Old Virginia Blog

Did Political Correctness Kill Our Soldiers?

2009-11-11T07:00:00.005-05:00

Some bloggers and historians mock the notion of political correctness and even deny it's a legitimate issue. Those doing so are either ignorant or sycophants for leftist ideology; using their "expertise" to hide their agenda. Regardless, one should dismiss their "expertise" on any matters involving history and culture as they have no credibility.

Now, an increasing number of commentators, journalists, politicians, and others are speaking out on the recent Fort Hood massacre and how a "PC" mentality very likely contributed to the needless death of our soldiers. Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., called this attack possibly "the most destructive terrorist act to be committed on American soil since 9/11." Ignoring what led up to this is, in my mind, criminal:

"A classmate of Hasan, meanwhile, told FoxNews.com that the warning signs were all there — the justification of homicide bombings; spewing anti-American hatred; efforts to reach out to Al Qaeda — but that the military treated Hasan with kid gloves, even after giving him a poor performance review."

And . . .

"There were definitely clear indications that Hasan's loyalties were not with America," Lt. Col. Val Finnell, Hasan's classmate at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md. He and Hasan were students in the school's public health master's degree program from 2007-2008."

And . . .

"The issue here is that there's a political correctness climate in the military. They don't want to say anything because it would be considered questioning somebody's religious belief, or they're afraid of an equal opportunity lawsuit."

Read the infuriating details here.

And here. And here. And here.

A very sad state of affairs on this Veterans Day, 2011. Thanks to my stepson, my stepfather, my grandfathers, great-grandfathers, and all who went before them--and with them--all the way back to America's War for Independence and who fought and sacrificed for our Nation and the liberty we enjoy today. God bless their memory.

2010 Stephen Dill Lee Institute

2009-11-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

The Sons of Confederate Veterans has announced their lineup for the 2010 Stephen Dill Lee Institute which will be held at the Music City Sheraton Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. They've lined quite a roster of WBTS scholars to include:

Dr. Thomas DiLorenzo
Thomas Cartwright (Former Director of the historic Carter House in Franklin, Tennessee)
Kent Masterson Brown
Dr. Donald Livingston
Dr. Brion McClanahan
Dr. W. Kirk Wood

The lineup should make for an interesting seminar. Details here.

Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death

2009-11-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

Historians Don't Learn From Their Own Discipline

2009-11-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

“A free economy will not break down. All depressions are caused by government interference and the cure that is always offered . . . is more of the same poisons that caused the disasters.” ~ Ayn Rand

Of course, Rand was speaking in the wake of the Great Depression. After the market crash, government sprung into action to save the day. The government raised the top tax rate from 25% to 63%, then to 79% and then to 94% and choked off capital formation – the lifeblood of CAPITALism – you see, it is right there in the name. The Government also allowed the money supply to shrink by 1/3rd and spread the Depression around the globe by cutting off trade. That turned a significant recession into the Great Depression. Not so, according to FDR. Roosevelt thundered that ‘The rulers of the exchange of mankind’s goods have failed, through their own stubbornness and their own incompetence . . . Practices of the unscrupulous money-changers stand indicted . . . in the hearts and minds of men …’ So what was FDR’s answer? The same poison that caused the disaster – government action.

Too bad many historians can't learn from what they spend all their time studying and teaching. That's what happens when you're driven by political ideology instead of facts.

Moved By Texans

2009-11-06T07:00:00.006-05:00

By now, most readers have heard about the massacre at Fort Hood, Texas (named after Confederate General John Bell Hood). Our prayers and thoughts go out to all the families of the brave soldiers who have been so cowardly gunned downed.

In 2007, in celebration of Robert E. Lee's 200th birthday, some Texans came all the way to Virginia to lay yellow roses at Lee's crypt at Lee Chapel in Lexington. I was there and snapped this photograph. Lee once saluted some Texas soldiers by raising his hat and shouthing, "Texans always move them!" Texans always held a special place of affection in the heart of General Lee. Today, as the Nation mourns the loss of our brave Texans at Fort Hood, they hold a special place in our hearts as well and we can say, as did Lee, "Texans always move them!" Their bravery in this sad affair has, once again, moved the hearts of Americans. Today, I return these yellow roses in their memory.

