When I complained about how my writing had become analytical rather than beautiful, my PhD advisor encouraged me to write “one beautiful paragraph a day.” This was today’s paragraph. Sometimes ADD (or ADHD-PI) feels like a sport—I’m locked in, my heartrate elevated, eyes wide, mouth dry, leg pumping as I scour my sources or tap … Continue reading What ADD Feels Like
Hypocrites, All: Bill Clinton, Jim Jordan, and Big Tech
N.B.: I originally wrote this piece in early August. After attempting to pitch it to several outlets, only one of which even responded, I decided to publish it here. Please note that my aim here is not to engage in conspiracy-theory-like thinking, but to highlight a serious problem that is borne out by my sources … Continue reading Hypocrites, All: Bill Clinton, Jim Jordan, and Big Tech
“Not For Sale”: Why the Trump Plan Will Fail
President Trump recently unveiled his long-awaited plan for a Palestinian-Israeli peace, known as Peace to Prosperity. The 80-page document (with about 100 additional pages of added material) outlines the basis of a proposal to end the Arab-Israeli conflict that has roiled the Middle East since the founding of the modern Israeli state in 1948. Most … Continue reading “Not For Sale”: Why the Trump Plan Will Fail
Your Degree is Worthless
Last year, I was among the finalists to be the class commencement speaker for the Class of 2018's graduation from Grove City College. My proposed speech ultimately wasn't chosen, but I've been thinking about it a lot lately, due to some questions I've asked myself about my career path and what brings me fulfillment. I've … Continue reading Your Degree is Worthless
Unilateralism^2
The past few days have not been kind to the US foreign and national security policy communities. On Wednesday, the American envoy to Syria admitted that the United States is no longer seeking the ouster of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, but rather that it wants the regime to modify its behavior. Later that day, President … Continue reading Unilateralism^2
Honesty: The Worst Policy?
Just days after the Central Intelligence Agency concluded that journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered on the orders of de facto Saudi leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (aka MBS), President Donald Trump issued an official statement directly contradicting the CIA’s finding. Trump cast doubt on the CIA report, claiming that the US intelligence community was … Continue reading Honesty: The Worst Policy?
Kathy Griffin, Lèse-Majesté, and the Responsibilities of Protest
I cannot stand Donald Trump. Anyone who has recently had the misfortune of discussing politics with me knows this to be true; indeed, they may (rightly) consider it to be a drastic understatement. I believe his election was a truly unfortunate event in American history, though the thought of Hillary Clinton issuing orders from the … Continue reading Kathy Griffin, Lèse-Majesté, and the Responsibilities of Protest
Trump’s Troubling Rhetoric
In the field of history, the issue of ‘perception vs. reality’ is often critical to assessing a phenomenon’s magnitude, justifiability, reasonableness, etc. This brief article discusses that important dichotomy as it relates to the rhetoric of presidential candidate Donald J. Trump, and some common responses to that rhetoric.
Benjamin V. Allison 