For left-leaning university departments to impose one political theory as Truth is brainwashing, not education and is very little different from powers on the right threatening the Speaker of the House for talking with the opposing party.
Archive | Musings
The Silent Battle for Control
Donald Trump screams abuse at a courtroom he can’t control. House speaker Johnson faces threats to depose him if he brings legislative order to the House. Against the ever-increasing loss of life, Ukraine continues to resist the control of Putin. Netanyahu promises annihilation of Hamas, who seeks the destruction of Israel. The press is […]
Freedom from What? To Do What?
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Few tenets of the US Constitution have been as […]
Biden’s Challenge
When asked about his advanced age, President Biden’s response was, “Watch me.” On March 7th, he gave a ninety-minute performance that should have silenced the nay-sayers of both parties. The media, for the first time, was excited—even astonished?—by the speech. He dared to confront the enemy: “…When you get to be my age, certain […]
The MAGA Challenge
Last week I wrote a blog on MSNBC’s talent for blowing trivia into outrage, but before I could post it, the District of Columbia Appeals Court ruled that Trump is not above the law, that his plea for Presidential immunity isn’t valid. With that event, the case charging him with insurrection took a giant leap […]
2024: A Critical Challenge
Everywhere I hear sighs of relief as we close the door on 2023. That is certainly true at our house. Starting in January 2023 when I broke my leg, followed by the loss of two dogs and a broken hip—this time my housemate’s. a rough year. Beyond our doors, the nation moved closer and […]
The Work Ethic: Where Did it Come From Anyway?
If I asked three people the above question, I’d get as many or more answers. For some, it’s the central value of their lives, for some a necessary evil, for some it lies at the heart of self reliance. For some it means opportunity, for others, it gives purpose. It’s the work ethic that […]
Two Tough Old Crones
This past week my housemate and I took off with two dogs for the Oregon coast for a three-day celebration of my ninetieth birthday. We’d done the same thing in June for my housemate’s eightieth. As we waited for the ferry, my housemate fell. Shaken up and bruised but okay, we continued. We took […]
What Has Happened to Us?
I’ve just finished reading Imperfect Heart: a Journal, a Book club, and a Global Pandemic, a good writer friend’s* as yet unpublished chronical of the Covid pandemic. A blend of non-fiction and fiction, the book opens in April 2020 at the start of the pandemic, leads up to the January 6th attempted coup, and ends […]
Testing the Strength of Our Democracy
Today, I’ve been watching the arrest of Donald Trump. For half of the nation it marks the strength of the system in bringing a criminal and dangerous leader to justice. For the other half, it is a major miscarriage of justice, a victory for a system turned criminal. The latter half cried for protest, but […]
Lessons From the Debt Limit Victory
The ease with which President Biden and House Speaker Kenneth McCarthy reached a deal on the debt limit and the speed with which it passed through both houses of Congress gives us a rare view of democracy as it should work. Ross Douthart, in today’s New York Times (June 6, 2023) credits this success […]
Biden and the Democrats
Biden has declared his candidacy for President. I find that event both reassuring and sad. It’s reassuring because it acknowledges that he is the only available candidate who can beat Trump. It’s sad because Democrats remain tepid toward the President, conceding unenthusiastically that he is the candidate with the best chance of winning, but […]
