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- Commemorating the American Revolution: The British Evacuate Boston, March 17, 1776
- Educational, Historical Lectures Mark the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution
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- Challenges and Choices: An Address to the Portsmouth Abbey Community
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Category Archives: Uncategorized
Trump: White American Cincinnatus
(This essay was originally published as “Is Trump the 21st Century Cincinnatus?” by the History News Network [online] on February 26, 2017) In dire times the ancient Romans would appoint a dictator, giving him unchecked power to lead the Roman … Continue reading
Civility: An Essential of Civilization
(This essay was originally published as “Civilization is Dependent upon Civility,” February 11, 2017, in the Newport Daily News.) The growing incivility in American civilization has finally hit home for me. For the first time, someone posted a comment with … Continue reading
An American Creed?
(This essay was originally published as “Do We Need an American Creed?” on January 15, 2017, by the online History News Network.) After such a harsh, uncivil election season and with a new presidency approaching, the necessity of reaffirming an … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged American beliefs, American creed, American ideas, Americanism, Fred Zilian
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Move Over Lone Ranger; Here Comes Martin Luther King
(This essay was originally published by the Newport Daily News on January 16, 2017.) About twenty years ago, I attended a conference in California where we discussed the ideas of the famous 17th century philosopher-scientist Francis Bacon. I learned much … Continue reading
British and Hessian Forces Occupy Newport, Aquidneck Island
(This essay was originally published as “Dec. 8, 1776: Newport Invaded,” on December 8, 2016, by the Newport Daily News.) Two hundred and forty years ago today, British and Hessian forces landed and occupied Aquidneck Island, beginning a nearly three-year … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged 1776, Aquidneck Island in colonial period, Battle of Rhode Island, British Occupation of Newport, British strategy in Revolutionary War, colonial Newport, Dec. 8, December 8, Fred Zilian, Frederick MacKenzie, George Washington, Hessians in Newport, Mary Gould Almy, Narragansett Bay in Revolutionary War, Newport, Revolutionary War and Newport, Samuel Freebody
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Presidential Election: Onward to the Past?
(This essay was originally published by the Newport Daily News on November 15, 2016.) Though I voted for Hillary Clinton, I am a product of the American system and a believer in it. As such, I am prepared to accept … Continue reading
German U-Boat Visits Newport in 1916, Sinks Five Ships after Departure
(The essay was originally published as “Courtesy During Wartime,” by the Newport Daily News on October 7, 2016.) One hundred years ago today, October 7, 1916, a German submarine visited Newport for several hours before departing to sink at least … Continue reading
The Great Wall of Trump
(This essay was originally published by the online History News Network as “The Great, Sad, Impractical Wall of Trump”, on September 25, 2016.) This is not the first time in history that a superpower notable has called for a long, … Continue reading
Civilization’s Essentials, Part I: Faith
Stunned I was when my daughter informed me that my twin grandsons had their first Junior Pee Wee (10-11 year olds) football game on Sunday, August 28, here in Portsmouth, RI. College football did not begin until the following weekend, … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged civilization, faith, family time, football, religion, Sunday morning
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The Pentagon Celebrates 75 Years
(This essay was originally published by the Newport Daily News on September 10, 2016.) September 11 marks the 75th anniversary of the ground-breaking for the Pentagon, the home of the U.S. Department of Defense. It is also the 15th anniversary … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged 9/11 attack on Pentagon, Department of Defense, DoD, Fred Zilian, Pentagon, The Pentagon
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Zilian Commentary 