In May of 2007, writer Wendell Berry gave the commencement address at Bellarmine University. The address has been something of a mystery; the university removed it from their web site, apparently at Berry’s request. It’s never been included in any of his essay or article collections. A web site that covers published articles about Berry has posted the address, and it’s available to read, at least until someone asks that it be removed.
It took maybe three nanoseconds before the school shooting in Minneapolis became politicized. The mayor of Minneapolis attacked “thoughts and prayers;” Jen Psaki of MSMBC, formerly of the Biden press office, attacked prayer as well and somehow conflated the shooting with the National Guard patrolling Washington, D.C. One would think people would wait at least an hour or two before trying to score political points. Neither Psaki nor the mayor mentioned that Minnesota’s Catholic bishops had asked Gov. Walz and the legislature to provide security for Catholic schoolchildren just like the state does for public schools; Walz said no.
Peter Savodnik at The Free Press considers the American nihilism context of the shooting. His concern is amplified by former FBI agent Pat McMonigle.
Take one beloved American brand, whose customers are largely conservative or centrist, and decide to “freshen” or “remake” the logo and all the associated ways logos and brands are integrated. When customers complain, call them a “vocal minority,” implying they’re unhip at best or stupid and bigoted at worst. “We’re smarter than the people at Bud Light.” Watch your sales crater. Watch your stock price crater. Reverse course and thus offend everybody. How many times do companies have to go through this before they learn? Read ““Cracker Barrel and the Power of Conservative Boycotts” by Christopher Rufo.
More Good Reads
America 250
Washington Crossing: A Tale of Two Parks – David Price at the Journal of the American Revolution.
To Protest Taxes, Men Dumped Tea into Boston Harbor. With the Edenton Tea Party, Colonial Women Took a Different Approach – Aurora Martinez at Smithsonian Magazine.
Fighting for Philadelphia by Michael Harris – review by Gene Procknow at Journal of the American Revolution.
Founders and Drinkers – Michael Aubrecht at Emerging Revolutionary War Era.
The Wrong Remedy – Victor Davis Hanson at the Journal of the American Revolution.
High Wages in the American Colonies – Henry Oliver at The Common Reader.
American Stuff
I Found Freedom Along the Alaska Highway – Paul Kingsnorth at The Free Press.
British Stuff
God alone can bind our nation together – Daniel Inman at The Critic Magazine.
News Media
Journalists Against Journalism – The Free Press editorial.
Poetry
An Interview on Calling with Andrew Roycroft – Karen Swallow Prior at The Priory.
Why no one gets to push poetry around – Andrew Roycroft at New Grub Street.
“The Desert Village,” poem by Oliver Goldsmith – Anthony Esolen at Word & Song.
Petrichor – Rachel Dacus at The Artist’s House.
Poetry in an Age of Diminishing Life in Public – Kenneth Woodward at Church Life Journal.
“To Autumn,” poem by John Keats – Joseph Bottum at Poems Ancient and Modern.
Writing and Literature
Scott’s Lot: On The Journal of Sir Walter Scott – James Campbell at The New Criterion.
The Longest Journey in the World – Norman Podhoretz at The Free Press.
Faith
St. Augustine: Founding Father of the Philosophy of History – Bradley Birzer.
Seven Reasons Why (Almost) Every Man Should (Try to) Get Married – Samuel D. James at Digital Liturgies.
The Power of Wonder – The John 10:10 Project
Painting: Portrait of Man Reading, oil on canvas, 19th century, artist unknown.
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