Blog Posts Where Race is an Aspect of the Themes This is my 12th and last blog for 2023. I also wrote 12 in 2022. The inspiration to write these occurs in the last 6 months of the year. I will wait to see what occurs in the last 6 months of 2023. Thank you for reading my website content and the blogs you have read. I attempt to only write stories or ideas thatContinue reading “12th 2023 Post – Closing Thoughts”

Blog Posts Where Race is an Aspect of the Themes On the Friday before Labor Day Weekend in 2011, I experienced vertigo for the first time. It was in retrospect likely from being dehydrated. As I got up from a prone position for a routine medical test, I needed to rush to the bathroom to vomit. I thought, “Oh no, the flu.” As I did, nothing came out. Two sphincter muscles in my esophagus didContinue reading “11th 2023 Post – Two Wonderful Touches”

Blog Posts Where Race is an Aspect of the Themes The question has been asked of me “Do you have a moral compass that leads you to your position on Wealth Transformation?” When I was 17 (I am 72 today) and obtained my driver’s license I found a car and with a friend in 1968 drove to Gethsemani Abbey in Kentucky to meet Thomas Merton. I made a retreat. Met Father Louis and he wasContinue reading “10th 2023 Post – The Tremendous Opportunity for “Sharing””

Blog Posts Where Race is an Aspect of the Themes Following George Floyd’s tortuous murder, many were deeply motivated to try to do something. I read Randall Robinson’s book when it came out in 2001. “The Debt: What America Owes to Blacks.” Thereafter, I frequently thought about reparations. After George Floyd’s death, I interviewed 20 people – 10 Black and 10 White – about reparations. The following vision for repair and transformation was a resultContinue reading “9th 2023 Post – Vision for Repair and Transformation”

Blog Posts Where Race is an Aspect of the Themes When we went to the Plantation many things stood out and were impactful. One that stays with me is that this big house and the land from 1861 to 1863 was a headquarters for the Confederate army. Fort Sumter is visible in the distance. The plantation was taken over by a Union Black regimen in 1863 and housed Black soldiers until the end of theContinue reading “8th 2023 Post – A Takeaway from the Historically Accurate McCleod Plantation Visit”

Blog Posts Where Race is an Aspect of the Themes My daughter Sonja Kristine was born in October of 1991. President Mandela’s autobiography was published in 1994. He was elected President in 1994. His autobiography became a passion for me. So as family nature would have it, my daughter grew up with me at the dinner table frequently speaking about Nelson Mandela and his amazing life. Further to family nature, it was not uncommon forContinue reading “7th 2023 Post – Daughter Goes to South Africa”

How to Welcome Mandela as Your Mentor Blog Posts where Race is an Aspect of the Themes It has been a deep honor for me to be able to speak about Nelson Mandela over the past many years. I have done so with Federal Bar Associations, State Bar Associations, businesses, churches and synagogues. I have traveled to speak in Miami, Silicon Valley, New York City, Eastern Utah, Baltimore, Fargo and many locations in Minnesota. IContinue reading “6th 2023 Post – Speaking about Mandela”

Blog Posts where Race is an Aspect of the Themes #1: Stunning Trial Lawyer I met Michael Davis in the summer of 1976. I had just completed my first year of law school. I was told at school if I wanted to be a trial lawyer to go and watch great trial lawyers. I went to the government center in downtown Minneapolis. The clerk’s office was not much help. Outside in the courtyard sat threeContinue reading “5th 2023 Post – The Honorable Michael J. Davis”

Blog Posts where Race is an Aspect of the Themes At the Jesuit Catholic University I went to from 1969-1973, an issue arose regarding Black Civil Rights. In 1972 and 1973, a large group of Black students attended the school’s Division One home basketball games. When doing so, they sat as a group at center court – courtside – and remained seated during the National Anthem. This was done as a form of protest regardingContinue reading “4th 2023 Post – Sitting Down? No – You Must Stand Up”

Blog Posts where Race is an Aspect of the Themes In the fall of 1969, I was a new recruit – selected by retiring head coach Red McManus to play basketball at Creighton. The new young coach I was to play for was Eddie Sutton. He had come from Oklahoma. I was one of three Division 1 recruits. At that time we played a Freshman game schedule, yet we frequently practiced with the varsity. TheContinue reading “3rd 2023 Post – A Scrimmage with a Forward Lineage”

Blog Posts where Race is an Aspect of the Themes One Saturday evening in the fall of 1971, I was coming back to my dorm. I walked a familiar route and was next to my dorm in front of the campus bookstore and about to climb some steps that would lead to more steps to my dorm. Six or seven young black men were walking in the opposite direction. They were not students. As theyContinue reading “2nd 2023 Post – Beat Up”

Blog Posts where Race is an Aspect of the Themes “Chey Chey — The Wonderful Guy – so nice they named me twice.” That is the name and greeting I received when I met Walter Middleton also known as Cheyenne. He shows up in my dorm room as my roommate in 1970. Me, an 18 year old white guy at a midwestern Catholic University on a basketball scholarship, and Walter, a Black man coming mid-yearContinue reading “1st 2023 Post – Chey Chey – The Wonderful Guy – Cheyenne – Walter Middleton”

