Liberty. Freedom of speech. First Amendment rights. Independence. Self-determination. They are components of Independence Day and the resultant celebrations which are important to many U.S. residents, including individuals who inhabit these parts of our world. Those lofty goals are still a part of what most of us seek to achieve:
The rolling thunder of heavy metal began at 9 p.m. Saturday, April 1, 1865. When the big guns destroyed the Confederate defenses around Petersburg, Va., the Union army led by General Ulysses S. Grant might end the four-year old Civil War and the United States would be divided no more.
Police brutality is a fact of life. It has been around ever since police agencies were created to enforce the laws and to protect the citizens from criminal activity. In every nation-state, in every era, one will find numerous instances of how ill-trained police officers enforced the laws, sometimes inventing
Call it Plan B. Call it going right when things go wrong. Call it making lemonade when issued lemons. Much of redirecting energies to an improved state or a positive ending is what many do in the situation altered by COVID-19. The 2020 school graduates, at any level, have been
We share some prophecy from the Hopi Nation: Hopis’ ancient knowledge and prophecies are warning through many signs, that we have entered a dangerous period in our lives. Mankind must return to peaceful ways, and halt the destruction of Mother Earth, or we are going to destroy ourselves. Joseph White
The year was 1787 when the idea for the presidency was born at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. Taking notes was James Madison which then thrust the room full of delegates into a sudden silence. All knew it was a moment of fateful significance. After days of heated argument and
Poor Donny. The stadium wasn’t quite full, not even one-third full, actually, for his self-congratulatory weekend rally in Tulsa. Because The Donald doesn’t believe in reading, he had to go by visuals and even he could see that 6,200 in attendance is a few less than the million red hats
Wide-ranging thoughts and observances offer the following statements: • Clarity can evolve out of chaos of any kind. Those who make better efforts find more peace. • Chaos between police and protesters can evolve into understanding, if given an opportunity. • Each must seek understanding and not be rigid in
“Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Jesus to Mary Magdalene at his empty tomb. (John 20:15) The cave, east of Aix-en-Provence, is called Sainte-Baume. According to Roman Catholic tradition, Mary Magdalene spent the last 30 years of her life there. The surrounding forest leads to a small
All of America is anxious to get back to the way things were before the pandemic struck. Alas! we can’t go back. We mustn’t go back, because the way things were created the failures which the coronavirus (COVID-19) rudely exposed. Strange as it may seem, the virus did us an
Grandpa,My wife and I have been married (a very short number of weeks). We both work full-time jobs and there are no children. Our time should be ours, right? We have a healthy social life. We live well within our means and have a savings plan in place. The only
Recovery was under way in communities last week which suffered from lawless, mindless, and opportunistic individuals who seized the occasion to cause chaos with looting and property damage. The fabric of society requires we must be at our best to support each other, have faith and confidence in the goodness
“May the breezes of Summer that breathe of perfume, waft their balmiest dews to so hallowed a shrine.” — Shelley Beulah O’Brien was a 24-year old bank cashier at the Metropolitan Trust in New York City. The year was 1939. Beulah was fond of wearing the latest fashions, her brown
By Al Benson Donnell Collins of Aurora has been on a mission. The Aurora professional photographer’s mission is to shoot outdoor portraits of individuals, or groups, from his van’s window, and post a photo daily on Facebook until stay-at-home orders are lifted. He calls the mission his Driveby Photo Shoot
Psychology of humans reveals that the mind seeks to simplify. The mind gathers information in easy stereotypes. Problems are either one thing or the other. No complexities. Good or evil. Right or wrong. Further investigation often must amend simplistic assessments. A current example is for some to see First Amendment
Our beautiful world is under attack by many issues that we have needed to address. We have not treated everyone equally as God has intended. We’ve discussed remedies to fix this issue, but, we’ve never put in the time and energy to make real change happen. And now? It’s going
Queen Victoria came to the English throne in 1837. The River Thames was the wide meandering river then, just as it had been for centuries. Twice a day the River ebbed and flowed as far up as Teddington. The Victorian age saw many improvements, including the umbrella, flushing toilets, letter
Just like many cities across the United States, protests in Aurora were held Sunday over the death of George Floyd. My daughter, Kyra, was one of those protestors. She said the protest was comprised of many different groups. She was part of an event planned by Indivisible Aurora. That group
One door closes. Another door opens. Pragmatists, clear-thinking optimists, and realists, can live by such methods. We live in such times. There is understanding from many individuals that there are no guarantees in staying inside and in keeping businesses shut down in perpetuity. Planning, realism, common sense must dictate our
The brilliant piano virtuoso Ludwig van Beethoven has provided the world with glorious music. One of his most beautiful piano pieces is Fur Elise, “Bagatelle in A minor” composed in 1810 for a lady love who rejected him. His “Moonlight Sonata” is another outstanding melody. Both I never tire of
