by Selwyn Duke, The New American: The United Nations calls the policies “repugnant and illegal.” What’s for sure, however, is that you can call them something else: effective. The new criminal-justice measures in Sweden are so effective, in fact, that the nation has recently experienced a 63-percent decline in shootings. And what is the Land […]

from Alex Christoforou: TRUTH LIVES on at https://sgtreport.tv/

  Nzinga Mbande was a 17th-century African Queen who ruled during the tumultuous times of European colonial expansion into Africa. Aiming to safeguard the indigenous kingdom from Portuguese influence and their expanding slave trade in Central Africa, Queen Nzinga demonstrated leadership, a strategic mindset, and diplomatic maneuvering, successfully navigating the complex geopolitical landscape of the 17th century.   Early Life of Queen Nzinga Illustration of Queen Nzinga, by Louise Pomeroy. Source: Longreads   Ana de Sousa Nzinga was born around 1583 into the royal family of Ndongo in Kabasa, the capital of the Kingdom of Ndongo in central West Africa (modern-day Angola). In 1593, her father became the king of Ndongo.   According to local legends, Nzinga’s birth was challenging and complicated for her mother, Kengela ka Nkombe, and her name, Nzinga (“twist or turn”), refers to the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck. Local communities believed that a complicated birth meant that the baby was a spiritually gifted, powerful soul. Nzinga had two sisters and a brother, Mbandi, heir to the throne, who would later become King.   From a very young age, Nzinga underwent military training and became a skilled warrior. Being part of the royal family, she was often seen beside her father, observing how the king executed his duties. Nzinga also attended war and legal councils and participated in spiritual rituals.   During this period, the Kingdom of Ndongo frequently hosted European missionaries, and Nzinga learnt to write and read in Portuguese from Portuguese missionaries. Through these early experiences, she acquired a formidable knowledge and experience in statecraft, military strategies, and diplomacy, which proved crucial in her later roles as a diplomat and military strategist.   Historical Context of Colonial Angola Queen Nzinga during negotiations, by Giovanni Antonio Cavazzi, 1690. Source: American Biography/John Carter Brown Library at Brown University   Nzinga was born during a tumultuous era. European colonial powers, particularly Portugal, were expanding in the African region, which often caused the sociopolitical and economic disruption of local communities. In 1571, King Sebastião of Portugal issued a royal order, dictating the establishment of settlements and the construction of forts to subjugate and conquer the Kingdom of Ndongo. The order significantly escalated tensions as it signaled the shift to direct Portuguese military engagement.   Before 1571, Portugal was already controlling the neighboring lands of the Kingdom of Kongo through vassalage and missionaries. The key interest of European colonial powers was the establishment and enhancement of slave trading, often referred to as the “black ivory” of Africa.   The Portuguese arrived in Ndongo in 1575, aiming to build a trading post near the coast. In 1576, this post became known as the city of Luanda. Refusing to submit, Ndongo faced military clashes with the Portuguese and the Kingdom of Kongo, which supported the Portuguese territorial expansion. During military clashes, the Kingdom of Ndongo was forced to cede the coastal and northern parts of its territories.   Becoming Queen A 16th-century King of Congo on a podium receives a retinue of Portuguese, colored engraving based on a De Bry original. Source: Kongo Resources   Nzinga’s father ascended to the throne in 1593, closing Ndongo to Portuguese missionaries. The relationship between the Kingdom of Ndongo and Portugal became particularly intense in 1607 when the Imbangala, backed by Portugal, invaded Ndongo.   The Imbangala were fierce, nomadic warrior bands in Central Africa known for their brutal military tactics and mercenary services. They were often hired by the Portuguese to raid and destabilize local kingdoms like Ndongo.   Throughout the 1610s, the Portuguese continued to expand their dominance utilizing military expeditions, alliances, and the backing of rival groups.   