Why am I so willing to forgive many of those whose past sexist and racist statements or behaviors are exposed, sometimes to great fanfare? I wince every time I hear about the resignation or ousting of an otherwise apparently worthy individual because of conduct, text message, email, or even a published article, uncovered in that … Continue reading I Object

Contempt orders are in the air. Politicians lawyer up. Months, even years go by before a final Court decision is rendered. But for some, justice is swift. The story: on August 1, 1975, two young Public Defenders stood before a Judge and refused to obey his Order. Within minutes, they were handcuffed and placed behind … Continue reading Contempt of Court

                                                For many of us, months of relative isolation have meant insular living, interacting for the most part with like-minded friends or family, working remotely, not experiencing those day-to-day meetings with people we would normally see in our work or social life. In some ways, this made life simpler, always on reasonably sure ground. … Continue reading At a Loss for Words

I live in one of five condominium units built around a common courtyard. One morning, on opening my front door to retrieve my newspaper, there in the center of the courtyard, just a few yards from where I stood, lay what at first appeared to be a human figure with outstretched arms. Momentarily alarmed, it … Continue reading End Days

We grow up being told to always tell the truth. But parents inevitably send a more nuanced message when we hear them tell a half truth, or tell untruths out of kindness, or remain silent, perhaps to keep a promised confidence, and thereby send a false message. My belief is that in the context of … Continue reading Nothing But the Truth?

Only weeks ago, we thought the time would soon be upon us when, whatever our political camp, we would be able to stop holding our breath. Now, it would appear that we are close. But while some are breathing easier, others are more woeful. Most of us choose to communicate only with our like-minded friends … Continue reading Just Mumble

I present this essay just days before the presidential election of 2020. Tensions are high and some predict that the results may be a long time coming. Lawyers are gearing up. Will this be another election decided by the Supreme Court? Whatever the outcome, I think we may be looking at hard times ahead. The … Continue reading If Hard Times Come

                                                I rarely look back on failed ventures with lasting regret. I take account of what went wrong and move on with a new plan. But now I’m worried. Credible scholars of history, noting the current partisan political rift, suggest that a country divided is most at risk of succumbing to autocratic rule, the end … Continue reading Healing the Divide Revisited

                                                       Recently I submitted an essay to a Journal that had previously published my work. This time it was respectfully rejected. I had written about a personal experience of discriminatory treatment in 1980 and my involvement many years later with the very man who had earlier stood in my way. It was clear to me … Continue reading It’s Complicated

As I connect with friends, most often now by text, email or phone, when certain issues come up, I try to change the subject. If that fails, I discover that my cat urgently needs to be fed. I have closed the door on commiserating at length about the latest actions or tweets of prominent politicians, … Continue reading Too Much Talk