The cascade of social change in the last few weeks has been startling for politically jaded activists who have come to expect progress to come in incremental steps, if at all. Biologists refer to the phenomenon of ‘punctuated equilibrium’ to describe the rapid and dramatic... Continue
Columnist
As a compassionate community, we should make an effort to reassure those among us who believe the recent Supreme Court decision recognizing same-sex marriage will cast the nation into hellfire and damnation, and “destroy marriage as we know it." “What’s next?” they demand tearfully, “Marrying... Continue
The current crisis in Greece, the role of Germany in imposing austerity programs, and endless ongoing conflict in the middle east reveals how deeply the western world suffers from a case of mass-obsessive-compulsive disorder. Generation after generation these regions have been the focus of attention... Continue
We no longer sacrifice human beings in ritual killings for the sake of a good harvest, though given their effects on human health we could view the use of agricultural poisons and pesticides from that perspective. Capital punishment in America, however, which objectively is unnecessary... Continue
I’ll begin by paying homage to our legendary but never well-studied leader, César Dario Estrada Chávez, known simply as “César Chávez” (b. Yuma, AZ, 31 March 1927 – d. San Luis, AZ, 23 July 1993). Leader and activist for the civil rights of farm... Continue
It sounds simple. Just tell the truth. But, telling the truth is difficult. As much as I believe in honesty, I grapple with it. Speaking up isn’t as easy as it sounds. Try telling someone they have gas or their hair is too greasy. Being... Continue
What better example of American Values than if our president pardoned Edward Snowden on the Fourth of July? While that might send local conservatives to the ER with chest pains, it could prove entertaining. Who can forget the outraged lady who, during a Sonoma Fourth... Continue
My granddaughter, aged seven, and I were watching an animated movie about a curious fairy who is told by her Fairy Master not tamper with Pixie Dust. She does, of course, and an accident caused by one of her experiments wreaks havoc with the Fairy... Continue
Part of being human is being categorical. This means putting ourselves and things into endless categories, assigning names and establishing hierarchies. Our penchant for fragmenting the nameless whole into named parts and then using these named parts to construct a newly-named whole is deceptively seductive... Continue
"California – the state that had once advertised for more migrant workers – found itself overwhelmed by up to 7,000 new migrants a month, more migrants than they needed… the Los Angeles Police Department sent 136 deputies to the state lines to turn back migrants... Continue