The media has driven itself into a tizzy in recent days, claiming that despite serving as president of the United States (and being poised to reclaim that office in less than a year’s time), Donald Trump should not be granted the same kinds of immunity and executive privilege that every other chief magistrate enjoyed before him. Showcasing their ignorance of both the Constitution and history, the mainstream media has framed the concept as something of a novel innovation for President Trump’s lawyers, who are advocating for “broad immunity,” implying that no other presidential officeholder has ever made that claim. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Read the full storyTag: George Washington
VDOE Releases New Draft of History and Social Science Standards
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has published an updated draft of the History and Social Science Standards ahead of a Thursday Board of Education meeting. Beginning in the summer, Governor Glenn Youngkin’s administration called for multiple delays to address technical concerns and to get input from voices that may not have contributed to the document under the previous Democratic administration.
“Every graduate from Virginia’s K-12 schools will possess a robust understanding of the places, people, events and ideas that comprise the history of Virginia, the United States and world civilizations. Our students will learn from the rise and fall of civilizations across time, so that we may pursue and maintain government and economic systems that have led to human achievement. The Virginia standards are grounded in the foundational principles and actions of great individuals who preceded us so that we may learn from them as we strive to maintain our political liberties and personal freedoms and thrive as a nation,” states an introduction to the standards.
Read the full storyCommentary: Honoring the First American on Constitution Day
In Philadelphia 235 years ago today, 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the U.S. Constitution. Eleven years had passed since the Declaration of Independence was adopted, and this historic event marked an important milestone for our remarkable experiment in self-government.
Read the full storyVirginia Education Dept. Says Proposal to Remove Washington, Madison Language from Curriculum Was ‘Error’
The Virginia Department of Education on Tuesday hastily issued a correction after reports circulated that the agency was planning on excising language identifying George Washington as the “Father of our Country” and James Madison as the “Father of the Constitution.”
Read the full storyElite Nashville Girl’s School Will Allow Anyone Who Identifies as a Girl to Attend
An elite girl’s school that has become increasingly woke in past years now says that any student who identifies as a girl will be allowed to attend.
“Harpeth Hall is a girls school. The school culture is unique and distinctly about girls, complete with the use of references to students as girls and young women and the collective use of female pronouns,” says a Gender Diversity Philosophy document obtained by The Tennessee Star. “Any student who identifies as a girl may apply to our school. Students who join and remain at Harpeth Hall do so because our mission as a school for girls resonates with them.”
Read the full storyJohn Berlau of CEI.org Talks George Washington, Founding Fathers, Capitalism, and His New Book
Monday morning on the Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed author and Senior Fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, John Berlau in studio to discuss the founding fathers, entrepreneurism, and capitalism.
Read the full storyNew York City to Remove 200-Year-Old Thomas Jefferson Statue from City Hall
The New York City Public Design Commission voted to remove a historic statue of one of America’s leading Founding Fathers from City Hall, according to The Hill.
On Monday, the commission unanimously voted to relocate the statue from the City Council chambers. The vote comes after State Assemblyman Charles Barron (D-N.Y.) and his wife, City Councilwoman Inez Barron, first began the movement to remove the statue. Assemblyman Barron claimed, without evidence, that Jefferson was a rapist, while Councilwoman Barron insisted that removal of his statue was “not being revisionist.”
Read the full storyU.S. Rep. Jody Hice of Georgia Links Mass Shootings with Erosion of Traditional Values
U.S. Rep. Jody Hice (R-GA-10) said recent mass shootings are “a symptom of a profound moral crisis in America – one that cannot be easily solved by simply passing law after law in Washington.”
“George Washington said that ‘religion and morality are indispensable supports’ of a prosperous nation. These two great pillars have been driven from public life, and until they are restored, we cannot remedy the brutal absence of compassion in our society that leads to mass shootings. We must renew our love and faith in both God and each other,” Hice told constituents in an emailed newsletter this week.
