Matthew Arnold Stern's Blog, page 5

What we leave behind

I received a lot of wonderful gifts this holiday season. One of the most meaningful is a journal my son gave me, Dad, I Want to Hear Your Story. He might have noticed that I’ve been thinking a lot about legacy and things we leave behind, especially as we enter turbulent times. If we’re heading […]Related posts:How to write about the past“One small step for man…”Immortal

Lessons from 2024: You might as well be yourself

Maya Angelou said, “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” But what if someone doesn’t show you their true selves? Or they turn out to be different from what they claim to be? The media outlets who declared themselves defenders of the truth became purveyors of disinformation. Media personalities who […]Related posts:Interview with Lucy McLarenHow to tell the truthWhat I learned from earning Eagle Scout

Halfway between shock and horror

We’ve reached a halfway point between the shock of November 5 and the horror we know is coming January 20. We’ve acknowledged (I wouldn’t say accepted) the fact a new regime will take over, and nothing will stop it.  But in what appears to be the waning days of TikTok, I’ve seen a number of […]Related posts:The two paths to fameA cautionary tale about youth sportsThe art of selling out

The real “War on Christmas”

For around 25 years, we’ve been told there’s a “War on Christmas.” Supposedly, people aren’t allowed to say “Merry Christmas” anymore, and things like “Christmas bonuses” and “Christmas vacation” had to be rebranded to say “holiday.” For a while, I subscribed to the same concern. But in recent years, especially with the turn in our […]Related posts:How to keep Grinches from stealing your joyA (Marxist) Christmas CarolMy Top 10 Holiday Songs

“Or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?”

Spoilers ahead for the Wicked stage musical and movies, books, and The Wizard of Oz. “Are people born wicked? Or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?” These questions come up at the start of Wicked. As the story progresses, it becomes clear “wicked” says more about the people doing the labeling than the person […]Related posts:How to be smarterHow to write about heroes (and be one)Only empathy can save us now

Gratitude as self-defense

I’ve written before about the importance of gratitude in hard times, as a means of survival, and to appreciate what we still have. This year, gratitude is even more important. It’s a means of self-defense. Tyrants aren’t just satisfied with your compliance. They don’t just want you to fear, obey, and worship them. They want […]Related posts:Why gratitude is magicIs Thanksgiving a lie?Your identity, your self

The digital ghetto

Since the election, I’ve heard plenty of stories of Trump opponents disassociating themselves from Trump supporters. My wife, along with many of my friends, been unfriending their Trump-backing acquaintances on social media. People have been abandoning Twitter. (I refuse to call it X.) They’ve been moving to Threads and now Bluesky. Thanksgiving gatherings are being […]Related posts:2016 Parody: All We Talked About Was TrumpIt’s time to change your mindEvaluation: Donald Trump’s Acceptance Speech

Goodbye

This is not a suicide note, but a huge part of me died today. America didn’t fail, but it functioned as intended. A system designed to reward wealth and excuse privilege again elevated a craven and mediocre white man to the most powerful position in the land. When offered someone with competence and compassion, we […]Related posts:“Am I a good ally?”Write anywayElections and hernias

When winning means more

I get it. It’s only a game. The success or failure of millionaire players and billionaire team owners has no effect on our day-to-day lives. And yet, we spend more than we should on tickets, stadium food and drink, and caps and jerseys so we can share our devotion to a sports team. Our emotions […]Related posts:Lessons from a She-Fan (Updated)Dodgers versus AngelsSo, who do you like in the World Series?

“The least of these”

I’m not a Christian, but certain teachings of Jesus stick with me. One of them is Matthew 25:40, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” It’s true we’re judged by how we treat the “least of these.” This includes our pets. Pets have […]Related posts:Why you should write from your valuesThe dangers of being a good helperIs Thanksgiving a lie?