Commentary

The Holy Bible is the sacred and central text of Christian Science. The religion’s founder, Mary Baker Eddy, left no doubt on this point. She wrote in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," her denominational textbook, “The Scriptures are very sacred. Our aim must be to have them understood spiritually, for only by this understanding can truth be gained." The writings of Eddy are also studied as an aid to understanding the Bible.

And there it is. Liss and Caitlin are not safe, not in Colorado Springs, maybe not anywhere. Holding hands in public, exchanging a soft kiss, making the loving gestures I take for granted with Carla, carry risk for Caitlin and Liss. They are always watching, always aware of their surroundings, take nothing for granted. But to some extent, this last 10 days shows none of us is as safe as we might have believed.

I am a student at Washington State University, a university that is not even ten miles away from the recent homicides of four students from the University of Idaho. As a journalist, and managing editor of the school paper, I have covered this story ever since WSU sent an alert to its students: “Moscow Police Department investigating homicide near University of Idaho campus. Not aware of any threat to the WSU Pullman Community.” But as a student, I was terrified.

In our zero-sum political system, winners take all. It pays to invest in politicians who further our own interests, often at the expense of others. Ironically, our system of governance is among the world’s finest. For a couple of centuries it’s set the gold standard for emerging democracies worldwide. And that’s what’s scary. We can, we must, do better.

In “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” the the latest Marvel superhero movie breaks from the studio’s typically secular worldview to argue that religion is a necessary part of a healthy grieving process.

Spokanites (or is it Spokanians?) might not be aware where the dangerous stench is coming from. It arises out of “the cesspool of liberalism” about ninety miles south-south-east of them. This is what Dan Foreman, a newly elected Idaho State Senator, once called “Latah County, particularly the university, [and the] greater Moscow area” (Moscow-Pullman Daily News April 25, 2018). Now he will soon represent this “cesspool” in which I swim.