“There is something terribly wrong with a culture inebriated by noise and gregariousness.” These words from George Steiner, a leading, French-born American literary critic, struck me as perfectly fitting for how we live today. Or don’t. We live in chaotic times that ceaselessly demand our attention in...
Read MoreThe question, what do you love?, probably triggers thoughts ranging from favorite foods to favorite sports, hobbies and other activities. Maybe, you love grilling a great burger, or roasting fresh salmon, or sipping French reds from Bordeaux. Maybe, what you love revolves around golf or...
Read MoreDiversity and pluralism have informed America’s identity for generations. In these two principles, we celebrate the fullness of our humanity: the similarities as well as the differences that make us the individuals we are. Yet today we are short-changing that humanity by confusing social labels...
Read MoreDo you know what the word of the year was in 2015? It was ”identity” according to Dictionary.com. Why has identity become a hot topic today? Why was “identity” the word of the year in 2015? Chalk it up to the new individualism — a world where we’ve...
Read MoreI'm not a fan of politics or politicians. It and they are slaves to party lines and desperate measures designed to ensure election or re-election. Yet here we are, getting into the thick of the presidential race, so it's tough to avoid the climate of...
Read MoreThis past January,Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson reached the summit of El Capitan's Dawn Wall -- a quest that included years of planning and that many considered the most challenging rock climb in the world. One of the climbers, Kevin Jorgeson said of the achievement: "I...
Read MoreThe public school system in America is undergoing an overhaul. That overhaul is called Common Core -- the new curriculum structure based on "consistent academic guidelines created to help all students succeed." Those words aren't mine; they greet you when you go to the Common...
Read MoreSometimes, it's easier to not be who you are in this world. Your boss wants you to be whatever you need to be to get the job done on time and on budget. Your friends want you to be what they need you to be...
Read MoreEveryone has a view on the pluses and minuses of social media. So do I!
Most people love social media for its power to connect them anytime, anywhere and with anyone. On the other hand, many folks are suspect of social media because of what some call the Connection Paradox: We’re able to reach out to whomever, whenever, but, as many pundits point out, we’ve never been more isolated or, in fact, lonelier.