political discourse

The Corrosion of Public Discourse

by Bill Brenner June 22, 2021 Political discourse

Our ability to exchange ideas respectfully on social media is eroding. Here’s what we can do to change that.

We’re Better Than Our Online Personas

by Bill Brenner October 6, 2020 Political discourse

We look to leaders for how to fight our enemies. We should instead look to them for how to befriend our so-called enemies.

Observations of a Centrist

by Bill Brenner August 4, 2020 Political discourse

Most people agree that the pandemic and current political climate are dangerous. But we let the conversation be overrun by extremists.

Memes That Divide Us

by Bill Brenner July 23, 2020 Political discourse

Most of us are guilty of posting a meme that’s factually wrong and personally insulting. We need to stop that.

The Villains Aren’t Who You Think They Are

by Bill Brenner May 19, 2020 Political discourse

Opinions on whether to lock down or open up are built on different goals, not villainy.

Nothing Brings Out the Self-Righteous Like a Terrorist Attack

by Bill Brenner November 16, 2015 Communication Skills

Whenever we see terrible things like the ISIS attacks in Paris, something happens on Facebook: Many people become experts on religion and politics, and still more people get anal when people don’t observe a tragedy exactly as they would. Terror attacks bring out the best in some people. In others, it brings out self-righteous tomfoolery. Mood music: Whatever your political and religious beliefs, the attacks prove that your agenda is the correct one. One guy posted…  [Read More]

Hope and Happiness Amid a Government Shutdown

by Bill Brenner October 1, 2013 Fear and anxiety

Forget about the effect the government shutdown has on mental health services; government mental health services suck anyway. Instead, let’s focus on keeping ours head on straight when political horror stories send our fear and anxiety into orbit. Mood music: http://youtu.be/lpRzYEHwnUo I mentioned last week how I used to latch onto world events as if my life depended on it. TV media reports political squabbles as it would report about war: loud graphics, chilling music….  [Read More]

Why This Catholic Supports Marriage Equality

by Bill Brenner March 27, 2013 Love

Yesterday many friends changed their Facebook profile pics to a red box with two horizontal lines in the center in support of marriage equality. I did as well, though I was more punk rock about it, selecting a red box with four vertical lines (the logo for the band Black Flag). Mood music: [spotify:track:4kFfFe38CRVnTsakUTL4E4] I doubt all this online activism will influence the US Supreme Court’s decision on same-sex marriage. The justices march to their…  [Read More]

The Boy Scouts of America Acted Cowardly

by Bill Brenner February 7, 2013 For misfits

Yesterday I opined that the Boy Scouts of America should allow gays into the organization. I suggested that the organization was being cowardly by leaving it up to individual chapters to do the right thing, but a friend disagreed. Mood music: [spotify:track:3SHPJOuQ357m5S1AjyNpKU] Wrote my friend: At a local level, the scouts are heavily supported by churches and religious groups. An all-out and immediate change would result in a mass exodus of sponsoring organizations, which would…  [Read More]

When Conspiracy Theorists Become Bullies

by Bill Brenner January 16, 2013 Political discourse

Conspiracy theorists usually don’t bother me. Hell, I even subscribe to the notion that Lee Harvey Oswald had help assassinating JFK. But a new breed of conspiracy theorist has emerged in recent years. They make threats and act like the schoolyard bully, and they make my skin crawl. Mood music: [spotify:track:0JhAglbb3Ca9Cp2OflPKPi] The clowns who argued that 9/11 was an inside job are one example, though to my knowledge they never actually threatened anyone. Now there’s…  [Read More]

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