The Radical Middle

The Author

Chad Hermann is a writer, editor, blogger, husband, father, and freelance communication consultant living in Squirrel Hill.

He has no time for ideological purity, nor patience for political partisanship.  He believes in sense and reason and calling 'em as he sees 'em.

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The Mantra

"Extremism is so easy.  You've got your position, and that's it.  It doesn't take much thought.  And when you go far enough to the right you meet the same idiots coming around from the left." -- Clint Eastwood

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More Scenes From a G-20

(a sequel, if not yet a series)

Metal fences line Schenley Park Drive: black, tall, imposing, picking up where the Jersey barriers left off; one of the city’s natural jewels turned into a zoo, or a concentration camp, or both. And I think: all we need now is the razor wire on top.

A copse of black-clad officers at CMU: arms crossed, billy clubs protruding, standing sentry over the corner of the University Center where my boys used to love to run and laugh and squeeze themselves between the pillars. And I wonder: is the bookstore really in that much danger?

A sensible court ruling downtown: there are rights, but there are also responsibilities; exercising the first should not, and today happily does not, excuse you from the second. And I think: the first amendment is not a Get Out of Jail Free card.

Another school closing reminder in the backpack: official, unapologetic, just stating the facts; early dismissal tomorrow, no classes Thursday and Friday, the children must be kept home to be kept safe. And I wonder: what sorts of lessons do we learn from this?


Posted Sep 22 2009, 05:02 PM by Chad
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Thoughts on the G-20, the first | Pittsburgh Metblogs wrote Thoughts on the G-20, the first | Pittsburgh Metblogs
on Fri, Sep 25 2009 5:02 PM

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