Entries by dickbernard

Grateful

I particularly call your attention to yesterdays post, Precinct Caucuses (as they are referred to in Minnesota, but exist everywhere, this time of year).  It is easy to kick “politicians” around.  Just remember, we, the people, are solely responsible for who represents us in what so far has been a democracy. (Precinct Caucus in Minnesota is […]

Precinct Caucus

Note especially the comments at the end of this post from Jodell and Fred, who are local activists who I asked to review my column and point out errors or additional information.  At the very end, I make a recommendation for a resolution and individual action by all of us, this year. The Minnesota Precinct […]

The C-word.

Please note: Thursday, 1/20, Zoom conversation about the film “Until We Find Them”  with the filmmaker, Hunter Johnson.  Watch 31 minute film on-line beforehand.  These discussions are always very interesting. Monday, 1/24 international talks on Education, details here.  “The power of international exchange.”  At least take a look. My 1/17 post covered two topics: Supreme […]

Absurdity

“Anyone who can make you believe absurdities can also make you commit atrocities.”  Voltaire Several times I have seen the above teaser for an upcoming special about Maryland Representative Jamie Raskin, in which he quotes Voltaire.  These days, when truth and fiction intentionally  are blended into whole cloth, skepticism is warranted.  So, while I have […]

F(r)actions

Yesterday a far right militia group, several members of the Oath Keepers, were formally charged with seditious actions related to Jan.6, 2021.  I expect this is just the beginning of the serious indictments, which will come over coming months.  At the same time is the crucial political decision making about voting rights for all of […]

Politics, forward

Personal opinion, hopefully leading to your own individual thinking about our future as a nation.  The purpose of this is to encourage conversation wherever you are.  Related, Jan. 6. Two articles, one in the New York Times on Sep 8, 2021,  the the other  in The Washington Post on Jan. 9, deserve reading, though both […]

Jan. 6, 2021: Alley

Additional references at end of this post. A year ago today, January 6, 2021, was the Pearl Harbor warning for the future of our democracy and our republic.  Pearl Harbor was far more than just a single day in December, 1941.  There was history preceding it, which few bother to learn; and WWII after…. I […]

In with the new….

In a few hours a new year begins.  I’d like to suggest looking ahead; maybe looking back as a prompt. For the last 21 years, my “office hours” most days have been for about two hours in early morning at Caribou Coffee (City Centre) in Woodbury MN. I offer two end of year photos from […]

Good Deeds

Earlier this afternoon I stopped at an area supermarket to pick up an essential food in my daily menu: bananas.  This gave me an excuse for coffee, and to pick up one other needed item.  Just an ordinary day, Dec. 28, 2021. A gentle snow had begun while I was in the store – the […]

Memories

Related here and here. Today is Christmas Eve.  “May your days be merry and bright….” I choose, this year, to look back, as viewed by others from their own perspective.  I actually have a long list; I choose to comment, briefly, on three.  The photos which begin and end this post come from a marvelous […]