I am not a fan of South Carolina’s new license plates. In May last year, the South Carolina General Assembly passed legislation to create a new license plate “commemorating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.” Many have criticized its appearance, comparing it to clip art. These criticisms are valid, but my main concern is the motto on the plate, “Where the Revolutionary War Was Won.” This is not just historically inaccurate; it also dishonors the ideals of the American Revolution. The legislation authorizing this plate recalls the June 28, 1776, Battle of Sullivan’s Island, where Colonel William Moultrie’s men defended their partially built palmetto log fort against a fleet of British warships. Because of the spongy nature of the palmetto logs, British cannonballs were absorbed into the fort’s walls instead of shattering them, as would happen with pine logs or masonry. Additionally, the shallow channel leading into Charleston harbor caused several British ships to run ag...
I pause outside the exam room door. Inside, a patient waits. The chief complaint on the schedule is vague, but I never complain about the ambiguity. A wise doctor once told me there are three reasons for a patient's visit: the one they tell the staff, the one they tell you, and the real reason that will be revealed in good time. Before I open the door, the weight of the unknown presses down on me. Then I turn the doorknob and walk in. What happens inside those four walls is a ritual of normalcy. The door closes, shutting out the noise and chaos beyond. The patient speaks, and I listen. We discuss their concerns, and I offer guidance based on my training, experience, and the collective wisdom of the scientific method. The patient shares their vulnerability, and together we make a decision. It's a normal transaction between two human beings collaborating in good faith. The privacy is absolute; the honesty, assumed. In the exam room, the rules of reality remain firm. Science w...