online archive
12:00PM
JUN 7 2007
American empire, religion and secular society and sex
From Arena, while it may be too early to bury neo-conservatism, the signs are that it is imploding as it eats away at its own foundations. A review of Are We Rome? by Cullen Murphy. Niall Ferguson reviews The Price of Liberty: Paying for America's Wars by Robert D. Hormats. Financing the Imperial Armed Forces: A trillion dollars and nowhere to go but up. A review of Freedom Next Time: Resisting the Empire by John Pilger. Anti-war crowd fires at the wrong target: Among turncoat Democratic Senators in the Bush era, there was Zell Miller first, and then Joe Lieberman. And now … Carl Levin?
From Ship of Fools, lost for a smart remark to see off your enemies? Unable to deliver that killer insult? Put an end to unscriptural restraint with the amazing Biblical Curse Generator, which is pre-loaded with blistering smackdowns as delivered by Elijah, Jeremiah and other monumentally angry saints. Is anti-Semitism good for the Jews? Eugene Volokh says yes, but only when expressed in moderation. From Jewcy, Who’s Afraid of Paul Berman? How the Terror and Liberalism author gets Islamism wrong — again.
From Arts & Opinion, is Islam the problem, or can it be part of the solution? Phyllis Chesler on secular Islam; and an interview with Rawi Hage on the long journey into secularism. From Policy Review, How the West Really Lost God: Mary Eberstadt on a new look at secularization. A review of The Cambridge Companion to Atheism.
From Truthdig, an interview with Christopher Hitchens on how religion poisons everything. Here's the video of the Hitchens vs. Hedges debate on religion. A review of The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason and Letter to a Christian Nation by Sam Harris; The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins; and Atheist Manifesto: The Case Against Christianity, Judaism, and Islam by Michel Onfray.
From Touchstone, Simply Lewis: Reflections on a Master Apologist After 60 Years; Over the Counterculture: Wilfred M. McClay on Transgressive Bohemians as Regressive Bobos; and Distant Neighbors: Amanda Witt on Keeping Children Innocent When Lesbians Move In. Who says all gay men are stylish? The idea that all homosexuals are fashionable is bull—just look at all the friends of Dorothy who dress like they're still in Kansas.
From Cosmos, Sexual Chemistry 101: Looking for love? Use the power of science to give you the edge in the dating game, with the top 10 lab-tested tips for finding the perfect mate. A review of Virginity Lost: An Intimate Portrait of First Sexual Experiences by Laura M. Carpenter. Marriage Demystified: An interview with Stephanie Coontz, and a review of Marriage, A History: from Obedience to Intimacy or How Love Conquered Marriage. When Spinsters Attack! Older women can be the real danger when dating in New York. Healthy, my ass: Many blacks love big women, but having a rump the size of Buffie the Body's can put women at risk for disease.
