“Peaceful protest and non-violent resistance say, ‘We’re demanding a better world, beginning with ourselves.’”

 As outcries against inequity and injustice become global, we must hold fast to the spiritual nature of non-violent revolution. If we do not, our peaceful… Read full post »

 

Many Democrats and Progressives (especially those who registered in the last Presidential election) have signaled their intent to boycott the upcoming midterms in November.

This would be a terrible mistake.

It’s true that discouragement and disillusionment have taken a huge toll on… Read full post »

 

This is the internet people. The internet is overrun with folks living out their issues online. It’s a breeding ground for socially challenged individuals who love finding ways to antagonize others.

 

Online forums are like Happy Meals for contentious misanthropes who spend/… Read full post »

While many bemoan the fact that people seem to be getting grumpier, I maintain we’re not nearly grumpy enough.

The world is teeming with namby pamby individuals who speak and behave so sweetly it gives the rest of us sugar diabetes just being around them.

These are honey bees/…

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The road weary Volkswagen bus has become cartoon-like with age. It leans to the right, almost as if it’s nursing a lame foot, while parked overlooking a favorite ocean view. Its tires are worn and textured from the hot summer asphalt and slurry… Read full post »

Oddly enough, it was the words of Jesus that lead me out of Evangelical Christianity.

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.”

I was 22 years old the first time… Read full post »

Homophobia is extracting a huge price from us all. It is demanding that we set aside our humanity in order to placate the superstitions and religious values of a few.

Homophobia has created a caste system in the United States. While the majority of Americans enjoy the full benefits/… Read full post »

By Frank Indiana and Dennis Knight

January 6th is Will Someone Feed The Cat’s birthday. That being the case, we decided to compose a Wrap, featuring 10 of Cat’s offsite articles.

It’s our way of saying, “Thanks for caring about others with passion and for making… Read full post »

One of my favorite OS writers, Sang Lee, passed away yesterday. He was only 43.

I hate that the world lost such a promising, creative, talent.

Sang’s writings were the kind I looked forward to reading. His style was personal, vulnerable, and yet whimsical at times. I loved how/… Read full post »

We’re made of steel. Yet we bend and remain bent.

Strong, effectual hands of Schweitzer-esque friends lovingly attempt to straighten our twisted feelings, while sledgehammer swinging, crowbar wielding, pugilists howl in our already deafened ears about kitchens and heat and cooks who can&r… Read full post »

It will be eighteen years this month since you left. Yet it feels like you passed this afternoon.

You were my best friend on this Earth. You taught me how to swing a hammer, how to wax my car, how to be incredibly generous to everyone, and how to forgive/… Read full post »

 

 By Will Someone Feed The Cat and Dennis Knight

There’s no shortage of posts describing Open Salon - from virtuous praise to vile reprimand. This is not one of them. This is a combined effort from two borderline personalities attempting to share some ways you can survive and… Read full post »

I realize I’ll be accused of pandering to women by writing this. My belief is that women are neither stupid nor naive enough to be so easily beguiled.

Yes, I’m responding to some recent articles. I’m also offering my perspective as a father, a brother, and a man who has… Read full post »

I remember yielding to temptation for the first time when I was about seven years old. I’m sure there were thousands of times prior to that. It’s just the first I can remember.

When I was that age you could walk to the corner store and no… Read full post »

When the storm comes you feel it
A time that uncovers
The stuff that you’re made of
As gusts rage and blow.

It descends where it wants to
None can control it
It reveals our foundation
Things buried below.

The strength of our roots
How deftly they’re planted
We feel all too keenly
When route… Read full post »

Merriam-Webster says an aberration is something that strays from the “right or normal way.” It represents a departure from “the usual or natural type of behavior.”

That’s Mr. Webster's definition, not mine.

I chuckle when people use the word “normal”… Read full post »

^{_{“That life, like the vapor on a tea cup, appeared only to disappear.”}}

He carried her down the street
Holding her as close to his heaving chest as humanly possible
His strong arms supporting her tiny spiritless form
Thin frail limbs
Swinging free
Lifeless and broken
Blood stains covering…

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When my daughter entered junior high school I suddenly became a much stupider man.

I’ve been told that when she reaches the age of thirty I’ll become a little smarter again.

But for now, I’m a step behind Cletus the Slack-Jawed Yokel.

Our conversations, like her once c… Read full post »

The problem with trolls is they attract attention - like a librarian with Tourette’s.

Drivers slow down to observe wrecks. It’s a sad practice - and often causes delays and harm to others - but most of us do it, even knowing we may see something we’ll really regret. Same… Read full post »

 

Patience quietly whispers “Wait,” while Worry tears the door from hinges.
Worry frets - unraveling threads, as Patience sews them all secure.

Patience trusts that good will come. Worry fears to last the night.
Worry tries to see the future. Patience gives her all today.

Patienc… Read full post »

 I’m starting to wonder if leaving this life is kinda like graduating.

I mean, maybe there are some things you finally learn to do and then you’re ready to die. At least I’m pretty sure there’s a case to be made for this theory.

One of these “learn to do/… Read full post »

 One of my favorite Springsteen tunes begins with the lyrics,

“Born down in a dead man's town,
The first kick I took was when I hit the ground,
You end up like a dog that's been beat too much,
Till you spend half your life just covering up.”

There’s a lot of insight… Read full post »

Writers have always served as a wellspring of inspiration for the world. That is precisely why we must seek to be better at our craft.

The past few decades have witnessed a devastating decline in literacy, decency, accuracy, and proficiency when it comes to the written word.

When a/… Read full post »

I remember hearing the news of the Kent State killings at my own school campus that terrible Monday May 4, 1970.

The deaths of Allison Krause, Jeffrey Glen Miller, Sandra Lee Scheuer, and William Knox Schroeder left a life long impression upon me. Their senseless killings were/… Read full post »