God Bless Texas.

(Click image to enlarge.)

Site Recommendation

2009-11-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

I have been friends with fellow Virginian John Taylor for some time now and we occasionally enjoy lunch together when he visits my neck of the woods. I'd like to recommend John's website for those who are interested in Virginia politics and government. The site is titled "Tertium Quids." The term is "Latin for third way or third entity." And John's organization "is composed of activists across Virginia whose loyalty and commitment are to the founding principles of our republic, rather than to party politics."

I think that philosophy is becoming increasingly cutting-edge in our Nation, with Virginia leading the way as she did at our Nation's founding. The term and philosophy has a long history in the United States dating back to the early 1800's in Pennsylvania and, more predominantly, in Virginia with John Randolph and Thomas Jefferson.

My hope is that this political philosophy will gain greater prominence with the new administration here in Virginia.

What Say Ye Now Governor Kaine?

2009-11-04T07:30:00.007-05:00

When Barack Obama became the first Democratic presidential candidate to win Virginia since Lyndon Johnson in 1964, Virginia Democrat Governor Tim Kaine went bottom-feeding and uttered one of the most divisive comments I've ever heard: "Ol Virginny is dead." Kaine, drunk on the Democrat's sweep of the state, just could not help himself in trashing the voters of Virginia who had traditionally taken a middle-of-the-road approach to politics--electing conservative and moderates from both parties and earning the reputation as one of the best governed states in the Union.

Was Kaine suggesting that just because Virginia had helped elect the Nation's first African-American President that it was a "new day" in the Old Dominion and that he could proclaim Virginia purged from her past sins of prejudice and slavery? Where was Governor Kaine when, 20 years prior to Obama's election, Virginia elected the grandson of slaves and the nation's first African-American Governor? Where was Governor Kaine when the Virginia Republican Party, in 1988, nominated Maurice Dawkins; the first African-American to run for a U.S. Senate seat since Reconstruction? Did Governor Kaine vote for Reverend Dawkins or, did Kaine support fellow Democrat Chuck Robb and did that mean that Kaine was, at that time, part of "Ol Virginny?" Was Governor Kaine suggesting that, prior to Barack Obama's election, the citizens who had voted him into office were backward and bigoted? What was he thinking?

And what will Governor Kaine have to say now that the Democrats in Virginia, under his leadership as Governor and DNC Chairman, have just had their heads handed to them on a platter? Is "Ol Virginny" alive again Governor? Or is it just possible that you have failed miserably both as a Governor and as DNC Chairman and that Virginians want to put some brakes on the unprecedented growth of government your party is promoting? Is it possible that Virginians voted for Barack Obama last year because they really were hopeful that his message of "hope and change" truly offered something different in American politics? And is it now possible that they're experiencing buyer's remorse as they witness President Obama dismantle our free enterprise system block by block and push his hard left, radical, divisive, socialist agenda? That's not what most Americans believed would be the "hope and change" the President promised during his campaign.

As this is being written, Democrats hold both of Virginia's U.S. Senate seats and the Governor's mansion. However, all three men won their seats campaigning as "moderate" to "conservative" Democrats. Virginia is anything but blue, as most of the pundits declared a year ago. And now, the most conservative Republican ticket in over a decade has swept all three of the Commonwealth's highest offices by margins not seen since the sixties.

Politicians come an go, the pendulum swings back and forth, and those who think they have a permanent grip on power are the ones who are most likely to watch it slip from their hands. That is the lesson of history and one which American politicians never seem to learn. Arrogancy is a blinding vice.

Last night's returns in Virginia & New Jersey should send a very strong message to the Democrats who now hold overwhelming power in Washington. The voters in these elections seem to be saying "You had your chance and you blew it." What happens from now until the 2010 elections should be great political theater. The voters will be watching.

