If you grew up on government funding, in one of the poorest parts of your country, the odds are against you. If you’re taught at an early age that a woman’s role is tied strictly to home life, then you may shrink back. And, if you were sexually abused for 12 years by four different
Category: Social justice
Israel, Gaza and Ethics
“Who is right, Israel or Gaza?” one of my children asked. “Well, it is complicated,” I said. The two of us were out for a quick dinner of tacos and summer ice cream cones. We had a very interesting discussion about the recent events in Gaza and what gave rise to the conflict. The more
When Will the U.S. End?
I had a sudden thought the other day in the shower: when will the U.S. end? I mean, every empire or super-power hits the skids at some point, and so, we’re not going to be an exception. I have been thinking of some disparate data points: Some high school friends commenting about how hard it
‘The Men of Atalissa’
It is great to hear when “the system” actually works. In this morning’s NY Times, Dan Barry has written an incredible article, profiling a group of intellectually-disabled men. 21 men lived together in a bunk house and worked at a turkey-processing plant. They were paid insanely low wages and lived in terrible conditions. For decades. Their
Amazing Book: ‘Girls Like Us’
Today is International Women’s Day. My children, of both genders, seem to have a great deal of opportunity and access to great teachers, mentors and role models. They live in a stable home. But, I know that’s rare. So, I thought it would be appropriate to write about women and girls who have little choice
Sex Trafficking
I’ve been to a strip bar once in my life. I left after 10 minutes. Stephen, one of my best friends, was getting married, and a bunch of us gathered in New Orleans for his bachelor party. It was a really fun weekend. A group of post-college guys facing long hours in corporate jobs reliving