Archive
To Stop ‘Bomb Trains,’ I Honeymooned in Jail
It was a few days after my wedding. I was supposed to be honeymooning at a nearby winery with my newly minted husband, celebrating our unlikely marriage at age 55. Instead, I was sitting on the railroad tracks in the pouring rain. Along with 20 other brave souls, some...
You’re Overdrafted, They’re Overpaid
Almost two-thirds of Americans today — 63 percent — don’t have enough savings to cover an unexpected $500 expense. Anything from an emergency brake job to a refrigerator on the fritz could zero out their bank accounts. Most American households, in other words, are...
It’s Not Just Trump Who’s Confused About Racism
Donald Trump, you might have heard, recently called Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren "racist" for claiming her Native American heritage. I believe the appropriate response to Trump can be expressed by a quote from The Princess Bride's Inigo Montoya: "You keep...
Banks Don’t Commit Crimes, Bankers Do
Hey, stop complaining that our government coddles Wall Street's big, money-grubbing banks. Sure, they went belly-up and crashed our economy with their greed. And, yes, Washington bailed them out, while ignoring the plight of workaday people who lost jobs, homes,...
Trump U’s Alumni Network
In OtherWords: June 29, 2016
Shortly before last week's shocking Brexit vote, a British member of parliament campaigning for the "remain" camp was brutally murdered. What you might not have heard was that the alleged killer was linked to neo-Nazi group here in the United States. And that, Jim...
The Media Has a Huge Blind Spot on Terrorism
Shortly before the United Kingdom's "Brexit" vote, the shocking murder of Jo Cox — a member of parliament and a vocal Remain supporter — exposed the racist roots of elements in the victorious Leave campaign. That much you may have heard. What you might not have heard...
A Yellow-Brick Road for Immigrant Women
The Wizard of Oz was one of my favorite movies as kid growing up in Trinidad. I liked thinking that a magical storm could take you somewhere new, where you could meet fun new friends and even take your pet dog along. Heck, even a new pair of shiny red shoes awaited...
Dining Out? Here’s Some Food for Thought
Americans now spend more on dining out than on groceries. But while we increasingly seek out organic and fair trade goods at the store, we usually don’t think about the social and environmental impacts of dining out. We should. The last time you ate at a restaurant,...
The Miserable Catch 22 of Mental Illness
I'm depressed. I've dealt with mental health issues for decades now. Nothing fancy or interesting like multiple personalities or hallucinations. Just run-of-the-mill boring ones — good old depression and anxiety, and maybe some undiagnosed PTSD to go with it. Mental...
