Charles van Heck's Woodhull Journal

history

  • When Character and Substance Matter

    Those living in the States should feel unease about the trade war with Canada. This is not merely about what affects their and Canadian’s cost of living. The Trumpian policies weaken the States’ credibility as a democracy. What exactly is… Continue reading

  • Cave Dwellers

    The Chauvet cave paintings delineate the sensibilities and ethos of an un-fragmented culture, a community of people united in common survival of spirit and body. These naturalistic, animalistic cave images invoke a worldview that mirrors the evolution of the seasons,… Continue reading

  • 76 Minutes: The Aftermath and Trying to Find Some Good

    In 76 minutes, the world changed. There were more minutes to come. A reflection on September 11 (911) and its aftermath. Continue reading

  • The Interior Wound and National Values

    There is an interview with Eddie S. Glaude Jr. that I keep thinking about. The interview, conducted by Geoff Bennett, aired on 15 June on PBS News Hour. Glaude is the author of the book America, U.S.A.: How Race Shadows… Continue reading

  • June 6: Dwight Eisenhower and Luke Morrison

    This essay is dedicated to the memory of the men of the 801st TD, including my uncle, Albert Nelson Bunt, and the 99th Infantry. Continue reading

  • The Last Full Measure: Decoration Day

    They gaze at us across time. Let their gaze be met by ours. Let us allow our voices to whisper their names in the spring air. Let us pause to ask who they were as individual persons. Are we no… Continue reading

  • The Origins of Memorial Day

    The men, women, and children who arrived at the race track came with shovels and picks. They came to pay tribute to the dead soldiers by giving them proper burials. The names of the dead were unknown to those who… Continue reading

  • The Conversion of Freedom

    Freedom. To be free. What do we mean when we say, “I am a free woman,” or “I am a free man?” On what foundation does our freedom rest? The availability of and the choices we make when purchasing commodities? … Continue reading

  • The Hat Trick and the Crisis We Still Face

    I was obligated to tell a broader story. I needed a cast of characters to tell Emma’s tale and to demonstrate the complexity of the historical period of national division mirrored in contemporary American society. Continue reading

  • Wiser Thursday and Random Thoughts

    I am a person of habits. These routines undergo modification to accommodate others, and, reluctantly, are made with a begrudged concession to age and health. These patterns of behavior are most evident on Fridays. This week, however, my Thursday was… Continue reading