During this election year we have heard a lot of crap about who is patriotic and who is not. So-and-so candidate is not patriotic because he doesn’t wear a flag pin. Another candidate is unpatriotic because he stood too far away from the American flag to be photographed by everyone at every angle. The very idea of questioning a candidate’s patriotism is insulting. Like they want to take a pay cut and serve their country so they can sell out to Italy because they like pizza? Dumb!
If you want to be patriotic, buy only goods manufactured in the U.S. and stay away from Wal-Mart, which has cost more American jobs than any other company. If you want to be patriotic, volunteer to tutor or mentor kids, stop driving your gas-guzzler and buy a bike, become a Big Brother or Big Sister, or get your butt down to New Orleans and help build a Habitat for Humanity house so one of your fellow Americans can finally get their lives back after three long years. That’s patriotism.
Vow to read the Declaration of Independence in its entirety every July 4. After 232 years, it’s still an inspiring and magical document. Listen to the annual reading of the Declaration on NPR’s Morning Edition, where all the hosts and correspondents read portions. Then figure out what you can do to show your patriotism.
Yellow ribbons and flag pins are meaningless. Do something instead. Wrapping yourself in the American flag is disingenuous and, in July it’s too hot!




A couple of weeks ago, Norway became the sixth country to sign on to marriage equality. (See chronology below.) Others will follow shortly, as one of the last barriers to civil rights equality continues to topple worldwide.
I turn 60 years old today!
Gas here is now $4.40 per gallon and I got a bike (the Electric Blue Novara Runabout pictured here). I purchased the used bike at the
I bought my helmet at A Better Cycle, “a worker owned and collectively run used bicycle shop in sunny South East Portland” that, wouldn’t you know it, closes every May 1 for International Workers Day. (Welcome to the Peoples’ Republic of Portland.) The two spacey 20-somethings insisted on this one, the Bern Watts. It’s a “multi-impact” hardhat style developed first for skateboarders and adopted by bikers. 
Congratulations to all the couples who wait in line starting today to get marriage licenses in California. Waiting today will be easy, because some of you have waited decades for this day.
In a decision released today the California Supreme Court overturned the state’s ban on gay marriage, concluding that the Domestic Partnership currently offered to same-sex couples in the state is not a legitimate substitute for marriage equality. The court made clear that all couples, regardless of sexual orientation, have the right under the state’s constitution to join in family unions. Having a separate designation for gay people called “domestic partnership” makes gay people, in effect, second-class citizens, a violation of the equal protection clause of the state constitution.
It is so easy to get tired in cyberspace. The results of our hard work are not obvious. Perfectionists like me take way too long to write something that can be read in 30 seconds and forgotten by all. We are all busy with our lives and wonder why anyone would be interested in what we have to say.
Just as we approach the Easter season, I was sickened to read that three Mormon missionaries had been photographed 