Commentary
Expert perspectives on justice concerns worldwide
Today is International Criminal Justice Day — and my heart is heavy thinking of the victims of the Tennessee shootings–military servicepeople senselessly gunned down yesterday; the families of the victims in the Aurora, Colorado shootings–receiving a verdict of murder but still emotional at the loss of their loved ones; and many others facing violence and oppression around the globe.
The shooting of nine parishioners during a church service in Charleston, South Carolina has brought both deep sadness and anger to our nation. Many have watched the community, particularly the Church community, come together in solidarity and forgiveness even in the face of racial hatred that sparked the killings. Others have become incensed about the killer’s actions and motivations, prompting questions on why this is not considered terrorism. Still others are determined to remove the Confederate flag from South Carolina in response to the tragedy. These responses and others to the horrific events in Charleston touch sharply on some of the most difficult topics in our country and worldwide – racism, terrorism, and nationalism. These terms are not only supercharged with meaning and impact, but also with misinterpretation and misapplication.
May is the month for most high school and college graduations across the U.S. Commencement exercises mark a key milestone in the life of the student. For some it’s the end of their formal education, for others a marker toward the next educational or professional milestone, and for all, it’s the start of the rest of their lives. Whatever the context, graduation certainly is worth celebrating. But in the United States, graduation progressively has become more about being “done” and getting that diploma, rather than recognition of achievement and educational advancement. The term achievement has progressively become less “PC” in American lexicon, and the idea of advancing in education has become less accepted. The result is a decline in educational motivation and mobility in America. And the consequences of that decline can be significant for not only students but for our American society as a whole.
Almost three months after the dust from Obergefell has settled, one thing is clear: conservatives are crying foul primarily over Obergefell’s usurpation of the democratic process. The “debate over same-sex marriage displayed American democracy at its best,” we are told, and the majority in Obergefell was dead wrong to end it. This was Obergefell’s cardinal sin from the conservative perspective.
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