We are currently downsizing, in preparation for a move to smaller quarters. This is the time to pass family heirlooms and collectibles to an appreciative younger generation ready to carry on the tradition of storing past treasures. Except – (more…)
September 18, 2011
September 8, 2011
Confidence
My confidence with my values derives heavily from my family, both from experiencing their moral values directly and also from the value they placed on educating oneself and forming/holding one’s own moral values.
My confidence with others (more…)
August 6, 2011
Arrested at Lockheed Martin (world’s largest military profiteer) on Hiroshima Day.
Today I walked onto the grounds of Lockheed Martin, the world’s largest war profiteer, to ask employees to reconsider their working on nuclear-related systems that, instead of obliterating whole cities and killing 100,000 people at a time as in August 1945, could potentially obliterate the whole world and kill billions. I was arrested in the process. (more…)
August 1, 2011
“How do you know when you’ve met the right one?”
I was asked the following by a friend who is in the process of making life and relationship decisions: “How did you know when you met the right one?“ My response follows. (more…)
July 30, 2011
Weight, health, life style, and why do we have friends who are like us?
There are substantial individual differences among people in regard to weight and health. Significantly, folks tend to associate with groups that share their particular issues in this regard. We interact with those who (more…)
July 13, 2011
Vocationalism, Academic Freedom and Tenure (NYTimes by Stanley Fish)
My Comment on this article was the following:
The admiral notion of self-improvement and the perhaps more-realistic notion of occupational survival have resulted in great growth and concomitant change in so-called “higher” education. My concern with tenure is not with its principles but with its misuse.
July 4, 2011
Moral Patriotism — is it an oxymoron?
It is natural to form a special attachment to family, friends and surroundings, whether we are Americans, Chinese, Bangladeshi, whatever. But must our individual welfare come at the expense of those (more…)
June 26, 2011
Do you choose to sing or not sing the Star Spangled Banner?
This CNN Belief Blog discusses the reaffirmation at Goshen College to not play the Star Spangled Banner at athletic events. For some people our national anthem is seen as so militaristic as to be offensive to religious conscience and not good for this country. (more…)
June 25, 2011
“Dieu le veult!” (“God wills it!”)
“Dieu le veult! Dieu le veult!” was the crowd’s response to the orchestrated call of Pope Urban II for a Holy Crusade. He goes on to say (more…)
June 22, 2011
Pierre Curie’s letter (1894) to his future wife Marie Curie.
I found this letter of Pierre Curie to Marie Sklodowska, (1894) in Eve Curie’s bio of her mother. How little have things changed, except that in those days, even scientists still had a conscience. (more…)