The story of the "Prodigal"son or daughter is one of the best stories in the new testament. It involves the letting go of children as they rebel or want to be free of the training, wisdom, or love parents have. It is a coming of age story that all of us go through although we may not understand it as such. The story is simple: son asks for inheritance, father gives the inheritance, son leaves, goes broke; comes back home and the father is excited for it. That sums it up in the nutshell. There are many interpretations of this story and the point of this writing is not theological but personal. I have been in a struggle of letting go as a parent. For years I have tried to the best of my ability and sense to raise two children in the age of madness. They are basically good persons. My daughter (both by adoption) has a wonderful personality, my son a loner. Both did reasonably well in school and due to the economy have been sporadic in working.
The point is when does parenting stop? How do we let go especially when we see our children going down the path of hurt and danger. Jesus said that we would never give our children any thing dangerous nor forsake them, but in the larger sense what do we do?? This is difficult for me. I have strive to be there understand and in cases help bind up wounds. However, it seems to fall on closed ears. The behavior is unsteady bordering on disrespect. The willfulness is unstable and debilitates all young people. And explanations pale in comparison.
However a suggestion was offered to me by a person I met in Starbucks. His suggestion to the issues facing young people revolved around video games. The matter was interesting: that decisions made by the young are more complicated than we know. Their comprehension of time is real or on going.That when we confront the process used to solve problems they are actuall in real or ongoing time. This is not how we think. Few of us are answering the question: what are we doing ...NOW, or looking at you tube or have the slightest idea of going viral. They do. And we are loosing the influence we need to shape them because of our lack of attention. I know this personally. And although I have a relationship with my adult children, it is not as it should be. The rerasons are difficult to speak on, but suffice it to say that all parents have a falling out before a falling in. My hope is that the fall out is temporarty and repairable before it is too late. Later
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Then never ending journey
Blogging is about you. The you that is on a search for the answers that may never come. Time is spent in criticism, seeking, finding and loosing; such is the life story. Problem is while we are looking for the solutions to the issues of our lives, we encounter other problems that disengage our minds. Thus we never seem to find peace until maturity flows into us or we die: both seem to come at the same time! While it sounds oppositional it is sometimes true.
I call life a never ending journey because while we live there is always an opportunity to learn, absorb, and for the most part engage in this life. This is the true gift God gives humanity: the reason to see life from a whole lot of vantage points, react and then participate in the effort. What I find fascinating is the lack of this motif in our world today. No longer do we as a society encourage our young people to do things: play hard, loose, win, be taught life lessons. What scares me is the great amount of "failure to launch" persons now. In weekly magazines, news articles, and talk radio all we hear is how young people are still living at home within their families: after graduation form college! True the job markets are difficult but they have been for all generations. There will never be enough work or company towns ask the city of Detroit, Motown USA a once thriving city built on the backs of cars no longer.
Why this happens is for a number of reasons: changes in the work place, competition, designs just to name a few, but when we as a society refuse to change we stagnate and die. We go the way of other civilizations and replaced by those coming. This should not be inevitable. The country this important to the advancement of humanity, although flawed has to make a lasting impact. Not as fore runners best remembered because of their brutality or seeming contributions masked by the under belly of violence (Rome, Greece, Europe in the early period). The contribution is made in spite of the beginnings our ideas and ideals make us better: not the might of weapons the power politics we at times let loose. Our moral fiber induces others to follow and to question our behavior leading to a stronger society that is a beacon not a flickering lamp extinguishing due to lack of attention. This is a journey that never ends, the quest needed the unreachable star that calls us to a higher plateau, only to show us a new challenge a new road and the chance to say it was worth the trip. Later
I call life a never ending journey because while we live there is always an opportunity to learn, absorb, and for the most part engage in this life. This is the true gift God gives humanity: the reason to see life from a whole lot of vantage points, react and then participate in the effort. What I find fascinating is the lack of this motif in our world today. No longer do we as a society encourage our young people to do things: play hard, loose, win, be taught life lessons. What scares me is the great amount of "failure to launch" persons now. In weekly magazines, news articles, and talk radio all we hear is how young people are still living at home within their families: after graduation form college! True the job markets are difficult but they have been for all generations. There will never be enough work or company towns ask the city of Detroit, Motown USA a once thriving city built on the backs of cars no longer.
Why this happens is for a number of reasons: changes in the work place, competition, designs just to name a few, but when we as a society refuse to change we stagnate and die. We go the way of other civilizations and replaced by those coming. This should not be inevitable. The country this important to the advancement of humanity, although flawed has to make a lasting impact. Not as fore runners best remembered because of their brutality or seeming contributions masked by the under belly of violence (Rome, Greece, Europe in the early period). The contribution is made in spite of the beginnings our ideas and ideals make us better: not the might of weapons the power politics we at times let loose. Our moral fiber induces others to follow and to question our behavior leading to a stronger society that is a beacon not a flickering lamp extinguishing due to lack of attention. This is a journey that never ends, the quest needed the unreachable star that calls us to a higher plateau, only to show us a new challenge a new road and the chance to say it was worth the trip. Later
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Is change really believable?
I wonder as we go through this year if change is going to happen. There are so many road blocks preventing bills being passed it would be kinder if Obama would use the executive order to make the change possible. trouble is that another order from a different personality would over turn the effort even id it worked. The reason: it would not be right to enforce a law like this as when a new person takes over they can reverse the order with one of their own. No my hope is that the legislation will pass and that all Americans will have access to health care in the near future.
