Charlotte Viewpoint - Archive No. 25 - October 19, 2024 - America

Letter from the Founder Policy matters. Politics matters. People matter. We define America. We can choose a nation in which we care for people and support causes greater than ourselves. In 2007, we published "The Kindness of Strangers" by Michael Marsicano, then president of The Foundation For The Carolinas, about what makes America truly great. Michael writes, "The law of the land rewards us for taking a personal role in the advancement of society and in the prosperity of others. We are able to give less to Caesar when we give more to others...our government sees you as a partner. This is uniquely American and profoundly important....And no country in the history of the world has so creatively and effectively combined the kindness of strangers with government policy." If we choose it. In the same light, in 2011, we published "Libertarianism and the New South - Another Perspective," by Ty Shaffer, who responded to a previous article by Mark D. Friedman advocating for "rights-based libertarianism." Shaffer rejects single principles that become a form of extremism and argues for a pluralism of values, and the trade-offs that come with them, that allow us to "govern ourselves and to create a decent society." We agree. We also include "The Taming: Unraveling Today's Political Gridlock," a 2016 review by Nicole Fisher of a political comedy by Lauren Gunderson performed at the Charlotte Art League, a play as biting then as it is relevant now.  Art puts a mirror to us all. Don't miss "Cats" by Joseph Cavano, a clever short story about family love and squabbling; an artist gallery by Tom Stanley; and two of our PDF magazines from 2006 and 2004.  Veritas, Mark Peres Charlotte Viewpoint Founder The Charlotte Center Founder & Executive Director From the Archive The Kindness of Strangers June 7, 2007 by Michael Marsicano Like many of you, I watched the classic film "It’s a Wonderful Life" over the holidays. The film has many merits, but it’s the kindness of strangers theme that resonates with me the most. The kindness of strangers is a simple notion played out in the United States with more depth and complexity than most people realize. In the simplest of terms, we define the “kindness of strangers” as philanthropy. And no country in the history of the world has so creatively and effectively combined the kindness of strangers with government policy. In the United States, we believe government exists to serve the people, to advance society and to enable the prosperity of the governed. Accordingly, when individuals seek to advance human welfare as philanthropists, our government responds in a most curious and quite extraordinary way. Keep Reading City Life From 2011: Libertarianism and the New South by Ty Shaffer In his essay, Libertarianism and the New South, Mark D. Friedman makes the case for a “natural rights libertarianism,” which I understand (at the risk of oversimplification) to be this: a political system is just only if it respects persons as moral agents. This entails never treating individuals simply as a means to an end, but rather at all times as “ends, capable of discerning the moral character of their actions. Only a minimal state, restricted to those functions that protect and preserve individual autonomy, fits this standard. Read the Story Arts & Culture From 2016: The Taming: Today's Political Gridlock by Nicole Fisher If Lauren Gunderson was running for public office, I'd have a have a catchy campaign slogan ready for her: "Now more than ever, America needs The Taming!" But playwright Gunderson, whose political farce The Taming will be presented in its Charlotte premiere by Donna Scott Productions from March 31 through April 16 at the Charlotte Art League, is far more interested in dissecting and lampooning the political process than wading into the hand-shaking, speech-making, and lobbyist-massaging fray.  Read the Story Fiction & Poetry From 2012: Cats by Joseph Cavano It started as a low rumble. Then, it inched upward and emerged as a full throated scream. It might have been a child crying. Matthew had never heard anything like it. He turned toward the kitchen table where his mother and Aunt Sarah sat reading the evening paper. He’d have to move quickly. Read the Story Artist Gallery From 2007: Tom Stanley by Tom Stanley Tom Stanley is an artist and chair of the Department of Fine Arts at Winthrop University. Born in Fort Hood, Stanley grew up in Concord, N.C. He began explorations into art and music as early as 1960 with painted impressions of Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond.  Much of his technique is based in mechanical drafting and graphito. View the Gallery Read Past Issues December 2006 Issue October 2004 Issue About Charlotte Viewpoint Charlotte Viewpoint is a magazine about the city and culture of the Charlotte region that ran from 2003-2016. Charlotte Viewpoint published civic and cultural commentary and programmed events about Charlotte for engaged citizens to nurture creative capital, elevate civic discourse and promote intellectual and artistic excellence in the Charlotte region. charlotteviewpoint.org Read More brought to you by: View Past Archive Newsletters You’re receiving this e-mail because you signed up for the The Charlotte Center newsletter. Thanks for reading. Let us know your thoughts about today’s edition. We invite you to share this newsletter with a friend. Sign up for this newsletter here. Design by Maddy Stevens Charlotte Viewpoint has been archived by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room for its historical significance.