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Barbara Falconer Newhall

Veteran journalist Barbara Falconer Newhall riffs on life as she knows it.

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rhetoric

Too Many Angry Diatribes. Not Enough Tact. Why?

June 7, 2025 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

Too any angry diatribes. Not enough tact. Why? please-slow-down-sign

On the air and in cyberspace: too many angry diatribes, not enough tact. Do we — you and I — really want to tone things down?  Read more.

The Art of Rhetoric — If a Two-Year-Old Can Master It, So Can You

December 28, 2024 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

2-year-old-in-ink-sweater

Even my toddler knew how to ply the art of rhetoric. It’s something we humans use every day, on each other, starting at an early age.  Read more.

Is Hamas Evil? Is Anybody Evil? Am I? Are You?

October 14, 2023 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

joe-biden-speaks-Is-anybody-evil

Is anybody truly evil? Is Hamas? Am I? Are you? Or are we humans evolved — created? — to be sometimes kind, sometimes cruel?  Read more.

Why Do ‘Those People’ Make Me So Mad? A Philosopher Sheds Some Light. Sheltering at Home Week 20

July 29, 2020 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

Stars and Stripes. In a message to those people, a man hangs the American flag on the front of his house. Photo by Barbara Newhall

When we address “those people,” do we really want to be heard? Or do we just want to get mad, feel righteous and force our desired outcomes on those “other” people? Read more.

I Decided to Stop Bad-Mouthing Donald Trump. But Will I?

November 17, 2016 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

Donald Trump victorious on cable TV. I'm going to stop bad-mouthing Donald Trump. Photo by Barbara Newhall

Last Tuesday night I made a decision. I decided to stop bad-mouthing Donald Trump. I would give him a chance. I’d keep an open mind. But could I? Read more.

Which Way America? Compassion With Francis? Or Vitriol With Trump?

September 26, 2015 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

Cover of Pope Francis' book, "Open Mind, Faithful Heart." With a picture of the pope.

Pope Francis and Donald Trump couldn’t be more different — in the way they respect (Francis) and disrespect (Donald) their fellow human beings. Read more.

The (Two-Year-Old) Rhetorician at Our House

February 15, 2013 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

Two-year-old girl enjoys her bottle in her crib with blankies. Photo by BF Newhall

What’s rhetoric? I’ve always thought of it as the high-flown language of politics. But really, it’s something we humans do all the time, and that includes the two-year-old humans among us.

 

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ON THE FUNNY SIDE

It’s Spring and My Garden Looks Dreadful. Here’s Why

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My garden looks dreadful. Here’s why. My plants won’t cooperate. The iris wants to be an iris. The azalea, an azalea. The poppy, a poppy.  Read more.

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