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I have nothing but sympathy for Ksenia Khavana, the ballerina with dual Russian-American citizenship who was arrested and charged with treason during a visit to family in the country of her birth. She was charged with treason reportedly because she made contributions to Ukrainian humanitarian causes, and has taken Ukraine’
Culture
The dictator of George Orwell’s “1984” knew that “Who controls the past, controls the future: Who controls the present, controls the past.” This is the special sauce of tyranny. How do you gain control? Force of arms is one way. It is expensive, obvious, and fraught with the danger
Culture
I just finished re-reading George Orwell’s classic cautionary novel, “1984,” and found a new insight, one that I did not have when I first read it in college, in the 1960s. Orwell’s invented all-powerful dictator was Big Brother. Back then, during the Cold War, the villain clearly was
Police
The huge whiteboard tells the story. The whiteboard is covered with instructions in Teng Chan’s neat handwriting, instructions that meticulously detail the daily medical needs of her husband, Andy, who is paralyzed, and vulnerable. The whiteboard stands vigil between Andy and death, because he is grievously wounded. Andy, 53,
Police
In what is sure to be unwelcome news to District Attorney Larry “Let ‘em Loose” Krasner, the city of Philadelphia has announced an astonishing New Look — it will enforce drug laws, starting with Kensington, home to the living dead. That might seem an impolite term to some, but when you
Education
I once again turn this space over to a liberal academic, who does not adhere to Leftist orthodoxy. By Jonathan Zimmerman News flash: People who teach at universities don’t like Donald Trump. And the feeling is mutual. Indeed, Trump has made university-bashing a centerpiece of his campaign to retake
Immigration
On its second try, the (bare, and shrinking) Republican House majority managed to pass a vote to impeach our reality-challenged Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas. The vote was 214-213, the charge was not enforcing immigration law and breaching public trust, and the case will now move to the Democrat-controlled
Culture
I have been very fortunate in the occupation I selected. I knew I would never get rich, but I never imagined it would bring a boy from the tenements of the South Bronx into contact with the rich, powerful, and famous. It’s not what I wanted when I first
Politics
“Questions aren’t attacks.” That was a key point made by Philadelphia Inquirer op-ed columnist Helen Ubinas in Tuesday’s paper. It was the second time someone at the Inquirer has criticized the Cherelle Parker regime’s gag order policy on what is supposed to be public information. New mayors
9/11
The word “iconic” is greatly overused nowadays by people with limited vocabularies, but this image IS iconic. It is simultaneously inspiring, tragic, resolute. Pictured with President George W. Bush atop a crushed New York Fire Department pumper truck amidst the rubble of the World Trade Center towers was retired firefighter
Politics
The Bad News for Joe Biden is that youth (18-30, roughly) have fallen out of love with him. The Good News is that the youth, in most elections, don’t show up in large numbers. Usually. But In 2020 the youth turnout climbed to a high of 50%, and Biden
Politics
For the first time, in a long time, people are burbling about a looming third-party candidacy for the U.S. Presidency, one that might have a chance of succeeding. People are burbling because polls are showing some 70% of Americans do not want a Joe Biden/Donald J. Trump rematch,