https://www.steelebrand.com/biography daily 0.75 2025-05-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/1543357551467-1H7AQU37SOLFM6XTOD3L/unnamed+%281%29.jpg Biography https://www.steelebrand.com/research daily 0.75 2025-12-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/77ace459-2bc5-4c65-a80f-1141a0d2a3bb/marcus+aurelius+equestrian.jpg Research & Publications - Republican Warfare: T he Life & Thought of Cicero In Philosophers on War, edited by Eric D. Patterson, Timothy J. Demy and Jeffrey M. Shaw. Silverton: Stone Tower Books, 2017 image in Public Domain https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/9991aa87-76f6-48b8-876b-23b63251f1eb/HistoriesPolybiusCasaubon1609pg1.jpg Research & Publications - Republican Virtues: Merits and Morals in Polybius’ Constitutional Analysis of the Histories, Book 6 Published in Histories, 22 December 2025 Image in Public Domain https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/bea34178-4706-4d86-86b5-feda45ed701d/murder+thomas+becket.JPG Research & Publications - Christendom’s Constitution: The Clashing Swords of Church and State in History Published in The Palgrave Handbook of Religion and State, 2023 image in Public Domain https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/920dcd4c-4adf-423d-a661-39e4544be866/ivory+relief+Sel%C3%A7uk+Museum.jpg Research & Publications - Winning Like a Roman Published in Law & Liberty, December 2022 image from Wikimedia Commons https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/5be3b9d2-e960-41c2-9f21-de8c9a35a70a/Jerusalem+Western+Wall.jpg Research & Publications - "This Is Our Jerusalem": Early American Evangelical Localizations of the Hebraic Republic Published in Religions Vol. 7, No. 4, 2016 image from Wikimedia Commons https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/8c30117f-b70b-4f90-a0b5-6d58670deacd/U.S.+Capitol+west+side.JPG Research & Publications - Sources of American Republicanism: Ancient Models in the U.S. Capitol Sources of American Republicanism: Ancient Models in the U.S. Capitol https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/be11d41e-6c05-4d99-9c74-612a85847451/Sacrifice+from+Glyptothek+Munich.jpg Research & Publications - Ancient and Modern Religion and Politics: Negotiating Transitive Spaces and Hybrid Identities Published in Journal of Church and State, Vol. 56, No. 3, Summer 2014 Image in Public Domain https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/e5044b8e-cdf6-4117-b10f-6e07285635c6/Hoplite+Hidus+Achaemenid+warrior.jpg Research & Publications - Greek Military Service in the Ancient Near East, 401-330 BCE. Published in Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, Vol. 385, May 2021 image from Wikimedia Commons https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/31aa8eae-e988-4b34-a0db-a576d4d1ba52/Altar+Ahenobarbus+Louvre.jpg Research & Publications - War in the Roman World Published in Lexham Bible Dictionary, 2014 Image in Public Domain https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/31fca6db-e66b-41b7-9e98-933f3c69dc9e/killing+for+the+republic+farm.JPG Research & Publications - Killing for the Republic: Citizen-Soldiers & the Roman Way of War Published by Johns Hopkins University Press, 2019 Image courtesy of Johns Hopkins University Press https://www.steelebrand.com/battlefield daily 0.75 2024-07-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/92f47368-fd22-4155-89e5-3a900bf62037/tempImageaeTUaV.jpg Battlefield Studies - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the 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https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/1584196883642-0ZKBZS8C1FJCYY47E44B/in+the+beginning+%281%29.jpg Ancient Near East and the Old Testament https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/1584196933939-J9AEWF0LA6M4HQ3HVY8U/story+of+jacob+and+joseph.jpg Ancient Near East and the Old Testament https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/1584196290554-2QEH0EVS2FEXN3SRGN30/david.jpg Ancient Near East and the Old Testament With Leonard Nimoy as Samuel and Franco Nero as Nathan, the cast of prophets is worthy of their position. Jonathan Pryce also plays a fantastic Saul and Joab is very well played by Maurice Roëves. Unlike the 1976 version, more screen time is dedicated to developing the