column: History Mystery: Albion's First Fire Chief

SLIGHTLY OFF THE MARK

 

            One of the reasons people don’t like history is that it doesn’t get personal enough.

 

( Just as some students learn to hate reading because it’s presented as a chore rather than a joy, others hate history because to them it’s just a bunch of dates and big, sweeping, unconnected movements. Hitler, for instance, appears in most history books as a caricature: A madman in a moustache, screaming at a podium. (I mean, he’s standing at the podium, screaming. Not screaming at the podium. What did that podium ever do to him?) )

The Tucson killings

My heart goes out to Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, all those killed and wounded in the senseless shooting in Tucson, and to their friends and families. It appears now to be the act of a single, insane individual, and yet even after that came out this tragedy is being used as political ammunition in yet another divisive, insulting argument.

This horrible act will generate plenty enough rancor and politicizing later; for now, please have some respect and give everyone time to mourn and heal.