I have an Italian friend who’s about my age. We became friendly in 2008 and although we didn’t discuss issues in detail, I determined he was somewhat liberal. He had no problem with my black wife and her siblings he sometimes met. He accepted my...
NOT FOLLOWING IN FOOTSTEPS
A Keen Observer September 8, 2019 Last month I attended a service at a Methodist church in a Blackstone Valley town. It was a very small church with approximately 40 members, and it was without a minister. A black minister my wife knows was assigned...
HOW A PROGRESSIVE COULD WIN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
As a result of keen observations about the 2016 presidential race, I am of the firm belief that the 2020 race cannot be won by a woman, a person of color, or a progressive. Not enough women vote for women, and three years ago many ...
A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT RACE
For quite some time now I’ve been telling everyone who will listen that the 2016 presidential election was not about jobs or the economy, or health care, or the environment, or any other issue but racial animosity. The 2020 election next year will be the...
THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCT OF SEX
WARNING: THIS BLOG CONTAINS SEXUALLY EXPLICIT INFORMATION. READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED Last month we took our standard poodle Zora to the Juneteenth celebration at Institute Park. A young black woman approached me and patted Zora, and she told me she was the proud owner of...
NATIONAL PROGRESSIVES EMULATE CENTRAL MASS FACEBOOK PROGRESSIVES
I didn’t watch a minute of the two Democratic debates this week. That would’ve been four hours of my life I’d never get back, and anyway I knew I’d get all the highlights on cable news the next day and learn in detail what was...
NOSTRADAMUS AND CASSANDRA
Michel de Nostredame (1503-1566), more commonly known as Nostradamus, was a French astrologer, physician, and seer (a person with supernatural insight who can see what the future holds). He is best known for his work published in 1555 called “Les Propheties,” a collection of 943...
ALLEGORY ANSWERS
I promised to give my interpretation of the two allegories listed in yesterday’s blog. Allegory # 1 involved a female CEO of a widget company who’d been dealing with her product since 1973. She was being irritated by a new female employee and her three...
A PAIR OF POLITICAL ALLEGORIES
An allegory is a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one. Allegory #1 There’s a female Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at a widget company. She’s been involved with widgets since 1973. She has...
ALTRUISM IS DEAD—WAS IT EVER ALIVE?
Altruism is the practice of disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others. A person with this quality is “altruistic.” If you’re a religious person you may believe that altruism will pave your path to heaven, i.e., if such a place exists. But in...