character of David, but at the expense of the supporting cast. The choice works well for this movie, as you feel far more committed to David, his decisions, and his troubles. The battle scenes leave much to be desired, and the architecture is too monumental and refined for the time period, but these are mistakes common to most movies about the period. The score by Carlo Siliotto is excellent for a TV movie, and some of the stylistic and thematic decisions make you forget you’re watching a B-movie at times. The portrayal of David is more sympathetic than the 1976 film, which makes this a nice contrast if you watch them back to back. The filmmakers also choose to include a number of Psalms, which would frustrate those critics who doubt his authorship, but the artistry in their delivery is excellent. The latter half of David’s reign is probably the best part of the film, even better than the 1976 version, filled with ethical dilemmas and political nuance, especially with relation to personal failings with political consequences. The portrayal of Absalom’s rebellion is detailed, portraying the dueling intelligence networks and the contrast between weak but wise David and virile but foolish Absalom quite nicely. The conclusion is soooo good. Overall, the movie does a fine job of accurately capturing the tortured disappointments of one who nonetheless died leaving his people and the biblical narrative with so much hope. Suitable for children, but beware some heavy themes and violence. For context, see the film above. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/1584198077748-UEFMO5L4I4W12T6EWBX7/solomon.jpg Ancient Near East and the Old Testament This is an adequate follow-up to the 1997 David movie by the same producers. It is less sweeping and compelling. Ben Cross is aptly cast and plays Solomon well from the young aspirational prince to the cynical old king. Good features of the film include the depiction of the ruthless dynastic politics of David’s sons, the somewhat fictional relationship between Jeroboam and Solomon, and the wily prophet at the movie’s end. I have to ding the accuracy somewhat for the lengthy section with the Queen of Sheba. Based more on later traditions than earlier sources, this section is interesting and well done, but lacks veracity. Having said that, whether or not the Sheba elaboration is true, the story is representative of Solomon’s troubles. Some sensual scenes make this movie unsuitable for children unless you edit them out. For context, see the biblical book of 1 Kings 1-12. As for secondary sources, try the biblical commentaries recommended elsewhere in this section. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/1584196911385-8U0TWVADNSKXKNJWGJ9A/noah+%281%29.jpg Ancient Near East and the Old Testament https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/71a21793-2a32-4cbf-8678-c812571c2f3e/abraham.jpg Ancient Near East and the Old Testament - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/1584196188939-C2D7A90B5BWJE17XSMSB/samson+and+delilah+49.jpeg Ancient Near East and the Old Testament https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/1584978807738-30MBZWP7OG73W68K1OBO/samson.jpeg Ancient Near East and the Old Testament https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/1584198013917-TISP05UP5H453M4EHX21/land+of+the+pharaohs.jpg Ancient Near East and the Old Testament An old rollicking flick about the building of the great pyramid by Khufu. It is far more fiction than fact with love triangles, secret passageways, bloodthirsty tyrants, freedom-seeking foreign slaves, and a few plot holes to patch it all together, but it’s fun enough to watch in the background or use to reinforce an introduction to Egyptian history for the kiddos. Suitable for children, with some mild violence and heavy themes. For context, read Shaw’s The Oxford History of Ancient History or Herodotus’ Histories Book 2, upon which the character sketch of Khufu is based. