My young friend, Nikki Hodgson, responded to my rambling piece about Gaza, Israel, Ukraine, non-violence and my aging musings over what is the compassionate response to a violent world with words of encouragement and a link to her piece below that ran on Matador Network: http://matadornetwork.com/change/what-i-learned-in-jerusalem/ She wrote what I wish I had. It is … [read more]
Time For New Ideas
Time For New Ideas Geoff O’Keeffe As a kid, I believed I was a pacifist. By sixteen, I had read widely and concluded I would allow my own death before responding violently to a threat. King and Gandhi and poor black women on the Edmund Pettis Bridge influenced my young mind. I got lucky in … [read more]
The Colorado Flood of 2013- The Heart of the Matter
The Colorado Flood of 2013 The Heart of the Matter 24 September The Flood of 2013 has faded in the national news, slipped “below the fold”, or to Page Six, replaced by other real tragedies like Nairobi, or childish tantrums in Washington, or The Emmy’s. It takes a huge tragedy to pass the “ADD-gate” … [read more]
Wine Masters of Tianjin
Wine Masters of Tianjin The guy is so earnest, so innocent, so charming. And really young. (Everyone in China is young.) Trying so hard. I ordered a mixed salad and steak sandwich, and a glass of Banfi, 2011 Cabernet-Sangiovese. Fifty-eight RMB. About nine-fifty, US. I figure I can eek three of these into my … [read more]
Mao Zedong and the Koch Brothers: Best Friends Forever- One hundred sixty years Chinese history, summarized
Mao Zedong and the Koch Brothers: Best Friends Forever One hundred sixty years Chinese history, summarized I am having my breakfast of pork baozi across the terminal from Burberry, Tumi, Gucci and Ferragamo, at Shanghai Hongqiao Feiji Chang. Like a small rodent, I nibble the pork from inside the bao, trying to avoid refined carbs. … [read more]
That Time of the Year
Late December, 2013 Boulder County, Colorado, USA Dear Friends, Despite what may follow here, I do sincerely wish you happiness, good health, and the kinds of fulfillment you desire, today, tomorrow, next month, and in the coming year. The nature or complexion of that fulfillment is not for me to decide or prescribe. One of … [read more]