For reasons I can’t explain, an outfit called “ConservativeInstitute.org” has taken to advertising on Daily Kos, an extremely un-conservative news source. I don’t know if this is just another example of how Republicans have enough money that they can waste a lot of it; or if they are sufficiently deluded to think they will convert Democrats with a picture featuring two perfectly straight arrows for civic good, Elizabeth Warren and Chuck Schumer. I guess they hope we will confuse their somber faces with scary ones. Read More
Doris writes a weekly column for LaGaceta, the nation's only trilingual newspaper, which has pages in English, Spanish, and Italian. Begun in 1922 for Tampa's immigrant community, it continues to thrive more than a century later. Her column is titled "In Context," as it aims to put contemporary issues in the context of the past.
The Last of a Long Era
April 23, 2018
That’s Barbara Bush. She probably was the last of the “stand behind your man” type of first lady and the last of political matriarchs who ruled with imperceptible velvet gloves. As I think she was the last, I’m going to predict that from now on a woman who wants a political life simply will openly avow that. She no longer has to marry, bear sons, and live vicariously -- something that was the case for most of human history. Read More
If You Think You Live in the Worst of Times
April 16, 2018
You should read some history. Or, for more graphic exposure, watch it. Hubby and I stopped watching Netflix’s “Marco Polo” because the violence on the screen was just too real – as it really was at the time. Asian rulers in Polo’s era – and long after – routinely tortured and killed their political enemies by extremely cruel methods. People were skinned alive, and prolonged “death by a thousand cuts” was common. Prisoners of war were caged until they perished of thirst and hunger. Read More
Here’s A Thought - Noise
April 9, 2018
Instead of following the money, I want to suggest that law enforcement try following the noise. There’s a certain class of criminal who never will have enough money to be worthy of following, but he (rarely, she) wants to bully us into following his taste in so-called music. The bass booms from his car will shake yours; his Saturday night parties can be heard for blocks. Read More
The Passing of a Tampa Mother
April 2, 2018
The obituary was so small that I – an obsessive reader of obits – didn’t even see it. I would not have known about the death of Catherine Barja, age 85, if LaGaceta hadn’t called me. Patrick learned about it in time to add her to his column last week, and I had a long talk with Gene later in the day, but there’s more I want to say. Read More