Since the founding of our country, the ideas of individuality, freedom, and equality have been elevated above the family and tribe (or polity or people) while the importance or relevance of the latter two have been systematically diminished. We have furthermore elevated human happiness as a supreme good, at the expense of duty, responsibility, and… Continue reading Sex: We cannot have our cake and eat it too
Author: M.C. Atkins
I have six wee bairns who are all seventh-generation Henry County, Tennessee, and all from the same doe. It is the people of Henry County that I most want to reach but I am writing to Southerners generally. I am without credentials but rather dare to speak by the same authority as the little boy who cried 'The king has no clothes!' My core belief and starting point is that like everything, we humans have a nature, it is not so hard to understand, and to pretend that it is other than it is, is to jump off a cliff. Which is what we Americans have in fact done.
Only by understanding, wisdom, and discipline can we survive the good times
'Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times.' G. Michael Hopf, Those Who Remain There are two constant imperatives borne of man's human nature. He will first seek security, and then contentment or pleasure. These ideas may be summed up in the… Continue reading Only by understanding, wisdom, and discipline can we survive the good times
What came first: the egg, the chicken, or the henhouse?
Grave this on your memory, lad: A world is supported by four things, the learning of the wise, the justice of the great, the prayers of the righteous, and the valor of the brave. But all of these are as nothing without a ruler who knows the art of ruling. Make that the science of… Continue reading What came first: the egg, the chicken, or the henhouse?
Christianity: The opiate of the masses
Karl Marx (1818-1883), the founder of communism, said that religion is the opium of the masses. That is, its function was to sedate them. For Marx religion gave an illusory happiness (or comfort) that prohibited those thus sedated from achieving real happiness, that is, happiness here on Earth in this life. Thus religion impeded his… Continue reading Christianity: The opiate of the masses
Surely pedophilia is a bridge too far
Let's say that our plump king is strolling buck naked down Main Street in speedos a size too small. Except for their boots, holsters, sashes and, epaulettes his armed guards are dressed likewise. You might say that the King looks utterly ridiculous and shameful, you'd be right, and the King would feel it, as only… Continue reading Surely pedophilia is a bridge too far
What Conservatives ought to be trying to conserve
I am a headline reader. I do this regularly as part of my effort to stay broadly informed, and this, at the end of the day, gives me a sort of connect-the-dots image of the world. Or a picture of a landscape out of focus, or a view at 80,000 feet. Dominating this broad view… Continue reading What Conservatives ought to be trying to conserve
In defence of a simple life: Axe vs. Chainsaw
Twenty-two years ago my wife and I were house shopping and I remember in one house an impressed realtor showing us a closet in which was a tall bank of electronic gizmos that reminded me of a mainframe. This house had been wired to do everything electronics could do back in 2000. A smart-house indeed!… Continue reading In defence of a simple life: Axe vs. Chainsaw
Where are the racists?
Throughout 2020 we were told relentlessly that we have a race problem in America. A serious one. Then a black man died under the knee of a policeman which was presented as indisputable evidence that we not only have a grave race problem but that black people were in fact being mown down in the… Continue reading Where are the racists?
The slap heard round the world
We remember the scene. Will Smith ascends the stage and pimp slaps Chris Rock. Let's set aside what we now know about these two men in particular and the extenuating circumstances that have come to light since this slap heard round the world, and take it instead entirely at its initial face value. Mr Rock,… Continue reading The slap heard round the world
Progressivism’s defeat is inevitable
We cannot escape our human nature. All attempts to break out of its bounds will fail in proportion to the energy exerted or apparent success. We may imagine that we can fly, jump from a cliff, and in fact fly. But only for a bit. Likewise we may imagine that we have discovered the cure… Continue reading Progressivism’s defeat is inevitable
Look Away... 