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/1584198050429-Z42O1L17QKQWFZNEZ3FS/david+and+bathseeba.jpg Ancient Near East and the Old Testament https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/1584196226688-9XJE8U295U3JQSWN9L0W/samson+and+delilah.jpg Ancient Near East and the Old Testament https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/1584197165511-STX3PVEXB741CY7M8AZK/solomon+and+sheba.jpg Ancient Near East and the Old Testament https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/1584196259667-1SQ9TCZUJZBQZBN0N200/moses.jpg Ancient Near East and the Old Testament https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/1584197072578-HDJDDFLTBKKGQ5KE2Q1J/story+of+ruth.jpg Ancient Near East and the Old Testament This epic rendition of the biblical story elaborates on a short four chapters of the Old Testament, but the elaborations don’t stray far from the text or the historical period. It has some inaccuracies, such as monumental architecture for the Moabites and Israelite households that are far too elaborate, but it is a very nuanced take on the flaws and laws of “God’s chosen people.” The movie deserves its four stars for capturing the literary theme of the movie: two heroines bound together by their common faith and loyalty to one another. The movie is close to perfect in this regard. It also has some nice touches regarding refugees/immigrants (which my refugee-scholar wife appreciates). The finest parts are found in the third quarter which show a fictional but true-to-the-spirit interplay of political and personal forces that fit within the context of the time. The “trial” shown is a tad anachronistic, but all of the moral questions raised by local judges, officials, and witnesses are a great take on the spirit of covenantal law. The film even features the entrance of another theo-political actor, the prophet, which I really appreciate. All of these scenes highlight the Old Testament / Hebraic notion that what you believe and are loyal to matters more than from whom and where you were born. Suitable for children. For context, read the biblical book itself. For secondary sources, I suggest any of a number of great commentaries on Ruth. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/620a793a-432a-445c-a279-75cb898a92f1/joseph.jpg Ancient Near East and the Old Testament - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/1584978765796-YUF4URBEGGA81JXUXCRK/Exodus+gods+and+kings.jpg Ancient Near East and the Old Testament https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/1584743076388-8VB03MKMDNCHHVZRCN51/the+story+of+david.jpg Ancient Near East and the Old Testament This is a TV miniseries, but it is relatively well done on the low budget. You have to get past the ultra-70s portrayal of David in the first half of the movie. Timothy Bottoms plays young David well at times, but the curly hair and the trilly voice have got to go! Every time he plays his harp, all I see is Woodstock in the background. Keith Mitchell is great as the elder David, as he is in all historical miniseries like Jacob in the Story of Jacob and Henry VIII. Other solid portrayals include Anthony Quayle as Saul and Jane Seymore as Bathsheeba. Apparently Jane Seymore has a thing for adulterous kings played by Mitchell! I like the sympathetic portrayal of Saul, and the political maneuverings between the different functionaries in Israel are nicely done. As with most of these biblical films, there’s too much ashlar masonry too early, but otherwise, the humble origins of Israel’s United Kingdom work much better with a lower budget that can’t afford sets that would have been too elaborate for the time period. I want to see rubble! The film portrays all the famous exploits of David from Goliath to Philistine fighters to Bathsheeba affairs, but a supporting cast that sticks close to the biblical narrative make the film exceptional, with Jonathan, Abner, David’s wives, biblical prophets, Achish of Gath, and David’s “mighty men” making appearances. Often these minor characters bring out the best in the film, like when the Machiavellian Joab points out David’s own Machiavellianism when he says: “Who knows you David, who knows what you’ll do. Do you even know?” Depicting the complications that come with royal dynasties, the family politics in part 2 are the finest aspect of the film. The movie does a fine job of visualizing the Bible’s perspective that political power is always 2 things: messy and provisional. Suitable for children, but beware some heavy themes and violence. For context, read the 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles. Good commentaries include those by Word Biblical