Even though the exact date of the king’s death is unknown, it is thought that Nzinga’s brother, Ngola Mbandi, succeeded his father in 1617 and became the new king of Ndongo. Due to emerging chaos and instability, the royal authority was weakened, and Mbandi faced both internal and external challenges to maintain military and political control. Aware of Nzinga’s exceptional capabilities, he reached out for assistance to Nzinga and appointed her as his emissary to neighboring kingdoms and Portuguese forces.   Portrait of Queen Nzinga. Source: JStore Daily   Around 1621, Nzinga went to the Portuguese colonial administration in Luanda to negotiate with João Correia de Sousa, the colonial governor. Nzinga demonstrated excellent diplomatic capabilities, which resulted in a peace treaty between Portugal and Ndongo.   According to the treaty, Portugal withdrew their forces and helped Ndongo to oppose the Imbangala. In return, Nzinga opened the borders to missionaries and was baptized. She even took a Christian name, Ana de Sousa, which would later prove a powerful diplomatic tool in negotiations. The peace treaty appeared short-lived, however, and hostilities soon renewed.   During the following years, up until 1624, when Mbandi died under uncertain circumstances, Nzinga assumed many governing responsibilities.   After her brother’s death, Nzinga ascended the throne but was met with challenges and strong opposition from local nobles. According to the royal traditions, a woman could not sit on the throne. Nzinga, however, used strategic thinking, alliances, and in some instances, military force, ultimately becoming a legitimate ruler of the Kingdom of Ndongo.   Territorial Expansion & Emerging as a New Power The Kingdoms of Kongo and Ndongo, ca. 1550. Source: Alternate History   By the second half of the 1620s, hostilities between the invading Portuguese forces and Ndongo resumed. Portugal recognized Nzinga’s rival to the throne, Ngola Hari, as the legitimate king and invaded Ndongo, forcing Nzinga to seek shelter. During this time, Nzinga formed an alliance, sealed through marriage, with the Imbangala. By entering into marriage with this warrior society, she envisaged building a new power, backed by a strong military.   Then, between 1631 and 1635, Nzinga conquered the neighboring Kingdom of Matamba. Matamba, located relatively far away from Portuguese colonial interests, had a tradition of female rulers; hence, Nzinga did not face strong resistance when she reinstated herself as the new queen.   Upon consolidating both military and political powers, Nzinga welcomed nobles from her homeland along with slaves who had escaped Ndongo. To instill loyalty, she granted many of the displaced nobles land and titles, forming Matamba into a strong resisting power, capable of disrupting Portugal’s rule in Ndongo.   Further Expansion & Forming an Alliance With the Dutch Queen Njinga of Angola by British Broadcasting Corporation, 2024. Source: British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)   During the 1630s, Nzinga’s influence expanded northward, and she acquired control over important trade routes along the Congo River, connecting Ndongo and neighboring regions. With this move, she disrupted the Portuguese slave trade.   This period also saw increased cooperation between Nzinga and the Kingdom of Kongo, where another European colonial power, the Dutch Empire, had already sent merchants as part of its broader Groot Desseyn (Grand Design) strategy. The strategy sought to weaken Portugal’s maritime power and gain control over the Atlantic slave trade.   Following military clashes between the Dutch and Portuguese forces, by 1641, the Dutch West India Company controlled Luanda, a key trading port of Portugal. Recognizing the rising influence of the Dutch and altered power dynamics in West-Central Africa, Nzinga sought a formal alliance with the Dutch.   The same year, Nzinga sent a diplomatic mission to Luanda to negotiate a cooperation opportunity with the new Dutch authorities. Nzinga’s envoy proposed the opening of the slave trade to the Dutch in exchange for political and, most importantly, military assistance from the Dutch against the Portuguese.   Queen Nzinga established a new trade system with the Dutch, exporting up to 13,000 slaves per year. This not only filled her coffers but also made her a significant player in the international slave trade. The Dutch accepted the offer, and in 1641, the first formal Afro-European alliance was established.   