Historical Whitewashing and Excision

I do not agree with the decision to remove statues from the U.S Capitol. In The Life of Reason published in 1905 George Santayana argued that attempting to conceal or otherwise whitewash the evils done by society only serves to encourage the repetition of those evils. "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”–

Rights and Freedoms

On May 21, 1944, two weeks before the forces of the united nations captured Rome and began the process of liberating France from the oppression and tyranny of Nazi rule, Judge Billings Learned Hand addressed a crowd of a million and a half people who had gathered for the annual I am an American Day rally in New York City’s Central Park. Judge Hand’s thesis argued the rights and freedoms enjoyed by the citizens of the United States of America and which form the foundation for the unique American meta-culture that embraces the multitude of distinct cultures present within the Republic are the progeny of Liberty. He contended that the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution of the United States, the constitutions of the states and the laws flowing therefrom reflected tangible, albeit imperfect, efforts to codify the intangible perfect ideals of liberty, and its offspring freedoms, and rights. Judge Hand asserted that the purest and noblest forms of these principles exists within the spiritual realm composed of the hearts and minds of every American, See: (Hand 1960, 189-191). In his address to the delegates of the eighteenth regular session of the United Nations General Assembly Plenary given on September 20, 1963, President Kennedy extended Learned Hand’s argument to include peace. Paraphrasing the “Spirit of Liberty” address President Kennedy asserted that those human rights, constitutional freedoms and privileges enjoyed by Americans are the children of peace and liberty. The President averred that peace treaties and other accords aimed at achieving sustainable peace within the international community were and are Imperfect attempts to manifest concretely the perfect abstract ideal that is peace. He, like Judge Hand before him, maintained that the ideals of peace and liberty in their most perfect forms reside within the conscience of the individual, Id: (Kennedy 1963). Safeguarding these principles is an arduous and, some would argue Heraclean task since the founding of the Republic, the Armed Forces of the Untied States in conjunction with the National Guard and municipal law enforcement agencies have been charged , with the obligation of acting as the sentinels for Lady Liberty and her consort Lord Peace. The service members are entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding and fortifying the liberty, peace, and the innumerable freedoms and rights held sacrosanct by the citizens of the nation, shielding them from assaults by enemies foreign and enemies domestic. The selfless individuals who willingly don the uniforms of the armed forces, national guard, and other law enforcement agencies sacrifice a great deal, including many comforts, that many ordinary Americans often take for granted. The service members do so not only to protect and defend all that they hold dear, they also willingly undertake to keep watch over and protect those least capable of defending themselves and protecting their freedoms. I come from a family whose antecedents served honorably in the military establishments of the six nations to govern and administer the State of Texas. My father’s family emigrated from Alsace-Lorraine and Scotland, his Scottish ancestors in the North Carolina militia during the American Revolution. My mother’s ancestors were predominantly Spanish and Italian, they emigrated from their ancestral homelands between 1718 and 1905. My mother’s maternal ancestors were cattle ranchers active during the Revolutionary War period. Following the entry of Bourbon Spain into the American Revolution on the side of the colonists in 1778, the King of Spain instructed the ranchers in Spanish Louisiana and Texas to provide the Continental armies with cattle, horses, sheep and foodstuffs. My mother’s ancestors were actively involved in those roundups and drives that occurred in Texas. My family has actively participated in every major conflict to affect the North American continent since the beginning of the Nine Years’ War in 1688. Born in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas on September 18, 1976, two days later I went into cardiac arrest. During the resuscitation process one of my lungs collapsed briefly depriving my brain of oxygen. The damage resulting from the disruption of the oxygen flow to my brain manifested itself in the form of Hypoxic Encephalopathy. Outwardly, my condition is characterized by and irregular gait and speech patterns, accompanied by slight diminishment of my reflexes, and coordination. Despite these abnormalities my disability has had no discernible effect upon my autonomic functions or on my mental and intellectual capabilities, my academic achievements and memberships, in the Gamma Omega chapter of Sigma Iota Rho, the international honors society for graduate students studying international relations, and the West Virginia chapter of Pi Gamma Mu , the international honors society for graduate level students studying the social sciences attest. Moreover, the slight dysfunction that characterizes my reflexes and coordination did not prevent me from achieving a second degree red belt in Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan karate. As children growing up my sister and I were taught by our family, who were and are devout Roman Catholics, that God sent Jesus into the world to serve humanity and to encourage people to seek a closer relationship with God through faith and service. We were reminded that Jesus served his fellow men and was not served by them and that his true purpose was to bring about the salvation of mankind by demonstrating God’s infinite, perfect, and unceasing love for humanity as noted in the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of John , wherein Jesus called upon his disciples to love their fellow humans as he himself and by extension God loved them. My parents asserted that that as faithful Catholics we are called to love and serve our fellow human beings and our nation by using those gifts granted to us by God as highlighted in the admonitions contained in the Gospel of Matthew and the Epistle of James concerning the relationships between faith, conduct and service. While, I concede serving the nation and its citizens can and does take many forms including non-military, non-governmental, and non-legal occupations such as teaching, I must confess that I have never been drawn towards those fields. I have always viewed military service as one of the noblest callings because, the service members daily confront the prospect of being called upon to enter into dangerous situations to safeguard the Republic and those principles on which it rests, protecting the people from oppression, repression and suppression by forces that would deprive the citizens of the United States of their inalienable rights and freedoms that are tenets of a free society in which all people are equal under the law because, as Chief Justice of the United States, John Marshall wrote in Marbury v. Madison in 1803. "The Government of the United States has been emphatically termed a government of laws, and not of men. It will certainly cease to deserve this high appellation if the laws furnish no remedy for the violation