Between The Lines

As quoted below, this latest essay in the series outlines how “the Declaration is not only asserting rights but defining government’s purpose: to secure the people’s safety and happiness.” I […]

A little change of pace this month with my 5th essay on the Declaration of Independence. The words and vision continue through the words of Douglass, King, and Hughes but […]

Before proceeding into this month’s essay, I would like to share some personal reflections.  At the conclusion of the essay, it states: “Their (Douglass, King, Hughes) challenge is our inheritance. […]

Before proceeding into this third essay, some personal reflections so far about this series. The first two essays generated many positive and supportive reader comments and with full transparency, one […]

This essay explores the concept of equality as expressed in the Declaration’s famous phrase “all men are created equal”, how that principle has been affirmed, betrayed, and reclaimed over time, […]

Regarding the picture, the backdrop is the Declaration of Independence and pictured from left to right are Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Frederick Douglass, and Langston Hughes. This is the […]

From the City’s website re: its status as a Sanctuary City “The City of Rochester—the home of Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony—has a long-standing history of policies and practices […]

Both ‘The Godfather’ trilogy and the current Trump regime reveal systems of power, corruption, loyalty, and cruelty—but they operate in very different arenas: one is organized crime dressed in honor […]

The comparison between the United States and the ancient Roman Empire is often made because both have been dominant global powers, shaping world affairs economically, militarily, and culturally. However, like […]

There are two ways to move through the world—two stories we tell ourselves about life. One story says, “There isn’t enough.” Not enough time. Not enough money. Not enough love, […]

Hello fellow election volunteers, Since I last wrote trying to offer some sense of hope after the November election, I suspect we’ve all felt shell-shocked by the firehose of previously-unimaginable […]

This coming weekend, I will be speaking as part of a program at the Mount Irenaeus Franciscan Mountain Community located near St. Bonaventure University, my alma mater, The program is […]

Note: the content in this post is adapted from online research including AI. Immigration has been a cornerstone of America’s success, contributing to its economy, culture, and global leadership. Despite […]

Note: the content in this post is adapted from online research including AI. I recently asked myself what the concept of the MAGA maligned term of “Woke” might look like […]

Note: the content in this post is adapted from online research including AI If the Trump regime were to eliminate Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare, the consequences for American citizens […]

Note: the content in this post is adapted from online research including AI. A dictatorship under a second Trump regime depends on the level of authoritarian control exerted over key […]

Note: the content in this post is adapted from online research including AI. Our human existential starting point is stated in Genesis 1:27 that “all human beings are created in […]

The gift of change; the mystery of change; the miracle of change; the constancy of change; the fear of change; the future of change; the philosophy of change; the politics […]

In my January, 2024 blog post, I indicated that throughout the year I would be focusing each month ‘s post on a particular Principle of Democracy within a spirit of […]

From a September 21, 2024 email: “Dear Friends and Family … First, Happy ‘Peace Day’ as well as our last day of Summer since Fall comes on the scene tomorrow. […]

First and briefly, a previous Blog post generated a question from a reader about who the writers are of ‘The Chosen’, and also noted that it is supported by the […]

The following document was submitted by me to the Perinton Town Supervisor last September, 2023. Even though he indicated in December, 2023 that he would setup a meeting to discuss […]

Before I begin the discussion about Transparency as a principle of Democracy, I’d first like to explore ‘The Chosen,’ a popular TV series about the life of Jesus Christ and […]

Some background information from Wikipedia: 1. E pluribus unum is Latin for “Out of many, one.” 2. It has been the traditional motto of the United States. 3. The phrase […]

The principle of Accountability in our Democracy is another essential value of what our country was founded upon. But before I go into more detail, please read the following two […]

I begin with a story from my undergraduate days at St. Bonaventure University. During my senior year, our Men’s Basketball ‘67-’68 team went undefeated during the regular season. It was […]

Continuing the series of the key ideals and principles of Democracy I began earlier this year, the spotlight this month is on ‘Representation’ … and very timely on several levels. […]

In my March, 1, 2024 monthly update on my continuing antiracism work, I wrote the following: “With all the seemingly relentless onslaughts regarding our basic freedoms and rights including education, […]

Pines of Perinton Construction Update The following are my comments to the Perinton Town Board at its February 14, 2024 meeting regarding the Pines of Perinton. This is a 50+ […]

The Merciful Trinity

Dear Friends, Colleagues, Family, and some new additions from Elders & Allies ….  As mentioned in December’s update, 2024 promises to be a very (pick your word) year on many levels … and […]

Since my last Blog post in early April, several developments occurred which have heightened and strengthened my views on how the Rochester area (i.e., the entire Community of Monroe) can […]

I will start with a brief story to provide some context and background. For those of you who have not read my memoir, my antiracism journey began in earnest almost […]

Awakened Hearts

Picture: the Prophetic Path (New Mexico; Richard Rohr) Background: Those of you who have read some of my most recent blog posts regarding conversations with my deceased parents are familiar […]

Fr. Tony Valente Background: Those of you who have read some of my most recent blog posts regarding conversations with my deceased parents are familiar with this literary technique. It […]

Black man praying

Background: To reiterate from previous blog posts, Theresa and Ed Wynne are my deceased parents. My father died in 1966 at the young age of fifty-six and my mother forty […]

This beautiful sculpture is premised on my memoir ‘Understanding and Combating Racism: My Path from Oblivious American to Evolving Activist’ Sculpture creation is premised on my memoir ‘Understanding and Combating […]

Picture representing ‘Connecting, Reconnecting, Interconnectedness’ Background: To reiterate from my other recent blog posts, Theresa and Ed Wynne are my deceased parents. My father died in 1966 at the young […]

Picture of author walking on the Camino, Spain’s 500-mile ancient pilgrimage, in 2014 Background: To reiterate from my other recent blog posts, Theresa and Ed Wynne are my deceased parents. […]

Background: To reiterate from my other recent blog posts, Theresa and Ed Wynne are my deceased parents. My father died in 1966 at the young age of fifty-six and my […]

1954 picture of me with my parents at the time of my First Communion Background: To reiterate from my other recent blog posts, Theresa and Ed Wynne are my deceased […]

Background: To reiterate from my previous blog posts, Theresa and Ed Wynne are my deceased parents. My father died in 1966 at the young age of fifty-six and my mother […]

Mom and Dad’s wedding picture (1945) Background: To reiterate from my previous blog post, Theresa and Ed Wynne are my deceased parents. My father died in 1966 at the young […]

Mom and Dad’s wedding picture (1945) Background: Theresa and Ed Wynne are my deceased parents. My father died in 1966 at the young age of fifty-six and my mother forty […]

Ukraniak Protester By Anna Kolesnichenko, University of Vienna. Republished from Voxukraine Photo credit: Alexandra Gnatoush (Nessa), Flickr.

The Power of the Black Madonna (Pope John Paul II with Black Madonna, September, 1995; Photo from larry’slibrary I chose Fr. Richard Rohr O.F.M.’s March 17, 2022 Meditation below for this […]

Central Park – The Pond (Ajay Suresh from New York, NY, USA) The following is an updated/edited excerpt from a response to a friend who gave me some reflections about […]

February, 2022 — Black History Month Last week at an antiracism meeting I participated in, a presentation was made titled ‘Power Analysis’ based on Rev. Joseph Barndt’s ‘Understanding and Dismantling […]