Month: September 2025

Before 1947, the military of the United States was run by two different departments, the War Department for the army and the Department of the Navy for naval issues. After World War II General Dwight Eisenhower and other military leaders suggested that consolidating the two departments into one would prove more effective in defending the nation. The new agency was called the National Military Establishment and included the Air Force which had become more and more important during the war. 

Before long there were jokes about the abbreviation of the new department, NME, which sounded a bit too much like “enemy, so the name was changed again in 1949 to the Department of Defense with the idea that war was the last resort but vigilance and continuing defense was necessary in an ever changing and often dangerous world. 

Those who had participated in the world wars understood that war was a terrible thing that should be avoided when possible. They had seen death and destruction firsthand and they hoped that the military of the United States would concentrate on being a deterrent to warfare. They eschewed the idea that it was a “War” department because that denotation implied that our country was belligerent rather than devoted to keeping the peace. 

Now we have Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth flexing their muscles and blustering that the United States needs to be out front with dominating strength. The President has singlehandedly added a new designation of the Defense Department by calling it the the War Department, a task that he does not actually have the power to do. It is the job of Congress to decide such things but as we have seen Trump just keeps furiously signing one executive order after another including changing the names of bodies of water around the United States. 

“What’s in a name?”, you may ask. Why does it even matter? Perhaps it is indeed a rather minor thing that does not really hurt anyone but the cost of changing all of the signage, stationary, etc. will be enormous. This seems particularly wasteful given that Congress keeps insisting that they are attempting to save money right and left by closing down government agencies, withdrawing funding for countless programs, reducing the number of people eligible for Medicaid and so forth. To then have the president turn around and spend public funds in a frivolous effort to rebrand a department that has done just fine with its 1949 name feels totally unnecessary. 

The other aspect has to do with words. Calling it the War Department gives the impression that our country is itching for a fight. It implies a kind of bullying bluster that will anger our allies and enemies alike. It is a kind of taunt and we all know that in the wrong situation at the wrong time taunts can lead to dire consequences. We should not sound like a nation that is eager to display our warlike tendencies. We should not be no better than terrorist nations that are always using threats to keep peace. Ours has been a very successful nuanced message that we are dedicated to peace but have the power to defend ourselves if needed. 

No real hero likes war. It is something to be avoided at all costs. Those who served in the Korean War like my father-in-law fully understand the horrors of watching buddies and commanders lose their lives. My uncles who served in World War II wanted nothing more to do with conflict once the war was over. War is hell, not some macho way of demonstrating manly traits. In a twist of total irony our president who never served in the military is an avid booster of the idea that being warlike like is a sign of strength. Those who have seen the realities of such events would more often than not beg to differ with him.

I realize that there have been times when we had to go to war. I am not foolish enough to believe that we should never show our strength when our safety is being threatened but war itself should always be a last resort. We should only go to war when it becomes apparent that there is no other alternative. Surely we learned these things in World War I and World War II. Surely our intervention into the affairs of Korea and Vietnam should have shown us that sometimes the people of a foreign nation would prefer to settle for peace than to keep fighting to the death. We know from our own Civil War that our nation has yet to completely recover from the anger and breeches of that conflict. War is not something to boast about or to desire. 

I suppose that in the grand scheme of things the name change is not the worst thing that has happened. It mostly just seems like a waste of time and funds. it also sends an horrific message that glorifies war, a state of chaos and death. I would much rather think that our military is there to defend us and keep us safe from such things. I don’t think that being aggressive is something about which to boast.

If we want people to speak honestly we must be willing to listen honestly

As an American society we are talking over each other. There are media outlets and individuals who are literally getting rich riling us up day after day. The result is that it sometimes feels as though we are feuding like the Hatfields and McCoys or a married couple on the verge of divorce. There is so much noise in the atmosphere that we don’t even seem to hear each other and we often misunderstand the reasons why each of us believes certain things. 

I often think of cat fights among immature young girls. They usually start over some small difference but grow as people take sides and whisper in the ears of the main participants only to throw fire on the already incendiary situation. The world has been filled with trouble makers for all times but it feels as though the efforts to tear us apart are far more numerous and invasive than ever. We talk over each other and make assumptions that may not be entirely true about how we each live and what we believe. We get angry and resort to fights defending politicians who generally have little or no real concern for us other than hoping to keep our votes. We each believe that we are on the right side of goodness and decency while being goaded by people who seem to enjoy getting us into tizzies. 

We all should know by now that the media outlets are set up to make money, so whenever they sniff out a sensational story they run with it and go out of their way to keep up our interest with interviews and news stories that are often over the top and filled with inaccuracies. The more divisiveness they can create the more interested we become and the more viewers they get, the more income they earn. Many people have become extremely wealthy and powerful by keeping us snapping at each other. 

