Recognizing Humanity: Orwell and the Consistent Life Ethic
by John Whitehead We’re 70 years from the publication of one of the 20th century’s most influential books: 1984. George Orwell’s 1949 novel about future life under an extremely repressive regime has shaped political debate and popular culture for decades. The novel’s anniversary will doubtless prompt further reflections. I reflect on Orwell’s concern for defending…
Explaining Belligerency
by Rachel MacNair Why did U.S. slaveholders insist on expanding slavery into new territories, despite existing political wisdom that keeping the practice out of places where it might encounter stronger opposition would be more practical? Why are there advocates for war, or for abortion and euthanasia, who can’t stand the idea of conscientious objection, even…
Nuclear Disarmament as a Social Justice Issue
by John Whitehead Activists seeking to end or radically reduce nuclear weapons’ threat may find it difficult to get public attention. Despite the high stakes involved—the lives of millions and even humanity’s survival—the nuclear threat frequently seems distant and abstract. The danger is future and hypothetical, in contrast to current, actual situations of people dying…
Does Socially-Approved Killing Increase Criminal Homicide?
by Rachel MacNair When killing is socially approved, does this provide a model for killing that isn’t? We offer evidence. The Homicide Rate and Executions Do executions deter murder? Since societies with executions still have murders, we know it’s not a complete deterrent. But are there fewer murders than there would be otherwise? There’s another…
Remembering Rep. Walter B. Jones, Jr.
by Patrick O’Neill It may be have been unprecedented on the U.S. political landscape — a Catholic U.S. Congressman who was invited to be the keynote speaker at both an anti-abortion rally and an anti-war rally — in the South. Yet, that’s what happened when Republican Rep. Walter B. Jones Jr., an Eastern North Carolina…
How Black Panther Promotes a Consistent Life Ethic
by Andrew Hocking Andrew Hocking writes about spirituality in movies, TV, and books and frequently discusses politics from a consistent life perspective. Since its release last February, the movie Black Panther has made a tremendous impact, becoming a commercial and critical success—currently a Best Picture Oscar nominee—and also generating commentary about its social…
The Price of Violence: When Dehumanizing the Vulnerable Hurts One’s Own Causes
by Julia Smucker Last October, in one of a series of opinion pieces in Slate on how the political left should approach the U.S. Supreme Court, Christopher John Sprigman made the point that the liberalization of abortion laws that came with Roe v. Wade, without popular consensus in its favor, has proven disastrous for…
A Friendly Approach
by Richard Stith I think we should be careful to be positive and praise all the folks who support one of our key issues, while still gently encouraging them to broaden their opposition to violence. Here’s an example of how I’ve been trying to apply this approach locally. A theater here in town is putting…