Democracy | The Port Rail

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Taking a Privilege

March 19, 2020

I am taking a privilege today to tell you about a forthcoming visit to the University by Ambassador Lino Gutiérrez, former U. S ambassador to both Nicaragua and Argentina. He served as U. S. ambassador to Nicaragua from 1996-1999 and as ambassador to Argentina from 2003-2006. Ambassadors hold the highest foreign service assignment to the […]

Some Thoughts on the Firing of James R. Riley at University of Alabama

September 22, 2019

An announcement made on Sept. 5 was terse and expressed the opinion that the case was closed: “Dr. James Riley has resigned his position at the University of Alabama by mutual agreement,” Chris Bryant, a spokesman for the University, wrote in an email, adding “Neither party will have any further comments.” Case closed. I thought […]

Did the English Get It Right?

August 26, 2019

As usual, something reminded me of a historical phenomenon we need to reexamine: the old British empire and its legacy to the world. The recent outbreak of mass demonstrations in Hong Kong aimed at the China’s center of political power in Beijing recalled the historical period of the British empire which governed over a significant […]

Dancing Around Anti-Semitism

May 26, 2019

Dancing Around Anti-Semitism The recent, and some not so recent, remarks by our two new Muslim Congresswomen, Rashida Tlaib from Michigan and Ilhan Omar from Minnesota, has raised a hullaballoo among many politicians, both Democrats and Republicans. The issue is portrayed as the Muslim desire to eradicate the state of Israel in favor of a […]

Venezuela, Little Venice

May 25, 2019

Little Venice That’s the origins of Venezuela’s name, “Little Venice.” And here’s your quick quiz of the week, right up front. Who is the most famous man in Venezuela or her history? A. Nicolas Maduro, B. Hugo Chávez, C. Simón Bolívar, D. Fidel Castro. Venezuela is in the news this week. Actually Venezuela has been […]

Thoughts from the Past for the Present, and for the Future for that Matter

December 2, 2018

I often invoke the adage, “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” probably coined by George Santayana (1863-1952). There is a lot of what I’d call popular wisdom out there from other ages. When reading these, one wonders how clever and original are we really when compared to the past? Try […]