Podcast appearances and mentions of Robert J Allison

Welcome back to the twenty-fifth episode of the American Social Fabric Podcast. This week we look at the Constitution's protection of the slave trade in the early US and on the writings of the Founding Father Martin Luther. This week's episode underscores the great contradiction of many of the Founding Fathers when it came to slavery, it was something they wanted to remove and also something they participated in. You can find the essay at: https://consource.org/document/luther-martin-genuine-information-viii-1788-1-22/20130122080919/. Also, if you want to follow along in the book I am using as a primary source, it is called "The Essential Debate on the Constitution" and is edited by Robert J. Allison and Bernard Bailyn. Thank you for your interest in the podcast and have a great week!

Welcome back to the twenty second episode of the American Social Fabric Podcast. This week we return to the Brutus essays, explore Brutus IV and discuss the unknown author's concern over bad American leadership and politicians who will be corrupt and put their interests above those of the Nation. This week's episode underscores the point that good, honest leadership whose interests are aligned with those of the average American are essential for the protection of our liberties and freedoms. You can find the essay at: https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/brutus-iv/. Also, if you want to follow along in the book I am using as a primary source, it is called "The Essential Debate on the Constitution" and is edited by Robert J. Allison and Bernard Bailyn. Thank you for your interest in the podcast and have a great week!

Welcome to the 21st episode of the American Social Fabric! This week we will discuss the essay "A Countryman - II", by Roger Sherman, published in the New Haven Gazette of Connecticut on November 22, 1787. You can find a copy of this essay here: https://csac.history.wisc.edu/wpcontent/uploads/sites/281/2017/07/ct_countryman_II.pdf Also, if you want to follow along in the book I am using as a primary source, it is called "The Essential Debate on the Constitution" and is edited by Robert J. Allison and Bernard Bailyn. In this episode, we explore Sherman's argument that it is more important that those you delegate power to have the same appreciation for your liberties as you than the contents of any Constitution or Bill of Rights. Sherman believes that what really counts for the flourishing of liberty is quality leadership whose values are aligned with those of the average citizen. Thank you for checking out the podcast and I hope you find some value in it!

Welcome to the 20th episode of the American Social Fabric! This week we will discuss the 10th of the Federalist articles published in the Daily Advertiser of New York on November 22, 1787. You can find a copy of this article here: https://billofrightsinstitute.org/primary-sources/federalist-no-10. Also, if you want to follow along in the book I am using as a primary source, it is called "The Essential Debate on the Constitution" and is edited by Robert J. Allison and Bernard Bailyn. In this episode, we explore James Madison's warnings about political parties and the dangers they pose to the functioning of our government. Madison then discusses how the democratic republic established by the Constitution provides certain buffers against the worst of political parties and peoples' natural inclination to them. Thank you for checking out the podcast and I hope you find some value in it!

Welcome to the 18th episode of the American Social Fabric! This week we discuss the fifth and final letter in the series of anti-federalist letters known as the "Letters from the Federal Farmer to The Republican". In this episode, the author wraps up his discussion of the draft Constitution and turns to how he sees the ratification process should be conducted. In particular, he wants a full and fair discussion of the draft in the state legislatures and a good faith attempt by all to amend the draft to a satisfactory form. He does not want the bad actors on both side of the debate to interfere. In sum, the author wants the citizens to have their opportunity to review the draft, voice their concerns and to have their will made law. You can find a copy of this letter at the following location: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/pst.000012202621?urlappend=%3Bseq=876%3Bownerid=13510798902521002-880 If you want to follow along in the book I am using as a primary source, it is called "The Essential Debate on the Constitution" and is edited by Robert J. Allison and Bernard Bailyn. Thank you for checking out the podcast and I hope you find some value in it!

Welcome to the 17th episode of the American Social Fabric! This week we discuss the fourth letter in the series of anti-federalist letters known as the "Letters from the Federal Farmer to The Republican". In this episode, the author analyzes the implied and ambiguous powers granted to the federal government under the draft Constitution and the need for certain express fundamental rights. While today, many of the author's concerns are accounted for in the Bill of Rights (freedom of religion, freedom of the press, etc.) it is always interesting to see the perspective of persons before such things as the Bill of Rights were law. You can find a copy of this letter at the following location:  https://hdl.handle.net/2027/pst.000012202621?urlappend=%3Bseq=869%3Bownerid=13510798902521002-873 If you want to follow along in the book I am using as a primary source, it is called "The Essential Debate on the Constitution" and is edited by Robert J. Allison and Bernard Bailyn. Thank you for checking out the podcast and I hope you find some value in it!

