Author: Syndicated

“The New York Times Magazine” recently released its “1619 Project,” an initiative marking the 400th anniversary of the first African slaves arriving in North America. The project is ambitious, aiming to “reframe the country’s history, understanding 1619 as our true founding.” A collection of pundits have framed this project as an attempt to “delegitimize” the United States. Such commentary provides an opportunity to consider the state of American race relations and the role of slavery in American history. Whether or not the foundation of the United States was legitimate is an interesting political, moral, and historical question. You can...

Governor Tony Evers and Democratic lawmakers proposed an expansion of background checks for gun sales in Wisconsin on August 15. Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes, Attorney General Josh Kaul, Representative Melissa Sargent, and Senator LaTonya Johnson attended the press conference with the Governor to call on Republicans who control the Legislature to pass the measure, even though GOP leaders have said they do not support such a move. “We have to stop ignoring the problem of gun violence in our state and our country, and it’s time for our elected officials to find the courage to do what is right,”...

On any given day there are about 300 Wisconsin veterans who do not have a place to live, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. To combat the problem, the city of Milwaukee is supporting an initiative to provide tiny homes for homeless veterans. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Alderwoman Chantia Lewis held a press conference on July 31 to address the initiative. Alderwoman Lewis spoke about how the project was near and dear to her heart. It is estimated that there are over 100 homeless veterans in Milwaukee. A nonprofit group is trying to address...

In December 2014, I stood inside Boston’s historic Faneuil Hall, took the following oath, and became a U.S. citizen. I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty … that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic … so help me God. This oath was a reminder of my solemn obligations to this country and its people. I was extremely happy knowing that I could finally participate in our...

Since she was a teenager, hip-hop has been a huge part of Nelly Vigil’s life. “So in high school, I was going through a rough time, and hip-hop was the only type of music at that time that really fit what I was going through,” Vigil said. When she started to think about what she wanted to do for the rest of her life, she knew it needed to be centered around hip-hop. She looked into becoming a DJ, something that allowed her to put her own spin on the art form. “There are so many layers and parts...

The Milwaukee boy who avidly read Jules Verne novels as a child was, by the mid-1940s, in high school and building his own rockets, and would go on to fly on Apollo 8, the first manned mission to orbit the moon, and commanded Apollo 13. James A. Lovell Jr. was born March 25, 1928 in Cleveland, Ohio. His father died in a car accident when Lovell was young. Along with his mother, he relocated to Milwaukee and went on to graduate from Solomon Juneau High School. After attending the University of Wisconsin for two years he transferred to the...