News of a shift in American politics to the point where “antiwar voices on the left have aligned with ‘America First’ enthusiasts on the right who resist entangling the United States in foreign conflicts”, will no doubt come as a relief to those who might be concerned about what recent versions of “American values” entangling might include.… Read the rest
In a response to the Nashville school shooting horror, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R‑La.) managed to add a clause to the rote “keep those families in our prayers” that in any other context might indicate he actually has a grip on the reality and urgency of the issue: “…and then see if there were things that were missed along the way.”… Read the rest
Political perfidy, economic irresponsibility and disagreement over acceptable social norms and speech have become so pernicious that those who favour a sensible and civil middle ground, need some help to stay sane in the hope of reason eventually prevailing. To that end, I offer this advice from the gold standard of crisis management, Winston Churchill: “Stay calm and K.B.O.”… Read the rest
It seems to me that what used to be termed “civil society” has slid into the abyss that is its antithesis. The blame could be attributed to the myriad stresses and strains the modern world imposes on a daily basis, including too many choices. However, the crux of the matter, I think, is the lack of a single adjective: mutual.… Read the rest
For some time now I’ve been mildly concerned that my inferior skill sets with online apps and social media trends hinder my future development. News that Tik Tok may soon be banned offers one less thing for me to fret about. Whether the move will make the world a safer place is rather more doubtful, however.… Read the rest
“Compassion”, the 19th century Polish philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer wrote, “ is the basis of morality.”
In a world sorely in need of copious amounts of it, compassion is both highly selective and hostage to a short attention span on the part of the public and the news media, the inevitable consequences of the way news is disseminated. … Read the rest
Perspective changes everything. Or, as Shakespeare’s Hamlet put it: …there is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so.”
Hamlet was musing on being a prisoner, but his insight carries a lesson for the would-be saviours of children who have imposed hundreds of changes to the late Roald Dahl’s stories.… Read the rest
In the face of mockery and criticism, Stanford University recently took down a website grandly named “The Elimination of Harmful Language Initiative”. The most egregious examples of what its creators apparently deemed terrible wrongs that need righting were a clarion call that the higher the dudgeon, the more likely it is to alienate than educate.… Read the rest
The Fifth Dimension’s1967 hit “Up, Up and Away” was voted one of the top 100 songs of the 20th century. The Chinese have made its catch line, “Would you like to ride in my beautiful balloon?”, the theme song for 21st century producers of a what you need to take that ride.… Read the rest
Common sense, as defined by the Cambridge Dictionary, is “the basic level or practical knowledge and judgement that we all need to help us live in a reasonable and safe way.”
Sounds clear and simple enough. So why is there such a dearth where it’s really needed?… Read the rest