I am still grieving over an incident of a few years ago in which a long time friend took a comment of mine as an insult and has not spoken to me since then. I truly regret that I did not measure my words before uttering them. If I had known how she would react it never would have happened, but I also sense that she was already growing weary of our political differences and finally decided that she and I were too different to make our continued friendship worthwhile. I would do anything to have a quiet moment with her in the hopes of explaining how dear she has been and always will be to me but the environment in our nation right now is so strained that I doubt that we will ever be able to really hear each other again. 

When I voice my political views they are not aimed at anyone that I know. They are simply an expression of concerns that I have about our nation in general. I sense that this strained atmosphere must be how it might have felt during our nation’s civil war and maybe during our revolution when many people were not totally sure that they wanted to separate themselves from England. Even those who created a new form of government had frequent and heated discussions about what form the laws of our new nation should become. We’ve been arguing ever since but the present moment seems especially heated. 

I tend to blame the swirling and constant propaganda that is creating fears on both sides of the political spectrum. Most of it is designed to generate support for a particular set of beliefs rather than encouraging compromise and understanding. I sense people’s fears no matter how they feel. I know that there are conservatives who want to protect their thinking and those of their loved ones but the same is true of the liberals. We have somehow forgotten that there is always a spectrum of thinking, a normal curve if you wish. Nothing is all good or all bad and no-one is all brilliant or all ignorant. We each have something to offer and how our government operates should not depend on who happens to be the winners of elections. Ours is supposed to be a far more stable democracy with strong checks and balances to keep the general intent of the founders intact while also evolving in a way that reflects the progress we have made in accepting and supporting citizens of many different stripes and schools of thought. 

To maintain our democracy we have to be willing to communicate with each other without coming unglued or attempting to dominate the discussions that will ensue. When all we can seem to do is quibble and accuse each other of foul intentions we are at a constant impasse and bad things tend to happen in such instances. 

We can do better and we might start by removing our attention from any source of information that constantly rants in favor of only one way of thinking. We should beware of individuals who immediately jump to conclusions before hearing all of the facts. it is important not to force every single person to share the same views and certainly we should be wary of anyone who seems intent on doing so. 

We are in a terrible place as a nation right now and it is going to take a great deal of change to set us back on track to a way of working and trusting each other. We would do well to take a breath and remember that we are not members of warring tribes. We no doubt have more in common than we may think. We need to begin conversing without preconceptions and with a willingness to hear the concerns of everyone, especially the youngest voters among us. it will only be through civil discourse with leaders willing to work together that we are going to set things right again. It’s time we turn off the noise.  

I still remember her sitting at the front of the classroom, ready to learn even in the early morning first period Algebra I class when most students were struggling to wake up for the long school day ahead. Iris Garza was serious, attentive, determined and even then I knew that she was going to do great things with her life. 

I eventually transitioned from being a teacher to becoming the Dean of Faculty but I still wanted contact with the students. I gained that honor by becoming the faculty leader of the Class of 2010 at KIPP Houston High School. I would spend four years following the members of that group as they slowly but surely grew in wisdom, age and grace. I got to know each young person quite well as they matured into young adults ready to take on the world in a multitude of different ways. Iris did not surprise me at all in becoming the Valedictorian of the Class of 2010 and earning a scholarship to attend Syracuse University. It was a bold move for a young woman from a school with a graduating class of only around one hundred students to travel to upstate New York, but Iris was always courageous and willing to tackle any challenges that came her way. 

She kept in touch with me during her freshman year of college, often using Facetime to make it a video call. She was obviously dedicated to her studies and sometimes appeared to be very tired but I saw that spark of determination in her eyes and I heard it in her voice. I knew that she was in a long game and that she would never give up. 

Four years later in May 2014, Iris invited me to her graduation and of course I was honored to attend. She graduated with honors just as I expected and I was overjoyed to see how happy she was and how much she had matured. She introduced me to a young man named James that she had been dating and somehow I felt the the two of them were destined to travel through life together. 

Life really did happen for both of them after that. Iris stayed the course in continuing her education, working and studying to reach her next goal. I heard less and less from her but members of her family kept me apprised of her progress. All the while James was in medical school and Iris was inching closer and closer to earning a PhD. 

I was delighted when I heard from Iris out of the blue. She announced that she and James were getting married and she wanted me to come to the wedding. Of course I was as excited and as honored as I would have been for one of my own daughters or grandchildren. Iris was one of those very special people who had left a mark on my heart and I would have traveled anywhere to honor her, but the wedding was going to be in Houston so I only had to go down the road a bit to get there. 

