Birthdays are terrific for forcing you to reflect on just about everything in your life. My thoughts this morning turned to my childhood in the 1950’s in Brooklyn when we said the pledge of allegiance every morning in school. It seemed there was a post-war jubilation about being an American and helping to end World War II. That pride was sorely tested during the Vietnam era and, although I didn’t protest as a student in the 1960’s at Columbia, I was on the side of the protesters.

I’m actually protesting now the current turn of events in this country — for my children and grandchildren and for everyone who is deeply anxious about protecting the Constitution, our democracy, the rule of law, our environment and future of our planet, our health and well-being and the values of moral decency in which we grew up believing.

I hope you’ll consider joining me whatever age you happen to be.