Author Archives: floegel

Call Me Charley

7/16/2009 – 10:05 am

I must have been in fifth or sixth grade when we were assigned to read “Call Me Charley,” by Jesse Jackson. Not that Jesse Jackson, but Mr. Jackson the author was an African American and “Call Me Charley” is about an African American youth trying to fit into a white community. Mr. Jackson said he […]

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Withholding Consent

7/9/2009 – 10:41 am

During last week’s Fourth of July festivities, it occurred to me that the celebration of our nation’s founding commemorates a political act. We could reasonably date the founding of the United States to the battle of Lexington and Concord or the battle of Saratoga or the battle of Yorktown. It’s true America was born in […]

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The Children’s Table

7/3/2009 – 10:56 am

Are you planning a huge barbecue for the Fourth of July? Will it be in the backyard? (The kids are hoping for a pool.) Will it be at a state park or beach? (Send the teens early to hold down a grill and several picnic tables.) Wherever it happens, if the crowd is large enough, […]

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Joe Biden Date Night

6/25/2009 – 9:31 am

Barack Obama is causing me trouble. Me, personally. The president and first lady are making a habit – a very public habit – of reserving one night a week for a date. Marriage maintenance is important for couples who’ve been together a while, especially if they have kids and the day job demands plenty of […]

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Act Accordingly

6/18/2009 – 11:16 am

There are two ways of relating to government: 1) I think my government is acting in my best interest – and act accordingly or 2) I think my government is not acting in my best interest – and act accordingly. Most of us fall between 1) and 2). I was closer to 2) for eight […]

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Boneheads with Guns

6/11/2009 – 10:04 am

This week, the National Rifle Association appealed to the Supreme Court a ruling that upholds Chicago’s ban on the ownership of handguns. A year ago, the court ruled that the District of Columbia couldn’t ban handgun ownership. The district, however, is a federal colony and the court’s ruling applied to federal law. The Chicago ban […]

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Tuesday Night in a Small Room

5/28/2009 – 12:03 pm

Tuesday, the first day back to work after the holiday weekend and The English Beat was playing at Higher Ground. Dave Rap, my former colleague, calls and says we should go to the show because Dave Wakeling, another former colleague, leads the band. (In the early ‘90s, Dave Wakeling worked for Greenpeace on the west […]

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