Thank you. As usual well done. I so wish that more citizen's could understand what is happening today in our Federal Government. The lessons of history need to be learned.
I learned something from this article -- particularly because you provided visual imagery. The first time I ever saw a Purple Heart Award changed me drastically than knowing they exist...
America has "a problem" with its ideals and her behavior.
I accept some very strong arguments on Japanese being interned. First off, the historical era was different. Second, some exigencies were different for WWII that are hard to measure for a historian. Third, it might not have been safe to be Japanese and live in society. Fourth, mostly, it is hard to place yourself in the shoes of an American in 1941, after Pearl Harbor was bombed, because that whole entire reality is dead. The Japanese were tough guys and people in general do not work on exquisite psychology. I read Tom Brokaw's letters and memories and that gave me more appreciation for America's decision to put the Japanese in internment camps.
Now, moving on to my argument, putting the Japanese in internment camps goes against America's ideals whether it's the right or wrong policy. History is weird like that. What is right for one historical age may not be right for another. Few people think in those terms like that.
America is a mixture of people and ideals. All we are taught is her ideals. I think our reality should shift more on the "ideals" side to the "people" side.
It feels like to me that white collar jobs cannot be done without "joy," while blue collar jobs cannot be done without "enthrallment" ... and that the two emotions cannot be over switched between the two. Who knows what that brain means.
In order for us to live up to our ideals, whether caused by people or history at negative or positive: we must make sense of our sociology, collectively, and stop saying anyone can be barred from liberty.
So the story goes, We hold these truths to be self-evident, that they are endowed by their Creator, with unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. No ones knows or cares about what the Declaration or Constitution are anymore. That is a "Baby Boomer" thing. Baby Boomers were patriotic, Millennials and Gen Z are not. One flaw with the Declaration of Independence is its source of rights in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness: God does not exist, our rights come from what men and women can sociologically come up with to get along and congregate. Thus, because our two most important documents are out of fashion with Americans, we should reinvent America like we do every generation. How we do that I don't know: we have been using the Bible since 1620-1776-2025. I prefer Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Sportscentury, Marcus Aurelius, the NT, Homer, War and Peace.
Dear Dr. Chervinsky: with interest i viewed your TV broadcast interview with David Rubenstein.
I must have missed it, but you should have mentioned that President John Adams deplored the fracturing effect of political parties and that he was a Federalist desiring a very strong federal government.
Additionally, that President Thomas Jefferson was a strong and intransigent state's rights, a highly vocal disciple for a very weak and token federal government. How else could he maintain his human slave holdings which were a primary source of his income$$$ and ill-gotten comfort?? He was the father of a number of reported bastard children and untold numbers of non-reported bastard children. He wanted a weak and feeble federal government - EXCEPT when it came to preserving HIS greedy interests$$$, HIS aims and HIS goals. He absolutely disgraced himself by repeatedly slandering and demonizing John Adams as a monarchist (among other detestable actions) doing all-l-l-l-l he could to underhandedly debase and slander John Adams thereby winning the presidential election and limiting Adams to just one term as our president. Jefferson was a son-of-a-bitch opportunistic louse. No small wonder why Abigail Adams hated Jefferson's guts. She knew Jefferson for WHAT HE TRULY WAS...A LIAR, A DEMON SLAVER, A GRIFTER, A SELF-CENTERED, NARCISSISTIC LOUSE!!
Thank you for this opportunity to reach-out to you, Dr. Chervinsky,
As you say, you are not a lawyer or a judge. It shows. The loose interpretation and mischaracterization of the texts to which you refer is Indicative of your preconceived beliefs. I believe there are some legitimate issues with application of the Alien Enemies Act in the present situation. However, your article neither develops those issues nor advances anyone's understanding of them. You mislead your readers and should be ashamed.
