transportation needs. As officials move from rescue to response operations, the first order of business will be to open the shipping channel to keep commerce flowing. Obviously, there will be federal, state and private investigations into what happened. This may result in criminal charges. It most certainly will result in major lawsuits. As for the City of Baltimore and the State of Maryland, the loss of the Key Bridge is a disaster of major proportions. That's it for now. Fear the Turtle.