‘Recent Articles’ Archives
America’s Real Treasure
Here is a commencement speech that every American (and every culture vulture, for that matter) should read. In this important speech retired U.S. Justice David Souter defends the U.S. Supreme Court against charges of “activism” and explains why a simple-minded [Read More]
Loneliness of Learning
I’m at a seaside resort somewhere in the Aegean. I’ve just visited the Temple of Apollo today. Built 2,700 years ago, the temple was surrounded by stone blocks full of inscriptions in classical Greek, which of course I cannot read. I kicked myself why I [Read More]
The Poetic Voice of Generation Me
Poets from around the world—from Vietnam and the Netherlands and Brazil and Canada, quite different from one another, coming from quite distinct literary traditions—were part of the same conversation. They were trying to invent in language, trying to say what life was [Read More]
Movie Review — Shutter Island (2010), a Psychological Thriller Masterpiece
A masterpiece by Martin Scorsese on the level of Taxi Driver and Goodfellas. The year is 1954. U.S. Marshal Edward “Teddy” Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio in his usual pedal-to-the-metal best) heads for the psychiatric-jail on Shutter Island to investigate the case [Read More]
Boundaries and Identity in the Age of Globalization
Boundaries are a must to preserve identity. Individuals need a boundary. And so do nations, football fans, and lovers. There are 2 ways in which a boundary can be violated: 1) Non-members cross over the boundary and enter the “home domain.” 2) The coordinates of [Read More]
Defending Western Civilization Against “Equality Before the Law” Fetishism
“Democracy is not a suicide pact.” – Amitai Etzioni I’m sick and tired of those bleeding-heart liberals who defend the most abominable cultural institutions in the name of their “respect” for the “equality before the law.” That covers the presumed equality [Read More]
Movie Review — Intermission (2003), a “romantic thriller” that parodies itself
Intermission, director John Crowley’s first film, is supposed to be a film about “life is what happens in between” two major events; that is, an intermission. But the ending proves the reverse – that, no matter what happens during the intermission, the RESUMPTION of [Read More]
