Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Feb 10, 2012, 2:36 am
Please watch the following Episode of Fault Lines in order to understand. 1) What Unions are, 2) How they are being threatened, and 3) Why we have to fight for them:
Milwaukee is featured prominently in this episode. I lived in Milwaukee for 7 years and I've taught there for 8. It is, as the above ... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Feb 10, 2012, 1:04 am
A word about the long abandoned but even longer widely used medical treatment of Bloodletting.
According to the PBS documentary Red GoldPhlebotomy, or bloodletting, is the longest-running tradition in medicine. It originated in the ancient civilizations of Egypt and Greece, persisted through the Med... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Feb 9, 2012, 1:33 am
Recently the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) came out with an article "No Need to Panic About Global Warming," claiming that "distinguished scientists" have concluded that Global Warming isn't really happening after all.
Filled with fallacy heaped upon fallacy, this op-ed piece has the intellectual horse... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Jan 30, 2012, 12:19 am
According to many versions of the Robin Hood legend, King John was in the habit of tkaing all of the peasants' Meager resources for his own ends. The very epitome of injustice, the vile king legalized robbery and forced the peasants into misery. He did all of this simply to make himself even wealthi... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Jan 8, 2012, 11:24 pm
Why do we pray?
Those of us who do pray do so for several reasons. We pray to contemplate, to give thanks, to release stress, to focus our minds, to come closer to God, and to ask for things. We pray publicly and we pray privately. There is nothing wrong with any of this.
Now enter Tim Tebow.
For t... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Dec 24, 2011, 12:59 am
Christmas is - and has long been - a predominately commercial holiday. In other words, it is marketed, increasingly early and more forcefully with each passing yuletide, in order to make people buy things.
Because of this the holiday is typically presented as pure happiness; everyone feels good, ev... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Nov 23, 2011, 12:35 pm
The question of this post's title might seem totally irrelevant, since it seems that most of America skipped Thanksgiving and jumped right on to Christmas within minutes of the end of trick or treating hours on Halloween! But I think the question is relevant.
There are at least two possible objecti... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Aug 20, 2011, 7:41 pm
Regarding my post on "the historical Jesus"A thoughtful reader asked me if I cared so much about what the Jesus of history said because, perhaps, I thought "he was God." This is a question I've heard many times "was/is Jesus God?" I think the very question itself misunderstands the issue.
In po... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Aug 18, 2011, 2:10 am
I have long thought that the tea party was nothing more than a group of far-right extremists that have long spewed their uninformed, bigoted, and angry opinions toward all things they perceive - with fear and trembling racking their frightened forms - as "liberal," "progressive," "humanistic," and "... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Aug 2, 2011, 1:49 pm
When I first created this blog my purpose was to discuss politics. But it appears that religion has come to dominate more and more of my posts. Things change of course and I will, no doubt, return to politics as a primary focus eventually. For now, however, I shall continue to post on the matters mo... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Jul 26, 2011, 10:20 pm
Is there life after death?
I have briefly raised this question in an earlier post. Since life after death was the topic of my philosophy of religion class tonight, I thought I should sum up that discussion as a continuation of this topic.
Let us first consider the concept of an immortal soul. On th... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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May 30, 2011, 12:18 pm
The following video is from 2009 but it is still timely and relevant. Moyers' comments should help us to reflect more carefully on what memorial day is really about.
Here's the video:
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Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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May 25, 2011, 9:07 pm
I've decided to do a few blog posts together as a series on the issue of - for lack of a better term - "life after death." I don't know how many posts this series will finish up with, although I'm sure I will write at least three. I should begin with a candid admission that I am agnostic regarding l... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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May 19, 2011, 6:34 am
Following the post of my summary of the dissertation, I thought I'd add some videos of the first round of the question and answers sessions. In many ways this is more important and interesting than my summary: Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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May 17, 2011, 8:46 pm
Hello Readers!
I successfully defended my dissertation today and am now "Dr. Wion." It is very nice to have earned this degree after 16 years of toil, debt, and struggle. I provide here the videos of my summary of the dissertation. The Q&A sections of the defense will be posted later. If you don't k... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Apr 17, 2011, 7:11 pm
I have just discovered that there is a movie about Baruch Spinoza! As I have written my dissertation on Spinoza, I find this very interesting.
