I recently visited remarkable Machu Picchu, the ancient and magically beautiful Andes mountain community constructed some 500 years ago for the leader of the then-thriving Incan Empire. Many exquisitely preserved walls of buildings still stand in this breath-taking setting atop the steep slopes of the Peruvian Andes. The entire site is ethereal, evoking feelings of awe […]
Without warning, and out of the blue, I’ve just succumbed to a terrible flu… Malaise, fever, cough and fatigue, have pushed me way out of my league, Have affected my outlook and my mood, I’ve become dour, cantankerous, even rude… I deeply abhor this oppressive crud, which feels like oozing, trapping mud, Suffocating and asphyxiating me, overwhelming […]
“I Am Not An Elitist! (Or Am I?)” ‘Elitism’ has become a “dirty word,” at least among some people who feel that elites are despicable. I hereby declare that “I am not an Elitist” (…or am I?) As I write this self-serving statement, I’m reminded of the words, “I am Not a Crook!” spoken by Richard Nixon […]
You remember “role models,” don’t you? You know, those people we looked up to when we were younger, whom we aspired to be like, and possibly now, whom we want our children to emulate? Some might think that people would agree on who could be role models for us ‘ordinary people,’ that we’d have similar ideas about […]
“Our thoughts and prayers are for the victims of today’s tragic shooting” Whenever we hear these pious-sounding words uttered by politicians, our hearts sink, we are saddened, angry and confused. Columbine. Newtown. Sandy Hook. Orlando. Charleston. Las Vegas. Texas. California…The killings continue, and each time it is déjà vu, that sick “we’ve been here […]
Whenever star athletes use performance enhancing chemical agents to “game” drug screening systems for a competitive edge, people are understandably appalled and angry. We’ve seen this in the Olympic Games and other major amateur competitions, and in professional sports all over the world. But are these critics as upset and outspoken when chemicals are used […]
Do we humans “need” tragedies to bring us together? Every so often, amidst the frequent incivility and conflict in society, we notice reductions in the angry “noise” emanating from the media and politics. For a while at least, sounds of animosity diminish, and people are, well, “nicer” to each other. Ironically, these temporary respites occur […]
You may know the meaning of word “mensch” (a virtuous person) and you may well have used it yourself. You might have said “He’s (she’s) a real Mensch,” when you referred to someone with considerable respect. (Or perhaps you said, “A Mensch, he’s Not!”) The word obviously derives from the original Yiddish, where it […]
Have you ever felt as if your life feels as if you are on a roller coaster? We might be blissfully enjoying a period of serenity when changes suddenly occur, with twists and turns, rises and plunges. Whether pleasurable or painful, unexpected changes are part of our journeys. Life can be joyful […]
What is happening to our American Values? You remember values, don’t you? You know, those moral thoughts and behaviors we used to hold dear, like decency, civility, honesty and respect, as well as caring, optimism, empathy and tolerance? This country was a beacon of idealism and progressive values to people the world over. Its foundational credos, the US Constitution and Declaration of […]