Destruction.....

A fragile cease fire is holding in Israel and Lebanon. Let us fervently hope that it will continue. The pictures from Lebanon and from Northern Israel are devastating! What terrible destruction! Modern weaponry has been used to blow apart buildings, tear up infrastructure, kill many people. We can build terrible bombs and weapons which destroy, but are we any closer to understanding the path to peace and love? How many billions of dollars have been spent on destruction in this war? Can we humans not find a way to put these resources to constructive causes? Friends say that we must be optimistic, not pessimistic. It is hard to be optimistic when one sees the terrible destruction wrought by those in the world who have power and money. But we must be! And we must ever work for peace and understanding in whatever small ways we can.

Immigrants

Friends Dan and Madeline recently crossed over South Pass. Here is part of what they wrote in their blog:

"Large numbers of Americans emigrated west in the 1800’s on the Oregon, Mormon and California trails. In fact, the Western states were all settled by immigrants, many of them traveling under extremely dangerous circumstances. Many died. South Pass and Fort Bridger are now nearly deserted, but were once the site of many people passing to new homes.
We need to remember we are a nation of immigrants, who have largely displaced the Native Americans, the original inhabitants. This should give us pause when we see people who in very dangerous circumstance come to our country seeking an opportunity for a better life, much as were those who passed through South Pass and Fort Bridger, less than a hundred years ago."

This is a terribly important observation! The people coming across our south border today are coming for quite different reasons from those described by Dan and Madeline. However, we should remember that indeed we are all immigrants in this world. Somehow, we have to begin to think of creative ways we can deal with those coming across our southern border, in ways that will help them and help us as well.

Palestine, Israel, Lebanon........

With tears in my heart, I hear the news coming from Israel, Palestine, Lebanon.... How difficult it is for us here in the US, so far away, to realize the terror of such a situation. How do I respond? What do I say? A recent communicatikon from the Buddhist Peace Fellowship expresses well how I feel:

July 19, 2006
"During the past week, the world has been witness to a frightening drama unfolding in the Middle East, as Israel and Hezbollah are locked in an escalating conflict that neither party seems willing or able to diminish, and at the same time Israels operation in Gaza is creating a humanitarian catastrophe.

Each time such a situation comes to pass, we at the Buddhist Peace Fellowship are reminded of the Buddha's injunction that hatred does not cease by hatred at any time: hatred ceases by love.

These words are easy enough to say for those of us outside the conflict zone. We realize that life must feel quite different right now in a place like Beirut, Lebanon, where men, women, and children are under fire by Israeli bombers. Just today--July 19th--news sources report anywhere from 19 to 49 civilians have been killed by these air strikes, and more than 200 have been killed in the past week. And we empathize with the citizens of Haifa, Israel, and in other areas along the northern border where at least 30 people have been killed. There, wise words from any religious tradition may seem irrelevant with rockets landing in backyards and people injured or dying. For those of us who have never lived in a war zone, it may be impossible to realize just how stressful such a situation is and how easy to succumb to the practice of retaliation in the name of protecting ones own people.

Still, it is up to all of us in the global community to speak clearly for sanity amidst this insane march toward destruction, and to hold up the truth that violence only perpetuates more violence. And we must take actions to support this belief and to support our sisters and brothers in Israel, Lebanon, Gaza, and the entire Middle East."

The beauty of Cedar Rapids

Ah, Cedar Rapids.....
A June trip back to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, reminded us of the beauty we have known there. It was a wonderful time of visiting old friends. But we also saw again the corn fields spread across the rolling countryside, and the rain dripping from the trees, the vetch along the highways, flowers beneath the trees, blackberries ripening..... all these reminded us again of the beauty we have known there. We walked down along the street, when 2 small fawns came out of the trees. At first I thought they might come right up to us, but they sensed danger, and went back into the trees where mother waited, perhaps with some concern. Someone told me how many of these beautiful creatures are in the city limits of Cedar Rapids. We enjoy their beauty, but also there are conflicts when they go into the busy streets.
While there is beauty, while there are wonderful friends, we also find sorrow. Our dear friend, Louise is dying of lung cancer. Maybe that last hug was the last hug we will share..... But the fawns will be dying. The flowers give us their beauty and then they are gone. Even the ancient rolling hills slowly move and change. Everything is change, and there is wonder and beauty in change. I, too, am old, and my bones tell me that dying is indeed part of living. What a wonder it is to be alive! What a wonder it is to see the beautiful fawns, and all the little children. I know that when we are gone, Louise, life will be here. Life, and the world, goes on....

