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Blog 3 Columns

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Blog 3 Columns

Traveling Backwards: Reparations and the Complications of History 2
- History
- July 5, 2019
Before the Civil War, several of my ancestors in Western Pennsylvania were staunch abolitionists. They participated in the Underground Railroad, helping escaped slaves from the South make the journey to freedom. During the War itself, several of these same ancestors, fought in that conflict. At least two of them died, along with several hundred thousand
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The Native Americans Who Owned Slaves 2
- History
- July 5, 2019
Did you know that the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery did not apply to ALL slaves? Most see slavery as a simple black-vs.-white issue. But those who do may not realize that the “Five Civilized Tribes” of the southeast — Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole — also participated in the institution of slavery. Because these tribes were
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Midwestern Values: May We Never Lose Them 0
- Culture
- July 5, 2019
I spent nearly a week in June in the flyover part of the country – Topeka, Kansas, to be exact – and found it to be a refreshing change. There’s noticeably less snark, whining, self-entitlement, and virtue signaling there than in the San Francisco Bay Area, where I live and work. Several of the friends
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What Americans Often Forget 0
- Culture
- July 3, 2019
Our nation’s birthday is approaching once again, along with the celebrations which have accompanied the holiday for so many years. In recent years, however, Independence Day celebrations are often overshadowed by bickering over race or class. With this in mind, I’d like to share a story from my classroom years ago. As a former teacher
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The Deafening Silence on Social Security’s Looming Insolvency 0
- Economics
- July 3, 2019
As the 2020 presidential campaign heats up, it’s disturbing that members of both parties seem unwilling to talk about Social Security. It appears that the program is on such shaky ground that even its mention is political dynamite. How bad is it? Social Security will become insolvent in just 16 years. Who says so? The
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Thanks, ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ for Reminding Us Why Inflation Matters 0
- Culture
- July 3, 2019
Marvel recently re-released the final film in its “Avengers” series with extra footage and a post-credit tribute in hopes of breaking the worldwide record for top-grossing movie of all time. So far, the gambit seems to have failed. As of July 2, “Avengers: Endgame” had collected US$2.77 billion in worldwide ticket sales. This is still
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Scarlett Laughs 0
- Culture
- July 3, 2019
Strong, female characters are all the rage in Hollywood these days. In “The Force Awakens,” J.J. Abrams merely remade the 1977 “Star Wars” with a skinny girl playing Luke Skywalker. Of course, if you dare to dislike this new genre of movies you are sexist, because strong, female characters! There’s even a study “proving” those who dislike the
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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: It’s Been a Year, and What a Year It’s Been 0
- Culture
- July 3, 2019
On June 26, 2018, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) beat Joseph Crowley for the Democratic nomination in New York’s 14th congressional district. Though only 28 and with little political experience, she went on to win the general election in November, and has been making waves ever since. Here are seven highlights from her campaign and time in
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A Wolf, A Dog, and the Declaration of Independence 0
- Culture
- July 3, 2019
One afternoon a wolf who had eaten nothing for two days met a dog from a nearby farm. The dog was big and well fed, and the wolf complimented him on his healthy appearance. “Come with me, Cousin,” the dog said, “and we’ll put some meat on your bones. You’ll get all the food you
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