If I Were a Marxist (But Then Again No…)

So I’ve always liked Jonathan Rauch and regarded him as sometimes singularly in touch with the facts. Here’s one example: For the most obvious reason, he’s all for same-sex marriage, but he knows it’s better for everyone if the courts stay out of the struggle. Here’s . . . . Continue Reading »

Grammar Lesson of the Day: Redundancy

The word redundant suggests a wave that keeps splashing over the side of the boat, over and over. We use it to signify something unnecessary because it has already been said or done. It is not the same as repetition, which can be extraordinarily effective. Redundancies in poor writing . . . . Continue Reading »

Re: Abortion and Child Support

Regarding  Amy Wax’s discussion of abortion and child support : As long as the law guarantees to a woman the absolute, unqualified and unconditional right, regardless of age or status, to give birth anonymously (as some 400 French women do every year, down from 4,000 in 1947), . . . . Continue Reading »

First Links — 12.17.12

Rejoice Jerusalem Rev. George W. Rutler, Crisis What Happened at the 2012 United Methodist Conference? John Lomperis, Juicy Ecumenism The Puritan War on Christmas Rachel N. Schnepper, New York Times “Broader Societal Problems” vs. “Isolated Incidents” Terry Mattingly, . . . . Continue Reading »

Faith Invisible

With year’s end drawing near the editors of the Wall Street Journal ‘s weekend review section asked fifty “friends” to tell us their favorite books of 2012 . We hear from TV personalities, businessmen, writers, politicians, a college president, two baseball managers, three . . . . Continue Reading »

The Media, Social Networks, And Civility

Rich Lowry notes that the video recorded assault on Steve Crowder by pro-union demonstrators does not seem to have gotten much reaction in the mainstream media news sections. Compare the lack of mainstream media interest in this story with the many media insinuations that the Arizona shooter was or . . . . Continue Reading »

Nothing to Say

So for some reason my YouTube is not working. I wanted to watch Fr. James Schall’s final lecture, but my computer won’t read it. It has nothing to do with my usual tastes because I was able to see Jurgen Habermas on the idea of ritual at the Berkley Center, but I couldn’t see Fr. . . . . Continue Reading »