The Fourth of July celebration for our clan has typically been a family event. We're used to gathering together for a restorative day of playfulness to reconnect with each other, and somewhere hidden amongst the bar-b-que sauce, beach balls and sunscreen, there is the underlying point of honoring our freedom....

Well, there we were, in the very last row, trying to get a glimpse of our daughter, a graduate, who, as Murphy's Law would have it, was also in the very last row. A close-up photo was out of the question. Though much to her embarrassment I did run up...

It's Mother's Day -- a day that stands out from the 364 others because in this twenty-four hour period, we're supposed to intentionally think about our moms and honor them. In the United States, this day brings a significant economic infusion for some businesses; we go out to restaurants in...

It's been proven that women who are provided with basic resources can make the difference between a family rising above poverty, or being trapped by it. This fact was perfectly illustrated by Dr. Mohamad Yunus and his Grameen bank, but similar stories are being told all over the world, and...

I was raped when I was 18. It was an event in my life that continues to mark the passage of time for me; time that is divided into two sections - before the rape, and after. It was the summer of 69 - I had just graduated from High...

The smell of freshly mown grass is like a ticket to a time machine. Every Wednesday, when the gardeners mow the lawn, I enjoy a trip to my childhood that leaves me with a satisfied grin on my face. The earthy, fresh scent makes me remember easier days filled with...

Is this election about substantive political philosophy, track record and proof of ability, or is it about entertainment and personality? I want to know answers. It's getting tedious watching and reading about thinly-veiled put-downs and what has become a continuous dart game. Talk to me about how you're going to...

Somewhere beneath the ribbons and bows and 50% sales and ritual commercialization of any holiday on our global calendar, there is the faint reminder that Christmas represents something hopeful. For me and millions of others, this hope is an enduring prayer.

The holidays are an emotional time -- evoking...

There's nothing more apropos at Thanksgiving than being thankful. I am truly appreciative of the many blessings in my life -- my family is, of course, at the top of that list. But since I have so many people and things to be grateful for, this time of year inspires...

I was born in 1951. Nobody had much money - so rather than spending their savings going to restaurants, my mom and dad and their friends got together for pot-luck dinners which generally consisted of various types of casseroles, and nearly always included some version of a green Jell-o mold...

One of the benefits of being an American is that we're blessed to live in such a large, diverse, beautiful country. We're got our interesting topography and a multicultural cross-section of people -- we'd never need to leave our shores to enjoy variety. We've got it all and then some....

Motherhood represents a huge part of my overall personality, and sets the tone for the rhythm of my life. Though in addition to mothering four children, I've managed to continue to educate myself, write, publish books, engage in philanthropic endeavors as well as political ones -- the part of me...

I'm not a film critic, but I've recently viewed a film that touched me in so many ways, that I'm compelled to share my enthusiasm for it. Across the Universe took me back in time, but also seemed remarkably current. The soundtrack, which is all Beatles music rearranged and performed...

Every once in a while you get an opportunity to walk in the presence of angels. I recently experienced one of those moments at a luncheon my husband and I hosted for Nobel Peace Laureate, Professor Muhammad Yunus - the venerable economist and microfinance guru from Bangladesh. Though I don't...

How can we not insist that all of our children have healthcare?! It boggles the mind. We're making a huge mistake if we don't deal with our healthcare issues decisively, creatively and swiftly, and we need to get over the concept that it feels too much like socialism or federalism...

What is a woman's worth? Is it synonymous with value? Who defines it? Is it a tangible thing? Are we born into it, marry into it, or do we earn it? I'm writing a book about women, and consequently this subject has taken up so much of my waking thought,...

Most of us know someone in our own family -- perhaps a relative, or a close friend who has been diagnosed with a mental illness, or has had to join a program for alcohol or substance abuse. Such events put a family in a state of crisis, and if you...

Art and Culture can build bridges. Recently my husband and I were guests at a celebration given by a Christian-Arab family originally from Nazareth. An annual affair to honor the memory of the patriarch of the family, we were brought together by our gracious hosts to enjoy an evening of...

Living in a multigenerational family has its ups and downs. Ours has, thank God, mostly ups. We have teenagers, young adults, thirty-something couples, grandchildren, octogenarians, and even a 97-year-old in the family. But though we are on a chronic roller coaster ride, I'm beginning to feel like I'm getting away...

Beyond Cindy Sheehan's decision to resume her private life, there are lessons to be learned about the nature of women in the public eye. Many women have challenged the system at great personal sacrifice. Just ponder these past couple of years for Ms. Sheehan -- whether you agree with her...