Earlier this week, the Arizona Cardinals’ star quarterback indicated that he will take a knee during the national anthem when the NFL season starts. Several of my friends have indicated that as a result of Kyler Murray’s announcement, they will no longer follow our team. I am compelled to respond: You have made Colin Kaepernick’s point—and done so eloquently. You have misrepresented his message and intent. Kaepernick has clearly and consistently shown his respect and appreciation for the United States, its flag, the armed forces, etc. He is protesting injustice in America, not desecrating a national symbol. He knelt to call attention to the structural racism in our society that treats African Americans, particularly young black men, differently than whites.

The COVID-19 crisis is not only a public health disaster, it is having catastrophic effects on the U.S. economy and the lives of millions of ordinary citizens.   U.S. Census Data: The U.S. Census bureau publishes a weekly report called the PULSE Survey through which it is measuring the impact of the pandemic on various social and economic indicators.  Among other things, the most recent survey data (gathered between May 7-12) examined the relationship between people’s educational levels and whether or not they had lost some of their household incomes during the pandemic.  This could include everything from losing a job, to salary reductions, or loss of benefits. The Findings: The data suggest that the economic impacts of the pandemic are not spread proportionately across

I deeply appreciated Edgar Stoesz’s article in the Mennonite World Review (April 6) showing how God has used the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) over the past 100 years to not only reach out to a needy world, but to also transform the Church in North America.  As MCC volunteers returned from overseas assignments, they brought with them a deeper understanding of the issues facing humankind, new intercultural relationships and competencies, and broader world views.  MCC has provided several generations of Mennonites with opportunities to serve and learn in ways that would not otherwise have been possible.      When my uncles and aunts served with MCC, their letters provided fodder for our family conversations and prayers.  Their stories, pictures, and gifts from around the world

When our community gym closed indefinitely, I decided that my man-cave would have to double as my personal gym so I went shopping for a weight bench and a pair of heavier dumb bells.  (I had lighter ones.)  At the back of a big-box sports store, I found what I needed, negotiated a discount, and told the clerk (who was 3” taller than I and half my age) who’d been helping me that I was ready to check out.  He asked if he could help carry my stuff to the counter in front.  “Please!” I said.  He grabbed the bench and walked away, leaving me to carry the two dumbbells (each one, much heavier than the bench) through the length of the store.   He set