This is my last post explicitly about Anthroposophy. In this post I will essentially make introductory comments and attach 3 sets of documents. With the attached documents it will be one of the larger posts and may serve as a future reference post for some. All 7 billion plus of us here on Earth have an inner life. When I say that what I am referencing is that irrespective of religion, a belief system, whetherContinue reading “2022 Posts: #12: Further Thoughts on a Path”

This post is an attempt to build a bridge from the last post to the next one. I grew up in the Catholic Church. I went to Catholic schools from grade one through university. My Mom was a devout Catholic with a very strong and full faith. I am grateful in so many ways for this upbringing. It taught me reverence and so much else. Catholicism fed my soul for the search for truth andContinue reading “2022 Posts: #11: The Truth of Anthroposophy as Revealed in Other’s Lives”

The below interview by William Jensen of Bill Manning accomplishes three things: Anthroposophy has given me over the past 50 years (I gratefully discovered it when I was 22) the widest and deepest aperture on all of life both externally and internally. I am always open to looking at new approaches, new philosophies, new insights, and new thought leaders. I have explored many over the past 50 years. All of what I have open heartedlyContinue reading “2022 Posts: #10: A 2004 Interview: Bringing Anthroposophy Into Life”

Shortly after the Wisconsin Supreme Court decision in 1999, it became clear to National legal audiences that we had survived an attempt by Case Corp. on behalf of Corporate Manufacturing America to have our case shut down due to an Oregon statute of repose. In Oregon where Steven’s accident occurred we had no opportunity to bring a case as the tractor was 22 yrs. old at the time of the accident. Any injury on aContinue reading “2022 Posts: #9: Testifying Before the Senate Commerce Committee”

In February of 2004 I had the distinct honor, privilege and pleasure of introducing Steven Sharp at the Association of Trial Lawyers of America ( ATLA ) Winter Convention in Orlando, Florida. Steven and I were on the same podium with Senator Joe Biden. Senator Biden was the keynote speaker. I spoke for 4 minutes introducing Steven and he spoke for 1 minute. These are reproduced below. Sen. Biden spoke for 1 hour and 15Continue reading “2022 Posts: #8: Steven Sharp and Senator Joe Biden Speak from the Same Podium”

On 1/22/22 a world spiritual leader, Thich Nhat Hanh, crossed over. It seems only appropriate to simply acknowledge him here even though his passing has been widely acknowledged. Many would say he is the most influential Buddhist leader second only to the Dalai Lama. I would surely agree. His writings have inspired me throughout my life. So much has been written about him. Click here to see what Wikipedia has posted about him and clickContinue reading “2022 Posts: #7: Our True Names”

August 19, 2002 It has been interesting to look back 20 years to 2002 to reflect on a speech I gave after 24 years of practicing law. Many themes you have read in prior blogs and that you may see in the future have been living in me for quite awhile. Today you are possibly feeling expectant, apprehensive, excited. I sat where you are 27 years ago, and I felt more like bewildered, lost, scared.Continue reading “2022 Posts: #6: Hamline Convocation Speech to a First Year Law School Class”

This blog is a New Beginning. Thank you for subscribing to receive it. Some have asked why I am doing this. I have heard the expression — everyone has one great book in them. Not sure I do. What I do have is a series of events and experiences in life that have provided deep meaning. As a seeker, I have sought meaning. So, I am choosing to share what has been most meaningful toContinue reading “2022 Posts: #5: New Beginnings”

In 1981 when my wife left for 10 months to go East to obtain a second degree, I stayed home and paid the mortgage and read all the works of Owen Barfield. It was a wonderful immersion. Barfield – a lawyer until age 50, then a career as a brilliant poet, writer, and original thinker was a joy to explore through his writings. He engaged with C. S. Lewis in “The Great War.” He wasContinue reading “2022 Posts: #4: Meeting for a Day with Owen Barfield”

In his journal entry for June 13, 1968, Thomas Merton wrote, “The other night when it was too hot to go to bed, I was sitting up with nothing on but a pair of underpants when a couple of admirers suddenly appeared in front of the cottage. I told them to get the hell out, thereby once again ruining my image. But one of them wrote a very nice note of apology nevertheless.” No moreContinue reading “2022 Posts: #3: Summer of ’68: A Brief Encounter and a Brief Note”

In 1990 Nelson Mandela was released from 27 years in prison. In 1994 his autobiography “The Long Walk to Freedom” was published. Also, in 1994 Mr. Mandela was overwhelming elected as the President of South Africa. On reading Nelson Mandela’s autobiography he became my mentor. I had been practicing law at that point for 14 years with no clear mentor. I found in Nelson Mandela a great lawyer. He stood in the shoes of hisContinue reading “2022 Posts: #2: Meeting President Nelson Mandela”

“Chey Chey — The Wonderful Guy – so nice they named me twice.” That is the name and greeting I received when I met Walter Middleton also known as Cheyenne.He shows up in my dorm room as my roommate in 1970. Me, an 18 year old white guy at a midwestern Catholic University on a basketball scholarship, and Walter, a Black man coming mid-year on a scholarship to play as well. We sit on bedsContinue reading “2022 Posts: #1: Chey Chey – The Wonderful Guy – Cheyenne – Walter Middleton”