Ridiculing Neo-Nazis
Ridiculing neo-Nazis and other extremists is a powerful tool, but one that can also backfire badly. It is imperative that we offer carrots with the sticks.
Anger Mongering
Racism: Charlottesville
Racism is as old as humanity. But the word, and the concept, are quite recent.
Temporary Insanity
Temporary insanity affects us all, at stages in our lives and at points in our day. It is an example of how we struggle against our genetic behaviors.
From Ailes to Trump
The problem with anger-mongering is that it doesn’t stop without catastrophe. Roger Ailes got the boilers going, but Donald Trump hijacked the train.
Drive-By Journalism
Drive-by journalism is a major problem for the democracy. As our news sources have exploded, news coverage has paradoxically become narrower, shorter, and not surprisingly, dumber.
Funhouse Mirrors
There are some drawbacks to being 59 years old with two young children. I don’t have as much energy as I used to have, and I can’t keep up with them physically. I get tired and grumpy too easily. I think of a good friend of mine who commented a few years back, “I remember … [Read more…]
Agitprop: Anger Mongering
Agitprop Anger sells. By using agitprop, we can use passions to override intelligence. At one point in the history of ancient Sparta, the leadership hit upon a political panacea: start wars. The Spartans were extremely militaristic, and when domestic disagreements got out of hand they would go start a war. Everyone would get angry(er), march … [Read more…]
The Problem of Syrian Immigrants
Syrian immigrants included my grandparents. Today we are accepted as Lebanese Christians, but 100 years ago we were not welcome, either.
Thanksgiving Thoughts
Consider these Thanksgiving thoughts: beyond our one day to focus on our tremendous bounty, we too often forget to be grateful the rest of the year.