You probably know that February is Black History Month; have you ever thought about why we do that—you know, declare a month to be about something? The reality is, of course, that every month should be Black History Month—if that means learning something about and caring about black history. But, the fact is that in…… Continue reading Dig into Black History Month
Category: Social Justice
The Holocaust, Memory and Ethical Loneliness
Today is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. This day was designated by the United States General Assembly in 2005; January 27th is the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. I encourage you to learn more about the history of this commemoration here: International Holocaust Remembrance Day. In addition, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is a fabulous…… Continue reading The Holocaust, Memory and Ethical Loneliness
Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr. and his Calling
Today in the United States we are honoring Martin Luther King, Jr., commemorating his extraordinary life and way he changed US society for the better. We have by no means realized the “dream” for which King is so famous, nor have we realized the beautiful community he envisioned, but because of the lingering power of…… Continue reading Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr. and his Calling
Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Monday was a holiday–of sorts. When I was young, it was unambiguously Columbus Day: we celebrated the day Columbus “discovered” America and most of us had off from school. Now, in many places–though not everywhere–the day is commemorated as “Indigenous Peoples’ Day,” but somewhat uneasily, I think, depending on where you live. I asked…… Continue reading Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Home
Yesterday there were a bunch of events going on in the morning at the college, in conjunction with the inauguration of Gettysburg College’s new president, Bob Iuliano. One of the sessions I attended was on immigration, and one of the presenters read this poem. I thought it was incredibly powerful, and I think more people…… Continue reading Home
Rights and Responsibilities, and Gun Violence
So, last night before I went to bed, I was thinking about my blog, and I knew I wanted to write about the mass shooting in El Paso. I have written before about gun violence and the pathological, illogical resistance too many people in this country have to sensible gun laws that would create a…… Continue reading Rights and Responsibilities, and Gun Violence
Wildlife Tourism and Instagram
Often if I feel like doing a little bit of Internet scrolling and I want a lift, I head over to National Geographic. I love the images, I love the stories, and I love learning about new animals, new places in the world, and new environmental initiatives. I almost always come away filled with wonder…… Continue reading Wildlife Tourism and Instagram
