Culture

When Knitting Becomes Political 0
- Culture
- July 1, 2019
Should a crafting website be a forum for political discussion? And if the website claims to be “inclusive” can it ban one political viewpoint from its forums? That’s a question we should all ponder in the wake of Ravelry’s recent decision. On Sunday, June 23, 2019, Ravelry, a free, community-based website for yarn-related craft enthusiasts,
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BBC Report Shows Disturbing Nature of China’s ‘Thought Transformation’ Camps 0
- Culture
- July 1, 2019
Adorned with bright smiles and clothed in colorful garb, Uighur Muslims held in political reeducation camps flash across the screen as they sing and dance triumphantly to the words that President Xi Jinping wrote just for them. These sights, captured by the BBC, are what the Chinese government wants journalists and the outside world to see.
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The TV Habits of Conservatives and Liberals… and Five Shows That Bring Them Together 0
- Culture
- July 1, 2019
There’s been a lot of concern about how conservatives and liberals consume their news from sources that merely confirm their preexisting beliefs. The result, supposedly, has been a disintegration of a shared reality and a fracturing of the nation’s political life. But does this trend extend to the shows we choose to watch on TV
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The Magical Narrative: The Power of Stories 0
- Culture
- July 1, 2019
Necessity is the mother of invention. So is desperation. It was nine o’clock in the morning, and I had volunteered to entertain five grandchildren, ages eight and under, for two hours so that a daughter-in-law might complete some paperwork. As I trudged up the stairs, coffee mug in hand, I wondered what I could do
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Here’s What’s Wrong With Bernie’s Plan to Eliminate Student Loan Debt 0
- Culture
- June 28, 2019
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) recently announced a proposal to eliminate student loan debt. He intends to pay off a total of $1.6 trillion, while financing the expenditure with a new tax on “Wall Street speculation.” Student debt can be a serious burden for recent grads, especially those who fail to acquire high-paying jobs. And the intention to
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Why ‘Young Hearts’ Tend Toward Socialism 0
- Culture
- June 28, 2019
The common clichés about “kid socialists” are now well-embedded in the American imagination. The path is well-worn: young person attends college, reads Karl Marx in Sociology 101, buys Che Guevara t-shirt, attends progressive protests, supports socialistic candidates, and, eventually, grows up. That’s a bit of an oversimplification, of course. But it’s also a bit of
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