Monthly Archives: November 2009

I don't believe in "natural rights"

I don’t believe in “natural” rights. Rights are a human institution; those rights that aren’t institutionalized by humans don’t exist. The only rights I, or any of us, have, are the rights that are recognized by the society in which … Continue reading

Posted in Whatever | 151 Comments

Race, Psychology, and Family Dynamics

race-psychology-and-family-dynamics
Someday someone will explain to me this fascination America has with the idea that Michelle Obama has white relatives like it’s remotely unusual for a descendant of slaves in America. I notice with all the talk of “So and so was impregnated by X slaveowner” and the rush to interview the white relatives so they […]

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Race, Psychology, and Family Dynamics

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Posted in Race, racism and related issues, Syndicated feeds | 4 Comments

Richard Jeffrey Newman on The Power of Poetry

I need to do a little self-promotion. This past Saturday, my colleague and friend Marcia McNair interviewed me about my book The Silence Of Men on her BlogTalk Radio show, The Power of Poetry. I hope you’ll give a listen. … Continue reading

Posted in Whatever | 12 Comments

Twenty Years Ago Today

The Cold War was a fact of life. My parents had grown up during it; I had grown up during it. And I had little doubt my children would grow up during it. From before my parents were born, the … Continue reading

Posted in International issues | 7 Comments

Open Thread and Link Farm, $47221.09 Dinner Edition

Post what you like, when you like, about what you like, with whatever links (including self-links) you like, for whatever purpose you like, wearing whatever underwear you like, eating whatever food you like, and liking what you like because you … Continue reading

Posted in Link farms | 25 Comments

Who Is a Jew? Court Ruling in Britain Raises Question – from The New York Times

The Supreme Court in England is set to rule by the end of this year on a case involving a question that has vexed Jewish communities throughout the world for centuries: Who is a Jew? The case began because a … Continue reading

Posted in Jews and Judaism | 32 Comments

Linkspam on the Weekend: Posts rattling around in my head edition.

linkspam-on-the-weekend-posts-rattling-around-in-my-head-edition
Does teen literature exaggerate the mean girl phenomena too much?
Neesha Meminger: “This is a question I’ve often pondered myself. I think my main concern with the “mean girls” phenomenon is that they focus on inter-personal dynamics without also looking at the larger, social,
economic, and political constructs within which we all function. In the case […]

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Linkspam on the Weekend: Posts rattling around in my head edition.

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Posted in Site and Admin Stuff, Syndicated feeds | 3 Comments

Could the GOP Stop the Stupak Amendment?

At least one Republican, Rep. John Shadegg, R-Ariz., says he’ll vote present on the amendment, and has four or five other members of the GOP who will join him. That may not be enough to scuttle the amendment, but it … Continue reading

Posted in Abortion & reproductive rights, Health Care and Related Issues | 5 Comments

Stupak Amendment Makes a Good Day Bad

Today should be a good day. It should be a day when Democrats and decent people celebrate the passage of health care reform out of the House of Representatives. But unfortunately, the usual suspects have decided that health care can’t … Continue reading

Posted in Abortion & reproductive rights, Health Care and Related Issues | 8 Comments

Abortion Rights Thrown Under Health Care Bus

First of all, please check this list of Representatives at RH Reality check. If one of them is your representative, please give them a call right now. They’ll be voting at any time now, so don’t wait. The news: House … Continue reading

Posted in Abortion & reproductive rights, Elections and politics, Health Care and Related Issues | 7 Comments