The Economist says good riddance to George W. Bush

The Economist pulled no punches in saying good riddance to George W. Bush.    Consider the headline to this article:"The frat boy ships out."  The article has relatively few good things to say about the Bush Administration, especially when it comes to lack of fiscal restraint, but also the lack of…

Continue ReadingThe Economist says good riddance to George W. Bush

Bill Moyers corrects the National Director of the Anti-Defamation League

This webpage from Bill Moyers' Journal features a highly charged written exchange between journalist Bill Moyers and Abraham Foxman of the Anti-Defamation League on the topic of Israel's recent military incursion into Gaza.   This exchange is a good illustration on how to handle the rhetorical tactics employed by those who…

Continue ReadingBill Moyers corrects the National Director of the Anti-Defamation League

The hypocrisy of charging that the American flag has been desecrated

You hear many conservatives yelping about "flag desecration," as though the torture of hundreds of prisoners conducted by the U.S. is not flag desecration. Here is a post pointing out further hypocrisy, expecially the cherry-picking done by conservatives.   The  sections of U.S. Code cited by this article suggest that even…

Continue ReadingThe hypocrisy of charging that the American flag has been desecrated
Read more about the article What’s in a title? The inspiration for “Mother and Child Reunion”
The Story Behind Mother and Child Reunion

What’s in a title? The inspiration for “Mother and Child Reunion”

I heard this story years ago and it always draws a chuckle or a grimmace. The Story Behind Mother and Child Reunion Musician Paul Simon once had a big hit song called "Mother and Child Reunion."    The lyrics included the following: But I would not give you false hope On…

Continue ReadingWhat’s in a title? The inspiration for “Mother and Child Reunion”

Flight 1549 versus Gaza: American lives are much more important than Palestinian lives

When we compare the good result of the water-landing of Flight 1549 with the indiscriminate "collateral damage" occurring in Gaza, we can only conclude one thing:  American lives are much more important than Palestinian lives.   After all, saving those 155 American lives was "miraculous," according to American media reports (listen…

Continue ReadingFlight 1549 versus Gaza: American lives are much more important than Palestinian lives