Putin’s Second Chance at Greatness
by Richard Lourie
Rarely does a political leader get a shot at greatness. Far rarer is a second chance — but the current impasse may provide Putin with just that.
Who Shall Live and Who Shall Die…in Midtown Manhattan
by Ilana Kurshan
Every Fall, as I review the melodies of the high holidays, I am reminded that I first learned to lead Rosh Hashanah prayers while walking in Manhattan.
These Late Eclipses
by Elsa Hart
Sudden darkness, and the disappearance of the sun, speaks to us…of abandonment, disorder, and apocalypse. A predicted eclipse is another matter.
The Paradox of Permanence
by Cyrus Bozorgmehr
There’s been a dualism at cultures’ core since time immemorial. On the one hand, the arts have always sought permanence. And yet the fleeting illumination of an immersive moment has always had a primal hold on human experience.
The Immigration of an Idea
by Claire Booth
Who would do this job? What characters would I need to create to chop down these trees? And there really was only one answer. Immigrants. Specifically, undocumented immigrants from Mexico and Central America.
The Erie Canal and America’s Future
by Jack Kelly
The Erie Canal was indeed a paragon of public works. But although it exemplifies possibilities, the canal also reminds us of pitfalls.
The Cost of Hiding Mental Illness
by Stephen Hinshaw
Mental health issues seem to be discussed everywhere these days. Yet appearances are deceiving. Although public knowledge of mental health has increased sharply over the past 60 years, public attitudes have either stayed flat or, in crucial ways, become worse.