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Farewell, Christopher Tolkien. Middle-Earth Is Indebted to You 0
- Culture
- January 23, 2020
Last week in France, and at the age of 95, Christopher John Reuel Tolkien quietly passed away. The headlines of many obituaries and tributes refer to him as the son of J.R.R. Tolkien, which indeed he was. Born in England on November 21, 1924, he was the third of four children of J.R.R and Edith
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We Need to Stop Assuming Progress Is Always Positive 0
- Culture
- January 23, 2020
Franco. Mussolini. Stalin. Hitler. Castro. Mao Ze Dong. Pol Pot. The 20th century was full of dictatorships which reached new heights of cruelty and butchery never imagined in centuries prior. Unfortunately, this cruelty flies in the face of the American belief that progress is undeniable and a decidedly positive force in human history. How did we
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Stop Obsessing Over Generational Differences 0
- Culture
- January 22, 2020
Our society is obsessed with generational differences. The internet is awash with articles and studies analyzing Baby Boomers vs. millennials vs. Generation Z (or “Zoomers.”) Apparently, the babies being born right now are called “Generation Alpha.” Generational differences have practically become their own genre of writing. Some of these articles are slightly scientific, but many
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The Media’s Shameful Depiction of Pro-Second Amendment Protests in Virginia 0
- Culture
- January 22, 2020
It’s the tea party all over again. Way back in 2009 the press, followed by a gaggle of left-wing commentators and politicians, did a number on tea party protests, often portraying them – with little evidence – as driven by racist rage against President Barack Obama rather than principled opposition to his administration’s policies. These same tactics were on full display
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Why Do Americans Love the Royals? We Secretly Miss the WASPs 0
- Culture
- January 22, 2020
If the announcement of Prince Harry’s and Meghan Markle’s decision to “step back” from royal duties has reminded us of anything, it’s that Americans are bizarrely fascinated by the British royal family. Every morning since the initial announcement, The Washington Post has brought yet more coverage of the royals: on British tabloid coverage, on the couple’s “transition,” on the
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Why Are Swedish Bureaucrats Channeling Their Inner Michelle Obama?0
- Culture
- January 22, 2020
Sweden is often hailed for its sweeping cultural and political emphasis on the equality of all things. But while the popular discourse tends to center on its progressive economic policies and far-reaching public services, the country’s focus on fairness stretches across the spheres of Swedish society – including, more recently, its school cafeterias. At a local school in
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Farewell, Christopher Tolkien. Middle-Earth Is Indebted to You 0