Let Your Voice Be Heard

2009-11-03T07:00:00.000-05:00

Election Eve In Virginia

2009-11-02T18:00:00.000-05:00

Election Day Predictions: After the "experts" pronounced Virginia a "purple, going blue" state last year, the Old Dominion will return to her conservative roots tomorrow and the conservative party will sweep the state's three highest offices by double digits. Both Bob McDonnell and Ken Cuccinelli will be crowned rising stars within the Republican Party and within the surging conservative movement. Chris Matthews' tingle will change to a tinkle (and, appropriately, run in the opposite direction), current Virginia Governor & DNC Chairman, Tim Kaine, will suffer one of the most embarrassing defeats in the recent history of the Democratic Party, and President Obama will smoke more cigarettes (possibly with Virginia-grown tobacco) than usual. The Republicans will also pick up seats in the House of Delegates. I'll sip on some ice-cold apple cider (just a tad hard) and enjoy the show.

I'll have some post-election comments later.

Wicked Old Hags, Ghosts Of Yankee Soldiers, & Bobby Lee

2009-10-31T19:00:00.003-04:00

31 October - Reformation Day

2009-10-31T10:24:00.002-04:00

Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms. Powerful. One man, with courage and principle, can make a difference.

The Heritage Of Blogging

2009-10-30T20:25:00.005-04:00

"America’s political bloggers trace their heritage, their place in the body politic, to the Colonial era. Most of today’s political bloggers would have been quite comfortable defying the British Stamp Act of 1765, were they around 244 years ago. The Stamp Act was designed to impose government content control on the then 23 newspapers which served about two million Colonialists. Not one Colonial newspaper bought the properly stamped paper. In fact, the political content of the papers increased, to the alarm of the British authorities. On the eve of the Revolution, there were 31 papers in the Colonies, by the time of the Constitution’s ratification, there were 92, and by 1835, there were 1,200 newspapers serving 15 million Americans."

More here.

(The image depicts British officials fleeing from rioting colonists in opposition to Stamp Act.)

The Theme Is Reconciliation

2009-10-30T07:00:00.000-04:00

Thanks to fellow CW blogger, Kraig McNutt for bringing this to my attention.

Jeff Davis At Home

2009-10-29T18:00:00.009-04:00

(Photo from the Lexington News-Gazette site.)

Friend, fellow Virginian, and internationally renowned sculptor, Gary Casteel, recently escorted the new Jeff Davis statue to Beauvoir. According to the Beauvoir website:

"The statue will eventually be placed in front of the new Jefferson Davis Presidential Library and Museum."

**Update: Regarding the relationship between Jim Limber and the Davis family, and to combat the agenda-driven, half-truths spread elsewhere, I would recommend the piece by John Coski of the Museum of the Confederacy.

"The evidence suggests that he [Limber] was a member of the Davis family in the same way that slaves, servants, and other dependents were members of white families—with real mutual responsibility and affection."~ John Coski

I think John presents a good, objective, overall view of the Limber/Davis story and relationship.

**Update 2: To correct the misinformation and distortions being propagated by another blogger, Coski's piece on Jim Limber is not being "used" for any purpose here, other than to provide balance and tell the complete story about Davis and Limber. The link I provided allows readers to read the whole piece written by Coski. Most readers are informed and intelligent enough to come to their own conclusions about the complicated relationship between Davis and Limber. As I already stated, Coski's piece presents an "objective, overall view of the Limber/Davis story and relationship" - something which those who are just pushing their agenda are incapable of.

(This blogger can't even get the artist's name correct. So much for his "accuracy" and attention to detail. By the way, how does one "use" someone's writings if they provide a link to the whole article, so others can read it for themselves, and refer to the piece as "objective"? The utterly ridiculous and false assumptions being made by this blogger border on the incoherent. I'd be embarrassed.)

Follow Up To Previous Post

2009-10-29T17:30:00.001-04:00

Here's a good example as to why we should distrust government: Public unveiling of the public option was closed to the public. Hmmm . . . perhaps Queen Pelosi is suppressing dissent and protests so her carefully choreographed dog and pony show can create the illusion of unity and public support. "The audience at the crowded press conference included Hill staffers, union workers, health care providers and students, according to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who thanked them for attending." What a phony.

More On A Great Virginia Tradition . . .

2009-10-29T07:00:00.001-04:00

Distrust of government . . .

