He gripped the pen like a marlinspike.
– said of Jack London
The Discover What Matters™ blog by Charles Carlson fuses several traditions: Zen teachings, nature writing and cultural criticism—all of which place a heavy emphasis on truth, a no-nonsense sensibility and a love of language. Like any good voyage of discovery the blog covers a wide range of subjects affecting modern life: spirituality, ethics, family, work, relationships, language and more.
Viewing entries in
Society
An Open Thanksgiving Letter to President Obama: I wish we could have this discussion face to face, like your famous “beer summit,” but instead I hope this open communication may do some good for our country, or to use your phrase, be a “teachable moment.” [if you're on a mobile device click on the photo above to read more.]
Last week—no, the last many months—have been difficult for me. I've sat down many times to write about what this presidential election means for America. But I don't write about politics. I write about words, mind, spirituality and the human condition, so I struggled with how to... [if you're on a smart phone, click on the photo above to read more.]
Another mass shooting, another round of searching for answers. How could someone do this? Why only in America? The debate has come down to a two-sided choice: the death toll is the result of lax gun regulation. Or the real culprit isn’t guns, but mental illness. What if both sides are wrong? What if the shootings are a result of something much larger?
