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The Romanization of Christianity
By Michael Boyajian
I have been drawn for well over a year now to visit Rome to see first the Forum which was the center of the expansive Roman Empire and then the Vatican the center of the universe for one billion Roman Catholics. Unfortunately I have been prevented from going for various reasons but have found other ways to visit through my imagination, travel and history books on Rome and television shows on the subject.
Beacon Concordance on Combating the Politics of Hate
By Michael Boyajian
“What’s so funny about peace, love and understanding.” — Written by Nick Lowe and as performed by Elvis Costello
A group of elected officials, candidates, community leaders and concerned citizens gathered on the shores of the Hudson River at the BEAHIVE in Beacon, NY on August 25 to discuss how to combat the politics of hate and the inducement of fear. What came immediately to mind was the film Contact where the Jodie Foster character is told we begin with little steps that is how it has always been done.
The Thundering Silence of a Straight Ally
By Michael Boyajian
The New York Times recently produced an investigative report on how gay cadets were living a lie at West Point denying their sexuality for the sake of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. Straight allies have also been forced to live a similar lie no less devastating. Case in point, when I was in publishing I hired a new editor. He was from a good sized New Jersey newspaper and he had good credentials just what we needed to lift our magazine back to its former glory. It never occurred to me nor did I care that he might be gay. He had excellent credentials.
March On Film to Debut at Austin Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
By Michael Boyajian
March On the monumental documentary directed by Laura McFerrin will debut at the Austin Gay and Lesbian Film Festival September 12. The film features coverage of five families along with 250,000 participants as they march on the nation’s capital in support of marriage equality.
Deeper Concerns Found in Close Reading of Fishkill Audit, Essential Services in Jeopardy
By Michael Boyajian
A closer reading of the New York State Comptroller’s audit of the Town of Fishkill has revealed some deeper concerns than had been initially reported.
Fishkill Dunking the Clowns
By Michael Boyajian
Fishkill Town Supervisor Joan Pagones sat in the dunk the clown seat at a recent Fishkill street fair. You know the deal hit the bull’s eye and the seat drops the politician into a tub of cold water. Pagones went into the drink quite a few times that night.
Fishkill Audit Out, Deficit Balloons to $4.9 Million
By Michael Boyajian
The Poughkeepsie Journal reported today that the New York State Comptroller’s official audit of the Town of Fishkill is now out and it has found that the Town has been spending more than it has been taking in for several years which is sure to infuriate Tea Party elements within the town who have been big supporters of Town Supervisor Joan Pagones and that this deficit has ballooned to $4.9 million.
The Conditioning of America
By Michael Boyajian
When I was a kid in the 60s we would all hang around talking scary talk about how the Viet Cong or communists would break you down, exercise mind control on you, or brain wash you until you betrayed your country. Evidence was in North Korea where American soldiers went AWOL and chose to live forever there.
Voter Blow Back
By Michael Boyajian
The other day I finally realized there was a lot of voter discontent out there when I saw a bumper sticker that read, “Don’t Blame Me I Voted For Hillary.” Now recently this voter discontent was reinforced in my mind when I went door to door with a rising star in politics, Alyssa Kogon. Alyssa is running for the State Assembly in Dutchess County against Republican Joel Miller who has held the office for 16 years.
Talk Radio
By Michael Boyajian
There are two types of radio listeners out there. Those who listen to right wing talk radio and everyone else. Now the people listening to right wing radio are a wild eyed bunch driven to the extreme fringe of the political spectrum by mad dog radio host spewing a mix of hate and lunacy.