A View From the Edge

In talking to people across America, there seems to be a running theme, strong divisions in thinking, between portions of the population. The nation — so terribly divided — seems incapable of understanding an opposing side’s view. One issue that seems to divide the most is the question of whether the government should make your life better or whether the government should get out of your way to allow you to make your life better. Often, these are the arguments posed by extreme factions on both sides of the political divide.

While all the other machinations are going on in politics, serious men and women, those in defense of the country, are trying to see through the fog of future defense needs and are making assessments of our capability.

A world famous photographer said, when answering an anti-nudity critic at a museum opening of his nude photography, “Dirty is when seen through dirty eyes.” In a way, what’s on the Internet these days fits that model. You can replace “dirty” with “violent” or “biased” or even “fake” when it comes to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and others.

Did you know that Denmark and Canada are at war? And that they are negotiating — have been for four decades — for peace?  And what’s the war about? Borders and protecting territorial integrity. You see, half way between Greenland (Danish sovereign territory) and Ellesmere Island (part of Canada) in a straight of water known as Kennedy Channel is a lump of rock called Hans Island.