Charles van Heck's Woodhull Journal

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  • The American Cyrus and the Week that Was

    This week began on Monday with the release of Israeli hostages. Joy marred by loss, sorrow, the memories of those who were killed on 7 October, the Israeli soldiers wounded and killed in Gaza, the hostages returned earlier, and those… Continue reading

  • Fail Safe in an AI World

    “Things are in the saddle and ride mankind.” Emerson This October 16th through the 28th marks the 63rd anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis. For thirteen days, the world stood on the brink of nuclear war. On the sixth day… Continue reading

  • Dilexi Te:The Invisible Among Us

    The other evening, my wife arrived home with bags of groceries from the market that we will donate to a food bank for distribution. An act of kindness. A moral imperative. More importantly, an expression of love and faith. And… Continue reading

  • Diversity, Freedom and the Chorus for Union

    Those who know me are aware that I firmly believe in the separation of Church and State. Christian nationalists irritate me with their bending and misinterpretation of the Gospels. They misconstrue the Constitution and misconceive their liberties to fit their… Continue reading

  • The Whispers Grow Louder: Democracy at a Tipping Point

    We have been hearing whispers coming from the White House about invoking the Insurrection Act over the past eight months. Regretfully, the whispers have grown louder. Joseph Nunn of the Brennan Center for Justice has written an informative article explaining… Continue reading

  • Living in the Virtual World

    Early one morning, I took a virtual stroll (more accurately, scroll) through the village of Richburg, New York. An article in The Wellsville Sun about a house on the market precipitated my walk. I decided to stop by the cemetery… Continue reading

  • It’s Time to Retire the Donkey

    Senators, Congressional representatives, and governors are known to stare in a mirror. “Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who’s the most qualified of all?”  in the hope of finding a president looking back at them. They are an ambitious lot. A… Continue reading

  • Sounding the Shofar: How Then Shall We Live?

    The other morning, I found a note in my mailbox from a dear friend. The subject raised for discussion pertained to confession and absolution. This is a timely message as we are in the period of the High Holy Days… Continue reading

  • When Revenge Isn’t Enough

    Words are often used with little thought to their meaning. Finding the right word to describe someone or something requires observation and thought. The context of what we are witnessing and how we intend to convey the observation, and to… Continue reading

  • The French Alps, Faith, Forgiveness, Hate, and Carl Sandburg

    On Sunday, following dinner, I settled in the living room. My wife and I were undecided whether to watch a film or a television show. We recently became hooked on a French detective program, “Le détective de la montagne” (The… Continue reading