Colin Woodard's American Nations: A Review

by Sean O'Rourke

American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America, is a critically acclaimed book, by the award winning journalist Colin Woodard, analyzing the influence that regional cultures of North American have had upon the continent. Since its release late in 2011 it has gone from triumph to triumph even wining the 2012 Maine Literary Award for Non-Fiction.

American Nations is hardly the first book comparing regional cultures in the United States. Since David Hackett Fischer's seminal work Albion's Seed, published in 1989, a popular genre of work critiquing American regionalism has arisen with books aimed at a variety of readers. This book sits firmly on the better end of the scale and is a book well worth reading.

RT Op-Ed: Pain in the Brass

In an Op-Ed presented on RT several months ago, “Pain in the Brass: Petraeus Joins Sullied Trinity of Fallen Generals”, William Echols has written an exceptional analysis of Gen. Petraeus' fall from grace. He brings various pieces of puzzle together from break with tradition that was the Petraeus doctrine and ultimate failure to the willingness of the Obama doctrine to ride rough-shod over the American Brass.

With three four-star generals disgraced in as many years and the tale-tale signs that two more (Generals Allen and Ward) will have joined them on the chopping block in as many weeks, Echols' Op-Ed for RT lays bare questions that should be in the forefront of responsible journalism.

A Liberal Voice on President Obama's Re-Election

by Gene Ogorodov

We have heard from members of the liberal wing of the Democratic Party that Obama's victory has given him a mandate from the people to pursue progressive policies. Whether the American people want progressive policies or not, it is a bit incredulous of the liberal Democrats to suggest that Obama will reform the United States.

Only in America could President Obama pass for a liberal. It is incredible that he is almost universally described on both the left and the right as an extremely progressive politician. Other than his waving the talismans of LGBT rights and universal health-care, one must use the same electron microscope to see his liberal policies that Noam Chomsky once suggested one needed to see Obama's contributions to world peace.

Hello World

The Pine Tree Flag of New England

If you have happened to stumble upon The Boston Pine Flag, you are probably wondering what this blog is all about, and why anyone would choose such a name.

The Boston Pine Flag is a forum for several liberally minded freelance writers to express opinions slightly out of the ordinary. Far too much dialogue is lost in public debate through simply looking at the world through the same artificial lenses. The Boston Pine Flag hopes to present our readers with articles that ask the questions that nobody asks.