Which begs the question: why all the fuss. Health care providers are not against it, big pharmacology is hesitant, but change to cooperation's takes time. Even insurance companies that disagree with parts of it can adjust. Is it so difficult to manage? Is the real issue the "government run program argument"? Is it race the disease that brings comfort to both the extreme right and left? The answer could be none of the above. If so then what is it?
I believe the issue is fear. Blind fear that the problems in our nation are so large and have been ignored for so long, the effort to try to stem the tide is too great for the current government to handle. This appears to be so because of the vitriol you see on television. As an example, the exchange between Senator Kyle and the Chair of the Finance Committee Max Bacus. In an exchange reminiscent of High schools arguing on the playground,m there was the I need to say one more thing noise. The fact is that the same argument was made several times on the floor of the Senate. How many times does one make the same point without becoming a caricature?
This is the trend used by opponents that have no argument other than the government getting in the way. For once I wish they would honor the theme of country first rather than party, influence or dogma. People are still dying without help, still losing their insurance and most tragic, the children are becoming victims of a fiddle while Rome burns attitude. Later
Which begs the question: why all the fuss. Health care providers are not against it, big pharmacology is hesitant, but change to cooperation's takes time. Even insurance companies that disagree with parts of it can adjust. Is it so difficult to manage? Is the real issue the "government run program argument"? Is it race the disease that brings comfort to both the extreme right and left? The answer could be none of the above. If so then what is it?
I believe the issue is fear. Blind fear that the problems in our nation are so large and have been ignored for so long, the effort to try to stem the tide is too great for the current government to handle. This appears to be so because of the vitriol you see on television. As an example, the exchange between Senator Kyle and the Chair of the Finance Committee Max Bacus. In an exchange reminiscent of High schools arguing on the playground,m there was the I need to say one more thing noise. The fact is that the same argument was made several times on the floor of the Senate. How many times does one make the same point without becoming a caricature?
This is the trend used by opponents that have no argument other than the government getting in the way. For once I wish they would honor the theme of country first rather than party, influence or dogma. People are still dying without help, still losing their insurance and most tragic, the children are becoming victims of a fiddle while Rome burns attitude. Later
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Can one be too Concerned?
The question for the day is one that has puzzled me since I have been grown. I ask myself when are we too concerned for our own good? I write this in the plural because there have to be others like myself that struggle with this question. All too often people are in trouble, ill, or just down in the dumps, only to have folks come to their aid only to be told no. This is a serious question and I hope those who read will have a comment.
There is a book called 90 minutes to heaven which tells a story about a preacher that was clinically dead for 90 minutes and in that time he went and saw heaven. When he came back to life he had the memories of the visit. People were concerned about him but he was not forth coming as to taking their assistance. Now, in a larger sense apply this attitude to persons you may know. It gets rather ugly. There seems to be a fear that if people get to close one can become attached, and in the lonely hours of the night we reach put and there is nothing there. Okay I get it. I even wrote an essay about the dark nights of the soul.
But people, can we not reach out to others without fear? Has the need for human contact become so passe, discouraging, and tenuous that when inquires are made a brush off is what we can expect??? It seems this way unfortunately is a reality that exist all to often. I hate to say this but it seems that people are so afraid to be open that they shut everyone out.
Let me confess: I have been that way myself saying this does not make me a hypocrite it does mean however, that I understand the process. I do not like it. I understand the reasons, it gets lonely, bad, crazy and difficult when travelling by oneself. Having it all to do. Waking up at all times of the night, or resting but not sleeping (been there done that) and the fact is there is no one to hold, reach out to, cry with or find a degree of comfort. In effect we are alone and we can not stand it, although we put on a happy face, roll with the blows and cope. As a friend of mine ( a very very good friend) would say BS. the mind can only handle putting on a happy face, or singing "smile though your heart is breaking, smile though your heart is aching" for so long. We as persons do and must find the release valve or the coming explosion and catastrophe of our lives will come out. A rescue must happen least we become discouraged. There are some that will argue I can manage thank you, true we can and do, but no person is an island of themselves and it is part of who we are to find others.
I struggle with my demons and they win: this is a fact. But the great thing is faith is the subject of things hoped for even if we are blind to the evidence, or just not focused. In the times when I am the most anxious, tired full of rage, when my coping skill evaporates, or when I fall into a bigoted rant: God always sends a relief station to mute those voices. My prayer is others find the same avenue, and for those who mean a lot to me I am sorry, the past few days have been interesting. Later
There is a book called 90 minutes to heaven which tells a story about a preacher that was clinically dead for 90 minutes and in that time he went and saw heaven. When he came back to life he had the memories of the visit. People were concerned about him but he was not forth coming as to taking their assistance. Now, in a larger sense apply this attitude to persons you may know. It gets rather ugly. There seems to be a fear that if people get to close one can become attached, and in the lonely hours of the night we reach put and there is nothing there. Okay I get it. I even wrote an essay about the dark nights of the soul.
But people, can we not reach out to others without fear? Has the need for human contact become so passe, discouraging, and tenuous that when inquires are made a brush off is what we can expect??? It seems this way unfortunately is a reality that exist all to often. I hate to say this but it seems that people are so afraid to be open that they shut everyone out.
