I confess that, along with millions of others, I have followed the World Cup this week. With a natural tendency to root for the underdog (this is one of the few arenas where the US regularly qualifies in that category), I am also intrigued by many of the personal, side-bar stories over the course of … Continue reading Suppression is Unsustainable
The Family You Choose
The horrific scene that unfolded this week at Club Q in Colorado Springs reminds us of just how far we have not come in addressing gun violence or homophobic hate in this country. While the investigation into the shooter’s motive is still underway, it seems inconceivable that this heinous act is but a tragic echo … Continue reading The Family You Choose
Contrast in Real Time
In a day of rapidly cascading headlines—the midterms, Twitter drama, the face-to-face meeting between Joe Biden and Xi Jinping—two contrasting images are particularly memorable and speak volumes of our human condition in both its absurdity and its valor. The first story lies in the “official” announcement on Tuesday by Donald Trump that he plans to … Continue reading Contrast in Real Time
The End of the Beginning
This week’s midterm elections in the US delivered a surprise that calmed the hearts of angst-ridden progressives. The dreaded “red wave” failed to materialize (prompting comedian Stephen Colbert to dub the phenomenon a “pink trickle.” We awoke on the morning after Election Day at almost the same place we were the day before. Despite billions … Continue reading The End of the Beginning
Elections Are For Suckers
For sure, it is not a new idea. But to give credit where credit is due, I most recently heard the phrase on The Rachel Maddow Show on Monday night. She was being sarcastic, of course, using this starkly declaratory sentence to lament the way Republicans have been using misinformation, disinformation and outright lies to … Continue reading Elections Are For Suckers