The covid-19 pandemic has exposed the depth of America’s fall from greatness. ~Eugene Robinson/Washington Post As many of you know, last fall I taught at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan. My temporary residence was just blocks from the center city and Duomo. Most evenings I would go to a restaurant … Read more
When America is united, America is totally unstoppable. Donald J. Trump/January 20, 2017 After the 2016 election campaign and the first three years of Trump’s occupancy of the White House, the probability Americans would ever be united again was unimaginable. But the events of this past week remind us anything is possible. Let’s begin with … Read more
The 55 years following the end of World War II are often referred to as the era of “American Exceptionalism.” That moniker was based on our military and economic superiority as well as our political stability. Throughout the period there were shifts in partisan control of the presidency and Congress, differences in national priorities … Read more
Those of us with a slightly (or more) warped sense of humor find ourselves conflicted during times of crisis when empathy and compassion are the order of the day. Fortunately or unfortunately, whatever gene takes us to the dark side of humor is unaffected by war, terrorism or now a global pandemic. That became … Read more
The guests at the last dinner gathering my wife and I attended before the “Great Isolation” included two of the three friends who share responsibility for the monthly “Cinema and Conversations” events we host at our local bookstore. Naturally, our conversation turned to the topic of film, especially since the Academy Awards show had … Read more