000Publius Contributor

America is a singularly different nation where it concerns our military veterans. We love them. We even have a national holiday to honor them. This does not happen in most of the rest of the world. Elsewhere soldiers are not as loved as they are here in these great United States.

Is that because the United States is the Sparta of the world, loving war more than anything else? Hardly. In fact it’s because our soldiers bring peace wherever they go, not perpetual war.

In other countries, soldiers are often the dregs of society, living off the people while at the same time lording over them with machine guns and violence.

In other countries the military is feared by both the people and the government because all too often the army is used to take power and steal away the government for the aggrandizement of arrogant generals. It is no accident that the word “coup” is one rarely spoken in the USA except when talking about action in foreign countries.

In other countries when people see soldiers they fear them, they loathe them. In other countries they don’t want to sit near soldiers on public transportation, they avoid eye contact. Here we shake their hand and ask if they need anything and we thank them for their service.

In the USA we respect our soldiers because as a rule they respect “We The People” as much as they respect the law.

When an American sees a soldier an American feels pride, not fear. When an American learns of a fellow’s service, an American is grateful.

So, from us to you, our dear military veterans, we thank you. We thank you for putting your lives on hold while serving us, while making sure we are safe and able to go about our business unafraid of danger, and time and again for putting your own safety at risk.

Follow Warner Todd Huston on Facebook at: facebook.com/Warner.Todd.Huston, X at WTHuston, or Truth Social at @WarnerToddHuston.

-By Warner Todd Huston

Leftist lunatics are suddenly all outraged over President Trump’s plans for the East Wing of the White House and the new ballroom. But here’s the thing… it isn’t a sudden plan at all. The plans were well known and fully public and made apparent in July. So, why no outrage before when the plans were announced?

But, let’s talk about the East Wing. Is it “historic” like some of these braindead leftists are saying? Not all so much, as it turns out.

The East Wing was built starting in 1902 and meant to be a suite of offices. But the biggest use came in 1942 when Franklin Delano Roosevelt built an underground bunker. The offices were just the cover for the construction.

What offices are in the wing? Nothing super important, really. The biggest occupant of the East Wing has been the first lady. It has been where the first lady’s offices have been located since FDR finished the construction. But “the office of the first lady” is just a traditional sop. It isn’t an “official” office. That is why “first lady” is not capitalized in histories and news stories. It isn’t an actual office or title. It is just a traditional appellation.

The East Wing also has housed the social director’s office and a small theater. It has a reception desk where visitors are held after being approved by security, a long hallway, a coat room, and that is about it. In other words, the East Wing contains nothing super important or key to the operation of the White House. The whole wing is a bit of wasted space in many ways.

Now, what is the new ballroom supposed to do? Well, for one it is supposed to be a better place to entertain than the White House East Room (which is in the original White House, not in the East Wing). The East Room has often been the place for receptions. But the East Room is only about 80 by 37 feet and is not really that big for large gatherings. By the way, Abe Lincoln refurbished the East Room in 1861, so let’s not get all excited about the White House itself being untouchable!

The new ballroom is expected to give the White House space to hold full-sized state dinners and other events that are currently impossible at the White House facility today. The new facility will have the room needed to facilitate large events and handle the security and media presence required at such things in today’s climate.

The truth is, there is nothing especially “historic” or vital in the East Wing of the White House. Nothing of a truly historic nature ever occurred there. It was never the scene of any major event or historic scene. It houses no vitally important office or facility. And it isn’t even that old.

So, in the end, if you are all filled with heartache and your head is pounding over the construction of the new East Wing and presidential ballroom, it isn’t because you are swooning over any loss of “history,” It is because you are mentally deranged over Donald Trump.

Follow Warner Todd Huston on Facebook at: Facebook.com/Warner.Todd.Huston, Truth Social @WarnerToddHuston, or at X/Twitter @WTHuston