Puffs

I think I’ve hinted in the past that I like history. I don’t know if I could pass a history test right now, but I do like to read history. I don’t know when, or how, but I receive an email every day entitled “This Day in History.)

The information they sent out included many things. American and World historical events on that day; from Crimes to Native American History . . . all events that happened on a particular day.

Today, I learned something new.

I suspect most of you have heard the phrase: “Don’t shoot until you see the whites of their eyes . . .”

I’ve been familiar with it for most of my life, but never thought of where it came from. I did find out today that on this day in 1775, the battle of Bunker Hill began in Boston as the American Revolution was under way.

As the battle began, the American Commander told all the troops not to fire “until they saw the whites of their eyes.” Out-numbered, the Americans waited until the English marched up to about 40 yards away. Eventually, the British won the battle, but the British lost nearly 1,000 men while the Rebels lost 360.

Another fact many people don’t know is that the Battle of Bunker Hill was actually fought on “Breeds” Hill. Bunker Hill was a larger hill right behind Breeds Hill and was a more impressive sight. The battle’s name was connected to the larger hill.

Another bit of American History trivia that won’t do you any good is the fact that June 17, 1885, the “Statue of Liberty” arrived in New York. The gift of the French government came “with some assembly required.”

The copper and iron lady of liberty came in more than 200 crates containing 360 pieces.

It took more than a year to assemble the statue and the dedication was held in 1886.

A O

Now, with all that information, and a dollar bill, you can buy a cup of coffee at Dick’s Place in Lawrence.

A O

I understand the “Protests” at universities several months ago have declined, but are still going on in several locations. I never understood just what those protests were for. From what I read and understood they were anti-Israel because Israel was fighting back against an attack from powers that be around Israel. Israel seems to have a military that can defeat their enemies and that this what the ‘Protests’ are against.

The Protesters’ claim they are trying to stop the killing of innocent people not involved in the war.

Those killings are not intentional from what I read. They result when Israel attempts to defeat enemies who chose to wage their wars by hiding among those they call innocent.

I find it interesting that the protesters find this Israel – Hamas war worthy of their efforts to protest. There have been, and still are, many other situations to protest. Mr. Victor Hanson recently wrote an informative article in the Daily Signal concerning the Anti-Israel protests.

He noted three reasons:

1st: The pro-Palestine case was rebooted in the West by millions of Arab and Muslim immigrants who have flocked to Europe and the U. S. in the last half-century.

2nd: Claiming to be non-white victims of white Jewish colonialism the protestors pose as natural kindred victims to Blacks, Latinos and any Westerner now claiming oppressed status. Black radicalism, from Al Sharpton to Louis Farrakhan to Black Lives Matter, has had a long, documented history of antisemitism. It is no wonder that its elite eagerly embraced the anti-Israeli Palestine movement as fellow travelers.

3rd: The third leg of woke jihadism is mostly affluent white leftist students at Western universities. Thousands of students at elite campuses feel that they have successfully redefined their universities to suit their own politics, constituencies and demographics. There may be well over a half-million affluent Middle Eastern students in Western universities. They pay full tuition and feel that they can do anything with impunity on Western streets and campuses.

In my mind, so much money is being poured in the university systems via student tuition or outright grants or donations that the schools are being turned into instruments of the protests.

I have often wondered who was paying for all of these protests and concluded that much of the expense was being paid by wealthy, liberal people who want to change our way of life. I still believe that part of it, but some of the expense most likely comes directly from foreign government in one way, or another.

It’s a complicated world any more. Truth, goodness and kindness no longer rule.

A O

A little bit of trivia I came across just last night I found in the current issue of ‘Nebraskaland.’

Many of you are familiar with the name of General Douglas MacArthur of World War II fame. But, did you know his father, Captain Arthur MacArthur, was the first commander of Fort Robinson in western Nebraska.

A O