“…a sudden rise of the waters…” This July 4th, I’ll do as I always do on my birthday. Watch Mel Gibson’s movie, The Patriot. Somehow, I never tire of that film. Gibson shows us a scene loosely based on the Battle of Cowpens, Jan. 17, 1781, where the American militia faces the advancing forces [...]

A Revolution saved by what’s in a pair of boots. Say the name Benedict Arnold, and most people who know American history will respond—Traitor! But there’s a story behind this infamous double-cross—Arnold trading his allegiance to the cause for liberty for a commission in the British army. Changing sides, as it were. His decision, [...]

Around 2,200 British troops are marching over the Appalachian Mountains. Their mission—seize the French Fort Duquesne. It’s July 9, 1755, the French and Indian War. The British militia, with the likes of Colonel George Washington and a 20-year-old wagon driver named Daniel Boone in its ranks, are suddenly attacked by French soldiers and their native [...]

Hoping to gain more wisdom in my life, I’ve taken a deep dive into the Old Testament Book of Ecclesiastes in recent days. Ecclesiastes is defined as “the words of the Teacher”—someone wrestling out loud with what life really means. It was written by King Solomon— maybe—who’s regarded in Jewish and Christian tradition as the [...]

Karen and I are certainly not teetotalers. We enjoy an occasional drink now and then—a gin and tonic, maybe, or a glass of wine with dinner. But when a beloved friend showed up at our door in early December, looking like her 40-ish, stylish, former self, and proclaiming she hadn’t had a drink for several [...]

If modern wisdom is supposed to guide us, why does the world still look like this? On Aug. 14, 2025, I published a Substack that promised a series on the topic of wisdom, as seen from the world’s perspective, and from the three great religious traditions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. That post (Part 1) was [...]

At times, it can be terribly frustrating. Anyone who has stared at a computer screen, waiting to be zapped with just the right sentiment, metaphor, or brilliant turn of phrase—only to keep staring far longer than they care to admit—knows the feeling. Whether it’s the next great American novel, a heartfelt letter of apology, [...]

Well, we’re on our way…at least the lovers of American history are!On July 4, we as a nation will usher in a grand celebration, one that will harken back 250 years to the beginning. Let me set the stage…The Declaration of Independence wasn’t first unveiled in a quiet room—it was proclaimed aloud to the public. [...]

Countdown to July 4, 2026 When I attended Los Angeles Junior College in the fall of 1969, I stepped into a temporary bungalow classroom—the campus still brand new—thinking I’d simply knock out my general education requirement for U.S. history. What I didn’t expect to find was a teacher—small in stature but a giant storyteller—who [...]