history museums pragmatic historian

The Antikythera and the Bog Shoe

Hubby and I watched the fifth movie in the Indiana Jones series last weekend. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny was released in 2023, so we’re only a few years behind. A forewarning … if you haven’t seen the movie, there are spoilers in this article. I noticed right away that the plot is super simple. There’s the background setup, where a younger Indiana and his archaeologist friend Basil Shaw manage to get half…

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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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action history ideas pragmatic historian

Defenders of Democracy

Do not capitulate to the authoritarian in advance. I have heard this advice from pro-democracy experts numerous times over the past few months. It’s critical advice when faced with an incoming President who promises to be a vindictive dictator from Day One. In the United States, all of us hold the freedom of speech dear, especially the freedom to criticize our government officials, and this is one area, among many, where we should not capitulate.…

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