A commencement speech lesson story — Jeffrey Denny Whoo-hoo! It’s been daycare, kindergarten, grade school, high school and college commencement season once again, and millions of kids and their families couldn’t wait for it to commence so it could be over. But once the grad ceremonies started, they still had to wait. Once again, unless their…

Today’s victory, tomorrow’s victimhood — Jeffrey Denny Congrats, die-hard Trump supporters! Like the proverbial dog, you finally caught the car. Now you’re driving the car, we hope steering America to greatness as you wish. You’re a distinct minority of Americans, maybe 20–30 percent. You deeply believe in democracy. But thanks to decades of GOP hook…

Who cares about the post-born? — Jeffrey Denny Recently, on a quiet Friday afternoon in relatively serene Northwest Washington, DC, a disturbed young man, a “sniper” with a stockpiled arsenal, shot up a nearby school from his fifth-floor apartment. The school and neighborhood went into mass shooter lockdown. Children sheltered in place, huddled together, blocked doors…

It’s hard to believe in hate — Jeffrey Denny My mother, her parents and her three siblings were among the proverbial tired, poor, huddled refugees of WWII-torn Europe. Catholic Charities sponsored her family to come to America. It was 1951. My mother was 12. …

Whatever happened to Republican decency? — Jeffrey Denny The irony is too rich to swallow without risk of indigestion, gallstones or gout: Former Vice President Mike Pence, who with his family barely escaped a violent MAGA mob incited by his own president for doing his Constitutional duty, is on a speaking tour headlined, “How To Save…

Why? Jeffrey Denny Consider these common cases of communications neglect: 1. A friend is interviewing for a job she wants, the employer knows her, and they’re desperate for her experience and expertise. She’s been through five interviews over the past two months, all encouraging. The final interview was weeks ago…

Blowing with the wind — Jeffrey Denny Forgive me, Trumpers, for I have sinned. For over five years I’ve been criticizing, questioning, satirizing, and even trying to open my heart and mind to understand the hard-core Trump base — the MAGAs. Why? Because I’m a die-hard patriot. I care deeply about America. I’ve spent most…

!?!?!? — Jeffrey Denny Sometimes saying “everyone is saying” is not just an excuse for repeating stupid things. For instance, everyone on my list of approved Medicare providers is saying this: Stop starting your day with the newspaper!!! My doctors say it’s killing me. Even faster than my life of hard livin’…

Aging disgracefully — Jeffrey Denny We get old but birthdays never do, someone once said. Maybe it was me. I can’t remember. But trust me from experience, turning 65 is not all fun and games. It’s not all whist, pickleball and medical appointments, opposing Socialized medicine because you got your Medicare, and griping…