Author Archives: Dr Snyder

What Unites the United Nations?

  

When the United Nations was founded in 1945, it was not the first attempt at a world organization designed to debate issues and avoid international conflicts. Its predecessor was the League of Nations that arose out of the trauma of WWI. That entity was a total flop. Hopes were high that this new organization, with the United States as its glue, could avoid the haplessness that befell the League of Nations. At first, it held some measure of promise simply… Read more »

Harvard & Yale: Solid Foundations

  

The first college founded in America was Harvard. It got its name from a Puritan settler, John Harvard, who donated his library to get it started. Its motto, as depicted on its seal, is “Veritas,” the Latin word for “Truth.” The first rules and precepts adopted by Harvard stated, Let every Student be plainly instructed, and earnestly pressed to consider well, the main end of his life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal life, John 3:17 and… Read more »

Early American Education

  

How did we get to where we are in education policy today, considering how we started? In early America, before we became a separate nation, children received their education from three possible sources, and in this order of importance: home, church, school. Most children never attended a formal school, yet somehow we were a literate society. That’s hard for some people to believe nowadays. Even where schools existed, such as in New England, not all children attended them. They were… Read more »

American Character: John Jay

  

He was a significant founder, yet not many people know his name. He was a devoted Christian, but how many are aware of that? John Jay’s family came to America as persecuted Protestants from France. Liberty of conscience came with them, and that belief was transferred to him. Jay was deeply involved in the constitutional debate over Great Britain’s policies leading to the American Revolution. While he was very concerned over the British government’s claims, he nevertheless was a moderate… Read more »

No Defense for This

  

Before Ronald Reagan won the presidency, he discovered something that astonished him. While touring America’s missile silos, he asked a simple question: what can we do in case of a nuclear missile attack on us? The answer from the military officer? Nothing. We could rain missiles on the Soviet Union, but there was no way to stop missiles from hitting us. Reagan wanted to rectify that situation. That’s why in March 1983 he told the nation that he was directing… Read more »

A Meaningful Constitution Day

  

Yesterday was the celebration of the signing of the Constitution by the delegates to the convention that drafted it. It’s a day that goes generally unnoticed by most of the nation—we’re far more attached to days with far less significance. Don’t get me started on “Halloween.” At Southeastern, we had formal recognition of this anniversary. I thought the best way to commemorate this historical event was to have those who work in the government relate their thoughts about the importance… Read more »

Isn't It Nice We're Now Post-Racial?

  

A former president has decided to speak out again. Apparently, making nice comments about Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez or denouncing Israel for its policies toward Palestinians has not kept him busy enough. Now he has to interject race into American politics. Jimmy Carter, in an interview on NBC, expressed himself in this manner: I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man, that… Read more »