“The Time That Is Given Us”

“The Time That Is Given Us”

There is a poignant dialogue between Gandalf and Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings when the hobbit tells the wizard that he wishes he had not been born in an age of tumult and turmoil. Gandalf replies, “So do I, and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

Throughout Tolkien’s saga, the good in Middle-earth outweighs the evil—and I believe the same is true in America today. It is up to each of us to make the most of our time here and advance the culture of individual freedom and human dignity.

This exciting issue of the Intercollegiate Review is chock-full of wisdom to help set us on the right path. On page 8, entrepreneur Peter Thiel writes about the importance of challenging conventional wisdom, and on page 12, you will find British politician Daniel Hannan’s thoughts on the unique tradition of ordered liberty that is America’s greatest patrimony.

On page 16, Mary Eberstadt explains how the prevailing culture of intolerance on college campuses is eroding Americans’ faith. Both Eberstadt and Thiel point to political correctness as one of our country’s foremost problems.

Despite the frigid attitude toward conservatism and ordered liberty on campus, there is hope. As Hannan reminds us, our challenge is not merely to oppose the Left’s vision of a world in which individuals are enslaved by a Leviathan state but also to offer in its place something brighter and better.

I hope that you will be encouraged and motivated after reading the issue, and that it will increase your courage and fortitude as you make a difference in this momentous time in which you have been born. If there is anything that ISI can do to help you in your journey, my teammates and I would love to hear from you.

                                                         Cheers,

                                                         Christopher Long

                                                         President, ISI