David J. Kent's Blog, page 23

Why Was the Robert E. Lee Statue Removed from Statuary Hall?

Virginians woke up Monday morning, December 21, 2020, to the news that the statue of Robert E. Lee was removed overnight from statuary hall of the U.S. Capitol. The Lee statue had stood in the hall as one of Virginia’s two designated representative statues for 111 years. Each state is... Continue reading

Lincoln in London – Wiegers Calendar December [Plus recap]

Well, we’ve made it through the year of the David Wiegers calendar and Lincoln has come full circle, arriving in London, UK. In January we started in Edinburgh, which as part of Scotland may or may not continue to be part of the United Kingdom post-Brexit. I’ve been to London... Continue reading

Can We Add Context to Confederate Monuments?

As I continue to explore The Rational Case for Removing Confederate Monuments, a key question has arisen: Can we add context to Confederate monuments and keep them in place? [Note: Also see my post: Do we erase history by removing confederate monuments?] Most of the existing Confederate monuments (statues, as... Continue reading

(Part 2) Abraham Lincoln – The Majesty and the Math of Niagara Falls

[This is Part 2. Read Part 1 here.] Lincoln did appreciate the allure of the Falls. The very first impression in his fragment is Niagara-Falls! By what mysterious power is it that millions and millions, are drawn from all parts of the world, to gaze upon Niagara Falls? Kaplan, in... Continue reading

(Part 1) Abraham Lincoln – The Majesty and the Math of Niagara Falls

Abraham Lincoln was fascinated by science and technology. In his personal life he sought to improve his knowledge, studying not only the law but Euclid geometry, astronomy, and various forms of technology-driven improvement. As President he was often the first man inventors (and hucksters) would seek out with their new... Continue reading

Abraham Lincoln – The Majesty and the Math of Niagara Falls (Part 1)

Abraham Lincoln was fascinated by science and technology. In his personal life he sought to improve his knowledge, studying not only the law but Euclid geometry, astronomy, and various forms of technology-driven improvement. As President he was often the first man inventors (and hucksters) would seek out with their new... Continue reading

Lincoln in Singapore – Wiegers Calendar November

David Wiegers 2020 calendar takes us to Singapore, where Abraham Lincoln stands proudly in the courtyard of the Parkview Square building. Except he doesn’t. At least not when I was there. Parkview Square is an elite (read: expensive) office building in downtown Singapore. In additional to executive suites it houses... Continue reading

Sabotaging the Transition from Outgoing President to President-Elect

Voters exhausted by four years of scandal and fraud opted to vote out the sitting president after one term, voting in a new president who offered a change in direction. But there would be months of transition before the president-elect’s inauguration, months that would present a national and international crisis... Continue reading

Abraham Lincoln’s Long Road to Emancipation

Abraham Lincoln has been called “The Great Emancipator” for the Emancipation Proclamation during the Civil War. The Proclamation, and his role in promoting the 13th Amendment so eloquently displayed in the Steven Spielberg’s movie, Lincoln, secured Lincoln’s recognition for ending slavery in America. And yet, some have argued that Lincoln... Continue reading

Did Abraham Lincoln’s Competitors Give Concession Speeches After He Won?

The concession speech by the failed presidential candidate has become an expected tradition in American history. It’s a chance to acknowledge the electoral win of the victor and call for the country to unite. The speech is also a chance to celebrate democracy with the peaceful transfer of power while... Continue reading