Whitewashing history
Trump’s whitewash is a stain on U.S. history
For a long time Asians were excluded by law, minorities of all sorts were banned from occupations, colleges, housing communities, even cemeteries.
Humor
The annual conversation with God
Continuing with a conversation with God going back a quarter of a century. Your Favorite Columnist: Let’s start with the biggest topic in the news. God: Saquon Barkley? He’s a God-send to the Eagles, I know. You’re welcome, and I don’t even give him an extra
Culture
The response to “death to America” chants in the U.S.
On this first day of Passover, the holiday that commemorates the Jewish peoples’ exodus from slavery in Egypt to establish a new nation that its enemies today deny ever existed, Jews are threatened as never before — here. For centuries, Jews came here to escape lands where they were persecuted. In
Democracy
What does the Fourth of July mean to you?
What does the Fourth of July mean to you? To me, being slightly cynical, one thing it means is a triumph of branding. July 4th = Independence. And Independence = Freedom. Who could be against that? Well, some African-Americans, who note that “independence” did not apply to most Black people in America.
Democracy
The magic of July 4th
We say, “Happy July 4th,” but what do we mean by this? We mean “happy Independence Day,” celebrating the birth of a unique nation, destined to become the wealthiest, most powerful nation, most free in the world. The 4th addressed the world with a Declaration, which said, “We hold these
Uncategorized
A solution to the statue problem
I wish Jonathan Holloway well. The 53-year-old educator and historian recently became the president of New Jersey’s flagship university, Rutgers, and said, no, it would not be changing its name. The school is named for Col. Henry Rutgers, a Revolutionary War hero — and slaveholder. “We are not going to
Race
U.S. needs a Truth Commission on race
After winning his decades-long battle to end apartheid in his homeland, and becoming South Africa’s first black president, Nelson Mandela did a remarkable thing. Instead of seeking vengeance against the white minority that had suffocated the black majority for so long, he established a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. to
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus: Put him on trial
Christopher Columbus says, “Don’ta trust you mayor.” He means Mayor Gutless, who has punted the issue of the statue of the Italian explorer/criminal (your choice) to Philadelphia’s Art Commission. “That’sa what he said about the statue of Francesco Rizzo, says Columbus, “but he move it in