Category Archives: Uncategorized

A society that can live with its conscience

Yesterday was a day I’ll never forget. It seemed so many others are feeling the same. Despite so many obstacles, the patience and persistence of the American people, of us, was a wonder. Those who stood in line for hours … Continue reading

Posted in Black Lives, peace, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Rural Mutual Aid

I’m so impressed with the work being done by Des Moines Mutual Aid. Now I’m wondering what Mutual Aid in rural areas looks like. Following are a few things from Appalachian ROAR, Rural Organizing and Resilience. https://www.facebook.com/AppalachianROAR This photo of … Continue reading

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Mutual Aid 101 #WeGotOurBlock

The reason I’ve been writing so much about Mutual Aid recently is because I have seen this concept in action. It has been amazing to join a group that is literally sharing food with those who need it. Mutual Aid … Continue reading

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The audacity to believe

The election results aren’t final, yet, but things are looking much better for the current president than I expected. I could wait for the final tabulation, but am being led to begin the search for what the president’s re-election might … Continue reading

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Election

Today, November 3, 2020, is election day in what is called the United States. First, everyone should vote. “I have said this before, and I will say it again, the vote is precious. It is almost sacred. It is the … Continue reading

Posted in Des Moines Black Lives Matter, Des Moines Mutual Aid, Quaker, Quaker Meetings, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Working with Joy

These are perilous times. This election has become a focal point for a growing mountain of danger and stress. What is the way forward, whether there is chaos after this election, or not? As we continue to be threatened by … Continue reading

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What diagrams can reveal

As a software engineer I’ve used diagrams most of my life to help me understand the process I’m trying to create a computer program for. Those diagrams at times reveal an idea or relationship I hadn’t thought of. As an … Continue reading

Posted in decolonize, Des Moines Black Lives Matter, Des Moines Mutual Aid, Mutual Aid, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Mi’kmaw fishing rights

Early this year I began following the news about the Wet’suwet’en peoples and their struggles to prevent the Coastal GasLink natural gas pipeline from being built on their lands. The situation is complicated because there is a conflict regarding who … Continue reading

Posted in Canadian Friends Service Committee, First Nations, Indigenous Youth for Wet'suwet'en, Uncategorized, Wet’suwet’en | Leave a comment

Young Quaker Men Facing War and Conscription

Don Laughlin was a mentor to me. He and his wife Lois lived just a few miles from Scattergood Friends School and Farm, a Quaker co-ed, boarding High School just East of West Branch, Iowa. Following is part of his … Continue reading

Posted in civil disobedience, Kheprw Institute, peace, Quaker, Quaker Meetings, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

A radical act

“Mutual Aid is essential to our survival” by Dean Spade, Truthout, October 28, 2020, is a primer about the concept of Mutual Aid. I recommend reading the entire article. I’ll be quoting it more extensively than I usually like to … Continue reading

Posted in Black Lives, decolonize, Des Moines Mutual Aid, Great Plains Action Society, Mutual Aid, Uncategorized | Leave a comment