Blog 3 Columns

3 Stoic Lessons That Can Help Heal Our Toxic Political Culture 0
- Culture
- May 16, 2018
Emotional. Tribal. Irrational. These are just three adjectives which could be applied to the political discourse of the 21st century. Both in the United States and Europe, discussions have reverted from constructive criticism and mutual understanding to name-calling, de-platforming, and retreats into echo chambers. None of this is particularly useful for a pluralistic society. Fortunately,
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Why You Should Watch ‘Cobra Kai’ Instead of ‘The Last Jedi’0
- Culture
- May 15, 2018
The latest instalment in the Star Wars franchise was a huge disappointment to die-hard fans. The movie’s sins are too numerous to recount here, but they amount to a complete abandonment of everything that made the original series a success in the first place. “Star Wars is dead; The Last Jedi killed it” is the
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Why Kanye Is Hated for Refusing to Hate 0
- Culture
- May 15, 2018
“You don’t have to agree with trump but the mob can’t make me not love him.” – Kanye West Forget petty politics for a moment. Kanye West’s recent statement on Twitter defending his love of Donald Trump is one of the most eloquent descriptions of a two-millennia-long struggle in humanity to self-actualize by remembering its
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Restaurants Are Giving People ‘Option Paralysis’0
- Economics
- May 15, 2018
The obsession with individual choice has wreaked havoc on many parts of our culture, but it has gone too far for some people, particularly those trying to order a sandwich. According to a Wall Street Journal story, restaurants and fast food establishments now provide so many options that some people are beginning to suffer from “option paralysis.”
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Do Barn Weddings Diminish the Solemnity of Marriage?1
- Culture
- May 15, 2018
A headline in The Atlantic caught my eye the other day. “Why is Everybody Getting Married in a Barn?” the article asked. I had to laugh, because I’m pretty sure I’ve had a similar question put to me at least once in the last year. Clearly there’s something of a trend going on, and if
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‘You Are Not Special; You Are Not Exceptional’: Why David McCullough Jr.’s dose of reality to young people is important 0
- Culture
- May 15, 2018
David McCullough Jr. is a high-school English teacher and the son of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David McCullough. In 2012, his “You Are Not Special” graduation speech went viral. His speech is more relevant than ever, and not just for new graduates. McCullough tells the graduates, “You are not special. You are not exceptional.” He continues,
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The Childhood Quality That’s the Best Predictor of Health, Wealth, and Happiness 0
- Culture
- May 14, 2018
If you were presented with the opportunity to instill one, and only one, quality in your children, what would it be? Perhaps, like Solomon of old, you would be tempted to choose something like a long life, or great wealth, or even freedom from harm for your offspring. After all, what parents don’t desire happiness
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How to Respond to the Incel Movement 0
- Culture
- May 14, 2018
Adam Lee of Patheos manifests a law and order response to what he calls “The Threat of Incel [Involuntary Celibate] Terrorism”: “The mindset of toxic entitlement can’t be appeased. …. [We should] support #MeToo and other movements that amplify the social and cultural power of women. The more people are used to women exercising power
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Do Millennials Really Love Socialism?0
- Culture
- May 14, 2018
The millennial generation is taking a lot of heat lately, with even some of its members a bit shame-faced about their values, habits, and much else. Most troubling to the economically literate are surveys revealing millennials’ high level of comfort with socialism: at least one poll suggests a majority might prefer to live in a socialist or communist society. Since many in
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3 Stoic Lessons That Can Help Heal Our Toxic Political Culture 0