Friday, August 30, 2013:  Two months shy of The World Series, and two days shy of Labor Day, I woke up feeling as though we are in the strike zone.

This week, fast food workers across the country staged a strike demanding a $15.00/hour wage and the right to form a union. Numerous cities have been affected by this strike, and the media–national news coverage and social media, have been effective in covering the story as well as fueling the movement.  What is a living wage? This strike is striking our national conscience.

Another event this week also struck our national conscience when we commemorated the 50th anniversary of The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. There was much that was striking about marking that historical moment (with another historical moment). I was utterly dumbstruck that what I had assumed was an apolitical, unifying moment had only Democrats speaking. Were Republicans on strike? The absence of Republican speakers was absolutely striking.

Then there was (is) the matter of Syria. Chemical weapons. Horrifying images. Where do we stand? Should we strike? If so, how should we strike? Then what? Is the U.S. merely striking a pose, or striking while the iron’s hot? President Obama usually tries to strike a balance. This time, though, the thought of more military engagement in the Middle East seems to have struck a chord on the left and the right. There is tremendous fear that we will strike out, and that we will suffer unintended consequences from our strike.

“Power is not revealed by striking hard or often, but by striking true.”

Honore de Balzac

How does that strike you?