the progressive perspective
Logic demands we ask why we’re throwing billions upon billions at rebuilding cities and regions that have been devastated by hurricanes and are destined to be hospitable only to marine life by the end of this century or (probably) much sooner.
Many areas of New Orleans were still awash in filthy flood water in September 2005 when then-President George W. Bush proclaimed, “There is no way to imagine America without New Orleans, and this great city will rise again.”
Katrina hit the Crescent City on Aug. 29, 2005. In the same speech a couple of weeks later, Bush went on to make a more definitive promise:
Continue reading “Climate Change Changes Post-Disaster Questions”
Every time Rep. Kevin Cramer puts his foot in his mouth with an absurd, ignorant and pain-inducing comment, he looks like a clown. And North Dakotans are cast as clowns, too…
Published Oct. 3, 2018, updated Oct. 9, 2018 because Rep. Kevin Cramer lodged his foot in his mouth again less than a week after his comments on Kavanaugh-Ford.
In the context of the hearings to determine if Brett Kavanaugh is fit to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, Rep. Kevin Cramer has proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that he isn’t fit to represent anyone.
It will take many voices to bring about change in the gender-biased way the Fargo Public Schools dress code is applied and enforced. Please consider lending yours.
I believe dress-code enforcement in Fargo Public Schools is gender biased (see “The Alleged “Distractees” – Not Our Daughters & Sisters – Must Change“), and that the body shaming that comes with it is detrimental to my daughters, and their sisters as well as yours.
After many years of frustration, I decided to do something about it.
It’s always an unexpected pleasure to get compliments on IV Words. Here’s one from a great Joe.
My friend Joe Stadstad paid me this awesome compliment yesterday after checking out the IV Words blog. Frankly, I’m overwhelmed by his #GoodWords. Joe and I have known each other since our college days back in the late 1980s at North Dakota State University. Great guy, then and now.
Thank you, Joe.
“I appreciate your writing Martin. Always have. You are a tremendous wordsmith, but you do not overpower the average reader.
Each year, Fargo Public Schools (FPS) officials tell our daughters – sometimes explicitly, often implicitly – they will be a “distraction” to other students and teachers if they wear spaghetti-strap tops that are “too revealing,” pants that are “too tight” or skirts that are “too short.”
Each year, Fargo Public Schools (FPS) officials tell our daughters and their sisters – sometimes explicitly, often implicitly – they will be a “distraction” to other students and teachers if they wear spaghetti-strap tops that are “too revealing,” pants that are “too tight” or skirts that are “too short.”
The “too” statements are in quotation marks because they’re descriptors with relative meanings. “Too” whatever depends on who is passing judgment.
If girls wear any of these, or other undefined pieces of clothing, they “get coded.” Continue reading “The Alleged “Distractees” – Not Our Daughters and Sisters – Must Change”
We make judgements about people all the time without knowing much, if anything, about them.
The guy I roomed with for most of my first two years of college is one of the best.
Brian Johnson started as an architecture major, then became a mechanical engineering student at North Dakota State University from 1986 to 1991. We shared rooms, first in Stockbridge (a.k.a., “Jockbridge”), then in University Village.
You’d be hard pressed to meet a kinder, more laid-back or unassuming person. Highly intelligent, too. Today he’s the vice president of global engineering for a Twin Cities firm.
Let’s teach our children that weird is a good thing. Because it is.
And she said, “Flowers are red.”
“Flowers are red young man / Green leaves are green / There’s no need to see flowers any other way / Than the way they always have been seen.”
She’s a teacher, a character in a song by Harry Chapin, speaking to a little boy on his first day of school.
He replies:
Continue reading “Flowers are Rainbow-Colored. People are Weird.”
At the end of the day, right and wrong don’t depend on right or left.
The Forum of Fargo, N.D., initially said it was $104,528.22.
Then the mayor said it was more like $10,000 over the daily cost of law enforcement.
The deputy police chief said city law enforcement “…accrued only $1,200 in overtime.”
A commentator from The Forum said it was actually $31,147.58.
I experienced a convergence through a couple of communications that came my way today.
I experienced a convergence through a few communications that came my way today.
The first was a newsletter in my inbox this morning from Bock’s Office…
It’s BECAUSE I am a patriotic American that I…
I am a patriotic American.
BECAUSE I AM –
I believe life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are unalienable rights. For everyone.
I believe all people are created equal, regardless of country of origin or citizenship, race, gender, color or creed.
