Uncategorized 1160
Pope Francis and Distributism
In an article at The American Conservative, Arthur W. Hunt III argues that the economic ideas touched on by Pope Francis point in the direction of distributism, a third way…
Hope for Peters
For those in the Great Lakes region, our own Jason Peters will be speaking this Thursday (April 3) in the Schaap Auditorium at Hope College. His lecture is entitled "What…
The Gift of Spring
“Nor would the stress Of life be bearable for tender things Did not so long a respite come between The cold and heat, and heaven’s indulgence grant This comfort to…
Localist Roundup: Berry and Francis
This interesting piece explains that small government conservatives (the author mainly has libertarians in mind, it seems) cannot work together with neocons. Meanwhile, Wendell Berry (and some others) will be…
Localist Roundup: The Cloak
This piece from The Economist attempts to argue that narcissism can be good. Meanwhile, this piece asks whether rural America is a thing of the past. Ostensibly, social media is…
A New Book on Place
FPR contributor Ted McAllister and Bill McClay have just published a collection of essays titled Why Place Matters: Geography, Identity, and Civic Life in Modern America. It includes essays by…
Localist Roundup: Societal Collapse
This piece offers some interesting data about the proclivities of young adults. Apparently, there are tendencies away from religious affiliation, political identification, and early marriage. Meanwhile, this piece invokes research…
Rod Dreher Speaking in Wichita, KS
[Cross-posted to In Medias Res] If it so happens that someone who sees this post lives in or within driving distance of Wichita, KS, then let me invite you: the…
The Silence of Authority
Sometimes speaking, or holding one’s tongue, can make the difference. All the difference. For life and death. Many in authority today are silent when they should not be. Through weakness.…
Rod Dreher at Cornerstone University Tonight
For readers in Western Michigan, Rod Dreher is speaking at Cornerstone University tonight at 7pm in the Matthews Auditorium. He is talking about Community and The Little Way of Ruthie…
Localist Roundup: Texting and Parenting
Pope Francis has recently been invited to address the U.S. Congress, according to this piece. Meanwhile this piece has a pessimistic projection of the fate of that institution (specifically the…
The Heart, in Suffering
“Some day, perhaps, remembering even this Will be a pleasure.” Virgil, The Aeneid, I Aeneas and his men have endured much since leaving Troy. And of course they left only…
Localist Roundup: Lent Selfies
The news has been abuzz recently with the story of a teen suing her parents to pay for her education. Meanwhile, this piece discusses the practice of Ash Wednesday "selfies."…
What Can Be Sweeter?
An Ash Wednesday Quotation and Reflection “And the Lord, seeking his workman among the multitudes to whom he thus crieth, saith again: ‘What man is he that desireth life and…
Localist Roundup: More Drones
The Food and Drug Administration has recently unveiled plans to revamp the nutrition labels on packaged food, as explained in this piece. Also, according to this article, the U.S. Department…
Localist Roundup: Escape from Google
This piece is an interesting interview about the importance of philosophy. The interviewee appears primarily concerned with the idea that philosophy is obsolete--she contends strongly against this notion. In other…
Zeus’ Plan for February
“Aegis-bearing Zeus has a design for each occasion, and mortals find this hard to comprehend.” Hesiod, Works and Days Hesiod was convinced that Zeus has a plan for every occasion.…
Localist Roundup: Trains and Drones and Farms
According to a recent study, loneliness is actually a cause of death. On a less macabre note, this article discusses the implications of local news agencies using camera-equipped drones. Meanwhile, this piece describes…
A Good Essayist is Hard to Find
Wiseblood Books is about to publish Dana Gioia's superb "The Catholic Writer Today" as the first in its series of "Wiseblood Essays in Contemporary Culture." Order now: Not for papists…
Localist Roundup: Bankers Are Miserable
This piece describes a new line of hotels designed with millennials in mind. It's interesting to see what the company sees as the preferences of their target generation. Meanwhile, this…
When Your Mother Grows Older
“For other animals have their natural ‘forethought’ which enables them to provide for themselves: whereas man lives by reason, which can attain to forethought only after long experience: so that…
Localist Roundup: Politics and Farms
Now that the congressional drama regarding the farm bill is over, this piece offers some less-than-optimistic thoughts on the process and results. According to this piece, Rand Paul is apparently…
New England Patriot
From The American Conservative, my appreciation of the decentralist Republican (yes, they do exist) John McClaughry of Vermont.