To the editor:

1. David Blight
2. Ira Magaziner
3. Mary McAleese
4. Maria Vazquez
|
What do they have in common, in addition to great talent in differing categories?

1. A Pulitzer Prize winning author as a result of his biography of Frederick Douglass - “Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom”.

2. A corporate strategy consultant that assisted governments in Sweden, Ireland, Canada and elsewhere in developing national industrial policies. In 2002, he cofounded the Clinton Health Access Initiative with former president Bill Clinton. A graduate of Brown, he reshaped the curriculum of Brown so students can design their own course of study. He did this while being a student at Brown. He is also an Oxford Rhodes Scholar.

3. The eighth president of Ireland. The first from northern Ireland to be elected president, she also hosted a state visit by the Queen of England.

4. A textile conservator, appearing frequently on PBS in this capacity. Instrumental in restoring the Byfield Flag, which has been authenticated as the oldest and most complete flag in North America; a colonial battle flag dating to 1687. She currently is the collections manager for the Naval War College museum in Newport. This work is recognized worthy enough to shortly be on loan for two years at the National Museum of the United States Army at Fort Belvoir, 1775 Liberty Drive, Va.

So, the answer to the question. Ira, Mary and Maria were all in Rhode Island within 11 days of each other (VFW Post 237, Bristol; the campus of Salve Regina in Newport, on the lawn and hosted by the president of Salve; The Bristol Historical and Preservation Society, Court Street, Bristol. All lectures were open to the public and free of charge. Yes, I know, you would have had to drive from Bristol to Newport.

Isn't that a gift? So much information of such divergence offered by such an array of differing experts, and all so very close.

No, I didn't forget David. He just didn't make it into the recent triumvirate. He spoke at Linden Place on Sunday the 26th of February. And there were a number of presentations and lectures between Linden Place and Rogers Free Library with respect to Frederick Douglass, who of course had a Rhode Island influence.

Although i don't feel I have done my point justice, we have much to avail ourselves in this state. You don't have to go far to get it.

Owen E. Trainor
P.O. Box 801
Bristol