How Will America Handle Reconciliation? by Carla Has Trump divided America? Or was the election of Donald Trump the result of an already existing divide? Or was it a combination of the two? No matter what the answer is, it is clear we are seeing a cultural shift towards division and vitriol that we have rarely seen as a nation. Accusations come from both sides, and even … [Read more...] about How Will America Handle Reconciliation?
DREAMS OF A FATHER
The title is a play on words of Obama’s book but the title conveys a human concept present in all our lives. To lead off this discussion, I will use a YouTube of Judy Collins singing “My Father”. Some of you may be old enough to remember when this song was popular. Most of you were once children with Dreams of your own, and some of you were parents with dreams for your … [Read more...] about DREAMS OF A FATHER
The Science Behind the Perfect Brew
There are people who drink beer and then there are people who love beer. Beer lovers talk about their beer as much as they drink it. They discuss their favorite brands, perfect pouring methods, reissues of old fashion recipes and labeling. The surge in the craft brew industry has engaged the minds of many brewers to produce the perfect brew. That’s where practical science … [Read more...] about The Science Behind the Perfect Brew
Trump Administration reverses ban on plastic water bottles in America’s national parks. ‘Corporate agenda is king,’ say environmentalists
Yellowstone park. Credit: Pixabay, tpsdave. In 2011, America's national parks said farewell to plastic water bottles that had been polluting the nation's supposedly pristine area. It wasn't for good though. In yet another decision that goes against common sense, President Trump has lifted the six-year ban on plastic bottles inside national parks. The decision is seen… … [Read more...] about Trump Administration reverses ban on plastic water bottles in America’s national parks. ‘Corporate agenda is king,’ say environmentalists
How should we protest neo-Nazis? Lessons from German history
By Laurie Marhoefer, Assistant Professor of History, University of Washington. A supporter of President Donald Trump, center, argues with a counterprotester at a rally in Boston on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017. AP Photo/Michael Dwyer After the murder of Heather Heyer in Charlottesville, many people are asking themselves what they should do if Nazis rally in their… … [Read more...] about How should we protest neo-Nazis? Lessons from German history
When White Americans Whitewashed History
The current brouhaha about the fate of Confederate monuments is a result of the time when white Americans whitewashed a portion of America's history. In an article for Politico magazine, Joshua Zeitz describes that whitewashing. Here is an excerpt from his article. "Southerners may have lost the Civil War, but between the 1890s and 1920s they won the first great battle over … [Read more...] about When White Americans Whitewashed History
Trump in Phoenix
Trump Is Only The Latest President To Guarantee American Failure In Afghanistan
There is an old Afghan folk tale that portrays a foreigner balancing two connected trays attached to the handheld weighing device used in South Asian bazaars. The foreigner carefully loads one tray and then the other with frogs. Just as he puts the last few frogs on one tray and then the other, some frogs on the first tray hop off. As the foreigner returns those frogs to the … [Read more...] about Trump Is Only The Latest President To Guarantee American Failure In Afghanistan
The Tolerance Dilemma: How Do We Reach Those We Disagree With?
The tolerance dilemma is on our mind and the magnitude of the issue seems larger and more urgent than ever before. And this time it started with a statue. Robert E. Lee, the general who fought in the US Civil War 150 years ago, still stands in Charlottesville, Virginia on his horse. And like the continued use of the Confederate Flag, this poses a major problem. Why? They … [Read more...] about The Tolerance Dilemma: How Do We Reach Those We Disagree With?
(LATEST UPDATES) Another Navy Collision at Sea
Update, 8/24/2017 7:20:00 AM U.S. Navy: The remains found by the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) are not those of a USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) Sailor. On Aug. 22, the RMN discovered the remains while searching the area where the guided-missile destroyer collided with a merchant vessel. The determination was made following medical examinations of the remains, which will … [Read more...] about (LATEST UPDATES) Another Navy Collision at Sea
Cartoon: Trump Troops to Afghanistan
How unhinged is Trump?
WASHINGTON -- How unstable and divorced from reality is President Trump? We've reached the point where the nation has the right and the need to know. We're not accustomed to asking such questions about our presidents. We don't know how to even begin inquiring into a president's mental health, so we rationalize aberrant behavior as being part of some subtle strategy. We say … [Read more...] about How unhinged is Trump?
Over the years, Americans have become increasingly exposed to extremism
By James E. Hawdon, Director, Center for Peace Studies and Violence Prevention, Virginia Tech. A man sporting a Nazi tattoo leaves Emancipation Park in Charlottesville, Virginia on Aug. 12, 2017. Steve Helber/AP Photo Extremism has always been with us, but the internet has allowed ideas that advocate hate and violence to reach more and more people.… … [Read more...] about Over the years, Americans have become increasingly exposed to extremism
Cartoon and column: Stop N Go
Trump and other Republicans are real quick to use the term “radical Islamic terrorists.” They were very critical of President Obama for not using the term and his refusal to accuse an entire religion of being terrorists. But, when terrorism is committed by white Christians, Donald Trump isn’t sure who to blame. After a white supremacist drove his car through a crowd of … [Read more...] about Cartoon and column: Stop N Go
Trump: US can’t afford quick Afghanistan withdrawal, must continue the fight
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump declared Monday night the United States must continue fighting in Afghanistan to avoid the "predictable and unacceptable" results of a rapid withdrawal from the country where the U.S. has been at war for 16 years. In a prime-time address to the nation, Trump said his "original instinct was to pull… … [Read more...] about Trump: US can’t afford quick Afghanistan withdrawal, must continue the fight
A Sunday Morning Lesson
I had a somewhat unusual but profound experience this morning. Even though I am Jewish I attended a service at the Methodist Church here in town. A little background on how this came to be is in order. On Thursday, my wife got a call from a former piano student of hers who is now organist/choir director at this church. He was in a panic because none of the usual organist … [Read more...] about A Sunday Morning Lesson
A Rich Man’s War. A Poor Man’s Fight.
Regarding the U.S. Civil War, the majority of Southerners were not slave owners. So, why did Southern men who didn't own slaves go to war against the U.S. government? The April 2011 issue of Smithsonian Magazine gives a clue: "While most Southerners did not own slaves, slave owners wielded power far beyond their numbers." Southerners who didn't own slaves didn't want … [Read more...] about A Rich Man’s War. A Poor Man’s Fight.
Why The Russia Scandal Is Our Only Hope Of Ridding America Of Donald Trump
It was the week that everything -- and nothing -- changed. It was the week that Donald Trump proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is profoundly unfit to be president. It was the week that he openly embraced neo-Nazis and white nationalists. It was the week that the top generals from all five military branches, as well as the leaders of Britain, Germany and other … [Read more...] about Why The Russia Scandal Is Our Only Hope Of Ridding America Of Donald Trump
The Trump administration’s three ‘court Jews’ disgrace themselves
WASHINGTON -- What Gary Cohn, Steven Mnuchin and Jared Kushner did last week -- or, rather, what they didn't do -- is a shanda. They'll know what that means, but, for the uninitiated, shanda is Yiddish for shame, disgrace. The three men, the most prominent Jews in President Trump's administration, could have spoken out, to say that those who march with neo-Nazis are not … [Read more...] about The Trump administration’s three ‘court Jews’ disgrace themselves
