We are “Plac’d on this isthmus of a middle state” . . .

Posted by JoeAm on March 20, 2019 · 56 Comments 

By JoeAm One of my sources, those spread across the globe like a spider’s web, each node a listening post, today entrusted me with the wisdom of Alexander Pope, which I shall reproduce in a moment. Do you read poetry? Not many do, I think. Anyone who reads poetry has undoubtedly tried, and maybe succeeded, … Continue reading →

Category Citizenship/Patriotism, Culture and Arts, Education, Laws and Ethics

Elections Determine a Nation’s Fate

Posted by JoeAm on March 15, 2019 · 62 Comments 

By Popoy Del R. Cartanio Where people are free as in a democracy, the people elect their leaders to guide and rule them in pursuit of their destiny. Regular elections in the most significant and powerful ways can stagnate or simply make or unmake a nation.  In a nation of the blind the people should be … Continue reading →

Category Citizenship/Patriotism, Education, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government

Philippine national character: obedient or responsible?

Posted by JoeAm on March 13, 2019 · 67 Comments 

JoeAm My son is old enough now to do some healthy introspection, so we have been having a dialogue about how one becomes a healthy, happy, ‘successful’ human being. We’ve started by defining three planks of healthy development: Character Competence Knowledge Our exercise this morning erupted in a riot of laughter. He and I share … Continue reading →

Category Citizenship/Patriotism, Culture and Arts, Education, Family/Parenting/Children, Philippine Politics

The cancer infesting civilization, and the healing medication

Posted by JoeAm on February 15, 2019 · 73 Comments 

By JoeAm Echoes of the mind . . . Please excuse my belaboring this point. I don’t like the way the entire world is descending into abusive and illogical reasoning. We need to do better. The world is growing dumber, as a point of fact. It is growing angrier and less capable of the kinds … Continue reading →

Category Citizenship/Patriotism, Education

The holy curse of bankers

Posted by chemrock on February 4, 2019 · 68 Comments 

By Chemrock Shylock, the Jewish moneylender, demanded a pound of flesh from his debtor who could not repay a loan. With that, Shakespeare condemned a moniker on the Jewish community for posterity. Few are those who bother to contextualize what they read or hear. In ancient days when Jews were dispersed all over Europe, they … Continue reading →

Category Blogging/Journalism, Economy, Education, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government, Religion