The culture wars raged this week, sparked by President Trump’s takeover of the police function in Washington, D.C. and bringing in National Guard troops to get crime under control. The red side cheered, while the blue side screamed “fascist takeover” and “crime there is at its lowest point in 30 years.” But what if the crime statistics themselves were unreliable? Anecdotal evidence would say carjackings are up, muggings are up, armed robberies are up, but then, statistics say otherwise. Was it just a matter of perception? Then, I ran into this story, from – of all places – Washington, D.C.: in July, a police commander was suspended, accused of changing crime numbers. So, before we start shouting “crime rates are down,” don’t forget the propensity of some officials to make sure crime statistics seem to be down. And the people who live there might have an entirely different perspective.
I tended to discount reports of paid protesters being bused in for whatever the latest cause or outrage might be. Shows you how much I know: Crowds on Demand CEO provides insight as protester requests up 400% under Trump. So now I have to wonder about all those aging Baby Boomers holding protest signs – are they real protesters or is this just a quick money-making gig? And who's paying for hiring protesters?
A Facebook friend, Matthew Kaboomis Loomis, posted this video about the Worst Trend on the Internet Right Now. It’s entitled “You’re Being Played,” and it’s about the outrage machine – someone is making money every time you click or comment on what appears to be awful, political, shocking, “bombshell,” and similar accounts guaranteed to raise your blood pressure or set off your “infuriate” genes. At best, these reports are grossly exaggerated; at worst, they’re outright lies.
Something more uplifting: T.S. Eliot’s “The Hollow Men” turned 100 years old this past week. British poet laureate Simon Armitage composed a poem, “In Retrospect,“ to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day and VJ Day (and he talks about it at the Tower of London; see the video below). And Joseph Bottum takes a look at “Fire and Ice” by Robert Frost.
More Good Reads
America 250
Weapons of the American Revolutionary War – Lesson plan from C-Span Classroom, from a lecture hosted by the St. Charles County (Missouri) Historical Society.
The Pests That Plagued Colonial America – Jack Tamisiea at History.
Vandalia Colony: American Triumph or Folly? – Jason Cherry at the Journal of the American Revolution.
Life and Culture
The World Says Quit, But I’m Not Done Yet – Anthony Giardina at The Free Press.
Lying Increases Trust in Science, Says Academic – William Briggs at Science Is Not the Answer.
Russiagate Releases Lifting a Veil on Surveillance State Abuses – Matt Taibbi at Racket News.
American Stuff
The Klan and Coolidge: Birth of a Smear – Coolidge Review.
Writing and Literature
The 25 best (British and Irish) novels of the 21st century – from Kazuo Ishiguro to Hillary Mantel – The Times of London.
Why You Should Still Build Your Raft in the Sea of Slop – Lincoln Michel a Counter Craft.
Poetry
The Wartime Admissions of T.S. Eliot – Craig Raine at The Spectator.
“I Can in Groups These Mimic Flowers Compose,” poem by Charlotte Turner Smith – Sally Thomas at Poems Ancient and Modern.
Four Walks in Central Parks – excerpts from a Poetic Guide to the Park at New Verse Review.
Mid-Lake – Andrew Roycroft at New Grub Street.
Faith
On the Day Everything Changes, Remember What Hasn’t – Michael Kelley at Forward Progress.
The Great Commission Became His Ambition: Adoniram Judson’s Stirring Legacy – Ryan Griffith at Desiring God.
Israel
A Chosen State? – Michael Oren at Clarity.
The Art of Remembrance – Simon Armitage at the Tower of London on VE Day Anniversary
Portrait of Efim Repin, the Artist’s Father, oil on canvas by Ilya Repin (1844-1930).
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