Ways of Seeing: What do we want? Nuance!

It is not a “pro-Palestinian” statement, neither is it a “pro-Israel” statement. Simply put, it is pro-listening and pro-learning. It invites us to ask questions of one another, to listen to (and for) difference and to sit down and talk about it.

Ways of Seeing: Curiosity helps during tough times

When I wrote my most recent Addy Indy column, I was in a state of psychic shock. It was just days after the October 7th attack on Israel by Hamas.

Ways of Seeing: Conflict calls for ‘wakefullness’

In these unbearably long weeks since Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attacks on Israel, acts of really listening to one another have been in very short supply.

Ways of Seeing: ‘Climate chaos summer’ persists

The harsh reality is that this summer is emerging as a no-holds-barred Climate Chaos Summer.

Ways of Seeing: Seeing is (and is not) believing

By the mid-afternoon of June 7th, Manhattan was shrouded in a thick, toxic, orange haze of wildfire-induced particulate matter.

Ways of Seeing: An invite to the Passover Table

Early spring almost always ushers me into a spirit of possibility.

Ways of Seeing: Advent is a blessing to all faiths

It may seem blasphemous to write this, but I’m a Jew who loves Advent.

Ways of Seeing: Why I’ve started talking to trees

About a year ago, I was invited to be a speaker on a scholarly panel that would address Richard Powers’ much applauded novel, “The Overstory.”

Ways of Seeing: Summer reading list takes shape

One of the great ironies of my profession is the pervasive feeling that I never have time to read.

Ways of seeing: Titans of the arts taught curiosity

Like so many ancient trees in a sacred grove, the titans who have shaped my own history have fallen one by one in a mere matter of weeks: bell hooks, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, E.O. Wilson, Joan Didion, Sarah Weddington, Stephen Sondheim, Betty White and, j … (read more)

Ways of seeing: COVID yields to hugs, new friends

This past week was a momentous one in a way that I could have never foreseen: I hugged four friends for the first time in over a year. Of course, all COVID precautions and necessary security clearances were clearly established before any hugging could pro … (read more)

Ways of Seeing: ‘1776’ set the stage for ‘Hamilton’

Every Broadway musical theater freak has a dream role. The last time I publicly pronounced mine was during a mic check for the Middlebury Community Players’ 2017 production of “Working.” To ensure that the sound system was functioning properly, each cast … (read more)

Ways of Seeing: COVID, the classroom and me

“So, what is it like for you?” more than one friend has asked. My response depends on the day, sometimes the hour. “Confusing,” seems like a semi-accurate reply, but it scarcely captures the sense of existential vertigo that everyone I know seems to be fe … (read more)

Ways of Seeing: Defying the darkness

Once again, the days are getting shorter, the hours of darkness are growing longer and the quest for any and all forms of light becomes correspondingly more acute. Yesterday evening my spouse walked in the door with a string of LED lights in her hands, bo … (read more)

Ways of Seeing: Pondering bread, smelling the roses

Ah, the simple pleasures of summer: a cup of coffee, salt air, a sunny deck and the best vegan oatmeal raspberry bar I have ever tasted. Why sun and coffee? That needs no explanation. Why the salt air? Because while summer in Vermont is indeed a gift from … (read more)