Public Writing

A collection of 67 posts

Public Writing

The Receipts Democracy Can’t Discard

Marginal Communities, Semiotic Realism, and the Limits of Dewey's Democratic Inquiry *This is a reading copy (without citations or footnotes) of an academic conference paper I gave at The Institute for American Religious and Philosophical Thought (IARPT) on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. For the general audience explainer, see

Albany Democrat Herald

“War is a good time to reflect on a law not enforced”

On Saturday, the United States launched “Operation Epic Fury” against Iran. President Trump said its purpose was to defend democracy and American freedom. Albany will be asked to send its sons and daughters. We always do. Before we do, I want to ask Senator Ron Wyden a question he has

Albany Democrat Herald

Wyden Suppressing Accountability

*Originally published on November 5, 2024 by the Albany Democrat-Herald and the Corvallis Gazette-Times. Section 4712 of the 2009 Hate Crimes Prevention Act, known as The Soldiers Amendment, created criminal enhancements for Americans targeting military families “on account of their service.” But the Department of Justice has never

Albany Democrat Herald

A Call for a New MIA

*Originally published on July 2, 2024, by the Albany Democrat Herald. July 2 is the 60th anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, a landmark bill that seemed to realize Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream that his four kids would “one day live in a nation where

Ron Wyden

Hope for Accountability

*Originally published on May 10, 2024, by the Albany Democrat Herald. In January 2005, I was an artilleryman in Iraq for its first free and fair elections after toppling Saddam Hussein’s regime. I learned the hard way that democracy is not a spectator sport and that everyone should be

Public Writing

4th Of July Is An Opportunity

*Originally published July 4, 2022 by The Daily Caller. Fifteen years ago, I waded into the pool of an apartment complex in Waikiki on the island of Oahu. Moments later I would be immersed in the warm, pee-infused water to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son,

Red Letter Christians

There Can Be No Justice Without #GIJustice

MLK already told us, and we could always use a friendly reminder.

Public Writing

#ProtectOurVets: What it Really Means to Support our Troops

GIs need justice, not pity.

Public Writing

“Veterans Deserve Civil Rights Protections Too”

*Originally published on November 8, 2017 by The Hill. Veterans are at a disadvantage in America. American veterans face disproportionately high rates of under-employment, exploitation and homelessness, as well as a lack of access to the physical and mental health resources they require. These factors, combined with the silencing

Public Writing

Bridging the Divide Between Veterans & Confederate Statues

Getting the story straight about monuments to war dead.

Public Writing

Diversify Diversity

Don't jettison protections, distribute them more evenly

ACADEMIC

"For What it’s Worth”

Originally published at Symposium: Killing from the Inside Out (Syndicate Theology Sep. 2015) Bob Meagher is a professor of Humanities at Hampshire College who has been a good friend to me ever since we served together as commissioners (and I also provided my testimony) for the 2010 Truth Commission on

Public Writing

Good Friday: (A Homily) Left Without Deliverance

A short piece of creative fiction included in Joshua Terry’s 2016 self-published Point Man. Holy Fuck. Sacred and profane so near one another they kiss, they cannot be distinguished. Death and life, giver and taker, embraced in one. Holy Fuck!  Holy.  Fuck.  Holy  A word that means “set

Huffington Post

More to Just War Than Just War

*Originally published on April 10, 2016, by The Huffington Post. From April 11-13, Pax Christi is convening a conference in Rome to pursue "the explicit rejection" of what is known as the "just war" tradition (JWT). Although I have considered myself a pacifist, to the

coursework

"Catastrophe Repeated? A Theological Review of Alasdair MacIntyre’s After Virtue"

First published in 1981, Alasdair MacIntyre's After Virtue is the first work of his "mature" period, at the age of 52. A beautifully crafted argument with clear transitions between individual claims (and chapters), its clarity certainly contributed to its wide readership and critical acclaim. Though it

Public Writing

Advice to Seminary Professors

*Originally published on June 30, 2015 by Faith and Leadership. A Christian combat veteran offers guidance for seminary professors whose students include veterans. July 4th, 2015, marks my ninth “rebirthday” – the anniversary of my baptism, which triggered a chain of events that culminated in my honorable discharge from the Army.

Public Writing

The War Cry

*Published on May 19, 2015, in Coming Home: Ministry that Matters with Veterans and Military Families by Chaplain Zachary Moon (Chalice Press) The centurion had heard about a local healer who could work miracles. He had been told that a few of his men had stolen away one day to

Christian Century

“Soldier saints, then and now”

*Originally published on November 6, 2014, by The Christian Century. It has since been removed. From All Saints until Veterans Day, I’m posting a blog series on soldier saints at Centurions Guild. “Ten Saints, Ten Days” explores ten lives, their context, and their relevance to soldiers today. In the

Huffington Post

Celebrating Martinmas on Veterans Day

*Originally published on November 22, 2013 by The Huffington Post. Last year, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops approved a nation-wide collection to benefit the Archdiocese for the Military Services, to be garnered “every three years proximate to Veteran's Day or a similar strategic date beginning

Huffington Post

Veterans at Duke: Optimistic Face Masks a Troubling Reality

*Originally published on November 11, 2013, by The Huffington Post. As I prepared to head to Duke University, as the first person in my family to pursue a masters degree, I felt I had made a great choice. Besides funding my education, my experience as an Iraq War veteran was

Christian Century

A Christian and a soldier

*Originally published on November 1, 2013, by The Christian Century. It has since been removed. Growing up in my Presbyterian youth group, we read about the Bible’s centurions with the assumption that they’re the antagonists. They help arrest Jesus, nail his hands and feet to the cross, mock

Red Letter Christians

Sergeant Francis

Posttraummatic stress created the saint we know today.

Red Letter Christians

Why I Am Against "Gay" Marriage

And you should be too.

RELEVANT

Unlearning War

*Originally published on March 27, 2013, by Relevant Magazine. Ten years ago this month, the U.S. government, claiming a connection between the September 11th attacks and dictator Saddam Hussein, invaded Iraq. At the time, it was difficult to find a critical mass decrying, or even cautioning against, the rush

Public Writing

Serving Veterans at Home

*Originally published on November 12, 2012 by Duke Chronicle. This Veterans Day will mark the 12th year our nation has been at war. The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have brought America millions of new veterans, among other things. They have served under conditions unthinkable just one generation ago: deployments