Posts Tagged ‘culture’
Why dictators start with culture
In her 2012 study of the Soviet takeover of eight European countries after WWII, Anne Applebaum underscores how diligently the agents of Stalin, the Red Army, set out to transform the culture of every occupied nation (Iron Curtain: The Crushing of Eastern Europe, 1944-56).
Read MoreThe significance of the Academy Award nominations
By Tom Quiner Gratuitous violence is worthy of adulation. THAT is what the Academy Awards is telling us with the announcement of the nominees for the very finest in this year’s films. No, let me be more specific. THAT is what Hollywood is telling us, that cloistered conclave of the most liberal of all Americans,…
Read MoreThe death of humanity
A man walks into an elementary school today. He carries a gun. He begins shooting until at least 26 people are dead, including 20 children, and himself. This type of story is not necessarily front page news anymore, except that this time, so many children were victims. I am sick. Are mass public killings on the rise?
Read MoreThe progression of pornographic seduction
Catholic radio talk show host, Al Kresta, analyzed the risk of reading “50 Shades of Grey:” 1st comes the curiosity, which leads to the book purchase. 2nd, the reader is captured by the eroticism. Lastly, the reader becomes emotionally invested in the characters and story, at which point they are either unable to stop, and/or justify it even when encountering the most extreme content …
Read MoreThe mainstreaming of porn continues this Sunday morning
Porn’s march to the mainstream continues. The Des Moines Register ran a piece today about the best selling novel, “50 Shades of Grey.” The tone of the piece was accepting, not condemning. It presented quotes from “experts” who explained the success of this piece of smut as simply a natural evolution for enlightened women …
Read MoreThe corrosion of humanity
So, are mass public killings on the rise? Yes. Twenty-one took place from 1900 to 1965. But from 1966 to 2009, we’ve experienced around 120 …
Read More“The movie didn’t kill anybody.”
We tuned into the local news at noon Friday, partly to learn more about the tragedy in Aurora, Colo. The coverage on WHO-TV was rather brief, a feed from the national news, followed by the inevitable Iowa connection. What came next, after some local news, floored my wife and me …
Read MoreIs porn good for Moms?
Mark your calendar. The year is 2012 and porn has gone mainstream with Moms. “Fifty Shades of Grey” is a New York Times best seller. The target audience for this pornographic novel? Women …
Read MoreUncivil celebrities
By Tom Quiner [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSg2LEVnVwk] I used to be a boxing fan until Mike Tyson came along. I attended a closed circuit fight with a buddy of mine to watch Mr. Tyson take on Evander Holyfield. Mr. Tyson was clearly getting bested by Holyfield. You could see Tyson’s frustration growing, because he was having trouble laying…
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