I said goodbye to a friend this week. Not a human friend – a tree friend. When we moved into this building in 2005, the tree grew in the center of the courtyard. It wasn’t the largest or most beautiful. Even then, it was a bit misshapen. In the spring, it grew tiny, white flowers…
February is Black History Month, where we honor the triumphs and achievements of Black culture across this country throughout our history. Last Saturday, Lunar New Year observances began, a time when many Asian cultures recognize family, culture, and the dawning of a new year. Sunday was the Super Bowl, a secular American commemoration of capitalism…
We focus much of our political energy about climate change, like much of our political energy in general, at the national level. What laws can Congress pass? What executive orders can the President implement? And don’t get me wrong – these are important questions. When Congress passes laws or the President implements executive orders on…
Blood is on our hands. We send bombs. We send jets. We send tanks and guns and body armor. We send money for whatever military supplies they want. We give our blessing, and they use it to carry out a genocide. “History has taught us when terrorists don’t pay a price for their terror… they…
A foot of snow is coming, they say,But I know better. Dangerous conditions are afoot, they say, But I have experienced this before.Facilities are closed tomorrow, they say.Don’t go outside of your home, they say. But we plan to go regardless. When the day arrives, it is 35 degrees, just above freezing,And instead of the…
Mostly, we glimpse it from the corners of our eyes, the light peeking out from behind the detritus of our days. We don't discuss it. We rarely consider it. But in short bursts, it breaks through. The joy we find in certain moments with the children in our lives. The grief that catches in our…
Fear freezes our spirits, causing them to retract deep inside us. When we are afraid, we shun one another. We look out for ourselves. Fear strips away empathy, compassion, and collective action and we are left with selfishness, greed, and individual needs. The wealthy elites have an interest in keeping us frozen because when we…
I was accused of being antisemitic today. I posted a message on Mastodon in which I said that resolving the issues in Israel and Palestine requires that Israel be reconstituted as a multiracial democracy that provides equal rights for all its citizens. Someone wrote back to me and asked if I was also advocating that…
What is Israel’s goal in attacking Gaza? Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has stated that the goal is “to bring home hostages and defeat Hamas.” The first part is straightforward but the second is not. What does it mean? How will the Israeli government know when Hamas is defeated? Do they have to attack until every…
Sometimes when I’m out walking at night, I talk with my dead grandparents. I do. Grandpa Schwartz died most recently, about 15 years ago, my Grandma Schwartz 20 years ago, Grandma Theder about 30 years ago, and Grandpa Theder died when I was just 11, over 35 years ago. But I find it helpful to…
Entwining 