Author: Douglas Brooks

A Few Words in Defense of Our Country, or at least For the Choir We are consoling ourselves with talk of impeachment or resignation, with fantasies of divine intervention and, dare I say, even the notion of “reasonable Republicans.” That last one is more laughable than the divine intervention bit. So? That’s Not.Going.To.Happen. What...

Words are actions even if they are only the prelude to deeds and outcomes.   After all doesn’t the “man of action” move from pure instinct, from impulse, from the place where thinking just “gets in the way”? Over the past six days —yes, it’s only been six days— the prelude of words has not...

What do we do today?  Do we pray for our country today?  How do we begin to resist this catastrophe?  Perhaps we should start with acknowledging who we have been and where we are today. I’ll start with an admission.  I’m not the praying type.  But it’s not like I haven’t tried.  Prayer, in...

December 13, 2016Bristol, New York From Richard Cohen today in the Washington Post, “…I will not concede that a greater wisdom exists in what is known as “flyover country.” It has voted for a charlatan, a blinged ignoramus who has promised the past as the future. Trump… lives in a gilded bubble of his...

American men are indeed in deep trouble. This article puts together some of the facts and circumstances that point to our collective failure. But there is far more to the story than economic displacement and social injustice. There is the need to confront our history, our shadows and failures in ways we have barely...

We all know, I think, about the debilitating and stifling features of shame.  America’s Protestant history includes putting the wayward in the public stocks as well as the endorsement of pan-religious commitments to guilt, shame, and blame for acts of non-conformity.  To be shunned, in social worlds or in matters of conscience, for expressions...

Today the media is reporting that the new polls indicating a closer Presidential race are a feature of the American public at last “paying attention” as the election approaches. I demur. We shouldn’t concern ourselves too much with these tightening polls much less place value on this assessment. America is not finally getting around...

Last night we were treated to history because after 240 years of occasionally great, barely tolerable, and too often mediocre men, a major party nominated a serious, steadfastly committed, and exceptionally accomplished woman.  It should seem unfathomable that gender has been such a barrier in an America that professes equality but it is hardly...

Tuesday Morning, July 19th, 2016 With all of last night’s horrifying Republican antics it easy to point to the rage and the singular contrast offered by Melania Trump who, despite having been party to fraud and plagiarism, struck the only contrary note of decency. We must be mindful not to shame her for an...

On this day, the last important day of primaries in this important election year, a brief rumination. Skip if you dislike the prosaic, pedantic, annoying parts that are required. Last night’s preemptive announcement that Secretary Clinton will be the Democrat’s nominee was less conspiracy or collective endorsement meant to forestall or depress turnout than...