Posts by Joe Colletti
Remembering Author and Activist Upton Sinclair
Upton Sinclair passed away 50 years ago on November 25, 1968. He was a controversial figure to say the least. He was a prolific writer who is best remembered for his classic novel The Jungle, which was published in 1904. The publication placed him alongside the muckrakers during the Progressive Era period of the 1890s…
Read MoreAdvent, Attentiveness, and the Admiration of the Apollo 8 Assignment: A Complimentary Commemoration
Commemorating Advent is an annual event of the Christian Church. The Advent Season this year begins on Sunday, December 2 and always ends on December 24, Christmas Eve. Christians are encouraged to be attentive by keeping a four-week reflective vigil to prepare for the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas. Commemorating Apollo…
Read MoreCommemorating Armistice Day 100 Years Later: Allow Some Time to be Still and Sit in Silence-
Commemorating Armistice Day 100 Years Later-Allow Some Time to be Still and Sit in Silence- One hundred years ago yesterday, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, millions of soldiers laid down their guns to stop the fighting in order to bring an end to the first world war. This…
Read MoreFifty years ago come December 24 (Christmas Eve), 1968, the Apollo 8 mission changed how we see the earth and ourselves forever.
Apollo 8 launched on December 21, 1968 and took nearly three days (68 hours) to travel the distance to the moon. The three astronauts aboard were Frank Borman, James Lovell Jr., and Bill Anders. The latter was the mission photographer. Changed how we see the earth forever Bill Anders captured an image of the earth…
Read MoreCommemorating the Birth of Nelson Mandela By Remembering What He Was Prepared to Die For
Nelson Mandela was born a 100 years ago on July 18, 1918. He dedicated his life to ending the apartheid system in South Africa, which happened shortly after his release from prison during the early 1990s. On April 20, 1964, Nelson Mandela gave what many feel was his greatest speech. He delivered it from the…
Read MoreThe Strong and the Soft Side of Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorating His Life and Legacy 50 Years Later
The Strong and the Soft Side of Martin Luther King Jr.Commemorating His Life and Legacy 50 Years Later We hear more often about the strong side of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. than his soft side, which is suitable because of his serious and steadfast search for social justice. His words were often powerful and…
Read MoreHonor Martin Luther King’s Dream by Reflecting on His Last Speech
Joe Colletti, PhDApril 3, 2018 It was 50 years ago today that Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) gave his last speech at the Mason Temple (Church of God in Christ Headquarters) in Memphis, Tennessee during the evening before the day he was assassinated. His speech has been entitled “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” and also…
Read MoreHomelessness Increases in Merced County
There were 514 adults and children counted as homeless on January 25, 2018, which was the designated time of the Merced County 2018 Homeless Count and Survey. This represents an increase of 13.2% when compared to the 454 adults and children counted as homeless in 2017 as noted in the following table. Of the 514…
Read MoreLent, Fasting, Cesar Chavez, Robert F. Kennedy, and Justice
Ask yourself the questions based on lessons learned by Chavez and Kennedy at the very end of this reflection On March 10, 1968, which is 50 years ago today, labor leader and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez offered Senator Bobby Kennedy a piece of the bread he was given to break his 25 day fast…
Read MoreCommemorating the Life of Fredrick Douglass Who Was Born 200 Years Ago
What Does the Social Reformer and Ash Wednesday Have in Common? Social reformer Fredrick Douglass (c. February 1818 – February 20, 1895) was born into slavery 200 years ago. He did not know the exact date. Nevertheless, he chose February 14 as the day to celebrate his birthday. This year, Ash Wednesday, the first day of…
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