Let me confess: I have been that way myself saying this does not make me a hypocrite it does mean however, that I understand the process. I do not like it. I understand the reasons, it gets lonely, bad, crazy and difficult when travelling by oneself. Having it all to do. Waking up at all times of the night, or resting but not sleeping (been there done that) and the fact is there is no one to hold, reach out to, cry with or find a degree of comfort. In effect we are alone and we can not stand it, although we put on a happy face, roll with the blows and cope. As a friend of mine ( a very very good friend) would say BS. the mind can only handle putting on a happy face, or singing "smile though your heart is breaking, smile though your heart is aching" for so long. We as persons do and must find the release valve or the coming explosion and catastrophe of our lives will come out. A rescue must happen least we become discouraged. There are some that will argue I can manage thank you, true we can and do, but no person is an island of themselves and it is part of who we are to find others.
I struggle with my demons and they win: this is a fact. But the great thing is faith is the subject of things hoped for even if we are blind to the evidence, or just not focused. In the times when I am the most anxious, tired full of rage, when my coping skill evaporates, or when I fall into a bigoted rant: God always sends a relief station to mute those voices. My prayer is others find the same avenue, and for those who mean a lot to me I am sorry, the past few days have been interesting. Later
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Take a deep breath everybody
For the last few days and weeks all we have heard is how the programs presented by Obama's Administration will wreck the country. We have seen the inflated egos, the small numbers of tea baggers, the loons on either side of the political divide act out; and we are no closer to a solution than they were at the beginning of the summer. This is an unwelcome disaster for real persons who are in desperate need of health care. If the statistics are true (have no reason to doubt) then people are dying at the rate of 5 persons per day due to a lack of insurance, people are going bankrupt for the same reason and we all are fiddling like Nero's as the fire burns. I know that it is time for all of us to take a deep breath.
The question that is prevalent is the cost the real cost of doing nothing. We can speak of the future and the staggering cost for following generations. We have heard this song before can anyone say Medicare? The question is what would be the plight of senior had there been no medicare, or Medicaid, or other government programs? How would the standard of living compare then? All these questions should give us pause, to reflect on how so many of the citizenry depends on these programs to live. This is why I say take a deep breath.
Sadly if we continue in this contact sport of politics we are squandering an opportunity to do for the future what those in the 1930's and 1960's did for this generation. The time for bickering is about at an end. No longer can we stave off the inevitable: to do nothing is worse than the disease of fighting! Let us begin the healing process by doing the following things:
1. Dis miss all the lunatic fringes on either side. They add nothing to the conversation except the madness of their position, hatreds, mistrusts, and violence.
2. Make an honest attempt to talk and listen to the objections, soften your positions for the sake of all of us. While I am in favor of the public option and coverage without preconditions (I am a type 2 diabetic and my out of pocket insurance cost for coverage would be $575.00 per month) there has to be a compromise we can initiate.
3. Be members of Congress not politicians. Put party aside, ambition and constituent especially special interest. They will make the money in the long run.
If we keep on this track of self destruction the infrastructure of who we are as a Nation will collapse under the weight of indifference, and the future of those who follow will continue to decline. Later
The question that is prevalent is the cost the real cost of doing nothing. We can speak of the future and the staggering cost for following generations. We have heard this song before can anyone say Medicare? The question is what would be the plight of senior had there been no medicare, or Medicaid, or other government programs? How would the standard of living compare then? All these questions should give us pause, to reflect on how so many of the citizenry depends on these programs to live. This is why I say take a deep breath.
Sadly if we continue in this contact sport of politics we are squandering an opportunity to do for the future what those in the 1930's and 1960's did for this generation. The time for bickering is about at an end. No longer can we stave off the inevitable: to do nothing is worse than the disease of fighting! Let us begin the healing process by doing the following things:
1. Dis miss all the lunatic fringes on either side. They add nothing to the conversation except the madness of their position, hatreds, mistrusts, and violence.
2. Make an honest attempt to talk and listen to the objections, soften your positions for the sake of all of us. While I am in favor of the public option and coverage without preconditions (I am a type 2 diabetic and my out of pocket insurance cost for coverage would be $575.00 per month) there has to be a compromise we can initiate.
3. Be members of Congress not politicians. Put party aside, ambition and constituent especially special interest. They will make the money in the long run.
If we keep on this track of self destruction the infrastructure of who we are as a Nation will collapse under the weight of indifference, and the future of those who follow will continue to decline. Later
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Glen Beck super star
Time magazine has an interesting cover for next week the person of interest: Glen Beck or as Keith Oberman calls him: Lonesome Dove. The fact that he made the cover is an indication of the madness now running rampart in the country. Dubbed the king of angst (the German word translated anger) he is well know for the screed that is on Fox cable. He is not a journalist but is in the genre of another madman: Rush Limbaugh also noted for pollution on the radio.
Ordinarily I ignore these folks, they have an audience and most of them are part of the great unwashed, the uninformed, untrained, an uneducated. Sounds like an elitist position, you are correct it is. I personally find what these men do to be an abomination: they play on the fears of the above mention, they infiltrate hate groups and in general add nothing to the conversation of solution and dialogue. They are demagogues pure and simple. However their rhetoric has become more inflamed since the election of a person of color to the presidency of the United States of America.
Since Obama's elevation these individuals have become more vitriolic than ever. It is a daily ritual, they accuse without documentation, they inflame without thought, and if they are left unchecked they will usher in a time of trouble between races that might make the 60's look like a love fest, and for those that were alive at that time we know this was not true.
