Blog Posts — Page 10

America was founded with the purpose of creating liberty and justice for all.  Millions of people around the country pledge their allegiance to that purpose in schools, athletic events, and government meetings still today.  And yet, based on budget allocations, the US is essentially an insurance company with a military.  What does that say about our purpose? 

On April 8, 2024, the day of the Great Eclipse, people around the world experienced the differential effects of identity and infinity.  Children, adults, republicans, democrats, blacks, browns, and whites all experienced the magical, mystical and mysterious possibilities in our ever-expanding universe.  This is what happens when infinity dominates. 

“Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being.  With freedom comes responsibility.  For the person who is unwilling to grow up, the person who does not want to carry his or her own weight, this is a frightening prospect.”  —Eleanor Roosevelt “Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” —Martin Luther King, Jr. “It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere.”  —Voltaire “The only Read More

“Donald, following the lead of my grandfather and with the complicity, silence, and inaction of his siblings, destroyed my father.  I can’t let him destroy my country.”  Mary L. Trump “I came to poetry through the urgent need to denounce injustice, exploitation, and humiliation.  I know that’s not enough to change the world.  But to remain silent would have been an intolerable complicity.”  Tahar Ben Jelloun, a Moroccan writer One of my favorite songs is Read More

“The wise man looks into space, and does not regard the small as too little, not the great as too big; for he knows that there is no limit to dimensions.”  Lao Tsu A dear friend of mine just passed away.  She was 76 years old and had been struggling with dementia.  She recently suffered a fall and related complications.  She died in peace in a beautiful hospice setting surrounded by her loving family.  She Read More

“These are the times that try men’s souls.”  Thomas Paine “The science of psychology has been far more successful on the negative side than on the positive side . . . It has revealed to us much about human shortcomings, illnesses, and sins, but little about human potentialities, virtues, aspirations, or health.”  Abraham Maslow “We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community.  Our ambitions must be broad enough Read More

“Without reflection, we go blindly on our way, creating more unintended consequences, and failing to achieve anything useful.”  Margaret Wheatley “By three methods, we may learn wisdom: first, by reflection, which noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third, by experience, which is the bitterest.”  Confucius “Research is formalized curiosity.  It is poking and prying with a purpose.”  Zora Neale Hurston “It is a good morning exercise for a research scientist to discard a Read More

In this post, I’m going to make the case for higher taxes.  Yes, very popular subject.  At the end, I will share what my 12 year old grandkids have to say—ahh, from the mouths of children.  The case for raising taxes encompasses concerns for social justice, economic stability, and environmental sustainability.  When governments implement progressive tax policies, they are able to reduce income inequality, fund essential public services, confront global challenges, and invest in natural Read More

Sometimes I feel like a pundit without pedigree or platform.  I guess that makes me a lonely voice in the wilderness.  I often wonder about how many people actually read this blog, but I’m less concerned about broadening my reach than deepening my connection with the people I care about.  To make myself vulnerable by openly communicating my thoughts and feelings.  To invite meaningful conversation.  Writing not only helps me clarify my own thoughts, but Read More

“Feelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated, mistakes are tolerated, communication is open, and rules are flexible—the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing family.”  Virginia Satir, American author and therapist “The purpose of anthropology is to make the world safe for human differences.”  Ruth Benedict, American anthropologist Evidently, we are suffering from a shortage of nurturing families, and anthropology has failed.  Feelings of worth are Read More