Category Archives: Social justice

Black Lives Matter – Silent March tomorrow June 12th from 1-4 PM

Posted on June 11, 2020 by Jim deMaine

Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County is calling for a statewide day of action in support of all Black lives in Washington State on Friday, June 12th. The day of action will include a general strike and a silent march to … Continue reading →

Posted in Social justice | Comments Off on Black Lives Matter – Silent March tomorrow June 12th from 1-4 PM

Back to the bunker?

Posted on June 11, 2020 by Jim deMaine

From the NYT “Take back your city NOW,” Mr. Trump wrote in a tweet directed at Mayor Jenny Durkan and Gov. Jay Inslee. “If you don’t do it, I will. This is not a game.” The president added, “Domestic Terrorists have taken … Continue reading →

Posted in In the Neighborhood, Politics, Social justice | Comments Off on Back to the bunker?

Black Lives Matter – statewide strike & march

Posted on June 10, 2020 by Jim deMaine

Dear friends, Black Lives Matter – Seattle/King County is organizing a statewide strike and silent march this Friday, June 12, to support Black lives in Washington State. In solidarity with growing calls to address systemic racism and end racial violence … Continue reading →

Posted in Social justice | 2 Comments

The movement to defund the police is wrong, and here’s why

Posted on June 10, 2020 by Jim deMaine

By Jacqueline B. Helfgott Special to The Seattle Times Jacqueline B. Helfgott is professor and director of the Seattle University Department of Criminal Justice Crime and Justice Research Center. She serves on the Seattle Police Department’s Crisis Intervention Committee. In the days … Continue reading →

Posted in Race, Safety, Social justice | 1 Comment

Wear orange tomorrow June 5th

Posted on June 4, 2020 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Joe and Alice W. Next Friday, June 5, 2020 is National Gun Violence Awareness Day—also known as Wear Orange—a day when gun violence prevention advocates across the country wear orange to honor the victims of gun violence and … Continue reading →

Posted in Social justice | 1 Comment

Clergy gathers at St. James Friday at noon

Posted on June 4, 2020 by Jim deMaine
Posted in Religion, Social justice | Comments Off on Clergy gathers at St. James Friday at noon

We Need National Service. Now. — David Brooks

Posted on May 8, 2020 by Jim deMaine

The formative moment for a new generation. Ed note: What a brilliant moment it would be for young people to have the opportunity to serve during this pandemic–and beyond. Not only does society have great needs, but young people need … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays, Social justice | Comments Off on We Need National Service. Now. — David Brooks

DECLARING OUR WORLD BROKEN, CITIZENS OF 35 COUNTRIES FORM GLOBAL MOVEMENT TO SAVE HUMANITY AMID PANDEMIC

Posted on May 7, 2020 by Jim deMaine

New York, NY – Declaring the COVID-19 pandemic the ultimate failure of our world’s leaders to address our greatest collective threats — including deadly pandemics, climate change, ecosystem destruction, and proliferating weapons of mass destruction — citizens of 35 countries … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Education, Politics, prayer, Social justice | Comments Off on DECLARING OUR WORLD BROKEN, CITIZENS OF 35 COUNTRIES FORM GLOBAL MOVEMENT TO SAVE HUMANITY AMID PANDEMIC

Presidential ‘tweets’ on the free press

Posted on February 17, 2020 by Jim deMaine

By The Seattle Times editorial board President Donald Trump, easily fending off his remaining challenger for the Republican nomination in Iowa and New Hampshire, continues to lob insults against media organizations covering the campaign. While friction between presidents and the press … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays, Politics, Social justice | Comments Off on Presidential ‘tweets’ on the free press

New Zealand Ban on Most Semiautomatic Weapons Takes Effect

Posted on December 29, 2019 by Jim deMaine

The law, passed after the Christchurch massacre in March, outlaws military-style semiautomatic weapons and assault rifles. It will be enforced as a gun buyback and amnesty program ends amid debate. A sweeping nationwide ban on most semiautomatic weapons took effect … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Crime, Guns, Social justice | Comments Off on New Zealand Ban on Most Semiautomatic Weapons Takes Effect

The Center for an Informed Public

Posted on December 27, 2019 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Mary M. for bring this to our attention: The Center for an Informed Public officially launched on Dec. 3, 2019, with an event on the UW campus. The event featured UW President Ana Mari Cauce and Washington State … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Education, Media, Social justice | Comments Off on The Center for an Informed Public

A regional solution to homelessness is long overdue. Ask those on the front lines

Posted on December 17, 2019 by Jim deMaine

From Crosscut: At this moment, as winter descends in the Pacific Northwest, there are well over 11,000 people living unsheltered and unhoused in King County. Many are veterans and single parents. Many are escaping abusive households, have lost jobs, have experienced eviction … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Essays, Homeless, Safety, Social justice | Comments Off on A regional solution to homelessness is long overdue. Ask those on the front lines

Lovers in Auschwitz, Reunited 72 Years Later. He Had One Question.

