Gene Edward Veith Jr.'s Blog, page 389
September 5, 2013
Our military as “Al-Qaeda’s Air Force”
Quote of the week: “We should be focused on defending the United States of America. That’s why young men and women sign up to join the military, not to, as you know, serve as Al Qaeda’s air force.” Ted Cruz, Senator (R, Texas) Whatever you think of Ted Cruz, you have to admit that this [Read More...]
Birds as Bloggers
Researchers often tag birds and other animals so that their movements and activities can be traced and studied. A website entitled Blogging Birds takes data about kites (a kind of hawk) in Scotland and applies language algorithms, translating it all into a narrative of the bird’s day.From Paul Voosen, in the Chronicle of Higher Education: [Read More...]
September 4, 2013
Storming Wikipedia
Wikipedia depends on readers and volunteer editors to write, edit, and correct its entries. Theoretically, the vast network of contributors will make for an online encyclopedia that is accurate, objective, and self-correcting. But this also leaves Wikipedia open to contributors with an ideological agenda. Which is the plan for an organized effort–for college credit, no [Read More...]
America’s wars are for virtue
Inconvenient truths from Henry Allen: The United States doesn’t fight for land, resources, hatred, revenge, tribute, religious conversion — the usual stuff. Along with the occasional barrel of oil, we fight for virtue. Never mind that it doesn’t work out — the Gulf of Tonkin lies, Agent Orange, waterboarding, nonexistent weapons of mass destruction, the [Read More...]
Only 29% of Americans want to attack Syria
According to two public opinion polls, very few Americans support the notion of attacking Syria. According to a Pew study, only 29% of Americans are in favor of doing so. And for all the talk of political polarization, there is a bipartisan consensus on this issue, with slightly more Republicans supporting President Obama in this [Read More...]
September 3, 2013
Military’s qualms about war with Syria
Our military leaders have some major qualms about attacking Syria. From Ernest Londono, U.S. military officers have deep doubts about impact, wisdom of a U.S. strike on Syria – The Washington Post: The Obama administration’s plan to launch a military strike against Syria is being received with serious reservations by many in the U.S. military, [Read More...]
IRS recognizes same-sex marriages
When the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act, social conservatives consoled themselves by saying that the action did not mandate gay marriage across the board. That remains a decision for each state. But it does mean that the Federal Government now recognizes gay marriage. That was made clear when the IRS and [Read More...]
September 2, 2013
A call to legalize sex between teachers and pupils
More taboos keep falling down. A column in the online Washington Post, no less (the leading newspaper of our governing class), argues that we should legalize sex between teachers and underage students. From Betsy Karasik, Sex between students and teachers should not be a crime – The Washington Post: I don’t believe that all sexual [Read More...]
The Protestant work ethic
Our post in honor of Vocation Day, which used to be called Labor Day. . . . Max Weber, one of the founders of modern sociology, credited the doctrine of vocation for the rise of the modern economy in his 1920 book The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. Now, there are problems with [Read More...]
Obama will ask Congress before attacking Syria
President Obama has agreed to ask Congress for authorization before he attacks Syria. I salute that, since the Constitution requires Congress to approve going to war. However, I predict that a coalition of liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans will vote the proposal down. What do you think Congress should do? What do you think Congress [Read More...]
