I Couldn't Help Myself

I had to post this, it is hilarious.




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The Best Focus Group Ever

Taking a Deep Breath

I found this wonderful piece over at The Episcopal Café, Advice for Electiontide. In my haste to speak (or write) my mind (from my bias) I found this message by Sara Miles most humbling.

Read it here


In the meantime,

Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Personal Destiny & The Common Good

This a bit long but I think an important topic anyway, especially in light of our country's current financial turmoil.

Plus it outlines an interesting convergence of listening, reading and talking that I have been a part of in the last 24 hours.

Stephen and I heard a great interview yesterday on NPR’s Talk of the Nation. Neal Conan interviewed Peter Gosselin, a national economics correspondent for the Los Angeles Times and the author of High Wire: The Precarious Financial Lives of American Families.

Also yesterday my sister and I were conversing (long distance) on the topic of “individualism” in America and how that fits in with the idea of community and the common good.

Then today I read a portion of an interview of Joe Biden by Katie Couric. In this part of the interview, Biden stated “the people who do not need a new tax cut should be willing, as patriotic Americans, to understand the way to get this economy back up on their feet is to give middle class taxpayers a break.”

Upon hearing this and thinking of my conversation with Kay, I thought about a portion of the TOTN interview where Gosselin takes us back to our countries beginnings. Here is an excerpt from the forward to Gosselin’s book High Wire: The Precarious Financial Lives of American Families.

(emphasis mine)

To begin to understand this paradox—how the United States as a whole could have grown richer while individuals and families have become financially less secure—and to begin to see whether the American promise endures, it is useful to look to the past, in this case to the distant past, New England in 1620. In that year, as the small sailing ship the Mayflower rode at anchor off the coast of Cape Cod, William Bradford and his fellow Pilgrims faced a crisis: Winter was coming on. Blown off course by storms, they would have to settle far north of their intended destination. And they faced the unexpected prospect of mutiny. Although most of us think of the Mayflower colonists as a tight-knit band of religious dissenters, in fact many on the ship did not share the Pilgrims' religious views; they had been recruited only to help finance the voyage. Now, some of these "Strangers," as the Pilgrims called them, muttered about going their own way, threatening a potentially fatal schism. So Bradford called a meeting. The result was the Mayflower Compact, a terse but unequivocal agreement to "combine ourselves together into a civil body politic" that would create such laws and regulations "as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience." Forty-one of fifty men on board signed on behalf of themselves, their wives, and their children.

The colonists who founded Plymouth Plantation were in the New World for all sorts of reasons—some to pursue religious beliefs, others to seek fortune, still others to enhance what fortunes they already had. And they were a people not much given to compromise. Yet under the pressure of brutal necessity—as many as half would die within a year—they agreed to yield some part of their individual autonomy to the group. More important, they agreed to a certain mutual responsibility for the well-being of one another, even if meeting that responsibility might sometimes clash with their private interests.

This implicit bargain lay at the heart of virtually everything that followed. The Revolution, the Constitution, the rise of a huge and diverse nation, all rested upon a common understanding: The new society would be dedicated to individual, not collective, dreams, but everyone would nevertheless accept some responsibility for each other and for the common good.

Strangely, however, over the past twenty-five years or so, the bargain struck aboard the Mayflower and extended forward through almost four hundred years of often turbulent history has begun to unravel. The basic social contract on which American society has always rested—no matter how imperfectly—has begun to change. The inherent balancing of competing interests that lay at the heart of the bargain has been upset.

The old idea that, even as we pursue our personal destinies, we owe an obligation to each other, to a "civil body politic," and to a "general good," has been shunted aside. In its place, wrapped in the economic doctrine of free markets and the moral precept of personal responsibility, stands a new first principle: Each of us is now expected to forge our own future, free to rise or fall as our talents and luck may dictate.

Any thoughts?

