I begin with two responses about the violence in Charlottesville, Va. I believe these two men are basically expressing very similar ideas; at the same time, both their voices are definitive and clear! What happened has no place in our country. We, as a nation, are bigger and better than the extreme manifestations of hate […]
Most of us, whether in opposition to or supportive of Trump, have long ago reached the “end of our rope” when it comes to coverage of Trump world! I recently read an article in THE NATION magazine by **Andrew Bacevich (May 8, 2017). In it, he offered a critique of the news media’s coverage of […]
This month’s blog will be my presentation on the Wealth Gap.
I, Louise Akers, am an educated white woman, a Sister of Charity, a World Citizen who lives an economically comfortable life in a world where at least two-thirds of the people are destitute. I live in an institutional Roman Catholic Church that is ruled by an exclusive male hierarchy that seems to have no limits […]
During the 1960s, while in college, I first became aware of migrant farmworkers. Reading John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath along with seeing Edward R. Murrow’s documentary, Harvest of Shame, put me in touch with both migrants and immigrants. Steinbeck’s novel was written in the 1940’s. Murrow’s documentary was broadcast the day after Thanksgiving in 1960, CBS […]
Hello, All! We celebrate Earth Day during April. (April 22) With S. Caroljean’s permission, I will use a blog from her website along with guiding you to further info on events during April. However since I wrote this a major reversal has occurred in U.S. policy toward the environment and climate change, President Trump […]
We have been and continue to be inundated about the activities and goals of the Trump Administration. One of the most explosive attempts at exclusion is the Executive Order regarding immigrants and refugees. This month’s blog will focus on some factual information about the Order, the judicial decision of the 9th circuit court along with […]
We have just experienced the swearing in of Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States. Many of us are justifiably worried and/or fearful. Others have a sense of anticipation and excitement. As citizens in an increasingly pluralistic and polarized country, I believe we are challenged to create more effective approaches to wrestle with […]
When the Song of the Angels Is Stilled When the song of the angels is stilled, When the star in the sky is gone, When the kings and the princes …
The election of Donald Trump as President-Elect last month was a surprise to most, including the candidate himself. ‘Monday nite quarterbacking’ was widespread throughout the political spectrum. What happened?? How did this happen? Of course, numerous factors influenced both democratic and republican voters but one major factor was either overlooked and/or dismissed. The pundits and […]
I once saw a question raised related to violence against women that questioned: “Are Women Human?” Seems like a superfluous inquiry, doesn’t it? However, treatment of women, whether it be through actions, attitudes and/or expressed values demonstrate that we are not. Historical roots and traditional customs offer deep roots to a negative response to this […]
Can you remember the last time you heard the presidential candidates speak about people living in poverty? We hear concerns about the middle class and outrage over the top 1% and tax cuts but what about those persons who aren’t included in these categories? Think about it! To name a few who aren’t ‘counted’ – […]
Please begin by viewing the above youtube (c.5 min.) Incorporate the reflection below into your own thoughts. How does this thought-provoking information and challenge connect with your choices to the upcoming elections and candidates – presidential, senatorial, house reps? This election, as we know is unprecedented in our nation’s history. Much is at stake, especially […]
We, U.S. citizens – and the rest of the world – have experienced months and months of the primary campaigns along with, continued campaigns toward the general election in November 2016. However, at this time we have two major candidates rather than almost twenty! Seems, in theory, like it should be pretty simple, doesn’t it? […]
Yes, we have differences (see below). No, we share a common humanity. It seems we need a better balance between the two! To identify a few startling events from our recent past: Timothy Thomas, an unarmed 19 yr. old in Cincinnati shot and killed during Holy Week of 2001. Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old, shot and killed […]
Dan Berrigan, S.J. dead at the age of 94 – died Saturday, April 30, 2016. Who was he? Priest, prophet, poet, teacher, author, protestor, mentor . . . Many words have already been written about him; many more will come. For those of you not so familiar with his journey of justice I offer the […]
Sunday, February 28, 2016 the New York Times had a number of articles/columns on gender, race and class. One that particularly struck me was “The Faces of American Power, Nearly as White as the Oscar Nominees”. www.nytimes.com/…/race-of-american-poweer.html It graphically illustrates the people of power in U.S. culture, government, education and business. The objective is to […]
When I was about 10 years old, walking down a narrow sidewalk in a small town with my mom, an elderly black man came walking toward us. As he drew closer he tipped his hat and stepped off the sidewalk to allow mom and me to pass. We smiled at him, said hello and thank […]
Yesterday evening a segment of the NEWSHOUR focused on girls’ high school graduation; in fact the first in the small village highlighted within Afghanistan! Another significant event of the past week – the death of Sister of Charity Mary Grafe who spent many years of her ministry in Over-the-Rhine meeting, assisting and talking with high […]
LESSON ON WAR: Empathize with your Enemy “One of the most fearsome ideas to emerge in the course of the 20th century was the idea of total war – the belief that the most effective way of winning wars was by the obliteration, or the threat of obliter- ation of the civilian population of the […]
