‘Paul G. Kengor’ Archives
The Flags at the Cemetery
PAUL G. KENGOR, CENTER FOR VISION & VALUES Like many Americans, Memorial Day never ceases to move me. Rivaled only by Christmas and Easter, it’s the most poignant time of the year for me, maybe because, like Christmas and Easter, it’s about life, death, and remembrance. This Memorial Day, several images stick with me: Recently, [...]
Alan West and His Critics
PAUL G. KENGOR, CENTER FOR VISION & VALUES Congressman Allen West (R-Fla.) is being heavily criticized for comments alleging that certain Democratic members of Congress are communists, and he is not backing down. West dared to quantify his accusation, claiming there are “78 to 81” Congressional Democrats who are communists. I want to [...]
On Hope and Hate: Week One of Obama v. Romney
PAUL G. KENGOR, CENTER FOR VISION & VALUES Something wonderful unfolded in American politics the last few days. Almost immediately after Rick Santorum dropped out of the Republican presidential hunt, David Axelrod and the Obama reelection team unleashed the class-warfare cannons. They expected to enjoy the first salvo of the season, [...]
On Ozzie Guillen, Fidel Castro, and Baseball in Cuba
PAUL G. KENGOR, CENTER FOR VISION & VALUES “I love Fidel Castro,” said Florida Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen to Time magazine. “A lot of people have wanted to kill Fidel Castro for the last 60 years, but that is still here.” Guillen “respects” the Cuban despot. Guillen has since apologized profusely for his comments, which [...]
Yes, Congresswoman Pelosi, We’re Serious: On the Constitutionality of Obamacare
PAUL G. KENGOR, CENTER FOR VISION & VALUES America anxiously awaits the Supreme Court’s decision on Obamacare. At the core of the decision is a simple question: Is the “individual mandate” in Obamacare constitutional? And thus, is Obamacare constitutional? Several times during the debate and deliberation, my mind harkened back to [...]
Obama, the Russians, and Missile Defense: Historical Parallels
PAUL G. KENGOR, CENTER FOR VISION & VALUES President Obama has caused quite a stir with a private comment made to Russian President Dimitri Medvedev. In discussing missile defense, Obama suggested he would be prepared to yield to Russian demands after the November election. “This is my last election,” said Obama, not knowing his words [...]
Santorum or Romney? Culture War or Class War?
PAUL G. KENGOR, CENTER FOR VISION & VALUES The question for Republicans right now seems obvious: Would you prefer Rick Santorum or Mitt Romney to run against Barack Obama? Well, it depends on whether you prefer to engage President Obama on cultural grounds or on terms of class warfare. Obama and his chief political strategist, David [...]
On Santorum, Democrats, and “God’s Will”
PAUL G. KENGOR, CENTER FOR VISION & VALUES In case you didn’t notice . . . With George W. Bush out of office and a Democrat in the White House, the secular media stopped its handwringing over the president mentioning God. With Rick Santorum’s surge, the hysteria has started again. Every religious utterance by Santorumwill be a cause for [...]
Satan and Santorum: Perspective from Reagan’s Evil Empire Speech
PAUL G. KENGOR, CENTER FOR VISION & VALUES The secular world today trembles and shudders at the sight of Rick Santorum speaking on good and evil at Ave Maria University in Florida in 2008. Santorum’s statement came 25 years after another much-maligned social conservative, Ronald Reagan, delivered a similarly fiery speech in Florida in [...]
V&V Q&A (Presidents Day Special): What Would Reagan Do?
PAUL G. KENGOR, CENTER FOR VISION & VALUES Editor’s Note: The “V&V Q&A” is an e-publication from The Center for Vision & Values at Grove City College. In this latest edition, professor of political science and executive director of the Center—Dr. Paul Kengor—is interviewed by Kathryn Jean Lopez—editor-at-large of [...]
Obama and Ginsburg on America’s “Rather Old Constitution”
PAUL G. KENGOR, CENTER FOR VISION AND VALUES I’ve gotten some very interesting emails regarding President Obama’s mandate commanding Roman Catholics (and many evangelical Protestants) to violate their consciences by providing mandatory contraception, sterilization, and abortion-inducing pharmaceuticals. The emailers noted that Obama’s [...]
Obama’s “Healthcare” Mandate: What Would Reagan Say?