Persons like Beck and Limbaugh are in my opinion not responsible and are dangerous. Not their ideas, they really have none. Not their voice it is mundane, but the real fear comes from who will (not might) act out on their insane talk. I listen with wonder at the quantity of their words it is the stuff of distrust against Obama. He is a socialist, communist, a cultist and he hates white people despite the fact that he is a MULATTO a child of an African and a Caucasian, which means he is 50 % of each one. This has created a chasm in our country.
To be sure there are things we need to flesh out. There are concerns real concerns about the policies that are proposed. Health care is a problem for a lot of reasons. It can not be an easy road to travel trying to solve this impending crises. Yet there are no solutions just accusations.
The war and the threat of terrorism looms large, I was setting on my sofa when the jets rammed the World Trade Center, and I thought it was an optical illusion, until a friend called and asked me if I saw what I saw. Yet rather than offer support with skepticism (which is healthy) what we here is the lack of love for the country based on ethnicity, a bogus and horrendous charge.
To be sure health care is difficult and solving this will take effort and cooperation yet there is no such language from these individuals other than the canard of "socialized medicine" (can anyone say Medicaid and Medicare).
So with all their short comings and rudeness, what keeps them on the air? Simple answer: hate and fear. Hate that resonates from ultra right wing nuts. Those who wear guns carry signs, and talk about succession, those that compare the President as an illegitimate person or an animal. Those who say slogans such as we are loosing or country and we want it back. To these persons and others who are silent for fear they be exposed, make Glen Beck et al. superstars of the fringe that is growing and will not go away. Later
Ordinarily I ignore these folks, they have an audience and most of them are part of the great unwashed, the uninformed, untrained, an uneducated. Sounds like an elitist position, you are correct it is. I personally find what these men do to be an abomination: they play on the fears of the above mention, they infiltrate hate groups and in general add nothing to the conversation of solution and dialogue. They are demagogues pure and simple. However their rhetoric has become more inflamed since the election of a person of color to the presidency of the United States of America.
Since Obama's elevation these individuals have become more vitriolic than ever. It is a daily ritual, they accuse without documentation, they inflame without thought, and if they are left unchecked they will usher in a time of trouble between races that might make the 60's look like a love fest, and for those that were alive at that time we know this was not true.
Persons like Beck and Limbaugh are in my opinion not responsible and are dangerous. Not their ideas, they really have none. Not their voice it is mundane, but the real fear comes from who will (not might) act out on their insane talk. I listen with wonder at the quantity of their words it is the stuff of distrust against Obama. He is a socialist, communist, a cultist and he hates white people despite the fact that he is a MULATTO a child of an African and a Caucasian, which means he is 50 % of each one. This has created a chasm in our country.
To be sure there are things we need to flesh out. There are concerns real concerns about the policies that are proposed. Health care is a problem for a lot of reasons. It can not be an easy road to travel trying to solve this impending crises. Yet there are no solutions just accusations.
The war and the threat of terrorism looms large, I was setting on my sofa when the jets rammed the World Trade Center, and I thought it was an optical illusion, until a friend called and asked me if I saw what I saw. Yet rather than offer support with skepticism (which is healthy) what we here is the lack of love for the country based on ethnicity, a bogus and horrendous charge.
To be sure health care is difficult and solving this will take effort and cooperation yet there is no such language from these individuals other than the canard of "socialized medicine" (can anyone say Medicaid and Medicare).
So with all their short comings and rudeness, what keeps them on the air? Simple answer: hate and fear. Hate that resonates from ultra right wing nuts. Those who wear guns carry signs, and talk about succession, those that compare the President as an illegitimate person or an animal. Those who say slogans such as we are loosing or country and we want it back. To these persons and others who are silent for fear they be exposed, make Glen Beck et al. superstars of the fringe that is growing and will not go away. Later
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
President Carter et al.
