Is ethno-nationalism a modern disease? Is it an inevitable product of human nature subjected to modern conditions, and therefore something we have to accommodate, despite the ugly costs it imposes?  A necessary evil? The most reliable foundation for an enduring polity in a post-dynastic age? The plague of the 20th century? Sadly, yes. To all of the above. I read Jerry … [Read More]

Returning to something Leon Hadar said in the comments of one of my posts on ethnonationalism, I wanted to expand on his observation that Muller conflated categories of ethnic groups with other communal identities, especially religious/sectarian communalism.  I agree entirely with Dr. Hadar’s point, and alluded to this problem of confusion in my opening remarks, but I didn’t develop this part … [Read More]

“The Steamroller,” as he liked to call himself, sure rolled over the poor prostitute—petite and only 105 pounds—in Washington D.C. I do not suffer from Schadenfreude, but in Spitzer’s case, I will make an exception. The guy’s the phoniest of all the phonies ever to hold public office. He went after innocent people, ruined names and reputations for no reason except … [Read More]

Nestled in the second-to-last paragraph of Bill Kristol’s morning op-ed in the Times is a rather fascinating series of suggestions: ”Perhaps the most obvious way McCain could upend the normal dynamics of this year’s election would be a bold vice presidential choice. He could pick a hawkish and principled Democrat like Joe Lieberman. He could reach beyond the usual bevy of … [Read More]

Edward Cardinal Egan, Archbishop of New York, is clearly as worried as I am about the viciously anti-Christian legislation being backed by the abortionists’ best friend, NY Gov. Spitzer—which would force religious hospitals, social service agencies, and even schools to cooperate in the destruction of unborn life. The cardinal took the extraordinary step of issuing a pastoral letter this weekend, to … [Read More]

  The unilateral declaration of independence by the Kosovo Albanian government on Feb. 17, followed closely by the Bush administration’s enthusiastic endorsement of the breakaway state, has been roundly criticized on this site and others. While much of the criticism has focused on the disturbing precedent that Kosovo independence sets—parts of the American Southwest will, by mid-century, have an equal … [Read More]

My next to the last posting, which was an obituary on William F. Buckley, occasioned so many responses that I must disappoint those who thought I would never again say anything about my deceased subject. Contrary to the opinion of some critics, my obit was not intended to belittle someone who had betrayed the Old Right. Larry Auster got it right … [Read More]

Elsewhere, I have taken exception to Samantha Power’s views on foreign policy in the context of what they might imply for an Obama administration in which she could play some advisory role, and now that she is at least temporarily out of the Obama campaign (for the wrong reasons) it may be worth reviewing what we have been spared.  One of … [Read More]

Following up on Richard’s critique of Samantha Power, I had a few thoughts on Power’s proposal that the United States ought to have intervened to halt the Armenian genocide.  Besides the logistical difficulties this would have entailed (consider how long it took us to deploy our soldiers to France when we were actually at war), it seems that Power gave no … [Read More]

Justin’s defense of Samantha Power demands a reply, and I’d like to demur from lamenting the departure of the Harvard prof and anti-genocide crusader fom the political scene. Yes, she was a critic of Israel, but then professors who wail on and on about human rights abuses in the occupied territory area are a dime a dozen among the tenured faculty … [Read More]