Journalist – Historian – Speaker
At the end of my essay, I cite my daughter’s decision that her award was for “Best Bowler.” That’s the message here – it’s not about raising “strong” girls, but about raising our children, boys and girls both, with the freedom and tools to write their own stories. And if that’s the goal, how do …
I have a new essay up on CNN on gender norms and pre-school. Here’s the summary. But please read it anyway and share it, if so inclined. I feel this one, unlike the more theological pieces, has a chance at a broader readership and maybe even changing a few minds – or at least providing …
I’m increasingly sure that doubt, being not 100% certain that your beliefs (political, religious, economic, culinary) are correct, is an important part of what makes a pluralistic society run. More to come on this.
I have this theory that representation matters. I wrote about my ideas here back in November, and will have a piece about gender and language coming out next week. So I like what New York City is doing with these new “handicapped” symbols. It’s a small thing, but many small things add up.
Not long before the election of Pope Francis, Abi Sutherland, a blogger at Making Light, wrote about monarchy and myth. Sutherland worked through some thoughts based on recent movies and books, to discuss “monarch as catalyst,” and that the myth of the “true king” focused on transforming us to our better selves. Towards the end, …
I have a new essay up on The Atlantic. Money quote: Perhaps the focus on atheism, as breathtaking has this issue has proven to be for the media and the blogosphere, misses the more powerful concept at the core of Francis’ homily: the culture of encounter. In the documents from the Second Vatican Council, as …
Today Pope Francis said the following: All people are called to do good and not evil, the pope said. Some would object, “‘but, Father, he isn’t Catholic so he can’t do good.’ Yes, he can. He must.” The idea that others cannot really be good and do good in the world creates “a wall that …
Yvonne Brill’s obituary. Deborah Kogan’s life in publishing. Or, why the publishers made her call her first book, “Shutterbabe.” Seanan McGuire’s response to being accused of too much self-promotion in regards to the Hugo Awards. She promoted herself once. But she’s a woman, so … What Disney Princesses really teach girls. Bratz. Underwear. Elizabeth Smart. …
John 19:23 Vulgate – Milites ergo cum crucifixissent eum, acceperunt vestimenta ejus (et fecerunt quatuor partes, unicuique militi partem) et tunicam. Erat autem tunica inconsutilis, desuper contexta per totum. NIV – When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This …
I have a new essay up here. In it, I talk about the decision by Boston’s Archbishop, Cardinal O’Malley, to boycott the graduation of Boston College. BC is honoring Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny, who is sponsoring an abortion bill back home. I work through some of the reasoning and the potentially inconsistent (or at …