SHSers Debate Volatile Issues—Respectfully

I am very pleased with the level of discourse we have seen the last day or so among people with diverse, deeply held opinions, about two of the most volatile issues that we face as societies today;  abortion and animal rights.  I think we show here that people can disagree wholeheartedly, even bitterly—and do so appropriately, albeit with some sharp elbows thrown.  This is what wide-open discourse in a free society is all about. And given the news of this sad day, discourse is more important than ever.

It also makes what I do easier. I know because of the level of maturity of most commenters, I can bring up any public controversy or issue without fear of too much flaming. Thanks very much to all who participate in the exchanges—and to all who attend to the conversation here. I appreciate you all very much.

Dear Reader,

Can I be direct with you?

War abroad. Socialists on the rise. AI upending human life. Endless uproar online. The modern attention economy doesn’t want readers — it wants users enslaved to the tyranny of the present.

First Things is the antidote: literary excellence, timeless truths, and a fixed point of reference in a culture that has lost its bearings.

But we can’t do it without readers like you.

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