Feb 10, 2021Member-only“Protesters are in the building”: Irony, Race, and DemocracyThe whitewashing of the violence that took place on January 6 marks a greater threat to our democracy than the riot itself The violent mob that forcefully breached the halls of Congress on January 6 — assaulting officers of the law, trespassing on and destroying government property, and literally obstructing…Capitol Riot5 min readCapitol Riot5 min read
Oct 1, 2020Member-onlyBiden’s Use of “Inshallah”: Language and the American IdeaBiden’s use of “Inshallah” in the first Presidential debate was far more radical and meaningful than commentators have thus far appreciated. “Inshallah,” an Arabic word that literally means “if God wills it,” expresses hope that something will come to pass in the future. The term can also be used to…9 min read9 min read
Aug 13, 2020Member-onlyMainstreaming the Fringe: Marjorie Greene and Laura Loomer’s GOPFrom 2012 to 2016, the white “base” of the Republican party pivoted from free trade, fiscal prudence, a globally active military, and an unshakable commitment to NATO and our allies in Asia to protectionism, unbridled spending, isolationism, and Russophilia — all on a dime. What has been consistent in the…Marjorie Greene2 min readMarjorie Greene2 min read
Jul 28, 2020Member-onlyThe “Necessary Evil” of Slavery: Tom Cotton’s Nero ComplexTom Cotton’s rehearsal of the founding father’s acceptance of Southern slavery reveals a persistent pathology in American attitudes towards race According to Tom Cotton, “We have to study the history of slavery and its role and impact on the development of our country because otherwise we can’t understand our country…2 min read2 min read
Jul 28, 2020Member-onlyGrade Inflation and RaceThe brutal killing of George Floyd has prompted wide-ranging conversations about elements of systemic racism in our society. I want to flag one such element at the heart of our higher education system, perhaps to spur some conversations here and elsewhere with fellow academics. I have long suspected that grade…7 min read7 min read
Jul 28, 2020Rayshard Brooks’ Killing Can’t be JustifiedRepublicans like Tim Scott and Ben Carson assert that the killing of Rayshard Brooks is “different” and so, they imply, at least in some respects justifiable. The implication is clear: disobey or run from the police and they have the right to shoot and kill you — even if they…2 min read2 min read
Jul 28, 2020Do We Really Need a Military Crackdown?Tom Cotton, with the silent consent of his colleagues, has threatened to “send in the military” into American cities, giving “no quarter” to violent actors in order to restore “order.” Trump has made similar statements. Cotton, who has Presidential ambitions, proposes to deploy troops under a law from the early…2 min read2 min read
Jul 28, 2020Member-onlyAfter George Floyd: The “Violence on Both Sides” ArgumentMuch of the discourse in the wake of the murder of George Floyd includs diplomatic or defensive references to the violence perpetrated by a few bad actors “on both sides.” There is a false equivalence here. The police force is an institution — an arm of the state meant to…2 min read2 min read
Jul 28, 2020A Wake Up Call on LGBTQ Equality“On behalf of the Muslim community, we stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ community. We completely reject this hate and this fear that outsiders seek to instill within our community, within our country.” This from Omar Suleiman, resident scholar at the Valley Ranch Islamic Center, at tonight’s beautiful multi-faith press…2 min read2 min read
Jul 28, 2020Member-onlyLynching Italians: On American NostalgiaIn 1891 the New York Times, echoing the longstanding anti-immigrant sentiment of newspapers like The Mascot, expressed sympathy for a New Orleans mob that lynched nearly a dozen Italian-Americans. The Times immediately and with little evidence caricatured the Italian-Americans as “mafia” deserving of their extrajudicial fate. According to writer David…2 min read2 min read
