Articles for the Spring 2017 Issue

Free Will
by Leland W. Robinson
Aspects of Liberty: Cornerstone, Manipulation, and Inequality
by Roland F. Moy
Cuba's 50-Plus Year Marriage with Communism: For Better or Worse?
by Anne Thomas
The author discuses how communism has affected Cuba, based on a Torch-sponsored trip. Many aspects of daily life in Cuba are covered, including the medical system, universal education and even food shortages. The on-line version shows extra photographs taken during the trip. A .pdf of the article is available here.

The Nashville Experiment, 1863: Regulating With, Not Against, the Market
by John Fockler
Major General William S. Rosecrans had a problem. Rosecrans was commander of the Union's Army of the Cumberland, based largely in and around the city of Nashville, Tennessee. Rosecrans had been in command of the army's XIV Corps (which became the Army of the Cumberland) since October of 1862. In addition to being a base of supply for the army, Union troops were also using the city as a kind of rest and recreation center.   The presence of so many young and unattached soldiers wandering around the city had attracted another army of sorts, nearly 1500 "public women," and therein was the problem. How working with market forces solved the problem is the subject of this article. (Hint: licenses). A .pdf of the article is available here.

The Struggles for Poland, 1939-1945
by Jan Chlapowski

Many countries became victims of Nazi Germany's onslaught, but most of them were not subjected to a treatment that threatened their existence as a nation. In the case of Poland, there was a conscious attempt by the Germans to exterminate their national existence. The accepted figure for World War II deaths in Europe is approximately 60 million persons or about 10% of its pre-war population. Of that 60 million, 6 million were Polish citizens, nearly half of which were of the Jewish faith. No other country in Europe lost such a large proportion of its leading citizens.      A .pdf of the article is available here.

What Actually Happened on Chappaquiddick?
by Donald Frederick Nelson
Chappaquiddick became the most famous automobile accident of the twentieth century for three reasons. First, Ted was a nationally prominent senator and then the standard bearer of the famous Kennedy family. Second, the ramifications of the incident prevented Kennedy from ever becoming the Democratic nominee for president. Third, Kennedy's explanation of the events of that night was widely regarded as a successful cover-up. But what was covered up is not what you expect, according to this presentation. A .pdf of the article is avaiable here.

Decentralized Life Processes of Plants and a Comparison with Animals
by Claudia Martin

Plant intelligence works differently from animal intelligence; nonetheless, it is intelligence, and calling it intelligence is not merely a romanticized fantasy. Human hubris had long assumed that humans are the only intelligent life forms on earth, but in the past sixty years, thanks to numerous academic researchers and field studies occurring all over the globe, science established that animals and plants operate with a form of intelligence. How plant intelligence compares to animal intelligence is the subject of this paper.   A .pdf of the article is available here.

Ralph Falconer
by Anne Sterling
Ralph served as president (1999-2002) at a time when IATC needed a strong leader. He presided with dignity, sought consensus, and encouraged new, younger members. We will continue to be enriched by remembering this tall, impressive Ohio lawyer who was so devoted to Torch.

©2017 by the International Association of Torch Clubs