U.S. President Joe Biden gets a lot of grief for his age, with everyone from late-night comedians to his political foes cracking jokes about the fact that he’s 80. But today in The Conversation Canada, Ronald W. Pruessen of the University of Toronto points out one important benefit of Biden’s age — he remembers the trauma of the war in Vietnam.

Biden was 29 when he was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1972, when the United States was embroiled in an unwinnable conflict in distant and unfamiliar terrain in southeast Asia. Pruessen argues this has likely influenced Biden’s determination to exercise restraint in terms of any American involvement in the war in Ukraine. Pruessen’s piece offers a fascinating history lesson on Biden predecessors who failed to act as prudently — perhaps because they lacked the wisdom that comes with age.

Also today:

Regards,

Lee-Anne Goodman

Politics, Business + Economics Editor

U.S. President Joe Biden walks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy near a Kyiv cathedral during Biden’s surprise visit in February 2023. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

How the ghost of Vietnam haunts Joe Biden on the war in Ukraine

Ronald W. Pruessen, University of Toronto

Will Joe Biden be able to maintain the balance that has so far allowed him to avoid serious Vietnam-like errors in Ukraine?

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The pandemic deepened gender inequality in dual-career households

Tina Sharifi, York University, Canada; Ayesha Tabassum, York University, Canada

At the beginning of the pandemic, it was predicted that the shift to remote work would lead to more equal division of domestic labour. Recent research shows this was not the case.

Seedlings growing in a greenhouse in the Outaouais region of Québec. It’s time to think deeply about the future of our food system. Photo by Bryan Dale

Local food is not enough — we need a sustainable transition in the food system

Bryan Dale, Bishop's University; Marianne Granger, Bishop's University; Mélodie Anderson, Bishop's University

In light of the changes caused by the pandemic, it is clear that food autonomy as a frame of reference for reorganizing the Québec food system is not enough.

The research and vision of Canadian scientists were key foundations of the Human Genome Project. Today, lack of funding threatens discovery research in Canada. (Pixabay)

Canadian science pioneers’ role in the Human Genome Project shows why it’s crucial to fund research

John Bergeron, McGill University

On DNA Day, Canada should be inspired by the lifesaving discoveries of its researchers. However, lack of funding threatens Canadian researchers’ ability to meet the challenges of the future.

The aptly-titled video ‘Canceling,’ by cultural commentator and YouTuber ContraPoints, crystallized the cancellation video genre. (Wikipedia)

Cancel culture: YouTube videos on ‘getting cancelled’ are now their own genre and have links to the past

Erin Keating, University of Manitoba; Jessie Krahn, University of Manitoba

What do YouTuber influencer videos about being ‘cancelled’ share with 17th-century texts? Both were crafted directly in response to audiences in new social spaces.

La Conversation Canada

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Un esprit sain dans un corps sain ? Voici ce qu’en dit la science

Matthieu P. Boisgontier, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa; Boris Cheval, Université de Genève

Une nouvelle étude met en lumière les bénéfices cognitifs de l’activité physique alors qu’une autre semble dire le contraire, alimentant le débat scientifique sur la question. Voici ce qu’il en est.

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