The Top 5: From Rene Girard to "welcome home"
Dear Friends,
We apologize for the longer-than-usual hiatus! We wanted to take a break for Easter and then last week, my (Melissa’s) dad was in a serious motorcycle accident. He is stable, but with some lung issues that have caused major concern. If you could pray for his healing and his medical team, please do! His name is Jon.
Also, in case you missed it, the Center for Christianity and Public Life announced its first set of confirmed speakers for their third annual summit, For the Good of the Public. Confirmed speakers include former Ohio Governor John Kasich, Freya India, Meghan Sullivan, Richard Reeves and Joshua DuBois. Many more speakers to be announced soon. You can learn more and make plans to attend the summit in Washington, D.C. on October 20-21 here.
This is Wear We Are,
Melissa
Welcome to the latest edition of the Top 5 articles we’ve read this week. Each week, we read dozens of articles in the hope we find essays and reporting that speak to big ideas, trends, future looks, and incredible human stories. We hope you enjoy these articles, and do always let us know if you have a suggestion or a recommendation!
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The Top 5 articles for your week:
“Two words at the border reveal America’s true promise” (Washington Post)
Because Shadi Hamid writes about what the “welcome home” affirmation uttered by airport immigration officers says about American identity.
“All the Conversations that Kids are Missing” (Substack - After Babel)
Because Alison Wood Brooks laments the loss of face-to-face conversation due to screen-time. It’s one of the most detailed arguments I have read concerning the importance of conversation-based skills to human development.
“Read The Atlantic’s Interview With Donald Trump” (The Atlantic)
Because this is an eye-opening transcript of the interview between the President and journalists Jeffrey Goldberg, Ashley Parker, and Michael Scherer. The stuff on Oval Office decorations is just plain fascinating.
“From Philosophy to Power: The Misuse of René Girard by Peter Thiel, J.D. Vance and the American Right” (Salmagundi)
Because Paul Leslie examines what he considers to be the American Right’s misuse of the philosopher Rene Girard’s ideas, with a particular focus on Peter Thiel and JD Vance.
Examining how both Thiel and Vance misconstrue Girard’s themes shows how their misreadings shape the way power is understood and exercised, affecting not just academic debates but the actual conduct of political life.
“Ross Douthat on Trump, Mysticism and Psychedelics” (NYT)
Because this interview between Ezra Klein and Ross Douthat deals with the idea of President Trump as a “man of destiny.”
Prayers for your dad, Melissa 💜