Author
Who would refuse to help a woman in labor?
When I read the Christmas story, I always wonder: How was it that Mary came to give birth in a barn? The Gospels say simply: “There was no room in the inn.” But could it be that the real reason was there wasn’t enough room in people’s hearts? Ever since I was a boy participating […]
Adults, don’t be monsters to trick-or-treaters
Little masked hobgoblins will soon be knocking at our doors wanting handfuls of candy, and it’s important to remember the rules of good behavior – for adults – not just the children. I often hear oldsters grumble about the unruly behavior of youths, but in my experience it is the adults who tend to be the […]
School shooting verdict raises tough questions about retribution and justice
There was no menace left in the school shooter who sat across from me in the prison visitor’s room. Clad in a blue chambray shirt and a tired expression, he told me about that fateful day in 1989 when he entered a day-care center in League City, Texas, and started shooting. A bullet ripped through […]
It’s OK for men to cry — and to wear pink
“Boys don’t cry.” That was the oft repeated refrain my father said to my brother and me growing up. If one of us fell and skinned our knees, it was, “Knock it off, boys don’t cry.” It didn’t matter if we were 4 or 5. Crying was a sign of weakness and of questionable masculinity. […]
Journalism was a calling for slain reporter Jeff German
A former colleague of mine was stabbed to death in his yard this month, apparently for writing something someone didn’t like. His name was Jeff German and he was a crackerjack reporter who spent a career covering crime and corruption in Las Vegas. We worked together at the Las Vegas Sun some 23 years ago. […]
I’m an evangelical Christian. The government should not promote my religion.
A new term is seeping into the American lexicon called “Christian Nationalism.” It’s a misguided belief that the United States was founded as a Christian nation. I’ve read the original writings of many of our founding fathers and this notion is just nonsense. Thomas Jefferson used his razor to redact portions of the Bible that […]
Instead of making assumptions about someone’s life or religion, just ask
Passover, Ramadan and Lent all came to an end during the past few weeks and I’ve found myself thinking of the oddest thing: a cow. When I was about 5, a life-size statue of a cow appeared in our neighbor’s front yard. The Hereford stood a silent sentinel on Academy Street in Galesburg and left […]
This is what white privilege looks like
A few months ago, I was pulled over by a Springfield-area police officer for a minor traffic violation. He shined a flashlight in my car and said, “Mr. Reeder, are you carrying?” I replied that no, my firearm was home locked up in a safe. He replied, “You should always carry. It doesn’t do you any […]
Here are some practical ways to manage your household budget despite inflation
The problem with inflation is that there is more than enough blame to go around. Some folks will say it’s Joe Biden’s fault, others blame Donald Trump or Russia or Congress or the Federal Reserve. Maybe everybody is a little bit right or a little bit wrong. I don’t know. I grew up on a […]
An organ donor gave my brother precious time
I glanced at the calendar and the date Feb. 26 stared back at me. It was my brother Danny’s birthday. He would have turned 65. A milestone birthday. At 13 you are a teenager. At 16, a driver. At 18, a voter. At 21, an adult. And at 65 you’re a senior citizen. But there […]
Sometimes you see the scam coming
I don’t find joy in anyone being swindled, but I do find a bit of irony that the DeVos family, founders of Amway, were bilked out of $100 million. Amway is a pioneer of multi-level marketing, a concept where participants are expected to not only sell something but recruit others to sell it, too. Avon, […]
Rittenhouse was a ‘wannabe,’ not a hero
The Kyle Rittenhouse trial and verdict is a bit like those ink blot tests psychologists sometimes have patients examine. A half-dozen folks can look at the same thing and see something different. I’ve heard Rittenhouse described as a “hero” by right wingers and as a “criminal” by those on the left. But when I look […]