Socialcommentary

Linnea Ashley on November 6th, 2009

The delicate balance between need and dependency is a pendulum that easily swings too far in one direction. Helping people pull themselves from the ravages of war, starvation, and poverty does not lend itself to platitudes about God helping those who help themselves. Babies die. Men are broken. Women weep…and in those moments they cannot […]

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Linnea Ashley on May 4th, 2009

36,000. It isn’t a huge number but it isn’t small. 36,000 people die annually from influenza in America. The common, everday, unsexy flu. 1. 1 is how many people have died in the united states from swine flue this year. 1. Please don’t think I underestimate the value of life…I don’t. but when I weigh […]

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Linnea Ashley on April 5th, 2009

the thing is, i’m about choice…in its purest form. i’m not talking just when it suits me…but in general. i’m not advocating that i know the right decision for anyone. abortion…i don’t think everyone should get one, just those that want/need one. gay marriage…like any marriage – for those who want the government stamp of […]

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Linnea Ashley on March 26th, 2009

i’ve stopped listening to obama’s press conferences. Sounds crazy I know – especially given that he’s only on his second one. I find the prepared text less interesting than his answers to pointed questions. Not just press conferences…I only marginally pay attention to any prepared text. It’s too much like an infomercial and nothing I […]

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Linnea Ashley on February 27th, 2009

Friendship, honesty…these can be tricky things. Definitions taken for granted. But I find that sometimes using the same vocabulary does not mandate the same meaning   Facebook’s use of the word friend illustrates my point. I have over 200 “friends” on facebook…most of which I would withhold that title without the clarifying facebook friend. Because […]

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Linnea Ashley on February 25th, 2009

The bombing of the khan el khalili a few days ago quite likely went unnoticed by most people here in the US. Maybe everywhere that isn’t there. Everywhere that doesn’t share a border or a history with Egypt…doesn’t share a future. But it shook me. Reminded me how small the world is. How small I […]

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Linnea Ashley on January 31st, 2009

the thing about life is that in some ways everyone is judging. everything is a courtroom appearance and you will either be vindicated or sent away. and it isn’t always as serious as all of that. sometimes it is just the look of contempt instead of being held in contempt. but consider…job interviews- or board. […]

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Linnea Ashley on January 27th, 2009

free oscar grant was scrawled in black spray paint across the whitewashed wall of the bart underpass. i shook my head as i passed. irritated because this is new graffiti on the recently painted wall…irritated more that someone missed the reality that you cannot free that which has been killed. oscar grant isn’t being held, […]

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Linnea Ashley on January 14th, 2009

Oscar Grant Protest Jan. 14, 2009

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Linnea Ashley on January 10th, 2009

“you sure did something to me when you spoke to me. i didn’t even need viagra. bam, through that brick wall back there.” the drums drowned out the competing music from some of the other stalls and it gave the old man an excuse to lean in to my ear after he tapped my shoulder […]

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