Ongoing Historian Contributor Michael A. Smith Presents What We Lost When the East Wing Fell - And More...

 

The hue and cry over Donald Trump razing the entire East Wing of the White House as though he owns the place, should grow louder over his disdain for American history. This act, along with his wanton destruction should show who really does not love America....DJT.

The East Wing of the White House

What We Lost When the East Wing Fell

Michael A. Smith

Historian | Author | Public Theologian

It wasn’t just bricks and mortar that crumbled yesterday—it was a century of quiet dignity, of whispered history, of the unseen labor that shaped the public face of the presidency. The East Wing, long overshadowed by its grander counterpart, held the pulse of ceremonial life. It was where first ladies led initiatives, where calligraphers etched grace into invitations, and where millions of Americans began their journey into the heart of democracy.

Built to welcome guests in carriages and rebuilt to serve a modern presidency, the East Wing stood as a testament to continuity. Its demolition for a ballroom—however grand—erases the space where tradition met service. Gone is the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, a living tribute to elegance and restoration. Gone is the East Colonnade, where presidents once walked to their private theater, and where history lingered in the hush of marble and shadow.

This wasn’t just a building. It was the stage for statecraft, the cradle of hospitality, and the quiet corridor where America’s story unfolded in cursive and conversation. What remains is not just a gap in architecture, but a rupture in memory.

First Ladies in the East Wing

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Abstract: Christian Nationalism and Its Historical Roots - Michael A. Smith

Christian nationalism is a powerful and contested force in American public life, blending Christian identity with civic destiny. Its adherents argue that the United States was founded as a Christian nation, while critics contend that it undermines pluralism and democracy. The historical roots of this ideology run deep: from Puritan covenantal theology in the 17th century, to the rise of Christian fundamentalism in the early 20th century, to the Conservative Culture Wars of the 1970s and beyond.

In "Christian to Fundamentalism to Christian Nationalism: A Primer of the Dangers to American Democracy" (Smith, 2024), I argue that Christian nationalism is the culmination of a trajectory that begins with Calvinist, covenantal traditions, passes through fundamentalism’s defense of biblical inerrancy, and emerges fully in the partisan politics of the late 20th century.

This movement’s reliance on Old Testament justice models and its entanglement with “family values” politics continue to shape 21st-century debates over identity, race, immigration, and democracy itself.

Positioned alongside the work of Perry and Whitehead (Taking America Back for God, 2020), this study underscores the urgency of understanding Christian nationalism not as a passing trend but as a historically rooted, theologically driven challenge to American democratic ideals. (Search for review in right column.)

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In the meantime...

Hunger has already started

Folks, There are so many issues that are tearing the nation apart... Like one woman says, you heard what this president was promising, but you thought you'd be safe--for whatever reason... Now millions are out of work, having been fired. Children and adults hungry...

We learned that Christianity has been split off, big time! More on that soon as I continue to read... Christian Nationalism has been kept a secret from most church-goers, while some preachers began to talk the talk until it began to be "right out of the Bible..." Yes, The Old Testament... which, in my opinion, I'll say it again, should have been archived once Christians heard the words of Jesus... So, what happened?

That group has continued to support the president who is using violence in all ways possible against not only citizens of the United States, but in other countries! ANOTHER boat has been blasted out of the waters near South America... A major war ship has been moved from near Europe and is now in the South America waters... You can be sure that NONE of this has been approved by anyone! And US citizens are protesting while republicans hold everything in their "kings" hands... But we don't believe in Kings, and especially not this conman who, while keeping himself out of wars, as he once did, now uses those that were once in the military to protect America, now being used for any grievance, game, or greed reasons of one man... Be sure you are registered to vote, wherever you are... because we cannot be sure that we...will...be...allowed...to...

God Be With Us All

Gabby

America's Military Tradition Meets a Moment of Disrespect: A Reflection on the Quantico Assembly by Michael A. Smith Ongoing Historian Contributor

 

America’s Military Tradition Meets a Moment of Disrespect: A Reflection on the Quantico Assembly

Michael A. Smith

Historian | Author | Public Theologian

In a nation that has long revered its military leaders, the events at Quantico, Virginia last week marked a jarring departure from tradition. 

Nearly 800 generals, admirals, and senior enlisted leaders—men and women who have sworn oaths to defend the Constitution and who have led troops in war and peace—were summoned to a hastily arranged meeting. What they received was not strategic briefing or solemn recognition, but a public dressing-down from President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who used the occasion to rail against “woke” culture, berate physical appearances, and promote a return to “highest male standards” in combat.