The film does not present a very deep or even an entirely accurate understanding of Spinoza's philosophy. But presenting Spinoza as "the Apostle of Reason," ... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Mar 10, 2011, 12:37 pm
So I just discovered a new blog on teaching that I think all my readers should check out. Here it is:
How to Become a Teacher...: Preface: A Change of Plans: "A funny thing happened while pursuing my dream of becoming a philosophy professor. I hated, (this may even call for all caps) HATED my mast.... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Mar 6, 2011, 12:30 am
The protests on part of unions in Wisconsin is drawing big names. Michael Moore gave a speech in Madison today to support the cause. Here is that thirty minute speech:
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Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Mar 3, 2011, 10:46 pm
As the conflict in Wisconsin over Gov. Walker's proposal to strip unions of their right to collective bargaining continues, I find that many still do not understand what the debate is all about and why Walker's actions are terribly wrong and even deeply immoral.
First, let us dispel a few red herrin... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Feb 18, 2011, 11:20 pm
The working people of Wisconsin are under attack. The hand-picked corporate stooge that is now Governor of the state has decided to risk his entire political career and the well-being of the people of Wisconsin (admittedly the latter mean little, if anything, to him) to destroy unions, to hurt the o... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Feb 14, 2011, 12:03 pm
A standard joke on American sitcoms is a single person, lonely on Valentine's Day, who says that the day is "nothing more than a bogus holiday dreamed up by corporate interests to sell greeting cards, candy and flowers." In fact, I once held this view myself (both when I was single and when I was in... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Jan 14, 2011, 1:32 am
I thought I would go ahead and share my wedding video with my blog readers, provided any are interested. My wife and I got married on Jan 1st, 2011. Here is the wedding ceremony in two parts. Watch if you'd like! Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Jan 12, 2011, 6:46 pm
Rep. John Dingell today read out a list of quotes of violent rhetoric from the right wing:
This is not at all new and has been brewing for some time. Bill Moyers, a couple of years ago, did a whole segment on it:
I know what those who would defended the far right - Note: we should distinguish betw... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Jan 11, 2011, 1:33 am
Sarah Palin is taking a lot of heat as a result of the Arizona shooting. This blog post, however, is not about that. If you wish to know my views on that matter, another writer has stated them quite well, and I refer you to that link here. This post is about Sarah Palin's curt dismissal of Michelle ... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Dec 22, 2010, 10:53 pm
How can I even begin to review the book that, more than any other source, gave us the modern Christmas?!
I've read A Christmas Carol at least 6 times and I always find something new to enjoy about it with each read. The narration is absolutely entrancing, the dialogue beautiful, and the story -... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Dec 15, 2010, 10:03 pm
I just learned about a 1939 cartoon called "Peace on Earth." It is really a creative and remarkable twist on the fake good will and meaningless peace that too often adorned home decor and greeting cards this time of year!
Check out more about it here
You owe it to yourself to watch this short!
Aft... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Dec 13, 2010, 10:11 am
Each December I bring out my DVD of "A Charlie Brown Christmas." The climatic scene occurs when an exasperated Charlie Brown yells out "isn't there anybody who can tell me what Christmas is all about?!!" Linus' famous soliloquy answers that question:
Whether Linus is right that Christmas is all abo... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Nov 21, 2010, 9:53 pm
The great lie fed to us is that tax cuts are necessary during this recession. Some argue that if we raise taxes, then job losses will multiply and things will get worse. But we've had big tax cuts for a long time now. The Bush Tax cuts are nearly a decade old and they have failed to create jobs and ... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Nov 8, 2010, 11:55 pm
I'm no fan of Bill Maher, but he's right about this. Please Watch:
Let us please keep in mind here (as I don't think Maher does), that there is a difference - often a large difference - between a conservative and a right-winger. The one should not be confused with the other. Nor does being Republic... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Nov 2, 2010, 2:50 pm
There is much to criticize Obama and the Democrats for, Just read Glenn Greenwald and Paul Krugman for some of the best of such criticism. Despite this, however, it is very clear that we must vote for Obama's Democrats.
