Gene Edward Veith Jr.'s Blog, page 13
July 16, 2018
Political Language
Once again, I am reminded of George Orwell. . . .Our discussion of pro-abortion language made me think of his essay “Politics and the English Language.” It was published in 1946, so he had in mind the political language of Communism, Fascism, and post-war Big Governments, but the points he makes are classic, applying to […]
July 14, 2018
The Witch Hunt Finds Some Witches
Despite the way it is taken by both the president’s critics and his supporters, special prosecutor Robert Mueller ‘s investigation is not aimed primarily at President Trump. Its initial purpose was to investigate Russia’s alleged attempts to influence America’s elections. And now Mueller has indicted 12 agents of Russian military intelligence for doing just that. […]
July 13, 2018
Pro-Abortion Language
Notice how those who believe in abortion don’t say that they believe in abortion. They are “pro-choice.” But that term has become somewhat outdated. Now believing that it is justified to kill an unborn child is called advocating “reproductive rights.” And being in favor of “women’s health.” Do you see what is happening? Such language […]
Down the Memory Hole
Thinking about expunging politically-incorrect authors, censoring literary classics, and re-writing history made me think of “the memory hole” in George Orwell’s 1984. The protagonist Winston’s job was to edit old newspapers so that the historical record would be in accord with the ruling party’s current ideology and Big Brother’s latest pronouncements. The old versions were dropped […]
July 12, 2018
Purging Laura Ingalls Wilder from the Canon
Even though Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867-1957) is a female author of true greatness, she is being purged from the canon of American literature. The author of the beloved “Little House on the Prairie” books, a thinly fictionalized telling of her own experiences growing up on the American frontier, has had her name removed from a […]
Medical Marijuana, but You Can’t Smoke It
The saga of Oklahoma’s referendum legalizing medical marijuana continues. . . .The measure requires users and sellers to get a license, but there are hardly any other restrictions. This suggests that the real purpose of the initiative was to legalize recreational use, though requiring a license to do so. Critics complained that the referendum was […]
July 11, 2018
The Problem with Offering Multiple Worship Styles
Does your church offer multiple worship services, each with a different style? One traditional, one contemporary? Plus a children’s service? An option of contemporary services, with one featuring “praise music” and another being more “emergent”? Lots of large congregations offer this kind of variety. But evangelical church musician Jonathan Aigner raises a warning. He has […]
Congress Shall “Regulate Commerce with Foreign Nations”
Now that our trade war with China and other countries is under way, we will see if President Trump’s new tariffs on imports will help our economy by protecting American workers and businesses or whether it will hurt our economy by sending up prices and cutting off American farmers, manufacturers, and other exporters from their […]
July 10, 2018
Might U.S. Episcopalians Get Written Out of Anglicanism?
The Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) broke away from the Episcopal Church in the USA because of that denomination’s extreme theological liberalism. But the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) has recognized ACNA as the legitimate Anglican body in the United States, removing recognition from the Episcopal Church. This raises the possibility that in the […]
The New Supreme Court Nominee: Brett Kavanaugh
President Trump nominated Appeals court Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. You can read about his background here. Considered an eminent and “brilliant” conservative jurist, Judge Kavanaugh, age 53, has nevertheless prompted a few qualms from some conservatives. David French has said his prospective nomination would be a home run, but not a grand slam. […]
