New Year’s resolution time is here, and I am again tempted to be overly ambitious. In moments of passion, I find myself wanting to make extreme changes to my habits that I know will not survive the first week of the New Year. Upon reflection, I have resolved to do something that is both possible … Read more
As we enter 2017, many people are still recovering from the stress and drama of 2016. From a political, social and religious standpoint, 2016 was a year of unexpected and unimaginable turmoil. The year brought us to the edge of a tall cliff. Equally traumatic and unexpected were the last-minute rescues from disastrous descents into … Read more
It is Christmas time, and the world stops for a brief moment. It does not stop long because there are too many important things to be done to waste on festive and unproductive folly. It can only be a short pause on Christmas day before the world must almost immediately return to the frenetic intemperance … Read more
One would think that in this age of high-speed travel and communication, society would be more united than ever. However, the contrary is happening. The mechanical links may be faster and better but the social bonds needed to keep a society together are increasingly broken, leading to polarization and fragmentation. Modernity’s obsession for the individual … Read more
Marx taught that religion is the opium of the masses. His simplistic view held that it is the simple folk that cling to religion, while more enlightened educated people do not need such spiritual attachments or “superstitions.” Reason alone suffices to explain everything. The more educated individuals are, the more likely they will be to … Read more
I was sitting in the airport with plenty of time on my hands. Unlike those around me, I did not have an electronic device to entertain me. To make matters worse, I had forgotten to bring the book I was reading. And so I took out my calendar to see what needed to be done … Read more
With everyone marrying anyone, it would seem only a matter of time before someone would end up marrying no one. Leave it to the postmodern imagination to open up absurd frontiers in non-marriage. Marrying no one is now an option. Officially, it is called sologamy. It consists of a person marrying one’s self. It sounds … Read more
Episodes of amusement have always existed to provide excitement to life. Such occasions are normally short incidents that break up the hardships that are part of living in a world that often has sorrows and tragedy. However, modern entertainment is more than just a way to lighten up life. It tends to dominate life and … Read more
Now that the elections are over, there is much talk of trade and jobs. Predictably, the highest priorities are being given to negotiating new trade arrangements and tax policies that will bring back jobs to America. It is true that businesses in America are overtaxed and overregulated. Anything that can be done to alleviate these … Read more
Protesters are burning and trampling upon the American flag again. When veterans counter-protest against this behavior, some people suggest that they should not protest saying soldiers die so that others might have the freedom to burn the flag in the public square. This “soldiers-die-so-protesters-can-burn-flags” slogan has become a mantra repeated everywhere. Many people find a … Read more
