The Madness Needs to Stop. A Review of Allan Lichtman’s Repeal the Second Amendment: The Case for a Safer America

by

“A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” How did a once inconsequential, dismissed, and somewhat forgotten, sliver of the United States Constitution become such a hotbed of political strife and the source of overwhelming, mass violence? In Repeal the Second Amendment: The Case for a Safer America, Allan Lichtman, a distinguished professor of history at American University, draws upon a wealth of source material and meticulous historical research to explain how the National Rifle Association (NRA) has hijacked the history of the Second Amendment. In an effort to convince gun control advocates that they must pursue the repeal of the Second Amendment, Lichtman probes the history of firearms and gun regulations from colonial times to the present to detail the ways in which the NRA has manufactured a distorted history of gun ownership in America. Lichtman argues that the “iron triangle” of the gun lobby, the gun industry, and an array of pro-gun (mostly Republican) politicians have used a twisted and misleading history of the Second Amendment to advance their own interests, and enrich their pockets, while entrapping Americans into an endless cycle of gun violence.[1] To solve American’s gun violence problem, Lichtman concludes, the Second Amendment must be repealed. 

Read more

Greta Gerwig’s “Little Women” is Awesome. Here is Why.

by

If you, like me, loved Gillian Armstrong’s 1994 film, “Little Women,” which starred Winona Ryder as the treasured iconic tomboy, Jo March, you might have been doubtful about the need for yet another Little Women film adaptation. Louisa May Alcott’s cherished nineteenth-century story, Little Women, has been adapted for stage and screen several times, but, for many viewers, the beloved Armstrong version was the definitive visual interpretation of the story. Well, that was the case until Greta Gerwig’s newest film adaptation of “Little Women” hit the theaters this past December. Gerwig’s film stands out not only because it maps new ground for understanding the intricate layers of meaning wrapped in the classic tale, but also because it is a piece of art in its own right. 

Read more

An Unexpected Update

by

This is going to be a quick and perhaps sloppy post. I need to write fast because my son has insisted lately that only I can put him to bed. (Sweet, but frustrating because it takes time away from my ability to get my evening work and chores completed.)

So, I have some health issues. I am apprehensive to write or even talk about these issues because I always fear that people are going to gaslight me, claim that I am exaggerating, tell me it’s not that bad, or doubt me in some way. But, the fact is, there is something broken in my body. My gastroenterologist knows that I have chronic problem, I know it, and the biopsy results that I received yesterday confirm it. 

Read more

Focus On: The Equal Rights Amendment

by

I know it has been a while since my last post. It has been hard to return to this blog (or anything for that matter), since my father passed away. But I have kept myself busy with my kids and my book. And, I am happy to note that I’ve made decent progress on the book, which I hope to discuss in another post at some other point.

But, for now, I want to share some exciting news. Last month, I had the honor to be interviewed by award-winning journalist Jane Marie of the production house Little Everywhere for Focus Features’ podcast special on the Equal Rights Amendment.

This podcast marks the release of Focus Features’ new film On the Basis of Sex, which follows the story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her fight for gender equality. During the interview, I provided a historical perspective on the current struggle for the ERA, and I touched upon the research I am conducting for my forthcoming book, Gendered Citizenship, which will be published by The University of Nebraska Press. https://focusfeatures.podbean.com/e/focus-on-the-equal-rights-amendment/

Read more