Blog
A comic strip and a New York Times article recently defined my key personality trait. Zits, by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman, good-naturedly skewers teenagers and their parents. Their 15-year-old Jeremy was incredulous that his father once had a waterbed. “A lot of people did,” Dad explained. “Well . . . A few. Okay, nobody.” Jeremy’s zinger:…
I’ve written that the only logical conclusion to the Israel-Hamas war is moving towards a two-state solution. Now, let me clarify that. “Moving towards” does not mean Israel acknowledging Palestinian statehood now. Canada considered recognizing a Palestinian state but decided against. Reality intruded. The subject also has been broached by several European leaders. But Gaza is run…
The American far right fondly acclaims the sanctity of the nation’s Judeo-Christian heritage. That’s true in part. It’s also a blatant fallacy. For many Christians, “Judeo-Christian” comes down to incorporating the “Old Testament”—close to but not exactly the same as the Hebrew Bible—into their canon. This fails to acknowledge reality. While America has given Jews…
Baseball spring training is underway, which has always raised my spirits as a hallmark of spring. But my wintry mood won’t lift until Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred stops calling the game “The Industry.” Growing up in Queens in the 1950s, baseball meant a lot to me. I was a big Yankees fan. Years…
Alexei Navalny, arch political foe of Vladimir Putin, “died” in a prison camp above the Arctic Circle. Come November, Americans should remember and pay heed. The day before Navalny died, he appeared on a video looking healthy and smiling. Russian sources claimed “Sudden Death Syndrome.” Translation: assassination. Only three days ago was Navalny’s mother allowed…
Moms know something about multi-tasking that escapes Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Republicans. It’s possible to walk and chew gum at the same time. Ukraine is about to enter its third year defending itself against Russia. The Senate passed a bipartisan bill providing additional aid to Ukraine, and also to Israel and Taiwan.…
Libraries and book publishing find themselves in cultural and political firestorms. Opinion pieces in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal offer interesting takes. Neither was written by a librarian, so for added context, I called my friend Les Kozerowitz, who retired 15 years ago as director of the Norwalk, Connecticut public library. First, the Times piece, “Red…
I never get writers’ block, but this week I came close. I start thinking about the next post six or seven days ahead of the Friday on which it appears. Sometimes, I develop more than one idea. Last Tuesday, I was still drawing a blank. One of the best techniques I know for freeing the…
The internet brings to mind Pinocchio when it comes to online stories about Israel. A recent Washington Post article by Elizabeth Dwoskin reveals the viciousness of lies the internet often spreads. Its title summarizes the story: “How the Internet is erasing the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre.” However you feel about Israel’s response in Gaza, facts are facts. Until they’re…
For many Donald Trump supporters, Monday’s Republican primary win was all about Jesus. Before the caucuses, CNN interviewed a Trump supporter—a white, middle-aged woman and evangelical Christian. “God puts leaders over us,” she said. The reporter failed to seek clarification: “Did God put Joe Biden over us?” The woman might have mustered one of several…