Are you a lawyer or judge? How do you interpret it to apply to “the present situation”? I suppose one could contend there is an “…invasion or predatory incursion…” being “…perpetrated, attempted, or threatened against the territory of the United States…”. The next clause is “by any nation or foreign government”. After that there’s requirement for the President to make a public proclamation of the event. I haven’t heard any nation or government proclaimed as complicit in an incursion on our territory. I expect that was included so that congress could declare war in response to such an event. I feel I do have to defend Dr. C. After reading the full text, I don’t think anything was mischaracterized or interpreted loosely. If you’re reading into her piece a particular bias, I think that’s your bias coming through. As for my bias, I abhor any abuse of power from any government entity, democrat or republican. Full text of the Alien Enemies act follows:
SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled, That whenever there shall be a declared war between the United States and any foreign nation or government, or any invasion or predatory incursion shall be perpetrated, attempted, or threatened against the territory of the United States, by any foreign nation or government, and the President of the United States shall make public proclamation of the event, all natives, citizens, denizens, or subjects of the hostile nation or government, being males of the age of fourteen years and upwards, who shall be within the United States, and not actually naturalized, shall be liable to be apprehended, restrained, secured and removed, as alien enemies. And the President of the United States shall be, and he is hereby authorized, in any event, as aforesaid, by his proclamation thereof, or other public act, to direct the conduct to be observed, on the part of
the United States, towards the aliens who shall become liable, as aforesaid; the manner and degree of the restraint to which they shall be subject, and in what cases, and upon what security their residence shall be permitted, and to provide for the removal of those, who, not
being permitted to reside within the United States, shall refuse or neglect to depart
therefrom; and to establish any other regulations which shall be found necessary in the premises and for the public safety: Provided, that aliens resident within the United States, who shall become liable as enemies, in the manner aforesaid, and who shall not be chargeable with actual hostility, or other crime against the public safety, shall be allowed, for the recovery, disposal, and removal of their goods and effects, and for their departure, the full time which is, or shall be stipulated by any treaty, where any shall have been between the United States, and the hostile nation or government, of which they shall be natives, citizens, denizens or subjects: and where no such treaty shall have existed, the President of
the United States may ascertain and declare such reasonable time as may be consistent with the public safety, and according to the dictates of humanity and national hospitality.
SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That after any proclamation shall be made as
aforesaid, it shall be the duty of the several courts of the United States, and of each state, having criminal jurisdiction, and of the several judges and justices of the courts of the United States, and they shall be, and are hereby respectively, authorized upon complaint, against any alien or alien enemies, as aforesaid, who shall be resident and at large within such jurisdiction or district, to the danger of the public peace or safety, and contrary to the tenor or intent of such proclamation, or other regulations which the President of the United States shall and may establish in the premises, to cause such alien or aliens to be duly apprehended and convened before such court, judge or justice; and after a full examination and hearing on such complaint. and sufficient cause therefor appearing, shall and may order such alien or aliens to be removed out of the territory of the United States, or to give sureties
of their good behaviour, or to be otherwise restrained, conformably to the proclamation or regulations which shall and may be established as aforesaid, and may imprison, or otherwise secure such alien or aliens, until the order which shall and may be made, as aforesaid, shall be performed.
SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the marshal of the district in which any alien enemy shall be apprehended, who by the President of the United States, or by order of any court, judge or justice, as aforesaid, shall be required to depart, and to be removed, as aforesaid, to provide therefor, and to execute such order, by himself or his
deputy, or other discreet person or persons to be employed by him, by causing a removal of such alien out of the territory of the United States; and for such removal the marshal shall have the warrant of the President of the United States, or of the court, judge or justice ordering the same, as the case may be.
Thank you, Dr. Chervinsky. Happy Patriot's Day. I hope the Patriots will turn out again to save government by consent of the governed.
Thank you. As usual well done. I so wish that more citizen's could understand what is happening today in our Federal Government. The lessons of history need to be learned.
Excellent and oh so relevant
Nicely said. Thanks.
