Millions of human beings live not only in want, but in hunger. This month of August, which begins the harvest season, leads me to reflect on those human beings around our planet, who are dying from starvation and kwashiorkor. There are millions of them, captured by drought and crop failure, who do not have enough… Continue Reading
Predators
This month of war is a good time to talk about predators. Our world is full of them. Every time we turn around, it seems there is someone out there who is trying to takes something dear to us away from us, with callous disregard for our rights. It seems that there are millions of… Continue Reading
Right and Wrong
We get so caught up in figuring out how we should behave; we are constantly possessed with judgments as to right and wrong. Normal conversation is filled with familiar opinions as to human behavior. “That’s not the right thing to do.” “That’s so wrong.” “There’s a right way and a wrong way.” “If you do… Continue Reading
Playing the Odds
The State of Ohio recently passed a law allowing legalized gambling in the state, both at casinos in large cities, as well as horse race tracks. They did so, they said, in order to enhance their revenues and pay their bills in a sagging economy. The governor and state officials, who pushed this legislation through,… Continue Reading
Life is Good
One warm and sunny day last year, Rita and I drove up to the Dari Twist in Dresden for a Coney dog and a Sundae. It seemed like the proper thing to do on a lazy Sunday evening. After we had placed our orders, we stood there waiting while a young mom and her little… Continue Reading
Tough Love
Those teachings of Jesus concerning extreme pacifism were certainly drilled into us, both at church and in the Sunday school. We were admonished to not be belligerent, not be aggressive, to not be violent. We took those lessons to heart, believing them to be true, even though we all knew that we were quite deficient… Continue Reading
Humans with the Universe
While in process of reading the biographies of Charles Darwin, which were superbly written by Dr. Janet Browne, I remember being quite struck by one of her quotes coming from Thomas Henry Huxley. Professor Browne was describing the relationship Darwin had with those who were his most ardent supporters, including Huxley, Joseph Hooker, and Charles… Continue Reading
Species Survival
Why? We persist in calling each other derogatory names: Dagos, Wops, Polacks, Slant eyes, Wetbacks, Faggots. We treat those others amongst us with derision or scorn when they speak a different language, or carry out different customs. We treat those who have different religious beliefs than ours with derision and scorn. We think that those… Continue Reading
Alone in Society
It is now mid afternoon. The wind chimes sound their sweet musical alarms at brief gusts of air which bring them to life. A cold front came through this morning, bringing lead skies and rain, but has hurried through, leaving behind cool breezes which caress my cheeks. Citified bagworm cocoons hang in my neighbor’s trees,… Continue Reading
God Gave Us All the Earth
Also dear to the hearts of those who are faithful to the religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, is this outrageous myth: They all believe that this earth was given to humans by the Almighty God, to use in any way we see fit. None of these believers seem to have any problem thinking that… Continue Reading