Category: hope

I Felt the Need for a Reprise: Daffodils Make Me Giddy

Photo by Ben Young on Pexels.com Daffodils make me giddy--Each a sunlit harbingerStretching upward, so erect,So daffily hopeful. Oblivious to the calendar,They Spring to the surfaceWhile winds whip past andThe page has not yetflipped. What natural selectionsPaired that gloriousMellow yellow with itsRich green pedestal... And etchedThis floral bowl surrounded byLeaves imbued with energy for theirSubsequent … Continue reading I Felt the Need for a Reprise: Daffodils Make Me Giddy →

BYE BYE BONDI: THE DONALD FLAILS AS HE FAILS

From an MS NOW image accompanying a story by Ken Dilanian and Carol Leonnig B inders of empty Epstein promises began her downfall, andY owling the "DOW is fifty thou" at Congress E dged her closer to the end.B ut to "Sir" Donald, Pam's biggest fail was to notY et persuade a jury to indict … Continue reading BYE BYE BONDI: THE DONALD FLAILS AS HE FAILS →

How Do We Welcome 2026?

Photo by Emilio Su00e1nchez Hernu00e1ndez on Pexels.com A dear friend’s good wishes seem a most fitting place to start: With love and hope. No need to go through the litany of why 2025 was—as the late Queen Elizabeth said of another year (1992 in her case)—the Annus Horribilis. No need to describe at this point … Continue reading How Do We Welcome 2026? →

November 4th Was “No Kings 3!”

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT: THIS WAS AN ASTONISHING ELECTION DAY NATIONWIDE I had been struck by this NBC poll, published on the morning of Election Day. The bottom line: roughly 30% of those polled identified as MAGA, but 43% identified themselves as "No Kings." Imagine: a mass movement that began just months ago--and in October … Continue reading November 4th Was “No Kings 3!” →

The Secret Sauce to the Success of No Kings…and Some Insights About the Numbers Involved…

Seen on Broadwaybabyto, Substack I've been to several demonstrations now, and this one wasn't just the largest: it was also the most joyful. And, fortunately, it was as defiantly non-violent as all the others. More than seven million people in the streets, and I haven't seen a single report of arrests. (I did see a … Continue reading The Secret Sauce to the Success of No Kings…and Some Insights About the Numbers Involved… →

On Labor Day, 2025…

My grandpa was a union organizer who would never, ever cross a picket line, no matter what. One day, when he was in his 80s, my aunt had to take him to the hospital. They didn't learn until they'd arrived that the staffers were on strike. Knowing her father would refuse to walk past those … Continue reading On Labor Day, 2025… →

Grand Juries Refused to Indict These Ham Sandwiches—and Other Sprigs of Democracy This Week…

The attacks have been unrelenting, and many Americans are understandably feeling exhausted, fearful, even hopeless. Those feelings are, of course, precisely the ones the authoritarian playbook has designed to make us feel. Just keep 'em coming, the bizarre fraud in the White House and his enablers believe, and they'll be able to overcome all the … Continue reading Grand Juries Refused to Indict These Ham Sandwiches—and Other Sprigs of Democracy This Week… →

No Freakin’ Kings, Period!

FIGHTING BACK, ACKNOWLEDGING OUR FOUNDING DOCUMENT It's worth perusing every word of the Declaration of Independence because much of it echoes what we're living with today. A sampling: He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good. He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent … Continue reading No Freakin’ Kings, Period! →

A Dynamo of Hope for Our Planet: 91-Year-Old Jane Goodall (Interviewed by Andy Borowitz)

Dr. Jane Goodall, interviewed by Andy Borowitz Humorist Andy Borowitz, who seems to be a lovely (as well as funny) man, just interviewed Jane Goodall, his self-described "role model," for his Substack column. The discussion includes sadness as Goodall describes what's happened to her beloved chimps and other human-made degradations. But for the most part, … Continue reading A Dynamo of Hope for Our Planet: 91-Year-Old Jane Goodall (Interviewed by Andy Borowitz) →

