I had to will my jaw to un-clench when I read that the AP reported that Hillary Clinton has "clinched" the Democratic nomination. Never mind that many of her superdelegates pledged their support to her before Sanders was serious competition. Never mind that all of them are free to vote for whomever they wish (they … Continue reading Clinching (or not) and Clenching
Category: Society/Culture
Numbers, People, and Empathy Fatigue
I've had something on my mind for a while, but I found an article that puts the general point much more eloquently (and from a more riveting source) than I am able. We are inundated with news about suffering people in large numbers, and after a while, we can become desensitized to all of it. … Continue reading Numbers, People, and Empathy Fatigue
Teacher Appreciation Lifetime
Dear Mr. S., It's Teacher Appreciation Week, and I've been reflecting on the many great educators who have touched my life over the years. I was very fortunate, from grade school through college, to experience the wisdom and kindness of several amazing teachers and professors. The good far outnumbered the mediocre or bad. But it … Continue reading Teacher Appreciation Lifetime
A Letter to the Transgender Community
I'm sorry. I'm sorry that you weren't really on my radar growing up -- which maybe isn't too surprising, given that I was raised in the South, where non-cishet people are still legislated against and regularly shunned, shamed, and even attacked. Many of my family didn't want to acknowledge that the LGBT community existed at … Continue reading A Letter to the Transgender Community
Simple Thanks
Does it ever seem like everything is complicated? Even food -- and the very basic act of eating -- can be so heavily scrutinized...Do you eat too much? Are you eating the wrong foods? Have you tried the latest nutritional craze? Should anyone eat meat? Is your food ecologically sustainable? Did your meal come from … Continue reading Simple Thanks
Les Mis for Life
My favorite musical? Even easier to answer than my favorite Shakespeare play (Much Ado About Nothing). Les Miserables. Specific performance? The 10th Anniversary Dream Cast, of course. Philip Quast? Michael Ball? Colm Wilkinson?? Yes, please and thank you!! I have two "watching Les Mis" modes: the one where I sing with gusto (even the songs … Continue reading Les Mis for Life
The Sins of Our Fathers
As darkness falls, I come to you tonight wearing my interfaith Minister of Peace hat. I'm not altogether comfortable in this role at times; I neither have nor desire a pulpit of any sort. But hear me now. And before I begin what is almost certain to be a long and extremely controversial post, let … Continue reading The Sins of Our Fathers
Soul-clearing Song
Music is absolutely one of my favorite parts of being alive, of being human and here right now. I sing (a lot -- sorry, kids). I listen. I break the "play" and "replay" buttons on new albums that delight my ears and old favorites, as comfortable as my favorite shirt but as familiarly exciting as … Continue reading Soul-clearing Song
When You Stop Fighting
Sometimes you read something that's so unexpectedly profound and resonant that you have to just stop all the things for a bit and take it in. That was me this morning, stumbling across "Sometimes a Wild God" by Tom Hirons. (Go ahead...I'll wait.) ... I've been wrestling (again) lately with something I think we all … Continue reading When You Stop Fighting
Paint Your Own Silver Linings
Let's say that something less than ideal is happening (or just happened) in your life. "Look at the silver lining!" they say. It's not terrible advice, you know. But sometimes, it's really hard to see a silver lining. Sometimes we just have to paint our own. (And I'm not talking about the super-serious life events … Continue reading Paint Your Own Silver Linings
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