“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others” George Orwell, Animal Farm (1945) Recently, congresswoman Katie Porter had a riveting back-and-forth with JP Morgan Chase CEO, Jamie Dimon, regarding pay disparity to Chase employees. She cited an example of a single mother, living in California, who found herself in a monthly […]
“Have I gone mad? I’m afraid so, but let me tell you something, the best people usualy are.” It seems like only yesterday that I sat on a wooden chair in Ohio; seated at Cracker Barrel with my brother, sister, and Mother. During breakfast, my Mom pulled out a handful of family photos. It was […]
Of the six children in the Plaat family, there is one for which I am especially thankful; my big brother, Steve, who happens to have a birthday today. Over the years, Steve has been a rock of support for me. The first Plaat child to leave the state of Ohio, I followed him to California […]
I have to admit, this blog has been long overdue. For many years, I’ve bottled up these words; afraid to speak them, for fear of backlash, judgement, and retribution from loved ones. My concerns are well-founded. Sometimes, you learn what to say and what to hold back in order to advance the ‘better good’ of […]
A traditional figure in Indonesian culture is the Garuda; a mythical bird, often seen carrying a serpent in its’ talons. Carrying the serpent in the talons is representative of the power it has over the serpent. For most of my life, I was raised in a world of fear. Underneath all of the salvation the […]
Ancient Egyptians believed you were asked a series of 42 questions (link) upon entering the Hall of Judgement; the location one travels to upon their death. These questions determined whether or not an individual would pass on to be reborn in the fields of Amenti – where the broken fragments of their soul could be […]
As a follow-up to my previous blog, I’d like to share a poem I recently received from a friend of mine, Peter, who lives on the streets of Portland. Daily, Peter stands outside of Whole Foods, located in the Pearl District, and sells Street Roots newspapers to provide for his daily needs. On an average […]
In 1964, a woman was brutally raped and stabbed in Queens, New York. Kitty Genovese, a 28-year-old woman was coming home from work when she was violently assaulted. The assailant stabbed her repeatedly. When police found her body, they noticed multiple stab wounds in her hands; proof she tried to defend herself using nothing but […]
“Cor, my boy, if you feel scared to the point where your stomach is playing tricks on you, you’ve just began to even the odds.” On a day like today, I’m reminded of the above quote. It was spoken by my great-grandfather, to my grandfather. His father was a well-known big game hunter, who was […]
Nearly twelve years ago, I was sitting in a stark, white room in Columbus, Ohio. Sitting across from me was my Dad. When I saw him, my mind could only look back to moments of joy, laughter, and loving moments shared between Father and son; being thrown high into the air, only to land in […]