Guerrilla Resistance & Concluding a Peace Treaty With Portugal Funeral of Queen Nzinga, printed by Delespine Paris. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Nzinga’s alliance with the Dutch provided the opportunity to reclaim part of the Ndongan territories, resulting in the decisive battle of Kombi in October 1647. In this clash, the combined forces of Nzinga’s 8,000 archers and 400 Dutchmen defeated Portugal near the critical fortress of Massangano. However, Nzinga failed to conquer Massangano itself.   In 1648, a more consolidated and prepared Portuguese army, under the leadership of Salvador Correia de Sá, reclaimed control over the port of Luanda. The Dutch were forced to withdraw.   Nzinga retreated to Matamba, but did not surrender. Her strategies after 1648 were more defensive, directed to halt the Portuguese advances. She adopted guerrilla warfare through a hit-and-run strategy. Despite her age, she continued to personally lead the troops and prolonged the spirit of resistance.   By the early 1650s, both Portugal and Nzinga’s Kingdom of Matamba were strained by the war. In 1651, peace talks were initiated. For Portugal, a successful peace treaty with Nzinga meant the end of the costly conflict stretching for over a quarter of a century. Additionally, Portugal was involved in another war of independence from Spain. The revival of the profitable slave trade was essential.   Christening of Queen Nzinga, by Giovanni Anatonio Cavazzi. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Nzinga, who was aware of her advancing age, sought to achieve the release of her sister, Kambu, from Portuguese capture. The negotiating process was challenging, with neither side making concessions. Finally, in 1656, an agreement and a peace treaty were ratified.   According to the terms of the treaty, Portugal formally recognized Nzinga as a legitimate and sovereign ruler of Matamba and Ndongo, and borders were demarcated between her Kingdoms and Portuguese Angola. Nzinga agreed to permit Portuguese traders and missionaries, including Christian Capuchin missionaries, into her court. Most of the warrior Imbangala bands were dismantled to avoid future instabilities, and Nzinga named her sister, who was considered to be living under Portuguese influence, as heir to the throne.   From Warrior Queen to State-builder & Reformer The Missionary Gives his Blessing to the Local Ruler during Sangamento, by Bernardino d’Asti. c. 1750. Source: Smart History/Biblioteca Civica Centrale, Turin   After completing the peace treaty with Portugal, Nzinga concentrated on rebuilding the war-torn territories. She initiated reforms, introducing changes into her courts and the education system, abolishing concubinage, and enhancing trade.   Nzinga opened Christian missionary schools, where children, mostly from noble families, received education in Portuguese and Latin. Economically, Nzinga focused on restoring trade routes to increase trade relations with Congo, Angola, and European coastal posts. She licensed the slave trade and utilized her advantage to acquire weapons, textiles, and other luxury goods.   To avoid future crises, Nzinga’s reforms installed a hybrid Christian-African monarchy, guided both by Christian norms in order to gain legitimacy and recognition from European powers and by Mbundu traditions to conserve legitimacy locally. The court frequently hosted ambassadors, traders, and nobles from neighboring kingdoms. Ndongo became a regional and international political hub.   Legacy of Queen Nzinga The statue of Queen Nzingha of Ndongo and Matamba in Luanda, Angola, photograph by Erik Cleves Kristensen. Source: Wikimedia Commons   In 1663, on December 17, Queen Nzinga passed away peacefully. Her death marked the end of an era.   Queen Nzinga remains one of the most extraordinary monarchs in African history. Her rule is considered a break from tradition, which solidified Nzinga’s political career in the short term and paved the long path to Angola’s independence in 1975.   Due to Queen Nzinga’s ability to navigate the complexities of colonial politics and local tribal dynamics, she is celebrated for her political and diplomatic wisdom, bravery, and excellent strategic mind against colonial rule, making her a symbol of resistance and a fight for freedom.

