Tag Archives: history

Freedom of Speech: On the Whole, I Like It

This isn’t the America I grew up in. But human nature hasn’t changed, and freedom of expression still makes some of us uneasy. I’ll be talking about that; and sharing a little family history that relates to the America of … Continue reading

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Independence Day, 2024: America and Context, a Short Ramble

“A False Alarm on the Fourth” Udo Keppler, Puck. (1902)“Uncle Sam — It’s all right! There’s no fighting!The noise you hear is just my family celebrating!” I like that double-page cartoon by Udo Keppler. And I like his image of … Continue reading

Posted in Being a Citizen, Being Catholic, Discursive Detours, Journal | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Animals, Consciousness, and Conscience

I haven’t researched it, but I’m guessing that ‘animals are conscious’ headlines peaked about two months back. “Animal consciousness” makes more sense than some headlines suggest — so this week I’ll be talking about new research, old ideas, and how … Continue reading

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Sledding With My Dad: Good Memories

Most of the neighborhood I grew up in is now a parking lot. But Prairie Home Cemetery, a block west of the house I grew up in, is still there. I mostly remember it as being next to the sledding … Continue reading

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Truth, Beauty, and the Evening News

“It’s fair to say that if news sites were people, most would be diagnosed as clinically depressed right now.”(“I stopped reading the news. Is the problem me — or the product?”, Amanda Ripley, Washington Post (July 8, 2022) via Wikiquote) … Continue reading

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