Let’s act to fortify the nation to reduce the cost of future adversity
You never have to look very far to find another blatant example of systemic racism in the United States. In virtually any relevant statistic, you can see a massive discrepancy between how white people are treated versus everyone else.
Every now and then these discrepancies are briefly discussed like a blip in the media, but that’s the farthest it ever goes. There are never any consequences for racist conduct, and the matter is quickly forgotten.
The most recent example is that members of black communities are receiving the COVID vaccine at a dramatically lower rate than white communities. …
No Trump voter should be allowed to own a weapon
My cousin who was my friend, and who knew that Trump’s “white power” tweet served as a dog whistle that called for white supremacist aggression against my children, nevertheless refused to vote for Biden.
“I just don’t agree with Biden’s position on guns,” he said as if that justified his repugnant behavior.
Prior to Trump, I’ve always been indifferent to gun control. I own a rifle, it was a gift from my dad on my 13th birthday. …
The Reckless Writer
“Go, Gwen, Go” by Nancy Jorgensen and Elizabeth Jorgensen
One of the great joys in life is discovering a gem of a book from a publisher with the right perspective. As writers, we all dream of scoring that big contract that provides a six figure advance, an endless marketing budget, and a movie deal. However, in reality, the majority of writers would probably be more satisfied with a smaller deal that truly respects the work.
If big three publishers can be compared to a huge hotel chain, a smaller publisher could be seen as a cozy little bed and breakfast. …
The new platform is a good way to get eyes on a book
A couple of months ago I received an invitation to join the News Break creator program. At the time, I was uncomfortable with some of the language in the contract and I eventually elected to turn the offer down.
Even though I turned down the program, I kept receiving emails, and when News Break sent an announcement that they had reworked their agreement, I decided to give the platform another chance.
Before I go much further, I’d like to emphasize that I still view this platform with some skepticism. I haven’t received a payment yet, although I only uploaded my…
They need to listen to the progressives and get something done
A few months ago, Joe Biden and company were earnestly looking into television cameras and talking about how they recognized Americans were hurting and needed a stimulus.
If you send John and the Reverend to Washington, those $2,000 checks will go out the door, restoring hope and decency and honor for so many people who are struggling right now. — Joe Biden, Video Transcript, YahooNews
But as soon as Biden actually took office, all of the sudden the checks are down to $1,400. A month into his presidency those checks are still waiting in a holding pattern.
Apologists will start…
Domestic terrorism is a path to political influence in America
Back when I still interacted with right-wingers in the hope of showing them the light, I observed that almost all of them enjoy making casual threats. They like to talk about their guns and how tough they are and how willing they might be to rise up against our government.
Before January 6th, I used to endure this kind of talk with a yawn and patiently wait for it to be over. …
How a writing obligation can affect your productivity
I’ve been working on Medium for a little over nine months now, and I continue to find it an engaging and exciting platform. My best month made me a little less than $1,000, and I typically do around 25 articles per pay period.
In December 2020, the editors of The Writing Cooperative approached me to do a weekly column. We brainstormed ideas for a while and finally settled on calling the column ‘The Reckless Writer.’ The name is a nod to my travel novel ‘Reckless Traveler.’
I conceived the column to be a place to engage in all things writing-related…
In a year of changes, one thing remains constant.
It’s been a tough year for marathons. A virtual event just doesn’t have the same appeal as getting together with thousands of random strangers for a day of collective suffering. But one bright spot has emerged in the overall darkness of the pandemic in that I was able to ski a Birkie with my mom.
The Birkebeiner is the largest cross-country ski race in the United States. It takes place in late February and draws thousands of people from all over the world to the tiny town of Hayward, WI. …
Use the aid money for reparations or student debt relief instead
The Texas power grid debacle represents yet another example of how the United States will jump to the aid of rich white people at the expense of everyone else.
Now, nobody is suggesting that we should do nothing while people suffer. However, it’s infuriating to watch the same people who cry “socialism” every time somebody else experiences a moment of hardship suddenly fall silent when they’re the ones who need help.
Make no mistake, what happened in Texas was the direct result of decades of incompetent Republican leadership. Reasonable people would have put a system in place to prevent the…
Walter Rhein
Small press writer with Perseid Press, Burning Bulb Publishing, and Harren Press. I have a web page about Peru at www.StreetsOfLima.com. walterrhein@gmail.com