A picture of me.....

Here is a picture of me along with my brothers and sisters. I'm on the right and going left, Fritzie, Bud, Jackie with Stanley, Alice Jane. The structure to the left of us is the old well. There was a pulley under the roof of the well and over it was a rope with a bucket at each end. You would let one bucket into the well and the other would come up. Bring up a bucket of water and the next bucket was going down, ready to bring up a second bucket of water. It was good, cold water. The house is at the far left, barely seen. Behind the well and Jane is the storeroom, where we stored a lot of stuff. Just to the right of me are jasmines. How wonderful they were in the sunmmer, with hummingbirds on them. Despite great changes, a lot of earth removed to make the new road, some of the jasmines still grow and bloom. Those were the good old days.....

Illegals.....

They are called illegals.... They come across our southern borders in search of some of the money we have up here. But oh the controversy! Here in Grand Junction and across the country, we had demonstrations in favor of immigrants. Then came the backlash... We must keep them out, we say! We build high walls on the border. We send border guards all around to catch them coming in. Yet, they come and come.... We call them illegals..... But people can never be illegal....
I think it is a problem of the rich and the poor, a problem which has been with us for ages, but which has become a bigger and bigger problem in recent years. We have a much better economy here to the north. Down to the south, they cannot find jobs and they cannot support their families. They come north to find money which is so badly needed. I understand that some people feel they take "our" jobs, yet they do work that many here are not willing to do. Some say that they cost great amounts with their health care and other needs. I think they pay more in unseen taxes and other ways than they use. All those arguments are secondary, however. These are our sisters and brothers. We are all in this together. I wish there were some way we could help. We fight a terrible war in Iraq. We send troops all over the world. I know that people say that these are the important places in the world. But I believe those next door are truly our neighbors. I wish our country would work with and help these, our next door neighbors, our brothers and sisters. If the will were there, surely we could help, and decrease the gap between the rich and poor, rather than increasing it as we have been doing for decades now........

The war moves on and on.....

Here we are at the third anniversary of one of the biggest mistakes the US has made in recent years... the beginning of the Iraq war. What have we resolved? Absolutely nothing! Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction. Iraq was not a threat to the US. Because all this became increasingly clear, the rationale for the war was changed. That did nothing to help. More money continues to be poured into this terrible mistake. More and more and more people are being killed as a result of this terrible mistake. How do we ever get out of the hole we have dug for ourselves? I wish I (or someone) had a good answer for this question.

Sunshine Week

This is "Sunshine Week" celebrating the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA). What does "freedom" mean? Some people, when they hear the phrase, think of patriots fighting to keep our country free. When I hear the phrase, I tend to think of the makers of the original constitution and innumerable people since then who have upheld the right of citizens to speak out against corruption, against mismanagement, against secrecy and in favor of an informed citizenry. Only by having informed citizens who can speak out when they see the country moving in the wrong direction can we have the freedom we so cherish. The FOIA was one step in assuring that information be available to citizens. It has been important in maintaining our freedom. Our present administration has been one of the more secretive in recent times. Let us all call for our rights to information. Let us all be willing to educate ourselves, and to participate in the political processes, especially voting, so that we can keep this country free.