It was an elegant affair with everyone dressed in formalwear. People had traveled from all over the country and the world to celebrate with the bride and groom. Words of high praise for each of them floated through the room. Then came the moment when they were to be joined together. 

The minister had counseled them for months and noted the ever present kindness of James and the never faltering courage of Iris. He assured us all that they were a thoughtful couple who would be incredible partners together. Of course those of us who knew them had no doubt that theirs will be a strong relationship with a foundation of unselfish love for each other and for God. 

The celebration of Dr. Garza and Dr. Osei-Sarpong was one of admiration and love for two incredible young people who exemplify the best in the human spirit. Their journey together started when they were studying in the library at Syracuse and only grew as they achieved the goals that had pushed them to be the very best of themselves. Somehow they knew that being together will make them even more remarkable. Their kindness and courage is now doubled and with their knowledge and compassion they will do wonderful things in this world. 

I left the wedding celebration with my heart bursting with pride. I am humbled to have played a tiny part in Iris’s story and now I send my best wishes to her and to James as they embark on a new and exciting journey together. May God be with them every step of the way. 

(Please note that this blog was written and scheduled before the horrific murder of Charlies Kirk and the shooting at a high school in Colorado. Nonetheless the most recent cases of death by gunmen point to the epidemic that continues to plague our nation and about which we do little but quibble.)

If two young white high school students suddenly burst into a school and begin shooting classmates and teachers we do not blame all young white high school students. If a white man begins shooting people at a concert in Las Vegas we do not blame all white men. If a registered Republican attempts to kill the President we do not blame all Republicans. If a white college student dresses like the Joker and fires into the audience at a movie theater we do not blame all white college students. If a trans woman shoots children attending mass at a Catholic School many suddenly rail that all trans people are evil deviants who must be expunged from society. 

In the past blaming one group or type of person for perceived harm has led to burning innocent people for supposedly being witches. It is has led to killing Jews, gypsies, the mentally ill by the millions. When we cannot understand something we humans have historically used prejudices to condemn certain groups. By this time in history we should know better. We should be better. We should be more accepting of our differences and more determined to have serious discussions about how to solve our problems rather than ranting about the sins of a single person as though those traits are intrinsic in all from the same group.  

Why do we pick and choose which groups to damn and which to gloss over when it comes to mass shootings? Statistically such individuals have been mostly white males. Now and again persons of other races have taken up arms against innocents. In truth most of the individuals who have resorted to violence to voice their disdain for whatever reason have demonstrated a history of anger, depression and even full blown mental illness. The backgrounds of such individuals can vary but in most cases somebody saw something in them that was disturbing and either said nothing or was ignored when they attempted to warn authorities of the danger. 

As a society we want to forestall the outbursts of hate and destruction that lead to tragedies but we are unwilling to look at the total picture of what is happening when such individuals choose grotesque violence to make themselves seen and heard. Such behavior does not make sense to the rest of us so we pray and grieve for the victims and their families but never really get to the heart of what keeps such incidents happening. We like to find simple fixes by blaming the problem with generalities rather than the very specific situations that slowly but surely led to a very disturbing murder of innocent people. 

If we are honest we must admit that there are far too many guns in our midst, and not just guns that might shoot one person at a time but those capable of bursts of bullets that are rapid fire and so lethal that they literally tear whatever they hit apart. At this moment in time there are more guns in the homes of American than there are people in the population. If we were to distribute one of those guns to every man, woman and child there would still be guns left over. 

The question that always comes to my mind is why have we allowed the proliferation of guns to proceed with few if any restrictions. Why should a sixteen year old neighbor of mine get an AR 15 for his birthday? He is a nice kid who is not likely to use the gun to kill someone but why would we think it okay to give him one? What is the purpose? 

We have created a society in which guns are far too readily available. We content ourselves with the situation my asserting our right to bear arms. Many among us seem to think that a time will come when we need to defend ourselves with a gun, but in reality how often does that actually happen. How many times has a person with a gun been successful in preventing a mass shooting? The fact is that we miss the cues that something is amiss over and over again. Shooters leave clues all over the place and then we allow them to purchase weapons with few restrictions. Sometimes we even encourage them to use guns as an outlet for their frustrations as with the young man who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump and the infamous Adam Lanza whose mother thought that learning how to use guns would get him out of the shell in which his mind lived.

