Reagan started his political life trying to win over the other party’s voters alongside mobilizing his own party’s base. In this forum, Henry Olsen talks about the difference between “reaching out” and “inclusion.” Olsen says: I think reaching out says . . . . Continue Reading »
So our friends the Brothers Judd added to their excerpt of my post below the YouTube link to the Blind Boys of Alabama singing “Go Tell It on the Mountain.” It deserves to be, of course, the authoritative traditional version. Here’s my first musical link, my Christmas gift to each . . . . Continue Reading »
Every year, it seems, Christmas becomes more commercialized. In NYC this year, we started seeing Christmas decorations in stores in October. In October . Christmas is starting to lap Halloween. I was thinking about this when I read that the Catholic Church in Italy is working to repeal that . . . . Continue Reading »
Were Joseph and Mary married? The Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, and some Protestants teach that Mary remained ever virgin. Some, though, claim that a marriage has to be consummated to constitute a real marriage. Is this true? And what is the Churchs position on such marriages . . . . Continue Reading »
The New York Times has a nice review of Beggar’s Feast , the second novel by Randy Boyagoda, frequent contributor to these pages and author of a forthcoming biography of Richard John Neuhaus: Boyagoda is a Canadian academic of Sri Lankan descent, and Beggars . . . . Continue Reading »
Earlier this month I fell ill with the horrible flu that is going around and lying abed in misery decided not to pay too much attention to the news for sanity’s sake. Of course, the space between not too much and no attention leaves plenty of room for discouragement and distress. . . . . Continue Reading »
Among the great joys that will occupy our minds with family and friends celebrating the coming of the God-child, we will all bear significant sadness in our hearts for the families agonizing over the loss young children at Sandy Hook. Curiously, The Christmas season reminds us that such things . . . . Continue Reading »
Here, for those who read French, is the Chief Rabbi’s site containing the open letter to which Benedicts Christmas address referred. Those who don’t read French might want to revisit the Thirteen Theses . A sample: Que lon ait lune ou lautre des . . . . Continue Reading »
Because that is how much the candidate we support got in an election with high unemployment, tepid growth, and high gas prices. Rerun the election with Romney as the incumbent and Obama as the challenger and how does it go? Sort of depressing isn’t it? Want to feel better? Reagan began his . . . . Continue Reading »