The anger over the proposed reform of the nation’s health care system has exceeded everyone’s expectations.  At first, much of it, especially the histrionics that exploded onto the scene at the many town hall meetings held earlier this month, seemed orchestrated, if not by Republican opponents of President Obama, then by the insurance lobby […]

            Ancient Athens is credited with establishing the first true democracy.  We’re talking some 2500 years ago, and that democracy, such as it was, was limited in size (far from all of the city’s residents had voting rights) and somewhat uncertain as to effect (some measures were clearly decided by popular vote; others may have […]

            When did I ultimately and irrevocably lose my innocence?               That question occurred to me as I began to read Chris Hedges’ penetrating study on the reasons for and realities of war, and the answer came to me as I finished it.               “War is a Force that Gives Us Meaning,” (published […]

            Among the many joys I have always loved about attending baseball games have been the rituals of standing for the singing (or playing) of the National Anthem before the start of the game and for the singing of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” in the middle of the seventh inning (for the traditional […]