OCTOBER 18, 2007 --

How else to describe a time when there is a rush to conclusions than an "Age of Unreason?" A hallmark of the "liberal" mindset is results.

This was made clear during the battle over the nomination of Judge Robert H. Bork to the Supreme Court. "Liberals" focussed on the results of Judge Bork's rulings on the Court of Appeals, and concluded that those rulings indicated various biases. Scant, if any, attention was made to the reasoning that brought Judge Bork to his legal conclusions.

A more current example of unreason is the case of the Duke lacrosse players, judged guilty of faculty members at the university. That judgment could only have been based on unreason.

A more recent example of unreason -- again from an academic source--appeared in a Newsday article on the possibility that Don Imus will return to radio. Adelphi University Assistant Professor Deborah Little, referring to Don Imus, was quoted by Keith Herbert to be troubled that "'somebody that stands for hate'" might be hired by media outlet. Assistant Professor Little was further quoted to indicate her view that "political discussion" should "not foment hate'".

LPR does not believe Imus was discussing politics when he uttered the words that got him banished from the airwaves. LPR has no idea, from the Newsday article, in what way Imus "stands for hate." LPR does have a sense that for "liberals" people who disagree with them are hate-mongers. This view, LPR believes, reflects unreason and, what is the basis of intolerance if not...unreason?

Must unreason prevail. Of course not, but if unreason is to be vanquished, voices of reason must be heard. LPR continues to listen for the sounds of approaching reason. Persons looking for encouragement in the campaign against the reason of our day should see the observations of Chief Justice John Marshall in the last paragraph of his opinion in the 1824 Supreme Court decision in Gibbons v. Ogden. LPR clicksters are encouraged to Google Gibbons. v. Ogden Chief Justice John Marshall.

Perhaps a few media columnists, talk show hosts and Fred Thompson will also Google the opinion.