I’ve made a commitment — to myself really — to do a monthly blog. It started almost 4 years ago because things had gotten pretty bad in the US, across the board: peace, environment, justice, education, healthcare, and democracy. People’s expectations about what beneficial changes were even possible in the US were low, even though […]
Author: Laura Wells
Can we agree?
Divide and conquer seems to be in full force in the United States. It reminds me of the stance taken after 9/11 when George W. Bush said, “Every nation, in every region, now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists.” Rather than adopt that attitude, are […]
MAY DAY! Let US be friends — not enemies! — with China
In February 2022 when people talked about Russia and Ukraine, I was stunned to hear people add words to the effect that, by the way, “China is bad.” Can we love our country — the land and its people — and not be hostile to other lands and other people? Can we please move our […]
Who Do We Think We Are?
Big peace rallies are starting up again. Hoping lots of people will find a way to BE THERE at rallies for peace. A big rally is happening in Washington DC on Saturday, March 18 at 1:00 p.m. and other rallies around the country are also expected that weekend. Find more information at CODEPINK and the […]
Keep Them Busy — The trouble with Trump
“Keep them busy!” What Trump says and does has kept a lot of the public and government distracted and busy in recent years. On January 28, Trump kicked off his 2024 presidential campaign, alerting us that apparently this “weapon of mass distraction” is to be continued. Like a lot of people, I wonder how things […]
Hugo Chávez — Ten Years Presente!
Ten years ago on March 5, 2013, Hugo Chávez, president of Venezuela, died. A piece I wrote called “Ten Things I Learned from Hugo Chávez” is below and HERE. Presente! is a word used in Latin America to affirm that those who have passed are still a part of the living, and remain in our […]
Wrapping up 2022, in Gratitude
This was quite a year for me, and I’m guessing for everyone! At the end of a year, I like to consider all the things “I gave myself” last year. Using that phrase reminds me to be grateful. I often do this process with loved ones — and so I’ll share a few with you! […]
Oligarchy, Gratitude & Green Voter Guide
The US is the oligarch of the world. We know it, and statistics show it. Of countries with the highest military spending in 2022, the US spends more than the next nine countries combined (chart should say “9” instead of “10” countries). Even worse, US military spending is $2,219 per person, more than twelve times […]
Elections, and Hang in There Baby!
“Fine” used to be a fairly typical response to the question of “How are you?” but I don’t hear “fine” as much anymore. “Hanging in there” or “Okay” seem more likely after these past few years of wars, economic reversals, pandemics, and weather catastrophes. The old “80% of success is showing up” has become even […]
Want peace? Stop making “enemies!”
Here is a half-minute clip of one of the most significant Freudian slips I’ve ever heard. Earlier this year George W. Bush meant to be talking about Russia, but he made the mistake of momentarily looking up from his written speech. He denounced “the decision of one man to launch a wholly unjustified and brutal […]