Episodes
Wednesday Aug 22, 2012
98: Planning the Road to Nowhere
Wednesday Aug 22, 2012
Wednesday Aug 22, 2012
Most of the vacation trips I've ever taken were driven by a lot of planning. Reservations and ticket purchases in advance essentially set the schedule. I've always been drawn to the idea of simply "hitting the road" or "going nowhere" for a dream vacation. My wife and I have come close once, and the only trip I've enjoyed more came this year, alone together in Hawaii. Different Drummer: Wim Wenders
Tuesday May 22, 2012
90: Moments of Epiphany
Tuesday May 22, 2012
Tuesday May 22, 2012
As a storyteller, I did something I prefer to avoid in Inappropriate Conversations #79 by not finishing a story. That was partly about running short of time. Mainly, though, it was because the story took an abrupt turn as I realized something that stopped me in my tracks. I've heard this called "epiphany" in literary criticism, where the short stories of James Joyce provide excellent examples. It also happens in real life. I'm often amazed at how even a small and simple piece of information can change not only perspectives but the very direction of our life-stories. Different Drummer: Paul McCrane
Tuesday Aug 30, 2011
67: Making the World Safe for Kids?
Tuesday Aug 30, 2011
Tuesday Aug 30, 2011
Our goal as parents cannot be making the world safe for kids. That is irresponsible because it cannot be accomplished and won't serve them well as adults. Instead, the goal must be to keep our kids safe from the world until they have been prepared to face its challenges on their own. For many of my conservative friends, this sounds like a dangerous and radical concept. It's also true. Different Drummer: Jim Henson
Tuesday Aug 23, 2011
66: Child’s Play and Imagination
Tuesday Aug 23, 2011
Tuesday Aug 23, 2011
One major generational shift from when I was growing up until now: the role of imagination in childhood. When I was young, toys didn't often come with a story. You made up the story using toys or even household objects. Now, effort is required to provide similar opportunities for our young, future storytellers. Has an entire generation of "imaginary friends" been left, abandoned and alone? Different Drummer: Jerrold Freedman Springfield (left) and Frank (right)
Sunday Jun 12, 2011
59: Ten Areas of Agreement about Abortion - part 1
Sunday Jun 12, 2011
Sunday Jun 12, 2011
1) Abortion is not murder. 2) Abortion is a bad thing. 3) Human beings are a species in no danger of extinction. 4) You can stop abortion only by eliminating the demand, not the supply. 5) The immorality of abortion will not be reduced by making the practice stringently illegal. Different Drummer: Tony Kaye
Saturday Jan 15, 2011
43: The Content of Their Character
Saturday Jan 15, 2011
Saturday Jan 15, 2011
Perhaps we have too much of a black-and-white perspective on what Martin Luther King, Jr. was saying when he urged us to elevate "content of character" above "color of skin" in his 1963 speech. No doubt, he was talking about racial injustice, but our insensitivity is much broader than that. It isn't any better to judge people based on other select things we disagree with or disapprove of -- like sexual behavior or political affiliation. We must look deeper than that to find the content of someone's character. Different Drummer: Sidney Poitier
Monday Nov 22, 2010
37: Always being happy, Or 'Gay'
Monday Nov 22, 2010
Monday Nov 22, 2010
Plenty of evidence suggests that those who argue the loudest about homosexuality are not able to explain what it is. Perhaps it is human nature to lash out in fear against things we don't understand, but that is certainly not a proper Christian response. Bullying and marginalizing people is not what Jesus would do. Knowing how that fact conflicts with the actions of many Christians does not make me happy. Different Drummer: Ethan and Joel Coen