Radical despair

Theodore Dalrymple discusses the existential condition of suicide bombers. He wrote an impressive column about France three years ago. On Islam's inability to face modernity, you can also read the latest column by Spengler.

Turning point

Today's political landscape in the US was largely created by the McGovern Commission, that moved the levers of power in the democratic party from the urban (and largely Catholic) bosses to the college-educated liberals.

"Stay hungry, stay foolish"

Here is an amazing reading. It's the text of the Commencement address by Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios, delivered on June 12, 2005 at Stanford University. "You'v got to find what you love", said Mr.Jobs. We are sure you'll love this. You can also watch the video, available here.

The atheist cathedral

This parable is actually very symbolic of the general situation of western "liberalism," not just in regard to marriage.

A new creation

Now, to cheer you up, something beautiful.

Decadence

Peggy Noonan is usually quite perceptive of trends in American society. If there is any unifying source to her melancholy, it may be the perception of a progressive weakening (starting among the elites) of the shared Protestant/progressive ideals that gave America its identity and its historical energy.

Anne Rice's new career

This sounds somewhat interesting.

Pragmatism or Originalism?

The nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court has heated the debate on the future of the Court. Two books can help to understand better how the Court works. One is a biography of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who "run the nation for nearly two decades as a majority of one".
The other is an essay by Stephen Breyer, "the first extended defense of judicial pragmatism by a sitting Supreme Court justice".
The Los Angeles Times review is worth reading.

Hapless Dupes?

The New Republic assesses the relationship between the Bush presidency and "social conservatives." The upshot is that it is foolish to entrust one's hopes for a better society to politics ``in a vacuum" while neglecting the fundamental task of education.

Logical vs. reasonable

The nature of ideology is to take rigorously logical steps starting from partially true premises, while ignoring any input from experience. The result is always an amazing level of violence.

No freedom in education

By all accounts Schools of Education play a very destructive role in American society.

Rabbi Dalin's new book

Rabbi David Dalin's new book on Pius XII has come out. Have you seen the long review in the NYTimes? Neither did we.

Ideologues

One can disagree with Mark Steyn on many things, but he is good at ridiculing the liberal pieties of the media.

An ordinary man

The inventor of the food bank passed away. A very ordinary guy who ended up feeding 10% of Americans.

Bioethics and ideology

Among secular journalists who write about bioethics William Saletan is one of the more thoughtful.