Recent Compassion Commentaries

Featured image for “Through a Lens, Clearly”
Through a Lens, Clearly
“If [the people are] given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts.” – Abraham Lincoln Every day this health crisis grows more critical. Every day we hear conflicting information. Every day people are dying for lack of medical support, some of which is sitting in...
Read More
March 25, 2020
Featured image for “Remembering a Friend”
Remembering a Friend
Considering the skill and dedication of thousands of doctors, nurses and emergency workers battling a virus that continues to expand throughout the world, this story is yet another remarkable example such individuals perform every day. It’s a story worth reading. U.S. Army Major John N. Baldwin (Ret.) was one example of someone who has contributed to my life. As a...
Read More
March 23, 2020
Featured image for “Character”
Character
“Crisis doesn’t change people; it reveals them.” – Eric Walters, Canadian author Character is not something we’re born with. It’s a combination of our highest attributes developed throughout our lives. Time and again, we see remarkable demonstrations of character in small and large ways. Many of them don’t make the news. Here are three that did. Last Wednesday, actor Tom...
Read More
March 18, 2020
Featured image for “Should Madoff be Released?”
Should Madoff be Released?
Bernie Madoff conned friends and strangers out of billions using a scheme that out-Ponzied Charles Ponzi, the now former emperor of elite schemers. However, after serving almost 11 years of a 150-year sentence, Madoff is now asking for an early release from prison due to a terminal illness. In 1998, “Madoff pleaded guilty to 11 criminal counts… At the time...
Read More
February 28, 2020
Featured image for “A Little Compassion; a Lot of Joy”
A Little Compassion; a Lot of Joy
Note: Will return on Monday with an analysis of the U.S./Iran crisis. Eleven-year old Ruby Chitsey was not like most sixth graders who were into sports and pageantry. “If you don’t do those things in rural Arkansas,” Ruby’s mother, Amanda Chitsey said, “you are really left out.” However, Ruby developed another interest. Amanda works as a nurse in Harrison, Arkansas....
Read More
January 8, 2020
Featured image for “Sandy”
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,...
Read More
December 31, 2019
Featured image for “Character”
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...
Read More
December 20, 2019
Featured image for “Another World Changer”
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...
Read More
December 9, 2019
Featured image for “Those Who Have Changed the World Most Deeply”
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...
Read More
December 6, 2019
Featured image for “The Power of Giving”
The Power of Giving
Wildfires have taken a huge toll on California. However, the small town of Paradise has faced the unimaginable. That’s when Woody came to visit. The Camp Fire, in Northern California, was the most destructive wildfire in California history killing 86 people and, at one point, leaving nearly 500 people unaccounted for. The fire in Paradise and neighboring communities in Butte...
Read More
December 2, 2019