I’ve chosen trailblazers in literature, music, painting, political activism and medicine. Many communities lost their own notable...
Strategies for Taking on Trump World
As my sufferings mounted I soon realized that there were two ways that I could respond: either to react with bitterness or seek to transform the suffering into a creative force. I decided to follow the latter course. —Martin Luther King, Jr. King’s words spoken some 50 years ago describe the crossroads facing [...]
Pat Taub
The Women of Standing Rock
Native American women are the heart and soul of the almost eight-month-old protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline. The Standing Rock movement was birthed on April 1st by a small group of women from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. They set up a tent on the proposed pipeline route to protest its construction on sacred Native American burial [...]
Pat Taub
Surviving Trump World
The other night I had a dream where I was escorted into a sprawling tree house compound. It’s open sides allowed the residents to engage freely with one another. I felt welcomed, but was troubled by the thin, unsubstantial flooring. When I moved about it felt like the foundation could give way at any minute, hurling me down to earth. [...]
Pat Taub
Iceland: The Most Feminist Country in the World!
If you were surprised by my heading it’s because the American press has offered scant coverage of Iceland’s remarkable feminist achievements. This is a country with a long history of championing women’s rights. In 1850 Iceland was the first country to grant equality to women. Icelandic women won the right to vote in [...]
Pat Taub
The Life Changing Power of Female Friendships
Science is beginning to recognize what most older women inherently know: there is a strong correlation between longevity and close friendships. In other words, loneliness can hasten the grim reaper’s arrival. Maybe this is why so many widowed men turn into cranky old fogies unless they remarry quickly. As a young girl I observed my mother’s [...]
Pat Taub
Activism As A Spiritual Pursuit: Flashback Friday
This post was originally printed in “Popular Resistance,” November 5. 2013. I’ve reposted it in response to the demonstrations at Standing Rock, which have a strong spiritual basis. I dedicate this post to the brave Native Americans at Standing Rock, the “water protectors.” I’ve been an activist for [...]
Pat Taub
Col. Ann Wright: Peace Warrior Extraordinaire
Ann Wright is a lightening rod for peace and justice. Name a political hot spot and Ann has been there, leading one to suspect that she holds the record for frequent flyer miles on the peace and justice circuit. In the past few months alone Ann has joined in protests at Jeju Island in South Korea protesting the construction of an American [...]
Pat Taub
Women’s Protest Marches Are Rocking the Globe!
Let’s face it, our current Presidential campaign sucks big time. It’s been reduced to cheap entertainment where misogyny and red-baiting are the order of the day. I can’t wait for this campaign to end so serious political engagement might seep into our news stories. Hungry for hope, my spirits soared reading recent accounts of women-led [...]
Pat Taub
Not Your Average Female Protagonists
As I write, today is predicted to be the last day of Indian Summer in New England, which means the real fall is right around the corner. Cooler temps and more indoor time offer a welcome excuse to binge on the new season’s video and TV series along with enticing reads. To send off the 2016 fall watching-reading season, I’ve complied a [...]
Pat Taub
Understanding Trump’s Appeal
Most Liberals I know scratch their heads in disbelief over Donald Trump’s candidacy. Even though he’s now imploding, what he represents won’t necessarily go away if he loses the Presidency. Chris Hedges in a recent Truthdig column, warns us that if we don’t address the concerns of Trump’s constituency, another right-wing demagogue [...]
Pat Taub