Bad News, Bad News

"Nobody likes the man who brings bad news."
—Sophocles

"Grief" -- 24"x 24" Acrylic on panel. 

It''s a stubborn feature of human nature: we often confuse the message with the messenger. Bad news disrupts comfort, threatens hope, and forces reckoning, so our irritation or fear seeks an outlet. Rather than grapple with the reality being reported, we turn on the person who delivers it. This instinct appears in families, politics, workplaces, and even religion, where truth-tellers are labeled as negative, disloyal, or cruel simply for naming what others would rather avoid saying

Sophocles' quote also exposes a moral hazard. Societies and leaders that punish bearers of bad news slowly lose access to truth. This brings to mind an observation by Pixar's Ed Catmull in his book Creativity, Inc., "If there is more truth in the hallways than in meetings, you have a problem." In other words, when honesty carries social cost, people learn to soften, delay, or conceal reality. What begins as a desire for emotional comfort becomes a system of self-deception. Sophocles, who wrote Greek tragedies, understood that catastrophe often follows not from ignorance alone but from hostility toward warning.

Yet the quote also invites humility from the messenger. Bad news need not be delivered with relish or contempt. Courage, compassion and empathy must travel together. This is part of the problem with our toxic social media culture. There is seldom empathy, only outrage.

The challenge is to speak truth clearly without delighting in the pain it brings—and to hear truth without demanding pleasantness as a condition before accepting it.

Sophocles' observation applies on many fronts. It explains why whistleblowers are often shunned and why reformers are resisted. It's why leaders reward flattery over honesty and why families avoid difficult conversations. 

The truth stings, but it's better than the alternatives.  

Grace Unbound: Memoir of an Orthodox Bishop Who Takes the Roads Not Taken

"The first step of any great journey can be the riskiest one of all."

So begins the descriptor on Amazon.com for Grace Unbound: The Sacred Activism of an Orthodox Bishop (published May 2025). The book is a co-authored memoir/true story by Bishop Demetrios C. Kantzavelos (also referred to as Bishop Demetrios or Fr. Demetri) and Patra McSharry Sevastiades, with a foreword by Bill Kurtis. It chronicles Bishop Demetrios's personal journey as a Greek Orthodox priest in Chicago who unexpectedly becomes a prominent social activist, grounding his work in Christian faith, compassion, and the belief that every human life is sacred and made in the image of God.

The narrative centers on two pivotal encounters that transformed his ministry. The first took place in 1992, amid the height of the AIDS crisis. The newly ordained Fr. Demetri visited Bob, a dying man abandoned by his own parish priest due to fear and stigma. This act of compassion sparked his calling to AIDS ministry and the founding the Bishop’s Task Force on AIDS in the Greek Orthodox Diocese (later Metropolis) of Chicago. It became the first such Orthodox Christian initiative in the western hemisphere, offering resources, workshops, and pastoral care. Despite initial resistance and skepticism within his own church, the effort expanded nationally, addressing misinformation and providing support during a time of widespread fear.    

Seven years later, in 1999, Fr. Demetri was called to visit Andrew (Andrew Kokoraleis), a convicted gang member on death row for a gruesome murder (part of the "Ripper Crew" case). Andrew, who maintained his innocence and had a tragic background, became a focal point for the priest's advocacy. Grappling with moral complexities—justice for victims, empathy for the condemned, societal demands, and Christian mercy—Fr. Demetri visited him repeatedly, appealing to the governor, and ultimately joining broader efforts to halt Andrew's imminent execution. When clemency was denied and the execution proceeded, the experience propelled him into an 11-year campaign against the death penalty in Illinois.  

The book weaves these stories with reflections on faith, resilience, redemption, and the true cost of living out the Gospel. It argues that social activism—ministering to the sick, imprisoned, and marginalized—is not a departure from Orthodox tradition but a reclamation of it, confronting "social unrighteousness" while affirming life and human dignity. Themes include internal church struggles, interfaith collaboration, personal doubts, family moments, and mentorship from figures like Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago. 

