Editor’s note: This piece first appeared at The American Spectator on June 6, 2011. For me, Memorial Day happens twice within a week. The first, the official holiday at the end of May, is quickly reinforced a week later, every June … Continue reading
Faith & Society
Remembering Mom and Dad on Memorial Day
As Americans nationwide mark Memorial Day, this will be my first Memorial Day without my dad. He was a World War II veteran. Since my father’s passing two months ago, seven years after my mother’s, I consider how both significant … Continue reading
My inheritance
The great 20th century novelist Chaim Potok wrote, in his novel, My Name Is Asher Lev, “You have a gift, Asher Lev. You have a responsibility.” My Mom had a gift of 89 years, 89 years to live her life; … Continue reading
Ronald Reagan: Same-sex marriage advocate?
Editor’s note: This article first appeared at CNN.com Patti Davis, Ronald Reagan’s daughter, recently speculated on where her father might stand on same-sex marriage. Politico published her thoughts under the headline, “Patti Davis says Reagan wouldn’t have opposed gay marriage.” … Continue reading
Happy Birthday to a Great President
Editor’s note: A version of this article first appeared at Forbes.com. Sunday, April 28, marks the 255th anniversary of President James Monroe’s birth in 1758. Recently, I had the pleasure of reading one of Harlow Giles Unger’s thorough biographies of … Continue reading
Academic Freedom, Civility, and the Name of Jesus
Recently, a self-proclaimed Christian instructor at Florida Atlantic University asked his students to write “Jesus” on a piece of paper and step on it. The exercise was from a textbook manual and was designed to teach that “even though symbols … Continue reading
Business, Entrepreneurship and a Vatican Think-Tank
Editor’s note: A version of this article first appeared at Forbes.com. “Am I creating wealth, or am I engaging in rent-seeking behavior?” If this question would be asked during a course of business ethics at George Mason University (GMU), few … Continue reading
Clintons’ Progress: Bill and Hillary Clinton Embrace Gay Marriage
Editor’s note: A longer version of this article first appeared at American Spectator. Bill and Hillary Clinton have endorsed gay marriage, completely reversing their support of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which defined marriage as between one man and … Continue reading
True Happiness
One of the most famous opening lines in literature comes from Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina: “All happy families are like one another; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” Great literature causes us to think and ponder; it directs … Continue reading
Hillary Clinton’s Evolution on Gay Marriage
Editor’s note: A version of this article first appeared in USA Today. Hillary Clinton supports gay marriage. This is a major shift. Yet, as someone who wrote a book on Clinton’s faith, I can’t say I’m surprised. Hillary Clinton is … Continue reading
Social Justice and Pope Francis: Choosing Freedom Over Serfdom
Editor’s note: A version of this article first appeared at Forbes.com. Having spent most of his life in Buenos Aires, Pope Francis has given proof that he can rise above his environment. As his compatriot Bishop Alberto Bochatey remarked, “he is … Continue reading
The Hope of Heaven
In response to recently being diagnosed with a rare and terminal type of brain cancer, sitcom star Valerie Harper declared, “we are all terminal.” In a cover story for “People” magazine and an interview on CNN, Harper, age 73, stressed … Continue reading
From Aid to Enterprise: Intelligent Poverty Cures
Editor’s note: A version of this article first appeared at Forbes.com. We will always have the poor among us (Matthew 26:11), but over a billion living on less than $1 a day? It is natural for well-meaning individuals to work … Continue reading
The Power of Truth: Reagan’s “Evil Empire” Turns 30
Editor’s note: A version of this article first appeared as an Exclusive Special Report for American Spectator. Today, Ronald Reagan’s Evil Empire speech turns 30 years old. It stands as one of the most memorable orations of the last three decades. It … Continue reading
The Presidential Blame-Game
Editor’s note: A longer version of this article first appeared at American Spectator. February is the month of presidents. It includes Washington’s birthday, Lincoln’s birthday, Ronald Reagan’s birthday, and, of course, Presidents Day. Given that I teach and write about presidents, this time of year … Continue reading
God for Obamacare … Dr. Ben Carson’s Heresy
Editor’s note: A longer version of this article first appeared at American Spectator. Liberals are apoplectic over remarks by Dr. Ben Carson at the National Prayer Breakfast. Carson, a prominent pediatric surgeon from Johns Hopkins University, dared to weigh in … Continue reading
Abraham Lincoln and Slavery
Stephen Spielberg’s masterful movie on Lincoln and the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation have recently brought even greater attention than usual to Abraham Lincoln. Holidays like Presidents Day remind us of Lincoln’s position on slavery and his role in … Continue reading
STREAMING VIDEO — God & Man in the Oval Office
On February 8, 2013, Dr. Paul Kengor (executive director of The Center for Vision & Values and professor of political science at Grove City College) and Dr. Gary Scott Smith (chair of the history department at Grove City College and fellow for faith and … Continue reading
Finding the City on a Hill
One of the most widely employed metaphors in today’s American political discourse is that the United States is a “city on a hill.” Especially popularized by Ronald Reagan, this phrase (taken from Matthew chapter 5) has been used by countless … Continue reading
On Russia’s Adoption Ban
Editor’s note: A longer version of this article first appeared at National Catholic Register. Vladimir Putin has sparked international outcry by banning adoptions of Russian children by American families. His action immediately halted the departure of hundreds of Russian orphans … Continue reading
