Tony Plakas -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

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Tony Plakas

Change is bridging nation's cultural gap

December 10, 2008

In the months surrounding the presidential election, I spent as much time in Gettysburg, and the heartland of Pennsylvania, as I did here in South Florida. The two areas are so politically different they could be used on a spectrum to denote extremes, but they are similar in that they reflect precisely how different local communities can be from the rest of their state.

Recent columns

Lake Worth politics: Change gives mandate to Jennings

November 30, 2008

In March of 2007, long before political mantras forecast a tornado of change, and far before anyone considered which change they could believe in, residents of Lake Worth decided to make a change of their own.
Data sheds light on gay marriage defeat

November 15, 2008

On Nov. 4th, a majority of Florida voters chose to define marriage as the union between one man and one woman. Proponents of the measure parrot the victory as undeniable support for conservative values. They claim that, even in light of dramatic changes in the political landscape, some things will never change. For many who opposed Amendment 2, statewide results were disappointing, but not surprising.
Wonder Woman has nothing on Sarah Palin

October 11, 2008

Last month, Lynda Carter told Philadelphia Mag azine comparisons between Gov. Sarah Palin and Wonder Woman are misplaced. She claimed Gov. Palin is "judgmental and dictatorial" and harbors a "superior religious self-righteousness." By her principles, "that's just not what Wonder Woman is about."
Methods of persuasion have variety

April 11, 2008

Concerns for human rights, economic and social justice, and the environment have been fuel for motivating citizens and involving people in public processes for decades. These issues resonate on a personal level and prompt significant contributions of time, money and professional expertise. Involvement can be unpredictable and frequently unconventional, but out of volunteerism and civic participation grow the backbones of citizen coalitions.