“Shame may restrain what law does not prohibit.”
If the ancient Roman statesman and philosopher Seneca who wrote that had met Jeff Bezos and his ilk, he might have added the caveat. “but only in those decent enough to recognise, or care, when something is fundamentally wrong.”… Read the rest
It’s comforting to think that the ranks of those who worry that the idiom “The world is going to Hell in a handbasket” is true, are swelling by the day. The discomforting, and perforce ignored fact, is that an equally growing number are untroubled by the idiom “Do not accept fools gladly.”… Read the rest
In amateur theater, being rejected as not good enough for a bit part is a hurtful snub. On the world stage, Donald Trump just turned that into a starring role, once again proving that he’s in a class of his own — just not in the way he fantasizes.… Read the rest
As much as it grieves me to say it, while “the good old days” and “blame it on the media” are simplistic cliches, in the space of two weeks, they have combined as a succinct summation of the state of the news business.… Read the rest
Manners may “maketh the man”, but words distinguish leadership.
A few hours before the U.S. raid into Venezuela, I watched “The Darkest Hour”, which ends with Sir Winston Churchill’s speech, that Edward R. Murrow encapsulated as: “He mobilized the English language and sent it into battle.”… Read the rest
That few New Year’s resolutions are kept in full matters less than the recognition of defects that need to be addressed. Imagine how much of an improvement 2026 could be over last year if those who wield power made a few.… Read the rest
Since we’re still intact, it’s safe to presume that despite conspiracy theorists, the object from outer space that just passed Earth really is a comet and not an alien battleship. Assuming those who really can wreck the world have a firm grasp on reality, perhaps less so.… Read the rest
In 2024, 61 armed conflicts were recorded across 36 countries, 22 of which are currently classified as being in a state of war. All other efforts to “beat swords into plowshares” having failed, maybe it’s time to try the simplistic approach and just stop selling swords.… Read the rest
The sad beings who put a sign reading “Santa Is Fake” in a window along a Christmas parade route, and Western nations who’ve made unprecedented cuts to aid budgets have something in common: neither see the value in what they are denigrating.… Read the rest
Industrial and petro giants ignoring global warming in the name of profit, AI developers rating speed over consequences and more than a few billionaires, have one thing in common: none of them seem acquainted with the Scriptures, or The Who and think we aren’t either.… Read the rest