A question largely overlooked in the coverage of Donald Trump is why does he dishonor himself? Why does he mock the disabled? Why does he insult our nation’s war heroes? Why, one week before the election, did he use a microphone to pantomime fellatio? Where does dishonorable behavior get him? What does it achieve? Why does he continue with it?…
“Those gooks were fierce and fearless. That’s the price you pay when you invade.” Rocker Lou Reed, from “Christmas in February” Vladimir Putin won’t own Ukraine. Neither will Donald Trump. The Ukrainians will own their own country for as long as they want to, regardless of the outcome of Putin’s ongoing war of invasion. Modern history shows that occupations following…
As a child, I was taught, “It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.” That lesson is meant to teach that there is a principle above victory and success that is more important than victory and success – it’s honor. A person’s honor was worth more than anything in the world. It was a person’s…
My wife has been traveling on jets more than 50 years, ever since she was a young child. For the first time yesterday, she became seriously ill on a flight. She felt light-headed and nauseous, and deplaned her flight at a scheduled stop, admitting herself to a hospital. After conducting a battery of tests, doctors determined she was fine. My…
“The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime.” British Foreign Secretary Sir Edward Gray, on the outset of World War I History tells us that democracies are rare and fragile and that periods of enlightenment are sparks, not torches, for showing us a way forward. In the long span…
“As democracy is perfected, the office (of president) represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move towards a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.” H.L. Mencken, 1920 “We rip…
Satirical humor columnist Dave Barry would sometimes find unimaginable situations or events to put in his column but to keep his readers from assuming they were fabricated, he would write, “I am not making this up.” Yes, I am not making this up. One of the most reprehensible and dishonorable characters in our nation’s political history now holds its highest…
Traveling through the Anchorage airport, I had a chance to visit with Ted Stevens. Ted is dead now 14 years. Maybe many of the passengers passing by his statue on their way to the baggage claim already have no idea about the bronze man on the park bench, his hand extended. I sat down there next to our favorite U.S.…
August’s warm and sunny weather led to some late summer reverie but the season’s long shadows didn’t lie. The crimson blaze of fireweed turned to gray, seedy fluff. Soon enough clouds shrouded Ripinsky. Soon enough they’ll lift to show us snow. Like squirrels we’ll scurry into our burrows. Until then we will gather up the blueberries and raspberries that grew…
Volunteerism was down at our state fair this year. Two teachers hired last spring haven’t shown up at the Haines School. Word is our runners are quitting the cross-country team, one of the town’s most popular and successful sports programs in recent years. Folks are having a hard time committing. Is it any wonder? The fate of the nation hangs…