by jpitney | Jul 9, 2020 | civic virtue, Coronavirus, Tocqueville
Nicholas Romanow, who just became a citizen, writes at The Bulwark: The political philosophers, historians, and sociologists who argue that a kind of rugged individualism is at the heart of the American character aren’t entirely wrong, but the familiar caricature of...
by jpitney | Jul 8, 2020 | Congress, House of Representatives
On 6/28, Don Wolfensberger wrote at The Hill: As urgent times call for urgent measures, the House Rules Committee last Wednesday pulled the six-alarm emergency cord by sending six major bills to the House floor under a single special rule (a simple House resolution)...
by jpitney | Jul 6, 2020 | Journalism, Newspapers
From the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media: This is the fourth report by the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media, documenting and analyzing the loss of local news and its implications for our democracy. In the years immediately following the 2008...
by jpitney | Jul 4, 2020 | civic virtue, Religion, Slavery
Frederick Douglass, July 5, 1852: Allow me to say, in conclusion, notwithstanding the dark picture I have this day presented of the state of the nation, I do not despair of this country. There are forces in operation, which must inevitably work the downfall of...
by jpitney | Jul 3, 2020 | Slavery
Frederick Douglass, July 5, 1852: I am not included within the pale of this glorious anniversary! Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us. The blessings in which you, this day, rejoice, are not enjoyed in common. — The rich inheritance...
by jpitney | Jul 2, 2020 | Slavery
Frederick Douglass, July 5, 1852: Fellow-citizens; above your national, tumultuous joy, I hear the mournful wail of millions! whose chains, heavy and grievous yesterday, are, to-day, rendered more intolerable by the jubilee shouts that reach them. If I do forget, if I...
by jpitney | Jul 1, 2020 | civic virtue, Coronavirus
President George W. Bush: We were not meant to live apart from each other, especially in times of challenge. Our tools of compassion — a hug, gathering as people of faith or in friendship, caring for our family when they are ill — bring the opposite of the love we...
by jpitney | Jun 30, 2020 | Civility, Congress
From the National Archives: Congress and Civility by Design Summary: The First Congress established civility as a core value of American government. Studying documents from this period reveals how congressional processes and the rules for debate promoted civility....
by jpitney | Jun 29, 2020 | Journalism
Two years ago Sunday, a gunman opened fire at the newsroom of The ‘Capital Gazette, killing five. Senator Ben Cardin remembered the event:
by jpitney | Jun 28, 2020 | Civility
From an Stewart’s Shops, an Upstate New York chain: Civility Ice Cream is making a return at the cone counter. It has sweet, smooth vanilla ice cream with salty caramel swirls. With a world divided, we thought everyone could use a scoop of Civility (ice cream)!...