The interview with Peter Gosselin can be heard here

Passing Judgment

This last Sunday’s epistle was from Romans 14. I highly recommend reading it.

Romans 14: 1-12

Note verse 4;
Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Master is able to make him stand.

While this was being read in church Sunday I was thinking of an article I had recently read on michellemalkindotcom. Yes, I admit it, I try and read everything I can from as many perspectives as I can. It helps keep me balanced. It also infuriates me and often challenges me.

Her post was regarding the joint appearance by the two Presidential candidates at the Ground Zero on September 11.

Here it is, in part. Please note that I do not under any circumstances support Ms. Malkin or her opinions.

Ground Zero etiquette: A tale of two roses
By Michelle Malkin • September 11, 2008 10:41 PM

It’s a small gesture, but gestures matter at the hallowed grave site of so many murdered innocent Americans.

Barack Obama flings a memorial rose at Ground Zero like he’s a kid tossing pennies into a fountain at the shopping mall — or a spectator tossing flowers at a bullfight.

He doesn’t know what he’s doing.

(Clueless NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg copies him.)

By contrast, John McCain and his wife kneel and gently, somberly, place their roses down at the foot of the 9/11 tribute.

I was struck by her arrogant certainty. I am curious how this can be. Here she claims to know exactly what was in the hearts of all of the people she named. The truth is that her descriptions are based upon her own biases - one was flinging, one was gently placing. By her description of these gestures, Malkin passes judgment and wants you to do the same. And just as she does, she wants you to surmise the intentions and define the inner reflections of each of the participants.

I was saddened by what she wrote, but more I was saddened by the fact that this is what we do in our daily lives and encounters. We so easily heap criticism on one another. Those who are different from us and those we fear. Blogging about this is cathartic, because I find myself so often in judgment of others based upon nothing, absolutely nothing, but appearances.

Lord, have mercy.

Just for Fun - A Lullaby

My neighbor always forwards me random e-mail. Some are crazy, some are funny and some are way over my head. She gets them from all over the world and most of them are quite clever.

I know most people immediately delete if "fwd" shows in the subject line. I on the other hand try and give them a chance.

This one is too sweet to pass up and I thought I would share it with you all.

Enjoy.

Hope is the Thing With Feathers

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chilliest land
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

Emily Dickinson

After Wednesday night I began to think that I might be losing track of what is important. I posted my rant and spent the next day feeling a bit anxious. What I realized is that I might be getting too caught up in the outcome. Of course I am looking for change but I know that neither party can really affect true change. That has to come from within each of us as individuals and flow outward into our homes, our communities and into the world.

I don’t want to loose sight of what is most important in all of this and that is:

.... whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8

Stephen wrote this to a friend of ours and it seems appropriate for this conversation;

Due to a project crisis at work (what else is new), I was in the City until about 6:30. Overheard on the Embarcadero platform was a conversation between two 30-ish Caucasian women and a 20-ish African-American man. the gist of the conversation was their perceived reality which included the idea that within a few years, either Biden or Palin would be president because either Obama would be assassinated or McCain would die in office. Their recommendation was to vote for the Vice-Presidential candidate you thought would make the best president. How's that for optimism amongst the working class?

I wish candidates could take the high road and stay out of the mud, but when they do, they're perceived as being weak, not ethical. I'm afraid Obama is going to have to get his hands dirty. Maybe that's one reason he has Biden on the ticket, but McCain, et al, are going to do whatever they can to diminish him.

The irony is that the Republicans preach optimism, but when Obama talks about hope, he's criticized for being an empty suit.

I am not proud of my country. We have gone to war against an enemy who wasn't there, ignored the enemy who is there, turned our backs on the victims of genocide and allowed our own citizens to suffer if it enabled a corporation to benefit. The democrats are as culpable as the republicans.

