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Moving On

Suddenly and violently, their childhoods were shattered. No child should have to live in a war zone. No child should have to bear witness to the murder of their mother. Some stopped talking. Others endured long rehabilitation for physical wounds in hospitals. We spoke to half a dozen Ukrainian orphans who witnessed their mothers killed in Russian drone or missile attacks. They are the hardest cases in a generation of children growing up scared by war, though many young people in Ukraine will have to make their way in life without one or both parents. We asked about interests, hobbies, plans and coping in times of terrible uncertainty, of facing the future and moving on.

Katia and Yulia

Words Are the First Weapon of War

I sit here at my desk, looking out the window – and see someone walking through the parking lot. This is the most ordinary of moments. I shrug quietly. Life goes on.

My impulse is to stop writing the column here. That’s it. Nothing more to say. Life is totally fine and civilized and I’m here in the middle of it, growing old but giving no thought whatsoever to the darkness that lurks at humanity’s margins. Sure, the news covers that stuff, but what do I care? Things are fine where I live.

But the darkness tugs. I read the news. I know that hell consumes parts of the planet and certain lives have no safety – no value – whatsoever. Here’s a recent New York Times headline, as ordinary as the fact that someone was walking through the parking lot outside my window:

“U.S. Military Kills Another 6 People in 5th Caribbean Strike, Trump Says.”

Well, so what? They were transporting drugs. “The military has now killed 27 people as if they were enemy soldiers in a war zone and not criminal suspects. . . .”

Nuclear News Blackout?

Banner with peace sign

#Nuclear War, #Armageddon, #Doomsday Clock, #Nuclear Waste, #Nuclear Meltdown, #Nuclear Arms Treaty, #Nuclear Disarmament; et al

You probably haven’t read much in depth news coverage about nuclear war, right? Nuclear holocaust, like Climate Change and the possibility of an uninhabitable earth for human civilizations — or is it the probability? or inevitability? Both “topics” are too big, too scary, and most eyes and ears would likely ignore the “story” or change the channel.

And yet, we are all aware of these topics. Putin and Trump both make threats about the escalation beyond drone warfare, the new norm, to the use of “small scale” or “tactical” nuclear weapons designed for battlefield use rather than strategic destruction, with yields from less than 1 kiloton (1000 tons of TNT) to tens of kilotons. How small are these weapons, you might ask? They’re small enough to be deployed by individual soldiers.

Expecting Different?

Sample ballot

I love Chinese food, but I have standards. What if there was a Chinese restaurant a mile away and rated 2 stars? NOT A CHANCE. No matter how hungry I might be, it’s worth it to drive farther for better Chinese food.

Why then, do we KEEP SETTLING FOR LESS? Recently, Columbus City Schools were rated overall as a TWO-STAR SCHOOL DISTRICT by the State of Ohio.

The Columbus City School Board has three Board of Education positions open for election this November 4. Every election we keep voting for the approved Franklin County Democratic Party (FCDP) “endorsed candidates.” And for all of our loyalty, our schools earn TWO STARS. No, it’s not the fault of the teachers or the students. It’s a MONOPOLY OF FAILED LEADERSHIP.

Politicians and education don’t mix

Solidarity Mobilizations: a 2-part training on showing up for immigrant communities

Details about event

Wednesdays, October 15 and 22, 7:00 – 8:15 PM
More information and registration for the zoom here
Across the country, immigrant communities are under attack and authoritarian forces are gaining ground. But there’s a growing movement of people ready to take action with clarity, courage, and discipline.

This training is for all of us who want to stand up in solidarity, especially those of us who are white who are ready to organize, respond, and show up with commitment and care.

Project 2025 clashes with both historic KKK Act and modern Ohio initiative: Protecting Ohioans Constitutional Rights

People with End Qualified Immunity sign

A stark but unsurprising contrast in the philosophy of governance and civil rights enforcement is emerging between the proposals of Project 2025 and the grassroots efforts of the Ohio Coalition to End Qualified Immunity.

While Project 2025 seeks to curtail federal oversight and reshape the civil service, the Ohio initiative, much like the historic 1871 Ku Klux Klan Act, aims to intensify and reinforce the accountability of government officials who’ve committed civil rights violations. The Protecting Ohioans’ Constitutional Rights citizen-led ballot amendment initiative was cleared for signature gathering earlier this year. The initiative seeks to restore a fundamental check on government power by allowing Ohioans to hold public officials and entities accountable in civil court.

Save Ohio Parks: Tell the House Natural Resources Committee to Ban fracking under state parks, Lake Erie

Sign for Salt Fork State Park

Wednesday, October 15, at 9 a.m.
We will meet at 8:45 a.m. in the Statehouse Rotunda to gather and distribute small signs.
Then we will walk together to the hearing in Room 116 of the Ohio Statehouse shortly before 9 a.m.

he House Natural Resources Committee will hear sponsor testimony on House Bill 399 – a two-page bill that would ban oil and gas extraction from under Lake Erie or any Ohio state park.

Tom Hayes receives a hero's welcome at Columbus airport

Man walking through airport holding a plant with people and balloons surrounding him

Released American hostage Tom Hayes received a hero's welcome at John Glenn International Airport in Columbus, Ohio yesterday Sunday October 12, 2025. 

He was among the nearly 500 Sumud Flotilla crew who were taken hostage by the Israeli pirates on October 3 in internarial water about 100 miles away from Gaza shores. 

All Global Sumud 46 vessels were intercepted by Israel as it was sailing to break the siege in Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid to the besieged and starving people in the Strip. They carried food, water, baby formula, and toys for kids.

Several dozen people from Central Ohio and some from Athens in Ohio came to Columbus airport to give Tom Hayes the welcome he deserves: A hero's welcome! After all, he risked his life for the people of Gaza and for justice. 

When Hayes saw the well-wishers with signs and balloons, he screamed from the top of his lungs repeatedly "Free, Free Palestine!" One of the well-wishers gave him a plant of olive trees, which is more than just a tree in Palestine but rather a symbol of resilience, rootedness, and deep connection of the Palestinian people to their land.

Indigenous People's Day

Book cover

The city of Columbus no longer celebrates "Columbus Day" and has removed all Christopher Columbus statues, however there's a movement to return one. Instead, as of 2020, the day is referred to as "indigenous People's Day" -- something the Free Press and many local activists had been demanding for decades. 

In honor of this day, here is a poem by longtime local activist Michael Eckhardt, from his recently published book, Navigation: In these uncertain times. You can purchase the book from the Free Press here. 

dance with destiny

tall ships danced

across the water

the course of history

about to change

fence rows appear

each post a stake

in mother earth's breast

church and state combine

to commit acts of genocide

manifest destiny continues

proud indigenous peoples

deceived and displaced

Images of ICE running wild in America

Are American's seeing the images of ICE attacking people? It would seem that the entire population would revolt. There are a brave few protesting but not enough to change the behavior. Unless enough American's take to the streets or revolt in other ways, we will see this government to continue to commit crimes against innocent American citizens, for at least 3 more years.  In a Democracy, public opinion alone would be enough to stop this.  

Here are just a few links of ICE running wild in America.  I urge everyone to have access to TwitterX/ TicTok and/or Bluesky.  This is just a small sample of the horrors being inflicted.

Illinois State Police confronted a group of aggressive anti-ICE protesters,

WATCH: Law enforcement officers clash with anti-ICE demonstrators 

He dropped his sons off at school and never made it home.

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