The moment when left leaning popular culture overreached itself and instead of fascist shaming a once obscure academic into silence, brought back into popular use what had long been taboo and empowered the very thing they thought they were destroying.
Burried as I am in books and journal articles, and abjuring the more mass apeal social networks as I do, much in popular culture passes me by. I don't confess this with any sorrow, nor even much pride, it is just the case, to adopt that hideous phrase: 'it is what it is.'
As a rule, I find that which is menaingul tends to endure, and generally adopt a wait and see attitude to modern culture. Generally preferring to look forward to hearing the latest music and reading the trendy books in about fifty years once Clio has cast her inevitable judgement.
But one piece of the popular and on trend loomed into my consciousness from the vernacular: a Canadian Academic is providing inspiration for a supervillain in the Captain America comic series.
Margaret Mead argued for keeping Santa as myth, not deception—preserving wonder while nurturing critical thinking. Treating Santa as symbolic and drawing on diverse traditions fosters imagination, honesty, and cultural insight.
Leadership cannot be reduced to neat models. Simple frameworks miss the deeper dynamics between leaders, followers, and purpose. While styles vary by context, effective leaders rely on consultative, supportive behaviours that build psychological safety and sustain long-term growth.
No matter which way you look at it, police popularity seems to be at something of a low ebb with even the usually excoriated politicians enjoying something of a bump in the polls when compared to the men and women in blue.
We do well to live and let live, we also do well to post and let post. Devote what limited energy we are gifted with to thought and the formulation of our views and let the 'reply guys' reply. They are, generally, all sound and fury signifying nothing.
