I spent the last two months of my life outside. The unpredictable Wisconsin spring has weathered me. I feel more like a tree than a man. Through the blowing snow and bone-chilling wind my wife, my coworkers and I became fixtures downtown, so that those who wanted to could sign a pet… Read full post »

Gov. Walker,

Tonight, you chose to completely ignore and disregard three weeks of unprecedented protest and 100,000s of voices asking you to back away from your radical, uncompromising stance. You found an unscrupulous way to take everything you wanted…with NO concessions. What gives you… Read full post »

At the beginning of U.S. history is the unit on Columbus called “Worlds Collide.” I use supplemental, historical books to have a greater discussion about why myths about Columbus have persisted and how the controversy surrounding the man raises deeper questions about how we view our histo… Read full post »

Thicker than water?

Recently, I've been getting emails from my uncle with his opinion about what's going on in WI. He believes Gov. Walker is doing what needs to be done. Until now, I've been willing to go along with the debate...family, right?

 But like everyone else who&nb… Read full post »

First of all, I have always agreed that unions protect bad workers. With their historical drive to protect all workers from unfair practices, they've dev… Read full post »

I didn't mean to,

But I must have held you too tightly.

I tried not to,

But I must have looked into your eyes too long that day. 

If I were smarter,

I would have kept a distance.

If I were stronger,

I… Read full post »

Soldiers posing in WWII

It was a typical summer night in June. I was flipping through the channels looking for anything that would give me an excuse to avoid grading my summer school work. Wait! What was that? I flipped back to something I recognized…Band of Brothers. It is the… Read full post »

You don't hate us because we're different.

You hate us because we're proud.

And to really listen to our words

Would make you hear your own.

And to really look into our eyes

 

After running all over school on errands, I returned to my class to find a student I didn't know waiting for me by my desk with a note. She smiled and said, “I have an invitation for you.” It was a formal invitation to a free pizza lunch on… Read full post »

He was the Lakota’s greatest warrior, and he is thought of by many to be the quintessential symbol of resistance. He never signed a treaty. He never allowed his picture to be taken, and he never quit. Even when soldiers were leading him into a cell, he refused to be… Read full post »

A long time ago, in a far away land

The tracks of two Zax met up in the sand.

One from the East and one from the West,

And both of them thought where they came from was best.

But the beach was long, and the beach… Read full post »

 QUESTION: What is the worst thing you feel you've ever done to someone?

After reading about DakiniDancer's sudden death, I began reflecting on a very difficult year for my family. My wife and I experienced 8 deaths in the last 6 months. And now with Dakini's sudden death, I can't help… Read full post »

 I’ve read several posts lately that look back from an older age and wonder what happened to the person we once were. Cuquie in her poem “I Am Eve” and Marytkelly in her story about searching for her lost “freedom road” in Moab write about the… Read full post »

 In the United States, people were considered black if they had even one   drop of African blood, while Native Americans had to prove that they were Indian enough to be federally recognized. One couldn’t escape their race even if they wanted to, while the other has… Read full post »

I was visiting someone in San Diego several years ago. While sitting in a restaurant one day I took a moment to look around at everyone in the place…I’m a people watcher, sorry. Suddenly, I realized that if no one told me any different, I’d believe I was sitting in… Read full post »

Over the last few days, there seems to be more outrage over Pres. Obama telling the world we tortured prisoners than over the fact that we tortured them. Now, Cheney complains that Obama is being one-sided by not also pointing out all of the vital information that was obtained by/… Read full post »

I had gotten a call from a parent who had run out of ideas and who felt like she was running out of time. We met in my class, and she described for me what the past year had been like with her daughter, Samantha (Sam). Now, I… Read full post »

We only had an hour for lunch and had gone across town to take advantage of the buffet special at the Chinese restaurant. So, we were racing back and most likely would have to sneak in the back door and back to our departments without the boss… Read full post »

Maheo

I come to you a humble man.

Surely, you see me struggling,

Tossed about in this love...

Confused.

Maheo

I come to you a fool

With questions you've already answered:

How will I find love

While I live my life in yesterday?

How will I hear her whispers

Over my… Read full post »

When did war change?

To me, it’s an interesting question. Armies used to meet on the field, all having pretty much the same weapons, and the better men won. At some point, the leader of one of the armies walked down into the valley and called out the other leader.… Read full post »

 I saw him, the last eagle.

Someone pointed, and for a moment

We were all still.

A breeze suddenly touched us,

And in that moment my heart sank,

For somehow I knew.

I think, despite hope, we all knew.

So we stood there, silently.

At last, together. 

I was… Read full post »

Let me start by saying that I am a layman. Hell, I can’t even balance my  own checkbook or pay bills on time (thanks babe!) That’s why I call this my two cents. But I’m not sure it takes a financial genius to figure out that Trickle… Read full post »

I moved to Rapid City, South Dakota in ’97. I drove into town in the middle of a sleet storm (anyone who’s ever driven through a storm on the Great Plains knows what that’s like…there’s nowhere to hide.) Yeah, I knew about Rapid. In the 60s and 70s… Read full post »

Little one, it is true.

Mountains are beautiful and forests are great.

But you are not born a mountain,

And you are not born a forest.

Yes, little one,

The night sky is brilliant and the day is warm.

But you are not the moon,

And you are… Read full post »