Teachers - Left and Right

A Colorado teacher has stirred quite a controversy over the whole country. Following the President's State of the Union message, Jay Bennish, geography teacher at Overland High School in Aurora, Colorado, apparently suggested that some of the things the administration has done were similar to those done by Hitler. A student, Sean Allen, recorded the conversation. The recording was given to a nationally syndicated columnist and to a radio talk show. All this caused an uproar. The teacher was suspended pending a hearing to see if he had violated school policies.

My first thought was "Why would a geography teacher give such a lecture?" It seemed much more appropriate for a social studies class. My second thought was "Why did the student give the recording to a columnist and talk show host?" Of course I can't answer these questions. My feeling is that this might have been a good discussion for a civics class. But the next step should have been a good discussion about the statements, bringing out reasons for agreeing or disagreeing. This could well result in some real learning with students seeing that life is complex and that there usually is no completely clear right and wrong side to a question like this. I think it is unfortunate that it was thrown into the media and became a yelling match with no good critical thinking going on. President Bush even became involved. When he was asked if he thought people should have the right to free speech in the classroom, he said that people do criticize him and that they should have the right to do so. He said that the ability of people to express themselves is a freedom we must protect. I hope he has the courage of his convictions, and I hope he will begin to be much more open in his administration.
The teacher is now back in the classroom. It is unfortunate that the student has felt that he must leave the school because of threats. We missed a chance for some real learning here.

Port Security

It is an interesting world we live in! A British company was managing some of our ports when it was taken over by an Arab company from United Arab Emirates. According to the news I heard, the President didn't know about it. On the other hand, I heard that the deal had begun some time back and had been cleared by a number of agencies within the government. When the President did hear about it, why didn't he immediately tell Congress and others? The word, "Arab," immediately sets a lot of people off, so when they heard that, they were quite upset. Both Democrats and Republicans immediately castigated the President and threatened legislation to stop the transfer of management. Why is "Arab country" such a bad phrase? Certainly there must be friendly Arab countries, and the UAE seems to be one of them, an ally which has helped with the war on terrorism. I hear people saying that some of the men involved in 9-11 were from that area, and I hear that they were one of few countries to recognize the Taliban. It seems easy to vilify a country if one wishes.
A further thought: We are in the area because we wish to "promote democracy." Wouldn't it promote democracy if Arab countries become involved economically with western countries? Also, there is much concern expressed about port security. But the U.S. Coast Guard controls security and that won't change with a change in the country managing the ports. I hope that the transfer of management will proceed, and I also hope that we might become more tolerant of Arab countries, and aware of their aspirations, and their involvement in today's world.
What this whole situation says to me is that this administration does a bad job of communicating, and communication is so important to everything we do. I wonder how much more damage this incident will do to the administration. It is fascinating to live through times such as these. When we have moved on and look back at history, I wonder how differently this affair will appear.

VP shoots hunting mate!

The news is always interesting to read. I wonder how much I have read in recent days about the hunting accident of Vice President Cheney. If this had happened to an ordinary person, we probably would have heard nothing of it unless it involved someone near to us. Why, then, is it such a big story? It was an accident and the accident was due to two people who were careless. Why did Whittington go past the line of hunters? And then why was Cheney so careless as to shoot him? These are unanswerable questions. So why is there a big story? It can only be because we all like to make big stories when they involve people in high places. I would like for us to forget it and get on to important things. Just as we remember a vice president who couldn't spell potato, we will remember a vice president who shot his hunting mate. That is just the way we are.....

Arches National Park

Arches National Park is a fascinating area! We spent the week end in Moab and hiked in the Park. The first picture is of Landscape Arch. What a span it is! A few years ago, a large slab fell from the right of the arch and we are no longer allowed to walk up under the arch. It is interesting to imagine the formation of this area over millenia, and one wonders how long it will be until Landscape Arch falls. Earth is ever changing! The second photo is of the balanced rock. On seeing these beautiful formations, I think how fortunate we are that there are no earthquakes in this area.

Remembering a great man.....

