Both my editor, Fitz McAden, and I grew up as proud sons of South Carolina. I remember Fitz’s father, Jim, taking us to the state capitol to visit the governor’s office when we were small boys. The same day, we posed for a snapshot beneath a statue of George Washington on the capitol grounds. ...
My October Fun About a month ago, I had back surgery at Tufts Medical Center. I’d been warned repeatedly that this was “major surgery” and that recovery would be long. But I didn’t really need to be warned because my dear sister Gracie underwent similar surgery in June and I’d watched her recovery. So ...
God of all power, Ruler of the Universe, you are worthy of glory and praise… At your command all things came to be: the vast expanse of interstellar space, galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses, and this fragile earth, our island home. Eucharistic Prayer C, 1979 Book of Common Prayer The ...
“This isn’t who we are.” This morning I heard those five words spoken by someone I respect — Jonathan Capehart of The Washington Post — about the mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton. I wanted to jump through the TV and slap him. Let me explain. It will take a minute, so bear ...
This morning I re-read a wonderful little book entitled Falling Upward by Richard Rohr, a Franciscan priest. I first read it on the recommendation of one of my sisters, who isn’t conventionally religious. I suspect it interested her because it doesn’t just speak to Christians, but to anyone who lives life thoughtfully. In a chapter ...
Almost two years ago, I posted a blog entitled “The Drums of War.” (The piece, dated Aug. 14, 2017, is in this site’s Archives.) I fretted then about the building sentiment for war with North Korea. This was before Trump fell in love with the mass murderer who leads that country. Happily, my fears ...
While taking a sabbatical from blogging during Holy Week and Easter, I became more and more intrigued by Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination. From the outset I was attracted by his resume. I’m a sucker for Rhodes Scholars. He is obviously whip smart and highly accomplished. But the more I heard ...
Before I begin……….take a long look at the lady in the title photo above. That is what a political leader looks like. She is wearing a hijab to demonstrate her solidarity with the Muslim community of her country. Which of our political leaders would have the same sensitivity and courage? How many times have you ...
David Brooks, an Op-Ed columnist for The New York Times, is an erudite and thoughtful public intellectual admired by many readers, me among them. But I was dismayed when I read his Feb. 26 column, which was entitled “An Agenda for Moderates.” Brooks weighs two competing ideas that animate today’s politics — Tribe, a “magnetic ...
Since I wrote Manifesto #1 almost 3 weeks ago, https://thequixoticdeacon.com/current-events/the-quixotic-deacons-quest-for-a-2020-candidate-manifesto-1 I’ve been struggling with how to frame the next one, Manifesto 2, which you are reading now. As my editor will tell you, I expected to finish it two weeks ago but it wasn’t that easy. I knew I wanted it to be about the ...