Commentary, NICOT, and Robert Alter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/1584196974607-R4DD54DXZ6Y5LC5AM4VJ/Ten+Commandments.jpg Ancient Near East and the Old Testament https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/1584196954971-T237E0XC3DPT7STHL21I/Jacob.jpg Ancient Near East and the Old Testament https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/1584197012584-9Q0PQNJU4OL4BSILOYOA/troy.jpg Ancient Near East and the Old Testament https://www.steelebrand.com/new-page-1 daily 0.75 2020-03-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/1584246240548-4NHL6YXJX2CSC8T0E5NH/ArtofWarOTWorld.jpg The Art of War in the Old Testament https://www.steelebrand.com/military-history-through-1651 daily 0.75 2020-03-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/1584244515900-6WTM5N8U1RQWP3BNLMK9/MilitaryHistory.jpg Military History Through 1651 https://www.steelebrand.com/western-civilization-i daily 0.75 2020-03-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/1584246994967-QM8T7H3CGPO0P76ETYWP/WesternCivilizationI.jpg Western Civilization I https://www.steelebrand.com/england-from-arthur-to-the-magna-carta daily 0.75 2020-03-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/1584244232560-QZK33Z9MGDSPE0ZFSTTT/AngloSaxons.jpg England from Arthur to the Magna Carta https://www.steelebrand.com/the-roman-republic daily 0.75 2020-03-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/1584244126944-AB6K0R2TXIL9G5NTURP3/RomanRepublic.jpg The Roman Republic https://www.steelebrand.com/the-reformation-and-wars-of-religion daily 0.75 2020-03-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/1584244340768-FJJFRBOYL1W9YX14SM97/Reformation.jpg The Reformation and Wars of Religion https://www.steelebrand.com/january daily 0.75 2021-05-05 https://www.steelebrand.com/february daily 0.75 2021-05-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/1620229995561-NZYYU6WEX7PRVZ1MNQSR/february.jpeg February https://www.steelebrand.com/research-1 daily 0.75 2024-06-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/0f356c80-80a3-4a84-bfb1-d3e3b2b52317/marble+frieze+altes+gallery+berlin.jpg Podcasts & Panels - 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“Killing for the Roman Republic” Podcast on History Hit’s The Ancients August 2020 image in Public Domain https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/5df10c60-1329-44c4-9229-9ba9ff3c28ee/Tournai+Black+Death.jpg Podcasts & Panels - Epidemics in History: Constitutionalism and the “The Black Death” Panel at The King’s College, April 2020 image in Public Domain https://www.steelebrand.com/insights daily 0.75 2024-09-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/52e2045d-ec0e-402d-8940-156f6a6e5134/Martin+of+Tours.jpg Contemporary Insights - A Saint for Veterans Day Published in Law & Liberty. 11 Nov. 2022 image from Wikimedia Commons https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/a2283383-e6d8-47ab-a3d3-0ece31531ab6/Roman+Forum.jpg Contemporary Insights - Most Important Takeaway from Killing for the Republic Published in JHU News. 10 Oct. 2019 image from Wikimedia Commons https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/c28a6060-533e-4331-87a1-04a542ff26c5/washington+camillus+toga.jpg Contemporary Insights - 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In Foreign Policy. 29 Jan. 2016 image in Public Domain https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/b0dd0815-5d91-4bdf-ab73-077186d47356/G+Washington+Gilbert+Stuart.jpg Contemporary Insights - Presidential Character: The Virtues Published in Religion & Liberty. 19 Sep. 2024 image in Public Domain https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/5d9d4f6f-a3f8-4efc-994c-e54edbb0a740/Antonio_Canova-Helen_of_Troy-Victoria_and_Albert_Museum.jpg Contemporary Insights - Kayla Mueller is not our Helen of Troy Published in The Federalist. 25 Feb. 2015 image from Wikimedia Commons https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/6a8fe4b7-f31a-4d8e-ae86-2c8a4ebc48b4/Jerusalem.jpg Contemporary Insights - Weeping for the City: What Jesus and Psalm 122 Teach about Cities Published in The Gospel Coalition. 10 Apr. 2022 image from Wikimedia Commons https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/9c03a9fa-8f82-43dd-bc5c-af8033f47626/plato+berlin.jpg Contemporary Insights - The Apolitical Antidote to Unjust Politics Published in History News Network. 