of a vested legal right," Marbury v. Madison, 5 U.S. (1 Cranch) 137 (1803). In an attempt to fulfill the obligations imposed upon me as a citizen of the United States of America and as a Roman Catholic I attempted to enlist on nine separate occasions in 1995, 1996, 2000, 2003, 2006, and 2010, each time my efforts were met with contempt, disdain, derision, scorn and disbelief from the recruiters I approached, they refused to consider my case despite the fact that my disability was is and is less severe than the case of Specialist John Hanson, who has been documented as having spastic diplegia a form of cerebral palsy that predominantly affects the lower extremities. He was permitted to enlist in 2010, see: (South Dakota State University 2011) (Raybon 2010) (Nedved 2010) . History is replete with examples of people with disabilities serving with distinction in the Armed Forces of the United States. For example in the nineteenth century Albert Sidney Johnston rendered distinguished service to the military establishments of the Republic of Texas, the United States of America, and the Confederate States of America despite suffering a wound to his pelvis in the area of his right hip that caused Sciatic Nerve entrapment or impingement, (Anderson, Peace and Okun 2008) (Roland 2001). In the twentieth century Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt Jr., served with distinction in the First World War, (Renehan, Jr. 1999). Recommissioned in 1940, Roosevelt participated in various roles during the Second World War but, his finest hour occurred during the D-Day landings when he personally coordinated the establishment of the lodgment on Utah Beach despite his cardiovascular condition and advanced arthritis which required him to use a cane, earning the Congressional Medal of Honor (Walker 2004). As I write this missive I am listening to the Memorial Day concert broadcast from Washington, DC and I am reminded that the Armed Forces of the United States, the National Guard of the United States and municipal law enforcement agencies find themselves engaged in a protracted struggle to preserve America’s principles from the threats posed by terrorists, fanatics, fundamentalists and criminals who espouse cultural, ethnic, political, religious and social views founded on intolerance and violence. These individuals advocate the wholesale and indiscriminate use of violence against their opponents and non-believers, especially innocent civilians. The actions of Terry Nichols, Yaakov Teitel, Ayman al-Zawahiri, the brothers Tsarnaev and others of their ilk represent a threat not only to the United States of America, but to the community of nations as a whole, because their ultimate aim is to extinguish or at the very least to dim the torch of Lady Liberty by engaging in activities designed to inspire terror, destabilize governments, and ultimately restrain freedom. The task of ensuring that the efforts of the Republic and its administrations to secure the treasured peace, liberty and freedom enjoyed by Americans at home and abroad while simultaneously defending the national interests rests on the collective shoulders of the Armed Forces of the United States, the National Guard of the United States and law enforcement. The ongoing operations in Afghanistan, and Iraq in conjunction with the unprecedented effort to combat terrorism on a global scale have tested their adaptability, flexibility, resilience. Whether or not these efforts have adversely affected the ability, and capacities of the various institutions to accurately assess and rapidly respond appropriately to future threats remains an open question. It is members of the military, national guard, and law enforcement who protect the legal and governmental structures ensuring that all Americans have equal protection under the law and who serve as a shield for the most vulnerable, and incapable of defending themselves and all they love from harm. I believe that the enjoyment of these fundamental privileges and rights by every American is accompanied by a commensurate obligation which imposes a duty upon every citizen to exercise due diligence, assisting in any and all efforts to secure and maintain Peace, Liberty, along with the Rights, Freedoms born from their union for succeeding generations of Americans. I urge all residents to remember that the privileges accorded by citizenship are not free. Every entitlement enshrined within the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States must be actively, resolutely, and steadfastly defended. The prospects for the continuing sustainability, viability, and prosperity of the nation will endure for as long as the civilian population willingly, and with due regard to the conscience of the individual, continues to offer aid, comfort, and support to those who have undertaken to protect the United States from its enemies. Even though I am fast approaching the age at which I cannot voluntarily enlist, I would do so in an instant were I permitted, even though it is improbable I will ever be allowed to enter the services, I stand ready to serve if called upon by the United States. I would take up arms in defense of the nation willingly and with a glad heart. The Republic provided a refuge to my ancestors who immigrated to North America in search of a new beginning free from the conflict, intolerance, poverty, and turmoil that afflicted their homelands. Moreover, the United States of America is the only nation that willingly affords and offers disabled people like myself a real chance to achieve full lives regardless of our disabilities. No other nation within the international community can legitimately claim to offer the same degree of opportunities or number of avenues open to the disabled as they attempt to satisfy those needs that are a prerequisite for a high quality and standard of living. It is the courageous and selfless sacrifices made by the military, national guard and law enforcement personnel, which, have secured the blessings of liberty over the last two centuries. These noble individuals continue their unceasing efforts to maintain our freedoms, and to establish a peace for future generations that is sustainable. I would, were I allowed, stand with them to defend all that I hold sacred and dear, willingly sacrificing all that I possess to secure for my nephew, and my fiancée’s niece and nephew a durable peace free from the horrors of conflict, fear, terror, violence and war. For the foregoing reasons I respectfully urge and encourage the President, the Congress, the Department of Defense, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff to review the medical requirements for enlistment. There are many people including myself who desire, wish, yearn, and hope to follow in the footsteps of Army Specialist John Hanson and who are capable of serving their country as members of the Armed Forces of the United States or National Guard despite having disabilities. However, as the medical requirements now stand many skilled individuals who could potentially strengthen the services and who possess a clear and demonstrable aptitude towards service are being denied even a review of their individual cases. It is my hope that this letter demonstrates to all who may read it, that my sole desire is the enduring enrichment of armed forces, national guard and law enforcement because, their strength assures that the United States of American remains a herald of justice and a bulwark against tyranny. God Bless the United States of America! Respectfully, Nathan Joseph Zimmermann