Welcome to the 16th episode of the American Social Fabric! This week we discuss the third letter in the series of anti-federalist letters known as the "Letters from the Federal Farmer to The Republican". In this episode, the author analyzes the structure of the federal government under the draft Constitution, gives his opinions on the issues inherent in that structure, and considers the powers he sees as improperly granted to it. You can find a copy of this letter at the following link: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/pst.000012202621?urlappend=%3Bseq=854%3Bownerid=13510798902519868-862 If you want to follow along in the book I am using as a primary source, it is called "The Essential Debate on the Constitution" and is edited by Robert J. Allison and Bernard Bailyn. Thank you for checking out the podcast and I hope you find some value in it!

Welcome to the 15th episode of the American Social Fabric! This week we discuss the second installment in the series of anti-federalist letters known as the "Letters from the Federal Farmer to The Republican". In this episode, the author sets forth what he sees as essential for a free and fair society, and the social compact required for that society to operate. You can find a copy of this letter at the following link: https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/federal-farmer-ii/. If you want to follow along in the book I am using as a primary source, it is called "The Essential Debate on the Constitution" and is edited by Robert J. Allison and Bernard Bailyn. Finally, we begin our discussion by following up on a few points made last week as they relate to some ideas of John Lewis Gaddis in his excellent book, "On Grand Strategy". Thank you for checking out the podcast and I hope you find some value in it!

Welcome to the 14th episode of the American Social Fabric! This week we discuss the first installment in the series of anti-federalist letters known as the "Letters from the Federal Farmer to The Republican". You can find a copy of this letter at the following link:  https://press pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/v1ch8s12.html  Also, if you want to follow along in the book I am using as a primary source, it is called "The Essential Debate on the Constitution" and is edited by Robert J. Allison and Bernard Bailyn. In this episode, as we explore the letter, the author asks the interesting question - did America need the Constitution? My answer is, of course, a resounding yes, but it is interesting to hear the perspective of those who were there when the decisions about ratification was being debated. Particularly, the opinions of those who thought that even more protection of liberty and freedom was needed.  Thank you for checking out the podcast and I hope you find some value in it!

Welcome to the 13th episode of the American Social Fabric! This week we will discuss Elbridge Gerry's Letter the the Massachusetts Legislature published in the Massachusetts Centinel on November 3, 1787. You can find a copy of this letter on page 2 of the following link: https://archive.csac.history.wisc.edu/DOM_04.2015_Gerrys_Objections.pdf. Also, if you want to follow along in the book I am using as a primary source, it is called "The Essential Debate on the Constitution" and is edited by Robert J. Allison and Bernard Bailyn. In this episode we explore the letter, Elbridge's objections to the draft constitution and a message of moderation and duty as an American. Thank you for checking out the podcast and I hope you find some value in it!

Welcome to the 10th episode of the American Social Fabric! This week we will discuss the first of the Federalist Paper articles published in the Independent Journal of New York on October 27, 1787. You can find a copy of this article here: https://guides.loc.gov/federalist-papers/text-1-10#s-lg-box-wrapper-25493264. Also, if you want to follow along in the book I am using as a primary source, it is called "The Essential Debate on the Constitution" and is edited by Robert J. Allison and Bernard Bailyn. In this episode we explore the article and three of the "warnings" from Alexander Hamilton that are in the text and which are applicable to our modern context, and those are: 1) the danger of ego and hubris in political debate, 2) the dangers of political parties, and 3) the dangers of political pundits seeking power through appeals to liberty. After our discussion of the article, we move into the "Good" where we discuss goal setting and achieving your goals. Thank you for checking out the podcast and I hope you find some value in it!

Welcome to Episode 9 of the American Social Fabric Podcast! This podcast explores the Founding Fathers, core American principles, and the ideas and debates that forged our great country. This week we explore the question - does a free republic have to be small to function? I certainly don't think so in our modern age, but the unknown author of the Cato III article posted in the New York Journal on October 24, 1787 raises some interesting questions regarding what makes a state legitimate to its people, how do you prevent private citizens from gaining too much power, and can people care for others outside of their immediate community? A copy of the Cato III article can be found at: https://archive.csac.history.wisc.edu/26_Cato_III.pdf and if you want to follow along in the book I am using as a primary source, it is called "The Essential Debate on the Constitution" and is edited by Robert J. Allison and Bernard Bailyn. Finally, if you are interested in the passage I read for "the Good" segment of this week's Episode, it is from Ryan Holiday's "The Daily Stoic", the July 4th entry. Remember to keep your flame shining bright and thank you for checking out the podcast.

