“The distinctions between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers, and New Englanders are no more. I Am Not A Virginian, But An American!” ― Patrick Henry Throughout our history, the word patriot has been used is many fashions. We hear the word used today, generally as a self-proclaimed label. What exactly is a patriot, and how do we … More To Be a Patriot
Recently, I watched a DVD of one the last films I saw in the movie theater, pre-pandemic. It got me wondering when, or if, I would ever experience another movie theater film. Life has changed mightily in my 63 years. Overall, life is easier and more convenient, but I would not say universally better. There … More The Change Up: Good or Bad?
Sound bites. I do not like them. Complex, human issues are not always bumper sticker size. Yet, sometimes they are. Every month or so, I feel like repeating certain points about what is going on in America, as two sides are deeply divided like trench warfare of World War I. Sadly, our president is all … More It Ain’t That Simple
It’s the agenda of of the misinformed, or simply the fearful, to label anyone who exercises their Constitutional rights in protest, as a Marxist. Come on modern Archie Bunker, use those college-educated brain cells. It is not the usual rednecks crowd that engages in this malarkey, well they do, but they don’t know any better, … More Marxist? In Your Dreams
Former Kansas City Monarchs player Buck O’Neil had a saying that he was right on time. I think that applied to John Lewis as well. John Lewis was made for his time. It is still his time, as our country must deal with many interrelated issues of race, equity and criminal justice. As I listened … More Remembering John Lewis
You say you want a revolution Well, you know We all want to change the world You tell me that it’s evolution Well, you know We all want to change the world Lyrics by John Lennon How apropos since it is nearly Independence Day, since we are celebrating our own version of revolution. America is … More Revolution?
America is a ghostly specter. The year 2020 is not yet half over, but it poised to become one of the most eventful years in our history. At least our modern history. This is becoming a year of change. The ship is turning, slowly, but either the country evolves, or it will break apart. The … More Stranger in a Strange Country
There are days I want to isolate myself from the world. The hate, conspiracy theories and broken systems are simply too much. I do not thrive on chaos, it does not energize me or give me purpose. I have those already. I remember a time that good, thoughtful people worked to bring things back in … More When the World is Upside Down
Labels are often wrong. Most people are much more than a single word or a phrase. When you assume a person is a narrowly defined element, you are also assuming what you think they believe fits into a neat compartment. Lots of things go wrong with assumptions. People are strange and often complex creatures; they … More What Am I?
“The Al Franken Decade” was a running joke on Saturday Night Live. Al Franken had a persona of having a rather large ego, and “The Al Franken Decade,” complete with Franken’s name superimposed on the screen whenever he mentioned it, was a great touch. While it was a joke, Franken has had some interesting decades … More The Al Franken Decade
