Jonathan Rauch
Jonathan Charles Rauch (born April 26, 1960, Phoenix, Arizona)[1] is an American author, journalist and activist. After graduating from Yale University, Rauch worked at the Winston-Salem Journal in North Carolina, for the National Journal magazine, and later for The Economist magazine and as a freelance writer.
Currently a senior writer and columnist for the National Journal, a correspondent for The Atlantic Monthly, a writer-in-residence at the Brookings Institution, and a vice president of the Independent Gay Forum, Rauch is also the author of five books.
A critic of U.S. government public policy in general, and specifically in its relation to homosexuals, Rauch has pursued gay-related topics as an openly gay author since 1991 when he spoke out against hate crime laws in The New Republic. He is an avid proponent of same-sex marriage, which he believes with improve the quality of life of both LGBT people and married heterosexuals.[2] He co-authored an op-ed article in the New York Times that proposed the compromise of nationally recognised civil unions for gay couples, which he did with the goal of "reconciliation" with religious opponents of same-sex marriage.[3]
Peter H. Wehner, conservative writer and director of the Bush-era Office of Strategic Initiatives, has called Rauch "the most formidable and persuasive voice for same-sex marriage."[4]
Rauch is also well known for an article he wrote in The Atlantic Monthly in March 2003, entitled "Caring for Your Introvert: The habits and needs of a little-understood group".[5] In this article, Rauch described his own experiences as an introvert, and how being an introvert has had an impact on his own life. For many introverts, his piece became a long sought after explanation of their own personality traits. Rauch's original article has drawn more traffic to The Atlantic Monthly site than any other article.[6]
In terms of political philosophy, Rauch has referred to himself as "an admirer of James Madison and Edmund Burke". He has also summarized Burke's views, and his views, in that "utopianism and perfectionism, however well intended, should never displace reasonable caution in making social policy... It's much easier to damage society... than to repair it."[7]
Rauch used to consider himself an atheist, but he has said that "it has been years since I really cared one way or another." He defines his view as apatheism, in which he respects other people's choices of religiosity or absence of religion. He contrasts this with American atheists who seek to evangelize and convert people away from religion, actions that he is critical of.[8]
[edit] Bibliography
 |
This article or section contains a list of works that does not follow the Manual of Style for lists of works (often, though not always, due to being in reverse-chronological order) and may need cleanup. |
- Gay Marriage: Why It Is Good for Gays, Good for Straights, and Good for America (2003)
- Government's End: Why Washington Stopped Working (1999)
- American Finance for the 21st Century (with Robert E. Litan) (1998)
- Demosclerosis: The Silent Killer of American Government (1994)
- Kindly Inquisitors: The New Attacks on Free Thought (1993)
- The Outnation: A Search for the Soul of Japan (1992)
[edit] References
- ^ Contemporary Authors Online, s.v. "Jonathan Rauch" (accessed April 3, 2008).
- ^ Rauch, Jonathan (2005). Gay Marriage: Why It Is Good For Gays, Good For Straights, And Good For America. Owl Books. p. 3. ISBN 0805078150. OCLC 57666009.
- ^ David Blankenhorn; Jonathan Rauch (February 21, 2009). "A Reconciliation on Gay Marriage". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/22/opinion/22rauch.html. Retrieved October 4, 2009.
- ^ Wehner, Peter H. (August 11, 2010). "A Rauchian Take". Commentary. http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/wehner/339116. Retrieved August 11, 2010.
- ^ Rauch, Jonathan (March 2003). "Caring for Your Introvert". The Atlantic. http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200303/rauch. Retrieved December 1, 2008.
- ^ Stossel, Sage (February 14, 2006). "Introverts of the World, Unite!". The Atlantic. http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200602u/introverts.
- ^ Rauch, Jonathan (August 10, 2010). "The radical gay rights ruling: Leading supporter of same-sex marriage challenges Prop. 8 decision". Daily News (New York). http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2010/08/11/2010-08-11_the_radical_gay_rights_ruling_leading_supporter_of_samesex_marriage_challenges_p.html#ixzz0wKz7mD6L.
- ^ Rauch, Jonathan. "How to Be an Apatheist". Beliefnet.com. http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Secular-Philosophies/How-To-Be-An-Apatheist.aspx. Retrieved August 11, 2010.
[edit] External links
- JonathanRauch.com His own web site, including archived articles.
- Articles by Jonathan Rauch at Prospect Magazine
- Video of debate between Rauch and David Blankenhorn on the issue of gay marriage on Bloggingheads.tv
