Public Lives

The perils of American exceptionalism 

Over the eight decades since the end of the Second World War, an international order…

The world we seek to understand

Born shortly after the end of the World War II, my generation has long considered…

When corruption could no longer hide

The year 2025 will likely be remembered as a turning point in our nation’s history—a…

The innocent in an unthinking war

Today, the Catholic calendar marks the Feast of the Holy Innocents, commemorating the slaughter of…

Online scams and the elderly

A few years ago, when the threat from COVID-19 had begun to recede, more and…

To be America’s friend

In January 2023, less than a year after assuming the presidency, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.…

Managing transitions: Edsa to Bangladesh

Protest movements worldwide tend to come in waves. Much of this results from the emulation…

Beyond the outrage

Today, Nov. 30, as outraged citizens once more pour into the streets to express their…

Politics in the grip of families—and vice versa

When one or two families dominate politics, it is not only democracy that weakens. Family…

Against moral numbness  

The opposite of anger is not apathy. It is moral numbness—the deadening of our capacity…