Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D.

Here is Ann Coulter's latest column.

Here.

Focus 3 (1972).

To the Editor:

Re “Identity Politics and a Dad’s Loss” (column, Dec. 8):

Nicholas Kristof argues that identity politics is necessary since “it’s not possible to have a serious conversation about justice, jobs and opportunity in America without talking frankly about race, gender and ethnicity.”

What is missing here—and in the Democratic Party—is an appreciation of how profoundly the current form of identity politics prevents such a discussion.

I am struck by how much this politics has changed in the last half-century. In the 1960s we were admonished to look past skin color or ethnicity so that we could see a person’s true identity, and we took that to heart. Now, people identify themselves and others according to the racial, ethnic or gender group into which they were born. This used to be considered the very foundation of racism.

What has happened to our ability to treat one another as individual human beings rather than as stereotypes of one interest group or another?

Identity politics has turned into walls between people; it makes serious conversation about justice, jobs and opportunity impossible. We need to break down those walls.

WALTER WILLIAMS

New York

Note from KBJ: It's worse than that. Try self-identifying as white, male, heterosexual, or able-bodied.

Some of you will recall that I'm reading the 10-volume Encyclopedia of Philosophy (second edition) at the rate of two pages per day. I've been at it since 24 April 2007. Today I finished the letter "V." Among the entries I've read are:

I read the two pages first thing in the morning. It takes about 15 minutes.

Here.

Here.

Sorry for the light blogging. Besides grading examinations, I'm setting up a new 27-inch iMac. My Dell PC is dying.

To the editor:

Dealing with global warming is a monumental challenge under any administration, but having serious climate deniers at the helm will make it that much more difficult for America. (“Despite Trump, there’s still hope for the climate a year after Paris,” editorial, Dec. 12)

Worldwide, this is not really about science; it’s about money and power. Those who gain financially from the fossil-fuel industry spend millions to maintain the status quo and create confusion. Leaders who sincerely want to do their part and serve their people struggle with how to provide the energy needed to run their countries in what may be a long “transitional” period.

It is clear that not everyone is pulling in the same direction. If we were, all the resources now being used to foil the effort could make the transition so much quicker and less painful for us all.

Addressing climate change is not optional. If our politicians and corporations don’t get that, we the people must rally en masse.

Lynne Girdlestone, Newhall

Note from KBJ: Because goodness knows there is no money in global warming.

Innuendos (1987). Incredible.