Well it seems the controversy will never die, and it should not. Again, a man of great accomplishment has spoken on the third rail of politics: Race. Calling out the attitudes that are rising up in this country. Are we surprised by this? I do not think so. What should concern us is the fact that it took so long to wake up in America. There are those who speak as if there was an acceptance of Obama, case in point Morning Joe. When President Carter spoke about attitudes he grew up with the spin is that it is a hard left thing: their guy is being pilloried and they can not stand it. So...here comes the race card. All those who write, Eugene Robinson, Maureen Dowd ect.. are doing the country a disservice by excoriating whites and racist tendencies, it is not fair; and remember that a lot of whites voted for Obama, again not fair. Really have we missed something in the news? Have we ignored the 24 hour recycling of what is happening now? Are we blind or so chauvinistic we ignore facts as they are. While it is so that the country was and is and will continue to be in an economic slow down, with people seeking for work or retraining, the truth is all of this happened before Obama took office. Yes it is his mess, but be aware and beware it was done on the other watch, but, I do not see persons reminding people that Bush and the ship of fools was at the switch. But in less than a year of first carrying out in place policies then trying to establish his own there has been a back lash by persons on the fringe affecting everything. we know who they are they are the 75,000 ( no the 2 million persons) that marched on 9/12/09 a day after 9/11. It was billed as a time to recapture the pride, patriotism, and cohesiveness in the United States, the out of many one attitude. However was that the message presented or lived out??? For all of the hype it turned into a slug fest of Obama bashing. Political dissent is as American as apple pie. The commentators correctly admonish all of us that we have not been kind to politicians. Granted and true: let remember Jimmy Carter was and has been vilified since 1980 because of a policy he carried out. But his words have weight he knows the attitudes of southern leaning persons. He is from the south and quit frankly knows racist attitudes when he hears them. In fact so do we. All of us should be ashamed for the actions of a few. The cacophony is so dissonance that all is heard are those who are ugly: let me be clear, there is reason to be concerned about the amount of money this will cost. And there are well meaning politicians expressing concern as to the future. We as people of the United States must be aware that our national security is at stake: we borrow too much money from Asia, Europe and the Saudis, countries that have interests also. To be sure it is a mess and we are not supporting the Administration like we should. Instead we hear voices of fools masquerading as the wise, maintaining (in the interest of entertainment) personality cults, brain washing and the misuse of children. Get a grip. The country is in trouble and you who live in the pseudo world of angst (ANGER) MUST DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
Unless we heed the words of those who know we are doomed to repeat the failed policy of the past by marrying our future to it. President Carter has devoted a life to humanity, is in demand to be on the world stage among nations and is worthy of our respect, not condemnation. If only those who have gone no where could find a path we might have debate instead of the racket form immature persons. later
Unless we heed the words of those who know we are doomed to repeat the failed policy of the past by marrying our future to it. President Carter has devoted a life to humanity, is in demand to be on the world stage among nations and is worthy of our respect, not condemnation. If only those who have gone no where could find a path we might have debate instead of the racket form immature persons. later
Monday, September 14, 2009
The Joe wilson outburst
I am back from conference and it was a great time for all. I have been given a temporary appointment for the church and I am awaiting my permanent post. So it has been at least a week since i have written any comments. Here goes.
I begin this blog with a question: Why is it that when white people make acerbic comments and they are called to account, they waver, apologise and become defiant? Take the case of representative Joe Wilson. He called the President of the United States a liar in open session. Now, there has been bad behavior before: they hiss, they boo, they cajole, they even show disdain (as if that means anything) but to be be verbal, is a sign of disrespect, even for a knuckle dragging miscreant like Joe Wilson. The fact that he has an animus for the health care plan is okay, it is the right of politicians everywhere to dissent. However, the passions (he claims they were out of hand right) got the better of him and the outbursts was heard around the world, literally. The question is why did this happen. Is he really that stupid? Or is he a racist? or is he like so many of those in Congress afraid to act and it is easier to point to Obama and say: he is black. This seems to work. It is the way they have done for years, just not in politics. An aggressive man he is Black. An assertive man he is Black. A man that stands for the family right to be a person HE SURE NUFF IS BLACK. All codes to alert the population that a man of color is loose threatening the status quo...the stereo type dissonance that strikes fear. A real fear that diminishes they entitlement of white positions. The fear that if this man makes the right decision people many benefit and that would be the be all and end all. It would signal the end of thoughts that are currently the basis of racist, classicist, attitudes. There is a reason that the comments of Joe Wilson are important. They are a signal of losing this country. What you say, how can that be? Easy if we take away the privilege of white Americans then what is left..nothing as far as they are concerned. It is so dis heartening that they election of this person has caused so much flack. Joe Wilson is the pus from the pimple of madness. His outburst made purely because of his hatred exposes the real America that the world sees and fears. They know the extent of this nations attitude toward the world and people of color in general. They know and understand the wretchedness of these oppressors who took what they willed under Manifest Destiny. These beliefs have not changed. Currently we are in two wars that have no significance what-so-ever.
This is why Wilson's outburst and other out cries confuse me. He had no outburst when we went to war with Iraq. There was a spirit of patriotism in the air: 9-11-01 more devastating than Pearl harbor. But when we went to the wrong country no one said a word. There was not a peep from Wilson when the cost was a billion dollars a week and there were no bid contracts, not one word. There was no sound no emotion as the casualties mounted: young persons coming back less than when they went, no word when the abuses became public, no sayings of concerns as we entered into to deficit spending. Now we hear the voice of this "passionate emotional" woman sorry man who has been censured for his outburst, please. Later
I begin this blog with a question: Why is it that when white people make acerbic comments and they are called to account, they waver, apologise and become defiant? Take the case of representative Joe Wilson. He called the President of the United States a liar in open session. Now, there has been bad behavior before: they hiss, they boo, they cajole, they even show disdain (as if that means anything) but to be be verbal, is a sign of disrespect, even for a knuckle dragging miscreant like Joe Wilson. The fact that he has an animus for the health care plan is okay, it is the right of politicians everywhere to dissent. However, the passions (he claims they were out of hand right) got the better of him and the outbursts was heard around the world, literally. The question is why did this happen. Is he really that stupid? Or is he a racist? or is he like so many of those in Congress afraid to act and it is easier to point to Obama and say: he is black. This seems to work. It is the way they have done for years, just not in politics. An aggressive man he is Black. An assertive man he is Black. A man that stands for the family right to be a person HE SURE NUFF IS BLACK. All codes to alert the population that a man of color is loose threatening the status quo...the stereo type dissonance that strikes fear. A real fear that diminishes they entitlement of white positions. The fear that if this man makes the right decision people many benefit and that would be the be all and end all. It would signal the end of thoughts that are currently the basis of racist, classicist, attitudes. There is a reason that the comments of Joe Wilson are important. They are a signal of losing this country. What you say, how can that be? Easy if we take away the privilege of white Americans then what is left..nothing as far as they are concerned. It is so dis heartening that they election of this person has caused so much flack. Joe Wilson is the pus from the pimple of madness. His outburst made purely because of his hatred exposes the real America that the world sees and fears. They know the extent of this nations attitude toward the world and people of color in general. They know and understand the wretchedness of these oppressors who took what they willed under Manifest Destiny. These beliefs have not changed. Currently we are in two wars that have no significance what-so-ever.
