“Immigrants – We Get the Job Done!”

Stuart Lyle The hit Broadway show ’Hamilton’ has enjoyed a meteoric rise.  Less than a year ago, it opened off-Broadway, but quickly found traction and was on Broadway by midsummer.  Now shows are sold out well into later this year.  Few would have predicted that a show about founding father Alexander Hamilton would strike such a deep chord with a…

Causes Without Rebels: What Ails America Today

Imperial Proconsul Bremer, desert boots and all, in a distinctly American moment Michael Brenner There are more reasons for Americans to feel aggrieved today than at any time since the Vietnam War ended nearly 40 years ago.  At no time before or since has there been so little effort to remedy those conditions. That contradiction…

Harvard and the Serving of God and Mammon

W.J. Astore In the 17th century, Harvard was all about preparing men to serve God. It was about educating ministers. And ministers were arguably the most deeply respected men of their day. In the 21st century, Harvard has a new god — mammon. Harvard grads today most commonly reach for the big bucks in the…

The Conservative Critique of Higher Education Misses the Mark

W.J. Astore I have conservative friends (Yes, I do!) who express disfavor with higher education.  They see higher ed as being in lockstep with liberal/leftist agendas.  Things like gay marriage, aggressive feminism, multiculturalism, and diversity that focuses not on wide-ranging political views but on the politics of gender and race.  They further see higher ed…