Tag Archive

A Controversial View on Freedom of Religion

Published on April 11, 2021 By sirrahc

The issue of “religious rights” and the “free exercise of religion” is a contentious one in the United States. (And elsewhere, of course.) It boils down to “Who is allowed to do what?” and “Who decides?” Naturally, the First and Fourteenth Amendments come up, as does the fan-favorite “separation of church and state”. Incidentally, that […]

Philosophical Naturalists Can’t Condemn Criminals

Published on April 9, 2017 By sirrahc

“Justice, sir, is the great interest of man on earth. It is the ligament which holds civilized beings and civilized nations together.” — Daniel Webster, early American politician When a wrong has been committed, it’s a normal, healthy human desire to want to see justice done. I am defining “justice” here as fair punishment that […]

Calvin Coolidge’s Independence Day Speech (1926)

Published on July 3, 2016 By sirrahc

President Calvin ‘Silent Cal’ Coolidge was known as a “quiet and somber man whose sour expression masked a dry wit.” He was a small-government conservative Republican who fought for racial equality and “embodied the spirit and hopes of the middle class.” He could also give one heckuva good speech, as exemplified here. (Fwiw, this is […]