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Category Archives: Essays
A letter to Pam Bondi
by John Pavlovitz – He is an American former youth pastor and author, known for his social and political writings from a liberal Christian perspective. (thanks to John R.) Dear Ms Bondi, I’m writing to you as an American citizen, … Continue reading
Posted in Essays
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The Globalization of Canadian Rage
By Stephen Marche in the New York Times Mr. Marche is the author, most recently, of “The Next Civil War.” He wrote from Toronto, where he lives. The defiance against America that has consumed Canadian life for over a year now … Continue reading
Posted in Essays, Government, Law, Military, Politics
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Trump Is About to Find Out What Every Bully in History Has Found Out
The New Republic and Michael Tomasky In 2025, Donald Trump scared people. And institutions. Go back in your mind to the way he came out of the gate, gunning the accelerator on every front. Pardoning the insurrectionists. Dismantling the executive branch. Firing inspectors general and heads and … Continue reading
Posted in Essays, Government
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The killing of VA ICU nurse Alex Pretti
Commentary by Heather Cox Richardson As the nation mourned the killing of VA ICU nurse Alex Pretti yesterday at the hands of federal officials in Minneapolis, President Donald J. Trump spent last night at the White House at a black-tie … Continue reading
Posted in Advocacy, Crime, Essays, Government, Grief, Guns, Immigration, Justice, Kindness, Law, Media, Mental Health, Morality, prayer, protests, Social justice, terrorism
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Greetings from Saroj
Ed note: Such a wonderful surprise to hear from Saroj who’s now serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Macedonia! Please scroll down on the document to see the full note and her beautiful pictures. For those of you who … Continue reading
Posted in Adventures, Caregiving, Communication, Essays, Fitness, Kindness, Skyline Info
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A Superpower is Dying by Suicide
Commentary by Heather Cox Richardson Late last night, Nick Schifrin of PBS NewsHour posted on social media that the staff of the U.S. National Security Council had sent to European ambassadors in Washington a message that President Donald J. Trump … Continue reading
Posted in Communication, Dementia, Economics, energy, Essays, Ethics, Government, History, Justice, Kindness, Law, Mental Health, Morality, Politics, protests, Social justice, War
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It’s the Cynicism
by Joyce Vance (thanks to Mary M.) It seems to be everywhere you look, across the political spectrum. Far too many people don’t believe in anything anymore. They’ve lost faith in everything: our institutions, our values, and even each other. … Continue reading
Posted in Advocacy, Communication, Essays, Government, Justice, Kindness, Law, Media
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Columbus Day – commentary by Heather Cox Richardson
On October 9, President Donald J. Trump’s office issued an official proclamation declaring Monday, October 13, “Columbus Day.” The proclamation says that the day is one on which “our Nation honors the legendary Christopher Columbus—the original American hero, a giant … Continue reading
Posted in Advocacy, Education, Essays, Government, Health, History, Holidays, Immigration, Politics, Social justice
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The Era of Dark Passions
By David Brooks in the NYT (thanks to Marilyn W.) Sometimes when I have nothing better to do, I think back on the elections we had in the before times — when, say, Mitt Romney ran against Barack Obama or John … Continue reading
Posted in Essays, Government, Politics
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A letter from Citizens University
Thanks to Kate B. Throughout the last few years I’ve emphasized to my teammates at Citizen University that we must not let everything in civic life get nationalized — that we must help our network of CU catalysts practice humanity and civic … Continue reading
Posted in Communication, Essays, Ethics, Kindness, Morality
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Letter: I’m a veteran. I would never volunteer to serve and protect America as it is now.
By Frank T. Globokar | The Public Forum (Salt Lake Tribune–thanks to Bob P.) I joined the USAF in 1964 and retired from the military 28 years later. I’ve always considered my country to be a cut above and was proud … Continue reading
Posted in Essays
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I Watched It Happen in Hungary. Now It’s Happening Here.
