The Return of Douglas MacArthur

by | Aug 8, 2016

In war, there is no substitute for victory.” “The lands touching the Pacific will determine the course of history for the next thousand years.” The United States, except for the 1991 Persian Gulf War, has not been victorious in war since World War II. Meanwhile,...

Notes from a Smaller, Freer Island

by | Jul 1, 2016

by Derek Turner Living on an island does strange things to souls. Being surrounded by water can even make whole nations feel they are under special protection—protected by Providence, singled out for Something. Some zephyr of open sea seems to reach to even the...

Antonin Scalia (1936–2016)

by | Feb 14, 2016

An era ended today with the passing of Justice Antonin Scalia. Scalia, a 1960 magna cum laude graduate of the Harvard Law School and a Notes Editor for the Harvard Law Review, taught for a while both at the University of Virginia and at the University of Chicago,...

The Courage of Lewis and Clark

by | Feb 7, 2016

Pedro Blas González Are these indeed men worthy of the name? Walt Whitman, “Democratic Vistas” The Journals of Lewis and Clark is a treasure of American history and exploration. It is also a testament to the strength of character of early American settlers. In 1803...

Schopenhauer and Postmodern Ethical Affectation

by | Nov 29, 2015

Pedro Blas González Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860), the grouch of Danzig, never minced words. As a self-respecting philosopher, his allegiance was to truth. This is characteristic of genuine freethinkers throughout history, regardless of any unpleasant fruits that...

Four Federal Judges Celebrating Poetry at Poets House

by | Nov 2, 2015

Poets and critics oftencomplain that most contemporary American verse is beautiful but pointless. It is introspective, limited to the poet’s experiences or lack thereof, sometimes shrill, at times unintelligible. On Tuesday, October 20, 2015, four U.S. federal judges...