Author Archives: bernardporter2013

A ‘Christian nationalist’ – which is how Charlie Kirk is being described – is not the same as being a ‘Christian’. It’s a tribal affiliation, not a religious one. The intolerance and hatred – of other ‘nations’ – that stem … Continue reading →

I’m afraid I’ve finally lost patience with our (the UK’s) Labour government: the one I voted for. Its worst policy decision, in my view, was its re-classification of ‘Palestine Action’ as a ‘terrorist’ organisation, leading to the arrest of literally … Continue reading →

I’ve been off-blog for a few weeks now, for a number of reasons: misery, injury, and trying to write an autobiography, which is proving more difficult than I expected. I’ve covered my first forty-odd years; but reading it back it … Continue reading →

What can I add, as a historian, to all that is being said and written about POTUS 47 just now? He is entirely sui generis. There are no close precedents for him in the past, at least among US presidents, … Continue reading →

I wonder whether there are any serious historians out there who support Donald Trump? If it rests on his relationship with the subject itself, there can’t be many. His historical gaffes are becoming legendary: talking of the Revolutionary army capturing … Continue reading →

When I used to research and write about historical anti-terrorism (The Origins of the Vigilant State, Plots and Paranoia), the term ‘terrorism’ had a specific and quite limited meaning. It didn’t cover all violent political activities, even assassinations, if they … Continue reading →

I may write an Autobiography. I’ve sketched out three chapters; and a Preface – here. A number of my friends and acquaintances – well, two or three – have suggested that I write a memoir or autobiography. I’ve always resisted … Continue reading →

I’ve always had it in for golf, even before Trump, for reasons I explained here last year: https://bernardjporter.com/2024/09/22/golf/. Trump’s obsession with the game is probably quite low down among my reasons for disliking both it and him, but it does … Continue reading →

One little ray of light at a time when universities, especially in America, are being traduced and threatened with huge financial penalties on purely political and ideological grounds, by far Right governments like that of Donald Trump. (I see that … Continue reading →

Returning to my own vomit this morning – checking the 6th edn of The Lion’s Share in order to respond to a request for permission to quote passages from it in an exam paper – I was struck by how … Continue reading →