Mike Pilewski writes about life, politics and culture in the United States
This time last year, I received word from a college friend that one of my professors had passed away. Hugh Young had a great sense of humor and a remarkable way of relating to young people. Young told us he’d do anything to help us students stay awake during his physics lectures. “I’d stand on my head for you guys … >>
The recent events in Ferguson, Missouri, have played out in a way that only Quentin Tarantino could have imagined. Tarantino’s films, which are very violent, often tell their story from more than one perspective. Scenes are not shown in the usual order. Key information is presented after the fact, reversing whatever conclusions one may have drawn up to that point. … >>
In our part of the world, the past two centuries have been, among other things, a story of social progress. It started with the abolition of slavery, continued with the women’s-rights and labor movements, and culminated in the civil-rights movement of the 1960s. Campaigns since then have focused on the environment, equal access for the “differently abled”, and respect for … >>
Editor’s note: I wrote this article, like those prior to it, in my capacity as Online Editor of Spotlight magazine. Every so often, we hear from a reader who insists that we are absolutely, flat-out, dead wrong about something. This is fine; people are entitled to their opinions, and we would really like to hear them. Occasionally there has been … >>
You’ve no doubt heard by now of the latest threat to international stability. A radical group called ISIS has rapidly taken over one third of Iraq and one third of Syria. ISIS is a coalition of known Sunni insurgent groups, including the Mujahideen Shura Council and Al Qaeda in Iraq. Saying they have a “take no prisoners” attitude is an … >>
Sunday night, like the Monday before it, was remarkable in the world of American sports. The World Cup tie with Portugal, like last week’s victory over Ghana, showed that American soccer might finally have come of age. It was really not so long ago that US soccer was a joke. A US team participating in an international soccer tournament had … >>
You can see this in any war movie: When it’s raining bullets, one of the heroes falls to the ground on the middle of the battlefield. His buddy tries to save him. The wounded man objects. “Just leave me here! Don’t jeopardize the mission!” he says. His buddy won’t listen. Risking his own life, he drags or carries his injured … >>
A German friend of mine once commented that a lot of states in America seemed to be named after women: Virginia, Maryland, North and South Carolina, Georgia, even North and South Dakota. At first glance, this would seem to be true. Lots of women in history were named Virginia, Mary, Carolina and Georgia, and in our time there is a … >>
One of the best things about waking up early is the lack of activity around you. The world is yours. Lie in bed and just listen to the silence; it’s so relaxing! Nothing but an occasional gust of wind caressing the trees outside, a lone bird calling to his friends, or the gentle sound of rain on the patio. This … >>
Last week’s column was about designing cities of the future that would meet all the needs of their residents. But what about the cities of today? What do you do with a city that’s, say, 300 years old, that represents an important time in history, and that wants to be a modern place where people enjoy living? Philadelphia is an … >>