Think they have done nothing for us? Think again .... Rachel Maddow explains th... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Oct 25, 2010, 11:08 pm
I have long been troubled by the fact that public discussion of and media attention to the existence of "God," assumes that the word "God" refers to a supernatural person who is rather like a super version of a human person, a "guy" who lives way "out there" somewhere, answers our prayers, and occas... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Oct 23, 2010, 7:45 pm
Please watch the following video to the end, look at all the signs:
Now, can anyone honestly tell me that these "Tea-Party groups" are really but a grassroots movement of "simple folks" who just don't like big government?!!!
No. They are largely a pack of racists and other extremist bigots. Nor are... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Oct 12, 2010, 3:03 pm
It turns out that you can find Halloween/monster images of other political figures:
here are a few:
First: Reaganstine
It will be noted that this mask, unlike the Obama mask, is actually rather "cute" and "cuddly." The guy looks more like Herman Munster than the genuine Frankenstein's creature.
Nex... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Oct 8, 2010, 9:15 pm
It is obvious to anyone who has paid attention that Barack Obama has been demonized by the right-wing. He is regularly referred to as a "Keynan anti-colonialist," birthers rave that he was not really born here, and others shriek that he is a secret muslim terroirst!
It appears that this demonization... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Oct 6, 2010, 12:29 am
Today the White House held a massive summit on Community Colleges. This is crucial for putting such institutions center stage.
Most higher education is very expensive and, therefore, favors the wealthy and powerful. Community Colleges serve the middle and working classes. It follows that this is hig... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Oct 2, 2010, 10:18 am
Today marks the anniversary of the birth of Mohandas Gandhi. I paste the following video of Gandhi's words to remember what he stood for.
I find that, unlike Gandhi, I cannot fully embrace total non-violence. For instance, Gandhi opposed the use of force even against Hitler! Even in self-defense! I... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Sep 30, 2010, 12:51 am
This is beyond absurd at this point. The scientific data is so compelling that one has to be either (a) unable to actually understand science, (b) brainwashed, or (c) simply lying in order to deny that global warming is happening and that we are the cause.
But the deniers are with us and their numbe... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Sep 24, 2010, 12:59 pm
In what may be his greatest feat since the White House Correspondents dinner of a few years back, Stephen Colbert, once again, publicly and boldly calls our government out:
See the whole story at Talking Points Memo
What one must wonder, however, is whether such a satirical assault on congress has ... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Sep 20, 2010, 12:19 am
The Greatest Prayer: Jesus's Revolutionary Manifesto by John Dominic Crossan
John Dominic Crossan's newest book - besides offering tremendous literally criticism and poetic insight - provides much needed depth into a subject matter that those who ascribe to liberal theology sometimes struggle with.
... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Sep 17, 2010, 3:32 pm
Today is "Constitution Day," the Anniversary of the ratification of our nation's founding document. Though George W. Bush dismissed the Constitution as "just a god damned piece of paper," most of those who share his right-wing ideology think of themselves as its greatest defenders. The Tea-Baggers c... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Sep 17, 2010, 3:27 pm
Nice story from NPR here. Could we stop using the term "Socialist" without understanding what it means or how it works? Please, listen to this interview and let's start to think more clearly about what's really going on.
Rule one: KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT!!!!!
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Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Sep 7, 2010, 1:17 am
Labor Day has come and gone. The ceremonial ending of summer, a holiday - for federal workers, but not many of the rest of us - has been celebrated, grills made use of. Sadly, however, we find the outlook less than rosy on this holiday meant to honor working people.
It has been some time since bei... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Jul 30, 2010, 10:10 pm
At a time when we are losing our democracy to the interests of the rich and powerful, we should be reminded what Democracy is, how we got it, and what we must do to keep it.
With that in mind, I offer this video, from a few years back, narrated by former MP Tony Benn:
I think Benn is correct. We hav... Comment - Like
Matthew W. posted an article on
Thoughts on Democracy, Freedom, and Justice
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Jul 22, 2010, 6:08 pm
Petition - A Petition in Support of Elizabeth Warren as Director of Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection: U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (Vermont)
Please sign the above position to tell your president that we want Elizabeth Warren to lead our consumer protection agency. She is one of the few people ... Comment - Like
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