F2 National’s Post

Rabbi Eric Yoffie (an international human rights leader) spoke about the history of the Israel/Hamas conflict in our Privacy Technology, Policy, & Law course on Monday, October 16, 2023. You may say it was off-topic, but this course is an ethics course in the GT curriculum and I strongly believe we are obligated to teach our students ... especially at times like this. I encourage you to view this ~12 minute video about seeking peace and fairness in the Middle East.

On the 8th of May, a date imbued with memory and a duty to remember, we are reminded of the paramount importance of never forgetting the sacrifices made to defend freedom and peace. On this day, our thoughts turn to those who gave their lives so that we could live in a better world, liberated from the shadow of tyranny and oppression. By commemorating this day, we commit to perpetuating the memory of those who fought for freedom, to honoring their legacy by defending the values of democracy, tolerance, and respect for human dignity. For it is by preserving the memory of our past that we build a future of peace, justice, and prosperity for generations to come. May 8th symbolizes the victory of solidarity and fraternity over hatred and division.

The Intriguing and Dysfunctional Bond: The History-Changing Relationship Between Kissinger and Nixonhttps://lnkd.in/dgvDBWF7

So true in sports and in business

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor. https://lnkd.in/eUPhVS_d

𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐠 𝐃𝐚𝐲: 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐞𝐬 National Flag Day, observed on June 14th every year, is a celebration of the American flag and a time to reflect on its storied history and the values it represents. From the earliest days of independence to the present modern era, the American flag has stood as a symbol of freedom, bravery, and unity. On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress passed an act establishing an official flag for the new nation. The resolution stated: “Resolved, that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.” The stars on the American flag today represent the 50 states of the Union, a stark evolution from the original circle of 13 stars that symbolized the unity of the colonies. The stripes retain their original count at 13, continuing to represent those first colonies. The colors of the flag also carry their own meaning: red stands for valor and bravery; blue for vigilance, perseverance, and justice; and white for purity and innocence. Together, these elements weave a visual story of a country's ongoing quest for liberty and justice for all. This Flag Day, consider showing your patriotism by proudly displaying the flag in or outside your home or business.

“To save America the first imperative is to remove from power the ideologues of both parties who have nearly killed our country. In his final chapter, Buchanan lays out ideas to prevent the end of America. He calls for a bottom-up review of all of America’s Cold War commitments, a ten-point program to secure America’s borders, ideas to halt the erosion of our national sovereignty and restore our manufacturing preeminence and economic independence, and a formula for finding the way to a cold peace in the culture wars. Buchanan offers a radical but necessary program, for neither party is addressing the real crisis of America -- whether we survive as one nation and people, or disintegrate into what Theodore Roosevelt called a “tangle of squabbling nationalities” and not a nation at all. IN THIS EYE-OPENING BOOK, PAT BUCHANAN REVEALS THE PERILOUS PATH OUR NATION HAS TAKEN:”

I believe in the United States of America, as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a republic; a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes. I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support its Constitution, to obey its laws, to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies https://lnkd.in/gsFRwwNt

This Veterans Day, I invite you to check out "Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents" by Isabel Wilkerson. One of the most egalitarian tenets of the military is its rank-based hierarchy. We aspire to be a true meritocracy, agnostic of race, ethnicity, or gender—and for the most part that is true. But I did not know about the blatant racism during WWII where black Soldiers were marginalized by their white American peers while foreign counterparts (the French!) treated them as equals. Then these black service members were denied U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs benefits introduced by the 1944 GI Bill. Black veterans were not aided in adjusting back to civilian life—no VA home loans, no college education. This further exacerbated inequality with lost generational wealth opportunities. But not everyone took the snub from Uncle Sam as his fate. My neighbor served in WWII. He was in the US Army Signal Corps and climbed towers to catch enemy transmissions. As a former US Navy Signals Intelligence Officer myself, I knew exactly how critical his work was to saving our troops. I was saddened to hear that he threw away his medals in frustration. He channeled that anger into building his family estate, amassing wealth through purchasing and rehabilitating distressed properties. His daughter is now taking care of him as he approaches 98. Today, I salute him. --- It is important to understand our history, including our ugly parts, as we climb that hill. --- #veteransday #americandream #americanhistory https://lnkd.in/gYRbT5bN