On this day in 1863 the Massachusetts 54th marched out of Boston. I think a great deal about that march and what followed. I think about Shaw, that child of Unitarian faith, and where that faith led him. But more, I think about the 54th. The truth is that there was a single State’s right the South was looking to defend. And there were people who were willing to fight and die that something truly evil would be eradicated from... Read more
On this day in 1878 the H. M. S. Pinafore opened for the first time at London’s Opera Comique… And shortly after posting this, Ed sent the following, sort of a rejoinder… Read more
Yesterday while driving along I heard an NPR story about Haiti. One of the people discussed was a Haitian physician. He was cited as saying he had a new definition of who really is an atheist. An atheist is someone who when the earthquake happens, does not pray. Way, way, better than that bit of nonsense about foxholes. Of course, short of that earthquake, who knows what they believe in their bones? I think I know. But, I’ve been wrong... Read more
Margaret Fuller. A remarkable person, worth recalling. Worth celebrating. Read more
I’ve already stated my objections to Arizona’s notorious law generally known by its Senate bill designation SB 1070. Now, in my state of Rhode Island, a representative with a history of immigrant baiting has introduced what is essentially SB 1070. I’ve spoken with the House Speaker’s general counsel as well as another representative and have come away confident this bill has no legs. Nonetheless, it is introduced and it is going into committee. What is important is for those who... Read more
Fats Waller was born today in 1904… Read more
On this day in 1609 Thomas Thorpe published William Shakespeare’s collected Sonnets. Read more
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