By David Pressman in the NYT (Thanks to Linda T.) Mr. Pressman served as the U.S. ambassador to Hungary from 2022 to 2025. As the most recent U.S. ambassador to Viktor Orban’s Hungary, I’m often asked if the Trump administration’s tactics … Continue reading
Posted in Essays, Government
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A New Populism: Ideas for Democrats
By David Brewster One basic axiom for a party in trouble with voters is to absorb and expand the reach to new voters. The Democratic Party is losing touch with voters, so here are some expansion ideas. My main suggestion … Continue reading
Posted in Advocacy, Communication, Education, Essays, Government, Philanthropy, Politics
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Trump’s civil war
by Timothy Snyder (thanks to Diana C.) Earlier this week Donald Trump called for a second civil war at a US military base. This scenario can be resisted and prevented, if we have the courage to listen, interpret, and act. … Continue reading
Posted in Essays, Government
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We Are Not Being Asked to Run Into Cannon Fire. We Just Need to Speak Up.
By Drew Gilpin Faust in the NYT Ms. Faust is the author of “This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War” and a former president of Harvard University. Frederick Douglass thought Decoration Day — the original name for Memorial … Continue reading
Joe Biden Has a Chance to Do Something Astounding
By Patti Davis in the NYT Ms. Davis is the author of “Dear Mom and Dad: A Letter About Family, Memory and the America We Once Knew.” She led a long-running support group for caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s. On Nov. … Continue reading
Posted in Advocacy, Dementia, end of life, Essays
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A mother without the title
by Heather Cox Richardson Ed Note: I hope you’ve had a chance to read Erma Bombeck’s book, “Motherhood, the Second Oldest Profession.” It’s a wonderful wise, funny and poignant collection of essays. Those of us who are truly lucky have … Continue reading
Posted in Essays, motherhood, Women
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Honey, Sweetie, Dearie: The Perils of Elderspeak
Ed note: I’ve not noticed (yet) a tendency of some to infantilize the way they talk to me, but I have overheard such talk to others. Perhaps I’m not frail enough yet. I hope it won’t happen to me or … Continue reading
Posted in Advocacy, Caregiving, Communication, Essays, Kindness
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Are we on the cusp of a new religious revival?
By David Brooks Opinion Columnist in the NYT – article titled “How to Survive the Trump Years With Your Spirit Intact” I had forgotten how exhausting it is to live in Donald Trump’s world. He’s not only a political figure. He … Continue reading
Posted in Essays, Government, happiness, History, Mental Health, Religion
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‘Don’t Fight the Stupidity’ and Other Relevant Bonhoeffer Advice
by Tim Snyder in Sojourners (thanks to Mary Jane F.) As a theologian, I get nervous when reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer becomes all too relevant. I’m the kind of theologian who would rather not find myself in what some scholars refer … Continue reading
Trump Just Bet the Farm
By Thomas L. Friedman Opinion Columnist in the NYT (thanks to Marilyn W.) Donald Trump is not known for doing his homework — he’s more of a go-with-my-gut kind of guy. What I find most terrifying about what Trump is doing … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Essays, Government
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Heading out
Thanks to Mary Jane F. Images from Maine #208 Still There Dear Friends, Since Tuesday I have, to be honest, not been well. This is neither the time nor place to … Continue reading
Letter: This will truly be a new golden age for America. Out with D.E.I., in with T.E.I.
Letter to the editor in the Salt Lake Tribune – thanks to Bob P. (Photo courtesy of Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation/© Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation) Maurizio Cattelan’s “America”, is a solid gold, fully functioning toilet that was installed in the … Continue reading
Posted in Essays, Government
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James Carville: It’s Time for a Daring Political Maneuver, Democrats
Ed Note: There’s an old joke–The masochist and sadist meet up. Masochist says, “Beat me, beat me.” The sadist replies, “No I don’t think I will.” So who wins in the battle of retreat? Thanks to Mary Jane F. By James … Continue reading
I Ran U.S.A.I.D. Killing It Is a Win for Autocrats Everywhere.
By Samantha Power in the NYT (Thanks to Diana C.) Ms. Power was the administrator of the United States Agency for International Development in the Biden administration. We are witnessing one of the worst and most costly foreign policy blunders in … Continue reading
Posted in Essays, Ethics, Food, Government, Health, Justice, Kindness, Morality, Philanthropy, Poverty, Social justice
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