Read the full storyVirginia General Assembly Votes to Remove Statue of Former Governor Harry Byrd, Sr.
The Virginia Senate voted 36 to 3 Tuesday to remove the capitol’s statue of former Democratic Governor Harry Byrd, Sr. His legacy is marked by his expansion of Virginia’s economy and roads, and is tarnished by a battle to block desegregating schools. The House of Delegates had already voted in favor of the bill, HB 2208, introduced by Delegate Jay Jones (D-Norfolk.) Governor Ralph Northam is expected to approve the bill.
Read the full storyCommentary: History of Presidents Day
“This is Washington’s Birthday,” sings Fred Astaire in the movie classic Holiday Inn, “And I can’t tell a lie.” Americans of a certain age no doubt can remember when the day we now know as Presidents Day was called Washington’s Birthday, invariably celebrated on February 22. George Washington was officially born on February 11, 1731 according to the old Julian calendar; February 22, 1732 according to the Gregorian calendar now in use. In the early days of our nation Washington was universally revered for his role in the Revolution and the founding of the Republic; unofficial celebrations to mark his birthday were held throughout the nineteenth century.
Read the full storyGeorge Washington Entrepreneur Author John Berlau Talks About Washington’s Unknown Accomplishments
Thursday morning on the Tennessee Report, host Leahy welcomed Jon Berlau to the show to talk about his book George Washington Entrepreneur and Washington’s many unknown accomplishments.
Read the full storyAuthor of ‘George Washington, Entrepreneur’ John Berlau Talks About Washington as an Innovator
Live from Music Row Wednesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report Early Edition with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed American economist and the Director at the Center for Investors and Entrepreneurs at the Competitive Enterprise Institute John Berlau to the newsmakers line.
During the first hour, Berlau joined the show to discuss his new book entitled George Washington, Entrepreneur, and how his innovative spirit contributed to America. He also touched upon Washington’s relationship to slavery and how near the end of his life had led the way by freeing all of his slaves.
Read the full storyCommentary: Happy Thanksgiving!
In an America devoted to the celebration of the self, Thanksgiving is an anachronism. Perhaps that’s why it’s become my favorite holiday.
Read the full storyCommentary: Celebration of Easter and Passover
This weekend marks a Holy Week for many citizens across Tennessee and the world, as we celebrate Passover and Easter. In America, religious beliefs are critical to many of our founding principles. There is no denying the significant impact that faith has had on our nation, from the Puritans to our present day. America was “settled by men and women of deep religious convictions who in the seventeenth century crossed the Atlantic Ocean to practice their faith freely.” George Washington declared in his Farewell Address, that of “all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and morality are indispensable supports.” So, it is no surprise that as a nation, many of our citizens still embrace faith and trust in God. We pass along our faith rituals, habits, customs and traditions to our own children in our homes and places of worship. Passover begins at sundown on Friday, April 19, and ends Saturday evening, April 27. The first Passover Seder is on the evening of April 19, and the second Passover Seder takes place on the evening of April 20. Jewish people everywhere will sit with their families and friends for the celebration of Passover—a celebration of freedom.…
Read the full storyTennessee Star EXCLUSIVE: Country Music’s Stokes Nielson Launches a New Initiative ‘Stokes for Tennessee Freedom’
NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Stokes Nielson granted The Tennessee Star an exclusive sit-down in the shadow of the State Capitol to talk about the new venture he is initiating called Stokes For Tennessee Freedom. Stokes will be recognized for his country music career as an award-winning songwriter with the band The Lost Trailers, originally named Stokes Nielson and The Lost Trailers. The twice-nominated band for the Academy of Country Music’s Top New Vocal Group is probably best known for their “Holler Back” single that reached #9 on the country music charts. Stokes, energized and passionate about his new mission, didn’t dwell on his country music career other than to say that he has a background in the business and that he is involved with that community or how it relates to his new initiative. The meeting with The Star, arranged confidentially by a third party without revealing the name of the interviewee, eliminated any potential distracting interview questions about Stokes’ country music life, and allowed the focus to be on his Stokes For Tennessee Freedom effort and what lead him to it. Almost immediately after the introductions, Stokes presented a photocopy of a hand-written letter, currently housed in the National Archives,…
