Free Republic

Former NBA star Dennis Rodman traveled to communist North Korea, a trip financed by a documentary filmmaker. Rodman appeared neither officially nor unofficially as part of the U.S. government. An incredulous George Stephanopoulos of ABC subjected Rodman to a grilling more suitable for a corrupt, double-dealing politician: "When you said you love Kim (Jong Un) and think he's awesome, were you aware of his threats to destroy the United States and his regime's horrendous record on human rights? ... Do you think you have a responsibility to ask him about it so that you don't be perceived as sort...

It is reported in The Mail on Sunday that Pete Broadbent, Bishop of Willesden, has prophesied that the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton will last just seven years. That's precisely what the Established Church needs: generous, humble and optimistic shepherds of the sheep who set their minds on all that is noble, pure, lovely and of good report. He really ought to read what the Bible has to say about soothsaying..... Bishop Pete is a self-confessed republican. Apparently, when news of the Royal engagement was announced, he tweeted: ‘Need to work out what date in the spring or...

There are over 200 black newspapers in this country, hundreds more black-owned or black-operated radio stations, black TV and black Internet blogs. Additionally, there are black radio and TV programs on white radio and TV stations, all of which promote their very existence as being to provide news, lifestyle and entertainment about the black community to the black community. We all love black media for giving us what the white media could never give us – information from a black point of view, which is sometimes 180 degrees from a white point of view. Yet there is a segment of...

A classic "Bloom County" cartoon of the 1980s has Opus the penguin sitting on a park bench watching a host of people pointing out things about each other that they find offensive, till they all realize, "Life is offensive!" At which point they all run off screaming in horror. Opus sums up the spectacle thus: "Offensensibility." Offensensibility is something afflicting many in our society, and it's an especially volatile combination with cultural illiteracy. Just ask new White House Press Secretary Tony Snow. His first outing went well by many accounts; however, one thing he said set off the easily tripped...

I wanted to write about the latest Lord of the Rings movie today. But as I scoured the Web reading what other people had to say, I realized I had nothing new to offer. I love Tolkien. It’s a good movie. A bit too long, I thought, but I will see it again, regardless. Anyway, while trying to figure out what to write, I kept stumbling on articles about how Tolkien was a racist and/or about how The Lord of the Rings is pro-war propaganda. Both of these ideas have dedicated adherents. For example, John Yatt says in the British...