This is why Wilson's outburst and other out cries confuse me. He had no outburst when we went to war with Iraq. There was a spirit of patriotism in the air: 9-11-01 more devastating than Pearl harbor. But when we went to the wrong country no one said a word. There was not a peep from Wilson when the cost was a billion dollars a week and there were no bid contracts, not one word. There was no sound no emotion as the casualties mounted: young persons coming back less than when they went, no word when the abuses became public, no sayings of concerns as we entered into to deficit spending. Now we hear the voice of this "passionate emotional" woman sorry man who has been censured for his outburst, please. Later
Saturday, September 5, 2009
The times of the seasons
Many songs have been written about aging and seasons. There was the great Sinatra hit: "When I was 17", that reminded a generation of their impending age and the reflective tenor of the melody was evident as the verses transversed different stages of life. I am reminded of the song for several reasons. I have lived past 17, 35 and at 55 I can see the autumn of my life beginning to move toward winter...but not yet!!!
It is a blessing to live to see certain ages and more to surpass them. Each time mile stones are achieved, we ought to pause and reflect and then assist those coming up so they too can enjoy the these ages. That however is the problem: we are seeing more of our young people adopting an attitude of slothfulness than ever before. I will not blame the current thought of materialism, things are not destroying our young. Things are not affecting our character and things do not create violence. The motivation for things to occupy minds instead of demanding achievement has helped the young miss their potential. Too many young people are unprepared for life lessons: failure to accept limitations, recognizing that winning is not the only thing, but learning from failure is the great teacher. I am appalled that we give trophies out for participation. Not that this is a bad idea, but what does it really say? Does it teach the lesson that we fail as well as win. What about adversity? How do we instill in the young strength when it all goes bad?
There are seasons of despair and privation; there are times of depression and prosperity, and there are times when we are right and times when we are wrong...really wrong. It is in those times lessons are learned. It is in the cauldron, the kitchen the heat that we either quit or survive. To survive not only demands a person over come but to acknowledge how much more one needs to learn.
In the movie Annapolis, there is a scene where the boxing instructor explains why it is a requirement to learn the art of boxing. It was not to create fighters, nor to spur competition (there is enough of that naturally at service academies!!!!!). No the reason that boxing is taught is to see just how mentally tough you are in adversity. Sometimes we get whipped, and, it the recovery which is measured: how do you react when the going is rough? This is critical especially in a fight when the odds look bad. So it is in life for all of us: stuff gets, looks, and is bad! Many times in my life and in the lives of those close to me we have had to struggle with loss, privation and failure. And we have not had the support we needed at those critical times. Yet with the help of God and fellows that served as rams in the bush some how we were able to over come and not be overwhelmed.
That is the life question all must face. It is the travel we go through to be human. It is the reflection on a song we heard when we were much younger than before, and not a s wise as we are now! It is the anthem we sing as old age brings solace and sanguine moments and yes senior moments as we try to forget the pain life dealt. As the song ends we hear the singer say that they drank it all to the bitter dregs, reminding all that life has bitters mixed in to remind us that all is not easy nor should it be. Later
It is a blessing to live to see certain ages and more to surpass them. Each time mile stones are achieved, we ought to pause and reflect and then assist those coming up so they too can enjoy the these ages. That however is the problem: we are seeing more of our young people adopting an attitude of slothfulness than ever before. I will not blame the current thought of materialism, things are not destroying our young. Things are not affecting our character and things do not create violence. The motivation for things to occupy minds instead of demanding achievement has helped the young miss their potential. Too many young people are unprepared for life lessons: failure to accept limitations, recognizing that winning is not the only thing, but learning from failure is the great teacher. I am appalled that we give trophies out for participation. Not that this is a bad idea, but what does it really say? Does it teach the lesson that we fail as well as win. What about adversity? How do we instill in the young strength when it all goes bad?
There are seasons of despair and privation; there are times of depression and prosperity, and there are times when we are right and times when we are wrong...really wrong. It is in those times lessons are learned. It is in the cauldron, the kitchen the heat that we either quit or survive. To survive not only demands a person over come but to acknowledge how much more one needs to learn.
In the movie Annapolis, there is a scene where the boxing instructor explains why it is a requirement to learn the art of boxing. It was not to create fighters, nor to spur competition (there is enough of that naturally at service academies!!!!!). No the reason that boxing is taught is to see just how mentally tough you are in adversity. Sometimes we get whipped, and, it the recovery which is measured: how do you react when the going is rough? This is critical especially in a fight when the odds look bad. So it is in life for all of us: stuff gets, looks, and is bad! Many times in my life and in the lives of those close to me we have had to struggle with loss, privation and failure. And we have not had the support we needed at those critical times. Yet with the help of God and fellows that served as rams in the bush some how we were able to over come and not be overwhelmed.
