Will Martin

Is Hell Out of Room? by Will Martin When we lose a leader, the flags go half-mast We reflect on their words, leave their flaws in the past The casket is lowered, in stone they’re entombed Why do the same for those who brought doom? In school, we learn about the golden rules Listen to our teachers, don’t treat another cruel Trust in our mothers, our fathers know the way Is it the same when their promise is betrayed? In Arlington lies the best and the brave We prosper in freedom from the life...

Today would have been Phil Ochs' 85th birthday. In 2003, I was 15 years old when I discovered Phil Ochs. His flat-picking intro to "I Ain't Marching Anymore" played over the soundtrack to Steal This Movie , a film about Abbie Hoffman. The sound from Phil's J50 Guitar instantly struck me. As fate would have it, my parents already owned the official soundtrack. Once home from the screening, I immediately dug out the CD. When playing the album, I discovered another of Phil's songs. On the disc,...

Today I attended a town hall led by a Ukrainian official. Following their update, the floor was open for a Q&A session. As it was my first time attending a public event surrounding the war, I chose to be a listener. At least that is how my social anxiety justified not asking the many burning questions I had. Thankfully, there were plenty of good ones asked by others, but mine was the elephant in the room. A quiet, endangered elephant shot dead by self-doubt and the fear of insulting the...