Category: Culture

  • Of Adoption Tax Credits and Fiscal Cliffs

    Of Adoption Tax Credits and Fiscal Cliffs

    There has been much clamoring surrounding the fiscal cliff of late. Interest groups of every shape and color want to make sure they aren’t the ones to feel the blunt force of spending cuts or tax increases. One interest group has caught my eye amidst the commotion. This is the adoptive families interest group. For…

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  • Happy New Year!

    Happy New Year!

    As I am writing this I am currently recovering from celebrating New Years Eve at Times Square in New York City with co-blogger Caleb Johnson. Nearly ten hours of waiting in the cold on Broadway… It was a lot of fun, but I’m completely exhausted. Yet before I went to bed I wanted to reflect…

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  • The Real War on Christmas

    The Real War on Christmas

    We’ve all heard it before—Bill O’Reilley’s rants over the “War on Christmas”. Bill doesn’t like when people call Christmas trees, “Holiday Trees”. He thinks gender-neutral toy commercials offend the little baby Jesus, and don’t even think about taking the “Christ” out of Christmas. But I am here today to tell you about a different war…

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  • Christ: the Answer for Conflict

    Christ: the Answer for Conflict

       For many in Newton, Connecticut, the idea of celebrating Christmas ideals of cheer,  joy, and peace seem  inhumane this December 25th. Smiling and happiness in the face of massacre, pain, and mourning… doesn’t seem right. In fact, celebrating amidst such darkness almost brings on a feeling of shame. To do anything other than to…

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  • A Tragic Day

    A Tragic Day

    On days like this one, we feel it more, we see it more. Some of us may only see, while others are closer and may feel. We don’t always get to choose which of the two we are. But once you are of those that feel, you cannot go back to merely seeing. A day…

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  • How the Grinch Was Too Late to Steal Christmas

    How the Grinch Was Too Late to Steal Christmas

    “Pooh-pooh to the Whos!” he was grinch-ish-ly humming.   “They’re finding out now that no Christmas is coming!   “They’re just waking up! I know just what they’ll do!   “Their mouths will hang open a minute or two   “Then all the Whos down in Who-ville will all cry BOO-HOO!”     “That’s a…

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  • Jesus and His Father

    Jesus and His Father

    Anyone who’s come over for dinner has seen my collection of Peruvian oil paintings of the Virgin Mary. Several years ago, a spending spree and newfound obsession with Catholic art (despite being a Reformed Baptist) landed me with a few too many Marys: three hanging in the hallway and one above my bed. Buyer’s remorse…

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  • Pardon Me…

    Pardon Me…

    After his recent trip to Asia, it’s good to see our President (well, the US President, to be sensitive to our international readers) is back in time for the important parts of his job- namely, the Presidential Pardon of a Thanksgiving Day Turkey. This year, Cobbler and his pal Gobbler received “the nod” to be…

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  • Obama  Wins:  Now  What?  (Guest Post)

    Obama Wins: Now What? (Guest Post)

    On November 6th, Barack Obama was reelected faster than Thai food was delivered to my election night party. Though it is still obvious that our country is split down the middle, the election easily went to the Democratic Party. The people have spoken, and I think it’s time for Americans to accept this shift of…

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  • Called to Fail?

    Called to Fail?

    November 6th, 2012 has come and gone. The monstrous and menacing machine that is the American political and campaign engine has crossed the finish line, and can finally click off (well, maybe for a few months). We have a victor. We all had the privilege of casting our votes for a candidate, and now we…

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