After a hiatus of several years, I am relaunching my blog, “Perspectives” in a new format. A series of short posts will examine significant issue from a variety of perspectives. Each series will consist of 10-12 posts, each between 500 and 600 words, published twice a week. My hope is to present complex issues in short, easy-to-digest bites.

The first series, “American Exceptionalism: Land of Liberty, Foundation of Slavery,” will focus on four foundational documents were delivered across four centuries:

• John Winthrop’s sermon on “a city on a hill” (1630)

• Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence (1776)

• Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address (1863)

• Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech (1963)

The series will seek to shed light on, and encourage discussion of, America’s enduring and unfinished challenge – one that calls into question once again our ability to survive as a United States. We will also look at four documents that directly confront the vision of American exceptionalism set forth in the original four documents:

• The 1619 Project by Nicole Hannah-Jones (2021)

• Frederick Douglass’ speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” (1852)

• Roger Taney’s decision in Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)

• Report of the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders (1967)

My hope is that this and future series will stimulate thoughtful and lively discussion about important topics. The second series, which also seems timely in light of the crisis on the Colorado, is called “Rivers and their Waters: Reclaiming Our Commons.” Other series will look at “Individualism and Community,” “Economic Growth and Environmental Preservation,” and “Social and Environmental Justice.”

The first blog will start next week. To receive it and future posts automatically in your inbox, simply go to www.jamesgblaine.com and sign up. The blog is free. There is, of course, the usual “opportunity” to donate, as well as and a link to unsubscribe. I hope you will join the conversation and urge others to come along too.

Jamie