I am not sure why The New Republic chose to publish Alan Wolfe’s shameful “review” – ugly hit piece really – of a collection of essays by Russell Kirk. But they did and it is shameful. The immediate question seemed whether the best response to such an ignorant and distasteful piece of work would be disgusted silence or a full throated rebuttal.
Leaning toward the latter, I began working on a response – and I still plan on flushing out some of the nearly endless examples of ignorance – but today National Review Online stepped into the breach and provided some immediate ammunition for those appalled by Wolfe’s essay.
- They have a symposium of Kirk experts and admirers who provide brief responses to Wolfe.
- Jeffrey O. Nelson also provides a more lengthy response.
Good for NRO and shame on TNR.
