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Thomas G. Palaima

blue sky filled with stars and one bright northern star with nativity scene silhouette beneath

Only When it is Dark Enough, Can You See the Stars

December 23, 2019 by Thomas G. Palaima

In Christian thought and practice, Christmas is about an innocent baby born into poverty in a livestock manger. He is also identified as the prince of peace and is revered as the son of God by wise men from fabled eastern cultures that had created and practiced their forms of high civilization for several thousands […]

See the Unseen: Help our Vets Heal Through Art and Performance

October 15, 2019 by Thomas G. Palaima

We miss a lot that is important in life because we are busy with our day-to-day concerns. When we do have leisure time, we choose mindless activities for good reasons. It does our souls good to vacate our minds.  Right after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 traumatized our nation, our president advised us: […]

Veterans Ceremony

Consider War Stories Without Romanticizing Them

November 11, 2018 by Thomas G. Palaima

For as long as there have been wars — which in human history is forever — there have been stories about war. They stretch back to Homer’s riveting epic songs of the battlefield — the “Iliad” — and of returning home from it — the “Odyssey.” They come forward in truly sensitive films like Richard […]

Tom Palaima and his dog, Tater

Life Is Very Big and We Are All So Small

January 5, 2018 by Thomas G. Palaima

The Romans called the first month of the new year January because, like the two- faced god Janus, we look to things ahead even as we glance back at where we were. If you’re like me, with over 60 years of tail wind, you might share my feeling that whatever you choose to do, you’ll […]

Tom Palaima's grandparent's house in Cleveland, Ohio.

Tis the Season to Learn About Our Loved Ones

December 19, 2017 by Thomas G. Palaima

During the two big traditional family holidays in the United States from late November through late December, we celebrate with the family and friends who can gather around us. Year to year, we notice changes and learn how our living our lives relates to them living theirs, all the while revealing different aspects of who […]

The “Unfreakingbelievable” World of College Football

August 29, 2017 by Thomas G. Palaima

I have followed and written commentaries about big-time sports at UT Austin for some fifteen years. Between 2008 and 2011, I was UT and Big XII representative on the national Coalition on Intercollegiate Athletics. I was invited to lunch by former athletics director DeLoss Dodds, who knew and adeptly practiced the art of keeping your […]

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