Many so called “pro-lifers” mistakenly equate abortion rights with favoring abortion. That is far from the truth. The right to abortion is about putting the decision in the hands of the pregnant woman (and her god, if she believes in one) rather than the government imposing its values on her. Mario Cuomo, the former New [...]

I returned from a 6-week trip to the US the other day. I have been looking for an opportunity to write about the presidential campaign there in this space. Unsure of what exactly to write,  I have had the idea of something with the view of an ex-patriot filtered through an international perspective. This is [...]

I feel like I am saying the all-too-obvious when I say that Barack Obama’s candidacy is important for racial reasons. In the general campaign he himself has emphasized what he offers aside from his African heritage. Hillary Clinton and John McCain too have mostly tiptoed around the race issue. As a liberal white male I [...]

One morning last week I first noticed the smell of a campfire. Then the other afternoon as I set out to walk with my dog Clyde there was a thick smoky haze in the air and a strong smell of fire. Enough to irritate my eyes and lungs. I asked a neighbor on the street [...]

First I must state my personal disclaimer. I believe that there is no such thing as “bias-free journalism.” If a journalist or newspaper is doing their job, they must interpret what they see and also decide what or what not to put on paper. All writing demands decisions like this. A journalist’s personal perspective decides [...]