Films for Our Times: “On the Beach” (1959)Third in series from Carla’s Vault, prompted by a fresh round of nuclear theats.Nov 213Nov 213
“The Custom of the Country” by Edith WhartonGetting and spending is “the custom of the country” under review in this 1913 novel by perhaps the acutest observer ever of American…Nov 22Nov 22
The Moral Obligation to Be Intelligent“Easy is the descent to the lower depths; but to retrace your steps and to escape to the upper air — this is the task, this is the toil.”…Aug 148Aug 148
With Biden Stepping Aside, There’s Hope Now that Democrats Can Save DemocracyWhen I first heard President Biden was stepping aside as the Democratic nominee, my first thought was: “There’s hope — hope for democracy.”Jul 234Jul 234
A Fourth of July Vow: In November, We’ll All Vote for DemocracyOn the Fourth of July, we Americans love to celebrate, noisily with firecrackers, our beloved American Democracy — a form of government…Jul 73Jul 73
To Save Our Democracy, Biden Must Step Aside as the Dems’ NomineeIn his cognitive impairment — which impairment became immediately apparent as last night’s Biden-Trump debate got underway — Joe Biden has…Jun 2811Jun 2811
Walt Whitman’s “Democratic Vistas”: Imagining Democracy’s SoulmoliticsWalt Whitman (1819–1892) — American bard of the 19th century who famously claimed “I contain multitudes” — had a vision of…Jun 204Jun 204