Category Archives: Social justice

I’m the Prime Minister of Spain. This Is Why the West Needs Migrants.

Posted on February 9, 2026 by Jim deMaine

By Pedro Sánchez in the New York Times Mr. Sánchez is the prime minister of Spain. He wrote from Madrid. Imagine you’re the leader of a nation, and you face a dilemma. Half a million or so people who are crucial … Continue reading →

Posted in Government, Immigration, Justice, Law, Morality, Social justice | Leave a comment

The Boys of Terezin

Posted on February 1, 2026 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Ann M. Don’t miss this deeply moving documentaryabout courageous teenage boys and thesecret magazine they dared to create in Terezín Between 1942 and 1944, about 100 teenage boys imprisoned in the Terezín concentration camp created a secret magazine … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Government, History, Morality, protests, Social justice, terrorism, War | Comments Off on The Boys of Terezin

Steets of Mineapolis by Bruce Springsteen

Posted on January 29, 2026 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Mary M. 2,870,341 views Jan 28, 2026 #1 on music Trending chartLyrics:Through the winter’s ice and coldDown Nicollet AvenueA city aflame fought fire and ice‘Neath an occupier’s bootsKing Trump’s private army from the DHSGuns belted to their coatsCame … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Government, Guns, Justice, Kindness, Law, Military, Morality, protests, Race, Social justice | Comments Off on Steets of Mineapolis by Bruce Springsteen

The killing of VA ICU nurse Alex Pretti

Posted on January 26, 2026 by Jim deMaine

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 | Comments Off on The killing of VA ICU nurse Alex Pretti

A Superpower is Dying by Suicide

Posted on January 20, 2026 by Jim deMaine

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 | Comments Off on A Superpower is Dying by Suicide

Town Hall honoring the late Wier Harman and Skyline resident David Brewster

Posted on December 12, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Kate Nagle-Caraluzzo, Executive Director, Town Hall Seattle (thanks to Mary M.) It’s been two years since Wier Harman, our friend and former Executive Director of 17 years, passed away, and I’ve been thinking about the ways his presence still lives … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Books, Education, Entertainment, In the Neighborhood, literature, Music, On Stage, Science and Technology, Social justice | Comments Off on Town Hall honoring the late Wier Harman and Skyline resident David Brewster

Columbus Day – commentary by Heather Cox Richardson

Posted on October 13, 2025 by Jim deMaine

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 | Comments Off on Columbus Day – commentary by Heather Cox Richardson

Come on, Washington. Keep up!

Posted on September 9, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Pearl McE.

Posted in Race, Social justice | Comments Off on Come on, Washington. Keep up!

My Family Lives in the Shadow of the American Dream

Posted on August 25, 2025 by Jim deMaine

By Andrew Tait (thanks to Pam P.) I live in Shenandoah County, Virginia. I’m a factory worker, a farmer, and a father of two girls, one still in diapers. I get up before the sun, and most days I don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Business, Economics, Government, Insurance, Law, Morality, Social justice | Comments Off on My Family Lives in the Shadow of the American Dream

The Changing Map of Palestinian Recognition

Posted on July 31, 2025 by Jim deMaine

by Ashley Wu in the NYT (thanks to Janet M.) In the past week alone, three new countries have said they are ready to bestow recognition on a Palestinian state. Recognize (green) Pending (yellow) Do not recognize (gray) Most countries … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Government, History, Justice, Law, Social justice | Comments Off on The Changing Map of Palestinian Recognition

The Grody-Patinkin family is a mess–and people love it!

Posted on July 12, 2025 by Jim deMaine

From The Interview on the NYT Daily Podcast Mandy Patinkin, 72, and Kathryn Grody, 78, are a highly successful artistic couple. He has won Tony Awards for roles in musical-theater classics like “Evita” and “Sunday in the Park With George” … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging Sites, Communication, Entertainment, Humor, Media, motherhood, Religion, Social justice | Comments Off on The Grody-Patinkin family is a mess–and people love it!

