“In such a world of conflict, a world of victims and executioners, it is the job of thinking people, not to be on the side of the executioners.”- Camus
I hoard these moments now. I didn’t used to. Everything has changed. I don’t count on others seeing what I have seen much longer. Yesterday morning I thought one of those obscure farmer’s ponds had broken through its embankments and was rushing down a road deep cut between two fields, tearing it up as it surged. It was so loud and sudden that for a second I actually thought, “I […]
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The death of Henry Bernat at 90 describes how we respond to those who are leaving us who once moved groups of people to do something both mighty and good. I took stats for the Owen J Roberts Varsity football team for 13 straight seasons. I was on the sidelines or up in the announcer’s booth for all but 3 or 4 games of that long run. I saw how […]
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I do not believe in heroes, but I do believe in heroic virtues. I have spent much of my life with teachers and State Police officers, and thus with men and women who love children and protect them, who believe in the ideal of service, who treat others with respect, especially those less able to protect themselves; who confront wrongdoing with courage, honor integrity as a matter of faith and live each […]
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Nations do not much care about history except as it feeds their heroic myths about themselves and about the perfidy of their enemies. As nations go, so do peoples who seem to collectively shout, “Just tell us who our enemies are today and then let us go back to our lives.” The current crisis between Iran and the US certainly seems to fit the pattern. Our great leaders shout that […]
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