History and politics seem to dominate this week’s Aggregate, quite possibly the result of the tragedy at Fort Hood and my own increasing frustration with the leadership in Washington. While the future may be uncertain, there is comfort in the lessons of the past. I’ll mix it up the topics a bit more next week, but for now, enjoy.
PS I have greatly appreciated the comments you guys offer on the things I post – it’s this type of discourse that pushes me to keep sharing these articles.
1
Written by the attorney who prosecuted the first World Trade Center terrorists, this article explores America's seemingly forgotten history with Islamic Extremism. In the wake of Fort Hood, and all of the recent developments that have highlighted the breadcrumbs leading to this act of terrorism, the importance of history and context cannot be greater.
2
The unparalleled complications of bringing 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed to trial in a New York criminal court propelled George Friedman to analyze the legal quagmire that Eric Holder and the Obama Administration has now created. I found the short background on the Geneva Convention particularly fascinating, especially in light of last year's Gaza War, where Hamas fighters launched rockets from schools and fired from civilian-populated areas.
3
Despite the gameshow-sounding title, this article describes a contest for the best college professor in America. As someone who has been in school for almost eight full years, I can personally honestly attest to the troubling state of the nation's academics. With an ever-increasing focus on research and publication, many professors place teaching at the end of their priorities, leaving a select few professors who truly care give their students their all. Although I have been fortunate to work frequently with the latter, I have unfortunately experienced the saddening apathy of the former as well.
4
The recent and seemingly infinite expansion of the federal government has sparked a very simple question in the minds of those weary of getting their rights trampled on: where the hell does the Congress [or the President for that matter] get the power to do any of this? They key to the answer lies within our Constitution, which, unlike our contemporary legislative defilements, clearly and masterfully outlines the powers (and, more importantly restrictions) of our government. So in keeping with the spirit of this article, I encourage all of you to know and understand the backbone of our great nation.
5
With the heat of New Jersey and Virginia's election results behind them, GOP bigwigs are ramping up for potential nomination bids. Unfortunately, the only deficit bigger than that of the federal government is the deficit of inspiring presidential contenders in the Republican Party.
