Category Archives: United States

The Long Blue Line

Posted on 07/29/2020 by

“It shall not be lawful for any negroe or other slave to carry or arme himself with any club, staffe, gunn, sword or any other weapon of defense or offence, nor to goe or depart from his masters ground without … Continue reading →

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White Like Me

Posted on 07/08/2020 by

In 1993, at age 38, I came out to myself as a gay man. I know, I know, a long time coming. From then, things moved pretty quick. Within weeks I came out to my wife. After a month of … Continue reading →

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The Pandemic We Deserve

Posted on 07/03/2020 by

It is a truth universally acknowledged that in a democracy, we get the government we deserve. Hence, our complacent, morally bankrupt, money dazzled, education-scorning, science-doubting electorate selects Donald Trump as our President. Over the past few months I have considered … Continue reading →

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The Optics of Equity

Posted on 06/24/2020 by

First thought when I learned that Boston University is planning to reopen its campus this fall with an intensive COVID-19 testing policy that includes testing students as often as twice a week was: WOW! BU is handing one juicy plum … Continue reading →

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Imagine

Posted on 06/17/2020 by

November 1971. I’m a pudgy, pimply sixteen-year-old lying on the back sofabed of an off-brand Winnebago. My father’s driving, happy on the move. My mother’s uncharacteristically silent. My little brother rolls matchbox cars around the table. I should be in … Continue reading →

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What the Heck Have I Been Doing?

Posted on 06/10/2020 by

There’s a point in Marc Maron’s Netflix Comedy Special, ‘End Times Fun,’ when Marc (middle-aged white guy, sorta tall, skinny, bearded, salt and pepper scruff; basically me with quicker retort time) iterates the troubles of our era and then bemoans, … Continue reading →

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A Shared Approach to Addressing Our Housing Crisis

Posted on 06/25/2019 by

The United States is experiencing a severe housing crisis. Cities with high housing demand are woefully short of supply. Over the past two decades, monthly rents have increased 40% more than wages. Over the past two generations, the ratio of … Continue reading →

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Four Years On

Posted on 06/18/2019 by

Four years ago this month I sat out the afternoon sun in a Mexican cantina in Postville, Iowa, gorging on $6.95 fajitas and scrolling through the websites of the folks running for President. On Flag Day 2016, I asked each … Continue reading →

Posted in How Will We Live Tomorrow?, United States | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

A Folk-Art Flag for All of Us  

Posted on 06/12/2019 by

June 14 is Flag Day; a day to honor the flag of the United States of America. Our nation’s standard includes thirteen alternating red and white horizontal stripes representing the original states, plus a blue field gridded with fifty white … Continue reading →

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Jim and Margery and Boston Traffic

Posted on 05/21/2019 by

‘Boston Public Radio,’ with Jim Braude and Margery Eagan (WGBH weekdays from 11 to 2) features interesting guests and discussion. Except for the call-in segments. That’s when Margery and Jim pick a topic, riff personal rants, and throw open the … Continue reading →

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