A version of this editorial originally appeared in The Orlando Sentinel on March 15, 2023 Florida tops many list of rankings. One hopes we would rank number one when it comes to religious liberty. Florida currently ranks fourth in the nation in religious liberty behind Mississippi, Illinois, and New Mexico, according to The Center … Read more
Religious Freedom in Florida: Let’s Be #1
IDignity: Easing the Ferocity of the Voter ID Debate
Originally published as an editorial in the Orlando Sentinel on December 31, 2013. Healthy democracies demand elections that are secure, trusted, and corruption free. The problem comes with the government setting a voting requirement that the government is unwilling, or unable, to help its most vulnerable citizens meet. Across the U.S. states are increasingly requiring state-issued photo ID to vote. For … Read more
Orlando’s Hunger Games
In the pop literary, and now cinematic, sensation, The Hunger Games, a young girl, named Katniss Everdeen, is thrust into a life or death adventure not of her own choosing. The story is set in North America after nuclear war has ameliorated much of the social fabric we know today. As society reestablished itself a … Read more
St. Phil of Polis
If the Protestant church had saints I’d nominate Phil Hissom, founder and president of the Polis Institute, for canonization. Today Phil wrote a My Word editorial entitled, “Relationships count in poverty fight,” conveying to the community that relationships are the core of sustainable people-development. Did you catch that? Relationships, not more money, not efficient methods, … Read more
Timeless Truth of “Wicked”
Originally published as an editorial in the Orlando Sentinel on April 6, 2011. The Broadway musical “Wicked” recently concluded a successful run in Orlando, offering an essential question about our humanity. In the opening song, Glinda, the good witch of the north, presents the musical’s thematic exploration with the following questions concerning Elphaba, the wicked witch of … Read more