  Conscious efforts have been made in recent years to recognize and eliminate stereotypes against America’s Indigenous people. However, these moves haven’t been made without blowback and challenges. Despite progress, Native American stereotypes persist in product logos, sports team mascots, and general perceptions in mainstream America. One prevalent stereotype that has been associated with Native Americans for centuries is the action of scalping an enemy. Who was responsible for the origin of this horrifying act of warfare, and how was it perpetuated throughout history?   A Global History The Scalp by Frederic Remington, 1898. Source: Wmpearl via Wikimedia Commons   Scalping was an act of mutilation that involved cutting and/or tearing and removing a part of the human scalp, hair attached, from the head. The scalp was generally kept as a trophy or proof of attack. Scalping was often perpetrated on a dead or dying enemy, but occasionally on live victims. Few survived live scalping due to infection, shock, or blood loss. Traditional history tells of scalping as a tool of America’s Indigenous people, used to shock their white enemies. While many of America’s native tribes did engage in scalping as a cultural practice in warfare, this assumption has been recognized by modern historians as a gross misrepresentation, leaving out large chunks of true history.   Scythian warriors. Source: Public domain / Wikimedia Commons   Scalping predates America’s recorded history, with the first identified practices noted among the Scythians around 400 BC. The Scythians were a nomadic tribe that originally lived in Southern Siberia and eventually occupied large areas of Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Greek historian Herodotus wrote detailed accounts of their graphic trophy-taking, which have been supported by the excavation of damaged skulls from the era.   The Visigoths, a Germanic people, were known to take scalps in wars during the 9th century. It is still unknown how this practice spread to the “New World” or how it developed independently. Regardless, when Jacques Cartier arrived in 1535 and sailed up the Saint Lawrence River in Canada, he met Indigenous people who showed him scalps taken from their enemies to the south.   Not long after, some of Hernan de Soto’s men were subjected to scalping after being kidnapped by the Apalachee. About 30 years after Cartier, Jacques Ie Moyne, a French artist on an expedition to Florida, recorded descriptions of the local Timucuan people scalping their enemies. As Europeans encroached further into America, the scalping of tribal enemies was observed among the Powhatan, the Iroquois, and the Hurons.   Perpetuating the Violence This American Revolution-era political cartoon portrays British King George III and the church cannibalizing the American colonists. The cartoon accuses the king of allying with Indigenous tribes against the colonists, providing them with weapons, including “scalping knives.” Source: British Museum via Wikimedia Commons   While the origins of scalping in America may lie with Indigenous tribes, clear evidence has arisen that actions from European settlers escalated the practice within the future country. In 1755, the Royal Lieutenant Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Spencer Phips, issued a proclamation that targeted the Penobscot tribe living in what is now Maine. The Phips Bounty Proclamation offered cash payment for Penobscot scalps, with tiered pricing for the scalps of men, women, or children. The scalps were assumed to be evidence of death, and a colonist could earn 40 pounds for the scalp of a man, half that for the scalp of a woman or a male under 12. The proclamation also offered cash for living prisoners, who would then be sold into slavery. Forty pounds in 1755 is equivalent to a cash value of 8,257.58 pounds, or over 10,000 US dollars, today.   The Phips Bounty Proclamation. Source: Journal of the American Revolution   The Phips Proclamation cited the Penobscot Nation’s status as “enemies, rebels, and traitors” to King George II as the reasoning behind the call for extermination. The Phips document was one of five scalp bounties issued by Massachusetts colonial governance in 1755. In all, it is estimated that 65 scalp proclamations were issued in Massachusetts alone between 1675 and 1757. At least 30 other calls for scalps were released in other parts of the fledgling country.   Not only did these proclamations result in certain death for numerous Indigenous people, but they also contributed to the weakening of tribal governance, including the Wabanaki Confederacy, of which the Penobscot were a central component. The Wabanaki originally included 16 to 30 tribes; today, four tribes remain. Both white Americans and Native Americans would continue the practice of scalping into the 19th century. The act made appearances in the “Indian Wars,” various skirmishes, and the Civil War.   