If we can't talk about differences that puzzle us, or things we're curious about, without fear of giving offense, then how can we ever overcome our ignorance about cultures and races -- or even the opposite sex?

I do believe it is vital that America has a unifying national identity and that immigrants feel a sense of community with their fellow Americans -- and vice versa. And by no means is everyone who expresses concerns about how well we're doing on those fronts is a bigot or a demagogue.

In this past presidential election, President Obama defeated Governor Romney by a popular vote of 65.9 million to 60.9 million. In a sane world, that would be the end of the story. But the U.S. presidential election uses the Electoral College.

The persons affected by this provision belie that claim. They have gone through the proper legal channels. They are not jumping ahead in the line: Most have been in the line for years.

Jon Hubbard, a Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, has written a new book in which he says slavery was "a blessing" for Africa...

For decades, governments in advanced economies have been reaching compromises between those on the right and those on the left by kicking the can and the bill to the next generation.