Mount Virtus

Exactly 65 years ago today raged one of the most significant battles of modern times - a critical victory by the United States Navy. The Battle of Midway (June 4 - 7, 1942) saved a key Pacific outpost and inflicted irredeemable losses on the Imperial Japanese Navy, including four aircraft carriers. After Midway, the Japanese were forced into the strategic defensive, and three years of bloody island-hopping followed that led to ultimate Allied victory. The battle is also the subject matter for one of the best war movies ever made, starring Charlton Heston, Henry Fonda, Glenn Ford, James Coburn, and more.

Key historical moments like this one deserve to be remembered on these important anniversaries. And God bless the U.S. Navy!

There is so much that can be said in honor of the birthday of America’s 16th and greatest President, Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865). Nothing I could write would be fitting enough.

I will, however, put in a plug for the book I’m reading now: Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin. It’s a vast tome, but my only regret is that I waited so long to pick it up and delve into it. Goodwin skillfully and eloquently reminds us that at his heart, Lincoln was an ambitious and savvy politician who translated his skills into success - not in the mere service of political avarice and power but in the service of a large and maturing vision about the Declaration of Independence, free labor, and America’s role in the world. Or maybe I’ve read some of that into her book from my other readings.

Nonetheless, Team of Rivals deserves the attention of every serious reader of American history. In fact, not yet finished, I’m ready to add it to my earlier list of the greatest Lincoln books - by David Donald, Harry Jaffa, and Mark Neely.

In case you hadn’t heard, today would have been the 96th birthday of President Ronald Wilson Reagan (1911 - 2004) - one of America’s greatest presidents and one of the 20th century’s greatest world leaders. His optimism, principled vision, and ability to communicate clearly are sorely missed.

John 1:14 (NASB) And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Wrote Charles Wesley:

Christ, by highest heav’n adored, Christ the everlasting Lord,
Late in time behold Him come, offspring of the Virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, hail th’Incarnate Deity -
Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel.
Hark the herald, angels sing
Glory to the newborn King!

Merry Christmas to all!

How often do the first day of Judaism’s Festival of Lights and the anniversary of the 19th century’s most influential composer’s birth coincide? Not very often I suspect.

Some medley ideas for the occasion: Hava Nagila and Missa Solemnis? The Eroica and The Temple? How about a kletzmer rendition of the “Moonlight Sonata”?
Enjoy!

As always, whenever this important holiday time arrives, there are many things to be thankful for: the grace of God, a loving and faithful wife, a healthy and beautiful baby daughter, the freedoms we hold dear in the United States, creature comforts & blessings beyond number, Jim is back home from the hospital … I could go on and on.

But just two important passages to quote for reflection on the eve of Thanksgiving Day 2006. First, a psalm of David from the Scriptures:

Psalm 103:1-5 (NASB)

Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name.

2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits;

3 Who pardons all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases;

4 Who redeems your life from the pit; who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;

5 Who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle.

And Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation that set aside the holiday we still observe today. Let’s not forget its intended purpose:

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union. [emphases added]

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Enough with Fox and ESPN’s contrived controversy about dirt on Kenny Rogers’ hand. He pitched a good game. Get over it, St. Louis. Bring on Game 3.

In the spirit of a Detroit Tigers team returning to the World Series for the first time since it was “Morning Again in America” and Stevie Wonder topped the charts, I just had to link back to this bit of childhood nostalgia. It’s 1984 all over again and time to “Bless You Boys.”

Restore the Roar once more. Wow!

The Detroit Tigers have dispatched the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series with a convincing 8-3 victory at Comerica Park today. Great pitching beats “the greatest lineup ever.” The $195 million Yankee nation payroll humbled by Motown’s finest. My friends, I am all smiles on this fine day.

Hats off to great Tiger pitching - Jeremy Bonderman, Justin Verlander, Joel Zumaya, Jamie Walker, Todd Jones, and “The Gambler” Kenny Rogers. In the last 3 contests the pathetic pinstripes mounted only 6 runs compared to Detroit’s 18. Everyone in the lineup contributed to the series victory, but it seems fitting and proper to mention each one by name - Curtis Granderson, Placido Polanco, Sean Casey, Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Guillen, Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez, Craig Monroe, Marcus Thames, and Brandon Inge. Finally, a big thank you to skipper Jim Leyland, who surely has quieted the skeptics now. He has given this team the correct focus.
The first playoff series triumph for my beloved but once-beleaguered franchise in 22 years! The celebration: How sweet it is … now bring on the Oakland A’s!

