Category Archives: Civics

The Zealot’s Song

Posted on June 21, 2015 by Gavin Stevens

A zealot’s song is neither pretty nor fine. It is a sustained shriek into the teeth of the winds of change which seeks to challenge and interrupt an evolving chain of reasoned logic. It is a one note howl of defiance and … Continue reading →

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The King Is Dead; Long Live The King!

Posted on November 10, 2014 by Gavin Stevens

“People who believe that they are strong-willed and the masters of their destiny can only continue to believe this by becoming specialists in self-deception.” James Baldwin, Giovanni’s Room “But I believe in my mask—The man I made up is me.” … Continue reading →

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Pete Seeger (1919 – 2014)

Posted on January 28, 2014 by Gavin Stevens

Well I got a hammer and I got a bell And I got a song to sing all over this land It’s the hammer of Justice, it’s the bell of Freedom It’s the song about Love between my brothers and … Continue reading →

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The Morning Of Our Discontent

Posted on October 17, 2013 by Gavin Stevens

Last night our nation’s Congress finally passed a bill to extend our debt ceiling and to fund our government, relieving it from the shutdown forced by a wholly dysfunctional, irrational Congress – a shutdown costing our economy an estimated $24,000,000,000. There was … Continue reading →

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A Harebrained Proposal?

Posted on September 14, 2013 by Gavin Stevens

“People should be allowed to pursue their happiness in the competitive market. But it makes no sense to require people to compete in the market for basic goods. Those who lack such goods have little chance of winning them in … Continue reading →

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Ah, The People We Met

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Gavin Stevens

And he was easily riled and likely to shout Frequently wrong but never in doubt Cheryl Wheeler, Frequently Wrong but Never in Doubt I finished the thing; but I think I sprained my soul. Katherine Ann Porter on her novel Ship … Continue reading →

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American Myths

Posted on June 2, 2013 by Gavin Stevens

We spent three days in Budapest recently, and, as we are wont to do, we got into a discussion with one of the crewman on our ship, a young man who previously lived in the United States for about three … Continue reading →

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Curiosity

Posted on August 6, 2012 by C. (Gaius) Charles

I was not yet born when “one giant leap for mankind” catapulted the moon and NASA into the fervor of the American consciousness. Until last night, the biggest space-related event from NASA was the retirement of the space shuttles and … Continue reading →

Posted in 'Tis a Puzzlement, Civics, Media and Mayhem, Our Place in the Firmament, Ponderings on the Meaning of Things | 1 Comment

A Personal Voting Manifesto

Posted on July 22, 2012 by Gavin Stevens

In Washington state, the election season is upon us. Our primary election is just a few weeks away and political advertisements, robotic phone calls, mailers, rallies, and all of the other accoutrements of modern political life are in full shout … Continue reading →

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The Anti-Intellectualism of “No, You Cannot”

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Gavin Stevens

I know a lot of fancy dancers, people who can glide you on a floor, They move so smooth but have no answers. When you ask “Why’d you come here for?” “I don’t know” “Why?” Cat Stevens, Hard Headed Woman … Continue reading →