Posted on December 9, 2019 by Jim deMaine

From the NYT: The first time he spoke to her, in 1943, by the Auschwitz crematory, David Wisnia realized that Helen Spitzer was no regular inmate. Zippi, as she was known, was clean, always neat. She wore a jacket and … Continue reading →

Posted in end of life, History, Social justice, War | Comments Off on Lovers in Auschwitz, Reunited 72 Years Later. He Had One Question.

Reach out, listen, be patient. Good arguments can stop extremism

Posted on November 24, 2019 by Jim deMaine

From Aeon: Many of my best friends think that some of my deeply held beliefs about important issues are obviously false or even nonsense. Sometimes, they tell me so to my face. How can we still be friends? Part of … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays, Race, Social justice | Comments Off on Reach out, listen, be patient. Good arguments can stop extremism

Aaron Sorkin: An Open Letter to Mark Zuckerberg

Posted on November 2, 2019 by Jim deMaine

Mark, In 2010, I wrote “The Social Network” and I know you wish I hadn’t. You protested that the film was inaccurate and that Hollywood didn’t understand that some people build things just for the sake of building them. (We … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Education, Media, Politics, Social justice | 1 Comment

Edgy art from Bellingham

Posted on October 27, 2019 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Ann M for finding this in the NYT BELLINGHAM, Wash. — The year is 2019, the place is the United States, and a black man walks into a foundry wanting to cast some bronze grenades. This is how … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Social justice | Comments Off on Edgy art from Bellingham

Nutrition takeaway proposal cited as dangerous

Posted on September 20, 2019 by Jim deMaine
Posted in Advocacy, Food, Social justice, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Nutrition takeaway proposal cited as dangerous

The Ethical Mess of Our Health Care System

Posted on August 17, 2019 by Jim deMaine

When dialysis was invented in the 1960’s Congress decided that it would be too expensive for insurance companies, so they decided to cover the care of chronic renal disease for any age – basically the government became a single payer … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Health, Social justice | Comments Off on The Ethical Mess of Our Health Care System

Hedge Fund Legend Ray Dalio On The Economy

Posted on July 30, 2019 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: Ray Dalio talks about the wealth and opportunity gap that he considers a major problem in our country. He compares the rise of populism to the 1930’s. Conflict is predicted unless conditions improve. From Wikipedia: Raymond Dalio (born August … Continue reading →

Posted in Finance, History, Politics, Social justice | Comments Off on Hedge Fund Legend Ray Dalio On The Economy

The Mueller Report – in Podcast by Lawfare

Posted on July 21, 2019 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: Have you really read the Mueller Report? Or did you stay up all night at Town Hall listening to the non-stop reading? Or have you at least bought the book? Most of us including me, would sheepishly say … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Education, Law, Media, Politics, Social justice | Comments Off on The Mueller Report – in Podcast by Lawfare

Undocumented and afraid: ‘I don’t know how else to beg to be seen’

Posted on July 15, 2019 by Jim deMaine

A local writer reflects on fear, family and fatigue as the Trump administration prepares to mount deportation raids in cities across the country. My oldest child, 10, is precocious, charismatic and bright beyond her years. She starred in her school’s play … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Social justice, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Undocumented and afraid: ‘I don’t know how else to beg to be seen’

One Year of Mandatory National Service For Every American?

Posted on June 23, 2019 by Jim deMaine

By Lauren Katzenberg in the New York Times. Thanks to Pamela P for this. What are your thoughts on national service? Should it be two years? Seventy-three years ago, The Times reported that the United States Army demobilized its seven millionth soldier after the end of World War II. When I unearthed this … Continue reading →

Posted in Social justice, Volunteering, War | 1 Comment

The New York Times cuts all political cartoons, and cartoonists are not happy

Posted on June 21, 2019 by Jim deMaine

The New York Times is again making news for how it handles editorial cartoons — or in the latest turn, will not handle editorial cartoons. Beginning next month, the Times will cease running daily political cartoons in its international edition, editorial page … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Humor, Media, Politics, Social justice | Comments Off on The New York Times cuts all political cartoons, and cartoonists are not happy

Juneteenth 2019 and the Black National Anthem

Posted on June 19, 2019 by Jim deMaine

From Wikepedia: Juneteenth, also known as Juneteenth Independence Day or Freedom Day, is an American holiday that commemorates the June 19, 1865, announcement of the abolition of slavery in the U.S. state of Texas, and more generally the emancipation of enslaved African Americansthroughout the former Confederate States of America. Texas was the … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Music, Race, Social justice | 1 Comment

San Francisco to force treatment on mentally ill drug users

Posted on June 5, 2019 by Jim deMaine

When I worked at Firland TB Sanatorium, those with suspect tuberculosis were required to be off the streets and hospitalized there. And if they didn’t comply, they were placed in a locked ward where they received medical treatment as well … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiction, Advocacy, Homeless, Law, Poverty, Social justice | Comments Off on San Francisco to force treatment on mentally ill drug users