Month: January 2011

The document’s admirers must contend with slavery

Philadelphia Inquirer – Jan. 13, 2011

Congress’ reading of the Constitution last week seemed like a fairly benign way to pander to the majority’s tea-party base. It wasn’t supposed to involve any debate. But House Democrats, adapting quickly to their new minority role, managed to find a way to take issue with the event.

It turned out that the Republican leadership had chosen to omit the Constitution’s references to slavery. Claiming “whitewashing,” some Democrats were able to score points in this bizarre channeling-the-ancestors contest, which has become a popular pursuit among Washington politicians and Supreme Court justices. Continue reading “A constitutional battle across the generations”

Philadelphia Inquirer – Jan. 3, 2011

This time of year many of us are able to enjoy a break from our labors, the company of relatives and friends, the chance to renew old ties, and much more food than we need. We may also pay a bit more attention than usual to those around us who struggle to maintain themselves and their families, but amid the relative plenty we feel less kinship with them than we should.

If my students are any indication, part of the problem our society faces in dealing with the gulf that separates the haves from the have-nots is a lack of appreciation for the impact the people we see over the holidays have on our social and economic status. We underestimate the degree to which our closest personal relationships buoy us up, especially when events conspire against us.

Continue reading “Thankful for ‘friendly assistance’”