This morning The New York Times article about Bishop Mariann E. Budde made my day. Entitled “The Bishop Who Pleaded With Trump: ‘Was Anyone Going to Say Anything,’” it was the story of one decent person whose genuine convictions gave her the courage to speak to power. The extraordinary thing is that Pastor Budde represents…

It’s been quite a while since I last posted comments about the state of the union. During this time I’ve eschewed speculation in favor of waiting and seeing what was going to happen after the 2024 election. Ever the optimist, I hoped the second Trump administration just might be guided by a modicum of moderation…

That I will try to be a better person in 2025 That I will try not to call out the ignorance and selfishness of people That I will try not to dwell on the bigotry and racism of sanctimonious people who cloak themselves in piety and patriotism That I will strive to rein in my…

Every year I miss the joys of a white Christmas that I experienced as a child and young man growing up in snow country. Even with the passing of 56 wonderful years living in the deep South, I can’t shake my memories and a gnawing need for snow during the holidays. It just never seems…

I guess you heard that Biden is contemplating giving out pardons to government workers and others whom the president-elect has threatened with prosecution and jail time: their crime, doing their jobs, following the law and not caving in to the MAGA crowd. Above all, apparently, they are suspected of not being loyal to the incoming…

Since the November election, we have been witness to the jockeying of the incoming administration as it gets ready to assume the presidency in January. With speculation galore and the incessant commentary of media pundits, the president-elect has hurriedly nominated unconventional candidates for cabinet posts and other sensitive roles in his government. The noise alone…

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the latest book I’ve read, as it is the best tonic to help one get by the election and move on to thinking about real life instead of suffering through the latest antics by the president-elect. Just published, Heat Deflectors: And 99 Other stories by Darryl Ponicsan…

This Thanksgiving I learned that there is much more to life than worrying about politics, especially naively believing that you can make a difference by speaking out. The reverie at Potlatch and the wholesomeness of it made everything else seem small and dispensable. Since the election I’ve largely shut down, avoiding the news, realizing that…

This year, for Thanksgiving at Potlatch, the Pilgrim’s turkey was replaced by a pig. There was turkey for the traditionalists, and all the usual offerings of mashed potatoes, cranberries, and assorted pies, but the star of the holiday was a one hundred twenty-five pound pig from the University of Georgia Ag School. As usual there…

It’s only twelve days since the election and the president-elect has already put forth a menagerie of characters to serve in his cabinet and high ranking jobs. His choices so far include a bomb-throwing clown for Attorney General, a vaccine skeptic and sometime wack-job for Secretary of Health and Human Services, a lightweight Fox New…