In Grace Unbound, Orthodox Christianity provided the spiritual foundation for Bishop Demetrios’s activism, following a call to live out Christ’s love through service and compassion, as highlighted in the book’s themes of sacred activism and empathy. The faith’s focus on theosis—becoming more like God through acts of love—underscores Demetrios’s efforts to minister to marginalized individuals like Bob (dying of AIDS) and Andrew (on death row for murder), showing how Orthodox principles can inspire social justice. Co-author Patra Sevastiades’s storytelling captures this blend of faith and action, making the book a powerful example of Orthodoxy’s relevance in addressing modern challenges.

Through Patra and her husband Dean Casperson, who live here in Duluth, I've  learned a few things about the Greek Orthodox Church that I'd not known before. For example, the Greek Orthodox Church broke off from Roman Catholicism in 1054 and made Constantinople its center, an event called The Great Schism. Unlike the Roman branch, which gives all authority to the Pope, the Eastern church rejected papal supremacy and governs through bishops, with the Patriarch of Constantinople as first among equals, not a ruler. There are several theological differences as well. In addition, Greek Orthodox priests can marry, whereas Catholic priests make a promise to remain celibate.

The Greek Orthodox emphasis on compassion, community, and spiritual depth is the primary driver for Demetrios in Grace Unbound. Its rich traditions and focus on personal transformation align with themes of empowerment and purpose, encouraging readers to see faith as a catalyst for meaningful change, much like Demetrios’s journey.

I'll close with these excerpts from reviews on Amazon.com.

Bishop Demetrios has written a compelling, deeply personal and highly engaging book that would appeal to ANY reader of non-fiction. Grace Unbound is written from a faith-based point of view but does not demand or assume belief from the reader. It's an easy read that draws you in quickly. It's grounded in lived experience – part memoir, part true crime, and part history and the result is inspiring, thoughtful, and surprisingly accessible to anyone interested in human stories, moral complexity and justice.

* * * 

What makes Grace Unbound particularly powerful is its balance of timeless truths and timely relevance. Whether reflecting on Scripture, personal stories, or the challenges of contemporary life, Bishop Demetrios draws the reader into a conversation that is both intimate and universal. His message is clear: no wound is too deep, no distance too great, and no soul too lost for the reach of God’s grace.

* * * 

The book blends theological reflection with personal anecdotes and practical examples, illustrating how Orthodox Christianity can inspire meaningful engagement with social issues and community needs. Bishop Demetrios advocates for a dynamic faith that goes beyond institutional boundaries, urging believers to embody Christ’s love through active service and social justice.

For more information or to purchase: Grace Unbound: The Sacred Activism of an Orthodox Bishop

A Letter to Micah, June 1991, When My Son Was Five

To my son Micah, whose dream it is to one day be an animal doctor:

When I think of special moments we have shared, it is fitting that so many of them have something to do with animals. Whether it's petting goats at the county fair or praying for the animals that died in the war because of the "mean man" who poured oil into the Persian Gulf, your sensitivity and love for nature will always be precious to me.

One memory that especially stands out for me is the day your friend Nate brought you a toad. It was the week of your fourth birthday. Do you remember how much fun we had last summer with Mr. Beaver? (You named him after Nate's dad, Mr. Beaver, who caught him for you.) Nate's mom made a very nice home for him inside a fishbowl, with rocks, some small plants, dirt and a little water hole. The only thing missing was, well, his dinner.

Until that day, I always thought toads were sluggish and dull. Then we put in that first little grasshopper.

At first, it seemed like the toad didn't notice he had company. Then suddenly Blip! a pink tongue whipped out from his mouth and snatched that little hopper right up. It happened so fast we almost missed it.

"Let's go catch another one!" you said as you raced to the door.

After two more grasshoppers we found a spider. "Think he likes spiders?" I said as we dropped a daddy longlegs into the bowl. Seconds later Mr. Beaver gobbled him up with a sideways flick of the tongue.

After the spider, it seemed time for something more challenging. As we crossed the back yard I saw a bumble bee, the huge, scary kind. "What do you think?" I asked, and your eyes just glowed.

At the kitchen table we carefully dropped the bee into the toad's fishbowl home and instantly Mr. Beaver brightened up again, eagerly leaning forward as if crouched to pounce. The bee seemed to deliberately keep to the furthest part of the bowl, but the longer the bee stayed away from him, the more eager Mr. Beaver became, crawling forward almost cat-like toward the middle of the fishbowl, then pulling back, then creeping forward again. I have never seen a toad look so alert.

And we, too, were alert, our eyes wide as we leaned forward on our elbows, watching.

