[NOTE: January 6, 2023: It was moving to hear the president speaking and awarding medals to citizens for their heroic responses to the crisis of the January 6 insurrection. This was a welcome interruption of the chaos and craziness that has filled the House chamber most of this week. That spectacle brought back to mind … Continue reading Recalling The Five Who Died in the Capitol Invasion
A long, long time ago — Wednesday morning — I thought January 6 would be a historic day of celebration. After all, when I finally fell into bed, well after Tuesday midnight, Democrats were on the cusp of flipping the U. S. Senate, and that was Big with a capital B. And sure enough, I … Continue reading The Coup is underway — Jan. 6, 2020
I admire the dogged liberal Catholics at the National Catholic Reporter. (NCR) NCR occupies an outpost besieged on practically all sides by the forces of Catholic clerico-fascism, which are older than Trump but have eagerly leaped into bed with his movement. Their outlook predates Trump, though, and will likely survive him. NCR’s main inside ally … Continue reading An Overview of American Catholicism (That Quakers should take note of)
Christian churches all over the world are having Christmas services this weekend, and into the coming weeks. It’s a tradition almost two millennia old. But for some churches, it’s a pretty bittersweet occasion. The Friends Church of Midway City, in Orange County California is one such. After 85 years, this Christmas weekend is to be … Continue reading “Merry Christmas. Now, Get Out!” Quaker David & Goliath Update: Goliath Wins
One: Brooklyn, December 1967 I knew it was going to be a long day when I saw the woman having an epileptic seizure in the Intake room. She was on her back, eyes rolling, jerking and thrashing, head thumping on the cement floor. A Welfare Department security guard ran over and straddled her, trying to … Continue reading How I Got So Lucky: A True Quaker Christmas Story