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The Inertial States of America

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Nothing unites us now, not religious faith, not cultural memory, not a common understanding of virtue, not the natural goodness of manhood and womanhood, not children, not the elderly, nothing. We do not seek “the naked bedrock of character and capacity,” because they are judgments against us.

Finding America
Among the Ruins

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In a short re-dedication of his novel, The Virginian, Owen Wister wrote: “If this book be anything more than an American story, it is an expression of American faith.” Such a faith lies in the ruins with the book.

We Need More Fat, Boring, Sensible Men

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Can you imagine selling drag queen story hour to a smoking room full of fat, boring, sensible old men? No, you can’t. It is because fat, boring, sensible old men are grounded in reality. They do not fly; they are too fat for it.

Politics is Crowding Out Culture and Childhood

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The realm of practical politics is eminently a realm of conflict, if not hatred. It crowds out culture. It relegates the human things to the last remaining cubicles of privacy, but even these are invaded by social media.

Oberlin’s Comeuppance

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As I write these words, a jury in Ohio is about to decide whether an $11 million verdict against Oberlin College, for libel and tortious […]

The World Sinks to Ruin

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In the aftermath of the sack of Rome by Alaric and his Goths, St. Jerome wrote: The world sinks into ruin: yes! But shameful to […]