For more than five minutes the bee kept his distance, but then, he began flying nearer and Blip! Glump! that big bee completely disappeared. After a few seconds, Mr. Beaver seemed to cough, then he opened his mouth a couple more times like he was burping. In the end, he looked very satisfied.

Thank you, Micah, for giving me fresh eyes to see anew the wonders of this world that is so exciting for you and precious to us all. Don't ever let me take it for granted.

* * * 

Postscript: Micah never became an animal doctor.

He instead went to culinary school and has served 

as a line cook, sous chef and head chef at some

very fine restaurants.

One Mighty and Irresistible Tide: The Epic Struggle Over American Immigration

"We have all been here before; we have all been here before."
--David Crosby, Déjà Vu

With immigration policy at the center of our national conversation, I went to the library last week to find a specific book that was referenced in an online debate. What I found (among other things) was another intriguing title: One Mighty and Irresistible Tide: The Epic Struggle Over Immigration.

Before tackling our current immigration issues I wanted to set the stage by outlining the various stages of our own immigration history, The Seven Eras of U.S. Immigration History.

Jia Lynn Yang's book, One Mighty and Irresistible Tide, is a well documented deep dive into the decades-long battle over U.S. immigration policy from the passage of the restrictive Immigration Act of 1924 through the enactment of the transformative Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. In other words, it covers Era Five of the seven periods. 

The 1920's was a strange time in our history. Many people have images of flapper girls and wild parties, inspired by F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. It was also an era of gangsters and turf wars generated by the Volstead Act (Prohibition). Simultaneously, we have images of a "lost generation," the young veterans of WWI having returned to a society they didn't understand, that didn't really understand them either. (See "Soldier's Home" by Hemingway in his first small volume of short stories, In Our Time.)

The early 1900s was also a time when the Eugenics movement gained significant traction,  legalizing sterilization in 33 states lest "inferiors" reproduce. Eugenics was seen as a means for addressing overpopulaton and "over-multiplication of the unfit and unintelligent," among other societal problems. Promoted by intellectual elites, the eugenics movement reached its apex in the early 1930s. More han 66,000 Americans were sterilized against their will.

We should also note here that the Ku Klux Klan had had a rebirth at the beginning of the last century as well and were well represented in politics. According to the Congressional Record the Klan elected about 16 U.S. Senators as well as 11 governors, along with an undetermined large number of congressmen. "Undetermined" means that not all federal officeholders were openly affiliated with the Klan, but owed their electoral success, in part, to Klan support. (This surge in Klan power also contributed to mass migration of blacks from the Deep South to industrial centers in the North. But that's another story.)

The combination of these factors contributed to passage of the 1924 Immigration Act, which imposed ethnically based national quotas on immgration, sharply curtailing immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe and nearly banning immigrants from Asia, reflecting widespread nativism and racial prejudice of the era.

Yang's book follows the political struggle to dismantle these discriminatory quotas over the next forty years, focusing on the efforts of key lawmakers, activists, and presidents—from Emanuel Celler, Herbert Lehman, and civil rights advocates to presidents like John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson—who worked to build coalitions for reform.

This long campaign culminated in the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, which abolished the national-origins quota system and created a new immigration framework emphasizing family reunification and skills. That legislation dramatically reshaped America’s demographic landscape and opened U.S. immigration to people from Asia, Africa, and Latin America in unprecedented numbers.

Yang frames much of this history through personal context—drawing on her own family’s immigrant experience—while illustrating how the yesterday's debates over immigration policy resonate with ongoing controversies today.

Related Links
One Mighty and Irresistible Tide (Amazon reviews and more)
A More Perfect Union: Eugenics In America
Birth Selection vs Birth Control
Ideas Have Consequences. Bad Ideas Have Bad Consequences.
The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

Minnesota Caucuses Next Tuesday: An Important Step Toward Keeping the Lights On

Minnesotans: We Need Your Help On An Important Issue

In the Minnesota caucus system, party platforms are built bottom-up, not written all at once by national leaders. They emerge through layers of meetings, resolutions, and negotiations that start with ordinary party members and move upward.

This process is used (with variations) by both the DFL Party and the Republican Party, especially in states with strong caucus traditions. I myself once participated in this caucus system which begins at the grassroots local level, the moves to the district level, then to the state and ultimately to federal level. In short, party platforms emerge through layers of meetings, resolutions, and negotiations that start with ordinary party members and move upward.

