The sin of racism is almost invariably conjoined with references to its most pernicious offshoots; colonialism, slavery and exploitation. That’s valid until it becomes selective, at which point it speaks ill of we who like to think of ourselves as “right thinking people”, and of those we elect as leaders.… Read the rest
Despite being demonised by all right-thinking people, racism, perceived or otherwise, is arguably the most persistent area of offence in Western society. Overcoming it requires accepting that it comes in degrees ranging from unacceptable to beyond the pale, and if everything is apocalyptic, nothing is.… Read the rest
When I was 8, my parents got me a library card. It allowed me to borrow up to three books at a time. Books took me to wondrous and otherwise inaccessible places, put me in the company of fascinating ideas and people. Advocates of the book banning movement sluicing across the U.S.,… Read the rest
The “new normal” of protecting everyone from anything and everything has reached the level of social media inanities like the ‘TikTok’ challenge. The National Football League is imposing penalties for “baiting or taunting acts or words that may engender ill-will between teams”. Experience makes me doubt 350-pound linemen are in imminent danger from gestures or name-calling.… Read the rest