Years ago, I wrote about the business of buying Scottish titles. For a few pounds, you could purchase a tiny plot of land in Scotland and receive a certificate declaring you a Lord, Lady, or Laird. The transaction was real enough. The certificate existed. The little piece of land existed, too. What you did not … Continue reading The Currency of Honor
Category: Cultural Essays
Reflections on the customs, moral assumptions, and social habits that shape everyday life. These essays explore the traditions, virtues, and institutions that quietly organize society.
Kudzu and Its Ilk
It was planted to stop erosion. It fed cattle. It was praised by experts and promoted by the government. Then it crossed the fence line. Today it covers forests, barns, telephone poles, and most of my backyard. Kudzu never asked permission. Neither does power. Every generation invents a new reason to surrender an old liberty. … Continue reading Kudzu and Its Ilk
The Free State of Trust
Several years ago, not long after my wife and I moved to Winston County, Alabama, I was talking with a longtime member of the community. During the conversation he said something I’ve never forgotten. “It doesn’t matter how long you live here,” he said. “You’ll always be an outsider.” He didn’t say it kindly. And … Continue reading The Free State of Trust
Earning its Place on the Shelf
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven..."Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV) There was a time when every new book represented possibility. I bought them with the optimism that someday I would read them, understand them, and perhaps become a little wiser because of them. Some came from bookstores, … Continue reading Earning its Place on the Shelf
The Machines That Verify Us
There was a time when finding your way required more than a signal. In the early years of my military service, I used a PLGR, a Precision Lightweight GPS Receiver. The name suggested something more refined than the device itself. It was large, deliberate, and slow to orient. Acquiring a signal could take time, and … Continue reading The Machines That Verify Us
How and Why Do Myths Arise
I have noticed that modern people speak about myths with a certain confidence, usually while participating in them. The word itself is often used dismissively, as though a myth is merely a falsehood displaced by more rational understanding. We contrast myths with facts as though the distinction resolves the matter cleanly and permanently. And yet … Continue reading How and Why Do Myths Arise
The Company One Keeps at the End of the World
There is a particular kind of question that appears harmless on its face and yet carries more weight than intended. The “zombie apocalypse” prompt is one of these. It is usually asked in jest, often answered quickly, and almost never revisited with any seriousness. Who are the three people you'd want at your side in … Continue reading The Company One Keeps at the End of the World
