The following is a summary of the August/September issue of The St. Croix Review:
Barry MacDonald, in “America Needs the Police, America Needs Leaders,” describes the cascade of terrible events that has followed the tragic death of George Floyd.
Michael S. Swisher, in “Animadversions,” looks at the devolution of American culture from old America, to the riots of the 1960s, and to the riots of today.
Mark Hendrickson, in “Cops, Protesters, and Weeding out Bad Apples,” offers American commonsense suggestions for reform for both the nation’s police departments and the organization of protests; in “Three Lessons from the Pandemic and the Lockdown,” he warns us of the malevolence of the Chinese Communist Party, the inevitable incompetence of big government, and the hostility of the Green movement toward economic prosperity; in “Why Has Three Percent Economic Growth Been So Elusive?” he believes that too many idle males of working age, accumulating debt taken on by individuals, businesses, and governments, and nonsensical government interventions are putting a long-lasting strain on the U.S. economy.
Allan Brownfeld, in “American History Is Complex: Its Critics Are Ignoring Its Extraordinary Achievements,” explains the glories that the Founders accomplished, and the dilemmas they faced; in “Slavery Was a Great Evil — But It Is Important to Get the History Right,” he reviews the world history of slavery; in “Police Reform Should Be A Compelling Issue for Both Conservatives and Liberals,” he considers the difficult issues involved in the dangerous profession of policing and makes suggestions on reform; in “Thomas Sowell at 90: A Prophet in His Own Time,” he celebrates Thomas Sowell’s insights into race relations, the immigrant experience, and the importance of individualistic effort in achieving success in America.
Paul Kengor, in “Burying Memorial Day 2020,” relates the sad forgoing of Memorial Day parades this year due to the Coronavirus; in “Astronauts, Riots, and Pandemics: 2020 vs. 1969,” he compares the heartbreak and turmoil of two similar years and point out events worthy of celebration.
Earl H. Tilford, in “Antifa: A History Lesson from the German Street,” compares some similarities between Antifa and the Nazi SS.
William Adair Bonner, in “Celebrating the 4th of July Weekend,” reviews the sacrifice of American Soldiers at Valley Forge and their long odds for success; and he also comments on the Marxist subversion of America’s schools and universities.
Don Lee, in “Why Is Leftism So Appealing? Why Do Leftists So Hate Conservatives?” suggests: Leftists want Easy Answers.
Philip Vander Elst, in “Two Prophetic 19th Century Anti-Socialist Satires,” presents imaginative an imaginative and a chillingly accurate depiction of what living under a socialistic system would be like.
Francis DeStefano, in “The Best Years of Our Lives,” reviews the film made in 1946 about three veterans returning home from World War II; in “Hidden Figures,” he reviews the 2016 film about the young, intelligent, and skilled black women who were vital at NASA in doing the calculations necessary for astronaut John Glenn’s first mission to succeed — he also shares some thoughts on the segregated schools of the ’50s and ’60s.
Jigs Gardner, in “Writers for Conservatives, 82: Lincoln’s Rise to the Presidency, by William C. Harris,” writes about Lincoln’s education, his “sketchy” jobs, his sociable personality and insight.
Jigs Gardner, in “Letters From a Conservative Farmer — A New Series,” writes about his childhood attraction to the countryside.