There are many reasons not to admire (much less vote for) Donald Trump. He lies – about everything, apparently. He’s pretty clearly racist. He’s all about himself, to the point of being more of a mob boss than a politician. He basically is a cult leader, giving “permission” to so many people who don’t careContinue reading “He’s just so grumpy”
Author Archives: steinharterm
Doing the right thing
The book I am reading now is An Unfinished Love Story, by Doris Kearns Goodwin. She must be one of my favorite authors and this is her latest book. It is a ‘personal history of the 1960s’ in the USA, based on her own experiences and particularly those of her husband Dick Goodwin, who wasContinue reading “Doing the right thing”
Feed my empty heart
These are a few words from the latest book I am reading, Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer. It’s a beautiful book, and in the chapter I am on now she reminisces about how empty her heart felt when her daughters went off to college, and she tried to avoid coming home to an emptyContinue reading “Feed my empty heart”
Cuba
This is my second post in a row inspired by an extraordinary book. This book is Cuba: An American History, by Ada Ferrer. Ferrer is a professor at NYU and is Cuban. This book taught me more than I have ever learned about this island. It is a lively read, great stories about the personalities,Continue reading “Cuba”
Palestine
I recognize that I am taking on a topic here that is rife with controversy and complexity. I am jewish by background (Ashkenazi jew from eastern Europe according to my dna test). I grew up in the United States where we are all taught and hence accepted that Israel is our friend and that supportingContinue reading “Palestine”
Where are the limits of freedom of speech?
This is a question asked by Dalia, an important figure in Sandy Tolan’s outstanding book, The Lemon Tree. She is referring at that moment to how someone has dressed Itzhak Rabin in a German nazi uniform, to make a point. She figuratively shakes her head at the actions of this far right actor who thinksContinue reading “Where are the limits of freedom of speech?”
I have liberal friends and conservative friends…but not maga friends
Politics can be divisive as hell, as everyone knows. I lean liberal on most things and I have many friends who do as well. My wife’s family were conservative and she grew up that way, but has changed a lot. My kids are pretty liberal as evidenced by the take on social issues like LGBTQ,Continue reading “I have liberal friends and conservative friends…but not maga friends”
News
It is March 2024 and every morning when I look at the news it depresses me. Here is a sample of today’s headlines: Donald Trump is on a path to win the Republican nomination and is polling ahead of Joe Biden. Could this bombastic asshole get elected President again? One news article said it isContinue reading “News”
Isolationism
A topic in the news often these days, Isolationism seems to be a preferred position by many conservative actors around the world. Make my country great again (fill in your favorite far right politician’s country) can sound like logical polltical theory. Okay let’s start with USA. Isolationism sounds like it’s time for us to putContinue reading “Isolationism”
Rooney
We adopted Rooney about 12 years ago, maybe 11. We love adopting rescue pups and we had one lab, named Surrey. Surrey was a black lab (did you know that black labs are the hardest to find homes for? They just don’t photograph well. Here she is – best one I can find). So we had Surrey for aContinue reading “Rooney”
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