Beware the savage jaw of 1984. --David Bowie In his novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell presents readers with a society so repressive that even the mere thought of dissent is outlawed. Every citizen has a 24-hour monitoring device, the telescreen, installed in his or her home, and even the English vernacular has been altered to … Continue reading Thought Crime
Category: Politics
Cosmic HubrisÂ
There's a hedge that believers frequently cite when discussing the existence of a supreme being. It's better to believe in God regardless of whether or not God exists, because the consequences of believing in a God that doesn't exist are less than for not believing in a God that does. The same argument can be … Continue reading Cosmic HubrisÂ
Ecological Meltdown
We satisfy our endless needs and justify our bloody deeds in the name of yesterday and in the name of God - The Eagles The earth's ecosystem didn't pop up overnight. It has developed over billions of years, and humans have only been a part of it for a few hundred thousand at most. This … Continue reading Ecological Meltdown
Existential Void
In his book, Man's Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl tells the story that on his first day in a Nazi concentration camp, an older and more experienced prisoner pointed to him and, based on the older prisoner's experience, said Frankl was the type who wouldn't survive. Frankl did survive and one way he managed … Continue reading Existential Void
Real Bible Studies: The Sons of Israel
The Bible is as much a political document as it is a religious one. Stories printed there were crafted to support a specific narrative, perhaps to bolster the reign of a particular king or party in its quest for control. Over time, these stories were edited, re-edited, and re-arranged to support different narratives. One such … Continue reading Real Bible Studies: The Sons of Israel
Bizarro Atlanta, Summer of 1996
"The world is coming to Atlanta!" —Ad for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics For seventeen days in the summer of 1996, Atlanta entered the Bizarro World, where the downtown connector was clear, MARTA was packed, and the world stopped by for a visit. Less than a year before, Atlanta had been thrilled when the Braves brought … Continue reading Bizarro Atlanta, Summer of 1996
War of WordsÂ
For centuries, those attempting to manipulate the public conscience have understood that appealing to emotions or instincts is far more effective than appealing to intellect. The advertising industry makes a fortune each year manipulating the audience's emotions to sell everything from coffee and toothpaste, to candidates for all levels of public office. In his review … Continue reading War of WordsÂ
The Cheese Toast Project Now Available!
My collection of essays, The Cheese Toast Project (ISBN: 978-0-9848913-4-4), is now available in print at online booksellers, and in print and Kindle versions at Amazon.com. The essays are about family, writing, music, drama, religion, politics, and history. Early drafts appeared on my blog, Raised by Wolves and have since been revised and expanded.
President Trump
Back in the 1990s, on his show TV Nation, Michael Moore urged voters to nominate a ficus tree as a candidate in local elections. His point was that a tree would be as responsive to voters' needs as many of the candidates. The sad part is people took him up on the offer and actually … Continue reading President Trump
I Want to be Elected
The three-ring circus that is the republican campaign for president points out just how ridiculous our elections have become. Anyone with enough money can toss his or her hat into the ring and the media concentrates on the spectacle rather than substantive issues affecting our country. Candidates run to stoke their own egos rather than … Continue reading I Want to be Elected