The Gaza Strip is in flames again. Iran is making noises about nukes. President Bush wants authority to protect us from terrorists and the Democrats fear the loss of civil liberties in the process. The 9th Circuit Cout in California truncates parental control over sex-ed for seven-year-olds. Govenor Terminator is terminating any attempts at fiscal restraint and the US-Mexico border does not exist. Meanwhile our children in college can take courses in aberrant sexuality and graduate without ever hearing about Aristotle.

At first glance, my tag-line, “Messenger to the Thoughtful” appears to be one more PR ploy or elitist label. In fact, the opposite is true. “Thoughtful” does not mean a Mensa IQ, vast education, or brilliance possessed by a few uber-intellectuals. My aim in using the term is to create a community of inquiry that will pause and reflect rather that pontificate and react about the central issues of our day.

One of the challenges social reformers face is keeping the attention of a distracted public. Stimuli come from so many directions that getting folks to focus on anything for longer than a minute or two is a minor miracle!

In January I will turn 47. My kids have made sure I know that this means that I am in my “late” forties and therefore entering the “middle age” zone.

Hello again and please forgive my delay in posting a new blog. It has been a busy fall for the Self family.