I have noticed a strange thing in the last few years. I used to know and play a lot of protest songs—mostly civil rights and anti-war songs. More and more often I find I can’t play and sing these songs without becoming extremely emotional. It is like a wave of grief just rises up and... Continue Reading →
Blog
What Black Lives and Palestinian Lives Have in Common
A Cry for Justice What the lives of American people of color and Palestinians have in common is first and foremost that they both matter. To remind people of this simple fact is not to suggest that other lives don’t matter—that is just nonsense—a cheap distraction and sophomoric talking point. The point of the slogan... Continue Reading →
Two Poems about Palestine, Truth, and Balance
The Ruins of Gaza Jerusalem/ Gaza (2012-2014) If there were no separation betweenEvents in space because of timeHow would we order our world?We would have to live with our history thenAnd live with our acts always. Ancient walls would beObscured by the images of the handsThat lifted the stones, again and againAnd we would see... Continue Reading →
On Addressing the Problems of Systemic Racism and Brutal, Misguided Police Methods
Under Pressure We are currently seeing the country racked by demonstrations against racism. So far, the response of the Trump administration has been predictably medieval—and totally ineffective. While some people waste time and breath on arguing about who is causing the relatively scattered outbreaks of violence and looting, they overlook a very simple fact: instead... Continue Reading →
The Dubious Myth of the “Unprecedented” Trump
The Emperor and His Guard Of course, in many simplistic ways Trump really is "unprecedented." We have never seen any president act in such bizarre and dangerous ways. On the other hand, the rather glib overuse of this word "unprecedented" masks a much more deeply entrenched problem. The word “unprecedented” has basically become a mere... Continue Reading →
Two Poems About Lying Politicians
Birds of a Feather I wrote these two poems in response to events between 2003-2004, when I was living in Saudi Arabia. Really good poems probably don’t need explanatory notes, but just in case… The first short poem “Talking Heads” was inspired by some art I saw in ancient cities I visited. I was struck... Continue Reading →
Wisteria (a Poem about Love)
Of all flowersWisteria is most like love.As a shoot youDo not suspect its power. It needs a thing to climb onEven, at first, the slightest wispOf a reed,Or a dry stick; A gestureOr a glance or riskIt spins tough coilsIt seals its secret tight And uses it to ladder to the lightWhen it flowers it... Continue Reading →
Book Reviews—8 Favorite Novels (and Authors)
Hesse's collection of anti-war essays In response to a challenge by an old friend, I recently posted these short reviews of some of my favorite novels (along with their covers) on Facebook. For followers of my blog who may need a good book and who don’t do Facebook, I republish them (without covers) here. They... Continue Reading →
Nakba Day, The coming Eid, and Lockdowns: A Short Reminder and a Poem in Solidarity with the People of Palestine
Girl in Lockdown Peace to everyone. Special Greetings and Eid Mubarak to all my Muslim and Arab Friends. May 30 is one of the most important of Muslim Holidays—the Eid at the end of Ramadan. May 15th was also “Nakba Day,” the anniversary of the start of the catastrophe that still leaves five generations of... Continue Reading →
Larger Pandemic Lessons
Family Under Lockdown I don’t want to minimize the human suffering caused by the pandemic. Rather, I think taking a bigger view of it might help us alleviate a much wider occurrence of human suffering in the future. Step back a moment and consider the pandemic as a huge scientific experiment. Maybe it’s nature’s way... Continue Reading →
Mind-Cast 