The Horrors Continue A front page article from the Daily Worker, a British communist newspaper, from 1952. Source: The Daily Worker via Wikimedia Commons   Despite its association with Native American tribes, the practice of scalping persisted long after Indigenous tribes ceased warring and were confined to the reservation systems. While warfare has not taken place in the United States since that time, American troops and those from Allied countries have been accused of scalping in the following years.   US troops were accused of mutilating the bodies of Japanese soldiers during World War II. Certain soldiers in the Vietnam War were consumed with “trophy hunting,” taking scalps or other body parts from their dead enemies and displaying them. Some scholars have traced these unthinkable actions to a “national narrative tradition,” harkening back to the stereotype of scalping in America. Despite this association, scalping in modern history was not limited to American soldiers. In 1952, the Daily Worker published an article accusing British soldiers in Malaysia of atrocities, including beheadings and scalpings.   Surviving a Scalping A representation of spongy bone. Source: Laboratoires Servier via Wikimedia Commons   Whether or not a live scalping victim survived involved several factors. Most importantly was prompt, effective medical treatment. In 1696, a French surgeon named Augustin Belloste created a treatment for people who had suffered scalp removal. His procedure involved drilling several small holes in the skull. While this may seem counterproductive, this allowed for diploe, or spongy bone, to reach the surface of the head. Diploe helps create granulation, or healing, tissue that would eventually regrow the scalp to close the wound. This technique spread across Europe, including to military surgeons who soon made their way to “The New World.” Aspects of how the scalping action was committed contributed to the success of healing as well. Since blood loss was a major consideration, cold weather would help arteries to constrict and slow bleeding. The type of instrument used to make the cuts could also affect blood stoppage. A dull knife or jagged cuts resulted in torn arteries that were able to close faster compared to cleanly cut tissue.   A famous cabinet portrait of Robert McGee, who survived scalping. Source: Library of Congress via Wikimedia Commons   Of the few who survived scalpings on the frontiers of early America, one of the most famous survivors was Robert McGee. McGee’s 1864 story has been embellished countless times over various retellings, often by the man himself, but the gist of the tale is as follows.   When McGee was 14, he joined a wagon train as a teamster, hauling goods from Kansas to New Mexico Territory. The wagon train was attacked just over two weeks into their journey. Most versions list the attackers as the Brule Lakota led by a man named Little Turtle, while others blame a group of Kiowas, Arapaho, or Comanche people. McGee suffered multiple arrow wounds, a pistol shot, and a tomahawk wound. Many warriors counted coup on him, hitting him with ceremonial sticks or weapons. McGee claimed to be conscious when he was then scalped, his attacker removing a piece of his scalp approximately eight inches by ten inches (about 20 x 25 centimeters).   He was later recovered by a military burial party and taken to a local fort surgeon. While it is unknown what method was used to treat McGee, he was left with impressive scars and never re-grew hair in the area. He even allowed surgeons to later experiment with hair regrowth treatments on his scarred dome. McGee utilized his disfigurement as a money-making tool, making numerous public appearances. President Abraham Lincoln authorized McGee to draw rations and clothing at any military facility in the country, and Congress introduced a bill to pay him for his suffering.   Moving Forward Scalping a Man Between the Soup and the Remove, an illustration featured in Edgar Wilson “Bill” Nye’s 1894 tome Bill Nye’s History of the United States via Wikimedia Commons   The history of scalping is a sad and twisted one. While its history on the American continent may have originated among First Nations, the role of white settlers in accelerating the popularity of this dreadful act cannot be ignored. Despite the impact of white America on the history of scalping, the deed persists as a longstanding stereotype associated with Indigenous peoples. As efforts continue to eliminate harmful stereotypes in modern America, recognizing this history will be a key factor in progress.

