"The national reaction to school shootings has become calcified into a disturbed ritual. After a school shooting, candles are lit, “thoughts and prayers” are given, flags are lowered and then by the weekend, everyone moves on until tragedy strikes again."
"As a member of a sorority myself, I’ve heard all the stereotypes firsthand, particularly when I went through recruitment. It’s weird what people are willing to say to your face, especially from those who have chosen not to participate in Greek life."
"The choice between a fresh-cut tree and a synthetic one is a choice between two ideas of Christmas. One is living, innately imperfect and genuine. The other is precise and mass-produced, but empty of the warmth and story that made our cultural habit so meaningful in the first place."