The Real Reason American Democracy is Collapsing

We’ve turned discourse into shouting at one another through the internet void. We refuse to listen or learn. Thoughtfulness is a thing of the past. Empathy? Never heard of her. This greed and selfishness cannot be sustained.

Have We Lost Our Humanity?

Or did we have any to begin with? Street art in Washington, DC. Photo taken by author. Let me start with this. Humanity has always been inhumane. Atrocities have been committed throughout history. And, while we aren’t experiencing Genghis Khan-level atrocities at the moment (though Ukrainians might disagree), the United States is certainly allowing smaller,ContinueContinue reading “Have We Lost Our Humanity?”

The Patriarchy’s Moral Compass Points Due South

The road to Hell is paved with bad intentions Photo by Narain Jashanmal on unsplash.com Is the patriarchy ok? Are y’all feeling good about where you stand vis-à-vis society? From my perspective, things are looking more than a little rough. I mean, you must love knowing that you’ve got so many people under your thumb,ContinueContinue reading “The Patriarchy’s Moral Compass Points Due South”

A Reminder for this National Day of Service

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was designated, by former President Barack Obama, as the only federal holiday that also serves as a national day of service. To honor the life, memory, and legacy of Dr. King, all Americans are asked to perform an act of service in their communities. As we move through this day,ContinueContinue reading “A Reminder for this National Day of Service”

January 6, 2021 — What Did It Mean for Our Democracy?

A one year anniversary reflection Stop the Steal Rally attendees, the morning of January 6, 2021. The Stop the Steal Rally later turned into the violent insurrection attempt at the U.S. Capitol. Photo is author’s own. It’s the one year anniversary of a violent attempted overthrow of the government. I knew it was coming. WeContinueContinue reading “January 6, 2021 — What Did It Mean for Our Democracy?”

Same Sitch, Different Day

White child vigilante’s acquittal proves nothing’s changed Photo by Joseph Yates on Unsplash The heartbreak, anger, fear and futility the families of Kyle Rittenhouse’s murder victims are feeling must be enormous. And, Black American families all over the country. And, the family of Julius Jones in Oklahoma. Today, a jury in Wisconsin, aided and abettedContinueContinue reading “Same Sitch, Different Day”

The Most Basic Definition of Racism (And How to Know If You’re Part of the Problem)

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash.com Racism isn’t hard to understand. If you hate or you believe that you are inherently better than another person because their skin color is different from yours, that’s racist. If a white man murders eight Asian people, six of them women, because he needed to “remove the temptation” forContinueContinue reading “The Most Basic Definition of Racism (And How to Know If You’re Part of the Problem)”

Open Letter to Congress — Heavy is the Head that Wears the Crown

We, the people of the District of Columbia, would like a few words. While the world watched in horror, residents of the capital city were shuttering businesses, running for cover, and watching as rioters, foaming at the mouth like rabid dogs, overran our backyard.

The Streets of Heaven Are Too Crowded with Angels Tonight

When does the collective wail of the majority get to drown out the rantings of the minority? When do our healthcare workers get uninterrupted, unbiased time on every network, in every news outlet to tell their stories, to tell the unvarnished truth? How will we ever make amends to the families of the dead, to the millions unemployed, to the small businesses that have closed, to the school children, because of the country’s leaders’ utter failure to lead?

We Need to be Honest and Call Them Lynchings

Noose. Image by Tamara Gore from Unsplash Six Black people (four men, one woman, and a teenaged boy) have been found hanging from trees in five states (California, New York, Oregon, Georgia, and Texas) in recent weeks. All of the trees were in public. They’ve all been ruled suicides. There has been sporadic and lacklusterContinueContinue reading “We Need to be Honest and Call Them Lynchings”