URLs du Jour

2017-09-22

Proverbs 20:6 could have been the inspiration for many a popular song and countless pissed-off poems:

6 Many claim to have unfailing love,
    but a faithful person who can find?

Darn it, now I can't get that Carole King song out of my head…


■ The latest outrage at the University Near Here is recounted by the student newspaper. Greek org under investigation amid controversial video.

An unknown member of a UNH sorority posted a video Tuesday night of members singing and dancing to a "popular song that uses the n-word," according to an email that Dean [of Students] Ted Kirkpatrick sent to the UNH student body in wake of the event.

In the press release, Kirkpatrick stated that, "The use of that word runs counter to our values. Moreover, it is a word that diminishes members of our community." He also announced that the incident has been reported to the national chapter and is currently under investigation by both the chapter and the university.

The song is identified as "Gold Digger" by Kanye West. It's well-known enough to have a Wikipedia page of its own. It's not my cup of tea, but a lot of people liked it. Back in 2005, it was number one on the Billboard "Hot 100" chart for 10 weeks, which is a lot of weeks. It won a Grammy for "Best Rap Solo Performance".

So, bottom line: when Kanye sings it, it's OK. Sorority girls, not so much.

I posted the following comment: "To avoid future controversy, I hope Dean Kirkpatrick composes a comprehensive list of songs that sorority girls are not allowed to sing."

Ah, but wait a minute. Via the Facebook page "All Eyes on UNH" (which is some fun to read all on it's own), the sorority has abjectly apologized for … whatever … and the Dean-promised "investigation" has been terminated. A report from report from The Tab: UNH sorority will NOT be investigated for n-word video – and students of color say they’re ‘livid’.

I have mixed feelings about the battle between conveniently-hypersensitive students and an obsequious administration. I'm sad that it's UNH. On the other hand, pass the popcorn.


■ At NRO, Michael Brendan Dougherty is Still Waiting on a Peace Dividend.

It’s just never going to happen for us, is it? It seemed like there were a few weeks of peace dividend in the 1990s. They must have happened sometime between withdrawing from Mogadishu and accidentally bombing the Chinese embassy in Belgrade. Maybe it was the week Princess Diana died, and that’s why it seemed so short to me.

Since then, of course, we’ve elected three consecutive presidents who campaigned on promises of withdrawing America from needless conflicts of choice. Bush’s humble foreign policy. Obama’s end to the “distraction” in Iraq, so we could finish the job in Afghanistan. And then Donald the Dove.

I know: fight them "over there" so we don't have to do it here. I get that. But…


■ Another NRO link, this one from our hero, @kevinNR:An Anti-Growth Tax Cut

Republicans want to cut taxes by $1.5 trillion — while the government already is running a deficit — and they propose to offset those cuts with wishful thinking.

In control of both houses of Congress with a nominally Republican president in the White House, they are pursuing the dead opposite of the immigration policy touted by Donald Trump on the campaign trail, and considering something close to the opposite of their longstanding promises on health care. They are embarrassed by their inability to execute any proposal of great consequence, and have retreated into that great Republican safe space: tax cuts, the more irresponsible the better.

It's more fun than cutting spending, or keeping campaign promises.


■ In case you haven't noticed, there's a new Obamacare sorta-repeal bill in play, and Jimmy Kimmel, late-night network entertainer, has become an expert commentator on it. Patterico shoots that fish in a barrel: Jimmy Kimmel’s Dopey Sketch on Graham-Cassidy Misses the Point. Is it important that Graham-Cassidy pass?

Meh. I don’t think it matters at all. The only health care system that could work is one that depends on actual choice, which is only possible in a free market. But clearly Americans — and consequently their representatives — aren’t up for the sort of solutions that this would require. (I have discussed free-market alternatives for health care before –for example, here). Whether we tinker with a losing situation in this way or that way, in my view, matters little.

It's clear that the debate, such as it is, is fueled by fear, fantasy, and demagoguery. Kimmel is an enthusiastic participant.


■ We talked yesterday about Laura Kipnis's ongoing woes, her payment for being honest about the current university climate on matters sexual. At Reason, Robby Soave has more: Northwestern Investigated Laura Kipnis Again for Violating Title IX with Her Opinions

The forces of darkness really don't want Prof. Laura Kipnis to criticize the campus sex bureaucracy—but they keep proving her right about it.

He includes a tweet that I shall also include here as our tweet du jour.

We used to think this sort of thing was Orwellian. But it's rapidly approaching "Carrollian". As in Lewis Carroll. "Off with her head!"


Last Modified 2018-12-28 1:57 PM EDT