Years ago, when I spent eight months at St. Louis Public Schools, a phrase was often repeated by administrators, board members, consultants, teachers, principals, and sometimes even parents. The phrase was, “It’s for the good of the children.” It took all of two weeks, but I learned that whenever that phrase was used, the subject at hand was about anything but the good of the children. We have all kinds of phrases like that these days, and Matt Taibbi at Racket News looks at one of them: “Democracy.”Another one is “Follow the science.” Jason Blakely at Harper’s Magazine has some thoughts on that one.
In Colorado, a 12-year-old schoolboy and his mother had to educate the teacher, the school administrator, and the school board that the “Don’t Tread on Me” flag did not arise out of slavery. Newsweek has this story, while Fox News reported it this way. It’s worth noting that the school board relented only after the story went viral. And Mark Maloy at Emerging Revolutionary War Era gives the historical background on the flag.
For as long as they’ve existed, the Pulitzer Prizes have gone to American authors and writers. The Pulitzer board is considering changing that. Micah Mattix at Prufrock notes that the prizes aren’t what they used to be and instead are now allotted on the basis of politics. It’s not just the Pulitzers, of course. It’s everywhere, and it’s one reason I’ve stopped seeing literary prizes as a big deal.
One of the truisms I learned in school was that President Lincoln’s speech at Gettysburg made barely a ripple when he gave it in November of 1863 at the dedication of the national cemetery. Supposedly, it was only succeeding generations who understood its importance. I think I heard that truism repeated all the years I was a speechwriter, too. Gerald Lefurgy at Emerging Civil War points out that the truism may have less basis in reality that we thought.
More Good Reads
COVID-19
Who Best Avoided the COVID Religion? – Benjamin Tucker at The Epoch Times.
News Media
Disinfo-nation: the new censorship is here to stay – Peter Wood at The Spectator.
The big turn-off: Declining audiences is a big problem for journalism – Fred Skulthrop at The Critic Magazine.
Life and Culture
If American States Were Real People – As Generated by AI – Gary Rodgers at Dying Words.
A Requiem for Manners – Stephen Klugewicz at The Imaginative Conservative.
On Maui, ‘Climate Change’ Is Not to Blame – Lisa Shiffren at The Pipeline.
Fresh off a Supreme Court Win, the Praying Coach Takes the Field – Julia Duin at The Free Press.
Faith
Sometimes Creation Speaks for Us – Ashley Anthony ay Story Warren.
No Fear of Old Age – Tim Challies.
Writing and Literature
A Conversation with Katy Carl on Place, Fiction, and Contemplation – Seth Wieck at Front Porch Republic.
Boys need books: the gendering of publishing has gone too far – Myke Bartlett at The Critic Magazine.
Indie Publishers and Copyright – Dean Wesley Smith.
American Stuff
The True Story Behind Hacksaw Ridge – Cassidy Stephenson at CBR.
Art
Drunkard or genius? Up close and personal with Frans Hals – Jose da Silva at The Art Newspaper.
Sancta Trinitas unus Deus – Gloriae Dei Cantores
Painting: Woman Reading a Book, oil on canvas (1911) by Mary Cassatt (1844-1926).
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