Loyalty to Moral Principles, Not People
I couldn’t tell you the exact date, or even the specific infraction committed. I do remember the air of tension. …
How did a tiny tribe of desert nomads become so important to history?
Of all the tribes of people, why is it that a group of pastoral tribal nomads, who were minorities then and minorities now, seem to have such an enduring presence in our world? Because ideas and the details matter. …
Mapping Out Our Journey Toward Universal Human Equality
This is the first part of a series where I explore different aspects, events, and ingredients necessary for the concept of universal human equality. Not being the normal expectation throughout the majority of human history, I wanted to understand where the concept came from and how it has come…
Tyranny Through the Destruction of Nuance
“Tyranny is the deliberate removal of nuance.” — Albert Maysles
I’ve spent some time thinking about and then dissecting what could be called popular political slogans lately and there seems to be a common theme: They don’t mean what they say.
Some examples may help.
Defund the police!
No, we don’t mean defund…
Not too long ago I was having an online conversation with a progressive friend. I don’t remember the subject matter but it got to a point where she felt the need to make a declaration. As much as you can raise your voice and stomp your foot while making a…
October 19th, Early morning
Most of us have heard the statement “gender is a social construct.” The idea is that there is nothing fundamental to the means in which our societies are shaped with reference to our gender. …
Journal Entry #7
October 18th, Mid-morning
Being Black is somewhat like being Jewish. There is an obvious link to an ethnicity, that for Black people is especially obvious, but there’s more to the category than just genetics and ancestry.
There is also an action that comes with being Black in America. It’s much…
Journal Entry #6
October 16th, Evening
Waking up on a winter morning in Northeastern Pennsylvania, it’s not uncommon to look out the window and see a fresh blanket of snow on the ground. If the wind is light, it will even frost the trees, creating a sense of stillness and calm. Any creature…
Journal Entry #5
October 15th
I don’t go to church and have not for decades now. …
Journal Entry #4
October 14th, Mid-morning
When you identify yourself as “not them,” it keeps you from empathizing with, understanding or even valuing the truths held by that other group. I think we saw this to an extreme level with the Trump presidency and that effect continues even today.
On either side of…