That is the life question all must face. It is the travel we go through to be human. It is the reflection on a song we heard when we were much younger than before, and not a s wise as we are now! It is the anthem we sing as old age brings solace and sanguine moments and yes senior moments as we try to forget the pain life dealt. As the song ends we hear the singer say that they drank it all to the bitter dregs, reminding all that life has bitters mixed in to remind us that all is not easy nor should it be. Later
Friday, September 4, 2009
Education Confrontation
The more I see the way in which this country is devolving the greater my hope is that a new day is about to dawn. I say this because of the growing fear, madness, and insane rhetoric of individuals dominating the Republican party, the radio, and news media. All day long, all night long, we are assaulted by such vapidness as to not be believed. It is a daily ritual: someone somewhere is lambasting the Obama Administration for being a socialist front, with communist leanings. These knuckle daggers have driven a wedge into the psyche of Americana. The birthers, with their maniacal screed about the birth legitimacy; the commentators that believe the debt is too big and blame Obama for trying to solve the issue with stimulus proposals, finally the do nothing party of NO which stands against the efforts on bogus principles and proposes nothing to assist in anyway possible are driving all people crazy. Nothing seems to getting done.
This in the midst of the greatest run up of debt since Reagen years, where we saw deficits rise and when accountability was demanded there was a smile, a wink and the phrase "there you go again": and the people bought into it, saying nothing is wrong. Again after eight years of prosperity (the debt clock was turned off because of a surplus) we now have record red ink courtesy of Bush 43, or commonly known as Bush lite.
The reason for the background is that racism and hatred are not only alive but gaining steam. it is as if America has awakened form a deep sleep and recognized that a person of color is running the United States of America: and they can not stand it. For the record it is easy to add a disclaimer for Obama: he has been in office for less than a year and as Presidents go has done a lot better in organizing the government (no easy task). Yes there are issues and there are concerns, but, in this case as from other cases there seems to be more vitriol than before.
Case in point the upcoming speech to the Nations school children on September 8, 2009. The Tuesday after Labor day. Why the controversy? Some Conservatives believe (this is daft beyond comprehension) that Obama's address will "foist a political agenda" on the children. What? As John McEnroe would say"are you serious??" What agenda could there be? It is the ruse of these people to say buzz words (white folks are good at this remember busing years ago?) that inflame the great masses of unaware persons. Because there is a great tendency to knee jerk rather than engage, pustules of infection rise to the surface resulting in the spewing of pus on the landscape of debate. This poison is so deadly that six states (Texas leads the way should we be surprised) are refusing to air the speech. One wonders about the mind set of school officials to not do this especially since Bus 41 (read my lips) did the exact same thing in 1991. The dodge that is being raised about the speech are the lesson plans available on line , and the fact that Obama is encouraging students to write (this has changed) to help the president. This attempt to engage in an exercise of engagement and creative thinking is too much for some persons. They are advancing the proposition that the Federal government is invading the schools, or as Senator Steve Russell thinks: Obama is after a cult of personality. To muster a reply is not Worth the effort this thought is so dumb. What are people thinking? Not much, which is the issue. People have lost the ability to discuss issues, disagree with cogent argument and then come to a compromise. All we see and unfortunately are those who have no real grasp on any issue just there regurgitation of half truths. This was made plain on MSNBC this morning. There was the customary interview of opposite side on the speech in Texas (again why use these folks they are portrayed as not to bright, but then neither was Bush lite) a man with children and the President of an organization that was prop Obama's effort. When asked all the man could say was: nothing that is correct he spewed the normal conservative(reactionary?) line with no thought. It is time we stopped allowing these non thinkers to control the agenda: being out of touch with reality. All of us know they are limited in scope and knowledge. Thoughtful persons must stand up to these bullies of the mind and take them to task as to their positions. If this is done I bet they will fade away into the woods, hollows, and marshes where they live and deservedly so. Later
This in the midst of the greatest run up of debt since Reagen years, where we saw deficits rise and when accountability was demanded there was a smile, a wink and the phrase "there you go again": and the people bought into it, saying nothing is wrong. Again after eight years of prosperity (the debt clock was turned off because of a surplus) we now have record red ink courtesy of Bush 43, or commonly known as Bush lite.
The reason for the background is that racism and hatred are not only alive but gaining steam. it is as if America has awakened form a deep sleep and recognized that a person of color is running the United States of America: and they can not stand it. For the record it is easy to add a disclaimer for Obama: he has been in office for less than a year and as Presidents go has done a lot better in organizing the government (no easy task). Yes there are issues and there are concerns, but, in this case as from other cases there seems to be more vitriol than before.
Case in point the upcoming speech to the Nations school children on September 8, 2009. The Tuesday after Labor day. Why the controversy? Some Conservatives believe (this is daft beyond comprehension) that Obama's address will "foist a political agenda" on the children. What? As John McEnroe would say"are you serious??" What agenda could there be? It is the ruse of these people to say buzz words (white folks are good at this remember busing years ago?) that inflame the great masses of unaware persons. Because there is a great tendency to knee jerk rather than engage, pustules of infection rise to the surface resulting in the spewing of pus on the landscape of debate. This poison is so deadly that six states (Texas leads the way should we be surprised) are refusing to air the speech. One wonders about the mind set of school officials to not do this especially since Bus 41 (read my lips) did the exact same thing in 1991. The dodge that is being raised about the speech are the lesson plans available on line , and the fact that Obama is encouraging students to write (this has changed) to help the president. This attempt to engage in an exercise of engagement and creative thinking is too much for some persons. They are advancing the proposition that the Federal government is invading the schools, or as Senator Steve Russell thinks: Obama is after a cult of personality. To muster a reply is not Worth the effort this thought is so dumb. What are people thinking? Not much, which is the issue. People have lost the ability to discuss issues, disagree with cogent argument and then come to a compromise. All we see and unfortunately are those who have no real grasp on any issue just there regurgitation of half truths. This was made plain on MSNBC this morning. There was the customary interview of opposite side on the speech in Texas (again why use these folks they are portrayed as not to bright, but then neither was Bush lite) a man with children and the President of an organization that was prop Obama's effort. When asked all the man could say was: nothing that is correct he spewed the normal conservative(reactionary?) line with no thought. It is time we stopped allowing these non thinkers to control the agenda: being out of touch with reality. All of us know they are limited in scope and knowledge. Thoughtful persons must stand up to these bullies of the mind and take them to task as to their positions. If this is done I bet they will fade away into the woods, hollows, and marshes where they live and deservedly so. Later
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Why tatoo???
