Loujain al-Hathloul, Saudi Activist for Women’s Rights, Released– But U.S. Must Keep Up Pressure on Saudi Arabia

Happy news, rare in the realm of human rights in Saudi Arabia, occurred on Wednesday when it was learned that Loujain al-Hathloul, held in a Saudi prison for more than three years on what human rights observers agree were ridiculous, trumped-up, politically-motivated charges was released by the Saudi government under certain autocratic conditions. As reported… Read More Loujain al-Hathloul, Saudi Activist for Women’s Rights, Released– But U.S. Must Keep Up Pressure on Saudi Arabia

February 12, 2021 John Kaufman

Schwartz: How Catholic Natural Law Was Converted to American Illiberal Dogma

“. . . a full Catholic roster of waggish music nerds in finely tailored suits, bella figuras all.” Peter Hammond Schwartz This week The New Republic published a brilliant piece of religious/political critique by a writer from Washington State named Peter Hammond Schwartz. PHS has composed a groundbreaking and well-researched essay (called “apopleptic” (sic) by… Read More Schwartz: How Catholic Natural Law Was Converted to American Illiberal Dogma

February 6, 2021February 8, 2021 John Kaufman2 Comments

U.S. Catholic Bishops Trying to Cancel President Biden

Some of the head men of the Catholic cloth have formed a shy “working group” to quietly cancel the liberal Catholic who happens to be president of the United States. Here is some reporting via National Catholic Reporter: “NCR has learned that the full constitution of the 10-person working group, which does not include President… Read More U.S. Catholic Bishops Trying to Cancel President Biden

January 30, 2021January 30, 2021 John Kaufman

Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons Becomes International Law

Today most of the world is celebrating a new international treaty, now in force, that bans all nuclear weapons. So far, 52 nations have ratified the treaty, and 50 nations ratifying is what is needed to become law. The United States, in case you’re wondering, has not signed the treaty and currently possesses 5,800 nuclear… Read More Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons Becomes International Law

January 22, 2021 John Kaufman

As Trump Departs, Lessons from the MAGA Madness

Not long after America chose Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton way back in November of 2016, Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence stopped by the Wisconsin State Fair Grounds in West Allis to offer thanks to the state for helping to put Trump–a notorious city slicker with a gift for divorce and lying–into the White… Read More As Trump Departs, Lessons from the MAGA Madness

January 19, 2021January 29, 2021 John Kaufman

Defending the Letter “On Justice and Open Debate” in Harper’s Magazine

On July 7th, Harper’s Magazine published a letter on its website that was signed by more than a hundred prominent writers, scholars, intellectuals and leaders of organizations. Most prominent among the prominent signers include J.K. Rowling of Harry Potter fame, Noam Chomsky, scholar and commentator, Margaret Atwood, novelist, Salman Rushdie, novelist who certainly understands the… Read More Defending the Letter “On Justice and Open Debate” in Harper’s Magazine

July 12, 2020July 16, 2020 John Kaufman2 Comments

Dear Democrats: A Letter for Peace in the Middle East

If the Democratic Party and its presidential nominee, Joe Biden, have a weak spot, it is their general fondness –since the debacle of the Vietnam War– for military solutions and support, including the selling of American weapons, of governments whose commitment to democracy and human rights leave much to be desired. So in the interest… Read More Dear Democrats: A Letter for Peace in the Middle East

June 23, 2020June 25, 2020 John Kaufman

Protest Shakes the Poetry Foundation

In standing against injustice, we must use language carefully and fairly, lest we find ourselves speaking and acting unjustly. … Read More Protest Shakes the Poetry Foundation

June 17, 2020June 19, 2020 John Kaufman

In Defense of Speaking the Liberal We

Here at The Pacific, we (speaking figuratively, for I am but one writer) want to make a statement in defense of liberal democracy, courageous journalism and freedom of speech or, more poetically, the Liberal We. The Liberal We is currently under attack from various political and cultural entities: the Nationalistic Us, the Racist Us, the… Read More In Defense of Speaking the Liberal We

June 11, 2020June 25, 2020 John Kaufman

No More Nuclear Weapons Testing!

Being the only nation that has actually used a nuclear weapon and the world’s largest democracy. . . the U.S., it seems to me, should be the first of the “nuclear club” nations to sign the TPNW and destroy its nuclear weapons.… Read More No More Nuclear Weapons Testing!

June 1, 2020June 19, 2020 John Kaufman

A Patriot : a political poem

“Since that 2016 gaffe
I’ve flown a flag always half-staff…”… Read More A Patriot : a political poem

May 27, 2020January 22, 2021 John Kaufman

Gnostic Nonsense: The New Homophobia

It was a shock for me to learn, right off the bat, that America is now in a “post-Christian” age, what with all the Christians in the country and talk of Christianity still going on, on Twitter and off.… Read More Gnostic Nonsense: The New Homophobia

May 22, 2020June 8, 2020 John Kaufman

Defend Liberty? Tell the Saudis (and Trump) to Release Women’s Rights Activists

There is, fortunately, a much better way for defenders of democracy and freedom fighters everywhere to make their liberty-loving presence known: tell the Saudi government to release all the women’s rights activists it has imprisoned on trumped-up charges.… Read More Defend Liberty? Tell the Saudis (and Trump) to Release Women’s Rights Activists

May 19, 2020February 7, 2021 John Kaufman

Higher Education: Time to Disrupt the Digital Disruptors

Unfortunately, we in the United States have allowed our system of higher education to be infiltrated by the demands of economic priority to a remarkable degree.… Read More Higher Education: Time to Disrupt the Digital Disruptors

May 13, 2020June 8, 2020 John Kaufman

Clean Water Victory: Supreme Court Rules Against Hawaii Polluter and Trump Administration

But why is it “bizarre” to take into consideration how groundwater moves over time? What’s bizarre is to allow any pollution of our groundwater at all by a big, industrial source.… Read More Clean Water Victory: Supreme Court Rules Against Hawaii Polluter and Trump Administration

April 23, 2020June 25, 2020 John Kaufman

Seven Cases of Coronavirus Likely Due to Wisconsin Primary Voting

As of this moment there has been no response, no few words of contrition, from the Wisconsin GOP regarding those voters sickened during the in-person voting in Milwaukee… Read More Seven Cases of Coronavirus Likely Due to Wisconsin Primary Voting

April 21, 2020June 8, 2020 John Kaufman