In one sense, it was an exercise by members of the 99% for generating solidarity, strength, and public recognition during fall of 2011. Particular areas of concern were (more…)
May 23, 2014
April 5, 2014
Ethics of War conference at Villanova (and Paul speaks out)
The United States Military Academy at West Point and Villanova University jointly sponsored this two-day Ethics of War conference. The largest group in attendance were West Point cadets.
There were a number of presentations, followed by Q&As. After one presentation in which a cadet said that she had freely given up her autonomous rights when she promised to serve the military in an instrumental capacity, I questioned whether a promise to serve means that you can never change your mind, even if you gain new insights. I noted that military personnel can apply for conscientious objector status, even though (more…)
February 21, 2014
Conscientious Objectors and soldiers both can die in wartime.
Both Conscientious Objectors and soldiers die in wartime. I believe that COs’ sacrifice is the more meaningful. I respect the memory of the many COs I have known, (more…)
January 21, 2014
My biggest accomplishment on Martin Luther King Day? I helped a 94-year-old woman get arrested
Our home in Media is near Annie Geers’ retirement community, so I was able to drive her and be her accompaniment at the Brandywine Peace Community civil disobedience. She fell (from a sitting position), and the police did not want to arrest her (more…)
January 11, 2014
Profits before poison – 300,000 Americans suddenly without safe drinking water.
“Authorities struggled to determine how much danger the little-known chemical, MCHM, or 4-methylcyclohexane methanol, posed. ‘The only appropriate use for this water is toilet flushing.'” (New York Times)
November 30, 2013
Big Brother on wheels — watching you but ultimately protecting whom/what?
Coming Soon (?) — Big Brother may have watchmen on patrol on your street and my street, as well as your workplace and other destinations, his ever-watching eyes keeping you (or maybe just Big Brother) safe. (more…)
November 29, 2013
Take Testosterone Drugs — be the Manly Man at any age. No thank you, BigPharma
My Comment on this NYTimes article: Big-pharma marketing is both a health calamity and a financial calamity. Disease-mongering at its worst. But what can you expect as long as folks take the lazy-way out and tolerate government by corporate America? (more…)
November 28, 2013
Thanksgiving 1621– A harvest celebration of new military allies
The fall feast was sometime in late September or early October, with about one hundred of Massasoit’s Indians and less than half that number of English who had survived the previous disease-filled winter. It affirmed a recent peace treaty (more…)
November 17, 2013
Some folks take most of the resources and produce most of the toxins…for how long?
“It (our inaction) is structural, based on the huge obligations we face from aging populations and other pressing needs for infrastructure, education, health care and the like.’ said the U.S. representative at a recent international climate conference. Hmmm, I thought it was the fact that we have by far the largest and most expensive military war-making machine (more…)
November 14, 2013
I confess! I did it! I studied polygraphs and taught others about it in General Psychology.
1) Use of polygraphs was outlawed by our government a few decades ago because of the high error rate, particularly false positives that identified innocent people as likely liars. Significantly, after declaring this, government made an exception for government itself. (more…)