While I'm old enough to remember John Kennedy, I wasn't attuned enough (I was 6 when he ran for office) to understand anything he stood for. I have since come to understand that he offered hope to a nation, was firm in national defense and was more fiscally conservative/responsible than GWB. He is revered today, in part because he was martyred, but what is wrong with a presidential candidate offering a little hope.

We're all adults; we know what's promised on the campaign trail seldom becomes reality, but I'll take hope any day. After all, according to 1 Cor. 13, there abides faith, hope and love. Well, I don't have much faith in my government, and I don't think my government has much love for me, so I guess I'll go with hope.

Warning: My First Political Rant

I am not sure I really want to put anything to political on my blog, although I don’t mind sharing some of my faith values. I am not real savvy politically and probably not very savvy spiritually either, depending on whom you ask. In both cases I know what resonates with me and it’s from there I try and grow my faith and practice my life and practice my faith and grow my life.

Those who know me, know that I hate labels. So, a disclaimer: I am registered independent and favor no party over another.

Right now, I am responding to Ms. Palin's speech that I watched on TV earlier tonight, written for her and well delivered to be sure, but the content:

Rude, condescending, sarcastic, mocking and while I might have been on the fence (re: my vote) before, I no longer am.

I was embarrassed and outraged at her tone and at the content of her speech. Talk about business as usual.

Stephen reminds me that it is her job to attack the other side. I ask, how does this help the American people?

The RNC convention is in St. Paul, Minnesota. If "country first" is their mantra, why did the I-35 bridge collapse in Minneapolis, MN in 2007? My sister and niece could have been hurt, or worse in that collapse. The infrastructure of our country is in the toilet and all they can say is country first. A major contradiction if you ask me. Where are the resources to protect and improve our own country? Are all our resources spent protecting us from Islamic terrorists? What about the terror of our broken cities and states?

Eight years of Republican administration has done nothing to put "country first" in our own Country. Do Mr. McCain and Ms. Palin have a plan to address that, or are they grandstanding?

I haven’t even addressed the double standard regarding an “out of wedlock” pregnancy in the daughter of an “abstinence only” preaching mother. And how it is a “bonus” (quote; Levi Johnston’s mother) because they were going to marry anyway?

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/09/01/politics/p091657D38.DTL

I just can’t help but think what they would say if the “opponent’s” family would have faced the same “crisis?” Notice these other contradictions:

http://www.thatminoritything.com/?p=53193

And while they are at it, trying to legislate everything “moral” for everyone in America and, dare I say, the world, they want (and rightly so) to keep their personal family matters private. Again another double standard, don’t you think? If it is their family, it is private. If it is your family, it is public.




In the mean time I will leave the experts to address the contradictions and misrepresentations in Ms. Palin’s speech.

Right now, I am a bit upset and quite frankly embarrassed to be an American, plus my cat just died on Saturday, so pardon my rant.

Having mentioned above that I am not sure I really want to put anything to political on my blog, I have obviously crossed that line.

Thanks for reading and may God have mercy on us all.

Rest in Peace Nay Nay

Stephen wrote this beautiful little tribute to our dear sweet cat. She died last Saturday morning.



Renée left us today, August 30, 2008. After a short and sudden illness, we made the difficult decision to mercifully euthanize her before she had to endure more discomfort, suffering and pain. She was a wonderful and gregarious cat, loved by all who knew her. She wanted to meet everyone who came to the house and never turned down the opportunity to get her belly rubbed. She enjoyed sleeping in her basket in the garden window and being on the deck, especially when the house was hot and it was cool outside. She also enjoyed the occasional snack and some tuna straight from the can.

Now she’s somewhere in a large garden where there is a cool breeze, comfortable grass to lay on and a never ending supply of good eats. Be well Renée, we miss you.




She used to come when you called her, just like a puppy. Her personality was priceless. In addition to the basket in the garden window, she had a basket under my desk. I especially miss her sitting there at my feet while I worked. Yes, we sure do miss you Nay Nay.




Iris is still with us and we hope she has happy memories too.