This opinion piece, written in 2012, explores how moving to the United States changed the views of one immigrant family.
Tag Archives: Opinion
Beyond Grief and Grievance
Poet and essayist Philip Metres argues that in attempt to use poetry to heal after tragedy, poets should be careful not to fall into cliché or exploitation.
In the Age of ISIS, Is War Reporting Worth the Risk?
Journalist Janine di Giovanni reflects on how war reporting has become more dangerous since she started her career over 20 years ago.
What America’s Gilded Age tells us about the Trump era
Annabelle Quince, a broadcaster with a background in law, psychology, and history, draws parallels between American robber barons of the past and today’s political and business leaders.
Edgar Allan Poe–Cosmologist?
In this blog post, literary scholar René van Slooten argues that Poe was ahead of his time in scientific thought.
The crucial role of men in gender equality
MSNBC reporter Richard Lui writes that men play a major role in fighting for gender equality. Read the article and watch the video to hear his argument.
How Dictators Come to Power in a Democracy
A conservative columnist looks to Nazi Germany for lessons that might apply closer to home.
Why exploration matters—and why the government should pay for it
Neil deGrasse Tyson makes the case for doubling the small budget allotted to NASA.
Humans of New York and the Cavalier Consumption of Others
In this column, writer and critic Vinson Cunningham compares the work of Humans of New York photographer Brandon Stanton to earlier documentarians such as Jacob Riis.
How America became Italian
Using the example of Italian-Americans, history professor and author Vincent J. Cannato argues that the exchange of cultures and ideas between native-born Americans and immigrants positively influences society.
Arthur Miller’s Chameleon Play
Critic Alina Cohen reviews a recent Broadway production of The Crucible and reflects on the play’s lasting themes.
In ‘All the Wild That Remains,’ David Gessner illuminates two great writers on the American West.
Read this review of nature writer David Gessner’s biography of two other authors whose work he argues remains relevant today.
Jamaica Kincaid’s Antigua
In this essay, travel writer Monica Drake explores the homeland of author Jamaica Kincaid and looks for the inspiration she found in her writing.
Opinion: Why Nazi Hunting is Still a Worthy Pursuit
Dr. Efraim Zuroff asserts that we should continue to pursue and bring to justice Nazis who participated in the atrocities of the Holocaust, more than 60 years after the war ended.
Address at the Conclusion of the Selma to Montgomery March
Read or listen to one of the most important speeches by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
What Separates Us from Chimpanzees?
The line between humans and animals, biologist Jane Goodall argues, is fuzzy. In this TED Talk, she explores not only how human-like chimpanzees and other animals can be, but also how the human world and the natural world are intertwined—and how we can use our influence for good.
Dying for Freedom
Though the Emancipation Proclamation freed countless slaves, it failed to put into place any measures to assist them in their lives after slavery. Read about the untold obstacles to freedom these people faced.
Nature: Now Showing on TV
Is our digital experience with nature eclipsing our real experience with nature? What do we gain by watching wildlife on a webcam? What do we lose? In this essay, writer Diane Ackerman shares her opinion about our digital connection to nature.
The Perilous Lure of the Underground Railroad
Journalist Kathryn Shulz examines fictional accounts of fugitive slaves navigating the underground railroad, the accuracy of those accounts, and why we are drawn to them.
Reader View: The wilderness can handle bikes
Brent Bonwell, an advocate of the mountain biking community, argues that allowing mountain bikes in wilderness areas will expand access to more people, a stated goal of the Wilderness Society, and help volunteers and rangers maintain trails.