Blog 3 Columns

How Media Use Photography as Propaganda 0
- Culture
- March 31, 2017
Recently, New York magazine published a profile piece on Donald Trump’s White House counselor and campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway. The profile itself is well-written, and overall I found it to be fair and interesting. That said, when I saw the accompanying photos, I couldn’t help but be taken aback. I’ve been a photographer for over
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Have We Learned Anything at All Since the Great War?0
- History
- March 31, 2017
This coming month marks the centenary of the entry of the United States into World War I. In an address to Congress, President Woodrow Wilson had asked for “a war to end all wars” that would “make the world safe for democracy”. In retrospect, such words sound ridiculous. The First World War paved the way
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‘Discover Islam’ Video an Attempt to Proselytize Public Schoolchildren, New Jersey Moms Say (See Video)0
- Culture
- March 31, 2017
A couple of months ago, two mothers from Chatham, New Jersey – Libby Hilsenrath and Nancy Gayer – made waves when they protested several of the lessons being taught in their local middle school. The lessons, the mothers claimed, revolved around Islam and attempted to “proselytize” students, particularly through the following cartoon clip: As Hilsenrath
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How the Melting Pot Became ‘Cultural Appropriation’0
- March 30, 2017
When our parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents voluntarily immigrated to the United States, they brought with them not only a desire to embrace a new homeland, but also a desire to become culturally “American.” This didn’t mean rejecting their cultural identity; it meant making room in it for new influences, which is why they often identified
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How Did Celibacy Become Mandatory for Priests?0
- History
- March 30, 2017
Priestly celibacy, or rather the lack of it, is in the news. There have been allegations of sex orgies, prostitution and pornography against Catholic clerics in Italy. On March 8, Pope Francis suggested, in an interview with a German newspaper, Die Zeit, that the Catholic Church should discuss the tradition of celibacy in light of
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Has Children’s Clothing Become Too Sexualized?0
- Culture
- March 30, 2017
When I was around age 10, my mother and I spent several frustrating hours one day at the local department store. The change of seasons had come, and I had outgrown my clothes due to a growth spurt. Because of said growth spurt I no longer fit in the children’s department, and therein lay the
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Gender Pay Gap Myths (and Truths)0
- Culture
- March 30, 2017
The ongoing battle over gender equality has turned the question of the relative pay of women and men into quite the political football. Over the last few years, defenders of markets, including me, have been on the offensive, arguing that the gender pay gap is in some sense a “myth.” More recently, critics have replied
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Former Obama Aide Admits Team Trump Was Spied On (Video)0
- Politics
- March 30, 2017
I’ve been loath to write a word on Russia-gate because there is too much fevered chatter across the political spectrum. But Evelyn Farkas’ appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” this week bears attention. Here is what Farkas, a former assistant defense secretary under President Obama, told Mika Brzezinski in regards to efforts to gather, expose, and
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College Prof Says he was Fired for not Dumbing Down his Course 0
- Culture
- March 30, 2017
The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) recently released a report about a community college professor who was terminated for maintaining high academic standards for his students. The higher ed institution was the Community College of Aurora (CCA), Colorado, and the professor was Nathaniel Bork, a teacher of philosophy. The college “did not afford Bork
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How Media Use Photography as Propaganda 0