Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Posted by Tara Koellhoffer
Ever since European explorers first brought tobacco back from the Americas, cigarettes and other forms of tobacco have consistently earned massive profits, despite the risks they pose to human health. Elizabeth I recognized how lucrative the tobacco trade was when she commented to Sir Walter Raleigh:
“I have known many persons who turned their gold into [...]
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Posted by Tara Koellhoffer
Between the recent insults leveled by former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad against his successor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and the daily deluge of negative campaign ads in these final days before the November elections here in the United States, it seems clear that today’s politicians are not heeding Elizabeth’s advice:
“[I]t is not the manner to [...]
Posted by Tara Koellhoffer
As the disturbing reports come in every day about Iraqis killing each other, even during the holy month of Ramadan, it is hard to disagree with Queen Elizabeth’s statement:
“One matter touches me so near as I may not overskip; religion is the ground on which all other matters ought to take root, and being corrupted [...]
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Posted by Tara Koellhoffer
“As the saying is,
So many heads, so many wits.”
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Posted by Tara Koellhoffer
In our world, public approval polls are a constant reminder of “how well” a politician is doing. Although Elizabeth I was an absolute monarch who did not need to rely on her popularity to remain on her throne, she nonetheless knew that it was important for public officials to hold the respect of the people [...]
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Posted by Tara Koellhoffer
Few people would argue that war is preferable to diplomacy when it comes to handling international crises, such as North Korea’s recent nuclear test. In some cases, however, diplomacy can be a slow-moving tactic, not always effective in dealing with situations that pose an immediate threat. Although Elizabeth certainly believed in using diplomacy first, she [...]
Posted by Tara Koellhoffer
At the time of this writing, the United States has more than 140,000 troops in Iraq. Those who support the war argue that sending more soldiers and more money will help bring a swift victory, while those who oppose the war say that there are already too many Americans fighting—and dying—in Iraq. Elizabeth knew how [...]
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Posted by Tara Koellhoffer
In Europe during Elizabeth’s day, in the midst of the Protestant Reformation, violence over religious differences frequently occurred between Catholics and Protestants over what most modern observers would likely consider relatively small matters of ceremony and belief. In today’s world, we are all too familiar with terrorism carried out by people who claim to be [...]
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Posted by Tara Koellhoffer
After overthrowing Saddam Hussein, American military forces occupied Iraq, a decision that proved to be extremely unpopular both in Iraq and at home in the United States. Occupying defeated nations in times of war is nothing new. Under Elizabeth I’s reign, the British military occupied the Netherlands in 1585. Elizabeth justified this action by saying:
“[W]hereas [...]
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Posted by Tara Koellhoffer
Ever since the United States first went to war in Iraq in 2003, growing numbers of Americans have expressed frustration over what many perceive to be the Bush administration’s failure to back up the decision to take military action with tangible evidence. After the revelation that Iraq did not possess any weapons of mass destruction—ostensibly [...]