The 16th of January this year is a special day honoring one of the great men in the history of the United States. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., more than any other person, reminded us that we are all brothers and sisters. He spoke not only for the dark-skinned people, but for all of us, ever reminding us of the dignity of every human being. In a world in which violence plays such a large role, we need to remember his firm belief that only through non-violence can we change the world in a positive way. I hope that we all can not only know, but also live by, the principles which were such an important part of his life.

Alito for the Supreme Court

I watched some of the confirmation hearings for Samuel Alito. I watched the Senators questioning him, and I watched how he answered. I hear so many conflicting responses to this that I decided I should put down my own response to what I see.

As I watched, I was struck by the feeling that Alito, in his responses, was so much better prepared than any of his questioners, whether they were in favor or against him. Some say that he evades really answering the questions. However, it appeared to me, as a person with no judicial background, that he did a good job. Maybe better questions were needed, but he certainly responded within the context of the questions, and without expressing how he might deal with future cases. I was also struck by how very much more intelligent he appeared than the president who suggested him as the one to fill the vacant spot on the Supreme Court.

I realize that this is a lifetime appointment. I also know that I have some misgivings, particularly about his attitude toward executive power, and about his attitude toward abortion and women's rights. I think he will not be an exact replacement for the so-called swing vote of Sandra Day O'Connor. He will be himself, which always is somewhat different from the predecessor. Also, I have not read as much background material as have the Senators. However, from my limited perspective, if I had to vote on his confirmation, I would, at this time, vote to confirm him.

A new Knee!

January 6 was a special day. Arleta had a complete knee replacement. All went well, and after she gets over the pain and heals, it should be much better. She will be able to go up and down stairs again! Isn't it amazing what we can do with modern technology!

Please, No Spying On Us!

There has been a lot of controversy about the wiretapping that President Bush has allowed. Perhaps if I were a lawyer with some idea of all the complex issues involved, I could make a more informed assessment. But I am not. So I write down my thoughts and feelings about the situation as I see it.

I very much oppose the use of such powers. It seems to me that it takes away valuable, basic freedoms of Americans, freedoms on which the very nature of the life we believe in is based. From a layman's perspective, it seems to me that the President is behaving almost as a king. If so, he believes himself to be a benevolent king, only doing these things for the protection of us, his vassals. There has been far too much secrecy associated with this administration, and this secrecy is inimical to the way of life and the way of government that have developed since this country began. One of the arguments used is that Congress, after 9/11, gave the President the power to conduct the war. Which war? We first went into Afghanistan, then, without justification, into Iraq. Now the continuing justification is that we are in a global "war on terrorism." There have been too many mistakes made, and no admittance of the mistakes. Somehow, we need to change course, to find better ways of relating to the rest of the world, ways that do not have to take away our basic freedoms. My hope is that somehow, the Presicent will realize and admit this and make an effort to change the direction we are going. In the meantime, I say "please, no spying on us!"

A new day, a new week, a new month, a new year...

It is interesting to have the first of the year on a Sunday. Is the first of January significant? Only so far as we humans are concerned. Perhaps the 21st of December is, in a way, more significant because it represents the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, and days after that will be getting longer. However, celebration is built into us as humans. We need to celebrate. An what better celebration than the celebration of something new, of new beginnings.

We celebrated the passing of the old year by watching the New York Philharmonic Orchestra live from Lincoln Center, on PBS. What a treat it was! The orchestra was simply outstanding. Romainian soprano Angela Gheorgyiu sang a number of pieces from Italian opera. She is beautiful! And what a wonderful voice. I thought how great it would have been to have a seat in Lincoln Center, to see, to feel and to hear the program. But, through the miracle of television, it was brought into our living room. And, in a way, we had a better seat than any in Lincoln Center, because we could see the sweep of the auditorium at times, and at times we could focus in on each member of the orchestra.

We began the new year with the Vienna Philharmonic in a 250th birthday tribute to Mozart, again on PBS. It reminds us what a genius Mozart was, and the gift his life has given to humanity. Wonderful music! And some wonderful dancing, as well. Sometimes I think we are almost unaware of the great wonder of the human spirit. Programs like these remind us us this.