Editor's Farewell  

Ripostejournal first appeared in 2002 and the last new article "Hope for the future" is dated September 2007. The present website will be maintained until well into 2008.

The purpose of Ripostejournal is twofold: to share with readers my experiences and views of almost 60 years, and to build a "verbal bridge" to my four grandchildren, the oldest of whom is now six years old.

The site reflects my interest in the arts, travel and public policy. I have tried very hard not to take a strict "line" liberal or conservative. This has been difficult. We have recently lived through a time when all human advances except for most technical and scientific ones have been questioned. Even in the case of the latter, things have gone so far that many school boards in the United States have been forced to teach creationism according to which evolution is rejected in favour of the Old Testament version of the beginning of the world. Although I am of mixed religious background, I believe that the ethical ideas of Christianity – love of one's neighbour, forgiveness and simplicity – are a priceless heritage of all people. There again an aggressive and primitive version has been pushed by political means during the George W. Bush administrations. Fortunately the pendulum is already starting to move in the opposite direction.

David Paterson is responsible for the design of the site and researching all of the illustrations. Anne Forrest changed some awkward passages into better English. I am very grateful to both of them.