America’s Dual State We’re all familiar with the boiling frog analogy, and its application to a society that is oblivious to the crisis that is threatening to devour them. Yet somehow, we find ourselves at a loss to explain why some of us seem to be living in a state…
Kindness Is Not A Weakness
No one has ever become poor by giving. — Anne Frank Originally published in June, 2021 In American culture, we have a tradition of equating power with heartlessness. We expect our leaders to have a no-nonsense, logical approach to solving problems without allowing their emotions or personal histories to influence…
Stand Your Ground
Where there is injustice, I always believe in fighting. Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869-1948) In the fight against fascism, we must face our fears and stand firm in our beliefs It’s only a matter of time before a licensed gun owner shoots and kills a federal agent, doing so in clear…
The Second American Civil War Has Begun
The Trump administration has crossed the Rubicon of authoritarianism and turned true patriots into enemies of the state America is deeply divided. This is the phrase we’ve been using for years now. We’re deeply divided as a people and as a nation. The culture war that began as an unsubstantiated…
We Like It Hard
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” Robert Frost Without adversity, there is no spirit of accomplishment or faith in our ability to overcome, and therefore, no joy Let’s be honest, shall we? We like it…
You Don’t Understand America As Well As You Think You Do
Originally published in 2022. There is far too much joy expressed in predicting our eventual demise, and we’re sick of it I see it a lot, especially on social media platforms that are likely to include non-Americans, such as Mastodon or Medium. It is the full-scale breakdown and analysis of our culture,…
Why Protests Should Never Be Peaceful
“After all, the practical reason why, when the power is once in the hands of the people, a majority are permitted, and for a long period continue, to rule, is not because they are most likely to be in the right, nor because this seems fairest to the minority, but…
Rollerblading With The Amish
“It takes a lot to change a manHell, it takes a lot to tryMaybe it’s time to let the old ways die.” Jason Isbell Leaning into the old ways by embracing authenticity and tradition in the face of a dehumanizing technology I live by the ocean, so I can say…
It Was All Over With The Toast
The epic failure of modern culture to combat the scourge of archaic magical thinking The year was 1994, and somewhere in the deep corners of Florida, Diane Duyser was making herself a grilled cheese sandwich. She took one bite and immediately noticed the Virgin Mary looking back at her. She…
The Little Spy, A Short Pencil, And Pigs Wearing Pants
A short history of my strange and motley bouts with education I entered the venerable halls of Clegern Elementary loaded for bear. Armed with the preternatural ability to read, a natural-born gift of discernment, and an inordinate amount of self-confidence for a six-year-old, I was prepared to take on all…