Modern Politicians

When I was younger I thought that being an elected official was an honorable calling, and that their purpose was to speak on behalf of all segments of society and not just pander to their core constituencies at the expense, and to the detriment of others. I believed and history demonstrated this to be true that politicians are most effective when they reach across the aisle and compromise, It is the willingness to compromise ensures the continued vitality of Learned Hand's Spirit of Liberty. I call modern politicians on both sides of the aisle a scummy lot, because, it is apparent that they have forgotten this purpose. The modern politician seeks only to enrich their own person and their cadres of supporters while, giving little or no thought to the Republic and its resilience. I have never have believed Washington DC and the state capitols to be swamps, rather I find them to be brothels where legislators and President:s like Trump and Biden prostitute themselves alongside state officials like Governor Abbott and Lieutenant Governor Patrick. The polarized climate exacerbated by Trump and Biden Administration's only serve to reinforce this view. I never thought there would come a day when I wished for the return of President George Walker Bush and President Barack Hussein Obama. Both Bush and Obama far surpass Trump and Biden. C-SPAN in its most recent rankings of presidential performance justifiably placed President in the same tier of Presidents as William Henry Harrison, Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan and Andrew Johnson. Time will tell where President Biden will fall in terms of performance. I suspect that it will be in the tier above, which includes presidents like Martin van Buren, and Rutherford Birchard Hayes.

