John M. Crisp
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Past articles by John:
Crisp: Good riddance to Cleveland’s Chief Wahoo
Martin Luther King Jr. said that the “arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” I hope that’s true. But I’m certain that King never meant to imply that the arc bends on its own; it has to be nudged, sometimes shoved. → Read More
Crisp: Seen any good movies lately?
Jodie Foster, accomplished producer, director and actor, isn’t impressed with the fare generally available at the local multiplex. Noting the film industry’s current infatuation with superheroes, she complained last week to Radio Times Magazine that “going to the movies has become like a theme park.” → Read More
Crisp: A quiet day at the ballpark, 65 years ago
Before we put baseball to bed for the winter, let’s consider this only slightly facetious question: Do we cheer too much at baseball games? → Read More
Opinion: Replace the Pledge with something better
It often readily devolves into empty, rote ritual that doesn’t have much connection to its spirit. → Read More
Crisp: Replace the Pledge with something better
If our national civic religion is Patriotism, then our scriptures are the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Our saints are Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln, our primary hymn is the “Star-Spangled Banner” and our essential ritual is the Pledge of Allegiance. → Read More
Crisp: Are you sure you want to force them to stand up?
Assuming that you could force a six-and-half-foot-tall, 290-pound, thoroughly muscled man with an aggressive attitude to do something — such as stand up for the national anthem — are you sure that you would want to inject that element of coercion into what should be a respectful, devoted and completely voluntary act? → Read More
Crisp: Talking back to a president who has it coming
I love America. You probably do, too. Who wouldn’t love a nation in which an ordinary citizen can call the most powerful man in the land a “bum” and not suffer any consequences? → Read More
Crisp: Health care as a national unifier
Even Bernie Sanders must wonder whether the United States is ready for a universal, single-payer health care program. Nevertheless, the independent Vermont senator proposed such a program last week in the Senate, along with 16 Democrat co-sponsors. But with Republicans in charge in the House, Senate and White House, Sanders’ plan probably has little chance of adoption. → Read More
Crisp: Dismantle the Confederate monuments — just not this one
The controversy surrounding the 1,500 statues, monuments and place names that pay tribute to the Confederacy has been pushed into the background by Hurricane Harvey, but it’s far from over. → Read More
Crisp: Are Washington and Jefferson next?
During President Donald Trump’s remarkably equivocal Charlottesville, Va., press conference last week, he raised a question worth consideration: → Read More
The danger of football: An undeniable problem that we prefer to ignore
Our denial of football’s concussion issue rivals our denial of climate change. Rush Limbaugh, a persistent climate-change denier, contended that concerns over concussions were merely part of the left’s scheme to increase its power by making everyone into a victim. → Read More
Crisp: There’s a reason Colin Kaepernick doesn’t have a job
Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick was in the news recently, in a story that gives me a nagging, uneasy feeling about the health of our republic. → Read More
Crisp: Democrats should push left, starting with health care
Democrats are a disappointing 0-for-4 in special elections to replace House representatives who were appointed to President Donald Trump’s Cabinet. The bitterest pill was Jon Ossoff’s failure to defeat Republican Karen Handel in Georgia’s 6th Congressional District, despite a campaign supported by $30 million. → Read More
Crisp: Trump is just learning to be president
The nation made a bad mistake on Nov. 8, or so I and many others think. Nevertheless, shortly after the election I said in print, more than once, that Donald Trump is now my president, and there’s no point in complaining that he’s not yours, even if you’re among the significant majority who voted for someone else. → Read More
The middle path between deliberation and impulse
By John M. Crisp , Tribune News Service (TNS) As a Baby Boomer, I was weaned on the righteous glory of World War II, then chastened by Vietnam, a misguided, confused conflict that still haunts many Americans, as well as many Vietnamese. Since 1945 our military forces have done what they’ve always done, discharged their duties with loyalty, courage and skill. But their dependability hasn’t always… → Read More
Let’s raise the smoking age to 25
Laws that limit Americans’ freedom to smoke - combined with higher cigarette taxes and public awareness campaigns - have transformed the face of smoking in America in a good way. → Read More
Free society picks targets to prevent crime
The 2002 film Minority Report postulates a future in which a special police unit can detect crimes before they occur and thereby both prevent the crime and punish its perpetrator. → Read More
John M. Crisp: Arms in class too risky for one prof
The UT educator is quitting, and it’s no overreaction. → Read More
John M. Crisp: 3 family activities for the Fourth of July
Happy Fourth of July! The Fourth is always a grand day to consider what a remarkable nation we live in. → Read More