thoughts in and out of season
James Kalb Why does liberal society function as well as it does? Ordinary people and theoreticians complain about it, its proponents have trouble defending it coherently, and its imminent demise has been announced since long before any of us were born. Nonetheless, it is more widespread and firmly rooted than ever and its development goes from victory … More ...
Another action alert: People for the American way has set up a toll-free number to let you call your legislator about the pending federal hate crimes bill (The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act (S 625)) and the American Family Association is suggesting that all right-wingers do just that. Here’s their email:
… More ...Subj: Urgent! Oppose Kennedy
Deal Hudson, the publisher of Crisis, sends around email reports to anyone who signs up for them. Here’s the latest, entitled “Bad News from Rome” (the bad news is that the higher-ups in the Vatican still don’t take the scandals here seriously):
… More ...Subj: Bad News From Rome Date: Tue, 4 Jun 2002 15:07:40
Tolerance marches ever onward: in Portland, Maine, the Salvation Army must offer domestic partner benefits or give up its Meals on Wheels and senior center contract.
There isn’t much more inhuman in our national life than the notion that the United States is a “creedal” or “propositional” nation. We need something to hold us together, so it is said, and we don’t have blood and soil, which sounds Nazi anyway, so we have to rely on our national creed—the proposition that … More ...
A worthwhile reference point: INS Commissioner Ziglar thinks it’s unrealistic and unreasonable to deport illegal aliens.
A sensible discussion by Maggie Gallagher of what is at stake with “gay marriage”. Nothing new or dazzling, but why are so many people so oblivious to these points? (My own anwer, of course, is that their metaphysics doesn’t let the issues arise no matter what the facts.)
News flash from a swamp I left recently: New Episcopal bishop voices liberal views. Justice is a good thing, so it’s no doubt good that the Episcopal bishop of Washington, D.C. favors justice. Still, interpretation is everything, and it’s interesting that his old home diocese joined a number of others who didn’t consent to … More ...
Here’s more about the Jefferson-Hemings business that we’ve commented on before. The arguments against Jefferson’s paternity seem quite strong, which confirms the thought I had when I visited Monticello a couple of months ago, that they’ve accepted the story there because to do otherwise would likely lead to a public relations disaster. And here … More ...
The pieces come progressively together: Amnesty International is buying stock to bring shareholders’ resolutions to pressure multinationals to adopt comprehensive policies on human rights that include explicit commitments to “support and uphold the principles and values contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights”—whatever that means. Get a few big foundations and public … More ...