Mike Pilewski writes about life, politics and culture in the United States
Paper money offers a way of reminding people about their country’s history and values. But how often do we think about who and what is portrayed on it? The paper money in the United States is basically a portrait gallery of important men from the country’s first 100 years. Three of them were army generals who later became president: George … >>
This column was meant for September, but as fate would have it, a few other things got in the way — the presidential election, various school shootings, the demise of Twinkies — that deserved some commentary. However, the start of a new year is just as good a time to talk about this subject: the future. What was special about … >>
John F. Kennedy was America’s first Catholic president. But in order to become that, he had to reassure people that the White House wouldn’t be taking orders from the Vatican. Rick Santorum hopes to become the second Catholic president. Although he’s far more Catholic than Kennedy pretended to be, he won’t have to reassure anyone. In recent years, Catholics have … >>
When I was little, I heard about Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Naturally, I asked my parents when Children’s Day was. They laughed and said: “Every day is Children’s Day.” So it must seem to supporters of the women’s movement, who have spent the last hundred years fighting for equal rights, equal pay and equal respect, that there is such … >>