history law pragmatic historian

Revisiting a Foundational Document: The Magna Carta

The rule of law is undergoing serious strain in the United States for [waves hands all around] … reasons. In a democracy, laws are complex because we’re trying to fairly balance the rights and freedoms of all citizens in their wonderful diversity, along with those of businesses and nonprofit organizations. The government (federal, state, local), through its structures and laws, is meant to uphold the rights and freedoms of all, not tilt the scales of…

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On Oaths & Outlaws

Note: These are my personal thoughts and do not in anyway represent the opinions of my employer, the Minnesota State, Hennepin County, and Ramsey County Bar Associations. *** May 1, 2025 was National Law Day of Action. Events to mark the day were held throughout the nation, with 1,500-2,000 attending in New York City. Organizers encouraged attorneys to retake their oath as part of the planned events in order to reaffirm their commitment to the…

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Ikigai – You Don’t Have to Have Only One True Purpose

I picked up a book from the library recently called “Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life” by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles.   The copyright date is 2016, which makes it almost a decade old. However, I wish it had been published much earlier, like the late 1980s or early 1990s. You see, it was during that period that I read all kinds of self-help books trying to divine my purpose…

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