Get the Ricochet app

Ricochet will work fine in a browser on your mobile devices, but for the best experience please download our app.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Become a member.

Tired of the toxicity of social media? Why not join Ricochet for just $5/month? Think of it as an online bar. Come in, have a drink, hang out, say whatever you want. But don’t badger, bully, or berate the other drinkers. That's our only rule.

Teaching Wit, Wisdom, and Love of Country

Episode length: 57m

Subscribe to The Ricochet PodcastSubscribe

America's 250th birthday is just a few weeks out, and festivities are underway. But, leaving aside debates over fist fights and daring stunts on the White House South Lawn, a question emerges about what a serious celebration of the American way looks and feels like. To consider this and more, Charles, James, and a visiting Peter Robinson sit down with Matthew Mehan, author and Associate Dean of Hillsdale College's graduate school in Washington, D.C., to discuss The American Book of Fables.

The gang thinks through the meaning of our civic inheritance and the endeavor to pass on the baton to the young. Matt's here to remind us that the arduous effort can be joyful and that hopefulness is a trait that marks the serious thinker.

Our trio also kvetches (and then some!) over the Iran deal, winces at the newly unveiled Obama Presidential Center, and chortles with bewilderment at the accusation that a Pride-themed baseball cap was "desecrated" by a Bible verse. (Plus, they come out in favor overall of last weekend's South Lawn celebrations: fist fights and daring stunts are as American as firework displays.)

Hosts:
Charles C. W. CookeJames LileksPeter Robinson
Guest:
MMMatthew Mehan

Discussion (11)

  • RufusRJones@RufusRJones

    It's insane to let Iran have so many missiles that they can shoot them at Israel and protect their nuclear program at will. It's insane for them to fool around with nuclear power because the country is so poor. They can burn oil. We set them way back, which is 1000% better than not setting them back.

    The problem is this. The country has 92 million people. They have 200,000 regular IRGC all over the place. I forget what it's called but they have 5 million thugs in the thug brigade to keep everybody straight. It's called like the bajit or something. You can't just arm these people and tell them to get organized. It's not that simple. I think the chaos and the bloodbath would be worse than Iraq. Trump did the right thing and he's doing the right thing right now.

  • Miffed White Male@MiffedWhiteMale
    ReplyingtoRufusRJones

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    It’s insane to let Iran have so many missiles that they can shoot them at Israel and protect their nuclear program at will. It’s insane for them to fool around with nuclear power because the country is so poor. They can burn oil. We set them way back, which is 1000% better than not setting them back.

    The problem is this. The country has 92 million people. They have 200,000 regular IRGC all over the place. I forget what it’s called but they have 5 million thugs in the thug brigade to keep everybody straight. It’s called like the bajit or something. You can’t just arm these people and tell them to get organized. It’s not that simple. I think the chaos and the bloodbath would be worse than Iraq. Trump did the right thing and he’s doing the right thing right now.

    We need to send in the CIA to organize a coup.

  • RufusRJones@RufusRJones
    ReplyingtoMiffed White Male

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    It’s insane to let Iran have so many missiles that they can shoot them at Israel and protect their nuclear program at will. It’s insane for them to fool around with nuclear power because the country is so poor. They can burn oil. We set them way back, which is 1000% better than not setting them back.

    The problem is this. The country has 92 million people. They have 200,000 regular IRGC all over the place. I forget what it’s called but they have 5 million thugs in the thug brigade to keep everybody straight. It’s called like the bajit or something. You can’t just arm these people and tell them to get organized. It’s not that simple. I think the chaos and the bloodbath would be worse than Iraq. Trump did the right thing and he’s doing the right thing right now.

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    We need to send in the CIA to organize a coup.

    Are you serious?

  • OccupantCDN@OccupantCDN
    ReplyingtoMiffed White Male

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    It’s insane to let Iran have so many missiles that they can shoot them at Israel and protect their nuclear program at will. It’s insane for them to fool around with nuclear power because the country is so poor. They can burn oil. We set them way back, which is 1000% better than not setting them back.

    The problem is this. The country has 92 million people. They have 200,000 regular IRGC all over the place. I forget what it’s called but they have 5 million thugs in the thug brigade to keep everybody straight. It’s called like the bajit or something. You can’t just arm these people and tell them to get organized. It’s not that simple. I think the chaos and the bloodbath would be worse than Iraq. Trump did the right thing and he’s doing the right thing right now.

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    We need to send in the CIA to organize a coup.

    Yes, that worked out so well last time...

    In fact, could you mention an instance where a CIA/MI5 coup worked out well? You know, without death squads, black sites and torture?

    I am drawing a blank - but maybe a missed the news...

Scroll for later comments
+6 more comments
Join the conversation

You're seeing five of eleven comments. Sign in, or join for just $5 per month, to read them all and add your own.