Untold history

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead My rating: 5 of 5 stars Well written and read. This puts flesh and bone on American history. The Underground Railroad is as much a metaphor to me as it is to Colson Whitehead. His use of metaphor in the novel had me seeing the ‘railroad’ from a different … Read more

Literally true?

I’m listening to a book by Neil deGrasse Tyson on astrophysics. It’s extremely interesting and mostly over my head. Last year I took a course on “The Bible and Science.” It was a Christian college and though the professor was very open minded many of my fellow students clung to the belief that the Bible … Read more

Thank you General Milley

General Milley is being pilloried in the press for allegedly talking to his Chinese counterpart in the crazy days after the January 6, 2021 insurrection and prior to the inauguration of our current president. Some say the general committed treason. Treason is attacking one’s own country. It’s attempting to overthrow the government of our country. … Read more

Holding Afghanistan in the Light

More broadly, it is far past time for the United States to acknowledge that peace and real security can never be achieved through military force, and to therefore abandon the failed endless war paradigm completely. — Read on www.fcnl.org/updates/2021-08/holding-afghanistan-light The horrific attacks at Kabul Airport must not be used as a pretext for more war. … Read more

Our Common Welfare

Recently I’ve seen folks who are telling others that they have a healthy distrust for authority. It’s the new Facebook frame. The frame goes on to say that they’re vaccinated but they have this distrust of authority. Really? Do these folks really believe that? Many of them are the same folks who have “Blue Lives … Read more

Reunion

Saturday afternoon and evening I was reunited with people I had not seen in years. The reunion of the Pioneer Central School Class of 1971 was the second of two reunions I have attended this summer. Both reunions were special for different reasons. The first reunion of the summer happened in Olean, New York where … Read more

An American classic

A Promised Land by Barack Obama My rating: 5 of 5 stars This is a must read for all folks who were alive to witness the first African-American President in the history of the United States of America. The book was a pleasure to read. There is no doubt in my mind that Barack Obama … Read more

ACLU-MN RESPONDS TO POLICE KILLING OF DAUNTE WRIGHT | ACLU of Minnesota

Police killed Daunte Wright, 20, during a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center Sunday afternoon. Yet another Black life was taken by those sworn to protect, and we join the community in mourning Wright’s loss. — Read on www.aclu-mn.org/en/press-releases/aclu-mn-responds-police-killing-daunte-wright

‘We Need Police-Free Schools’: Survey Finds 2/3 of US Students Want Cops Removed From Campus

Keeping police in schools doesn’t prepare students nor does it necessarily protect teachers. Schools need to be sanctuaries for the students who come there. There must be better ways to protect students and staff than stationing armed police in school districts. Source: ‘We Need Police-Free Schools’: Survey Finds 2/3 of US Students Want Cops Removed … Read more