I readily admit to having had my share of teary-eyed moments over the past weekend, as I watched the many tributes that were bestowed on the late Ted Kennedy.  He was, over the course of his long career in the Senate, all the things those who spoke of him said he was: a champion […]

            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 […]