PAUL G. KENGOR, CENTER FOR VISION AND VALUES February 6 was the anniversary of Ronald Reagan’s birth. It comes at an appropriate time. February is also the month of Presidents Day and the birthday of Lincoln, the other Republican standard-bearer. Every Republican presidential candidate tries to claim the mantle of Reagan: “I believe as [...]
The Obama Mandate to Catholics: “To Hell With You?”
PAUL G. KENGOR, CENTER FOR VISION AND VALUES America’s Catholic bishops are princes of diplomacy, highly educated, erudite, men of tact, propriety. They’re asked to shepherd the flock with a long historical timeframe—like, say, eternity. They tend not to have knee-jerk reactions to issues of the moment. And so, it’s not often when a [...]
Readying Romney for the Class-Warfare Machine
Campaign Trail, Paul G. Kengor, Center for Vision and Values If Mitt Romney gets the GOP nomination, prepare for a season of class warfare in America unlike any before. Not only has President Obama been pushing class warfare unceasingly for three years now, but his chief strategist, David Axelrod, has been employing precisely this tactic [...]
A Kim-Less Christmas
By Paul G. Kengor, The Center for Vision and Values This past Christmas, the people of North Korea were without their messiah. That is, their self-anointed messiah. For a sense of just how bad was Kim Jong-Il, I thought I’d share a few anecdotes reflecting the singularly pernicious nature of this man and what he created in his own [...]
On Hitchens, Havel, and Kim—and Totalitarianism
Paul G. Kengor, The Center for Vision and Values They say that famous people die in groups of three. I recently heard the news of the death of Christopher Hitchens, one of the world’s best-known atheists and polemicists. I was saddened by Hitchens’ death. I’m no atheist, but I respected the man, his writing skills, and his fierce [...]
Two Visions: The Nativity vs. the Occupiers
Paul G. Kengor, The Center for Vision and Values I recently strolled down Grant Street in downtown Pittsburgh and was struck by two images. First, there was the stirring life-sized Nativity that each year is displayed on the property of the giant U.S. Steel building. It is an inspiring sight. As I walked along, however, my eyes were [...]
On Vaclav Havel—and Chris Hitchens
Paul G. Kengor, The Center for Vision and Values Editor’s note: This article first appeared at The American Spectator today. Vaclav Havel is dead. Among other forces and powers, he is among the seven individuals most responsible for peacefully ending the Cold War; the great liberators who brought freedom and democracy. They are Ronald [...]
Goodbye, America: More Recollections of Deer Seasons Past
Paul G. Kengor, The Center for Vision and Values Last week I wrote an article (1) on Deer Season a half century ago, focusing on my grandmother’s town in the mountains of Emporium, Pennsylvania. Each year, my grandmother and other households opened their doors and kitchens and beds to perfect strangers who came to town to shoot a deer—and [...]
Meet the Presidents
Dr. Paul G. Kengor, The Center for Vision and Values Editor’s Note: The “V&V Q&A” is an e-publication from The Center for Vision & Values at Grove City College. In this latest edition, Dr. Paul Kengor, the executive director of the Center, interviews Walter Eckman, author of the recent book, “Meet the Presidents” (Schiffer [...]
Deer Season a Half Century Ago
Dr. Paul G. Kengor, The Center for Vision and Values This week hunters across America storm the woods loaded for deer. For yet another indication of how times have changed, consider this account of Deer Season a half century ago: My mother’s family lived in Emporium, Pennsylvania, as did dozens of their relatives. Emporium is a tiny town [...]
An “Occupy Wall Street” Thanksgiving?
Dr. Paul G. Kengor, The Center for Vision and Values Last week, a deranged malefactor was arrested at Occupy Wall Street for threatening to launch Molotov cocktails at Macy’s. It might have been a Macy’s Thanksgiving to forget. A much friendlier Occupy Wall Street offering comes from my Religious Left friend, Jim Wallis: It’s time [...]
No Regrets: Frank Kravetz Story
By Paul G. Kengor Editor’s note: A version of this article first appeared in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Just existing became what was important,” says 87-year-old Frank Kravetz of Pittsburgh, captive of the “hell-hole” that was Nuremberg Prison Camp. “Yet even as I struggled with the day-to-day sadness and despair, I never once [...]
God Bless Them?
Congressman Pelosi on the Wall Street Mob Dr. Paul G. Kengor, The Center for Vision and Values Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has a lengthy track record of jaw-dropping political statements. Among them, the lifelong Roman Catholic has been a huge disappointment to her Church on matters of unborn human life, which I’ve personally [...]
