It's now clear there are some boundaries in the age of Donald Trump as President. Yes, there are limits to hurling partisan invective and indulging in public displays on Twitter of outright racism. Perhaps not (yet) for Trump, but for others like comedian Roseanne Barr's reboot of Rosanne. After a remarkable morning on Twitter that ended in her giving what many felt was an … [Read more...] about Roseanne triple barred after racist twitter rant: looses show, talent agency and past show syndication
Great Music Chapter 19
Last week, I introduced you to one of Sergi Rachmaninoff’s more bombastic piano pieces, the Prelude in C# minor. In case some of you thought that piece was representative of Rachmaninoff’s musical style, this week will show you one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever composed. Insert here a moment of silence to build anticipation: Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini This … [Read more...] about Great Music Chapter 19
Another Academy Class Flies Off Into the Wild Blue Yonder
It is that time of the year again, “When jubilant high school seniors receive their diplomas…When more reflective college graduates flip their tassels from one side of the mortarboards to the other…When Service Academies and College Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) graduates proudly render their first salute as commissioned officers, equally jubilantly toss their hats … [Read more...] about Another Academy Class Flies Off Into the Wild Blue Yonder
California Dreaming
California is supposedly the land of the American dream, where a girl can become a star overnight and a guy who can code can establish another billion dollar start-up in Silicon Valley. Its economy is equivalent to about the sixth largest nation in the world. If anything good can happen in America, it can happen in California. But bad things also happen in California. There are … [Read more...] about California Dreaming
How one early 20th-century performer defanged her fat-shamers
Sophie Tucker defiantly embraced her fuller figure. AP Photo/Remo Nassi Lauren Rebecca Sklaroff, University of South Carolina It’s all-too-common for women – especially those in the public spotlight – to be criticized for their weight. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Lena Dunham and Rihanna have borne the brunt of fat-shamers. Amy Schumer’s recent film “I … [Read more...] about How one early 20th-century performer defanged her fat-shamers
Cartoon: Lest We Forget
A VA hospital you may not know: The Final Salute, and how much we doctors care
A veteran salutes a flag. There is often a final one that occurs inside a VA hospital. flysnowfly/Shutterstock.com Sanjay Saint, University of Michigan Death is never easy. Even when expected, a person’s death leaves a void for those who remain. As a physician, it is especially difficult for me when one of my patients dies. I practice medicine at … [Read more...] about A VA hospital you may not know: The Final Salute, and how much we doctors care
Trump-Hitler comparisons too easy and ignore the murderous history
A sign comparing Trump to Hitler at the Women’s March in Seattle, in January 2018. Shutterstock Sylvia Taschka, Wayne State University “Everyone seems to have become Hitler.” Historian Gavriel D. Rosenfeld wrote these words in his study of how the Nazi past has become a recurring theme in contemporary culture – to the point of almost becoming … [Read more...] about Trump-Hitler comparisons too easy and ignore the murderous history
Cartoon: All Holidays Matter
Memorial Day lessons for the NFL
WASHINGTON -- It is, unfortunately, appropriate that the National Football League's owners decided to issue their new rule attacking free expression the week before Memorial Day. A holiday dedicated to those who gave their lives for our nation's freedom has itself been mired in political controversy almost from the beginning. The latest round of posturing and pandering … [Read more...] about Memorial Day lessons for the NFL
Cartoon: Young George Washington Trump
The forgotten history of Memorial Day
Preparing to decorate graves, May 1899. Library of Congress Richard Gardiner, Columbus State University In the years following the bitter Civil War, a former Union general took a holiday originated by former Confederates and helped spread it across the entire country. The holiday was Memorial Day, and this year’s commemoration on May 28 marks the … [Read more...] about The forgotten history of Memorial Day
A Happy — and Reflective — Memorial Day
Trump’s Land of Delusion
Republican political strategist Rick Wilson provides a clear picture of the Donald in the New York Daily News. Maintaining the Trump illusion requires an endless suspension of disbelief; denying facts, logic, reason, the law and the utterly evident cluster-you-know-what that this administration represents. The pinnacle of that illusion-at-all-costs philosophy came after the … [Read more...] about Trump’s Land of Delusion
Informants aren’t spies – they’re essential FBI tools
The FBI Building in Washington, DC. AP Douglas M. Charles, Pennsylvania State University President Donald Trump tweeted this week that he would order the Department of Justice to investigate whether the FBI, under President Barack Obama, had “infiltrated or surveilled” his presidential campaign “for political purposes.” Trump was referring to the … [Read more...] about Informants aren’t spies – they’re essential FBI tools
Stupidgate (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Usually, when a president, or any politician, argues for or defends a position, they use details of the subject. They will use facts while also omitting details that hurt their argument. Sometimes they’ll even lie. Every politician lies. What Donald Trump does with lies isn’t just different, it’s dangerous. Trump does not argue details or cite evidence or facts. He vilifies. … [Read more...] about Stupidgate (Cartoon, Column and Video)
How Christian media is shaping American politics
President Donald Trump with televangelist Rev. Pat Robertson. AP Photo/Steve Helber Jason C. Bivins, North Carolina State University For Americans growing up between the 1950s and the 1980s, religion was not a regular presence on television. Aside from Sunday morning shows or occasional commercials, religious programming issued end-time warnings, … [Read more...] about How Christian media is shaping American politics
Four Reasons Democrats Could Lose the Congressional Midterms
By Dick Polman Election day is nearly six months away, and conventional wisdom decrees that Democrats will surf a blue wave and seize the House of Representatives. But I'm not so sure. On paper, there are surely good reasons to believe the conventional wisdom. History shows us that the "out" party typically performs well in midterm elections, especially when the ruling … [Read more...] about Four Reasons Democrats Could Lose the Congressional Midterms
Memorial Day: ‘The American Story Is Not Told on Birth Certificates…’
Many touching stories are being told and written this Memorial Day weekend. They are about the military men and women who have given their lives in the service of our country, especially about those who died in battle or because of injuries sustained in battle. While of course we honor and remember each one of these patriots, whether born in America or an immigrant to … [Read more...] about Memorial Day: ‘The American Story Is Not Told on Birth Certificates…’
Death of Decency
I had no idea, the last time I saw her, and she was doing so well. With a capital D swell to the right, followed by an elegant e and a cute little c and then another e she looked very happy. Little did I know that she was struggling, struggling to be. Life was so much better with you around, my dear Decency. … [Read more...] about Death of Decency