A timely commentary. Thank You Dr. Chervinsky
Thanks for the heads up on the podcast Dr C. I've added it to my rotation.
I appreciate the deeper dive into this month's focus. I'll keep the email version for reference.
I learned something from this article -- particularly because you provided visual imagery. The first time I ever saw a Purple Heart Award changed me drastically than knowing they exist...
America has "a problem" with its ideals and her behavior.
I accept some very strong arguments on Japanese being interned. First off, the historical era was different. Second, some exigencies were different for WWII that are hard to measure for a historian. Third, it might not have been safe to be Japanese and live in society. Fourth, mostly, it is hard to place yourself in the shoes of an American in 1941, after Pearl Harbor was bombed, because that whole entire reality is dead. The Japanese were tough guys and people in general do not work on exquisite psychology. I read Tom Brokaw's letters and memories and that gave me more appreciation for America's decision to put the Japanese in internment camps.
Now, moving on to my argument, putting the Japanese in internment camps goes against America's ideals whether it's the right or wrong policy. History is weird like that. What is right for one historical age may not be right for another. Few people think in those terms like that.
America is a mixture of people and ideals. All we are taught is her ideals. I think our reality should shift more on the "ideals" side to the "people" side.
It feels like to me that white collar jobs cannot be done without "joy," while blue collar jobs cannot be done without "enthrallment" ... and that the two emotions cannot be over switched between the two. Who knows what that brain means.
In order for us to live up to our ideals, whether caused by people or history at negative or positive: we must make sense of our sociology, collectively, and stop saying anyone can be barred from liberty.
So the story goes, We hold these truths to be self-evident, that they are endowed by their Creator, with unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. No ones knows or cares about what the Declaration or Constitution are anymore. That is a "Baby Boomer" thing. Baby Boomers were patriotic, Millennials and Gen Z are not. One flaw with the Declaration of Independence is its source of rights in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness: God does not exist, our rights come from what men and women can sociologically come up with to get along and congregate. Thus, because our two most important documents are out of fashion with Americans, we should reinvent America like we do every generation. How we do that I don't know: we have been using the Bible since 1620-1776-2025. I prefer Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Sportscentury, Marcus Aurelius, the NT, Homer, War and Peace.
Dear Dr. Chervinsky: with interest i viewed your TV broadcast interview with David Rubenstein.
I must have missed it, but you should have mentioned that President John Adams deplored the fracturing effect of political parties and that he was a Federalist desiring a very strong federal government.
Additionally, that President Thomas Jefferson was a strong and intransigent state's rights, a highly vocal disciple for a very weak and token federal government. How else could he maintain his human slave holdings which were a primary source of his income$$$ and ill-gotten comfort?? He was the father of a number of reported bastard children and untold numbers of non-reported bastard children. He wanted a weak and feeble federal government - EXCEPT when it came to preserving HIS greedy interests$$$, HIS aims and HIS goals. He absolutely disgraced himself by repeatedly slandering and demonizing John Adams as a monarchist (among other detestable actions) doing all-l-l-l-l he could to underhandedly debase and slander John Adams thereby winning the presidential election and limiting Adams to just one term as our president. Jefferson was a son-of-a-bitch opportunistic louse. No small wonder why Abigail Adams hated Jefferson's guts. She knew Jefferson for WHAT HE TRULY WAS...A LIAR, A DEMON SLAVER, A GRIFTER, A SELF-CENTERED, NARCISSISTIC LOUSE!!
Thank you for this opportunity to reach-out to you, Dr. Chervinsky,
Eric Helge Sorensen
Las Cruces, NM, USA
Email: ehsuniverse@outlook.com
As you say, you are not a lawyer or a judge. It shows. The loose interpretation and mischaracterization of the texts to which you refer is Indicative of your preconceived beliefs. I believe there are some legitimate issues with application of the Alien Enemies Act in the present situation. However, your article neither develops those issues nor advances anyone's understanding of them. You mislead your readers and should be ashamed.
