5 years marriage symbol

History may look back at the period in which we are living and call it The Great Regression. It is a time in which on issue after issue, we are seeing decades and sometimes centuries of progress reversed . If the term regression feels too academic, we may just as easily call it the Great Leap Backwards. If it continues at its current pace, it may end up being known as the American Dark Ages…or worse, to borrow from another historical saga, the Decline and Fall of the United States. We have seldom seen anything like this before in our country’s history. One example might be that in the wake of the Civil War, Reconstruction saw efforts throughout what had been Confederate states to, wherever possible, restore the old order and to once again put down newly freed Blacks in the South. More recently, thanks to a concerted campaign by America’s right wing, sometimes with the help of centrists from both U.S. political parties, we have watched as a long list of the signature … [Read more...] about The Supreme Court Is Trying to Turn Back the Clock 200 Years

Sign up to get this weekly column as a newsletter. We're looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. (CNN) In one of his "Federalist" essays urging New Yorkers to support the newly drafted Constitution, Alexander Hamilton called the judiciary the "weakest" part of the government and wrote that it "will always be the least dangerous to the political rights of the Constitution; because it will be least in a capacity to annoy or injure them." In the last few days, though, the US Supreme Court has looked like the most powerful part of the government as its conservative majority threw out the national right to abortion that existed for nearly 50 years and invalidated New York's more-than-a-century-old law regulating the right to carry guns. With lifetime jobs, and no higher court to look over their shoulder, the justices reign supreme --but not above controversy. Both of last week's landmark decisions … [Read more...] about Opinion: Alexander Hamilton, what happened?

Elizabeth Arasevi had no intention to follow custom when it came to choosing a wedding dress. “Any bride wants to feel their most beautiful on their wedding day, and stuffing myself into a sugary sweet white dress for the sake of tradition was not an option for me,” said Ms. Arasevi, a 36-year-old auditor who lives in Bloomington, Minn. Ms. Arasevi, who added that she was not keen to present as a “pure, delicate and demure bride in waiting,” instead donned a custom-made red gown with black lace at her June 2021 nuptials to Michal Arasevi, a 32-year-old acupuncturist, in Pepin, Wis. She was surprised by how well her dress went over, saying that guests told her that it and the wedding overall was very “me and very beautiful.” Soon after Queen Victoria of England wore a white satin gown at her 1840 marriage to Prince Albert , the shade became synonymous with wedding dresses, which before then were more vibrant. But Ms. Arasevi is among a cadre of contemporary brides and … [Read more...] about Saying Goodbye to the Plain White Wedding Gown

New York is currently giddy with Shakespeare. Tony and Oliver-winning actor Mark Rylance is going the distance in a Bard biathlon on Broadway, starring in both Twelfth Night (as Olivia) and Richard III (as the king). Orlando Bloom has been mooning under a balcony as Romeo, and Ethan Hawke brings a bold and modern interpretation to the murderous Macbeth. Hawke may be best known for movies, including Before Midnight which opened this summer to rave reviews. But he’s proudest of his position as an accomplished stage actor, and he spoke to me the morning after his Broadway premiere as the Scottish king. Congratulations on the show which is gripping. But you’re awake early for a man playing Macbeth. There’s no rest for the wicked. But I have to say this is one of the most fascinating experiences of my life. It’s shockingly fun. You’re the sexiest Macbeth I’ve ever seen. Tell be about the scene on the sofa where you and Lady Macbeth are plotting while scantily dressed. … [Read more...] about Ethan Hawke On His Murderous, Seductive Turn as Macbeth