In 1815 an American ship ran aground in northwestern Africa, and its crew were enslaved by merciless nomads. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll follow the desperate efforts of Captain James Riley to find a way to cross the Sahara and beg for help from Western officials in Morocco. We'll also wade through more molasses and puzzle over a prospective guitar thief. Intro: In 1972 archaeologists in northwestern Iran found evidence of one couple's tender final moment. An anonymous author recast "A Visit From St. Nicholas" in legal language. Sources for our feature on James Riley: Dean King, Skeletons on the Zahara, 2004. James Riley, An Authentic Narrative of the Loss of the American Brig Commerce, 1817. Archibald Robbins, A Journal, Comprising an Account of the Loss of the Brig Commerce, of Hartford Conn., 1847. James Riley and William Willshire Riley, Sequel to Riley's Narrative, 1851. Robert J. Allison, The Crescent Obscured: The United States and the Muslim World, 1776-1815, 1995. Christine E. Sears, American Slaves and African Masters, 2012. Paul Baepler, ed., White Slaves, African Masters: An Anthology of American Barbary Captivity Narratives, 1999. Eamonn Gearon, The Sahara: A Cultural History, 2011. Dean King, "The Cruelest Journey," National Geographic Adventure 6:1 (February 2004), 46. Paul Michel Baepler, "The Barbary Captivity Narrative in American Culture," Early American Literature 39:2 (2004), 217-246. Sven D. Outram-Leman, "Alexander Scott: Constructing a Legitimate Geography of the Sahara From a Captivity Narrative, 1821," History in Africa 43 (2016), 63-94. Gordon M. Sayre, "Renegades From Barbary: The Transnational Turn in Captivity Studies," American Literary History 22:2 (Summer 2010), 347-359. Glenn James Voelz, "Images of Enemy and Self in the Age of Jefferson: The Barbary Conflict in Popular Literary Depiction," War & Society 28:2 (2009), 21-47. Hester Blum, "Pirated Tars, Piratical Texts: Barbary Captivity and American Sea Narratives," Early American Studies 1:2 (Fall 2003), 133-158. Paul Baepler, "White Slaves, African Masters," Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 588:1 (July 2003), 90-104. R. Gerald McMurtry, "The Influence of Riley's Narrative Upon Abraham Lincoln," Indiana Magazine of History 30:2 (June 1934), 133-138. K. Gerald McMurtry, "Some Books That Lincoln Read," Journal of Developmental Reading 1:2 (Winter 1958), 19-26. Mark Kirby, "Author's Sahara Trek Inspired by Classic Tale," National Geographic Adventure, Jan. 27, 2004. "Riley's Sufferings in the Great Desert," Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, Dec. 24, 1836, 382-383. Robert C. Davis, "Slavery in North Africa -- The Famous Story of Captain James Riley," Public Domain Review (accessed July 9, 2017). Lev Grossman, "Sailing the Seas of Sand," Time 163:9 (March 1, 2004), 47. Listener mail: Dana Rieck, "Loveland's Sticky Situation Reaches 25-Year Anniversary," Loveland [Colo.] Reporter-Herald, Feb. 16, 2015. "Meet Stan, the New Flemish Hermit!" Flanders News, Feb. 5, 2017. Ben Gilbert, "These Incredible Photos Show One 72-Year-Old Woman's Hermit Lifestyle in Siberia," Business Insider, July 1, 2017. Jennifer Schaffer, "The Snatching of Hannah Twynnoy." "Hannah Twynnoy and the Tiger of Malmesbury." Steve Winters' decimal clock. This week's lateral thinking puzzle was contributed by listener Dan White, who sent this corroborating photo (warning -- this spoils the puzzle). You can listen using the player above, download this episode directly, or subscribe on iTunes or Google Play Music or via the RSS feed at http://feedpress.me/futilitycloset. Please consider becoming a patron of Futility Closet -- on our Patreon page you can pledge any amount per episode, and we've set up some rewards to help thank you for your support. You can also make a one-time donation on the Support Us page of the Futility Closet website or browse our online store for Futility Closet merchandise. Many thanks to Doug Ross for the music in this episode. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!

In the inaugural episode of Dig Deeper, Frank Connolly sits down with Suffolk University professor Robert J. Allison to discuss fake history.

This is a re-run.  Back in 2006, Robert J. Allison described in "The Crescent Obscured"  why our invitation to Islam to sample democracy wouldn't work.  This is worth a listen.