Recent Commentaries

Anyway
Most fans recognize this moment from Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan.  It’s the moment when Captain Kirk has been hopelessly left to die on a seemingly desolate location by his scene-chewing arch-enemy Khan. Watching the film recently, I noticed something that I had previously overlooked. Facing the unimaginable, Kirk vents his anger (KHAAAAAAAAAAN!!), and then… he just sits down....
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December 31, 2015
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Notables and Quotables of 2015
If a year can be summarized with one word it might be entitlement: entitled to ignore the facts; entitled to change the law in order to suit your own religious beliefs; entitled to own assault weapon(s) and high-capacity magazines; entitled to ban all individuals of a particular religion from entry into the U.S. Let’s dispense with the easy ones first....
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December 28, 2015
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The Message of 2015
To whom do you turn in the midst of crisis? Who has the requisite wisdom to lessen your doubts, your fears and anxieties? Of all the speeches given in 2015, none comes close to that of Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of 1.2 billion Catholics. During the five days that Francis visited the United States, he was welcomed with warmth...
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December 24, 2015
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Chuck Williams’ Moment of Mutual Trust
Author/businessman Chuck Williams’ recent death reminded me of a conversation I had with him in February 1999. I thought it fitting to honor his work by reprinting his contribution to my book, “What Do You Stand For?” After enjoying good food and friends for years, Chuck Williams went to France to experience the food and culture, returning with the idea...
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December 22, 2015
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Don’t Mess with Mama
The streets of Milwaukee can be tough. Fortunately, Mama’s on patrol. Martha Freeman is a 77-year old retired corrections officer who, by day tends to household chores like passing out donated bread to those in need. By night, however, she cruises her neighborhood looking for kids who might be getting into trouble. And she’s packin’… wisdom and kindness. In a...
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December 21, 2015
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The Ethics of Star Wars?
Yes, I questioned that notion too when I came across a link on a web search. However, I discovered something interesting. Steven Greydanus is a film critic for the National Catholic Register, a respected resource I’ve visited many times. Greydanus is also the creator and administrator of DecentFilms.com, “A site of film appreciation, information and criticism informed by Christian faith.”...
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December 18, 2015
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An Antidote to Fear and Hate
In a political season that has seen far too much prejudice, fear and hate, David Swan, a U.S. Army soldier, reminds us all just what is important and why in an open letter he writes to Muslims. In response to a reporter asking why he wrote it, Swan said, “There is so much divisive rhetoric being shouted on social and...
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December 14, 2015
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Line Crossed
What if your neighbors were suspected of being involved in a mass shooting? And after the police and FBI had searched their home, the media were allowed to go through the residence, and among the items broadcast live were photos of you and your family; how would you react? In the aftermath of the San Bernardino shooting rampage, the home...
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December 11, 2015
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American Demagogue
dem•a•gogue: a leader who makes use of popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power. – Merriam-Webster Every time I post a commentary on Donald Trump, I privately vow no more! And then he says something even more bigoted. The Washington Post: “Trump Shatters Ceiling in Modern Politics.” The Philadelphia Daily News: “The New Furor.” FOX...
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December 9, 2015
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Sorrow and Shame
Every time an attack, like the recent mass shooting in California, occurs too many of us react badly. Paralyzed by fear and anger, we retreat into a moral relativism that is simply breathtaking. It’s become a sad reality that after every such attack, gun sales rise. The working theory is: If I’ve got a gun, I can do something about...
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December 7, 2015