Commentary
What, to the Republican, is the nineteenth of June?
The headline above pays homage to one of the most powerful and brilliant speeches in American history. Frederick Douglass, the 19th century’s most eloquent abolitionist, was asked to speak at an Independence Day celebration in Rochester, New York, on July 5, 1852, and he asked his White audience a most provocative question: “What, to the […]
Privatization of education undermines civil liberties for students and families
At least one private school in Nevada is searching family computers and using the information they find to shame students and parents into withdrawing, keeping thousands of dollars in tuition and fees in the process. This grotesque invasion of privacy leaves families with few options to ensure continuity in their child’s education. But this privacy […]
What people need to know about critical race theory
The late historian John Henrik Clarke explained the dominant subculture’s preoccupation with manipulating history. Europeans “began manipulating history in the 15th century to justify the slave trade,” said Clarke, a pioneer in Pan-African studies, during an interview with Tony Brown on Brown’s eponymous show in the 1970s. Modern racism incubated during this period, Clarke said. Detractors of critical race […]
Voting rights alone will not save us
Much has been said and written about voting rights this last year and for good reasons. Vote Nevada, a nonprofit founded by Nevadans for Nevadans, will be contributing to this dialogue over the summer with events focused on our full suite of democracy rights, such as the right to fair representation and the right to […]
They’re NOT racists. Just ask them.
“The lady doth protests too much, methinks.” So says Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude, during the play within a play scene toward the end of Hamlet. Shakespeare’s Danish prince has constructed the play so he could show his mother and his uncle/stepfather that he knows they killed his father. Gertrude is reacting with annoyance to the character […]
UFOs, the Pentagon, and the enigma of Bob Lazar
This month, a highly anticipated report is slated to be delivered to the United States Senate on the subject of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) — what we used to call Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). The report is to be made public (although it may have a classified annex) and was requested as part of the […]
On Memorial Day, remembering the courage of soldiers and war correspondents who told their stories
I never fought in the Vietnam War. I joined United Press International, a worldwide wire service, in 1975 at the end of that conflict. My heroes were UPI war correspondents — Leon Daniel, Kate Webb and Joseph L. Galloway. Daniel was a friend. He died in 2006. Webb was a role model and later, mentor. […]
Why?
Republicans in Nevada have been having a field day saying “socialists! socialists! socialists!” ever since some Democratic Socialists of America (oh dear!) won state Democratic Party offices. For example, North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee even cited, however insincerely, socialists!!! as the development that drove him to switch parties and become a Republican. (Oh, and […]
Restoring wildlife populations will create jobs in Nevada
Since the pandemic began, Nevadans have turned to nature for rejuvenation and recreation. This has given more Nevadans a firsthand experience with our state’s remarkable ecological diversity—from Lahontan cutthroat trout, to Bighorn sheep, to Sage grouse, to Mule deer. But what they may not have noticed is the wildlife crisis quietly unfolding all around us. […]
Nevada needs a public health insurance option now
Four years ago, I was just another successful and healthy small business owner in Las Vegas, or so I thought. I walked into a doctor’s office in Henderson that day with a nagging cough, and walked out with a stage 4 cancer diagnosis. I’m still here today, in remission, thanks to the care I received. […]
While lawmakers canoodle with ‘stakeholders,’ Barrick gives an extra $750M to shareholders
Earlier this month Barrick Gold’s voting shareholders approved a proposal by Barrick’s board of directors (a group which includes area man Brian Greenspun, btw) to bestow on the aforementioned shareholders a very special one-time extra distribution of $750 million. In addition to regularly scheduled dividends. Everything is so peachy at Barrick that “we believe that […]
Masks off: The nuance behind the CDC’s controversial decision
In other times, a “masks off” announcement might have been celebrated. Instead, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stepped straight into controversy. The confusion was palpable. Debates immediately spun out over whether the CDC’s decision to remove masks was backed by science. Some experts quickly condemned the decision. The largest nurses’ union came out […]