Edwin Benson 
Modernists like to manipulate words, often “spinning” them into meanings that appear simple but are relatively obscure. For example, consider the modern misuse of the terms like “accompaniment,” “social justice,” or even “woke.” Such is not the case with the architectural style known as “brutalism.” The Architecture of Despair Merriam-Webster defines brutal … Read more
My twelfth-grade English teacher terrified me, as she did most of my classmates. She was a pleasant person outside of class and very approachable if you asked for help. On the other hand, not to have prepared for class was an infraction that would be punished severely. She had a knack for … Read more
During the fifties, television barged its way into American homes. It was a revolution—and, like most revolutions, it was expensive. In 1955, the median income was $3,400, or $65.30 a week. A Zenith table-top television cost $149.99. Advertisers had to convince people to pay almost three weeks’ income for a toy. They … Read more
“In Christ’s simultaneously masculine and feminine body in these works, if the body of Christ as these works suggest the body of all bodies, then his body is also the trans body.” According to the British newspaper, The Daily Telegraph, that blasphemy was the conclusion of a sermon at the Trinity College … Read more
Those who enjoy watching a spirited tennis match will draw real pleasure from the current back-and-forth controversy over social studies education in Virginia. Anyone with a child in an American public, parochial or private school should pay close attention. What are Social Studies? The term “social studies” has far more meaning than … Read more
When the Republican Senator Ben Sasse’s name emerged as a potential President for the University of Florida, some students and many faculty members roiled with anger. No Confidence The Faculty Senate proposed a vote of “no confidence” to the Board of Trustees, which passed 67 to 15. When Sen. Sasse visited the … Read more
“Don’t cry over spilled milk.” Mothers worldwide have long given this advice to their children. The lesson is simple. When people make mistakes, the most desirable course is to clean up as best they can and then move on with their lives. Excessive sorrow, endless contemplation and overly-profuse apologies solve nothing. Rebellion … Read more
A recent article in The Guardian makes an exciting revelation—ninety-five percent of the donations for the restoration of Notre Dame come from Americans. That was true even before the April 2019 fire. In light of the devastating fire, it is easy to forget that Notre Dame was under restoration at the time. … Read more
Over coffee in the office, a young acquaintance recently related an experience that exposed the false values of the modern art world. He had gone to an art museum with an older sister. He stood looking at one piece of so-called abstract art. He told his sister, “That doesn’t make sense to … Read more
Why is American education constantly redefining itself? Primarily because modern education practices have problems that the educrats can’t or won’t fix. Despite appearances to the contrary, schools know how to raise academic standards, enforce student discipline and prepare students for future challenges. They just don’t want to do those things. Instead, they … Read more