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Posts Categorized: Politics

An Unexpected #MeToo Aftershock

posted on December 13, 2017 by Janet Givens
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Who among us hasn’t been touched, in some way, by the snowballing power of the #MeToo campaign that swept through our lives recently? It’s impact has been so great, it has been chosen as Time Magazine‘s cover for “Person of the Year.” Here’s a paragraph from Time‘s cover story: This reckoning appears to have sprung up… more »
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Hate Crimes and Bias Incidents: A Primer

posted on November 29, 2017 by Janet Givens
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Hate is on the rise here in America. I don’t believe anyone would argue that fact. As the Washington Post reported recently, “police departments across the country reported a rise in the number of crimes motivated by bias.” Hate eats away at my serenity and erodes the soul.  It’s scary. Alone, I feel rather impotent against… more »
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November 22, our day that will live in infamy

posted on November 22, 2017 by Janet Givens
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Today is the day before Thanksgiving (always the fourth Thursday in November), the most quintessentially American holiday I can name, right up there with July 4th (our Independence Day).  This day before Thanksgiving is traditionally a very busy day for those celebrating — whether traveling from afar or preparing the food — so I thank… more »
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In Praise of Skepticism

posted on November 15, 2017 by Janet Givens
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  Well, it happened again. I choose an important and timely topic — the importance of maintaining a healthy skepticism — but, in the course of putting the post together, I veer off into another land. Could that have been what happened to Lewis Carroll? Plans were to introduce you to my favorite British philosopher… more »
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How To Stay Informed in This Age of Fake News

posted on November 8, 2017 by Janet Givens
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  Last January, one week after the presidential oath of office, Eliot Cohen, Director of the Strategic Studies Program at Johns Hopkins, published an article in TheAtlantic.com from which this quote is taken: Some Americans can fight abuses of power and disastrous policies directly—in courts, in congressional offices, in the press. But all can dedicate themselves to… more »
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Daylight Saving Time, Redux(2)

posted on November 1, 2017 by Janet Givens
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  In recognition of my new subscribers since last year at this time, I’m rerunning my standard END DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME (DST) rant.  But which rant shall I choose? There are now four! So, considering that extra hour of sleep we need each night this week to compensate for the added risk to our lives… more »
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What is this crisis in masculinity?

posted on October 25, 2017 by Janet Givens
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Today’s post began a week ago when I watched the video of actor Emma Thompson talking to the BBC in the wake of the harvey weinstein downfall. As you listen to the video, you’ll hear Ms. Thompson refer to a “crisis in masculinity,” extreme masculinity she actually called it.  In response to a question, she… more »
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How Much Can One Individual Do?

posted on September 6, 2017 by Janet Givens
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Each of us in our own way, every day, whether we plan to or not, makes a difference. How much of a difference, how much of a legacy, and how positive or negative the impact is for others to determine. History. Her story. That part we have little control over. We toss a pebble into… more »
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Writing About Politics

posted on August 16, 2017 by Janet Givens
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Politics, religion, and sex. Aren’t those the three we were taught never to speak of in polite company? I was reminded of this recently in an online workshop I took on using Facebook. “YOU POST TOO MUCH ABOUT POLITICS!”  They hollered. “You don’t want to alienate the people who will buy your books” was the… more »
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