Charles van Heck's Woodhull Journal

politics

  • Veterans Have a Word to Say About the Constitution, Duty, and Who They Serve

    The Military News this morning contained an article titled “Military Veterans Call Out Trump, Hegseth and Pentagon in New Video.” Rather than post the entire article written by Nick Mordowanec, I am providing a link to their short video. This… Continue reading

  • Breaking Up Is Hard to Do?

    By Carl A. Ten Hoopen Things happened quickly and quietly. Unexpectedly? The answer to that question depends on who you ask. Only their closest friends caught the star quarterback’s drifting attention. His head-cheerleader girlfriend seemed to be flirting with somebody… Continue reading

  • 11 November, Part Three: The Reverberating Gunshot

    “’Some damned foolish thing in the Balkans,” Bismarck predicted would ignite the next war. The assassination of the Austrian heir apparent, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, by Serbian nationalists on June 28, 1914, satisfied his condition.’” So wrote Barbara W. Tuchman in… Continue reading

  • 11 November, Part Two: Oath and Loyalty

    On Tuesday, 30 September, the U.S. senior military leadership gathered at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, to hear Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump deliver remarks. The meeting struck both civilian and military personnel as rather odd.… Continue reading

  • The American Cyrus and the Week that Was

    This week began on Monday with the release of Israeli hostages. Joy marred by loss, sorrow, the memories of those who were killed on 7 October, the Israeli soldiers wounded and killed in Gaza, the hostages returned earlier, and those… Continue reading

  • Fail Safe in an AI World

    “Things are in the saddle and ride mankind.” Emerson This October 16th through the 28th marks the 63rd anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis. For thirteen days, the world stood on the brink of nuclear war. On the sixth day… Continue reading

  • Diversity, Freedom and the Chorus for Union

    Those who know me are aware that I firmly believe in the separation of Church and State. Christian nationalists irritate me with their bending and misinterpretation of the Gospels. They misconstrue the Constitution and misconceive their liberties to fit their… Continue reading

  • It’s Time to Retire the Donkey

    Senators, Congressional representatives, and governors are known to stare in a mirror. “Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who’s the most qualified of all?”  in the hope of finding a president looking back at them. They are an ambitious lot. A… Continue reading

  • The French Alps, Faith, Forgiveness, Hate, and Carl Sandburg

    On Sunday, following dinner, I settled in the living room. My wife and I were undecided whether to watch a film or a television show. We recently became hooked on a French detective program, “Le détective de la montagne” (The… Continue reading

  • Cabals: How Things Work

    This past Friday morning, Verdict: Legal Analysis and Commentary From Justia arrived in my mailbox. I subscribe to it for insights into the workings of the judiciary. The article I delved into was by Marci A. Hamilton titled “Déjà, the… Continue reading