The best of intellectual conservative thought.
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CATEGORY: CULTURE (5 MIN)
More for memory
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Washington, D.C., houses a vast array of memorials and monuments commemorating various people, places, and events in American history. Schools send field trips to the nation’s capital, tourists flood the National Mall every summer, and protests and marches make their way around the city—all because of what it means to the country. Next month, another sculpture will grace Washington: A Soldier’s Journey.
Gerald P. Boersma, writing in First Things, describes the importance of this new memorial, calling it a “masterpiece.” The piece will show a soldier’s progression from home into the horrors of World War I and his safe return to his family. Boersma recognizes the timeless nature of the story. Classic literature since The Odyssey has told the tale of the protagonist far from home who makes his way back through countless dangers.
Boersma sees even more value in the sculpture than merely in its storytelling. He points to the recent trend of destruction of public monuments, destruction that Boersma says stems from the “malaise of memory.” Memory, Boersma argues, has been replaced by quick-fire information on social media and screens that flood our brains and leave quickly.
Boersma thinks A Soldier’s Journey helps alleviate this problem and renews American memory. Read more of his thoughts here.
Read Now
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Weekly Poll
Is national identity in America undervalued today?
[A] Yes
[B] No
[C] I don't know
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RESULTS: 8/8/24
Was Gov. Tim Walz a good vice-presidential pick for Kamala Harris?
[A] Yes - 23.4%
[B] No - 60.9%
[C] Not sure - 15.6%
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CATEGORY: POLITICS (11 MIN)
Swing sentiments
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One number dominates the minds of politicos across the country between now and November: 270. That’s the number of electoral votes Donald Trump and Kamala Harris each need to clinch the general election this fall. A few key swing states will make the difference in the chase for 270, but perhaps the most important is the now-purple state where the Founders signed the Declaration.
For Compact, Sohrab Ahmari discusses his trip to Pennsylvania, where he interviewed historically Democratic voters who have since switched their loyalties. Ahmari talked with an elderly brother-sister pair in eastern PA who came from a strongly Democratic background. One of them even voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020.
Ahmari discovered that they changed their minds after the COVID pandemic and the related widespread government lockdowns. The increasing refusal to compromise from those who believed vaccines and masking were mandatory made Ahmari’s interviewees uneasy. And censorship on social media and in real life multiplied this effect—the voters were shocked people “don’t want to discuss” their beliefs anymore. It was their way or the highway.
Ahmari continued to discuss Trump’s positions and the state of the nation with these voters—the economy also had a substantial effect on their decision-making. One of the pair plans to vote for Trump; the other for Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
Learn more about the undercurrents affecting these voters here.
Read Now
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CATEGORY: VIDEO
Exploring Montesquieu, David Hume, and the American Founding | Khalil Habib
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In this engaging episode of Conservative Conversations, we are joined by Khalil Habib, Associate Professor of Politics at Hillsdale College, to explore the profound ideas of Montesquieu and David Hume. We delve into how their philosophies illuminate the current political landscape and the foundational principles that anchor political life. Our conversation examines Montesquieu's influence on the American Constitutional order and the enduring relevance of his political philosophy. We discuss David Hume's insights into human nature and governance, and their implications for modern politics. We also explore the connection between Montesquieu's greater political philosophy and the core values of liberty and justice in America, and engage in a thought-provoking discussion on whether the American founding represents a relativist project.
This episode offers a rich exploration of the ideas that continue to shape our political institutions and societal norms. Whether you're a student of political theory or simply interested in the philosophical roots of contemporary politics, this conversation provides valuable insights and stimulating discussions.
Watch Now
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ISI's Annual
Homecoming Weekend
Join ISI on September 20-21, 2024, for a garden party that’ll welcome students, professors, alumni, and friends of ISI from across the country.
Every year, we host ISI’s annual Homecoming festivities right on our 20-acre campus tucked away into a bucolic pocket of Wilmington, DE. Our Homecoming sets the tone for the new school year and is an opportunity to celebrate and network with our impressive community of students, teachers, alumni, and professionals from a variety of backgrounds.
Official Homecoming Schedule:
Friday, September 20 (6:30 pm – 11 pm)
Guests will gather at ISI’s campus for a reception, bonfire, and open house
Saturday, September 21
Guests will gather at ISI's Campus for an 8:00 am breakfast
9:00 – 10:00 am: Reagan and Nixon Revisited
Speakers: George Will and Lord Conrad Black, moderated by Dan McCarthy
10:30 am: The Democratization of American Christianity
Speakers: Rusty Reno, Nathan Hatch, and Joshua Mitchell, moderated by Johnny Burtka
Top 20 under 30 Awards Ceremony
12:00 – 1:15 pm: God and Man at Yale 2024
Michael Knowles (lecture) and moderated discussion feat. Michael Brendan Dougherty
1:15 pm: Lunch and festivities begin
Reserve your ticket>>>
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CATEGORY: CULTURE (6 MIN)
To make a nation
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The old animated series Schoolhouse Rock! taught children about math, science, English, and American history—it’s probably most well-known for the classic “I’m Just a Bill.” Another one of the videos is called “The Great American Melting Pot,” and it colorfully describes the wide variety of peoples from across the globe that came together to America throughout its history.
In this week’s article from the Modern Age website, Alexander Riley reviews a book called Out of the Melting Pot, Into the Fire by Jens Heycke, which analyzes the history of multiculturalism and its effect on our nation’s future. The book, according to Riley, claims that successful integration into a national identity protects a country, while divisions among cultures can destroy it.
Riley has some criticisms for Heycke’s work, but he agrees that the way American elites treat multiculturalism could have disastrous repercussions for the nation. Riley argues that our country’s leaders don’t believe that we are all Americans anymore.
He says these men and women “are determined to guide society in the very direction most likely to awaken and accentuate the latent avidity of human groups for mutual animosity based on identity.”
Riley worries that Americans might lose forever “a common, unifying national commitment.” Do you agree? Read his piece here on the Modern Age website.
Read Now
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Thought of the Day:
“Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire, called conscience.”
- George Washington
Join ISI’s new Alumni Giving Club
It’s never been easier for you to support our mission—and stay part of our community—with ISI’s new Alumni Giving Club!
For just $19.53 a month, you can join the fight and “pay it forward” by educating the next generation for ordered liberty.
Join the Club
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