Columns

Organ grinders, barber poles, civilization

As with beauty, what constituted a mark of civilization in south Louisiana in days past appears to have been in the eye of the beholder. For example, the Lake Charles Commercial carried a little item in 1882, noting that, “the first organ grinder who ever came to Lake Charles ..

Progressive response to shooting backfires

Following the tragic shooting at an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs, it was predictable that along with the gun control discussions, the conversation would bleed out to include “hate speech.” It was also predictable that only conservatives would be blamed for that speech.

The gift of Christmas cheer

I’m not feeling it this year. I’m just not feeling the Christmas spirit of any kind, and I know, for the benefit of others, I need to get out of my slump. Christmas cheer is a real thing.

Let’s declare war on fentanyl

The Republicans won the House. The Democrats kept the Senate. Joe Biden is still pretending to be the president. So how about if we – i.e., the politicians and the news media – dispense with the partisan political junk for a while?

She loved her Cowboy and a little dog

Toni Jo Henry went to her execution on Nov. 28, 1942, clutching a small crucifix, loving the man she’d killed for, and worried about a little rat terrier. It took three trials before her murder conviction finally stuck, even though the facts of her case were never disputed.

Is the dumbing down of our students intentional?

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) test scores, called the Nation’s Report Card, and the ACT test scores for college admissions, are now out and the results can only be called a National Crisis! We are witnessing the largest learning loss in modern history.

Three pillars of progressive philosophy revealed

In the smoldering wake of what can only be called a Republican debacle, many pundits much better schooled in politics and history weighed in with their opinions on what happened.

TV tosses tinsel on 158 holiday films

When it comes to sappy holiday movies, you either scorn them as you would another pair of reindeer-themed socks, or you eagerly binge on offerings such as “My Southern Family Christmas,” produced by Hallmark and described thusly: “Under the guise of a journalist, Campbell has a chance to get to...

Are you thankful for the right things?

Please pardon me, but I am always overcome by mawkish sentimentality at this time of year. I cannot contain my gratitude.

A break from politics so we don’t get fooled again

Don’t you and I deserve a campaign break? For months, we’ve been suffering through accusatory political rhetoric from both parties. I don’t know about you, but I think we all should tune out for a while.