The recent demolition of the White House’s East Wing by Donald Trump disregards a century-long tradition of consulting architectural experts, a practice established after a similar expansion attempt in 1900. In 1900, architects, led by Glenn Brown, successfully advocated for a design that respected the original White House, leading to the creation of the West and East Wings through a collaborative process. This established a norm of deference to historical context and expert opinions, which was mostly followed by subsequent presidents. However, Trump’s actions, including the proposed ballroom, have ignored these established norms, pushing grandiose projects and reshaping the capital without expert input, which could lead to lasting changes.
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India for their stance on Russia needs to understand the historical context and the complex geopolitical landscape that has shaped India’s relationship with Russia over the years. It’s not just about business partnerships or military aid; it runs much deeper than that.
From the Indian perspective, Russia has been a longstanding ally, one that has stood by India during times of turmoil and conflict. The support India received from Russia during the Indo-Pak wars, especially in 1971, when the US and UK threatened India with naval fleets, is not something that can be easily forgotten. The USSR’s assistance in those critical moments solidified a bond between the two nations that has endured through the years.… Continue reading
The Hawaii Supreme Court recently made headlines for quoting a line from the TV series “The Wire” in a ruling on gun rights. The quote, “The thing about the old days, they the old days,” was used to emphasize that the culture and norms of the past should not dictate contemporary life. While some have criticized this approach, I believe that it raises important questions about the interpretation of the Constitution and the relevance of historical context.
One of the main questions that arises from this ruling is whether the argument can be applied to other amendments in the Bill of Rights or if it is limited to the Second Amendment.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker