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Pushing labels, rejecting labels
We have tendencies to get people “slotted” into our categories so we decide quickly if they are “in” or “out” to us.
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We fear what we don’t know
It is so easy to pick on immigrants from a majority white congressional district. It is so easy to blame “the other” when you’ve never sat down with someone “in opposition” to you and had an actual conversation. These are the challenges… and too often we are not up to these challenges. (And social media makes it SO much easier…
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The Coddling of the American Mind: Is there any HOPE?
The picture painted in The Coddling of the American Mind is harsh. We’ve truly had a lot go wrong and we’ve put a lot of fear and anxiety into our lives, and much of it that is unnecessary. Is there any hope? They give some ideas, thankfully. First, start with childhood. Colleges definitely need work (and these two university professors…
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Freedom to play helps democracy
The term a few years ago was “helicopter parenting.” I’m not sure if there is a new phrase. There has to be in some cases, because it can be witnessed that parents are a LOT closer to their kids and their activities than a helicopter.
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The balkanization of the United States
When the Soviet Union was collapsing in the last 1980s, I read an article in The Atlantic about a region I’d never heard of: the Balkans. In that article, the writer told a tale I found fantastic and almost unbelievable. His contention was that during the Cold War, it was good for the U.S. and the Soviet Union to be…
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The road to American fragility
I’ve begun reading The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt. Lots of quotes to follow in the coming days. This book is needed reading.
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Current reading and listening
From time to time I like to look back on what I’ve been reading in articles, commentaries, etc., along with podcasts.
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The American Christian Industrial Complex
In the past two weeks we’ve witnessed yet another key influencer in the evangelical movement “give up” and move on. This one is Joshua Harris of I Kissed Dating Goodby fame (or infamy, as you will). There are two key discussions worth your listen.
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The foolishness of lacking compassion
The things I don’t get list just got a new number hit.
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Court prophets and wilderness prophets
There are too many paragraphs to highlight in this powerful column. But this one is a good one to point out:
Tag: Culture
