Category Archives: activism

Smoke Signals

According to Wikipedia, “The smoke signal is one of the oldest forms of long-distance communication. It is a form of visual communication used over a long distance. In general smoke signals are used to transmit news, signal danger, or gather people to … Continue reading

Posted in activism, democracy, election 2020, postcards, voting | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Kate’s Flag

This is my grandmother’s American flag. It has 48 stars, before Alaska and Hawaii became states. I remember my father telling me that this flag was the very first thing she purchased when she came to the United States over … Continue reading

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The Exercise We all Need to be Doing

Many years ago my sister and her wife bought me a punching bag for my birthday, an Everlast. It was gifted as a way for me to get some aerobic exercise especially in the cold winter months. We put it … Continue reading

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Together You Can Redeem the Soul of Our Nation

This was printed in the Opinion Column of the New York Times today, July 30, 2020. Mr. Lewis, the civil rights leader who died on July 17, wrote this essay shortly before his death, to be published upon the day … Continue reading

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In the Bardo

We are all grieving at the passing of John Lewis. What a remarkable man, filled with integrity, purpose, courage, and grit. He spent a lifetime in the fight for justice and civil rights under the most challenging of circumstances. He … Continue reading

Posted in activism, African-Americans, anti-racism, civil rights, Civil War, justice, racism | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

“The Star-Spangled Banner” in a Minor Key

Chase Holfelder, the creator of the video above, captions the video above with: This past month has been heavy… but incomparable to the struggles that Black Americans have faced relentlessly for so many years. The movement has brought renewed light … Continue reading

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Juneteenth—Freedom, Jubilee, Liberation Day

Juneteenth is a day to commemorate freedom from chattel slavery in this country, but also a reminder for white people to continue to grapple with their white privilege and work toward eliminating the racial oppression alive and well in the … Continue reading

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“A Riot is the Language of the Unheard”

…Certain conditions continue to exist in our society, which must be condemned as vigorously as we condemn riots. But in the final analysis, a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it that America has failed to … Continue reading

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Postcards from the Edge

Does it really make a difference to write these political postcards asking people to vote. I’m really not sure. I assume it has to have even the meagerest of influence, but am not so sure it’s anything significant. However, I … Continue reading

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Exposure

Since I retired, I have volunteered for Reading Between the Lines, an organization that leads discussion groups with the recently released from prison as well as people serving the last year or so of their sentences. These discussions are grounded … Continue reading

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