How Democracy Dies (Summer in The Republic 3)

Last updated on: June 6, 2018 at 11:39 pm By John Mark N. Reynolds

Democracy dies in the light looking around for edutainment, hoping for an enlightenment that is fun! Democracy dies when academic bully boys use their power to make lovers of wisdom perform, because they have the money and power. Education dies when college presidents fire scholars to hire grifters that promise increased endowments and student life directors who promise fun (!). Education dies the moment we say “no” to any idea without considering whether it is true. Plato pictures this kind of... Read more

Rene and Georgette Magritte and I miss Warren Throckmorton

Last updated on: June 6, 2018 at 12:23 pm By John Mark N. Reynolds

I love the song Rene and Georgette Magritte With Their Dog after the War. Two nights ago, I heard Paul Simon tell how a picture’s awkward title inspired a song. Great genius inspires great genius. The artist Rene Magritte never stops making me laugh and think. Magritte’s work was absurd, in one way obvious to the point of heavy-handedness, but always backed up with a smile. It was the smile that tormented the powerful, laughed at them, and made them... Read more

Look for Truth Yourself (Summer in the Republic 2)

Last updated on: June 5, 2018 at 1:05 am By John Mark N. Reynolds

Busy people wish to short circuit learning, but there is not a fast way to wisdom. Microwave education is like microwave pizza: ready when you want it, but you should wait a bit longer for actual pizza. Imagine knowing one of the greatest teaches who would ever live, but you want him to come to your house only as entertainment. The real fun begins with a nighttime spectacular, but meanwhile like the discerning host you are, there is a bit of... Read more

Papaw and the Atheist

Last updated on: June 4, 2018 at 2:13 pm By John Mark N. Reynolds

Doing Right is Winning Winning does not mean getting rich or famous because good, true, beautiful people do not always “win” that way in this life. Papaw worked at Dupont, a job he appreciated even if it contributed to a difficult death.* He did well even to the point of being paid for an invention that saved many men bruised knuckles when trying to remove pipes. Papaw showed me the drawings he made. The laborers at the plant were mostly... Read more

Gentle Mercy: Paul Simon and Growing Up in America

Last updated on: June 3, 2018 at 6:19 pm By John Mark N. Reynolds

Tonight I was reminded of my need for mercy through the last tour of singer-song writer-theologian-American: Paul Simon. When I was a little boy, radio brought us folk singer and song writer, Paul Simon. When I was a young man, I married a musician who taught me that Mr. Simon had been up to good since splitting up with the musical partner he calls “Artie.” She showed me that pop music could be excellent and I disposed of a great... Read more

Even the Thracians Were Good (Summer in the Republic 1)

Last updated on: June 3, 2018 at 11:12 pm By John Mark N. Reynolds

Prejudice means we often get what we expect. The oppressed are clever enough to give the rulers what they wish to see: jumping Jim Crow, smiling, stepping, fetching. Read Ralph Ellison. Sometimes, however, if you go to see and what you love is wisdom, then you see what you do not expect. Socrates loved wisdom, but he was also an Athenian. That meant he had all the prejudices of his city and class. What would he have been taught? Athens was... Read more

The Fredonia: A Good Idea

Last updated on: June 1, 2018 at 11:41 pm By John Mark N. Reynolds

There is a little miracle in the city of Nacogdoches, Texas: the Fredonia Hotel. Built in 1955, the hotel had gone the way of downtown hotels in America: decay and closure. Evidently a family bought the place and sold shares to the community (shades of the Green Bay Packers) and reopened the place. It is fabulous. Why? The restoration embraced the vision of the original builders with modern touches. The lobby is lovely, the food, the pool, all spot on. This... Read more

What if Mr. Frodo is an ass?

Last updated on: May 31, 2018 at 11:24 pm By John Mark N. Reynolds

Sam followed Mr. Frodo to Doom. Sam served, as was his place given his personality and talents, and Frodo was worth serving. Sam is what I aspire to be. After all, there are people who are happiest working for others and who do not want the final load of decision making. I have been blessed to serve many good bosses at Biola and The Saint Constantine School, so I have little cause for personal complaint. But what if you are... Read more

Looking to Joan

Last updated on: May 30, 2018 at 2:33 pm By John Mark N. Reynolds

Joan of Arc was born into Paradise today. Remember her and know hope. We got up this morning and the sunlight was hitting the face of a small memento of Saint Joan in our living room. Her church evidently no longer wanted her and so for almost nothing we ended up with a lovely little statue of Joan of Arc. She was a gift to my wife, Hope, who has saved me not from the English, but myself. Joan’s visions,... Read more

The Fallen City: Delivered with Safety for All Time

Last updated on: May 29, 2018 at 10:38 pm By John Mark N. Reynolds

Tuesday, May 29th and the faithful are in Church, some of them. Others defend the City, because that is what faithful people do. There are portents, fear, nothing built to last appears strong enough. We are losing on Tuesday, May 29th, the year of the Lord 1453. The great walls of Constantinople, the reigning city, are breached. Allies failed the faithful and history will never see an Eastern Roman Empire again. Classical education and theological education had continued in one city... Read more

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