An interesting thing I have noticed : people love to be marked or tattooed. Now before I continue further let me confess: I have adult children with several!!! Now that is out of the way I will continue. I am not against tattoos, as my son declared one day telling me that my age was showing and my dislike meant that I was becoming a conservative!!! Anyone that knows me understands that I am as conservative as Jerry Brown or Ted Kennedy (may he rest in peace) hardly conservative. No, my angst is this: tattoos are a mark of passage for some professions, note ably the military and the navy in particular and not so much form the general population.
There have always been tattoos. Those who got them were different and we did not hang around those who got them. For one thing our parents were not found of people like this. And if you are a certain age you know where of I speak. It was a respect thing: you did not bring certain folks around your parents and you absolutely did not want them to know you knew persons like this less they felt you were not raised well or breaking out into a spot they could not control!! So is this the reason I am against tattoos? No my position stems from the fact that body art is not for everyone and in these times with the rise of hepatitis those who do this might be unwise.
Secondly it is unattractive!!! To see some of the decorations on people is well if you have seen them use your own adjectives for me it is just gross. Thirdly some of the persons I have seen just get carried away!!!!! My goodness I can get with a small or a moderate one but some take up an entire appendage (arm or a leg, chest or back, and other places I will not lower my fingers to type. Last and not at all least: when we get old (I use first person plural to include everyone, we are going to age) what will these tattoos look like on sagging skin, and are those who have done this exposing themselves to cancers??? Tye body is too precious a gift to be used this way. To use it as a canvas for colorization I do not think was the intended purpose.
All generation have their signatures on the culture. In our time (1970) the hair styles alerted people to the spectrum we resided in. The Hippies, Yippees, the Panthers all had distinguishing identifications; some were just expressions others a frightening visage. Yet even in the strife of that decade and before, people did not go over board with appearances. We still had to function in the society: we had to work, vote, dissent, and even change the world.
I worry about this generation to me they seem to be disengaged, not into real world situations, content to remain at home not launch into the water or strive to make a difference. Generations like these are unprepared to deal with issues. This is not to say that there are not those that are doing a great job, there are some. But I do not see the larger participation that is needed. Later
Then there is the addictive (I have heard people say this) property of the needle on skin. How this is pleasurable is a mystery to me. So why tattoo?? The short answer is I have no idea!! Are those who do it looking for attention maybe but some of the most attractive people i have seen who do not need one do it. Are they attention seekers: wanting to see who looks the best those folk might be narcissistic and that is a disorder.
There have always been tattoos. Those who got them were different and we did not hang around those who got them. For one thing our parents were not found of people like this. And if you are a certain age you know where of I speak. It was a respect thing: you did not bring certain folks around your parents and you absolutely did not want them to know you knew persons like this less they felt you were not raised well or breaking out into a spot they could not control!! So is this the reason I am against tattoos? No my position stems from the fact that body art is not for everyone and in these times with the rise of hepatitis those who do this might be unwise.
Secondly it is unattractive!!! To see some of the decorations on people is well if you have seen them use your own adjectives for me it is just gross. Thirdly some of the persons I have seen just get carried away!!!!! My goodness I can get with a small or a moderate one but some take up an entire appendage (arm or a leg, chest or back, and other places I will not lower my fingers to type. Last and not at all least: when we get old (I use first person plural to include everyone, we are going to age) what will these tattoos look like on sagging skin, and are those who have done this exposing themselves to cancers??? Tye body is too precious a gift to be used this way. To use it as a canvas for colorization I do not think was the intended purpose.
All generation have their signatures on the culture. In our time (1970) the hair styles alerted people to the spectrum we resided in. The Hippies, Yippees, the Panthers all had distinguishing identifications; some were just expressions others a frightening visage. Yet even in the strife of that decade and before, people did not go over board with appearances. We still had to function in the society: we had to work, vote, dissent, and even change the world.
I worry about this generation to me they seem to be disengaged, not into real world situations, content to remain at home not launch into the water or strive to make a difference. Generations like these are unprepared to deal with issues. This is not to say that there are not those that are doing a great job, there are some. But I do not see the larger participation that is needed. Later
Then there is the addictive (I have heard people say this) property of the needle on skin. How this is pleasurable is a mystery to me. So why tattoo?? The short answer is I have no idea!! Are those who do it looking for attention maybe but some of the most attractive people i have seen who do not need one do it. Are they attention seekers: wanting to see who looks the best those folk might be narcissistic and that is a disorder.
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