Commentary / World Mar 31, 2019
No news is bad news for civil discourse
The disappearance of local newspapers is making national politics more polarized.
Stephen L. Carter
For Stephen L. Carter's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Commentary / World Mar 17, 2019
Michael Jackson's influence cannot be canceled
Credible accusations of abuse against an artist don't make his art less great, but they do make it less enjoyable.
Commentary / World Aug 11, 2018
There's nothing wrong with being wrong
Humans are built to make mistakes. Admitting them is crucial to a functioning democracy.
Commentary / World Apr 10, 2018
Don't be shocked at spies tracking your cellphone
The 'stingray' discovery in Washington is a reminder of how much data we're giving away
Commentary / World Mar 25, 2018
Controlling the web a dream and nightmare
Authoritarian governments regulate what their citizens can see online. The U.S. lets tech companies make similar decisions.
Commentary / World Dec 23, 2017
What makes 'The Last Jedi' so fascinating
"The Last Jedi" is an awful lot of fun, and it's that rare blockbuster that makes you think.
Commentary / World Dec 9, 2017
Technophobes and the future of jobs
What if your profession has never required much computer literacy — and then all of a sudden it does. Should you be fired?
Commentary / World Oct 2, 2017
Elon Musk wants Mars and that should inspire all of us
Venus shines brighter in the sky, but somehow we have always known that our destiny lies with Mars.
Commentary / World Mar 8, 2017
Ideology behind intolerant students isn't new
The downshouters remind the rest of us that the true harbinger of an authoritarian future lives not in the White House but in the groves of academe.
Commentary / World Feb 25, 2017
Depressed by politics? Stop staring at phones
If we expect better from officeholders and candidates and activists, we have to demand better from ourselves.