Yesterday was Thanksgiving in the US. If you were among the many that were able to stuff themselves with more food than ever should be consumed in one sitting and still have leftovers, congratulations. But, many more aren’t that fortunate. As temperatures drop, those less fortunate more desperately need some assistance. If you have the … More Giving Season
Veterans Day used to be Armistice Day, celebrating the end of World War I. It wouldn’t become a national holiday until 1938. Veterans Day in its current incarnation is meant primarily to celebrate living former service members. Memorial Day emphasizes the fallen, and Armed Forces Day emphasizes those currently serving. Veterans Day is also a … More It’s Veterans’ Day
I know when we were kids we got taught that “Christopher Columbus discovered America.” He didn’t. In truth, he didn’t “discover” anything, because people already lived where he landed. And, more specifically, he didn’t land anywhere on what is the modern day USA. It isn’t “revisionist” to look at the facts of what transpired in … More Indigenous People’s Day
You may have heard, the President gave a speech the night before last. It made a lot of maga republicans sad and angry. What mean things did he say? Well he said that maga republicans are a threat to democracy. They have many hurt feelings about that. But, the thing is, the threat they pose … More The Saddest Fascists
Another day, another mass shooting here in the US. This time at a July 4th parade in Chicago. After Uvalde, we got some bipartisan legislation that doesn’t do much, followed by a SCOTUS decision the seeks to limit states’ abilities to rein in gin violence. Half-step forward, two steps back. Our previous writings, which sadly … More No End in Sight for Gun Violence – July 4th Edition
For Memorial Day, remembering the fallen with whom I served: LT Terri S. Fussner LT Wayne F. Roberts PO2 Jason E. Lawson SSG Joseph R. Ray SGT Joshua L. Hill SGT Anton J. Hiett SGT Kevin D. Akins SGT Jeffery S. Wiekamp CW3 Eric W. Totten SPC David N. Timmons Jr. SPC Justin L. Odonohoe … More Memorial Day 2022
Below, italicized, is the full text of the 1963 address in Washington, DC. Although Dr. King was a proponent of non-violence, we should not be confused into believing non-violence was inaction. The struggle for civil liberties was a struggle of action as well as words, then and now. Our resurgent white supremacists, many of whom … More MLK Day 2022
I saw this story yesterday: Judge blocks Navy vaccine policy for legal challengers citing religious objections The gist is that a federal judge (in Texas, of course) is keeping the Navy from enforcing its vaccination policy with a group of service members (all SEALs), citing the fact that the Navy hasn’t approved any religious exemptions. … More Military Religious Exemptions to COVID Vaccine
Quick post on a current event – the Rittenhouse trial. I’m not a legal scholar, and I’m sure there are plenty of those offering expert opinions. I can’t speak to the law better than any of them, so I won’t try. I acknowledge that statutory language matters, and that what seems clearly criminal to the … More Rittenhouse
As a federal employee, I got an unexpected extra day off today. Juneteenth was recently made a holiday through bipartisan legislation. In fact, only 14 Republicans in the House of Representatives voted against making this day a holiday. (I have included last year’s post on Juneteenth, in which I lazily included information from Juneteenth.com to … More Juneteenth is a Federal Holiday
The View from the Armchair 