As a young man, I failed to read two important books that continue to be revered as classics, 1984 by George Orwell and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. Both describe a dystopian society of the future. Huxley wrote his masterpiece in 1931; Orwell wrote his in 1949, the year I was born. In his […]
Category Archives: Heroes
Committed to Serving Others
University of South Florida (USF) soccer player Malani Lee gives us faith, hope and confidence in the future of the world community we exist in. Amid the tsunami of negative news that assaults us daily, young people like Malani stand up to be counted to let us know the world can be a better place.
Where Have the Cowboys Gone?
I grew up in the ‘50s playing outside. There were a few rainy weekends, which gave us the excuse to attend the Saturday matinee. My morning poem perfectly captures the utopia of those halcyon days in the Berkshires…
Majority Rule
America Needs a Statesman
I cannot ignore the impending catastrophe our bipartisan political system has placed in our path. It is more crippling and unavoidable than any physical wall anyone could ever build…. Yesterday, I read a thought-provoking OpEd that appears in “The Atlantic” magazine, “The Suicide of a Great Democracy” by staff writer George Packer. I would have […]
To Be Like Stan “the Man” Lee
Iconic storyteller and illustrator Stan “the Man” Lee died last week a following a lifetime of living life fully for nearly 96 years. I’ve been thinking a lot about Stan “the Man” … Like most young boys in the 50’s, I read comic books. While Superman was probably my favorite, I became a fan of […]
“Thank You for Your Service”
“Thank you for your service” is a popular greeting when people learn that you are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces. I do not recall that greeting in the 60’s and 70’s when soldiers returned from Viet Nam. Times change. Attitudes change… sometimes for the better, other times… As a member of the now-defunct […]
Education: Path to a Better World
Eighteen months ago, Gail Rongen and I embarked on a direct giving program in Haiti. Direct giving is risky business and it requires trust. We accept the risk because we trust the young Haitians we work with. Our choice is valid… Within the poverty and violence of Cité Soleil, a courageous group of young men […]
Who Is Your Neighbor?
Who is your neighbor? No, I’m not asking the question from a biblical perspective. I am asking the question from a strictly geographic perspective. Who is the person who lives in the house or perhaps apartment next to your house or apartment? Who is your neighbor? I was born in Gt. Barrington, Massachusetts in 1949. […]
The Three Evils of Society
Every third Monday of January – a day close to his birthday – we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Every year since 2013 on that day, I post Dr. King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” In it, he says, “The time is always ripe to do right.” Powerful words from a powerful man that […]