Read the full storyJC Bowman Commentary: Hail to the Chiefs
The third Monday of February is recognized as Presidents’ Day in the United States. Established in 1885, the day was originally intended to celebrate the birthday of the first president of our country, George Washington. Today we use it to commemorate all 45 Presidents of the United States. However, no American president has ever enjoyed unanimous support from our citizens. So, the holiday is celebrated, but not universally beloved by all people. George Washington warned his countrymen of “the baneful effects of the spirit of party” in his Farewell Address as President of the United States. That advice fell on deaf ears, and as much as Washington was held in high esteem, it was neglected. It is worth noting that political parties in the United States stem partly from a political feud between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson. The Federalists, led by Secretary of Treasury Hamilton, wanted a strong central government, while the Anti-Federalists, led by Secretary of State Jefferson, advocated for states’ rights instead of centralized power. The growth of political parties was an American response to political conflict. That explains a lot about where we are today, as Hank Williams Jr. might remind us, “it’s a family tradition.”…
Read the full storyCommentary: How George Washington Warned Us About Tribalism and Disunity
by Richard Lim Sept. 19 was the 222nd anniversary of the publication of President George Washington’s Farewell Address. Appearing in newspapers nationwide, it announced Washington’s intention to retire from public life after his second term. For most of American history, the Farewell Address was required reading in grade schools across the nation and was continually invoked in the public discourse. Yet in recent decades, the address has faded into obscurity. That’s a shame, as it is a treasure trove of wisdom from the man who did the most to create our country—who knew, as well as anyone else, what it took to create a modern, large-scale republic. After all, it was Washington who led the nation through the War of Independence, oversaw the drafting of the Constitution, and served as its first president. Washington addressed the document specifically to the American people—not just to policymakers—and recommended that they give his advice their “frequent review.” The Farewell Address is mostly known for its warnings against political parties and entangling alliances during the nation’s youth. Certainly, Washington made those points, and offered practical advice on a wide array of other subjects. They include making permanent the powers of the federal government,…
Read the full storyJC Bowman Commentary: We Remember September 11
We must remember September 11th in our homes and in our classrooms and engage in this important dialogue. Never let it be said that the flame of freedom was extinguished on our watch. That can be summed up in two words: We Remember.
Read the full storyCommentary: The Turbulent True History of the ‘Good Ole Days’ of Politics
by Jeffery A. Rendall It’s only natural in times of political turmoil – like what we’re experiencing now and for as long as I can remember – that people harken back to yesteryear for a more tranquil period when everyone got along swimmingly and went out for drinks after each encounter regardless of the rhetorical fights they engaged in earlier that day. We all recall the good ‘ol days as if there was never any conflict; people had manners “back then” and even political enemies found it within their beings to bury the hatchet in their minds rather than in someone else’s back. But was it really that way? A thorough perusal of history reveals that today’s political brawls aren’t much apart from those of the past. Even America’s Founding Fathers were hardly immune from the backbiting and triviality that’s so much in evidence today. Take James Madison and Alexander Hamilton for example. Jay Cost wrote at National Review last week, “One point that I do not linger on in [my new book] is how the two of them came to ascribe bad motives to each other. In Madison’s reckoning, Hamilton was a would-be monarchist who sought the destruction of the republic itself.…
Read the full storyGeorge Washington’s Church Is Going to Rip Out His Memorial
The Virginia church that George Washington attended for two decades plans to tear out a memorial to the nation’s first president because the plaque could make some worshipers feel “unsafe or unwelcome.” Christ Church in Alexandria, Virginia, where Washington became a founding member in 1773, will remove his memorial and a similar one to Robert E.…
Read the full storyLetter to the Editor: Let Us Remember the True Meaning of the Second Amendment
