History has much to teach us, if we take the time to study and listen. As it turns out, the current fight in the U.S. House of Representatives for the position of Speaker has some precedents. In 1856, Nathaniel Banks was finally elected Speaker after two months and 133 ballots; Sarah Kay Bierle at Emerging Civil War has the story. More recently, Frederick Gillett was elected after eight ballots, and he had already had two terms as Speaker. Paul du Quenoy at The Spectator has the details, and he cites a few other examples as well.
It's a phrase bandied about (and eagerly reported) without a lot of thought by a lot of people, including Presidents – being “on the right side of history.” Political progressive William Deresiewicz says we’re sure to hear it a lot during the next two years, especially from the left. He says there’s no such thing as the “right side of history” and the idea itself is a dangerous myth.
Joanne Silberner is helping to manage her father, who’s suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease. What she’s been learning is a brutal truth – medicine has little to nothing to offer to the millions who suffer from it. She set out to find out why.
More Good Reads
Life and Culture
Politics and the English Language, 2023 – George Case at Quillette.
The U.S. Government’s Woke Training: Read instructions from the Army, NASA, the VA, and more, obtained via open-records law – Wall Street Journal.
Stuck in the Middle (of Academia): Academia is a mess, but there is still hope – Christopher Ferguson at Quillette.
The Coming Cow Wars: Why Raising Cows is a Revolutionary Act – John Klar at Front Porch Republic.
Writing and Literature
Little Golden Books – Gladys Hunt at Redeemed Reader.
How to Bear Witness – Lauren Nossett at The Millions.
Poetry
Ars poetica – Seth Wright at The Round Tower Review.
Calendar Poems (essay) – Margret Coats at Society of Classical Poets.
The Afterlife – Curtis Yarvin at Imperial Melodies.
British Stuff
1723 - A London Year – at A London Inheritance.
Why the King’s Christmas speech concerns me – David Robertson at The Wee Flea.
Ukraine
Russia’s media in exile – Owen Matthews at The Spectator.
Clergy or spies? Concerning that New York Times update on accusations inside Ukraine – Terry Mattingly at Get Religion.
Faith
Vestibule of the Apocalypse – Greg Doles at Chasing Light.
5 Reasons I Am Hopeful for the Church in 2023 – Eric Geiger.
C. S. Lewis and Mrs. Moore: Relationship of Sin or Sanctification? – Trevin Wax at The Gospel Coalition.
On the Changing of the Dictionaries – Tim Challies.
News Media
The British are coming: Fleet Street’s ‘digital landgrab’ on US news sector – William Turville at Press Gazette.
No Name Song – James Doyle Moore
Painting: Portrait of a Young Lady, oil on canvas (1906) by Alfred Stevens (1823-1906).
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