A bit of hopeful news

Posted on June 3, 2025 by Jim deMaine

On May 30, the Trump administration released further details about its proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget request, including a request to preserve the current $430.5 million Peace Corps appropriation in the coming year. NPCA would like to congratulate the tens of thousands … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Government, Social justice, Volunteering | Comments Off on A bit of hopeful news

Scott Pelley speaks to 2025 graduates

Posted on May 27, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Mike C. Good morning, everybody. What a beautiful day. What a beautiful North Carolina day for a graduation. Incredible. Thank you, President Wente, Provost Gillespie, members of the Board of Trustees and Katy Harriger, my faculty sponsor, for … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Education, History, Law, Morality, Politics, Social justice | Comments Off on Scott Pelley speaks to 2025 graduates

DOGE and the Peace Corps meet up

Posted on May 2, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: I just received the sad but expected message below from the National Peace Corps Office. Please note that this beloved creation of President John F. Kenney has a very modest budget. Peace Corps: ~$430.5 million; Department of State … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Government, Military, Politics, Social justice, Volunteering | Comments Off on DOGE and the Peace Corps meet up

Seattle home transformed into first-ever shelter for homeless LGBTQ+ veterans: ‘Healing to be part of something again’

Posted on April 2, 2025 by Jim deMaine

In Good News — Thanks to Pam P Lindsay Church left the Navy in 2012, having served under the United States’ “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which prohibited military servicemembers from being open about their sexual orientation. “I really struggled … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Gay rights/essays, Social justice | Comments Off on Seattle home transformed into first-ever shelter for homeless LGBTQ+ veterans: ‘Healing to be part of something again’

Put Barber and the Tribal Canoe Journeys – a Tribute

Posted on March 18, 2025 by Jim deMaine
Posted in History, Kindness, Obituaries, Social justice | 2 Comments

I Ran U.S.A.I.D. Killing It Is a Win for Autocrats Everywhere.

Posted on February 7, 2025 by Jim deMaine

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 | Comments Off on I Ran U.S.A.I.D. Killing It Is a Win for Autocrats Everywhere.

Pete Seeger – voicing “Forever Young”

Posted on December 6, 2024 by Jim deMaine

Pete died at age 94 in 2014, an activist and musician until the end. This song was written by his friend Bob Dylan.

Posted in Music, Social justice | Comments Off on Pete Seeger – voicing “Forever Young”

“Floating pile of garbage”

Posted on October 28, 2024 by Jim deMaine

Commentary by Heather Cox Richardson I stand corrected. I thought this year’s October surprise was the reality that Trump’s mental state had slipped so badly he could not campaign in any coherent way.  It turns out that the 2024 October … Continue reading →

Posted in Dementia, Government, Politics, Social justice | Comments Off on “Floating pile of garbage”

Every river has its people

Posted on October 24, 2024 by Jim deMaine

If “every river has its people,” can The People restore their river? Thanks to Ed M. Davus Burge in Post Alley Of Native Americans and their world on Puget Sound, here ar the words of John, a Swinomish elder born … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, environment, Essays, History, In the Neighborhood, language, Social justice | Comments Off on Every river has its people

I Don’t Want to Live in a Monoculture, and Neither Do You

Posted on October 21, 2024 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: This is a thought provoking article about the failure of the DEI effort at the University of Michigan. Do we live in a monoculture, given the current political turmoil? Is part of the equation showing respect, kindness and … Continue reading →

Posted in Communication, Education, Essays, Kindness, language, Morality, Politics, Race, Social justice | Comments Off on I Don’t Want to Live in a Monoculture, and Neither Do You

An American Tragedy: Rise of the AR-15 Rifle

Posted on August 12, 2024 by Jim deMaine

By Fred Moody (thanks to Ed M.) On July 13, a 20-year-old kid named Thomas Crooks—a kid who was such a poor shot that he had failed to make his small high school’s junior varsity shooting team—came within a hair’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Guns, Social justice | Comments Off on An American Tragedy: Rise of the AR-15 Rifle

Sweden just launched a groundbreaking new childcare law, extending paid parental leave to grandparents

Posted on July 12, 2024 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Pam P. Fifty years after it became the first in the world to introduce paid leave for fathers and not just mothers, Sweden just extended paid leave benefits to include grandparents. Under a groundbreaking new law, grandparents providing … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Caregiving, Social justice | Comments Off on Sweden just launched a groundbreaking new childcare law, extending paid parental leave to grandparents

Treaty Justice by Charles Wilkinson

Posted on June 28, 2024 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Ed M. From Post Alley by David Brewster Fifty years ago, federal Judge George Boldt issued his landmark decision on tribal fishing rights. An admirable new book, Treaty Justice, by law professor and tribal advocate Charles Wilkinson, has just … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Essays, History, Law, Social justice | Comments Off on Treaty Justice by Charles Wilkinson

What Have We Liberals Done to the West Coast?

Posted on June 15, 2024 by Jim deMaine

By Nicholas Kristof Opinion Columnist, reporting from Portland, Ore. for the NYT As Democrats make their case to voters around the country this fall, one challenge is that some of the bluest parts of the country — cities on the West … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Essays, Government, Homeless, Housing, Politics, Poverty, Social justice | Comments Off on What Have We Liberals Done to the West Coast?