A voice in the distance

by David Benjamin   “Back then, it was students against the institution. Now it’s very different because it’s student against student.”” —Paul Brest, professor emeritus, Stanford Law School   MADISON, Wis.—When I was matriculating at a little liberal arts outpost called Rockford College (pop. 450), there were two noticeably outspoken right-wing students. One, from Boston,…

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Israel, Hamas and the revolutionaries of Ed 101

by David Benjamin   “… We may graduate our students, confer degrees that certify their qualifications as the best and brightest. But we have clearly failed to educate them. We have failed to give them the ethical foundation and moral compass to recognize the basics of humanity…” — Ezekiel J. Emanuel, vice provost for global…

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Barefoot in the past

by David Benjamin  “You can burn my house, steal my car/ Drink my liquor from an old fruit-jar/ Do anything that you want to do/ But uh-uh baby, lay off of my shoes/ Don’t you step on my blue suede shoes.” ―Carl Perkins   MADISON, Wis.— One of my guilty pleasures is Emile Ardolino’s sneaky-smart…

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The guy behind the counter knows everything

by David Benjamin  “I’ll have what she’s having.” —Older lady customer at Katz’s deli, When Harry Met Sally   PARIS—As I was wedging my way between two thirsty Frenchmen and awaiting eye contact with the publican behind the bar at Le Baron Rouge, a wine and oyster oasis near the ancient Marché d’Aligre, I thought…

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There’s something in a hat (besides a raccoon)

by David Benjamin “Wide brimmed and narrow, some tall, some not, some fancy, some colorful, some plaid, some plain. She doted on changing hats at every opportunity. When she met the Prince, she was wearing one hat, when he asked her for a stroll, she excused herself, shortly to return wearing another, equally flattering.”  — William…

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A definition of winter

by David Benjamin “Winter is icumen in,/ Lhude sing Goddamm,/ Raineth drop and staineth slop,/ And how the wind doth ramm!/ Sing: Goddamm…” — Ezra Pound, “Ancient Music”   MADISON, Wis.—When does winter start? Although I’ve seen a hell of a lot of winter by now, I hesitate to pin down the exact moment that…

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Shaking the dust

by David Benjamin “… I don’t have good news. [The Artistic Committee] were interested in participating but the language was of great concern. ACT is very firm about not using swear words or using the Lord’s name in vain. Also our audiences frown upon any ‘f’ words so we really keep the dialog clean …”…

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The hungry gun

by David Benjamin  “I think it would be appropriate to move the age for permitless carry to 18. There’s really no reason why a legal adult should not be able to defend themselves.” — Rachel Malone, Gun Owners of America   MADISON, Wis. — An irony of the midterm election—perhaps the most ironic election season…

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Together again, for the first time

by David Benjamin   “A clear conscience is the sure sign of a bad memory.” — Mark Twain   MADISON, Wis. — Last weekend at my 55th-year high-school reunion, I drifted from the crowd and found, alone at a table, a woman whose name tag—featuring her 1967 yearbook photo—read Linda.  Hesitantly, I sat with her.…

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A hot time in the old town

by David Benjamin “Hot town, summer in the city? Back of my neck getting dirty and gritty…” —John Sebastian MADISON, Wis. — You don’t have to guess what city John Sebastian was thinking about when he — along with Steve Boone and his brother Mark — wrote “ … All around, people looking half-dead, Walking on…

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