Disabled Gym
I belong to a unique gym where the disabled are welcome and accommodated. The Siskin gym is part of a complex of medical specialists and services designed to serve the disabled. Originally founded by disabled members of the siskin family in Chattanooga, the gym and the complex of services for all ages is truly a gem. I have lived in many cities and belong to many fitness centers; few if any are as up-to-date on dealing with the disabled client. I work out on excellent equipment, some of which is sponsored by Unum, an insurance company with Chattanooga roots. Opposite from me is a young girl with a prosthetic leg who is working hard to buil

Halloween's Sugar Buzz: the Poor Suffer Most
Every year, I write about how Halloween should be renamed National Sugar Buzz Day. Regardless of whatever religious significance you may or may not attach to this celebration, it’s hard to deny that it’s become a big hit with Americans whose diet hardly needs more sugar. Those of us who recognize the national threat of increasing obesity and chronic diseases should be up in arms over Halloween. Yet, where is the outcry against the ritual stuffing of small children with candy? After all, what is Halloween without candy?  Can we withstand the look of horror on the kiddies faces as we drop an apple in their bags? While these tough economic times may decrease sales som

Faith & Cheerleaders: Ruckus Raises Tough Issues
Religious diversity issues are whirlwinds that can start with a local incident and escalate to a national debate almost overnight. In a recent case, the cheerleading squad of a high school in Georgia ran into trouble with their tradition of banners showing biblical quotes. These banners were created at school and were held up for the football team to run through and break apart in a demonstration of team spirit. The biblical quotes were designed to spur the team on to victory and the fans on to enthusiastic cheering. The biblical cheerleading had been an ongoing tradition for years in the small majority-Christian town with little public reactio

Nobel Idealism
The surprise announcement of President Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize has received mixed reviews. I have appreciated seeing the range of responses and the diversity of world views they represent. Here is my comment that prompted those responses. I posted it as an invitation for people to express their own visions for the future: “Obama's Nobel Peace Prize highlights his call to halt nuclear weapons. Is his vision idealistic & unlikely? Maybe. Yet, the present balancing act is painfully fragile. We should all envision new paths if we're to sustain the planet.” It didn’t take long for the new

A Child's Diversity: Bunny Bear's Adventures
Unbridled creativity and a childlike curiosity are part of being a writer. These are traits often associated with childhood, but we writers never quite outgrow them. I was reminded how much of our childhood remains with us while working on my new book ‘Mastering Diversity: From Waterbaby to Diversity Pro.’ Childhood is at the heart not only of the writer’s inspiration but also of our world view as adults.  Young minds absorb the attitudes of our parents and the humanity or inhumanity in our daily lives. We may not fully understand the world events and the diverse culture that surround us, but we feel their impact.   W