Israel, its Founding and Nature, & the Fight Against Antisemitism

For various reasons, some covered elsewhere in this blog, I no longer consider myself a “Marxist.” I do, however, still subscribe to many of its tenets and believe that Marxism for the most part provides the fullest and most accurate explanation of human society and relationships. Perhaps nowhere is this more urgent at the moment than in explaining the current conflict in Israel and Gaza. … Continue reading Israel, its Founding and Nature, & the Fight Against Antisemitism

Marc LichtmanDecember 23, 2023December 23, 20231 Comment

Great Wall of China, Guest Author, Laycock Family

Nuku’alofa: Tonga and My Grandparents

My brother John, an occasional Guest Author here, posted the following a week ago on Facebook. I thought it would be interesting to share here. He talks about our maternal grandparents and particularly our grandfather, Dr. William Edgar Geil (1865-1925). Our grandfather was the first person of any race or nationality documented to have walked the entire length of the Great Wall of China — … Continue reading Nuku’alofa: Tonga and My Grandparents

John E. LaycockJanuary 11, 2021December 23, 2023Leave a comment

Guest Author, Politics, Trump

Why Almost 70 Million Voters Chose Trump

Introduction As this is written on Thursday morning after Election Day, there’s no winner yet. Ballot counting continues and it appears that Joe Biden will win both the popular vote and the Electoral College. I’ve believed for some time that Biden would win. I wasn’t necessarily expecting a landslide as some were projecting, but I definitely wasn’t expecting it to be this close either. Which … Continue reading Why Almost 70 Million Voters Chose Trump

Tony PrinceNovember 5, 2020December 23, 20232 Comments

Guest Author, LGBTQ+

Off My Chest & Into the World

Introduction Today is National Coming Out Day. To mark the occasion, I’m reprinting here an item that a Facebook friend, Matthew Ryan Thompson, posted on his timeline last October. I first met Ryan in 2017 on an ill-fated flight from Philadelphia to Cleveland by way of LaGuardia in New York City. No we didn’t crash, thank God — just the opposite actually. We couldn’t get … Continue reading Off My Chest & Into the World

Matthew Ryan ThompsonOctober 11, 2020December 23, 2023Leave a comment

Guest Author, Laycock Family

My Father’s 105th Birthday

My brother, John, posted a great remembrance today on Facebook marking our father’s 105th birthday. He’s allowed me to share it here. Today would be my father’s 105th birthday. He died in 1998 at the age of 83. August 22, 1915, was a Sunday. World War I was in full cry but I cannot find any other events of historical interest on that day. There … Continue reading My Father’s 105th Birthday

John E. LaycockAugust 22, 2020December 23, 2023Leave a comment

Guest Author, Pandemic

No Patience Left: A Rant

Introduction Today I welcome guest author Patrick Cusick. Patrick has worked in public heath for 22 years with the City of Cleveland. I should probably point out that our opinions expressed here are personal and not those of the City. Patrick’s career has been preparing for this and similar crises, and now finds himself incensed to see all this hard work compromised by Washington’s profound … Continue reading No Patience Left: A Rant

Patrick CusickApril 4, 2020December 23, 2023Leave a comment

Guest Author, Politics

The Mueller Report: A Photo Essay

Introduction Today I welcome friend and guest author Dr. Robert André LaFleur. He has read and thoroughly dissected the full Mueller Report. Two nights ago he posted his impressions on Facebook in a kind of photo-essay format. His presentation is unusual and very engaging. He was kind enough to allow me reprint it here. Robert is a professor of History and Anthropology at Beloit University … Continue reading The Mueller Report: A Photo Essay

Dr. Robert André LaFleurJuly 11, 2019December 23, 2023Leave a comment

Guest Author, Labor, Politics

Socialists Have It Right

I shared this essay by Guest Author David Rowlands in July 2019. David now has his own blog, The Union of Workers. Five Examples where the political analysis of the U.S. Socialist Workers Party has proven to be correct. An essay in pictures. By David RowlandsOriginally published on Facebook, Wednesday, May 29, 2019 I am not a member of and have no formal affiliation to … Continue reading Socialists Have It Right

David RowlandsJuly 2, 2019December 23, 2023Leave a comment

Guest Author, Labor, Politics

A Working-Class Perspective on Politics Today

I shared this essay by Guest Author David Rowlands in January 2019. David now has his own blog, The Union of Workers. A Note to a friend. Mass movements and today’s realities.In defense of the Socialist Workers Party. By David RowlandsOriginally published on Facebook, Sunday, November 25, 2018 I am not a member of and have no formal affiliation to the United States Socialist Workers … Continue reading A Working-Class Perspective on Politics Today

David RowlandsJanuary 2, 2019December 23, 20232 Comments