The United States, like a number of other countries, inculcates and demands a high level of patriotic conformity. This cultural characteristic is evident in, for example, the saying of a pledge of allegiance in many schools, the rendition of the national anthem at various, seemingly random events, and the veneration…

I suspect there will come a time, perhaps not so far in the future, when many will feel that there are simply too many people on the planet and something must be done about it. This concern will be fueled and rationalized by several factors, including a physically deteriorating planet…

Donald Trump continually reminds me of an article published in the New York Times by David Brooks. In it, Brooks outlines his definition of the narcissistic individual. I apologize for the long extract, but he writes: The narcissistic person is marked by a grandiose self-image, a constant need for admiration…

There is a tendency in many countries to value the vague and hollow concept of patriotism over principles. This is a mistake. In countless obituaries we read how “he was a great patriot” or “she was a great patriot,” but such remarks are mere platitudes and mean little. Yes, they…

Soon there will be a lot of people distancing themselves from Donald Trump and apologizing profusely for having supported the president so loyally. This will not only include his most trusted political allies, such as Mike Pence and Mike Pompeo, but also his family members, including Ivanka and Jared Kushner…

It is said that most people retain one or two grudges from events that happened a long time ago; a precise moment, a specific situation, often recalled in exact detail, when one was treated unfairly and felt rage and resentment. This is from Psychology Today: Many people hold grudges, deep…

In an age of recrimination, revision, and transformation, citizens around the world are seeking to right historic wrongs, expose predators, confront bullies, fight systemic discrimination, and aspire towards societies that value justice, equality, and respect. It is therefore imperative to identify and challenge all forms of divisiveness, domination, and malevolence…

A belated but important response to Ralph Peters An excellent example of anti-Europeanism in the America media is an opinion piece by Ralph Peters entitled Europe: Worlds Apart, which was published in the New York Post in August 2003. As I say, this is an opinion article rather than a…

Anti-Europeanism in the American media The concept of fake news has become a conspicuous and much-discussed phenomenon during the past few years, and has fomented an important debate about the sources, legitimacy, and credence of public information. In many respects, the contemporary notion of fake news in the United States…