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March 31 is Big Enough for Easter & Transgender Day of Visibility
Republicans and religious rightists have gotten their feathers all ruffled over the fact that Easter this year coincides with International Transgender Day of Visibility. Like in the old westerns, they’re shouting “This town ain’t got room for the two of us!” Easter I think we all know Easter. It celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ…
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Remembering Mike Crider (1965-2023)
I initially intended to post this directly on Facebook but decided I preferred instead a more permanent tribute on my blog… My thoughts this morning turn to Mike Crider who passed away a year ago today. Ours was an interesting relationship. Mike was referred to David & me by someone — I don’t recall who…
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The Closet is No Refuge
Before I came out, my mother, bless her soul, was a hardened homophobe. Back in the 70s she gave large contributions to Anita Bryant’s campaign in Miami and other anti-gay causes. I vividly recall dinner at a Christmas family gathering when she pounded her fist on the table. “Gays!! They actually think they have rights!”…
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The Gift of Laughter
Fortified with coffee and breakfast yesterday morning, David and I moved to our Christmas tree to open gifts. I was feeling a bit unsettled as David had many more packages for me than I did for him. It’s not a contest, but still some equivalence is nice. Instead of alternating turns opening gifts, David suggested…
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Feeling Grateful on this Thanksgiving Day
The death and suffering of war in the Middle East and Ukraine; devastating earthquakes like Turkey’s 7.8 in February; whole communities leveled by tornados; ravaging floods in Greece, Libya and here in the United States; droughts and famine like in the Horn of Africa; wildfires across the U.S., Canada and Europe; poverty and homelessness right…
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Israel and Ukraine Are Both Vital Concerns
A few weeks ago I republished articles from the Militant newspaper concerning the October 7th attack by Hamas terrorists against Israel — and by extension against Jewish people everywhere in the world. I want to also republish this latest article in particular because it calls attention back to Ukraine. The war in Ukraine mustn’t be overshadowed by events in…
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The Mythical Land of Deep State
Donald Trump pledged to “drain the swamp” when he took office in 2017. Steve Bannon went further, calling for “deconstruction of the administrative state” itself with aims to “destroy all of today’s establishment.” Trump, Bannon and their followers believe that American society is controlled by the “Deep State,” an evil conspiratorial cabal. A vast army…
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Hamas. Israel. It’s Complicated.
Preface Followers of this blog probably know that I effectively broke with the U.S. Socialist Workers Party (SWP) after almost 50 years supporting it and working with it. I took this action over disagreement on a few specific issues. These disagreements are strong and heartfelt, but narrow. I still broadly agree with the SWP on…
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The Not-So-Slow Creep of Bigotry
Ron DeSantis’ infamous “Don’t Say Gay” law was initially aimed at young elementary school children whose tender ears were deemed too sensitive to be told their classmate Johnnie has two mommies or two daddies. The law covered K-3. It wasn’t long before DeSantis decided that even 12th graders are too young. From there DeSantis aimed…