"In the last several years, and most significantly since the election of the current administration and Congress, the trend towards increased Federal Government control over every aspect of the lives of Virginia’s citizens has been alarming. The time is now to turn the tide away from destructive big government policies, toward a less intrusive, less oppressive form of government; a return to the first principles intended by the founding fathers. I will apply these founding principles to every aspect of my work as your next Attorney General. For this reason, I have chosen the Gadsden Flag as a symbol for my campaign."

And Virginia's flag symbolizes that great tradition and our founding principles . . .

This healthy distrust of the government is an important aspect of American Exceptionalism. I worked in state government for 12 years. "Trust" me, that "distrust" is well-placed.

The American Idea - Distrust Government

2009-10-27T07:00:00.002-04:00

"At the heart of the American idea is the deep distrust and suspicion the founders of our nation had for government, distrust and suspicion not shared as much by today’s Americans. Some of the founders’ distrust is seen in our Constitution’s language such as Congress shall not: abridge, infringe, deny, disparage, violate and deny. If the founders did not believe Congress would abuse our God-given rights, they would not have provided those protections."
~ Professor Walter Williams, 21 October 29

More here.

and . . .

"We are trying on every front to increase the role of government." ~ Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA), 26 October 2009

More here.

Which is why Americans distrust their government more and more with each passing day.

Jefferson-Hemings Controversy Not Settled

2009-10-26T20:55:00.006-04:00

Despite what some believe, the Jefferson-Hemings controversy has not been settled--and may never be.

"Contrary to popular belief, Thomas Jefferson did not father the children of his slave, Sally Hemings, according to William G. Hyland Jr., author of 'In Defense of Thomas Jefferson: The Sally Hemings Sex Scandal.' It was his brother, Randolph, "a ne'er-do-well,'' who had a history of consorting with his brother's slaves." ~ From BlackVoices.com

"Although the relationship between Jefferson and Sally Hemings has been for many years, and will surely continue to be, a subject of intense interest to historians and the public, the evidence is not definitive, and the complete story may never be known. The Foundation encourages its visitors and patrons, based on what evidence does exist, to make up their own minds as to the true nature of the relationship."
~ From Monticello.org

I've never explored this controversy to any extent, other than to read a piece a while back (I don't recall where) regarding the DNA evidence and Randolph Jefferson--TJ's younger brother; which the author of this book also addresses.

What Do These Trends Mean - Historically Speaking?

2009-10-26T07:00:00.000-04:00

"The Wall Street Journal has surpassed USA Today as the top-selling newspaper in the United States. The Journal's average Monday-Friday circulation edged up 0.6 percent to 2.02 million -- making it the only daily newspaper in the top 25 to see an increase." - Details here.

and . . .

"Fox News has pulled off another dominant quarter, claiming the top 10 cable news programs in 3Q 2009 and growing against 3Q 2008, while CNN and MSNBC lost substantial portions of their election-boom audience. Fox News averaged 2.25 million total viewers in prime time for the third quarter, up 2% over the previous year. That's more than CNN (946,000, down 30%) and MSNBC (788,000, down 10%) combined."- Details here.

and . . .

"Conservatives continue to outnumber moderates and liberals in the American populace in 2009, confirming a finding that Gallup first noted in June. Forty percent of Americans describe their political views as conservative, 36% as moderate, and 20% as liberal. This marks a shift from 2005 through 2008, when moderates were tied with conservatives as the most prevalent group." - Details here.

Anyone care to analyze these trends, given the historical perspectives of the media's relationship with Presidential administrations and Congress? My personal opinion is that the current administration, along with the current Congress, has ignored the lessons of history and overreached. Drunk with power, they have painted themselves in a corner. What do you think?

The Triumph Of Love & Transformation Over Death

2009-10-25T15:45:00.000-04:00

History & Politics

2009-10-24T09:15:00.000-04:00

"One of the principal reasons that policymakers should study history is to avoid repeating the mistakes of their predecessors. Mistakes in the realm of economics, social policy, defense, and foreign policy all come to mind . . . By knowledge of history, I do not mean a professional historian who grasps all the nuances of what has occurred in the world over the last 500 years . . . What I have in mind is something else . . . a practical understanding of what has worked in the past and what has not."

Read this interesting piece here at The American Thinker.