15 Sep. 2019 image from Wikimedia Commons https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/4f2d6a8c-0822-4d06-84be-4527d924e36f/Minute_Man_National_Historical_Park_MIMA2590.jpg Contemporary Insights - Rebuilding a Republican Army Published in Law & Liberty and RealClearPolitics. 21 Nov. 2023 image in Public Domain https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/5317c266-5692-4e07-ac36-c37f43231392/Thalys+train+incident.jpg Contemporary Insights - Answer to terror is tougher citizens, not tougher government Published in USA Today. 7 Dec. 2015 image in Public Domain https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/41c0cef1-e065-44a4-a83e-0f71ac52e424/ancient+plague.jpg Contemporary Insights - The Diseases that Kill Republics: Insights from Ancient Rome’s Epidemics Published in Front Porch Republic. 9 May 2020 image from Wikimedia Commons https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/7ad400ba-afff-46ea-a3e7-9fc26cd12e6b/hoplites.jpg Contemporary Insights - What Ancient Rome and Greece Can Teach Us about the Modern American Military Published in Time. 20 Sep. 2019 image from Wikimedia Commons https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/b0c536aa-1269-4293-845a-94cbed75e1f3/Cincinnatus+cincinnati.png Contemporary Insights - Self-Love vs. Self-Government Published in Law & Liberty. 22 Oct. 2021 image from Wikimedia Commons https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/40007f1c-cf44-4356-99bb-fac658e0985f/Minute_Man%2C_Daniel_Chester_French%2C_Concord_MA.jpg Contemporary Insights - What happened to the American citizen-soldier? Published in LitHub. 9 Sept. 2019 image in Public Domain https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/28017030-e04f-40ff-ad1f-0216113debbc/vets+return+home+from+afg.jpg Contemporary Insights - My Fellow Afghanistan Vets, Your Service and Sacrifices Were Not in Vain Published in Fox News. 26 Aug. 2021 image in Public Domain https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/ed2063b9-56f0-41fe-926f-9ab9e255a099/quintus+fabius+maximus.jpg Contemporary Insights - The Reluctant Warrior: How Fabius Maximus Became Rome’s Greatest General by Avoiding Battle Published in Military History Now. 29 Jan. 2020 image in Public Domain https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/e06bf75e-b85d-4e38-a5d1-0348083f2632/San+Bernardino+SUV.jpg Contemporary Insights - Fighting terrorism with our best asset—our citizens Co-written by Paul Mueller. Published in The Hill. 30 Dec. 2015 San Bernardino Attack image in Public Domain https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/9d972ff3-e6eb-4587-bbde-e4082a07ed98/Herrad+of+Landsberg+hortus+deliciarum.jpg Contemporary Insights - Republics Need the Liberal Arts Published in Triquetra. 8 Mar. 2024 image in Public Domain https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/352369f9-3837-4a05-a4b5-3a63bd16ab40/Declaration_independence+trumbull.jpg Contemporary Insights - The Declaration of Independence Founded a Theistic Republic Published in National Review and RealClearReligion. 19 Nov. 2023 image in Public Domain https://www.steelebrand.com/reviews daily 0.75 2023-08-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/4342ebc7-aa57-495d-8d04-1a79077ef1b5/veterans+day+tribute+kandahar.jpg News & Reviews - Morale and U.S. Troops Exiting Afghanistan Interview on The Global Lane (starting at 9:00) image is in Public Domain https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/40d72797-d85e-4faa-bd7a-63fbc1cc44f8/national+archives+veteran+cemetery.jpg News & Reviews - Veteran says community ‘hurting’ after US service members killed in terror attacks Interview on Fox News Business National Archives image from Flikr Commons https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/9d4add3f-63e3-44ec-b868-e7bae78832b6/Afghanistan+plane+withdrawal.jpg News & Reviews - How Should Veterans Feel about the Afghanistan Withdrawal? Interview on The Joe Piscopo Show (starting at 22:56) image from Wikimedia Commons https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589f8f2ef5e231ba9dfa095f/c8d45c94-2979-4455-b3bb-00f66f20ae6a/Killing+for+the+Republic.jpg News & Reviews - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.