WCF

History, politics, and culture articles and forum discussions.

General history

- By

What was the greatest military advancement of all time?

I ask the question in the title not necessarily in regard to the most destructive military advancement, but rather the most striking. That is, what has been the achievement that has separated one army or nation from its predecessor, relatively speaking?

  • Was it the first use of bronze or iron?
  • The use of large projectiles such as the catapult, or the long bow or the crossbow?
  • Or perhaps gunpowder, or the rifled barrel – or even the fully automatic rifle?

Then again, it could be the use of air power in military conflict in the twentieth century, or the atom bomb. Then again, it could be the hydrogen bomb, ICMBs, or some other development in our future.

- By

The Year That Was: 2024 in Review

It’s often beneficial to reflect on the past and consider the events we’ve experienced in recent history. With this in mind, I wanted to take a moment to revisit some of this year’s notable occurrences and highlight what I believe were some of the most significant stories—both the obvious and the less apparent. Let’s dive in.

Stagnating Foreign Conflicts

The conflicts in Palestine and Russia have remained relatively unchanged since 2023. While there were moments when these wars appeared poised to escalate—such as the potential involvement of Iran in the Israeli situation—overall, their scope has remained steady. However, this could shift significantly in the weeks or months ahead as we move into 2025. With the incoming Trump administration, there is a possibility that some of these conflicts may see progress toward resolution in the near future.

U.S. Presidential Politics

This year, the United States experienced one of the most unusual political election cycles in decades, perhaps even a century. For years, many on the political right had raised concerns about President Joe Biden’s cognitive decline, dating back to the 2020 election. These concerns, however, were largely dismissed by mainstream media, except in instances where Biden’s occasional gaffes gained traction on social media.

This narrative changed dramatically during the June 2024 presidential debate. In the debate between incumbent President Biden and Republican nominee Donald Trump, Biden’s cognitive challenges became impossible to ignore, even for members of the Democratic establishment. Following the debate, calls for Biden to withdraw from the race intensified. Just over three months before the election, Biden abruptly announced his withdrawal, a decision made only days after publicly affirming his commitment to the race.

In response, Democratic leadership quickly declared Vice President Kamala Harris as the new presidential candidate. This move was met with skepticism, as Harris had struggled with low popularity within the Democratic Party during the 2020 primaries, polling at around 2% support at that time. Harris faced the daunting challenge of running a national campaign with little time to prepare.

Her efforts were further hampered by a series of missteps, including avoiding interviews, failing to present clear and substantive policy proposals, and struggling to differentiate herself from the perceived shortcomings of the Biden administration. Additionally, her awkwardness in public appearances did little to improve her standing with voters.

Will AI Doom Us All?

In 2024, artificial intelligence continued its rise among mainstream consumers, revolutionizing fields from video and image manipulation to audio and film production. Not long ago, we were just getting acquainted with tools like ChatGPT. Now, we have advanced generative AI platforms such as Google Gemini and Claude, along with an ever-growing array of AI services and aggregators designed for diverse media applications. The number of new AI platforms offering novel functions seems to grow every week, significantly increasing AI’s potential to disrupt society in unprecedented ways.

AI’s impact has been felt across creative industries, education, employment practices, legal systems, and even fundamental human relationships. The rapid pace of development has become overwhelming, making it difficult to predict where this technological evolution will ultimately lead. While AI has undeniably enhanced productivity and efficiency, it has also cheapened information and diminished the perceived value of human contributions to society. This dual impact raises important questions about how we will navigate the benefits and challenges of an AI-driven future.

Where will all of this lead? It seems inevitable that a reckoning will occur in the future, as society approaches a tipping point, particularly along economic lines. While the timing is uncertain, it’s likely that people will begin to question the value of pursuing education in various fields when information becomes so easily accessible through AI generation.

What happens when individuals realize their skills are no longer valued in a meaningful way within the broader system? How will society redefine roles for its members? In the short term, people may gravitate toward work and activities that AI cannot easily replicate. However, it’s unclear whether this shift will be sustainable—personally, economically, or in the long term.

The next 20 years promise to be both fascinating and unsettling as we witness the transformative changes driven by artificial intelligence.

The Trump Election

Donald Trump’s second election victory in three attempts stands out as a defining event of 2024, arguably surpassing all others. Reflect on how far he had fallen by the end of his previous term in January 2021. At that time, he faced widespread public backlash following the January 6 riots, along with years of investigations and hearings examining the events of that day.

In the years that followed, Trump also faced legal challenges in New York, Georgia, and Florida, any one of which had the potential to derail his future. Additionally, he needed to secure the Republican nomination, overcome skepticism within his own party, and persuade undecided voters—all while contending with relentless media scrutiny. These obstacles loomed large even before the general election campaign began in earnest, making his eventual victory a remarkable political comeback.

Once the campaign season began, he faced a significant challenge against the powerful Democratic political machine, bolstered by its influence in the mainstream media. Throughout the campaign, their substantial financial resources gave Biden and Harris a distinct advantage, providing levels of support that Trump did not have. While I’ve previously mentioned the assassination attempt, it’s worth reflecting on how extraordinary it was that he came so close to losing his life. Such an event could have profoundly shaken the nation, potentially pushing it to the brink of civil unrest. Despite these immense challenges, Trump managed to persevere, presenting his vision for America’s future and inspiring millions of voters to support him.

