politics

  • ENOUGH!

    You could have been on any college campus or any place where students hung out. He generated excitement, an excitement also felt by the middle-aged and the elderly. There was excitement from the streets of Manchester, New Hampshire, to Manhattan,… Continue reading

  • Sweltering Parade Days

    As with most summer days, the sun beat down on the tree-lined street. People were gathered on the sidewalk, some brought lawn chairs. Children raced playfully across shaded lawns. Buntings and a flag decorated the viewing stand. A cluster of… Continue reading

  • The “Beloved Community”

    Donald Trump made two statements on Tuesday, August 19th that should give us pause. The first is a social media post. “The Smithsonian is OUT OF CONTROL, where everything discussed is how horrible our Country is, how bad Slavery was,… Continue reading

  • The Old Time Jim Crow Religion Revival Meeting

    The decision was made. There was a lesson to be learned. The suitcases were packed, and placed in the car. In the early hours of a July morning, my father backed the car out of the garage. We were going… Continue reading

  • In Response to Comments

    A few comments that I received in response to “The Moral Crisis Pricking the Conscience” have led me to put aside the post intended for today. Instead, I will respond to those who have written. Democratic Representative Ritchie Torres addressed… Continue reading

  • The Moral Crisis Pricking the Conscience

    When does war become an act of vengeance? The question pricks at the conscience in times of war, political instability, and humanitarian crisis. We again find ourselves in such a period. The question demands a response. Gaza. Palestinians: 59,219 fatalities:… Continue reading

  • Elbows Up with Chocolate & Beer

    by Carl ten Hoopen Chocolate and beer slip uneasily into essays. They are topics that glide easily to our attention when pushing a cart down the grocery aisle, attending a hockey game, or dining at the Queen & Beaver Public… Continue reading

  • On Libraries and Freedom

    I hesitated in the grip of withdrawals. “Go! Get out!” Lynn Tanaka firmly told me on my final day on Mayne Island. Taking a few reluctant steps towards the door, my eyes locked on the neatly arranged shelves in her… Continue reading

  • The Running Man

    EXPECTATIONS, EXCEPTIONS & DEPORTATION It happened quickly. He knew the risks, but what choice did he have? There was a family to feed. Maybe today, they wouldn’t notice him. He kept to the speed limit. Then, in the review mirror,… Continue reading

  • Dissent, the Secret of Democracy

    The United States is a nation founded upon dissent. Colonialists often voiced their protests against the British government’s policies. On the 1st of November, 1765, when the Stamp Act was about to be enacted, New Yorkers flew flags at half-staff… Continue reading