This 2023, I had the occasion to be part of two centennial celebrations. It is always good to be part of the celebration of institutions that have proven their mettle for all their 100 years of existence. My first centenary event was in March 2023, when the accountancy profession, led by the Professional Regulatory Board
The very idea of moral character has been hollowed out. It’s now thought to mean “being good,” and we tend to regard it simply as obeying rules, avoiding evil, and exhibiting “nice” behavior. Next to the more traditional idea of virtue, this kind of bloodless, anemic do-goodery makes a trained dog seem more interesting than a human being. In its fullest conception, virtue includes much more than good behavior; it includes the idea of being something, or becoming completely what it is to be human.
President Donald Trump recently announced that by Sept. 1 he would release “a new list” of conservative Supreme Court nominees, “which may include some, or many of those already on the list.” If presented with the opportunity to nominate someone to fill a vacancy on the high court, Trump added, he would “only choose” from this new list.”