This Washington Post article, “Trump pushes schools to open in the fall, downplaying risks as virus spreads,” in my view seriously understates the convergence of tensions rapidly approaching panic among many of the stakeholders involved: > depression-strapped school districts lackIng funds to pay teachers; > legions of teachers are angry & resistant about facing life-threatening … Continue reading Fall Forecast: School Chaos Coming
Just read a very striking piece by E. J. Dickson in Rolling Stone. It says the “Cancel Cops Crusade,” in order to root out systemic police racism, killings & impunity, also has to take down the media images of the police. Even — especially– those of the “good cop.” Why? because the problem isn’t “bad … Continue reading Cancel Cops, Cancel ALL Cop Shows, NO Exceptions. And Cancel Quakers Too?
May 4, 2024 is the 54th anniversary of the Kent State killings of four students by National Guard troops during an anti-Vietnam war protest. Only a few years ago, on a balmy spring Sunday, was I able to visit & pay respects at Kent State, not far from Cleveland, with my good friend Henry Bloom, … Continue reading Kent State – May 4, 1970: Part One
In late January, a post here described the struggle between the Evangelical Friends Church Southwest (EFCSW) and the small Friends Community Church of Midway City, in Orange County near Los Angeles. EFCSW’s Board of Elders decided to close the Midway City church, and fire its pastor, Joe Pfeiffer. The Elders acted after several homeless people … Continue reading Quaker David & Goliath, Cont.: Now David Makes his Case
My onetime colleague Joe Klein gets this right: I too was among many angry youth (even worse, an angry young Quaker) who despised Establishment Democrat Hubert Humphrey in 1968. I remember hearing Dr. King’s close aide Andrew Young pleading with an angry college crowd to vote for Hubert Humphrey. Young made two memorable points: “Some … Continue reading Remembering the 1968 Election: Politics, Snakes & Snakes