Dear President Trump, “Apathy makes you an accomplice to oppression” “Never Forget” or “Never Forget” “Apathy makes you an accomplice to oppression” These messages are painted on utility boxes at the edge of the covered reservoir park I sometime walk around in the morning. I think the intent is to see them in the second … Continue reading Some ingredients for our radical cultural reset
Critical Thinking
Thinking “out of the box” big
Dear President Trump, It’s not clear who first coined the phrase “Live simply that others may simply live.” It might have been Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821), the founder of the Sisters of Charity, or it might have been Mahatma Gandhi – the Google sources aren’t sure. Whoever came up with it, the phrase has been … Continue reading Thinking “out of the box” big
Gaping gaps
Dear President Trump, This next phase of the covid-19 crisis is clearly high stakes and fraught – on lots of levels. People are antsy and frustrated and many of us are still very scared while many of us not scared enough. The odds of getting the basics needed to safely reopen the country (massively scaled-up … Continue reading Gaping gaps
Executing the Office of the President of the United States
Dear President Trump, “I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." Does this ring a bell somewhere in that lizard brain of yours? I know you were very … Continue reading Executing the Office of the President of the United States
Transitory trust
Dear President Trump, I don’t watch broadcast evening news and honestly can’t tell you when the last time was that I did, but if I were going to, I’d probably want to tune into ABC’s World News Tonight with David Muir after reading the WP article about it and him (by Margaret Sullivan). Yes, I’m … Continue reading Transitory trust
He’s running the clock and we’re letting him
Dear President Trump, Are you and your posse really trying to bamboozle the American people with all your crap about how Donny-on-the-spot you were regarding covid-19? Is that your real goal? Somehow I don’t think it is, if for no other reason than you seem to be preternaturally good at meeting your goals and currently … Continue reading He’s running the clock and we’re letting him
Birthdays and death on our beautiful blue planet
Dear President Trump, I know this is the fourth time I’ve told you, but I’m sure you aren’t much of a birthday tracker so I’ll remind you that today is my birthday. And it’s Laura’s brother’s birthday as well as the little girl’s across the street. It’s also the anniversary of the Waco massacre and … Continue reading Birthdays and death on our beautiful blue planet
Eagle sightings
Dear President Trump, Lately, eagles (one at a time) have been visiting the stand of fir trees rimming the South end of the reservoir across the street quite frequently. Given that every visit is met by hoards of dive-bombing crows, it would seem that the eagles are up to no good and are here on … Continue reading Eagle sightings
The good old, less bad days
Dear President Trump, It struck me the other day that I was missing times past when we were all focused on whether we could invoke Article 25 or we could watch and see whether this or that egregious abuse of power was going to be the thing that finally brought you down. How is it … Continue reading The good old, less bad days
Constructive non-violence
Dear President Trump, So what to do besides send money to liberal candidates and tilt at windmills with these daily letters? I honestly don’t know at this point, but as lame as it’s probably going to sound, I decided this morning that rather than closing my morning lovingkindness walking meditation with “May our lives unfold, … Continue reading Constructive non-violence