Category Archives: Current Events
WHILE HE WAS IN BLACKFACE I WAS IN BIRMINGHAM
The same year Virginia Governor Ralph Northam was posing in blackface (either once or twice, depending on what you believe), four years after Attorney General Mark Herring and his friend donned “wigs and brown makeup” (note to Mr. Herring, it’s
USING THE MEDIA AS A CONFESSIONAL
In my new novel, The Wrong Side of Night, the main character’s brother returns from the dead. Hale Austin was listed as one of the thousands on 9/11 whose remains were never found. When he returns, he is recognized and
THE EMPEROR HAS NO HEART
While 800,000 federal workers are wondering how they are going to stay in their homes, put food on the table, keep their kids in school, while many are lining up at foodbanks or selling belongings so they can put gas
THIS IS THE REAL EMERGENCY
In 1969 I sat beside my mother on a rickety bus, traveling through the streets of Manilla, on a “tour” of the things that President and Mrs. Marcos wanted us to see. I was sixteen. My father was, I
THOUGHTS ON A FUNERAL
It doesn’t seem like 14 years have passed since I sat in the National Cathedral for my father’s service. I can still feel the quiet heaviness of the air inside; there is a sense in that place that even a
THE ONES WHO LAUGHED
Is anyone surprised that Donald Trump verbally attacked a victim of sexual assault? The surprise came days ago when he responded to a question about Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony in a measured, civil tone. But it was only a
JOHN McCAIN
I met John McCain on only one occasion – at my sister Maureen’s memorial service. She died in 2001 and her husband put together an impressive service for her, with several political figures attending, Senator McCain being one of them.
THE ANATOMY OF VIOLENCE
Many years ago, I was involved with a man who had perfected the dark art of verbal and emotional abuse. He wasn’t that talented professionally, but he was incredibly skilled at choosing just the right words to make another person
THE #MeNot MEN
As much as I loathe drawing racial lines, there is no avoiding this one — recently, some old white men have answered the #MeToo movement with their own version of #MeNot. Let’s start with Bill Clinton, who defensively announced to