War in Washington Territory More than one hundred sixty years after the ratification of the Walla Walla council’s Treaty of 1855, it is essential to remember the checkered history of conflict and Native American subjugation in the Pacific Northwest. Even in a community that now seems to balance multiple cultures better than most, the history…
All posts in November 2024
Cortes and the Aztecs
How did Cortes subdue the once-great empire? The Conquistador’s desire to explore new worlds, gain political power and win fame and fortune motivated their actions and had a great impact on the New World. Licensed by the Spanish Crown, they endured extreme challenges to search for “The Indies” and its coveted spices. But primarily, it…
The Invasion of Grenada
Posted on Author R.F.M. WilliamsPosted in Military History, US/Latin American RelationsLeave a Reply
Showcasing American Power after Vietnam Operation Urgent Fury kicked off on October 25, 1983. Despite no actual threat to national security posed by the small island nation, the Regan administration cited far-fetched dangers as reasons for the invasion. Protecting American citizens by quelling unrest and preventing outside influence in the Western Hemisphere allowed President Ronald Reagan and…
Twin Theories of Sea Power
The two most influential sea power theorists on twentieth-century naval warfare are Alfred Thayer Mahan and Julian S. Corbett. One American, and one British, each heavily influenced the nature of their country’s naval forces in the two world wars. Mahan’s ideas preceded Corbett by two decades. Each, however, argued for the need to control sea…
Tammam Azzam
Syrian Idealist While nothing changes history more than warfare, it is ultimately the most destructive action humans can bring upon each other. Responding to the war-torn homeland he was born in, Syrian artist Tammam Azzam created his Storeys series in the mid-2010s. Azzam is a product of the violence that wrecked his homeland and therefore, through his art,…
The Surrender of Pactyes
Tough Decisions in the face of Cyrus the Great Pactyes was a Lydian in charge of the civil administration of government in Sardis, present-day Turkey. How much can we trust Herodotus to tell the whole story? Nevertheless, this is one of the difficult decisions made in the face of overwhelming power. Pactyes journeyed throughout ancient…
The Porfirato: Nationalist Reactions to Neocolonialism in Mexico
Despite securing hard-fought independence from Spain in the early 19th century, Latin America experienced a neocolonial resurgence that renewed feelings of oppression throughout the region. Neocolonialism was generally reinforced by strong-man, caudillo-type leaders. These people usually came to power by leveraging a supposed link with the commoner, only to bend to outside influence under the…
Marxist Guerrilla Successes in Cuba and Nicaragua
A quick look at two successful Marxist revolutions during the Cold War American imperial investment in Latin America created a predictable response of violent Marxist communist revolution. Marxism was the natural reaction to centuries of colonial, neocolonial, and imperial exploitation, and suppression of the Latin American economy. After the United States overthrew a democratically elected…
What It’s Like To Go To College In Your 30s
The timing was perfect for me Entering college in my mid 30s was been quite the experience. Every day I witness the vast generational differences. So many students, 18–22 years old, walk everywhere with headphones in and their faces buried in their smartphone, seemingly oblivious to the beauty that is this campus. I fear they…
What Does This Country Owe its Veterans?
The answer is simple Listen and be proactive members of society. Thats it. It is no secret that there exists a divide in the United States between it’s military and veteran population and the civilian population. The gap seems to be exasperated by the ongoing “Forever Wars.” It is furthered by the underlying need for…