I am humbled and truly impressed that our Founders understood the need to tolerate each other’s differences but united together on a common goal: to build the United States of America on sound principles that work when they are practiced with consistency. Learning the Basics: From 3-Year-Old Basketball to Nation-Building As an illustration, have you […]
A Day That Will Live in Infamy (If We Tell the Story)
Is it a day that lives in infamy? That’s what FDR said concerning December 7, 1941, when ”the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.” To live in infamy means that a criminal or evil act will be remembered for time immemorial. Yet, I’m […]
How to P.L.A.N. for the Holidays
Thanksgiving is a genuine American holiday celebrated from our country’s infancy. Many of you are packing or cooking, planning or preparing. Our celebrations are far more expensive this year and, dare I say, relationship-wise, too. But, we can successfully gather and give thanks if we remember a few simple lessons. I like to use the […]
Navigating Presidential Transitions: Building Trust, Setting Priorities, Transferring Power
How much do you know about presidential transitions besides what you hear or read in the news? Most media information is designed to get and keep your attention at a level similar to election season. Remember: news sells. Instead, let’s focus on some facts about the customary presidential transition.Presidential transitions are primarily about four things: […]
Embracing Civility: Navigating Political Differences This Holiday Season
With all the media encouragement to take a pass on the holidays with people who disagree politically with you, let me ask: do you ever pause to reflect on civility? What makes you a “civilized person?” Let’s reflect on the concept of civility as a part of Common Sense Civics and Citizenship, especially since the […]
We the People Have Spoken
We the People have spoken. We, the ultimate decision-makers, have the constitutional right to choose our leaders. The United States is a bottom-up, not a top-down, organization. We govern indirectly through the leaders we directly select, a power that rests solely in our hands. When we don’t like the country’s direction, We the People change […]
Enjoying Election Night Tradition Without the Tension
How are you gearing up for the election night? What’s your game plan? Here are a few options, which one resonates with you the most? – Hunker down with your favorite snacks, clicker, and a cell phone – Go to work and check in on the returns during break time – Party hearty with plenty […]
The Laws That Govern U.S. Elections
Ever wonder where all the laws governing our elections are found? I know what the Constitution says, but what about U.S. Law? Let’s make sense of it all. With AI’s (1) help, I researched this topic to organize these laws and statutes in my mind. The national laws governing presidential elections are primarily based on […]
Don’t Skip the Vote: The Value of Planning Ahead
Voting early? I tried it for the first time, and it worked beautifully. Our early voting took place in the town area where illicit activities are known to occur. However, at 2:30 in the afternoon, there were no distractions whatsoever. The people lining up to vote were carefully and quietly assembled. The line moved steadily, […]
Words That Make You Think—and Those That Don’t
Some sayings make me stop and think. I jot these down and let them roll around on my desk and in my mind for some time. Other twistings of the English language irritate me. Join me as we consider these latest missives. Freedom Requires Honesty “A free government requires honesty to remain free.” Why must […]
Will the Real Christopher Columbus Please Stand
(This is a reprint of an article I published a couple of years ago. Its goal is to refresh our knowledge of Christopher Columbus instead of relying on hearsay). Think you know a lot about Columbus? After all, many of us rely on stories from childhood or on contemporary professors for an assessment of Columbus. […]
Crisis and Citizenship: Teaching Students to ‘Think and Do” Like Americans
I took the opportunity to teach my junior high civics class and my High School U.S. Constitution class some lessons from the recent Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The overriding theme during our discussion was “How to Think Like an American” in a crisis. I used posts from X (formerly Twitter) as a springboard for our […]
When Disaster Strikes, We the People Step Up
The aftermath of Hurricane Helene is more than a nightmare. Have you seen the devastation being reported? When Disaster Strikes, We the People step up to help. It’s hard to imagine living in those conditions for over a week, let alone indefinitely. But let’s remember Americans are among the most generous people on the planet. […]
How to Choose a President: It’s More than Looks or Labels
It has always amazed me that people choose a President based on outward appearance rather than their loyalty to the Constitution, fundamental beliefs about America, or contributions to our country. More Than The Look of Apparel For example, about 20 years ago, people gravitated toward the “look” of cornflower blue collared shirts with rolled-up sleeves, […]
Would You Choose Security Over Liberty?
Would You Choose Security Over Liberty? Is Your choice security over liberty? If you answered yes, you are not alone. Throughout history, people have chosen their security over liberty. History has shown us that it is a choice with disastrous consequences. Once you’ve lived free, you never want to return to the yoke of slavery, […]
