Mike Pilewski writes about life, politics and culture in the United States
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 … >>
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 … >>
Marion Stokes died in December 2012, but the full story of her life took almost a year to come out. According to her obituary in The Philadelphia Inquirer, Stokes was a librarian during the 1950s and a political protester in the ’60s. From 1967 to 1969, she co-produced a local TV talk show. In the 1980s, she invested in Apple … >>
One of the biggest trends of recent years has been almost completely off the radar. At the events for the German and American exchange students I advise, the number of vegetarians has been increasing steadily over the years. Back in the 1990s, there was, on average, only one at each event. In the last decade, there were two, then four, … >>
If a group of Republican members of Congress gets its way, large parts of the US government could stop functioning next week. National parks and museums will close. The military won’t get paid. Passports won’t be issued. Government loans to businesses and home-buyers will stop. Safety inspections could be less frequent. That’s the threat, anyway. A last-minute deal is still … >>
My grandmother was the healthiest person alive. This came, she said, from living in the countryside, breathing clean air, and cooking her own food, which was fresh from nearby farms or her own garden. She kept noise and stress out of her life. Her career was her home, and she was the queen of her castle — an image reinforced … >>
Where do you go first to get medical advice? To your doctor? Your pharmacist? Or do you do what many Americans do and go straight to the Internet? Describe to a search engine any health problem in English, and you’ll see that health advice is some of the most sought-after information there is. Mixed in among the writings of established … >>
New York City is often considered the most liberal part of the United States, but you wouldn’t know it from the way it’s run. Signs tell you “Don’t even think of parking here”. Police issue tickets for jaywalking. Smoking in parks is forbidden. Now New Yorkers may be forced to consume less sugar. Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s plan is to get … >>
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 … >>
Suppose your country were offered unlimited energy for the rest of your lifetime (and beyond). What would it be worth to you? The recent discovery of a way to extract natural gas trapped within layers of rock has the energy industry and the politicians excited. In just the past five years, thousands of gas wells have sprung up above shale … >>