We live in a time that is definitely unlike any other. It was not all that long ago that ideas that have or are becoming policy in so many places were dismissed by most as being fringe at best and outright whackjob crazy at worst. In the late 1970’s, certain advisors serving as the brain…
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Building the case for a new document
Most of us can remember those halcyon days of our carefree early childhood when we attended kindergarten then first and second grade. We had taken a big step outside our familiar surroundings, ventured into an unknown place and were learning the rules of how to behave and interact with the grownups in charge as well…
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The Vietnam War + 50
Fifty years ago today, March 29th, 1973, the last U.S. combat troops left the Republic of Vietnam. Along with the troops who made their grand exit after turning over their duties to ARVN forces came the last group of Prisoners of War. This marked the official end of U.S. involvement in the armed conflict that…
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No recreational MJ for the Sooner State
Opportunities for radical change in the fundamental way a state does business with its citizens and how ordinary people relate to each other occur rarely. It is so very disappointing when such an opportunity is allowed to slip by, especially in light of the knowledge that such a chance to affect change in a major…
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Operation Homecoming + 50
One of the most enduring memories of the early adolescent years of my youth is the end of direct U.S. military involvement in Southeast Asia. This was heralded by the return of the first group of 591 American Prisoners of War held by North Vietnam which happened fifty years ago today. The longest held among…
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A national tale of dereliction
When we gaze into the collective mirror to see who we are as a people and to admire the reflection representative of our tribe, whatever it may be, we abhor the sight of imperfection. We so often prefer to see only what we want to see and when we do notice the presence of blemishes…
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2022 in the rearview
It has become a tradition of Yours Truly in the waning hours of the year to look back on the past twelve months. I don’t know how many individual personal record keepers incorporate this as a practice, but this is when I like to recollect and analyze where we and the World has been in…
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Recalling the emergence of the inner humanitarian
Most would agree that some personal anniversary dates carry a great deal more weight than others. Such is the case with this one. Forty-two years hence, the evening of 12 December 1980 stands out as the night I became aware that I was no longer a youth. That was when the U.S. Navy warship I…
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Thoughts on the tiny red ripple
Some of you may have heard there was a Midterm Election in America last Tuesday. As of Saturday evening, the Democrats have maintained their control of the U.S. Senate and there remain a handful of U.S. House races the votes of which are still being counted. Although due to those uncalled races in which nothing…
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The long road back to the middle
Chief among the pitfalls and problems that beset the politics of fear and grievance is the physical fatigue and mental exhaustion the perpetuation of it generates. The level of outrage required to keep the members of a core political base frightened and angry consumes a great deal of energy especially since it must be manufactured…
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