Freedom of Expression

I commented on a post on a friend's Facebook page, because, my view point differs from the majority of other posters, I was told that my viewpoint was irrelevant. My attitude towards such statements is that I do not give a tinker's curse what other people may think. I will continue to express my thoughts regardless of whether it annoys, irritates or offends people, if only to tweak their noses.

Defunding NPR and NPT

The calls to defund NPR and NPT as a consequence of their comments about the Declaration of Independence being a flawed document are just plain stupid. I call them stupid because, Jefferson, Adams, and Franklin all called the Declaration flawed at one point or another. Both Adams and Jefferson particularly regretted the excision of the portion of the Declaration related to slavery, and its evils.

Permanent residents in the U.S. Military

I think that those foreigners that willingly enlist in the armed forces of the United States and serve honorably should be immune from deportation proceedings. Furthermore, I believe that they should be granted automatic citizenship because, they donned the uniform to defend the United States and its principles, even though they were under no obligation to do so. I also maintain that those interpreters who assisted the United States military endeavors in Iraq and Afghanistan should accorded the same pathway to U.S. citizenship followed by those foreigners that enlist in the U.S. military. The fact any such personnel were deported under Obama and Trump during the period from 2013 to 2020 is a dereliction of their responsibility as Commander in Chief of the armed forces of the United States . I am glad that President Biden has directed the Secretary of Defense, Attorney General, and Secretary of Homeland Security to address this issue

Hyper Partisanship: Part Two

My philosophy professor at University of St. Thomas, Dr. M. Jean Kitchel used to admonish her students. She would instruct them to follow St. Thomas Aquinas maxim 'to beware the man of one book." The problem with Senator Cruz, Representative Crenshaw and other legislators of their ilk on both sides of the political spectrum only acknowledge the inherent value and worth of ideas and books that comport to their worldview. They refuse to accept the idea that books and ideas that do not conform to their views may also contain ideas, and principles worthy of examination and study.

Hyper Partisanship

The hyper partisanship that now prevalent in all corners of the United States and its insular territories brought to mind an aphorism of Itaro Ishii on the importance of compromise in both diplomacy and politics.

"In diplomacy, as in politics in general, compromise is essential; the interests of the opposition cannot be ignored. Give and take is crucial. One must think in terms of fifty-fifty, not seventy-thirty."

The problems that have come home to roost for both parties are rooted in their mutual anathematizations of compromise in all its diverse forms. As long as compromise and its appurtenances are viewed and treated as suspect, no sustainable progress towards healing the Republic's self inflicted wounds will be achievable. The most dangerous and damaging thing to the United States as a nation are not parties themselves rather it is the cultivation of an unrestrained hyper partisanship amongst the electorate. The perpetuation of this sort of extreme loathing, and distrust, or mistrust of politicians on the opposite side of the aisle only serves to engender intractable conflicts that resist settlement. Both sides possess valid points that merit consideration, and each has ideas worthy of being enacted into law. It is apparent to me that both sides have developed a case of tunnel vision, in the sense that they are so focused on pointing out the flaws of the other. The two parties and their adherents intentionally suppress, dismiss, and ignore any positive accomplishments by the other side. In addition both parties seem to be suffering from a loss of political depth perception and a degree of political achromatopsia characterized by the inability to perceive political nuances Not only have these taken hold in both the federal, state and local government they are increasingly infecting the populace as a whole with the disease that is hyper partisanship. What is clear is that Republicans, and Democrats alike have lost sight of the fact that neither party could long survive, endure, and thrive in the absence of the other. The raison d'être for their existence is to provide an alternative to the other without the other there would be no need for their continued quiddity. Furthermore, the Republic is not designed to function as a single party nation state, it needs both to survive and to thrive