  While the state of Maine is home to more forested area than any other in the nation, it’s also the home of almost 1.4 million people. Over 35,000 square miles of territory are divided into cities, towns, villages, and plantations. Among metropolises like Portland, named for its seaside locale, and places like Millinocket, a name derived from a Native Abenaki word, several Maine towns (almost 50 of them) share a unique trait—they are named for global destinations. In fact, it is quite possible to travel the world over without leaving the state. From cities to countries, how do Maine’s homages compare to the real thing?   1. China: The Song, Not the Country A popular hymn played a role in China, Maine’s creation. Source: Pbritti via Wikimedia Commons   Located in what is considered Central Maine (the true center of the state is largely uninhabited), China offers easy access to many state attractions. It is reasonably close to the state capital of Augusta but also just a short driving distance to the popular tourist attractions of the midcoast area. While China shares its name with the country, that’s not what it was named after. When the town was formally organized in 1818, contributing founder Japheth Washburn named the town after a favorite hymn titled “China.” Considered composer Timothy Swan’s best work, the song was released around 1790.   The China Pond Meeting House, a former Quaker meeting place, is one of the oldest buildings in the town. Source: Magicpiano via Wikimedia Commons   Though officially founded in the early 19th century, settlers began arriving in what would become China in 1774 after surveys began the previous year. At the time, Maine was still part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. China Lake, one of the two large bodies of water within the town limits, was an important landmark to early settlers, and the 4,000-acre lake continues to attract visitors today. About 4,000 people call China home year-round, a far cry from the 1.4 billion living in the country it shares its name with!   2. Unchangeable Athens Photo of an outbuilding in downtown Athens. Image used with permission from Emily Jayne Barney (photographer)   Incorporated in 1804, Athens is another settlement that predates the founding of the state of Maine. Nestled in a valley, the town has a rich sense of history and is well-known for its close-knit community. Though it has historically struggled with poverty and decreasing economic opportunities, the town has consistently supported the education of its young people. Athens operates an independent Pre-K-8th grade school that was ranked #1 in the state in 2023. It is the second teacher-led school in the state and continues to offer opportunities to older students as they move on to high school and college, including scholarships and funds for books.   In a different vein, the town also has a longstanding, rambunctious 4th of July Parade known for unabashed political statements and occasional nudity, concluding each year with a stage play in a local gravel pit. As longtime resident Faye Chandler was quoted in 2006, “Some people talk about trying to change it, but you might as well just enjoy the whole thing. No one can change Athens.”   Athens Community School, formerly known as Athens Elementary, houses around 100 students in grades Pre-K-8th grade. Source: Town of Athens   There aren’t many attractions within the town itself, but it is an excellent place to stop for a spell. Jim’s Variety, a local convenience store owned by the same family during its 40+ years in operation, has been a pizza destination for decades. Scenic family farms punctuate the rural area, and Ironbound Pond is just one of several locally accessible waterways. Athens is home to several historical buildings, including Somerset Academy, a former high school now on the National Register of Historic Places and home to the town office.   3. Paris, Home to Governors A 19th-century view of the Paris Hill Neighborhood. Source: New York Public Library via Wikimedia Commons   Although referred to by the US Postal Service as South Paris, the town of Paris was incorporated in 1793. South Paris village has been the center of town since its early days due to its easy access to water power and railroads. As most might assume, the town is believed to have been named for France’s famous city of lights. Located in southwestern Maine, Paris is the county seat for Oxford County.   