Based on what I've read, I have this prediction--when we're better able to read classified information, we'll learn that the Obama Administration has been involved in waging a covert war against Iran. At the least, this involvement will pertain to sharing critical information with the Israelis, the British, or both. I say this because there has been a spate of unusual events relating to … [Read more...]
November 30, 2011 by
I rise in defense of the often indefensible—the U.S. Congress. Well, sort of. Indirectly. And with a whole bunch of qualifiers. Here we go.For all of the understandably negative press Congress receives, we have forgotten that it was Congress—or the version at the time, the Continental Congress—that was at the foundation of founding the American nation. No other entity played such a central and … [Read more...]
November 29, 2011 by
· At the time of their wedding in 1774, Caty was 21 and Nathanael was 32. · The two of them talked about growing old together, enjoying their children and reading to one another by firelight. Sounds nice, doesn’t it? · The fact that Nathanael and Caty still had their four children living by the time of this story was remarkable. Many couples suffered death rates among their children of 50% or … [Read more...]
November 28, 2011 by
Huge question, huge topic, so huge, in fact, that it’s hard to get a firm grasp on a clear response or line of thought. To better do so, let’s narrow it down a bit. Our focus will be fairly tight, say, in 1787-1789, as the moment when various States of the newly United States failed to come to an accord and unify behind the proposed constitution. The result would have been catastrophic to world … [Read more...]
November 28, 2011 by
What for you signals most powerfully the passage of time? It is watching your children grow up? Watching your grandchildren? Meeting classmates at a school reunion? Seeing extended family after a lot of years? Visiting a place from long-ago, such as your childhood home? Looking at old photos? Visiting the burial site of a loved one? The list goes on and on. What is it for you? Regardless of your … [Read more...]
November 22, 2011 by
Last week was my 50th birthday. I always like reflecting at birthdays, at any day, so this birthday wasn't really anymore special or significant than any other birthday or lifeday in Dan Miller River thus far. I will say, though, that one primary thought kept coming back to me as I pondered 50 years. It was my marriage. I kept thinking about how important and pivotal my marriage was and … [Read more...]
November 22, 2011 by
This morning, I spoke with a young leader--meaning, younger than me, which seems to cover most of the world's population these days--about a particular response he had given me to a historical question. As you'll likely guess, the question dealt with a leadership situation and what would he do had he been in that place? His response was very unique. I'd estimate that his answer was unlike … [Read more...]
November 17, 2011 by
Perspective is an amazing thing. Its dimension has all sorts of elements—breadth, width, height, length, and many, many more. Listen to my story of perspective revealed during a bit of reading. You might find reason to pause and consider the impact of perspective on your day ahead.As you may know, I read multiple books. Usually the only pattern to my reading is I try to spread the books across … [Read more...]
November 14, 2011 by
Google announced today a donation of $11.5 million to help combat slavery in the world. That's right, slavery. The announcement included the estimate of 27 million people around the world right now who live in some form of slavery. Think our world is so much better than before? Think progress is so clear-cut from earlier generations to our own? Think you and I have cornered the market on wisdom, … [Read more...]
October 14, 2011 by
What Do You Do With Bad History?I’m referring to bad times in something or someone’s history, not the history of it or them written or told badly. Bad times. Bad stuff. They are in the history of every person, every group, every organization and endeavor. What do you do with them?A collection of people with whom I’m familiar went through bad times a few years ago. The bad times stretched back in … [Read more...]