Why Bruce Springsteen’s Speaking Up Now May Be Just the Spark We Needed…

Photo by Jose Antonio Gallego Vu00e1zquez on Pexels.com I find the essay below, which appeared in Marc Elias's Democracy Docket, a truly hopeful overview of how the resistance against the Trump regime just received a big boost. I've heard Elias express profound concern lately about the relative sluggishness of the standard-bearers in our society--in Congress, … Continue reading Why Bruce Springsteen’s Speaking Up Now May Be Just the Spark We Needed… →

And “HANDS OFF” From the Big Apple…

(The two signs my husband and I alternated holding up were taped back-to-back as one sign that we turned around as we marched. Note: One woman tapped me on the shoulder to tell me she appreciated my punctuation. I think she was talking about the apostrophe in Oligarchs'.) I had planned to spend a little … Continue reading And “HANDS OFF” From the Big Apple… →

Senator Cory Booker’s Daring, Exhilarating, Illuminating Triumph

When Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) took control of the Senate floor Monday night, he said simply that his constituents had persuaded him he had to act more forcefully to demonstrate that "These are not normal times in this nation." He stressed that he didn’t know if his actions would change anything, but he was sure … Continue reading Senator Cory Booker’s Daring, Exhilarating, Illuminating Triumph →

Reprising/Retrieving Some Hope From My Surroundings…

As I looked out the window to my backyard today, I spotted this lovely daffodil--one of two that have blossomed just when I needed them. This is such a hard, scary time for us here in the US--and throughout the world--as the deranged man in the Oval Office and his chainsaw-wielding sidekick decimate norms, laws, … Continue reading Reprising/Retrieving Some Hope From My Surroundings… →

Why Is Mad King Trump Attending the Super Bowl?

Photo by JESHOOTS.com on Pexels.com Well, the normalization of Donald Trump will get a huge boost when he becomes the first president ever to attend the Super Bowl on February 9. When the Kansas City Chiefs play the Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans, Trump will be accompanied by his lackey, House Speaker Mike Johnson, who … Continue reading Why Is Mad King Trump Attending the Super Bowl? →

“It’s All of Us Against the Billionaires”–Maurice Mitchell, Working Families Party

I was encouraged and inspired after attending the "We Choose to Fight Action Call" Zoom event Sunday night. Actually, my husband and I didn't watch via Zoom because by the time we signed on a few minutes before the scheduled 8:00 pm starting time, the attendees had already "maxed out." We were directed to click … Continue reading “It’s All of Us Against the Billionaires”–Maurice Mitchell, Working Families Party →

Smart Points to Help Us Through This Fraught Time

I’ve often quoted the wise words of Robert Hubbell, whose Today’s Edition newsletter, now on Substack, began in 2017 as a missive of comfort to his wife and three daughters who were distraught following Trump’s election. Hubbell now has far more than 65,000 subscribers—many of them grass roots activists who are angry and exhausted by … Continue reading Smart Points to Help Us Through This Fraught Time →

Roses, Lotuses, Kamala, and US

ENERGETIC PERSISTENCE I derive fresh delight from the youngest members of our garden family. Until recently, the roses of my acquaintance were the lovely taut variety with long prickly stems.This narrow world view led me to momentary disappointment when the gardener's pick first began to bloom. Where were the long-stemmed beauties? Silly me. Our new … Continue reading Roses, Lotuses, Kamala, and US →

Day Three DNC: Videos Worth Sharing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf0u5MJEjhw Political devotee that I am, I'm enjoying every minute of this historic convention. But I'm also accumulating a sleep deficit, so I'm entering the "all good things must come to an end" stage. And though the planning and staging of these events have demonstrated creative and innovative minds at work, I think the organizers … Continue reading Day Three DNC: Videos Worth Sharing →

The Extraordinary Selection of Tim Walz

https://twitter.com/MuellerSheWrote/status/1820823904249864694 If you haven't already heard, you will soon be surrounded by press and Republican-inspired claims that the Harris/Walz ticket shows that Democratic Presidential nominee Harris folded to the progressive wing of her party and has moved far out of the mainstream. The two are a radical pair who are a threat to America, say … Continue reading The Extraordinary Selection of Tim Walz →

