Category Archives: Social justice

Cascadia Sanctuary

Posted on November 21, 2016 by Jim deMaine

From Crosscut: “While Mayor Ed Murray talks about Seattle as a “sanctuary city” for immigrants, we Northwesterners might want to expand the reach of this idea to include the region as a whole, and millions of other people, including Americans … Continue reading →

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Terror Management Theory (TMT)

Posted on November 17, 2016 by Jim deMaine

I think we’re all wondering, with considerable concern, what’s next? The social psychologists think that the current political environment at home and abroad will continue to divide and polarize individuals and countries – the common denominator being fear. Perhaps the … Continue reading →

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Good fences make good neighbors

Posted on November 7, 2016 by Jim deMaine

Robert Frost’s poem “Mending Wall” which begins  “Something there is that doesn’t love a wall,…” can be read on many levels. Have we learned from historical precedent? Many empires have tried to build walls, yet all have failed in time. … Continue reading →

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Posted on November 7, 2016 by Jim deMaine

From National Geographic: “The candidates for president of the United States, particularly on the Republican side, have hotly debated how to handle the roughly 2,000-mile (3,200-kilometer) border between the United States and Mexico. “Donald Trump has famously and repeatedly promised … Continue reading →

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AT&T CEO confronts racial tension

Posted on October 26, 2016 by Jim deMaine

“Randall Stephenson runs AT&T. If shareholders, and ultimately regulators, approve, he is also going to run Time Warner after buying the entertainment conglomerate for more than $80 billion. “So you should probably know who he is. Here’s one way to … Continue reading →

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How the yo-yo put a troubled young man on the path of playful salvation

Posted on October 23, 2016 by Jim deMaine

From Aeon: “Growing up in a poor, violence-stricken section of Baltimore in Maryland, Coffin Nachtmahr was bullied for having a stutter and not fitting into ‘any specific molds’. In high school, he was angry, prone to fights, and struggling with … Continue reading →

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Senate candidate assembles an AK 47 blindfolded

Posted on October 23, 2016 by Jim deMaine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wqOApBLPio In a contested Senate race in Missouri Jason Kander, Democrat, assembles an AK 47 blindfolded – to drive home the point that background checks and some limits are needed even when supporting Second Amendment gun rights. Going on line, … Continue reading →

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Let’s show support for this neighborhood restaurant

Posted on October 18, 2016 by Jim deMaine

Kay M. send along this article and notes, “I am very troubled after reading Nicole Brodeur’s column on the front page of today’s Seattle Times, section B.  I think this article merits placing on your blog.  This is happening in … Continue reading →

Posted in In the Neighborhood, Social justice | 1 Comment

U.S. to Bar Arbitration Clauses in Nursing Home Contracts

Posted on September 28, 2016 by Jim deMaine

Ann Milam alerts us to an article in the NYT today. I hadn’t realized, even though I trained as an Ombudsman, that serious issues of abuse in nursing homes were prevented from going to court. But, with a new ruling, when federal dollars … Continue reading →

Posted in Health, Social justice | 1 Comment

George Washington owned slaves. Should we rename the state?

Posted on September 25, 2016 by Jim deMaine

Sounds a bit wacky doesn’t it in this article from Crosscut? Rename our State? How about all the other sites, schools, parks, and our nation’s capitol? Well, as stated in Crosscut, slavery was America’s “original sin” and George Washington owned slaves, as … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Politics, Race, Social justice | 1 Comment

The Founding of UPS was in Seattle

Posted on September 24, 2016 by Jim deMaine

When we think of Seattle startups, I never hear UPS mentioned. But it was not only founded here by Jim Casey but he left an incredible three legacies: UPS, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, and Casey Family Programs. “In 1907, 19-year-old … Continue reading →

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The “seat of civilization”

Posted on September 23, 2016 by Jim deMaine

From Gordon Gray History repeating itself: gender-neutral bathroom – My father said that as a rowdy youngster, he used to tip these over at Halloween – until one time a farmer was on the throne. They barely escaped!

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Things are getting better – really!

Posted on September 22, 2016 by Jim deMaine

If you believe social media and even mainstream media, things are really bad and getting worse, right? Well, wrong according to Kristoff’s Op-ed in the NYT. I’ve always wondered what the daily news would look like during the Crusades, the … Continue reading →

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Washington State Senior Citizens Foundation 2016 Annual Fall Conference

Posted on September 20, 2016 by Jim deMaine

From Barb Williams: The Washington State Senior Citizens Foundation will  hold their 2016 Annual Fall Conference and we would like to invite you to register.   The Conference will be held: Thursday, October 27,2016 8:00 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. Hotel Murano, 1320 … Continue reading →

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Karmic Infraction notices go up in Seattle

Posted on September 13, 2016 by Jim deMaine

From the Guardian sent in by Frank Conlon: “On a corner of Seattle’s historically black Central Area, Sea Suds car wash and Uncle Ike’s pot shop sit on either side of a well-established African American church, Mt Calvary. “Across the … Continue reading →

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Posted on September 2, 2016 by Jim deMaine

The residents of First Hill Plaza and the First Hill Improvement Association are co-sponsoring a discussion about homelessness. The program will be located in Anderson Hall at Horizon House onTuesday, September 13th from 7:00 – 8:30 PM.  David Wertheimer, a recent retiree … Continue reading →

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Norm Stampler at Town Hall 7:30 PM, Wednesday, September 7

Posted on September 1, 2016 by Jim deMaine

from Crosscut: “Following the Seattle WTO protest in 1999, Seattle Police Chief Norm Stamper resigned from his position. Now, 16 years later he has become a writer and activist on police reform and justice. Stamper comes to Town Hall (from … Continue reading →

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An Islamic Radical who changed his mind

Posted on August 30, 2016 by Jim deMaine

An Islamic Radical who changed his mind. Click here for the video. WASHINGTON — In the four years that he ran the Revolution Muslim website out of his walk-up apartment in Flatbush, Brooklyn, Jesse Morton became one of the most … Continue reading →

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Has the Philippines led the way in electing a demagogue?

Posted on August 29, 2016 by Jim deMaine

As Mayor of Davao City, Rodrigo Duterte ran on an anti-crime and anti-corruption platform. But he governed in a unique way. He would personally go around the city and shoot suspected criminals. As a result Davao became a lovely southern … Continue reading →

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Reasons to be optimistic about the Northwest

Posted on August 27, 2016 by Jim deMaine

Who are the folks who really make a difference and make us optimistic? Here are some criteria from Crosscut. “They’re giving up. Giving up their privilege in order to advocate for those without. Giving up their spotlight to elevate untold … Continue reading →

Posted in In the Neighborhood, Social justice | 1 Comment