What's Tony Thinking

For Seattle the Light Has Turned Yellow

March 7, 2021 — The yellow light on the traffic signal means “caution.” That yellow caution sign appears to be shining brightly, even blinking ominously, for Seattle. And, just to be clear, this has nothing to do with Russell Wilson. It is all about whether Seattle, as a city, works. It is about whether Seattle can accurately diagnose its... Read More

The Culture War — Time for a Strategic Withdrawal

March 4, 2021 — A couple weeks ago I noticed that a post I had done way back in April 2018, Yikes! Dr. Seuss Is a Racist was getting an increasing number of readers. “That’s odd,” I thought. I was then unaware that the pot was being stirred on that particular issue. The final result, or the outcome so... Read More

Setting the Conspiracy Captivated Free

March 3, 2021 — Last week I wrote a piece titled “Healing Our Divisions” in which I cited to journalist David French and the question he said he is now asked more than any other. “A person I love is deeply committed to conspiracies. What can I do?” French drew on the work of Jonathan Haidt to say that... Read More

Tulips (Archive Edition)

March 1, 2021 — [As we hit the one year anniversary of COVID impacting all our lives this week, I went back to see what I was writing a year ago. I found this piece from last March amid the first lockdown, and thought it worth reprising. Hope you enjoy it. Take it as an invitation to notice something... Read More

It’s Been a Year

February 28, 2021 — “It’s been a year” is a phrase that has at least two meaning. It has now been one year that we have lived, and died, with the pandemic and under the strictures imposed to combat it. It was just a year ago, February 29, 2020, that the first American died of COVID, right here in... Read More

So You Want to Read the Bible . . .

February 26, 2021 — In my last post I wrote about the upsides of giving stuff up during Lent. Another possibility is to add something. One possible add would be reading in the Bible. After our February 9 panel, “The Bible in a Post-Biblical Age,” I heard from several of you saying something like, “I’d like to read the... Read More

How To Be Happy . . . Sacrifice

February 24, 2021 — “Sacrifice” It means, “To forfeit something of value.” Does that sound like the path to happiness? According to the social scientist and weekly columnist at The Atlantic, Arthur Brooks, it is. Brooks, who is also a person of faith, says that he is one of the odd people who actually look forward to the spiritual... Read More

Healing Our Divisions

February 22, 2021 — Many people are concerned about healing the deep distrusts and animosities that today divide our country. It is as if the question so plaintively asked after 9/11 — “Why Do They Hate Us?” might now be asked about our fellow Americans. Or maybe it is, “Why Do We Hate Them?” Some respond that talk of... Read More

Why You Will Marry the Wrong Person, Part 2

February 21, 2021 — This is a second installment drawn from Krista Tippett’s terrific interview with Alain de Botton. De Botton (pronounced Dee – Bow – Tane) is a philosopher and prolific writer (pictured here). He has dedicated himself to making philosophical thinking accessible and useful for ordinary people. He is the founder of The School of Life. Cut... Read More

Why You Will Marry the Wrong Person

February 19, 2021 — Perhaps you recognize the title of this blog as the heading of one of the most-read recent articles from the New York Times. Too good not to steal (don’t worry, titles cannot be copyrighted)! Recently, its author the philosopher, Alain de Botton, was interviewed by Krista Tippett for her program “On Being.” It was actually... Read More

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