Sometimes Things Really DO Turn Out for the Best!

https://twitter.com/joebiden/status/1815087772216303933?s=51&t=nVuexwyjz5lAYgTHGa2APw What a gift President Biden gave US when he endorsed Vice President Harris so quickly after announcing he'll no longer run for reelection! In place of a chaotic convention that could have torn the party apart shortly before the election, he unleashed his not-so-secret weapon: his loyal, accomplished, prepared, hard-working, fully vetted, and charismatic … Continue reading Sometimes Things Really DO Turn Out for the Best! →

May the Fourth Be With US! Some Thoughts on “Trump v the United States”

Photo by Polina Tankilevitch on Pexels.com I will not pretend that the radical Supreme Court majority’s July 1 ruling, which threw the US Constitution AND the Declaration of Independence into the air and torched them in a disgusting fireworks display, did not exceed my worst imaginings. I spend a fair amount of time reading and … Continue reading May the Fourth Be With US! Some Thoughts on “Trump v the United States” →

“The Guy’s a Fighter; He Never Gives Up!”*

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MAd6fQDgTg He seemed to shake the rafters. He got multiple standing ovations and chants of "four more years!" He was unfazed by the pro-Palestinian protester and didn't want her to be removed from the room. He had just returned from the D-Day commemoration in France and will shortly leave again for the G-7 Summit in … Continue reading “The Guy’s a Fighter; He Never Gives Up!”* →

Sharing the Hopium Good Vibes

Readers may recall my previous references to and quotations from Simon Rosenberg, who insisted--with his colleague Tom Bonier--based upon their data-driven analyses that they saw no red wave coming before November, 2022. They were widely criticized for their positions and arguments, but they were right, and their critics were wrong. Nate Silver, the numbers guy, … Continue reading Sharing the Hopium Good Vibes →

Daffodils Make Me Giddy

Photo by Ben Young on Pexels.com Daffodils make me giddy--Each a sunlit harbingerStretching upward, so erect,So daffily hopeful. Oblivious to the calendar,They Spring to the surfaceWhile winds whip past andThe page has not yetflipped. What natural selectionsPaired that gloriousMellow yellow with itsRich green pedestal... And etchedThis floral bowl surrounded byLeaves imbued with energy for theirSubsequent … Continue reading Daffodils Make Me Giddy →

A Bit of Political Optimism for the Weekend…

The above truism, for perspective, came in an email from a friend. I tried to track down the individual whose "handle" appears on it, @hoosierblue63, to no avail. With so much ugliness coming from wall-to-wall Trump coverage, I felt it was time to quote Simon Rosenberg, who writes, reports, organizes, and uplifts at Hopium Chronicles. … Continue reading A Bit of Political Optimism for the Weekend… →

Jon Swift Roundup 2023…and My Hopes for 2024

On December 26, a dedicated and stalwart man named Batocchio, who blogs at Vagabond Scholar, posted this year's contributions to a wonderful blogging tradition that dates back to 2007. That's when a prominent blogger named Al Weisel (pictured above), who blogged satirically as a purported conservative under the name Jon Swift, began asking other bloggers … Continue reading Jon Swift Roundup 2023…and My Hopes for 2024 →

The Bluing of America…

https://twitter.com/djrothkopf/status/1723133576412012892?s=51&t=nVuexwyjz5lAYgTHGa2APw 1. Please take just a minute to listen to VP Harris speaking after last week's election. Political commentator David J. Rothkopf believes she's "excellent"--and, as I've written previously, so do I. In start contrast, Rothkopf--whose expertise includes national security--had observed following the most recent Republican debate that he used to teach graduate courses in … Continue reading The Bluing of America… →

Wowsa!

