#warishistory

The Residence Act of 1790 made the creation of the capital possible. in 1791, the city of Washington, formally known as Washington, District of Colombia, in the present, became the national capital of the United States. Since then, it continues to be the seat of the three branches of the federal government. The Congress, the White House, and the Supreme Court are all located in Washington, DC. In 2018, it is the twentieth most populated city in the United States. Many historical landmarks, like monuments and museums, international embassies, headquarters of leading international organizations, among others, are located in DC. In short, the capital plays a vital role not only within the US federal system, but also in matters affecting the international community. Geographically, however, it is not the most accessible location for many Americans. Because the United States spans a huge area from the West Coast to the East Coast, then north and south, many everyday citizens find the location of the capital too difficult to access. A flight from any of the airports in California to DC, for example, totals over five hours, not including delays and check-in and check-out times. Driving from Louisiana to DC is even more unbelievable—almost 16 hours without traffic, stops, or delays. This goes to show that travelling to DC, if one has important business in the capital, can be time-consuming and expensive—something many Americans can do without. Is relocating the capital to a more central location possible at all in the future? In recent news, Indonesia announced the relocation of its capital from Jakarta to East Kalimantan, firing up speculations that Jakarta is sinking some inches per year. Indonesian spokespersons, however, insist on urbanization plans as the main reason. Whatever their reasons are, it only goes to show that it can be done during our time. With careful planning, a capital city may be relocated anywhere on the map. What are the cons for such a move? A relocation of that magnitude will require billions of dollars. It will horrendously set back the national budget and affect many departments and agencies and, consequentially, affect thousands, if not millions, of Americans. Furthermore, will the two opposing powers—the right and the left—agree on a location, or will that set off another round of everlasting debates? At this point, we can only speculate. Read the full article

Today is tomorrow’s history. What do our children see in the present that will make for an interesting history lesson thirty or fifty years from now? These are times of relative peace among powerful nations. While there seems to be global cooperation and unity, every nation is out to protect itself against outside forces. Hence, even the strongest of allies can become the worst enemies if circumstances so require. Take the case of the disputed waters of the South China Sea. Most countries claiming maritime ownership of certain parts of this important body of water are all “friends” or in good rapport with each other. China and the Philippines are good examples. But China’s loyalty is not toward any friendship with the Philippines or other nations. Of course, China will protect itself and assert itself the best way China knows how. Children see this today. Certainly, the future will see this too. Children see the war waged by the Americans in the Middle East and the ideology that push men and women to pick up arms for the Motherland. Too, they see in the news the trouble in places like Syria. They may not fully comprehend the whys and hows of our current news, but they see the destruction and suffering that have rendered a nation hopeless. Children see diversity and inequality in many places. They see addiction, abuse, and mental disorder all around. They see how enslaved we’ve become to social media and how the world has gotten smaller thanks to technology. Children hear about global warming and greed and corruption. All these things that make our headlines today will flash back on their minds in the future, when today is finally history. Hopefully, we haven’t raised our children to be complete cynics so that they will see that, in spite of ourselves, the world is still a wonderful place; that there are people who cherish the simple, minimal life; that kindness is still a treasure. Hopefully, they will remember the little simple acts of goodness they see in some people. Sometimes we talk about the future like it’s a far-off point, a light year away perhaps. We forget that history is in the making. Everything we do and say will affect the future—the second or so after. Read the full article

War has been a part of man’s history since time immemorial. Every corner of the world has seen the destruction and devastation it can bring. Perhaps the relative peace we are experiencing today is just an intermission before the start of another worldwide war, part of a familiar cycle, oft repeated, with little enough consideration given to the war’s aftermath. But have all the wars in history really been necessary, or could they have been prevented, thereby preserving life and the dignity of nations? Understanding this will prepare us for future eventualities. Historians offer varied perspectives about the subject. Understanding why wars are deemed necessary helps us understand the root causes. Why do countries, entities, or factions go to war against each other? Oftentimes, more than one reason is given for conflicts that result in war, and the real reasons are sometimes disguised as noble causes or cover up hidden political agenda. Understanding the reasoning behind conflict will help us determine if war is the best resolution for it. Economic and territorial gains are two of the top reasons why nations go to war. Colonial empires formerly conquered less powerful nations for economic gain in the form of minerals, spices, and/or rare commodities. Some people were also enslaved to further the economic gains of the dominating country. Today, countries are less likely to declare war for strictly economic and territorial advantages, although it is common knowledge that many intergovernmental conflicts are due to a desire to increase accessibility to oil and minerals. In many cases, declarations of religious conflict or claims of offended patriotism are merely covers for the real reasons one nation has taken up arms against another. Overthrowing a tyrant or a government that no longer serves the people is another reason why conflicts lead to civil war or revolution. Sometimes a war becomes the only way to preserve one’s homeland. Perhaps this is the only acceptable reason to go to war—the defense of a country’s sovereignty. There are many possible scenarios that may lead to future world war. In fact, some believe that the next big war has already begun. Russia, for example, seems set to recovery the territory once controlled by the former Soviet Republic. China appears determined to assert ownership of disputed islands and territories in the South China Sea. And there seems to be no end to United States involvement in the Middle East. Perhaps war does reaffirm the strength—and borders—of the nations of the world. Maybe war is the only way some issues of global importance can be resolved. War may ultimately be the only way to form strong alliances between nations. But the question remains: is it all worth it? Read the full article