‘And on Earth . . .’

   It was March 20, 2003. After “shock and awe,” American forces had rolled tanks into Iraq. I drove by a church whose marquee read, “Pray for peace.” I shook my head. Maybe some worshippers inside wanted that. The rest didn’t mean it at all. They wanted to crush perceived enemies.    Now it’s December 2009.…

Who gave away the moon?

 It’s not “‘Jon and Kate Plus Eight Attorneys.” It’s not, “on ‘Oprah,’ Sarah Palin unveils her road map for world peace.”  That an American probe just discovered water on the moon is not big news, judging by what one hears. Still, you’d think we’d be hearing a lot about it.  I’m not talking about the fact…

A short ‘pro-life’ quiz

   You know a Republican primary is approaching when, like leaves falling in the wind, candidates drop nuanced positions on reproductive rights and lie prostrate before blustery anti-choice absolutists.     That’s the case in Texas, where Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison seeks to return home to redecorate the governor’s mansion. Thematically, to that end she…