Mike Pilewski writes about life, politics and culture in the United States
Paper money offers a way of reminding people about their country’s history and values. But how often do we think about who and what is portrayed on it? The paper money in the United States is basically a portrait gallery of important men from the country’s first 100 years. Three of them were army generals who later became president: George … >>
Half a lifetime had passed since I’d seen these people. The year was 2003, and the event was our high-school reunion. Of the 620 students in my class, about 20 percent were there. Half of the rest could not be found. The others, I suppose, weren’t interested, or perhaps they felt their stories wouldn’t impress anyone. The people we thought … >>
“In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes,” wrote one of America’s great philosophers, Benjamin Franklin, in 1789. In our time, conservative populists have often tried to prove him wrong. It’s an easy way to get votes: tell people their government is stealing from them and needs to be replaced. “It’s your money” is … >>
A few years ago, author Tom Friedman talked about a trip he’d taken to Tehran. Demonstrators passed by his hotel, shouting “Death to America!” Friedman asked one of them why so many people hated his country. The Iranian told him that he didn’t hate America at all; in fact, he has family in the US and would like to go … >>