It's at the precinct level that platform planks (policy statements) are proposed, debated and voted upon. If you attend your local caucus meeting, YOU can make a difference.

When I became (briefly) involved in party politics (1984), I spoke up about an issue which was passed and elevated to the district level. Because I was apparently articulate, I also (unintentionally) got "elected" (chosen) to become part of the district level where I served on the platform committee. In our district we had hundreds, perhaps thousands of of "statements" to review and syntheisize into a workable platform which will be voted on item by item in the district convention. The resolutions that passed in the district convention would be forwarded to the State Convention. The state level committee also has an open ear to activists, experts and party leaders. Ultimately from there these state platform planks are submitted to the National body (GOP, DNC) to become the "official" party platform.

Today's MISO energy mix, Feb 1, 2026.
Once Minnesota eliminates coal and gas, 
nuclear will be essential for steady power
because wind and sun are intermittent.

FOR THE 2026 MINNESOTA CONVENTION there is an especially important platform item to address.

Currently there is a plank on the DFL platform that asserts being opposed to nuclear power. If you are attending a DFL caucus meeting, write a resolution to remove the plank opposing nuclear and to lift the moratorium.

In February 2023, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed the Clean Energy Acceleration Act, mandating 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040, with interim targets of 80% by 2030 and 90% by 2035. This ambitious goal, while supported by utilities, faces significant hurdles, including the 1994 moratorium banning new nuclear power plants – a critical source of reliable, carbon-free baseload power.  

With energy demand rising due to data centers, electric vehicles and industrial growth, and with the North American Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC) classifying Minnesota’s region as “high risk” for outages under extreme conditions, experts warn that without nuclear energy, the 2040 target may be unattainable. Despite setbacks in the 2024 legislative session, advocates like Generation Atomic have made substantial progress toward lifting the moratorium, laying the groundwork for a cleaner, more reliable energy future.

NERC’s 2024 assessment highlights Minnesota as one of the most vulnerable to outages, especially as coal plants retire faster than replacements are built. The 1994 moratorium prevents utilities from planning new nuclear facilities, limiting options for consistent, carbon-free power.

Nuclear power is clean, safe, and carbon-free. Minnesota has committed to de-carbonizing its electric grid by 2040, but currently prohibits the building of new nuclear plants. Our coalition is working to remove this outdated law.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: https://mnnuclear.org/
For more information regarding the DFL Party Platform Change, Signup Here.

Nuclear power is clean, safe, and carbon-free. Minnesota has committed to de-carbonizing its electric grid by 2040, but currently prohibits the building of new nuclear plants. Our coalition is working to remove this outdated law.

The Most Recent Cold Snap

On January 24, the electric system across the central U.S. came close to serious trouble during a winter storm. The grid operator for the region issued a warning that means electricity supplies were tight and blackouts were getting closer if conditions worsened.

One major reason was that wind power dropped sharply just when demand was high. During the cold weather, wind speeds fell, and many wind turbines produced very little electricity. Before the storm, wind farms were supplying a strong share of power. By midnight on January 24, they were producing only a small fraction of what planners normally expect in winter.

While living in Puerto Rico for a year in 1979-80, I experience blackouts and brownouts almost weekly. This was disruptive, but not really deadly for the average citizen. Temps are 70 to 90 degrees year 'round there. But this past week while the MISO* grid was stretched to the max, temps were 20 to 30 below zero. Blackouts will have serious consequences for homeowners who have plumbing. (And who doesn't these days?)

* * * 

Groups align to lift Minnesota's nuclear energy ban

https://www.businessnorth.com/businessnorth_exclusives/groups-align-to-lift-minnesotas-nuclear-energy-ban/article_a3a4761d-afa7-4458-bc7a-43df54eb70a7.html

Why Nuclear is Cheaper than Wind and Solar

https://energybadboys.substack.com/p/why-nuclear-is-cheaper-than-wind

Germany's Merz calls nuclear phaseout 'serious strategic mistake'

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/germanys-merz-calls-nuclear-phaseout-serious-strategic-mistake/3800545?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

Germany shut down its last three nuclear reactors in April 2023, marking the end of more than 60 years of nuclear power generation in Europe's largest economy.

