INSPIRED by mary anne radmacher

  Dear Ones Looking For Perspective: In a world with access to entertainment, often presented as “news” in a 24-hour cycle, maintaining a balanced perspective is a challenge. In the midst of various stages of pandemic lockdown, individuals are more tied to digital connection than ever.  Be careful who you look up to, who you admire. Even the heroes of our past had their deficits. Just because someone is in a position of authority does not necessarily mean that they have earned your respect. Even people in very important jobs get to prove to you, by their actions, that they merit the leadership they hold. Even military members, whose lives often depend on meticulously following an order, are taught not to obey an unethical or an unconstitutional order. Discerning this now is important. It helps you to know when it is correct for you to say, “No, thank you.” Remember that NO is a complete sentence.  It’s a false expectation that life will be fair. Life is not fair. Ra...

Dear Today’s American Children, I have such hopeful intentions for your lives. Your greatest adventure will be understanding this country’s history so that you can build its future better. Your own future is inextricably tied to what is to come for your country. Looking back you will see there have always been bullies, people who traded their conscience for position and their promises for power. People who have prioritized advantages and privilege for one group of people over another. There have been disinterested people, people who fought for the right to vote (and the right of others to vote), and people who believed that their vote did not matter.  Looking back you will see that unity existed only in small pockets of population and that a unified, cohesive country has always been an idea, an ideal. You have the power to move that idea forward. Just because something has always been a certain way does not mean that’s how it has to be.  You know a lot. Learn to trust yo...