A Legacy of Civil-Military Separation

From the founding of the republic, America’s relationship with its military leaders has been one of admiration tempered by constitutional caution. George Washington’s resignation of his commission in 1783 remains one of the most powerful gestures in American political history—a deliberate act to prevent the rise of military autocracy and to affirm civilian control over the armed forces. Every general who later ascended to the presidency—Grant, Eisenhower, even Jackson—followed this precedent, maintaining a clear boundary between military command and political power.

This tradition is not merely symbolic. It is foundational. The military serves the Constitution, not a party or a person. And while presidents are commanders-in-chief, they are expected to respect the institution’s apolitical stance, its internal professionalism, and its sacred trust with the American people.

The Spectacle at Quantico

The gathering at Quantico shattered that trust. Defense Secretary Hegseth, who has faced criticism for his own military record and public behavior, launched into a tirade against “fat generals,” “toxic leaders,” and diversity initiatives. He strutted across the stage, invoking crude slang (“FAFO”—an acronym for “F*** Around, Find Out”) and demanding a return to grooming and fitness standards that many saw as exclusionary and regressive.

President Trump followed with a speech that veered into campaign-style rhetoric, invoking tariffs, the Nobel Peace Prize, and his controversial executive order to use the military in domestic law enforcement. He praised the “warrior spirit” and suggested that American cities could serve as “training grounds” for handling “the enemy within.”

For many in the room, the spectacle was not just inappropriate—it was humiliating. These were not political operatives or campaign donors. They were career officers, many with combat experience, some with wounds both visible and invisible. To be summoned under threat of retribution, only to be berated and used as props, was a profound breach of respect.

The Cost of Contempt

The emotional toll of such treatment cannot be overstated. Among those present were leaders who had served in Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam—some who had been prisoners of war, others who had lost limbs or comrades. To be called cowards, to be mocked for their appearance, and to be subjected to partisan theater undermines not only morale but the very fabric of civil-military relations.

It is especially galling when such contempt comes from leaders whose own service records are marked by controversy. Hegseth’s military career, while real, has been overshadowed by allegations of misconduct and public intoxication. Trump, who received multiple deferments during the Vietnam War, has previously disparaged decorated veterans, including the late Senator John McCain, a former POW, whom he infamously said was “not a war hero” because he was captured.

A Moment for Reflection

This moment demands more than outrage. It calls for reflection on what kind of republic we wish to be. 

Do we honor the tradition of Washington, who understood the danger of military power unchecked by principle? Or do we slide into a culture where loyalty is demanded, not earned, and where the military is used as a stage for political grievance?

The officers at Quantico deserved better. They deserved the respect that comes with service, the dignity that comes with sacrifice, and the constitutional clarity that has guided America for over two centuries. To berate them is not just a breach of decorum—it is a betrayal of the very values they swore to defend.

—Written in the spirit of civic clarity and historical conscience...MAS

Morning news of generals resigning after Quantico meeting 10/9

While there have not been mass resignations on October 9, 2025, the days following a controversial Quantico meeting on September 30 have seen two high-profile retirements and have led to speculation and fear of further departures

. The meeting was led by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and attended by hundreds of generals and admirals. 

I finally found what I had seen, but there is a note, that this is probably "clickbait"

Consider this... How are we able to know what is truth?!

BUT, listen to the end of this video... Catching a lie, but learning what is really happening is also important... Keep Alert!

UMILIATED аѕ 5Тrumр HUMILIATED аѕ 5000 Army Generals QUІТ ОΝ НІМ Wednesday Νіght: "You’re a CRIMINAL!?!"

Let’s cut through the noise. You’ve seen the headline—some wild claim about “5,000 generals quitting.” That’s clickbait. But here’s the truth that actually matters: a president trying to drape federal power in camouflage and march it into our cities, not to protect democracy, but to flex on it.

000 Army GeneralТrumр HUMILIATED аѕ 5000 Army Generals QUІТ ОΝ НІМ Wednesday Νіght: "You’re a CRIMINAL!?!"

Let’s cut through the noise. You’ve seen the headline—some wild claim about “5,000 generals quitting.” That’s clickbait. But here’s the truth that actually matters: a president trying to drape federal power in camouflage and march it into our cities, not to protect democracy, but to flex on it.

s QUІТ ОΝ НІМ Wednesday Νіght: "You’re a CRIMINAL!?!" Let’s cut through the noise. You’ve seen the headline—some wild claim about “5,000 generals quitting.” That’s clickbait. But here’s the truth that actually matters: a president trying to drape federal power in camouflage and march it into our cities, not to protect democracy, but to flex on it.