The 2024 presidential election, with Donald Trump’s victory, emerged as the year’s defining story. However, its significance extends beyond a single political figure. The election results appear to reflect not only support for Trump but also a broader reaction against the perceived excesses of progressive ideologies often associated with “woke” politics.

In recent years, American society has grappled with debates centered on identity politics, transgender rights, and approaches to crime and law enforcement. Many view these issues as emblematic of a cultural shift that, at times, bordered on what some critics describe as extremism. This election seems to have acted as a referendum on these contentious matters, signaling widespread frustration with these trends.

Trump’s victory may represent a pause, or even a reversal, in what critics have called the “creeping absurdity” that has shaped public discourse and impacted cities, schools, and cultural institutions. Whether this marks a lasting shift in the nation’s trajectory or merely a temporary course correction remains uncertain. However, it may signify a broader movement toward moderation and a reevaluation of the direction in which the country has been heading.

Out With the Old Year, In With the New Year

As we move into 2025, what can we anticipate for the year ahead? There are signs that international relations may see improvements in some of the areas that previously caused concern. While the risk of global conflict, including the potential for a third world war, has not vanished, there is a possibility that Trump’s approach could lead to a recalibration of how the United States engages on the international stage.

Domestically, however, challenges may arise. It’s plausible that Trump could face opposition from elements within the federal government who are critical of his leadership, similar to the resistance he encountered during his previous term. These opponents may perceive him as an even greater threat this time, raising questions about what kinds of accusations, scandals, or allegations of corruption might emerge as part of efforts to undermine his presidency.

As I mentioned earlier, we are likely to face economic challenges related to the increasing use of AI and the resulting decline in demand for certain types of labor. Interestingly, this may be beneficial for manual labor and trade work, as the jobs most vulnerable to AI displacement tend to be desk jobs or office roles. Professions in the trades, which AI currently struggles to replicate, might even experience a resurgence, particularly among young people who are disillusioned by the limitations of college degrees. While there is much more to discuss about the events of 2024 and the prospects for 2025, today is New Year’s Day, and the day is nearly over. As darkness falls, we remain hopeful that better days lie ahead.

- By

Why should we visit museums?

Over the holiday break I had the opportunity to visit a major museum in Pittsburgh that I had never before visited.  I was with a small group of people so the amount of time I could spend in any one wing was limited, but I was still able to whet my intellectual appetite for the wondrous historical artifacts and products of the human mind.  I probably could have spent all day in the museum, but instead I had to settle for a few hours.

My recent museum experience reminds me just how thrilling great museums can be.  To see specific works that underscore my understanding of a historical style or practice – or to see works that challenge my understanding – is part of the amazing intellectual journey I enter upon in the museum.  Many visitors to museums may be strong in one area of art knowledge but not in others, so being exposed to a variety of art periods, styles, and cultures in large museums helps to broaden horizons and perhaps even rethink the way we see the world.

Of course, it’s always fun to see works in person that you have only read about before in books.  It’s the art equivalent of meeting a celebrity!

Should museums do more to bring in visitors?

This brings me to a larger point about the value of museums.  I came across an entry at a blog associated with the Getty that discussed how museums can “engage millennials”.  The author made a particular statement that seemed to reflect her larger disposition:

We do our jobs as museum professionals to preserve cultural history and maintain its relevance in society, especially as society changes. If we don’t serve a broad public, our jobs lose meaning and purpose. If there is a perception that museums are not very good at serving and engaging any group of people, then it’s on us who work in museums to either dispel the misconception or change the way we do things.

I am struggling to figure out whether I disagree with this statement or am in agreement but with qualifications.  On one hand, it is only natural that museums want to engage their audiences, but on the other it is not clear that the purpose of museums (or their employees) would be lost if engagement were to decline.  I think that as society becomes more superficial and self-seeking, people will naturally disengage with the more profound ideas offered by artists and craftsmen of the past.  As this disengagement deepens, we need to ask whether museums really need to “chase after” people to get them to visit.

This idea sounds rather absurd.  Does the Art Institute of Chicago need to convince young people that seeing Seurat’s A Sunday on La Grand Jatte in person is a better alternative than spending a few hours on Snapchat?  Are statues like the Riace Warriors worthy of visiting because they provide a way to get selfies with a funny backdrop, or because of what they offer us in terms of knowledge of the development of Greek civilization?  The way I see it, either people want to visit museums because they recognize the value of the objects contained therein, or they don’t want to visit them because they don’t recognize their value.  Unless a museum is completely mismanaged and therefore deserving of blame in creating a poor visitor experience, I think the blame should be placed on those who should value the importance of museums but do not.

But even if a museum fails to bring in large crowds, it still plays a vital role in safeguarding access to cultural heritage for current and future generations.  This type of preservation would not so easily be accomplished if the works inside the museum walls were in private hands.  “Serving the public” is therefore accomplished by protecting works even if people are not lining to buy tickets to see them today; the public of tomorrow will still be served and will reap the rewards of today’s labor.

The lesson for today

I think there is a danger of being too “corporate” in the treatment of the humanities.  Or perhaps better said, there is a danger of being too “corporate” with life in general.  Practical realities are indeed important, but they should not overshadow larger concerns and ideas that stand above the ephemeral whims and trends modern culture.