CATEGORY: GREAT WORKS OF LITERATURE (10 min)
We all love Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
But it looks very different today, Titus Techera argues. Two decades ago, we Americans didn’t really understand its conservative moral seriousness.
Now the films’ treatment of corruption, surveillance, and the collapse of civilization strikes much closer to home.
Techera explains how Tolkien offers us great wisdom concerning the necessity of defense . . .
. . . why men who yearn for peace still prepare for war . . .
. . . and why so often people need kings.
In short: it's probably time for all of us to watch these films again. And Techera invites us to ask this one great question:
“How can Americans unite politically to act in defense of civilization and faith?”
Start thinking about that question – and get ready for a Lord of the Rings viewing party – right here.
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CATEGORY: IMPORTANT THINKERS (13 min)
This man mentored William F. Buckley and Brent Bozell. He carefully edited God and Man at Yale.
He was a giant in American political thought, and founded the politics department at the University of Dallas.
Fluent in three languages, he also worked extensively for the CIA—and cleaned out a nest of communists.
Do you know his name?
You should. But why is Willmoore Kendall largely forgotten today?
Reviewing a new biography of Kendall by Christopher Owen, Tom Pauken tackles that question at The Imaginative Conservative.
Pauken thinks Kendall has been unfairly tarnished.
Pauken argues that Kendall’s conservatism—anti-utopian, suspicious of majoritarianism, rooted in the Founding—is urgently needed today.
Get a snapshot of the great thinker’s life here—and see if you want to add Owen’s biography to your reading list.
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Because our student editors and writers are bravely bringing conservative ideas to their campuses, we’re highlighting their efforts here.
Is Golf Machiavellian? via The St. David's Sentinel
Law Professor files for preliminary injunction in COVID treatment discrimination suit via the Cornell Review
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CATEGORY: HISTORY (7 min)
How Do Violent Men Become Political Heroes?
Che Guevara has achieved almost legendary status among wannabe revolutionaries. You almost definitely seen his iconic image on T-shirts, memes, and flyers.
But at one time, Hitler was a hero. So was Stalin. So was Mao. Their crimes, however, caught up with them.
Why do some Americans still idolize violent men like Che?
Today we’re pulling a book review from the Modern Age archives because it addresses this difficult problem and adds a worthy title to your reading list.
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ISI is excited to invite you to our second annual Homecoming Weekend!
Last year's inaugural event definitely lived up to its name—our beautiful 20-acre campus was buzzing with the energy of intelligent discussions and the vibrant community that ISI is known for.
And this year, we're doubling down to create an even greater experience for faculty, students, alumni, and friends of ISI.
You’re invited to join us as we gather once again at ISI's main campus near Wilmington, Delaware on May 13—14 for our second annual Homecoming Weekend.
Highlights of Homecoming Weekend include:
- A Friday night dinner at Wilmington’s historic Hotel du Pont honoring the winner of ISI’s 2022 Conservative Book of the Year award, Victor Davis Hanson for his book The Dying Citizen
- Additional Saturday Reunion Luncheons for Graduate Fellows; Honors Scholars and Society Leaders; and Collegiate Network Editors, Interns, and Fellows past and present to reconnect with their ISI friends
- Our ISI reunion conference Saturday afternoon featuring panels on the purpose of the liberal arts and the future of higher ed
- Saturday evening reception featuring food, live music, and dancing on ISI’s campus
And, if you're under 30, tickets are only $50!
This is your chance to experience what ISI has to offer as the top resource for conservative education and community.
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“All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost.”
—J. R. R. Tolkien
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Thank you for reading. Share with a friend!
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Who We Are, What We Do
Too many college students feel isolated or attacked for questioning the ever-narrowing range of debate on campus.
We introduce you to the American tradition of liberty and to a vibrant community of students and scholars so that you get the collegiate experience you hunger for.
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