Category Archives: Commentary

Distortion for the Greater Good

Posted on December 11, 2015 by Tom Garrett

It’s as fascinating as it is frustrating to watch the media spin a story to suit its preferred narrative. Our weekly example comes from the controversy surrounding oral arguments in Fisher v. University of Texas, the latest affirmative action case to reach … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Politics | Tagged Antonin Scalia, Commentary Politics, Media Bias, MSNBC | Leave a comment

The Age of Totalitolerance

Posted on November 10, 2015 by Tom Garrett

Much evil may be committed in the name of “justice” or “equality” or, ironically, “freedom.” All of us believe in some version of those precepts. Thus, to oppose a strain of totalitarianism that gallops into town under a banner bearing the … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, General Culture and News | Tagged Concerned Student 1950, Education, First Amendment, Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, Free Speech, Higher Education, Missouri, Mizzou, R. Bowen Loftin, Tim Wolfe, TL;DR, Tolerance, Totalitolerance | 5 Comments

Taylor Swift-Boating John Kasich

Posted on October 13, 2015 by Tom Garrett

At a town-hall-style event at the University of Richmond last week, Ohio governor John Kasich noticed a female student who was enthusiastically trying to get his attention, reacting by saying, “I don’t have any tickets, for, you know, Taylor Swift,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Politics | Tagged 2016 Election, Commentary, Donald Trump, John Kasich, Kayla Solsback, Politics, Taylor Swift, University of Richmond | 1 Comment

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 | 3 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 →