Violence in America

Violence in America

Embed from Getty Images 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 demonstrated in Charlottesville. Following these observations, I offer you a 5-minute youtube on Race. It concerns a brief overview of the historical…

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Our Nation’s Agenda?

Our Nation’s Agenda?

Embed from Getty Images 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 Trump’s actions, assertions and faux pas along with raising a number of questions and objections related to what major national security…

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I, Louise Akers

I, Louise Akers

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 in how they exercise their power and their belief system. Evidence of this can be seen by the many persons who have been punished and,…

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Journeying with immigrants, migrants and refugees . . .

Journeying with immigrants, migrants and refugees . . .

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 REPORTS presented what would become one of the most important documentaries of all time, about the plight of the men and women who had provided…

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Celebrating our Earth

Celebrating our Earth

Embed from Getty Images 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 has signed another executive order: www.cnn.com/2017/03/27/politics/trump-climate-change-executive-order/   From the Global to the Local: Take Action Now Now more than ever those…

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Immigration

Immigration

Embed from Getty Images 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 objective descriptions about and brief facts regarding the above two groups. Following this, I will offer alternative views related to the…

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Communicate!

Communicate!

Embed from Getty Images 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 critical and complex issues. Creative responses require taking new paths, participating in diverse coalitions, relinquishing traditional institutions and building new structures…

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Populism – a threat or a challenge for the democratic system?

Populism – a threat or a challenge for the democratic system?

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 pollsters got it wrong. POPULISM was real and widespread. Succinctly and historically Populism can be described as the working class seeking economic justice.  However, this…

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