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Fetishizing Drones

From First Thoughts

National Review , the flagship journal of the conservative movement, has published an editorial that is broadly sympathetic to the Justice Department’s “white paper” laying out the Obama administration’s legal argument for the targeted killings of individuals (including U.S. . . . . Continue Reading »

Fighting Against Sex Trafficking

From First Thoughts

Those of us who are fans of pro football don’t want to think about the subject of this article on sex trafficking  as we prepare to enjoy the Super Bowl, but we must. The scale of the trafficking of women—-often girls—-into sexual slavery and other forms of exploitation in . . . . Continue Reading »

Benghazi’s Blue Wall of Silence

From First Thoughts

Thomas Sowell tells it like it is on Benghazi-gate. But Professor Sowell is a conservative and a Republican. Where are the voices of our liberal and Democratic friends and fellow citizens? Why the lack of curiosity about critical questions of governmental responsibility and accountability? Why . . . . Continue Reading »

Roe and “Our Daughters”

From First Thoughts

I was struck yesterday, on the 40th memorial of Roe v. Wade, by several statements by those favoring legal abortion who stressed the “need to protect the right to choose for the sake of our daughters.” Our daughters. Hmmmm . . . . Every child (or, if you prefer, since it changes . . . . Continue Reading »

Shrug Not

From Web Exclusives

In a post at CNN’s Belief Blog, a young Evangelical urged Christians to “shrug off” the fact that an Evangelical pastor was apparently disinvited by the President’s Inaugural Committee to pray at the inauguration because of his Christian convictions on sexual morality. We disagree. … Continue Reading »

“Never Weary, Never Rest”

From First Thoughts

Shortly before his death, Richard John Neuhaus, speaking at the annual convention of the National Right to Life Committee, delivered what I believe to be the greatest pro-life speech ever given. It will inspire the pro-life faithful of all traditions and stations until the field is . . . . Continue Reading »

Remembering Fr. Neuhaus

From First Thoughts

Yesterday was the fourth anniversary of the death of Richard John Neuhaus. Those who knew him intimately and those who knew him only through his writings share the pain of his loss. Since he was irreplaceable, it is scarcely a surprise that no one has taken his place in American . . . . Continue Reading »

An Interview About What Marriage Is

From First Thoughts

My book with Sherif Girgis and Ryan Anderson,  What is Marriage? Man and Woman: A Defense , was recently published by Encounter Books.  Brandon Vogt has now interviewed me for  Our Sunday Visitor Newsweekly  about the principal themes, claims, and arguments my co-authors and I . . . . Continue Reading »

Bomb Arrest a Test for the Media

From First Thoughts

So now, it seems, we have rather a good test for the elite media. We know how reporters and commentators would be reacting to this story on the arrest of an Occupy Wall Street protestor and his girlfriend if the people arrested were (or were thought to be) tea party activists, do we not? So . . . . Continue Reading »

Progressives Ditch the Disguise

From First Thoughts

Jewish ultranationalist (and founder of the Jewish Defense League) Meir Kahane, whose Kach party was disqualified on grounds of racism from seeking seats in the Israel’s Knesset, used to say to his fellow Israelis “I say what you think.” After publishing this op-ed in . . . . Continue Reading »