My brother Larry was under the illusion our mother was a good mother, but he had a different childhood than we did. My sisters believed otherwise: Carleen complained Mom was thoughtless and self-centered, Betty hated her for abandoning us, and Claudia simply thought she was... Continue
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My question is this: why, oh why, do humans, century after century, continue their violence, slaughter, torture, neglect, cruelty, and prejudice? Black Lives Matter forces us to face racism rooted deeply in society with its brutality and hatred. And, we have discord and fighting in... Continue
As police chiefs nationwide rush to the cameras to disavow the chokehold and 'take a knee,' one can’t help thinking it’s just a PR stunt to mollify public outrage over defenseless deaths at the hands of those sworn to Protect and Serve. Constantly told to... Continue
My social security check paid for the gas to drive to downtown Sonoma on June 6 to be in the Walk for Justice rally and march, organized by a local high school student group, Sonoma Black Lives Matter, welcomed by the Mayor and the endorsed... Continue
I'm a Jewish white boy who was raised in an upper middle class suburb outside of New York City where almost no black people lived. I say almost, because there was one black student by the name of Sam Houston in my class in grammar... Continue
Guy Jarreau, a Napa Community College student, was shot and killed by a Vallejo police officer in 2010. By Loretta Carr The distress of watching Minneapolis resident George Floyd’s neck being crushed by a policeman’s knee as he begs to breathe is palpable. The indignation... Continue
I came of age and lent my youthful passionate voice during the turbulent era of civil rights, War on Poverty, equality for women and gays/ lesbians, environmental awakening and protests against the Vietnam War. Our rallies, protests and marches ebb and flow about issues that... Continue
Our conceptions of joy, love, companionship, creativity, aesthetics and the like are the stuff of human culture, highly meaningful to people but of no particular consequence to nature. If we ruthlessly consider the fundamental role of animal life on earth, we quickly arrive at one... Continue
The Trump Administration has fulfilled the dire prediction I made in last month’s Sun column: “We must not wait until the inevitable financial tsunami… the precarious working class will be homeless and unable to afford food within a few months unless there is an immediate... Continue
In the midst of this pandemic I've been reviewing household expenses, including the various types of insurance we carry. Much of it is standard stuff such as homeowner insurance for fire, theft and liability, and auto coverage for our one car; also, some additional umbrella... Continue