I want to acknowledge the limitations on my perspective from being raised and schooled in the U.S.A. by upwardly mobile middle class Jewish parents who themselves grew up poor and working class. Although I have worked hard to overcome these limitations, they continue to affect me. THE RELATIVELY SHORT EXISTENCE OF CAPITALISMScientists estimate that life … Continue reading CAN HUMANITY SURVIVE CAPITALISM?
Remembering and Honoring Jackie Robinson on the 100th anniversary of his birth (January 31, 1919)
In April 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball when he started for the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field. From the 1880s until 1947 African Americans only played professional baseball in what were called the “Negro Leagues”. In NYC at that time there were 3 major league baseball … Continue reading Remembering and Honoring Jackie Robinson on the 100th anniversary of his birth (January 31, 1919)
Language, language liberation, and ending war
War is the most irrational activity that human societies engage in. Ending it will not be easy. It will require more than politicians talking with each other. It will need large numbers of people all over the world communicating about the causes of war, listening to each other’s stories and healing from how they and … Continue reading Language, language liberation, and ending war
The Culture of Earthlings: A report from another planet
One night last week I left my computer on as I usually do, set to put itself to sleep at midnight. The next morning, I saw a report on my browser. I copied and pasted it into my word processor. When I returned to my browser the web page had disappeared. Here is the report, … Continue reading The Culture of Earthlings: A report from another planet
Guest Post: Memories from youth in Cognac, France under German occupation during World War II
Today I am sharing a guest post written by Elyane R. It is translated from the original French which appears after the English version. You can read about the occupation of France during World War II in Wikipedia or many other sources. Merci Elyane. ***** First reflections… It is very difficult to sum up 4 … Continue reading Guest Post: Memories from youth in Cognac, France under German occupation during World War II
The words of Martin Luther King Jr. on war are as important as ever
April 4, 2018 is the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. The people of the world would do well to listen to his words on war and morality. Dr. King was an activist who developed and used the methods of nonviolent resistance in the struggle to end the oppression of Black people. He was … Continue reading The words of Martin Luther King Jr. on war are as important as ever
War and Climate Change
The two situations that I think most threaten the future of humanity are global warming and nuclear war. I have written about the threat of nuclear war in my post of November 15, and I will return to that topic in the future. In this post I will explore the relationship of war and climate … Continue reading War and Climate Change
Boys Become Men: Efforts To End Sexism Must Start With Them
There have been a growing number of reports about many prominent men’s appalling and oppressive behavior toward women and girls — groping, rape, exposing themselves, making uninvited and unwanted sexual advances, telling sexist jokes, making sexual remarks, etc. The breaking of the silence by courageous women is beneficial for everyone. I have been disturbed, however, … Continue reading Boys Become Men: Efforts To End Sexism Must Start With Them
Nuclear Weapons
I recently returned from Poland, where I led two 4-day workshops on the topic of Healing from War and a visit to the concentration camp at Auschwitz and death camp at Birkenau. There were people from 21 countries at the workshops. People were able to tell their stories and release their emotions about a variety … Continue reading Nuclear Weapons
Healing the Hurts from War – my personal journey
I started protesting the Vietnam War while a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin, Madison which I attended from 1962 to 1967. I don't remember why I thought the war was wrong. I just did. I took part in many marches and demonstrations including a sit-in at the University administration building that shut it … Continue reading Healing the Hurts from War – my personal journey