Defunding Planned Parenthood: A cultural debate
Although people have the right and liberty to access it, Planned Parenthood is yet another item on the list that doesn't need or deserve government funding - and has a whole lot of baggage. Planned Parenthood, which currently receives more than $360 million from...
S.E. Cupp and Amanda Read on The Rick Amato Show
Gabriella Hoffman invited me to be Young Con of the Week on The Rick Amato Show on February 14th. That just so happened to be the same night that the sharp and lovely S.E. Cupp was was to appear on the show. Listen to the podcast here:...
Out Educate: School and the State of the Union (PART II)
During the rather miserable halftime show of Super Bowl XLV, Will.i.am of The Black Eyed Peas ad-libbed the following message to President Obama in the middle of “Where is the Love?” lyrics: "In America we need to get things straight / Obama, let's get these kids...
John 3:16 Super Bowl ad rejected on basis of ‘religious doctrine’
Is it offensive for a Super Bowl ad to invite viewers to look up a reference familiar to football culture? FOX Sports might be unintentionally insulting the intelligence of its viewers. Super Bowl XLV is around the corner, meaning ‘tis the season to see industries...
Out Educate: School and the State of the Union (PART I)
The 2011 State of the Union address doesn’t appear to have left many viewers enamored with President Obama’s plans for the country. Perhaps it’s no surprise that the rumored “Sputnik moment” fell flat. After all, the “clean green” mantra lit up with squiggly bulbs...
Alabama governor ridiculed for evangelistic remarks
As a citizen of Alabama, I'm always on the lookout for news from my state that would interest a national audience enough to highlight in a column. Thus, the other day I was at first excited to see that our new governor had made broad headlines. Disappointingly, the...
Moral imaginations, blood libel and the meaning of words
“What is government if words have no meaning?” Such was the question that Jared Loughner asked Representative Gabrielle Giffords at an event in 2007. Unsatisfied by Giffords’ response (or warranted lack thereof), Loughner targeted her with an apparently vengeful...
Nonsense: Politicizing the tragedy in Tucson
The atmosphere surrounding the Tea Party has been ruthlessly blamed. But assassination attempts and lone gunmen are not 21st century phenomena. What age-old train of thought did Jared Loughner actually express? Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) was greeting constituents...
A Christmas tribute to the troops
My uncle's return from Afghanistan inspired this little tribute to the troops. As children in an American military family, my siblings and I were aware of the sacrifice that soldiers and their families make during active duty – especially during war. But the war zone...
Is a Noah’s Ark theme park unconstitutional?
On December 1, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear (D) held a press conference to unveil plans for a theme park inspired by one of history’s most mysterious epic structures: Noah’s Ark. Titled “Ark Encounter”, the proposed privately funded $150 million for-profit project...
Luke Historians
Last year, I introduced my original idea for Luke Historians. But after an exciting year of expansive writing opportunities, I decided to modify the LH mission with the huge goal of eventually becoming a publishing and media company that explores the intersection of...
Angelina Jolie thinks Thanksgiving celebrates a “story of murder”
In its origins, Thanksgiving is no celebration of human prowess and cultural domination – and certainly not murder. American actress Angelina Jolie deliberately avoided being in the United States this Thanksgiving. As Rob Shuter of Popeater.com reported, “‘Angelina...
