Category Archives: Commentary

Trump’s Popularity: Real, or Wake-Up Call?

Posted on September 16, 2015 by Tom Garrett

With another GOP debate imminent, poll leader Donald Trump will have several more opportunities to antagonize opponents, media members, and various segments of the public, as he has done repeatedly in recent months. Thus far, it hasn’t hurt him. At … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Politics, Sports | Tagged 2016 Election, Commentary, Donald Trump, Football, Politics, Presidential Election, Sports | 3 Comments

The Urge to Purge

Posted on August 18, 2015 by Tom Garrett

As I’ve said before, the primitive desire to purge our society of anything that makes us feel bad—particularly things that relate to history—will continue, unabated, until people stand up and say “enough.” Consider this opinion piece in the Washington Post, headlined … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Politics | Tagged Alpha Phi, College, Commentary, Hoop Skirts, Orwell, Politics, Revisionism, Sororities, The Civil War, The South, University of Alabama, University of Georgia, Washington Post | 3 Comments

The Mob Goes Trophy Hunting

Posted on July 29, 2015 by Tom Garrett

I don’t hunt and — at the risk of losing my “Real American” bona fides — I also don’t own a firearm. In fact, I have never pulled the trigger on anything more powerful than a pellet gun. I can’t drive … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, General Culture and News | Tagged Animals, Cecil the Lion, Commentary, General Culture and News, Hunting, Justice, Mobs, PETA, Social Media, Wildlife | 8 Comments

30 Facts for Live Aid’s 30th Anniversary

Posted on July 13, 2015 by Tom Garrett

Even though I was only seven years old, I could sense that Live Aid was important. Thirty years ago today, the biggest musical acts in the world performed as part of a single, massive event, unprecedented in scope. Everyone from … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Music, Television | Tagged ABC, Band Aid, BBC, Bob Geldof, Bono, Commentary, Dire Straits, Do They Know It's Christmas, Ethiopia, Freddie Mercury, Harvey Goldsmith, Live Aid, Michael Jackson, MTV, Music, Paul McCartney, Phil Collins, Queen, Television, The Who, U2, USA For Africa, We Are the World | 2 Comments

Memory Hole or Bottomless Pit?

Posted on July 2, 2015 by Tom Garrett

Down, down the memory hole we go. Where we stop, nobody knows. I was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. Despite growing up in the capital of the Confederacy, and later attending Washington & Lee (as in “Robert E.”) University, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, General Culture and News, Politics | Tagged Clinton Yates, Confederacy, Confederate Flag, Free Speech, General Culture and News, George Preston Marshall, Nikki Haley, Politics, Redskins, Tim Scott, Washington Post | 2 Comments

Untimely Police Procedure Review: Running Scared

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Tom Garrett

One of the more powerful and sadly ubiquitous stories of the past year has been the strained relationship between local law enforcement and the public, particularly in certain poor, heavily minority communities. Whether due to misguided militarization of police forces, … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Movies, Reviews | Tagged Billy Crystal, Commentary, Gregory Hines, Humor, Law Enforcement, Michael McDonald, Movies, Reviews, Running Scared, Sweet Freedom, Yacht Rock | 3 Comments

What Was Lost

Posted on June 27, 2015 by Tom Garrett

Today’s ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges represents the culmination of a perfectly executed public-relations campaign. It is impossible not to be impressed by what this activist-driven effort accomplished—I mean in real terms, not the unserious victory slogans of the campaign … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Politics | Tagged Commentary, Constitutional Law, Due Process, Equal Protection, Gay Marriage, Obergefell, Obergefell v. Hodges, Politics, Same-Sex Marriage, The Constitution | 48 Comments

Is Dylann Roof America Personified?

Posted on June 20, 2015 by Tom Garrett

The horrific, racially motivated murder spree by Dylann Roof also served as a call to action for those who see the awful events of Wednesday night as corroboration of their core beliefs about the poisonous nature of American culture. Briefly, … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, General Culture and News, Politics | Tagged California, Charleston, Commentary, Dylann Roof, General Culture and News, Higher Education, Politics, Racism?, South Carolina, Terrorism | 8 Comments

Gender in Sport, Redux

Posted on June 19, 2015 by Tom Garrett

I’ve seen several spot-on, anti-FIFA commentaries in recent weeks, but this one has nothing to do with corruption. Rather than focus on the scandal that has rocked FIFA, Kate Fagan’s espnW piece took soccer’s governing body to task over “gender verification” testing: … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, General Culture and News, Science, Sports | Tagged Commentary, FIFA, Gender, General Culture and News, IOC, Renee Richards, Science, Sex, Sports, Transgenderism | 1 Comment

Ranking the Viability of Money in the Bank Candidates

Posted on June 14, 2015 by Tom Garrett

From a storytelling perspective, Money in the Bank has easily become one of the WWE’s most critical annual shows, and the only show created in the past decade that cracks the list. Money in the Bank is as pivotal as … Continue reading →