Today

A Slave Saw

On August 13, 1831, Nat Turner witnessed a solar eclipse, which he interpreted as a sign from God. Eight days later he and 70 other slaves killed approximately 55 whites in Southampton County, Virginia.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Anti-Democratic Republicans?
SharingThe Republican Party of Ohio paid lawyers $300,000 to keep …
Swampy Moves
SharingLate Friday, in the closing hours of Florida’s legislative session, …
Another Trout in the Milk
SharingMaine’s small farmers had held out great hope for LD …
Corruption, Arkansas-Style
SharingOn Friday, the Arkansas Supreme Court struck Issue 3, a citizen-initiated …
A Law to Be Named Later
SharingNevada’s legislators have long desired to do something that they …

Measures for Measures
November 23, 2024
This year was an interesting one for initiatives.Read More »
Denial Is a River in Argentina?
November 22, 2024
Paul Jacob on one country’s retreat from self-imposed poverty.Read More »
Watch Out!
November 21, 2024
Paul Jacob on strange edits in the Lone Star State.Read More »
The Hill as Hallucinogen
November 19, 2024
Paul Jacob on a false news story, gone but not …Read More »
Elon & Vivek to Cut Government?
November 18, 2024
Paul Jacob on who could help whom do what is …Read More »

Still Cage-Rattling
SharingEven in his second term as South Carolina’s governor, Mark …
Like Zimbabwe
SharingRichard M. Lindstrom signed a petition, but his signature didn’t count. The …
Unlimited Gall
SharingSome claims don’t persuade. For example, the claim that starting …
Another OK Court Decision?
SharingHere’s another interesting court decision in Oklahoma. Oh, this time …
Sic Transit Gloria Flake
SharingYesterday, a major American politician gave up. Sort of. Senator Jeff Flake, …

Scientists for Censorship
Sharing“You have signed the death warrant for science,” scientist Peter …
Overkill … for Your Health
SharingNews stories about death- and illness-by-vaping keep hitting us. But …
A Fraction of a Reaction
Sharing“A little dab’ll do ya.” That was from Brylcream, not 23andme. …
E‑Panic
SharingOne of the better arguments for government relies upon sobriety: …
Is Denmark Socialist?
SharingFirst… some definitions: Socialism advocates the public ownership (or control) of business …

On November 23, 1644, British poet John Milton published Areopagitica, a pamphlet decrying censorship.

Revolutions of ages do not oft recover the loss of a rejected truth, for the want of which whole nations fare the worse.
John Milton, Areopagitica; A speech of Mr. John Milton for the Liberty of Unlicenc’d Printing, to the Parlament of England (1644).

The name “Areopagitica” references a speech by Isocrates, the “Areopagitikós” that itself referenced a hill in Athens, Greece, the Areopagus, which had been the site of an important tribunal that the Greek orator had hoped to restore. It may also refer to the defense that St. Paul made before the Areopagus against charges of promulgating alien gods and outré teachings (see Acts 17:18 – 34).