Herbert Rothschild: Rightly understood, money is simply a tool for achieving what we want. Fortunately, what most of us want isn’t self-aggrandizement. Beyond giving us financial security, our money affords us an easy way to contribute to the well-being of others — family, community, world.

Herbert Rothschild: Vladimir Putin has said he is willing to abide for one more year by the limits on nuclear arms in the New START treaty while another treaty is being negotiated. Our immediate task is to convince Donald Trump to accept that offer. Don’t react to this call to action in a knee-jerk fashion. Trump wants to be seen as an international peacemaker.

Herbert Rothschild: In 2024, Democrats had the same problem with Hispanic voters that they did with other moderate-to-low income voters. There’s a general perception out there that the Democratic Party abandoned its traditional championing of the working class.

Herbert Rothschild: Is it possible to write columns about torturing people in Guantanamo or eliminating the U.S. Agency for International Development without alienating those who are OK with such actions?

Herbert Rothschild: I didn’t get a good read on whether my classmates acknowledge how pervasive the effects of racism still are and the imperative to address them.

Herbert Rothschild: Whether visualization and intention by themselves can effect broad social change is impossible to determine, but the question merits sustained consideration.

Herbert Rothschild: A culture of peace exists in a community when mutual care and respect characterize the relationships among all its people and between them and the environment on which they depend.

Herbert Rothschild: The worst encounter between an aid flotilla and Israeli forces preventing it from reaching Gaza took place in 2010. Israeli naval commanders from speedboats and helicopters boarded the Mavi Marmara, one of six ships in a mostly Turkish flotilla. Nine aid activists were killed on board and a 10th later died from his wounds. Ten Israeli servicemen were wounded, one seriously.

Herbert Rothschild: When we’re asked to name those we admire, we usually think of people of high achievement, not people of good character. Actually, we often don’t know what kind of persons they were, and I’m not sure it matters much if we do. There’s a difference between being great and being good. We admire the former; hopefully, we imitate the latter.

Herbert Rothschild: I don’t think the wisdom of HB 2005 can be assessed on its face. It reflects an awareness of past abuses and thoughtfully attempts to guard against their repetition. Yet, there is enough leeway for arbitrary individual discretion and poor oversight that abuses may recur, if not in one county, then in another.