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Bela and His Banjo

From First Thoughts

From the beginning of creation to the present, the indisputably greatest banjo player was the great Earl Scruggs. From Earl’s prime to today the indisputably greatest is Bela Fleck. The banjo, of course, is a staple of American bluegrass and folk music, but it probably has its roots in West . . . . Continue Reading »

McGurn at Notre Dame

From First Thoughts

My old friend Frank Beckwith has just called my attention to this announcement at his Return to Rome website. The Notre Dame Center for Ethics & Culture is sponsoring a lecture tonight by the Wall Street Journal ’s Bill  McGurn. McGurn is a Notre Dame alumnus (1980) and a former chief . . . . Continue Reading »

The Naked Public Triangle

From First Thoughts

In the unlikely event you haven’t heard about the most recent controversy at Georgetown University: Georgetown University says it covered over the monogram “IHS”—symbolizing the name of Jesus Christ—because it was inscribed on a pediment on the stage where President Obama . . . . Continue Reading »

Strawman Award Nominee: E. J. Dionne

From First Thoughts

For the award granted to the commentator constructing the greatest number of strawmen in the smallest amount of space, I hereby nominate E.J. Dionne and his op-ed  ” The Obama Doctrine ” in this morning’s Washington Post . Dionne is so anxious to prove that President . . . . Continue Reading »

Into the Lion’s Den at the APA

From First Thoughts

Hats off to David Hoekema for having the courage to enter the lion’s den of the American Philosophical Association (APA).    Hoekema is a Professor of Philosophy at Calvin College. As I discussed here and here , Calvin College is one among several evangelical universities and . . . . Continue Reading »