Shortly after lunch yesterday, Gretchen began to receive frantic calls from the Associated American Federation of Educators, a well-known and powerful national lobby of K through 12 teachers here in Washington DC, urgently requesting a consultation as soon as possible. As it happened, the Turkish Foreign Under Secretary to the United States had to cancel… Continue reading Why Johnny (and Miguel and Tyrone) Can’t Read
Tag: opinion
Beware of Greeks Bearing Reparation Demands
Today, I received a visit from Dr. Vilaremetaftia Kolodaktilo. As regular readers of this Web log will recall, Dr. Kolodaktilo was once the Principal Secondary Assistant Mattachine Attaché for High Culture at the Greek Embassy here in Washington. Those readers may also recall that was several years ago, and under a different Greek government. Like… Continue reading Beware of Greeks Bearing Reparation Demands
Bible Thumpers Start Sweating an Indiana Jones
My four o’clock consultation today was with the Right Reverend Dr. Hezekiah Torquemada Hicks, D.D., Vice President for Public Relations at the Interstate Christian Commerce Committee here in Washington DC. “Greetings, sinner!,” he bellowed as he strode into my office, “Proclaim Jesus Christ as your Savior and repent! He will forgive you, and come Resurrection… Continue reading Bible Thumpers Start Sweating an Indiana Jones
Natural Born Hypocrites
Yesterday afternoon, around two o’clock, shortly after the departure of a distraught and pessimistic German banker and moments before the arrival of a deliriously optimistic Greek economist, Gretchen poked her head in between the heavy oak doors that separate my office from the reception area. “Mr. Collins,” she announced with an uncertain smile, “your nephew… Continue reading Natural Born Hypocrites
What’s a Measly Epidemic Among Neighbors?
Things were so hectic at the office today that leaving to eat lunch was simply not feasible. The new regime in Saudi Arabia, combined with the confrontation over debt resolution between Greece and the rest of the European Union had packed my schedule from six in the morning until eight at night. Amid the barrage… Continue reading What’s a Measly Epidemic Among Neighbors?