I know very good people who legally carry guns in their cars and sometimes even on their persons. They seem to believe that if a dangerous situation arises they will be ready to defend themselves and their families but this is not the wild west anymore. We live in a mostly civilized society but we have a fetish for guns that all too often allows weapons to end up in the hands of people whose minds are damaged. Surprisingly they often make their mental hell public as though they are hoping that someone will be alert and brave enough to stop them before they do harm. The signs are almost always present. Someone usually knows that there is danger but is reluctant to take action lest they be wrong. We hear the same story over and over again. We glorify violence in our media and create heroes out of villains that disturbed young people decide to emulate. 

We often wonder why a man would kill his wife and maybe even his children and then kill himself. it would make more sense if he ended his pain by only taking his own life. We ask why he felt the need to kill others first. We would do well to attempt to understand this phenomenon because it is generally the goal of mass shooters to take out as many people as possible and then die themselves. What causes that? It is not being of a certain race or nationality or political bent or sexual preference. it is an individual sickness having nothing to do a certain type of person. 

We do no good when we rant and rave with extreme prejudice. We would do so much better if we were willing to admit that our fascination with guns and violence has not helped. The easy purchase and ownership of guns very much lies at the heart of the matter. We can pray and pray but eventually we have to use the intelligence that we have to craft a plan that may actually work better than the one that we have now. We might start by working together and demonstrating enough acceptance and love for each other to honestly admit that we have yet to be serious about this problem. We might also understand that our prejudices and hatreds are only adding more fuel to the fire that has made our nation the mass shooting capital of the world.

In the Irish language, we are not our emotions. We are not sad or anxious. We have sadness or anxiety on us.

To say I am sad, we say tá brón orm – there is sadness on me.

I am anxious, tá imní orm – there is anxiety on me.

The language recognizes these as passing states, not permanent fixtures of who we are.

I saw this on Facebook and it immediately caught my attention. I have always wondered why we speak of mental conditions as though they are permanent. I have never heard someone with Melanoma say, “I am cancer.” We never expect a person who has had a hard attack to claim, “I am heart disease.” Some how when it comes to our mental state we often make the mistake of acting as though people are their emotions. 

My mother was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Her doctor never said that she was bipolar but many lay people would refer to her that way as though the sum of who she was as a person was defined in a label. The truth is that her bipolar disorder was chronic and had to be treated with daily medications much like I take a pill for my GERD, but she did not always display the symptoms of her illness. More time than not she had her illness under control.

If I miss a few days of my Prilosec I end up with heartburn so intense that I become unable to function. So too it was with my mother. She relied on her meds to keep her disorder at bay. If she tried to wean herself from the medication the symptoms of depression and mania would return, so my brothers and I monitored her regularly to be certain that she was following the directions of her doctor. When all went as prescribed she was delightfully as “normal” as anyone. Sadly, she and I both despised the word normal because it too implied that she was somehow broken, different, not quite right. 

We do people a huge disservice whenever we equate anyone with any kind of mental illness as being that illness. Society has a way of making those who are afflicted feel like pariah. They want to hide the disorder. They want to be seen for who they are. They don’t want to be the condition that is making them unwell. 

We have to be careful how we say things about people. We sometimes complain that we should not have to measure our words. We argue that being “woke” is a bad thing that limits the truths that we might speak. Instead I would propose that using our language in a way that does not demean others is the way we should always be. 

We use the term “he/she is” in some very negative ways. A person should not be defined by either his/her appearance or the workings of the brain. We simply do not yet understand enough about why some people suffer from mental illness or have addictions to food, drugs, alcohol, sex. Doctors and researchers have barely uncovered the mysteries of how our brains work and why the neurological activity of our brains trigger all kinds of behaviors. 

I truly hope that the day will come when we are as confident in our knowledge of the brain as we are about the heart, kidneys, or eyes. I dream of a time when doctors will know exactly how to treat and defeat mental illnesses just like they do with cancer. In the meantime surely we have evolved enough as humans to quit acting as though we are still in the middle ages when people believed in witches. We think we have accurate descriptions of what is normal and what is not but when it comes to mental states our ideas do not take into account the incredible diversity of the human brain. 

I don’t know exactly why I possess an introverted personality but I do. It is not who I am. There is so much more to me than the fact that I feel better in a quiet environment than in a raucous one. It should be long past time that we eschew phrases like She is crazy. He is anxious. They are sad. Instead let’s get better with language like the Irish and learn to say “She has been afflicted by a mental illness. He is feeling anxious. They are dealing with sadness.”

Think about how much it hurts for the people afflicted with emotional distress or any form of neurological illness to feel as though they have become their psychological conditions. They are so much more wonderful that that. They deserve our loving respect. Their states of mind are passing and only a small part of who they are. When we refer to them let’s use language that is respectful.