Recent Commentaries

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Sandy
On the last day of 2019, I thought I’d offer one more Christmas story submitted by Steve Plone of La Quinta, California. “This is a true story about my mom, her family and her dog, Sandy. I’m not sure what the exact time of year it was, but if it wasn’t around Christmas time, it should have been. “In 1935,...
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December 31, 2019
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Imagine
Imagine a Country where everyone is respected Where human rights are basic rights A place where citizens work together Interconnected and interdependent, like a family.   Imagine a Nation whose greatest asset is diversity Where equal opportunity and individual freedom live Whose strength lies in faith and self-reliance A people that values its principles over its privileges.  » Read more about:...
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December 25, 2019
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One Quality That the People of This Country Have Always Respected
We’re all looking for positive stories. This editorial — from The New York Times, Sunday March 7, 1954, under the title, “The ‘Positive’ Story” — is more a warning to President Eisenhower, and offers many parallels to today’s headlines. What many were unaware at the time, Eisenhower had already begun a stealth campaign against the demagogic Senator Joseph R. McCarthy,...
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December 23, 2019
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Character
Typically, when a college player is recognized for football’s prestigious Heisman trophy, they typically thank parents, coaches, teammates and friends. Louisiana State University quarterback Joe Burrow did something more. “Coming from southeast Ohio,” Burrow said in his acceptance speech, “it’s a very impoverished area and the poverty rate is almost two times the national average. “There’s so many people there...
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December 20, 2019
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Moral Courage
In my 2005 book, What Do You Stand for? – Stories About Principles That Matter, I began tobacco insider Jeffrey Wigand’s story with these words: What do you do when you discover something wrong? What do you do with what you know? Do you remain silent or come forward? Do you remain loyal to the company or expose the truth?...
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December 18, 2019
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One Leader Who Should Not Be Ignored
“When you are a leader and every week you have young people demonstrating with such a message, you cannot remain neutral… They helped me change.” – Emmanuel Macron, president of France At 16, climate activist Greta Thunberg is the youngest to ever have been selected as TIME magazine’s “Person of the Year.” “We cannot just continue living as if there...
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December 16, 2019
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The Santa Effect
Arriving early for a Christmas event, I sat down with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, also early arrivals. “Jim,” Mrs. Claus says, “We’re walking up the street to Starbucks for some hot chocolate, wanna come? “Okay,” I said. As soon as we walk into an airy merry night, Santa is immediately met with smiles, handshakes and requests for photos from teens,...
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December 13, 2019
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Another World Changer
Note to Readers: Will return shortly. Had a long day working on a long-term project. (It’ll be worth it when I’m finished. I promise.) Every year since 2007, cable news network, CNN, receives nominations for its “CNN Heroes” award. Ten nominees are chosen, each demonstrating that they have made “extraordinary contributions to humanitarian aid and [made] a difference in their...
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December 9, 2019
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Those Who Have Changed the World Most Deeply
I met Sarah Witmer at a meeting at The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation some time ago and, in looking through the non-profit’s website, came across a powerful speech she gave last year at an event for the organization. Sarah moved to Japan when she was 11-years old. “As I learned to speak Japanese,” she writes, “I was able to communicate...
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December 6, 2019
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Two Positive Ethics Stories
While attending a conference last week, I found myself in an elevator with two other attendees. While my name tag appeared to suggest I was speaking at the conference, I explained that I do write and speak on ethics. One attendee smiled and asked, “Does ethics exist anymore?” While our nation’s capital endures numerous ethical lapses, it’s important to recognize...
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December 4, 2019