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‘The Middle’ Doesn’t Always Equal ‘True’0
- Philosophy
- May 23, 2017
We live in an age in which our media frequently frames issues up as a choice between two extremes. In such an age, it’s tempting for those who consider themselves educated to consistently take the via media—the “middle way”—and to assume that the truth always amounts to a balanced compromise between the two sides of
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When You Stop Blaming, Real Change Begins 0
- Culture
- May 22, 2017
“A lot of people don’t do well simply because they major in minor things,” explains entrepreneur and author Jim Rohn. Many of us major in the practice of blaming. We spend so much time on the “who’s to blame” question that we have little mental bandwidth left to be effective. President Trump recently proclaimed his
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6 Statistics That Show How Much America Has Changed in a Half-Century 0
- Culture
- May 22, 2017
Since the political scientist Charles Murray will be speaking at Intellectual Takeout’s upcoming gala, I thought it fitting to read his best-selling 2012 book, Coming Apart. Drawing on five decades of statistics, anecdotes, and other research, Murray sets out to make the case that America is, well, coming apart—economically, socially, and culturally. It’s a fascinating
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The Key to Happiness: Focus on what’s within your control 0
- History
- May 22, 2017
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And wisdom to know the difference. This is the Serenity Prayer, originally written by the American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr around 1934, and commonly used by Alcoholics Anonymous and similar organisations. It is not just a key
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Bashar al-Assad: the Abraham Lincoln of Syria 0
- History
- May 22, 2017
Among the great iconic political leaders of America, few are treated with greater veneration (or, in some circles, vilification) than Abraham Lincoln. He appeals to many parts of our national mythology, and he was a ‘war leader’ during a time of great national crisis who melded toughness and tenacity with a firm vision for what
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We May Be Entering a ‘Post-Secular’ Age 0
- Religion
- May 22, 2017
The common narrative we hear today is that the world is becoming increasingly secularized, and that traditional religion is becoming a relic of the past. But there’s a counter-narrative that’s gaining currency, namely, that secularism is in crisis, and that the world is on the cusp of becoming more religious. The spiritual head of the
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