Hannibal Hamlin in the 1860s. Source: Library of Congress via Wikimedia Commons   Paris is noted as a great location for rockhounds and those searching for semi-precious gems. It is the birthplace of four Maine governors, including Hannibal Hamlin, who served as President Abraham Lincoln’s first-term vice president. There are several “architecturally interesting” buildings in the area, including impressive homes in the Paris Hill area.   4. Mexico and the Mill A sign welcoming visitors to Mexico, Maine. Source: Steve Hamel via Wikimedia Commons   Incorporated in 1818, Mexico, Maine, was previously known as Township Number 1 and later Holmanstown. It was named Mexico to show solidarity with the Mexican people, who, at the time of incorporation, were fighting for their independence from Spain. Also located in Oxford County, Mexico lies approximately 30 miles northwest of Paris.   The KKK has a history of activity in Maine. Source: Library of Congress via Wikimedia Commons   Early Mexico was home to a number of religious denominations, from Seventh-Day Adventists to Christian Scientists. In the 1920s, the Ridlonville section of town was the residence of a chapter of the Ku Klux Klan, who built a meeting hall there. The Klan left town within a few years, and the hall became home to community events such as sporting matches and dances. The Rumford paper mill in 2013. Source: AlexisHoratius via Wikimedia Commons   Mexico’s fate since the late 19th century has been heavily tied to the paper mill in neighboring Rumford. Originally known as the Rumford Falls Paper Company, the mill has long been a place of employment for many Mexico residents, and a mainstay of the regional economy. However, as the 20th century drew to a close, Maine’s paper industry began to see signs of decline. Though the mill in Rumford is still operational, recent years have seen unprecedented layoffs and the conclusion of certain mill operations.   5. Diverse Belfast Like its Irish counterpart, Belfast, Maine features many brick buildings. Source: Bruce C. Cooper via Wikimedia Commons   Legend has it that Belfast earned its name as the result of a coin toss, though the other name option has been lost to history. First settled by Scotch-Irish families in 1770, Belfast was briefly abandoned during the Revolutionary War, but revitalized in 1780. Home to just under 7,000, Belfast is located in the Mid Coast region, meeting the mouth of the Passagassawakeag River and Penobscot Bay in the Atlantic Ocean. The city is known for combining small-town charm with a dynamic cultural scene. Popular with tourists, Belfast features a variety of restaurants, event venues, shops, and opportunities for outdoor recreation.   6. Canadian Neighbor Calais Homes in the historic Hinckley Hill district of Calais. Source: Ken Gallager via Wikimedia Commons   Though it is named for the iconic French town, Maine’s Calais is usually pronounced “Cal-ISS” by most Mainers. Originally home to the Passamaquoddy people, the area was explored by Samuel de Champlain in the 17th century, and settled permanently in the late 18th. The town has a rich history with New Brunswick, Canada, as it is home to three Canada-US border crossings to the city of St. Stephen. It was home to the first railroad built in Maine, which was created 18 years before the city’s incorporation in 1850.   A view of Calais’ waterfront on the St. Croix River. This photo was taken from St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada. Source: P199 via Wikimedia Commons   Today Calais is considered a shopping destination for many citizens of Washington County, Maine, and is home to a hospital, community college, and vibrant downtown. In recent years, Calais has proven a commitment to history by remodeling several historical buildings. It is home to the St. Croix Historical Society, named for a local river.   7. Poland and It’s Spring A Poland Spring ad from 1916. Source: Poland Spring via Wikimedia Commons   Curiously, the town of Poland in Androscoggin County was also named for a song, not a country. Referenced in a collection of ancient psalms, the name was chosen by Moses Emery, one of the area’s first residents. The town was incorporated in 1795.   Poland’s claim to fame is the famous Poland Spring. This local water source was rumored to be curative and became an attraction. The Poland Spring House hotel, with over 350 guest rooms in 1876, welcomed visitors from around the country. In 1907, the Ricker Family, owners of the hotel, began bottling the water in an innovative facility, one of the most modern at the time. Poland Spring Bottled Water has been a famous brand in the bottled water industry ever since. Today, the company is owned by mega-corporation Nestle, but Poland remains home to a bottling plant.

