ESPN’s “ESPY” awards ceremony, broadcast on sister network ABC, included the latest chapter in the media saga of former Olympic gold medalist Caitlyn (formerly Bruce) Jenner. Jenner received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award, which is described by ESPN this way: “Recipients reflect the spirit of Arthur Ashe, possessing strength in …

The World Cup title earned by the USA Women’s national team this month once again sparked a debate about pay equity between men and women in the US and worldwide.   The difference in award money between the men’s and women’s World Cup champion teams, $35 million and $2 million respectively, …

  The recent decision by the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) mandating legalization of same-sex marriage has changed the legal definition of marriage that has existed since well before the nation’s founding. In broadening the definition of marriage to include same-sex couples, the court majority cited the due …

From time-to-time at ThoughtWidget.com we will discuss the state of American democracy and the threats that it faces. As the groundwork for those discussions, please see our definition of the 4 most critical elements of American democracy. Note that these are not the only important elements, but they are the most …

We were thirsty, the three of us. And hungry too. Jilli, petite and erudite, had come from class and, being a ‘dammer, had arrived on her bicycle. Tiger, tall and athletic and incurably mischievous, was restless. She had spent the afternoon in Vondelpark making new friends, 2 and 4-legged. Tiger …

Today, President Obama announced a new policy with regard to Americans taken hostage abroad. According to the president, the current policy that the US government will not pay ransom or make concessions to hostage-takers has not changed. What has changed is that the government will not prosecute anyone (e.g. family …

The reaction of the people of Charleston to last week’s mass shooting at the city’s Emanuel AME church, particularly in the faith community, has been nothing short of inspiring.   The killing of 9 worshippers at the church by an apparently deranged white supremacist young man has shocked the city. Predictably, …

  All journalists and observers whose job it is to follow the 2016 presidential election, get on your knees.  I don’t care if you’re religious or not. Atheists, agnostics, deists, wiccans, all of you.  On your knees.  Direct your thoughts toward whomever or whatever guides the universe.  If you think it’s …

Observing the leading candidates from the two major political parties, Jeb Bush for the Republicans and Hillary Clinton for the Democrats, I am wondering whether either really wants to be President of the United States. The expectations for both candidates are high, and both have seemed at times less than …

It has been a challenging week for Rachel Dolezal, president of the Spokane, Washington chapter of the NAACP.  Dolezal, who has long passed herself off as black or mixed-race, was revealed by her parents to be of Czech and German ancestry with a dash of Native American.  They provided a …