Depending on where you live in the world, and particularly in the U.S., you, like me, may have heard little about the presence of the Ku Klux Klan in your backyard. No matter where you live, those three letters KKK spell rascists. Three letters can stand out in ways that say hatred. Think ICE. I've learned a lot in the last few weeks about the rascism and outright hatred of my own French Canadian ancestors when they settled in New England. My young ears had heard the slurs, "

Let's just start right in, shall we? Whether you have ever traveled north of the U.S. border into Canada, or been an armchair travelever, or a rabid hockey fan on either side, let's just say things have changed dramatically and forever between these two countries sharing the North American continent, along with Mexico. Let me explain why I make such an unequivocal statement: In French Canadian family life and in Franco American households in which I grew up close to "Little C

Published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace There’s a long arm of history reaching across the world’s longest border dating back to the late 1800’ when French Canadians began a migration that would continue into the twentieth century. They left in growing numbers reaching to a million in search of work in the U.S. This is not just a story of economics, though it is easy to understand that as being a motivating factor to leave the homeland. All these years lat

Sound the alarms! Call Greta Thunberg, Nordic world climate activist to rally her followers to go to Greenland ASAP! Nobody in the whole world should look the other way while a global emergency unfolds before our very eyes. Look up everyone! It’s one thing to turn our heads when violent wars destroy landscapes and lives—innocent bystanders—-watching the world powers play games with nuclear threats day in and day out—-threats making hostages of the whole world. We all know thi

It took six weeks, but it finally happened. I was walking along in the neighborhood where I have been enjoying summertime, when I witnessed the following scene: A man of about 80 years saying, “Welcome to Quebec. Are you from New York? A man in his car smiling said: “Brooklyn”. A third man wearing a chapeau and sipping coffee at the sidewalk cafe said: “We don’t like your President. In fact, we hate him”. I stopped for a moment noticing the yellow New York license plate wonde

The catch all phrase “spiritual practice” comes across as a kind of ritualistic notion that bears repetition like a mantra. In times gone by, and in some places even today, rituals like reciting the rosary are practiced together in a particular place. In secular settings the practice can look like yoga, tai chi (of which there are so many promotions with promises of weight loss), or, of course, a meditation practice. It is not the chosen form that matters, but the practicing…

As a fifth-grader, I took to heart the words of a classmate, my first crush, Norman, the class artist. He was a natural artist and the Sisters praised his art. Norman was the first first boy to call me on the phone—not text—and my whole family knew it in real time. My blushing cheeks confirmed he had asked me to the school dance. Fifth grade —- ten-years old! Harmless but memorable. Yet, sixty years hence, I remember less about the dance then about his critique of my tree dra

I was about my granddaughter's wonderful age of 26 when I first crossed the border into Canada from the U.S. on a roadtrip to Nova Scotia. "Novy", the young man and I called it as he drove an iconic green and white VW bus around the pristine, bucolic island. I can still hear that distinct put-put engine pushing up inclines-- small inclines. Shout out to Cliffy! Wherever you are . . . Something else left its indelible impression on me. The border patrol handed out octagon-shap

This week marks the founding of two countries that share the longest border between any two countries in the world. Crossing that border two weeks ago was simple. With no line to wait in, I drove right up to the open window where the young Canadian border patrol officer smiled a friendly “Bonjour”. I was wearing my "Canada is not for sale" red t-shirt I bought last summer. As expected, there was a passport check followed by a few questions meant to trip up those harboring mal

Last week's blog* generated more comments than any other of the 142 that I have written since I launched this missive into cyberspace exactly three years ago on June 9, 2023!** At the time, I felt a bit nervous about putting my own thoughts into words that might come back at me. I thought the crazies might latch onto it or the cyber police would follow me. I tried to guard against both by selectively sending it through a secure email list. I asked readers not to repost on soc

I had no idea why suddenly, out of the blue, without any warning and quite unwelcome, this week Google unleashed AI (artificial intelligence) on my Google phone! The changes were not subtle. There was no introduction. No explanation. It just happened when my phone began making all my decisions regardless of the settings I had decided on months ago. Let's be clear, I am not a techie, nor do I understand most of what's involved in this looming change to the world with a new "fr

In the unlikely event that I should be asked to deliver a Commencement address, I am ready with a story that tells so much about the serendipitous twists and turns of life and concludes with one of life's big questions: How do you know that you have not been brought here, for such a time as this"? Here is my unofficial translation of the Book of Esther taken from the Old Testament:* A powerful Persian King XERXES threw a lavish party for his bro-ligarchy. His wife VASHTI had

Pilgrim Sisters, Meridith and Julie at the British Library in London reviewing "Revelations of Divine Love" manuscripts written by 14th century mystic, Julian of Norwich, the first woman known to have written a book in English. This year's Peregrine Falcons hatched on May 5 during our first days in Norwich. See live from their nestbox atop Norwich Cathedral: https://hawkandowltrust.org/live-cameras/norwich-cathedral-peregrines The return is essential to completing a pilgrimag

After the fact, in that Washington hotel ballroom, rising from under the table with Boston Globe correspondents, one of the daughters of the late Robert Kennedy, gunned down 60 years ago after his brother, President John Kennedy was killed by a rifle shot, said to Senator Jamie Raskin, "Imagine school children all across the country every single day live with this fear". The whole country saw the video of the press ducking under tables in their finery. Each one has a persona

https://youtu.be/W74o_v2zjX4 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/19/oklahoma-principal-disarmed-intruder-prom-king?CMP=share_btn_url If that didn't bring a tear, here is another story to restore our faith in goodness that really does exist in others as well as within ourselves. A good reminder during days filled with news about the "dark side" of life. ...former secretary of transportation Pete Buttigieg, who is speaking across the country in support of Democratic ca

St. Augustine, FLorida It's gotten to be a regular thing for a lot of people: Make a sign, meet and march. Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow, nor heat of day or "heat" on the ground has deterred anyone across the country and around the world. It is what we do together. "I feel like I have done something afterward", says one vigil keeper in New Hampshire. "My sign is not my words--it was written years ago by Orwell", says a woman in Florida. Two voices in conservative states

Say good-bye to 2025...finally! I refuse to review what has come to pass in America. But, before fast forwarding into 2026, I am looking way way way back to the first year--- A.D. ---the year of our Lord. In that year, we are told in many ways through different faith traditions that Jesus arrived in the world. Whatever version you subscribe to, the story told is one of an itinerant man who wandered with a mission. He was not a missionary, per se, like those who arrived later

B.C., before Covid, before 9/11, There was an "American Dream"narrative many believed. That dream followed Americans from childhood all the way through adulthood then well into the "Golden Years." We lived on a consistent message that these United States of America held a certain promise that was guaranteed by the words written into the U.S. Constitution before we were born. Before now, we took that promise for granted and literally, assuming it would stand the test of time