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The man who opened fire at a Rhode Island ice rink during a high school hockey game Monday night, killing two family members and injuring three others before turning the gun on himself, identified as transgender and had multiple family disputes regarding his gender identity. Robert Dorgan, 56, also went by the name Roberta, Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves confirmed in a news conference Monday night. Police described the shooting at Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, R.I., as stemming from a family dispute. Dorgan allegedly opened fire during a hockey game between Coventry and Blackstone Valley Schools. Court documents show that his transgender identity played a key role in multiple family disputes, WPRI News reported. In early 2020, Dorgan reported to the North Providence Police that he had undergone gender-reassignment surgery and that his father-in-law demanded he leave his home for that reason. Dorgan’s then-wife Ronda Dorgan filed for divorce at around the same time. Under grounds for divorce, she initially wrote, “gender reassignment surgery, narcissistic + personality disorder traits.” Someone later crossed out those reasons and wrote “irreconcilable differences which have caused the immediate breakdown of the marriage.” The court finalized the divorce in June 2021. Dorgan told police that his father-in-law, who shares the same last name, threatened to “have him murdered by an Asian street gang if he did not move out of the residence,” the court documents state. Dorgan told police that his father-in-law used a derogatory term for people who identify as transgender. Other Trans Shooters The shooting comes less than a week after an 18-year-old man who identified as a woman shot and killed six people at a school in British Columbia, Canada. Jesse Van Rootselaar first killed his mother, 39, and his 11-year-old stepbrother at their family home in the remote community of Tumbler Ridge, before targeting Tumbler Ridge Secondary School Tuesday. While Van Rootselaar’s motive remains unclear, this shooting comes after a string of violence and threats from perpetrators who identified as transgender or supported transgenderism. In September, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox confirmed reports that 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who has been charged with Charlie Kirk’s murder, was living with a boyfriend who identifies as transgender. Robinson reportedly confessed to his boyfriend that he committed the murder. 1?Tyler RobinsonThe man who allegedly shot and killed Charlie Kirk was dating a man who identifies as a woman, and he started to support "trans rights" in recent years, his mother told authorities.This is the latest in a line of violence, however.?2/15 pic.twitter.com/WQuuHKKxMd— Tyler O'Neil (@Tyler2ONeil) September 20, 2025 Authorities reportedly confirmed that 23-year-old Robin Westman, a male born Robert Westman, opened fire at Annunciation Church in Minneapolis in August, killing two children and injuring 17 others. Audrey Elizabeth Hale, 28, reportedly identified as male. She shot and killed three children and three adults on March 27, 2023, at The Covenant School, a Presbyterian school in Nashville, Tennessee. Police fatally shot her during the attack. According to a court document obtained by The Daily Signal, the man who tried to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in June 2022 identifies as a woman. Nicholas Roske, who was 29 when he pleaded guilty in April, identifies as Sophie Roske in a court document. On May 7, 2019, then-16-year-old Maya “Alec” McKinney and her 19-year-old fellow student, Devon Erickson, opened fire at STEM School Highlands Ranch in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, killing one and injuring eight. Both have been sentenced to life in prison. McKinney, a female, identifies as male. In June 2024, a judge sentenced Jason Lee Willie, a man who identifies as a woman and goes by Alexia, to one year in prison after he pleaded guilty to threatening to injure people across state lines. Willie, a resident of Nashville, Illinois, confessed to threatening to rape girls in girls’ restrooms, carry out mass shootings at schools, and bomb churches. The post Man Whose Trans Identity Apparently Led to Divorce Shoots Family at RI Ice Rink appeared first on The Daily Signal.

It's happening again: a Democrat pivot on a critical issue, this one the border. And while it's not from a candidate, at least in 2028, it represents a new tone. Appearing at the Munich Security Conference over the weekend, Hillary Clinton floated a trial balloon on illegal immigration. Sure, she...