Father love letter

Maybe it’s because I associated you with loneliness, as I spent my first three Parisian summers wandering the cobblestone streets by myself. Or maybe it’s because I thought you were cold and uptight, that your citizens were too effortlessly perfect. Maybe it’s because everyone else seems to love you, and I didn’t want to form a part of the swooning, Eiffel Tower-adoring masses. … [Read more...] about Dear Paris: A Love Letter to the City I Finally Adore

The next day, 22-year-old Merle and his men, many only in their teens, dug in around the summit of Hill 314 at Mortain, France, as the 2nd SS Panzer Division attacked their coveted position. … [Read more...] about Wisconsin man retraces father’s WWII footsteps in Europe

“In general, I see my room as a necessary accessory to myself,” she said. “It reflects my personal style — I have my feminist pillow, sorority letters, and polaroids of adventures.” She also mentioned her felt board, which has the words, “Blessed Be the Brains,” which is the name of her own personal business, described as a political and feminist podcast series turned online shop. The proceeds go to organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood.  … [Read more...] about Dorm Contest Winner: Room reflects love of color pink, feminism

I wish I could tell you that love will fix all of this, and that when your boyfriend gets to know you better, he'll decide he never wants to leave Canada. I can't say that, though. If he is "quite sure" he doesn't want to stay, and you are in "no way" going to move to his country, that's the answer. Dragging this out won't make it any easier. … [Read more...] about He doesn’t want to live in Canada

Our president has slightly different ideas from my father’s — though just as whacky — about being an American Jew. He maintains that any Jew who votes for a Democrat for president is “disloyal.” I find this bit of nastiness and stupidity baffling. Does he mean disloyalty to Israel? I’m glad it’s there, but I have as much psychic connection to Israel as I do to Northern Ireland. I’m a US citizen. One of my grandsons was a Marine who fought in Afghanistan. I’ve voted in every election since I turned 21. I don’t have to go on; I don’t have to prove anything. But Jewishness is as much my identity as my thumb print or my tendency to commit satire. … [Read more...] about Born Jewish, still Jewish, always Jewish