Category Archives: Defining Western Civilization

A Functioning Society – How It All (Really) Works

Posted on November 4, 2016 by Phil Christensen

Some Of Us Need Better Hobbies. This past week students advocating for segregation at the University of Berkley, CA attempted to block some of their fellow students from attending classes. You can read about it here.  It occurred to me: … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Events, Defining Western Civilization, Socialism | Tagged | 3 Comments

A Different Kind of Reformation

Posted on October 14, 2016 by Phil Christensen

Islam requires reformation. This needs to be said, therefore let’s stop dancing around the issue. To my knowledge Hindus, Taoists, and Buddhists generally don’t strap on bombs, and they don’t  seek out soft targets in the Western World. One could make a … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Events, Defining Western Civilization, Politics | Tagged | 3 Comments

Lessons Learned From My Years In Afghanistan

Posted on August 23, 2016 by Phil Christensen

An Afghan Conversation “Sir, can you do without me today?  My family is headed to the Panshir Valley today and I have to stay and watch the house.”  While not the first time that Majeed (not his real name) begged … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Events, Defining Western Civilization, History, Politics | Tagged | 2 Comments

All Good Things…

Posted on June 17, 2014 by Phil Christensen

Language, borders, culture. Take them in any order. This is what defines a nation. It is also one of those rare subjects on which one can truthfully assert that size doesn’t matter. One’s nation could be as large as the … Continue reading →

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…to so few.

Posted on June 9, 2014 by Phil Christensen

When one mentions “Dunkirk” to the average high-school student in America, one is inevitably met with glazed eyes right before those eyes flick back down to the ubiquitous i-Phone. For those with a greater-than 7-second attention span, here is William … Continue reading →

Posted in Defining Western Civilization, History | 1 Comment

Western Civilization Benchmarks III

Posted on May 29, 2014 by Phil Christensen

The year was 66 B.C. and Rome was engaged in what would be known as the Third Mithridatic War. Concurrently, the kingdom of Judea was engaged in a bloody civil war. Two princes, Hyrcanus and Aristobulus vied for the throne … Continue reading →

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Western Civilization – Benchmarks II

Posted on May 27, 2014 by Phil Christensen

After the long drawn-out siege of Tyre, Alexander marched through Palestine unopposed. The year was 332 B.C.E. Details of his visit to Jerusalem, and his audience with Jaddua, the high priest at the time, are shrouded in folklore. What historians … Continue reading →

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Western Civilization – Benchmarks I

Posted on May 26, 2014 by Phil Christensen

  Western Civilization as defined here is the confluence of Jerusalem, Athens and Rome. This paradigm provides the foundation upon which we build… oh, just about everything. The values represented by these three centers of civilization provide a set of … Continue reading →

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