Essays: the Collection

Revised Monday, May 4, 2015 “Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you.” Pericles Who patrols the Police?   Recently: Freddie Gray’s death while in police custody was the light that ignited violence in parts of Baltimore with more than a dozen buildings and over 100 cars torched. The city reacted by imposing a 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. ending May 4 th .    New York, Boston, Washington and other cities across the country held rallies to demonstrate solidarity with Baltimore.  Previously Ferguson, Missouri became a center of unrest in response to police violence.  (Source International Business Times)                 There is something much deeper than a reaction to one or two random events that have caused riots and protests.  First Ferguson Missouri and now Baltimore Maryland, clearly there is a type of frustration so deep seated that even rival gangs embroiled in protracted disputes have set aside th

April 7th, 2015 I once said, " If war solves all of our problems, shouldn't we have solved all them by now?" Everyone seems to be so quick for blood.   There are some just hungry for a fight. What too many people think of war are nice neat images like this. This is the picture of combat.  Brave, fit bold men with medals. The images below are what I see when someone bring up the subject of war.  This is what I see every time someone mentions war to me.   The carnage of war. The lost limbs The reality of war. The images above are what I see, a great deal of the time.

Tuesday, April 7, 2015 Are The Veterans Invisible? By Kurt von Behrmann Several days ago I saw a political pundit on H.B.O. talk about possible war in Iran.   When she mentioned taking military action, she did so with such non nonchalance that I was stunned into silence.   She talked about war as if she were talking about a new app for her Iphone, only with far less enthusiasm. However, when it comes to equipping troops in war and providing mental health care, medical health care,  housing and adjustment to civilian life after combat, suddenly "We The People," who are already struggling to find jobs and keep our homes are the only ones who are expected to  provide for them.   We do, but we can only do so much. I want to do what I can.     I have several works of art that deal directly with VET's and I am selling them with the direct intent of giving a sizable percent of the proceeds to Disabled American Vets.    If this is successful,

Ferguson and The University of Oklahoma’s  Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity  April 4, 2015 By:  Kurt von Behrmann                 In what some deem “Post Racial America,” overwhelming evidence to the contrary indicates we are anything but a racially equitable society.   Overt discrimination is still with us.  When tensions reach a breaking point, or when what has been private is made public, the notion of an America minus prejudice sounds like the ludicrous piece of fiction that it is.                 Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s secretive chat celebrating the exclusion of African-Americans from its ranks became known, and an embarrassing facet of Greek life reared its head.  It was a decidedly ugly one.  Given permission by concealment, feelings and attitudes from America’s past made themselves loud and clear.                   The fact that some fraternal orders exist along racial lines is nothing new.    Given that they are social in nature and private, Universities an

Kurt's Choice of the most Tasteless thing you can put on the Web after a tragedy. Here it is I am still in shock with this one. What would you do after a tragic air crash? I know, do what the "good" people at Z Living.com did and promote your cheap herbal remedy for depression. Oh, and lets make it really "classy" and put the face of Andreas Lubitz on the page telling you how you can avoid depression. That's right, if Lubitz just used St. John's Wort, no one would have died in the French Alps. Hey, why not exploit human suffering, loss and grief to sell your cheap remedy for depression? If you can make a quick buck, why not? Really? (I am very involved with issues related to mental health and this is serious. If you suffer from depression, bipolar or any mental illness, please seek professional help. NAMI is a great starting point. Mental illness is a medical matter, so please get help if you even think there maybe a p

Oprah’s   “The Life You Want Weekend Tour" presented by Oprah Winfrey Oprah Winfrey, The Wildly Successful Talk Show Host. By: Kurt von Behrmann                 Déjà vu struck quickly when I read about Oprah Winfrey’s recent U.S. and Canadian Tour.   The wildly successful talk show host, actor, producer, author and media mogul mounted a tour to bring enlightenment, hope and her signature “feel good” vibe to her audience in person.   The common thread that connects this event with the past can be found in one significant self-help movement of the 1970’s.    And it all began on the West Coast, specifically Northern California.                 San Francisco has been a long time destination point for those hoping to either find themselves, or simply be themselves.    Some arrived desperately escaping lives they would prefer not to remember.   Such was the case for one John Paul Rosenberg.                 Rosenberg would be much better known to the worl