Are you a lawyer or judge? How do you interpret it to apply to “the present situation”? I suppose one could contend there is an “…invasion or predatory incursion…” being “…perpetrated, attempted, or threatened against the territory of the United States…”. The next clause is “by any nation or foreign government”. After that there’s requirement for the President to make a public proclamation of the event. I haven’t heard any nation or government proclaimed as complicit in an incursion on our territory. I expect that was included so that congress could declare war in response to such an event. I feel I do have to defend Dr. C. After reading the full text, I don’t think anything was mischaracterized or interpreted loosely. If you’re reading into her piece a particular bias, I think that’s your bias coming through. As for my bias, I abhor any abuse of power from any government entity, democrat or republican. Full text of the Alien Enemies act follows:
SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled, That whenever there shall be a declared war between the United States and any foreign nation or government, or any invasion or predatory incursion shall be perpetrated, attempted, or threatened against the territory of the United States, by any foreign nation or government, and the President of the United States shall make public proclamation of the event, all natives, citizens, denizens, or subjects of the hostile nation or government, being males of the age of fourteen years and upwards, who shall be within the United States, and not actually naturalized, shall be liable to be apprehended, restrained, secured and removed, as alien enemies. And the President of the United States shall be, and he is hereby authorized, in any event, as aforesaid, by his proclamation thereof, or other public act, to direct the conduct to be observed, on the part of
the United States, towards the aliens who shall become liable, as aforesaid; the manner and degree of the restraint to which they shall be subject, and in what cases, and upon what security their residence shall be permitted, and to provide for the removal of those, who, not
being permitted to reside within the United States, shall refuse or neglect to depart
therefrom; and to establish any other regulations which shall be found necessary in the premises and for the public safety: Provided, that aliens resident within the United States, who shall become liable as enemies, in the manner aforesaid, and who shall not be chargeable with actual hostility, or other crime against the public safety, shall be allowed, for the recovery, disposal, and removal of their goods and effects, and for their departure, the full time which is, or shall be stipulated by any treaty, where any shall have been between the United States, and the hostile nation or government, of which they shall be natives, citizens, denizens or subjects: and where no such treaty shall have existed, the President of
the United States may ascertain and declare such reasonable time as may be consistent with the public safety, and according to the dictates of humanity and national hospitality.
SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That after any proclamation shall be made as
aforesaid, it shall be the duty of the several courts of the United States, and of each state, having criminal jurisdiction, and of the several judges and justices of the courts of the United States, and they shall be, and are hereby respectively, authorized upon complaint, against any alien or alien enemies, as aforesaid, who shall be resident and at large within such jurisdiction or district, to the danger of the public peace or safety, and contrary to the tenor or intent of such proclamation, or other regulations which the President of the United States shall and may establish in the premises, to cause such alien or aliens to be duly apprehended and convened before such court, judge or justice; and after a full examination and hearing on such complaint. and sufficient cause therefor appearing, shall and may order such alien or aliens to be removed out of the territory of the United States, or to give sureties
of their good behaviour, or to be otherwise restrained, conformably to the proclamation or regulations which shall and may be established as aforesaid, and may imprison, or otherwise secure such alien or aliens, until the order which shall and may be made, as aforesaid, shall be performed.
SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the marshal of the district in which any alien enemy shall be apprehended, who by the President of the United States, or by order of any court, judge or justice, as aforesaid, shall be required to depart, and to be removed, as aforesaid, to provide therefor, and to execute such order, by himself or his
deputy, or other discreet person or persons to be employed by him, by causing a removal of such alien out of the territory of the United States; and for such removal the marshal shall have the warrant of the President of the United States, or of the court, judge or justice ordering the same, as the case may be.
APPROVED, July 6, 1798.
Source:
United States Statutes at Large