Columns

The world needs more children

It’s a growing concern that world leaders, economists and even Pope Francis have warned about: people aren’t having enough children. Across the globe, birth rates are plummeting below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman, the minimum needed to maintain a stable population.

Will there be horses in heaven?

“When you are on a great horse, you have the best seat you will ever have.

Restoring our Irish sense of humor

St. Patrick’s Day couldn’t come soon enough this year. Half the country is giddy as the Trump administration undoes our reckless spending and $2 trillion annual deficits, which have resulted in a frightening $37 trillion national debt.

Are you a fanatic or what?

I recently attended a memorial service for a longtime acquaintance who was renowned as one of those “if you cut him, he’d bleed University of Tennessee orange” enthusiasts.

Gayarre found the romance of our history

Charles Gayarre was an attorney by trade, a politician by choice, and a historian partly because he found the story of Louisiana replete with poetry. To my mind, that is especially true of south Louisiana. He is credited with writing the first complete history of Louisiana.

In Italy, Trump gets respect

I write this from my hotel room, a two-minute walk from the Colosseum. My trip to Rome has been planned for months, and I looked forward to it with anticipation since well before Christmas.

Must we all speak English in America?

Should America have one official language-English? The president says yes, and asserts that a single shared language “is the core of a unified, cohesive society that serves to streamline communication and empowers new citizens to achieve the American dream.” Who could argue with those goals?

Fed to focus on cutting Medicaid fraud, not cutting benefits

As the federal budget moves through Congress, Democrats and their loyal media allies have done nothing but scream about Medicaid “Cuts” in funding and the harm that will do to health care. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.

How not to name a puppy

If you think that people are disagreeable these days about politics and culture, you can’t imagine how heated people got when I asked for suggestions on what to name my yellow Labrador puppy four years ago. Blame social media.

‘Oscar’ was created by native son of Iota

You probably didn’t think of the Acadia Parish community of Iota when you were watching the Oscar awards last week, or even take a hard look at the statuettes that carry the name. But maybe you should have.