Perspective: promoting liberal ideology at Franciscan
JOSH MERLO LIBERAL COLUMNIST As this will be my final liberal column for The Troubadour, I thought that I would do things a bit differently this last time. Instead of focusing on some pertinent international or American issues or focusing on some big-picture arguments for a particular liberal platform, I’m going to focus on something […]
Abortion, one-issue voting, and being a good president
JOSH MERLO LIBERAL COLUMNIST It’s the all-important “litmus test” for candidates, or so we’re told by various Christian activist groups and lobbyists. If the candidate you support supports abortion, you shouldn’t vote for them. After all, a vote for a “pro-choice” candidate, or even a candidate who only supports abortion in cases of rape or […]
Defending Sanders: A response
JOSH MERLO LIBERAL COLUMNIST During a perusal of last week’s political issue of The Troubadour, a particular charge hurled at a particular Democratic candidate stood out. After assuring the reader that all possible nominees for the Republicans are “respectable in that they are patriotic and appear to be ethically sound,” Rachel del Guidice went on […]
Liberal column: How far does faith’s reach in the public square extend?
JOSH MERLO LIBERAL COLUMNIST Voting. For some, it’s a civic duty; for others, it’s a burden that follows from a tiresome slog of campaign ad after campaign ad; for others, it’s a meaningless exercise because of how their particular district historically leans ideologically; and for some others, it is a part of living their religious […]
Blood and Iron
JOSH MERLO LIBERAL COLUMNIST More than 100 killed. Nearly 200 more injured. The Islamic State wanted to make a statement on November 13, 2015. Perhaps the members wanted to show that, despite the remarks of U.S. President Obama, they are not “contained.” Perhaps they wanted to retaliate for airstrikes that killed highly influential figures within […]