Today marks the five-year anniversary of a horrific day forever etched in our individual and collective memories. May God continue to give peace and comfort and strength to the families of victims, wisdom and moral clarity and fortitude to our nation’s leaders, and faith and patience and resolve to each and every citizen of the United States of America.

Five years later, America has not forgotten. May we never be overcome by grief or fear or apathy or moral confusion. But for the sake of liberty and humanity and all we hold dear, may we go on to wage the fight against the fanatical evildoers of Islamofascism. The road well may be long and arduous, but the outcome is certain: On to Victory!

Independence Day is almost upon us, but it appears about half of Americans couldn’t care less about the real reason for the celebration. The results of a new survey from Zogby are disappointing - albeit not terribly surprising - and a bit enlightening as well.

The pollster asked 1,884 American adults what the #1 reason for celebrating the coming holiday is (a holiday that just happens to be named Independence Day):

Just 48% of those surveyed say that they specifically mark the Fourth of July as a time to celebrate America’s independence. Another 33% say they see the holiday as an opportunity to spend time with family and friends, while much smaller percentages look at the Fourth as just a day off from work (6%), or as a break from the routine to allow some summer travel (2%).

Can’t figure out what the other 11% were thinking, but “the chance to relive childhood pyromaniac tendencies” didn’t appear anywhere in the story. The breakdown was the most interesting feature, and perhaps the latest exhibit in the Red State-Blue State phenomenon:

When it comes to celebrating America’s independence, there is a huge division down party lines, the poll shows. Sixty-five percent of Republicans say they use the Fourth for that purpose, while just 30% of Democrats say the same. Almost half (48%) of independents agree.

Among men, 55% said they celebrate the nation’s independence on the Fourth, compared to 42% of women. Patriotism appears to generally increase with age. While 55% of those age 65 and older specifically celebrate national independence, just 40% of 18-29 year-olds agreed. There was some small differences depending on geography – those living in the West (53%), South (50%), and Central/Great Lakes (50%) areas celebrate independence more than those in the East (40%), while those in rural areas (56%) and small cities (51%) do so more than large city residents (47%) and suburbanites (43%).

And yet, true to our great heritage, Americans remain stubborn defenders of tradition, even if many of them don’t seem to care much about the tradition itself:

Although they may not be celebrating the true meaning of Independence Day, Americans are adamant about keeping the holiday on the Fourth of July, regardless of what day of the week it may fall. Seventy-seven percent say they would not favor moving the holiday to the first Monday of the month to simplify time off from work, mirroring the treatment of several other holidays. And 80% say that celebrating the Fourth of July on a different day would diminish its meaning.

Thank a veteran or active-duty serviceman for their great sacrifices as we remember those who “gave the last full measure of devotion,” from Lexington & Concord to Baghdad and a thousand places in between.

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life.
America, America,
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And ev’ry gain divine.

Editor’s note: I have included my most highly recommended Lincoln book selections at the end of this post, if you care to read that far.

Since the celebration of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday was subsumed under the generic President’s Day label, the significance of tomorrow often is forgotten. But I would have a difficult time omitting a commemorative mention of the significance of February 12 - especially this year.

In both the Gregorian and Western Christian church calendars, 2006 runs the same pattern as 1865, the closing months of Lincoln’s life - since recounted in legendary memory. The assassination of the 16th President took place on the night of Good Friday, April 14, the same date in which American Christians and others will celebrate Christ’s divine sacrifice on Mt. Calvary this year. The timing of Lincoln’s murder established a quasi-religious mythology surrounding the Great Emancipator.

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As my first complete calendar year of blogging comes to a close, I decided for a little self-linking retrospective, featuring the two most momentous, interesting, illustrative, or off-the-wall posts from each month. Some summon memories of meetings and activities generated by my blog, a few by the general affairs of life, and most from the things I read on the Internet. The topics range from critiques of Democrats in the Colorado statehouse to observations of national & international events, from tiny trifles to happenings of great significance, with touches of humor and personal hopes dashed in to round things out.

This post is as much an exercise for me as for any of my readers. For the few of you with patience and interest, I give you Ben’s blog highlights from 2005 -

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