* MISO = Midcontinent Independent System Operator, serving electrical power to 15 states in the center of the country from Manitoba and Minnesota to the Gulf Coast

The Seven Eras of U.S. Immigration History

Coming to America. Ellis Island.

When my children were growing up, we would take them to NewYork City each time we went out east to see my parents and brothers who lived in Eastern Pennsylvania. On one occasion we went to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. While growing up I'd been to these sites several times but on this last visit I noticed something I'd not seen before. Immigrants came in waves. I was struck, for example, by the tidal wave of people who fled Eastern Europe during the pogroms of the early 1900s.

Recalling Ellis Island, and the current disruptive events surrounding immigration matters, prompted me to assemble this outline of our nation's immigration history. It is my aim to follow up with additional thoughts. But first, this outline as a means of establishing a context.

U.S. IMMIGRATION HISTORY

A chronological overview of the major immigration waves into the United States, starting in the 1600s, with their primary causes 

1. Colonial Era Immigration (1600s–1775)

Who came: English Puritans, Anglicans, Scots-Irish, Germans (Palatines from war-torn region of the Rhine River), Enslaved Africans (forced migration).

Reasons why they came:
Religious persecution (Puritans, Quakers)
Economic opportunity (land, trade)
Political instability in Europe
Forced labor to sustain colonial economies

EdNote: Enslaved Africans were not immigrants by choice, but their arrival profoundly shaped U.S. history and demographics.

2. Early Republic & Open Immigration (1780s–1840s)

Who came: Germans, Scots-Irish, English artisans and farmers

Reasons why they came:
Cheap or free land
Political upheaval in Europe

---Few legal restrictions on immigration
---Rapid westward expansion

EdNote: The U.S. largely welcomed immigrants with minimal regulation.

3. Mid-19th Century Mass Migration (1840s–1860s)

Who came: Irish, Germans, Chinese (especially to the West Coast)

Reasons why they came:
Irish Potato Famine
European revolutions (1848)
Gold Rush & railroad construction
Industrial labor demand

EdNote: This wave triggered the first major anti-immigrant backlash (Know-Nothing movement).

Related Link: The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

4. Industrial Age “New Immigration” (1880–1924)

Ellis Island. Immigrants awaiting examination

Who came: Italians Jews from Eastern Europe, Poles, Hungarians, Greeks, Japanese (West Coast & Hawaii)
Reasons why they came:

Industrial jobs
Poverty & pogroms
Steamship travel made migration affordable
Chain migration through family networks

EdNote: This is the largest voluntary immigration wave in U.S. history.

5. Restriction Era (1924–1965).

Who came: Very limited European immigration, Mexican laborers (temporary programs), Internal migration of African Americans (Great Migration)

Reasons why they came:
Immigration Act of 1924 imposed ethnic quotas

Racist and eugenic thinking dominated policy

WWII labor shortages led to temporary exceptions

EdNote: This era dramatically reshaped who could not come.

6. Post-1965 Global Immigration Wave (1965–1990s)

Who came: Latin Americans, Asians (China, India, Philippines, Korea), Refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos
Reasons why they came:

Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965

Family reunification rules
Cold War refugee policy
Post-colonial global instability

EdNote: This law ended race-based quotas and transformed U.S. demographics.

7. Contemporary Immigration (1990s–Present)

Who comes:
Mexico & Central America
South & East Asia
Africa (growing share)

Reasons why they came:
Economic inequality
Political violence  
Global labor demand (tech, healthcare)
Family reunification

EdNote: Immigration today is more global than ever, but also more politically contested.

The Recurring Big Picture Pattern

Across 400+ years, U.S. immigration waves follow a repeating rhythm:

Push factors (famine, war, persecution)
Pull factors (jobs, land, safety)
Political resistance once numbers grow

Each wave was once seen as a “threat.”
Each eventually became part of the American mainstream.

Questions for Discussion

--When did your families arrive on America? What may have been the reasons they left their homelands to come here?    

--In what ways has immigration contributed to the evolution of American identity—from the "melting pot" ideal to modern "tossed salad" of multiculturalism—and how might acknowledging diverse immigrant histories challenge or enrich our national narrative?                                                                
--Over the past 70 years, how many immigrants have come to our borders because of economic hardships and social disruptions as a result of regime change shenanigans sponsored or instigated by U.S. covert actions?