One thousand two hundred ninety years ago today, the forces of Islam met their first major defeat—one that saved Western civilization. Here is Edward Gibbon’s account. Strong defenses, unity with the Bulgarians, Greek fire, and a harsh winter saved the day.
At length, after a siege of thirteen months, the hopeless Moslemah received from [...]
Archive for the ‘History’ Category
August 15, 718: Victory at Constantinople
Posted in History, war, tagged Constantinople, Islam on August 15, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
“The Right of the People to Keep and Bear Arms shall not be Infringed”
Posted in History, Politics, rights, tagged gun control on June 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
The Supreme Court upholds the Second Amendment:
Answering a 127-year old constitutional question, the Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to have a gun, at least in one’s home. The Court, splitting 5-4, struck down a District of Columbia ban on handgun possession. Although times have changed since [...]
Marx: A Pain in the ***?
Posted in Health, History, tagged Marx on June 3, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Was Karl Marx alienated because he suffered from hidradenitis suppurativa?
Remember Constantinople
Posted in History, Religion, tagged Constantinople, Islam on May 29, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Five hundred fifty five years ago today, Constantinople fell to the invading Muslim armies, which would eventually overrun most of Eastern Europe and, in 1529, 1566, and 1683, threaten Vienna and the rest of Europe. My own ancestors (on my father’s side) were already under Muslim domination, where they would remain for almost five [...]
“Highly Educated”
Posted in Education, History, Politics, tagged Western Civ, World War II on May 23, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
The Diplomad cautions us about talk of “highly educated” voters—who are often astoundingly ignorant. He recalls interviewing candidates for internships at the State Department and asking them questions about World War II. Only one got them all right. (They’re not hard: “Who was Mussolini?” for example.) The amazing part is, none [...]
Churchill: “No stronger retrograde force exists in the world.”
Posted in History, Religion, war, tagged Churchill, Islam on May 17, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Wretchard writes of the Ray-Ban theory of history and the demise of al-Qaeda.
UPDATE: A response from a Marine infantry officer in Iraq.
Patrick Henry
Posted in History, foreign policy, liberty, war, tagged History, Patrick Henry, war on January 26, 2008 | 1 Comment »
My daughter and I were reading Patrick Henry’s famous March 25, 1775 speech that concludes, “Give me liberty or give me death!” We were both struck by the contemporary relevance of his second paragraph:
Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes [...]
“…some of my best friends are Serbs….”
Posted in History, Religion, foreign policy, war, tagged History, Islam, Kosovo, Serbia, war on January 2, 2008 | 3 Comments »
Shlomo Avineri writes a letter to a Serbian friend, advising Serbia to acquiesce in Kosovo independence. He points out that 90% of the population of Kosovo is ethnically Albanian, and says:
Yet one cannot draw 21st century borders according to historical links which overlook the wishes of the present population. The question is not territory, [...]
An Important Anniversary
Posted in Equality, History, liberty, tagged slavery on January 1, 2008 | 4 Comments »
Two hundred years ago today, the United States banned the importation of slaves. And, 145 years ago today, the Emancipation Proclamation took effect. (HT: Instapundit.) It’s worth remembering not only all those who suffered under the unjust and “peculiar” institution of slavery, but also all those who had the moral vision, courage, and [...]
Maimonides and “Tolerance” in Medieval Spain
Posted in History, Religion, liberty, tagged History, Islam, Spain, tolerance on December 26, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Andrew Bostom gives a detailed account of why Maimonides fled Spain, to settle ultimately in Cairo, despite the supposed harmony of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity in medieval Spain. It’s a helpful correction to the impression left by Maria Rosa Menocal’s book, The Ornament of the World: How Muslims, Jews, and Christians Created a Culture [...]