With the media's obsession with poll numbers in this "horse race" that just happens to be linked to the fate of our democracy--and the general lack of focus on the obvious failure of the House under Kevin McCarthy's leadership--I thought I'd insert a little positive stuff. First, here's one Democratic Representative's response to the radical … Continue reading Wowsa! →

‘Twas a Happy, Hokey, Hopeful Capitol Fourth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSkQVtNcxhc Since July 4, 1980, the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) has aired a live concert in Washington, DC: "The Capitol Fourth, America’s National Independence Day Party." The program is broadcast from the Capitol's West Lawn. You can watch this year's event above. I kinda stumbled onto it, but I stayed through to the end. The … Continue reading ‘Twas a Happy, Hokey, Hopeful Capitol Fourth →

The Kids Are Telling the Polluters: “We’ll See You in Court!”

Photo of the sixteen plaintiffs in Held v. State of Montana, Youth v. Gov website. We’re not hearing a whole lot about them yet, but we will. These young people don’t see their elders doing what’s necessary to remove the blight on their future. So they are stepping up with action—legal action. In beautiful, wide … Continue reading The Kids Are Telling the Polluters: “We’ll See You in Court!” →

A Shovel, Yo-Yo Ma, and an Odd Close to 2022…

https://twitter.com/yoyo_ma/status/1609414029067296772?s=51&t=LvOMUrZ2xSDctWASSvuc5Q I’m a Yo-Yo Ma devotee, admiring both his versatile musical artistry and his good works. I share the wishes he conveys in the brief snippet above: May 2023 be “fabulous” for us all! The shovel he used to usher out the Old Year seems appropriate too. Though there were some important positive developments last … Continue reading A Shovel, Yo-Yo Ma, and an Odd Close to 2022… →

The Giving Season In–and For–Ukraine

https://twitter.com/zelenskyyua/status/1599162627908722688?s=51&t=cTYFiiJPa9YsGqGR8dbAZQ Tweet From President ZelenskyPresident Zelensky's message evoked an emotional reaction from me. Despite the appearance of normality in his tweet, the harsh winter has begun. Its impact has been worsened by the brutal Russian attacks not only on civilians, but also on the sources of heat and electricity. Nevertheless, the Ukrainian freedom fighters are … Continue reading The Giving Season In–and For–Ukraine →

AN EVEN BIGGER REASON TO IGNORE THE DAMN POLLS!

Photo by Markus Spiske on Pexels.com When I first heard the expression “flooding the zone," I thought it sounded somewhat conspiratorial. And it seems to be. It refers to just another Big Lie from the folks who are the experts on fabrications. Views of the elections' likely outcomes are being manipulated by a slew of … Continue reading AN EVEN BIGGER REASON TO IGNORE THE DAMN POLLS! →

A WISE AND IMPORTANT TWITTER THREAD…

I, too, believe it is urgent that we who are the majority participate as never before—we must not be discouraged by reports suggesting our votes won't count! In Italy, the new prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, is an admirer of Mussolini who heads a neo-fascist party. Her ascent is the result of an election with an … Continue reading A WISE AND IMPORTANT TWITTER THREAD… →

SOME GOOD NEWS…

Photo by Jill Wellington on Pexels.com Some very positive events are occurring. I'm posting below the intro and conclusion from Robert Hubbell's Today's Edition newsletter, published September 22--an issue he titled: "A Good Day." ___________________         A half-dozen major stories broke on Wednesday. Together, they reinforce the rule of law and confirm the renewed strength … Continue reading SOME GOOD NEWS… →

From Obama to Trump: Dr. Jill Biden’s Remarks Got Me Thinking…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8oJ_-xvnDs Barack and Michelle Obama's return to the White House for the unveiling of their portraits was a joyous occasion. It was also evocative in any number of ways—most notably, a reminder of the importance of peaceful rituals involving the transfer of power. If you haven’t seen any of the coverage, I’ve included above the … Continue reading From Obama to Trump: Dr. Jill Biden’s Remarks Got Me Thinking… →

A Slice of Wonder in a Trembling World

Sunlight sweeps across our yard in a glistening arc. Adolescent trees sway rhythmically in a Wind so tamed from the wrath I feared in March that I smile with relief at the trees’ gentle dance. But wait; there’s more: The goldfinches visit en masse, Their feathers startlingly brighter, richer— Another paean to the lengthening stretch … Continue reading A Slice of Wonder in a Trembling World →

