Columns

    It was a simple lesson in a social studies class in a public high school of Augusta County, Virginia. Yet, a few hysterical parents responded with fear and hatred to get the county schools shut down.
    Ignorance can go a long way when accompanied by two other ingredients: fear and religious fanaticism. All were at work in the recent school closure at River Heads High School, over a lesson that involved the Arabic writing tool of calligraphy.

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;

The Wrong shall fail,

The Right prevail,

    I’m not sure what got into me this year. It seems that the “Christmas spirit” descended upon me early, and has manifested itself often.
    I mailed out Christmas cards (first time I’ve done that in decades!) in early December. My Christmas shopping was done well before this week.
    My humble Christmas tree was up just after Thanksgiving, and my cats have left it largely unmolested! I even found a cheap but lovely string of lights to put on it.

    I’m increasingly subscribing to the theory that –  with Donald Trump’s presidential campaign so horrifying the GOP – it reflects the Biblical injunction of reaping what you sow.
    Yes, Republicans can only blame themselves for what is now being called “Trumpism,” a race-baiting, fear-based appeal that, as I said before, counts on our worst instincts for support.