Quick Reads
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Spitting on Faces while Standing on Shoulders
A phenomenon that began with (arguably) reasonable ends is now a strange and decidedly arrogant movement with intent to burn many more than its original targets. Progressives are now vandalizing the statues of historic figures with less discretion than a fox in a chicken coop. The abuse of bronze effigies has now extended (with no…
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Trump, Hitler, and Venn Diagrams
At risk of joining crowds of journalists who cannot give up the thrill of covering Trump nearly a year after his departure, allow this brief analysis of the tiresome and oft-repeated slogan: Trump is like Hitler. If a New York Times Best-Seller list existed for mantras, this would have been at its top during Trump’s…
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Squid Game Is Anti-Capitalist, So What?
The hit Netflix series Squid Game has wooed audiences worldwide, and fans are eagerly awaiting the continuation of Gi-Hun’s horror-show misadventure in season two. The popularity of the show has prompted claims that its anti-capitalist undertones make it difficult to enjoy. Conservative irritation—and perhaps even boycotts—are deserved, the argument goes. While the undertones are clearly…
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We Don’t Revile Dictators
There exists a myth in Western societies that individuals have strong philosophical and ideological convictions against dictatorships. It is comforting to think that within oneself and one’s neighbours sits a moral arbiter ready to cast out the impulses that made possible history’s worst tragedies. The disheartening reality, however, is that there is in most people a…
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Does the “Diversity Is A Strength” Slogan Mean Anything?
Diversity is a strength. The phase is ubiquitous. It features in university halls, political speeches, and on progressive tongues everywhere, generally uttered with something close to religious reverence. Repetition begets the illusion of truth, and when the words are used so often and widely, many forget to ask whether they are actually correct. They seem true. The idea that…
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The Conservatives, the People’s Party, and the Search for the Conservative Soul
With the formation of the People’s Party of Canada (PPC) comes the possibility of a new schism in Canada’s Conservative movement. Maxime Bernier’s foundling party has yet to do significant damage to the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) over two elections, but the very existence of the PPC raises old ghosts and new questions. For…
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Michael Flynn Salad Dressing Story Is Why People Distrust the Media
If the presidency of Donald Trump revealed one thing, it is that there is deep-seated mistrust of American media among significant percentages of the electorate. And while it is common to believe that distrust in the media is a largely American problem, there is evidence that Canadians are moving in the same direction. The Michael…
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Televised Debates Are Useless: Jagmeet Singh Showed Us Why
There has been an increasing awareness in recent years of the silliness of televised political debates. This dissatisfaction is fueled in part by growing awareness of alternative models of political discourse, notably the long-form Joe Rogan interviews of politicians such as Bernie Sanders and Tulsi Gabbard. Hearing in-depth conversations in a more accountable setting draws…
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Is Vaccinating Children to Save Seniors Ethical?
The Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine has been given emergency authorization for children 5 to 11 following the recent vote by the FDA advisory committee. A controversial and emotionally-charged topic, parents on all sides are watching closely the decisions made by health experts with regard to childhood vaccination. Unfortunately, those worried about the risk of vaccinating children…