Obama Thesis A Hoax

2009-10-23T21:39:00.002-04:00

Thanks to Ken for pointing out that the "Obama Thesis" post was a hoax. My apologies to all, including the President. There's enough true things to worry about without making things up.

;o)

Choosing Mao Over Madison

2009-10-23T18:00:00.002-04:00

". . . Anita Dunn? She's been attacked for extolling Mao's political philosophy in a speech at a high school graduation. But the critics miss the surpassing stupidity of her larger point: She was invoking Mao as support and authority for her impassioned plea for individuality and trusting one's own choices. Mao as champion of individuality? Mao, the greatest imposer of mass uniformity in modern history, creator of a slave society of a near-billion worker bees wearing Mao suits and waving the Little Red Book?"

More and more people in the current administration seem to prefer Mao.

I'll stick with the Virginian.

More here.

Qualified To Comment

2009-10-22T21:15:00.010-04:00

Kevin Levin made more ill-informed comments recently in his continuous obsession with my blog. He dedicated the better part of a whole post to me and said the following regarding my recent post about H.W. Crocker's book:

"I can't believe that Williams actually copied all of those comments into that post."

Amazing, since Levin told me ahead of time to "go ahead and post them on your site if you need them." I did, since he either could not recover them (or didn't want to) after losing them when changing servers. Maybe he was just playing "Gotcha Blogging." How could I have possibly responded to the ridiculous charges in the comments if nobody could read them?

Evidently, Levin also has ESP:

"there is no evidence that Williams reads much of anything."

And this:

"For someone who has never stepped foot on a college campus as student (as far as I can tell) he sure feels comfortable offering commentary about the problems therein."

I've never hidden the fact I did not finish college. That is not something I'm proud of--I wish I had finished. My original intent was to go to UVA and study law--it just so happens that at that point in my life, I was more interested in what was going on at the local bar than I was in what was going on in class. (See, I would have made an excellent lawyer.) But I was a college student in the late 1970's and have returned to my local community college for classes several times since then, as well as taking college level continuing education classes professionally. The most interesting class I had was Western Civ, where Professor Griffin was obsessed with the Hittites. No, I don't recall why, only that answering any of his questions with "the Hittites" guaranteed a better than 50% chance of being corrrect. So, once again, Levin spreads misinformation about that which he knows nothing. (No, I don't anticipate an apology.) By the way, even if Levin was right about what he was implying, (only those involved in education can offer commentary) then following his logic, he has no business offering commentary on homeschooling since he's never done it.

For those who care, I do have extensive technical training in law and finance and hold a professional designation in the financial services industry, but I've never claimed to be anything other than a writer and amateur historian--notwithstanding the fact that I'm a published author, have written for national publications and newspapers, and co-produced two documentary/historical films--one which garnered a national award. The fact I attract so much attention from liberal academics is something I find rather curious and entertaining. Maybe they feel safe taking on someone they deem beneath them. Just imagine what I could do if I was only half as educated as they are. I'd really be dangerous.

All that aside, even if I had never set foot on a college campus, that does not disqualify me (nor anyone else) from commenting on the current state of education in the United States. My wife and I have 6 children and 13 grandchildren--ya think we might me just a little concerned and involved in education? Three of my six children attended college, one completed a degree in history and is state certified to teach. (She wisely chose to homeschool her four daughters instead). My youngest took a break from college recently for motherhood, but plans to complete requirements for degrees in English and history at some point. My wife and I home educated 4 of our children, were very active in leading a group of students in a 4H group we started; including field trips, participation in spelling bees, music competitions, and were involved in several homeschooling organizations. I consider myself every bit as qualified to offer commentary and opinion on educational matters as Mr. Levin. Levin's comments only expose an elitist attitude so common in much of academia. The more he writes, the clearer that becomes.

An Excellent Piece On Homeschooling

2009-10-22T07:00:00.001-04:00

From a woman's perspective and from Salon magazine of all places . . .

"Call us crackpots, but our kids spend their days at beaches and museums, not in school." Read the rest of the piece here.

History, especially, can be better taught at home . . . more time to visit museums and battlefields!

Is she committing child abuse?