Dear Tennessee Star, After Las Vegas, The Second Amendment is again under attack by the Democrats and Liberals. But why did the framers of the Constitution include the Second Amendment in the Bill of Rights? It’s been said that to properly understand the Constitution one must place themselves in the environment and frame of mind of those writing the Constitution at the time the Constitution was written. I agree, a Government of the People and by the People, must also include it’s protection and security by the People. America was in a war with England at the time the Constitution was being written, a war the People was fighting with their own guns and ammo. America had no military such as we have today, everything depended on the citizens, their firearms and willingness to fight. The framers recognized that without the right to own guns, the people would never be able to win their freedom or maintain their own security from tyranny in the future. The Framers placed the ultimate responsibility for maintaining America’s way of life not in the hands of Government, Law enforcement or the Military, but in the hands of the people, and just as Law enforcement and…
Read the full storyRahm Emanuel Urged by Chicago Pastor to Remove George Washington Statue, Rename Park over Slavery
President Trump’s question to reporters on Tuesday about the possibility of tearing down historical monuments has been answered by a Chicago pastor: “It’s time.” Bishop James E. Dukes of Chicago’s Liberation Christian Center made headlines in the Windy City on Wednesday for calling on Mayor Rahm Emanuel to rename Washington Park and remove a statue of…
Read the full storyNational Purple Heart Day
Today is a very special day in American history. Two hundred and thirty-five years ago today, the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, General George Washington, introduced the “Badge for Military Merit” to his soldiers for “any singularly meritorious action.” The Badge consisted of a simple heart of purple silk edged in silver, with ‘Merit’ stitched across it, also in silver. The award allowed the bearer – whose name was added to The Book of Merit – to pass guards unchallenged. Sadly, the Book was lost to history, and the fate of Washington’s “Badge of Military Merit” nearly was, too, until 1927, when US Army Chief of Staff General Charles P. Summerall tried to reinstate it. Summerall retired the next year, and his replacement, General Douglas MacArthur took up the cause, determined to reinstate the Badge in time for George Washington’s 200th birthday the following February. Sure enough, on February 22, 1933 the Department of War re-introduced General George Washington’s “Badge of Military Merit” as, “The Order of the Purple Heart.” So let’s pause to thank all those extraordinary men and women through the centuries who have suffered and sacrificed to preserve the blessings of our liberty. Happy Purple Heart Day!
Read the full storyConstitution Series: A Republic, If You Can Keep It
This is the first of twenty-five weekly articles in The Tennessee Star’s Constitution Series. Students in grades 8 through 12 can sign up here to participate in The Tennessee Star’s Constitution Bee, which will be held on September 23. Minutes after the Constitutional Convention adjourned in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787, Elizabeth Powel, a friend of George Washington who hosted many social events for the political class of the time, asked Benjamin Franklin if the convention had given us a republic or a monarchy. “A republic, madam, if you can keep it,” the venerable 81-year-old delegate, ambassador, and inventor responded. Fifty-five delegates, from all the states except Rhode Island, attended that convention, which began four months earlier in May of that year under the premise of forming a more perfect union by revising the Articles of Confederation. You see, the United States of America was not officially formed as the republic of which we are currently citizens in 1783 when the Treaty of Paris, in which Great Britain acknowledged the independence and sovereignty of its former colonies, was signed. The Continental Congress of the thirteen rebellious colonies, convening in York Town, Pennsylvania (now simply called York), adopted the…
Read the full storyCommentary: Our Constitution Is Essential for Our Identity
Understanding our government and founding documents, such as the Constitution, creates a more reflective, clear-thinking, and invested citizen.
Read the full storyCommentary: President’s Day
The third Monday of February is known as Presidents Day in the United States. In the beginning, the day was intended to celebrate the birthday of the first president of our country, George Washington. Today we use it to commemorate all 45 Presidents of the United States.
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