Fame and Adversity, Love and Grace

I'm not one to look to entertainers for personal heroism. And I'm certainly aware that the made-for-public-consumption exteriors often hide some fairly unpleasant human beings. But I've long found musician Jon Batiste--a jazz pianist best known as the "Stay Human" band leader for Stephen Colbert's program--to be an extremely appealing guy: upbeat and open, seemingly … Continue reading Fame and Adversity, Love and Grace →

Pre-Inauguration Messages of Hope

Apart from grieving for our nation, I feel a personal sadness for our President-elect. He is by so many accounts one of the most decent, compassionate, honorable individuals in politics today. His experience makes him uniquely qualified to address the nearly overwhelming problems our nation faces. He has wisely chosen extraordinary individuals to help him in his formidable task. He has reached the pinnacle of an ambition he's held for his entire adult life. Similarly, our Vice President-elect. This should be an unvarnished time of personal pride for Kamala Harris. The first woman, African-American, individual of Indian descent to ascend to this high office, she has demonstrated her brilliance, strength, accomplishments, and yes--compassion. Yet when Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr is sworn in as our 46th President tomorrow outside our nation's Capitol, and Kamala Harris becomes that multiple glass ceiling-breaker Vice President, the area will look like a war zone because of insurrection by extremists goaded by Biden's predecessor.

RAGE…DISGUST…COMPASSION…SADNESS…HOPE?

Last night, I finished reading Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own. The author, Eddie S. Glaude, Jr., is a Distinguished Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University. ... Though Glaude speaks of Baldwin’s rage, and his own rage, the rage that came to mind when I started this piece is mine.

First, Let Me Apologize for My Lunkheadedness…

I realize that lots of people avoid talking about politics in these dreadfully polarized times. But political junkie that I am, I failed to realize that some of you don't even want to read about politics--not even on this blog. (Oh, my!) Please bear with me as I tell you why I am now far more hopeful about our country than I was before the Democratic National Convention last week.

In the Presence of John Lewis…

Last night, Georgia Congressman John Lewis, one of my personal heroes, died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 80.

It was four years ago that I attended a political rally in a church in a neighboring community. Congressman Lewis had come to town to try to help a younger candidate win a seat to join him in the House of Representatives.

The church was packed with a heartwarmingly diverse crowd: all variations on the color spectrum, differing faiths or no faith, young and old, men and women.

Here’s a Guy Who Really Made Good Use of His Time!

Nobody would ever accuse me of being a math whiz, though I do feel I have skills some of my younger acquaintances lack: I eschew a calculator on occasion to make sure the various cortices of my brain responsible for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division get a little workout.

You just never know when your battery may run down while you’re stranded on a desert island and have an immediate need to balance your checkbook.

Oh, and there’s another mathematical task that I’ve mastered. An older friend told me not long ago that physicians who are concerned that a patient may be in the early stages of dementia will test mental agility by asking said patient to subtract backwards from 100—by 8s. I’ve gotten quite facile at that effort—and have moved on to 7s with similar success.

Why am I telling you all this? Because I’m inviting you to join me in exploring a story that involves number theory—a deep dive that I have no business whatsoever attempting. But my friend Allan, who excels in math, knows I like quirky stories and thoughtfully sent me this one, which appeared in Popular Mechanics.

On Watching Michelle Obama Becoming…

She is an international icon, yet she talks with strangers as if they are her very best friends. She revels in her status, yet openly discusses her vulnerabilities. She moves deftly from riotous humor to wrenching soul-searching with an apparent spontaneity that's surely grounded in practice. She’s a marvel.

If you’re fortunate enough to have Netflix access, you can watch the new documentary, Becoming, now. If you don’t have Netflix, I’m sure it will be more widely distributed in the near future.

I don’t think my description of the film will detract from your experience: Michelle Obama’s magnetism—and the poignancy of the recent trajectory of her life and that of President Obama—must be witnessed to be fully appreciated. (The amazing orator, President Charisma, plays a relatively small part in this documentary.)