Pin a rose on me!

I went to the doctor and found out that since October of last year I have lost 41 pounds. To celebrate I took a picture of my friend's rose The only thing wrong is you can't smell the beautiful aroma.

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One of my favorite pet peeves is when I go from my reader to a web site I find teeny tiny print -I do not see any good reason to have pages of text with print this size. If the purpose of the text is to communicate Why in the hell would you type in a font that makes a person have eye strain.  I have set up my blog so that it is comfortable to read without my glasses.  I also do not like those awful white print on black backgrounds.  Sorry folks that is not sexy.  Just hard to read. That is one of the reasons I use the Google Reader because the text looks like this. Sort of like what you get in a newspaper or a book.

I know I can enlarge the text by pressing Control and the = sign but why should I have to?  It is not as if I expect much.  I have been reading newspapers and magazines for a long time with decent print...Oh yes except for Vanity Fair.  They are concerned that they will use space which is needed for large glossy images of skinny models in skimpy clothing. So the one page I am most interested in reading is tiny print and it is not easy for these old eyes to manage.

I am really enjoying some of the summer replacement shows. Of course Dallas, then there is The Closer, Rizoli and Iles, White Collar, Suits, The Firm, Covert Affairs, Burn Notice, Royal Pains...and Truc Blood and The Newsroom. I will miss them when they are off the air. It is too bad that the networks can't do as good a job. (Note: The jury is still out on the replacement for The Closer.  I can't imagine it will be as good without Kyra.  She is a great actress)

I also do not understand why, except for The Firm none of those are on the major networks. They have been running re-runs all summer and I don't watch them.  There are a lot of shows I don't watch on the networks.

I forgot I also had fun watching Around the World in 80 Plates. I think they all should have won.

The lights were out on Wednesday from 8:45 - 11:00 and so the last 15 minutes of Dallas and Royal Pains were cut off.  I was able to catch Royal Pains because they repeat the show at a later hour. Now I have to find the re-run of Dallas.  I think it is Saturday morning at 8:00.

The bird up above is a grouse..I used it because that is what I planned on doing tonight,  Grousing.  thanks for listening.

Biblical TRUTH

This is my response to the use of the words Biblical Truth in a Facebook Discussion... just sayin'  (It got started because I posted this link about the Roman Catholic Bishops. One of the responses posted this link about political pastors which is where the "biblical Truth (sic) came from.)

Biblical Truth?  What is biblical TRUTH.  The Bible is a compilation of stories the ancient Jews told to give their Priests power over the people. Over time they were written down and somehow became "The Word of God."    The laws in the Bible are cherry picked by these pastors to fit their own prejudices.  We ignore most of them and misinterpret the rest.

Even the symbol used by Christian Churches is an instrument of torture and death (Particularly the one used showing Jesus hanging on it) -  I have a deep and sincere Christian Faith.  My faith celebrates the life that Jesus came to teach. It was described by Ellen in her response to "One Million Moms" (Not quite 50,000)  when they tried to get her fired from JCPenny.

DeGeneres said,

“I stand for honesty, equality, kindness, compassion, treating people the way you want to be treated, and helping those in need. To me, those are traditional values.”  

I agree with her and unfortunately the RC Bishops and the Political Republican Candidates can't quite see it.  Perhaps they need new glasses.    Oh Yeah and The Word of God....I think Jesus told us what that word is.  LOVE.  That is the measuring stick by which to tell if something is lined up with the Deity.  No matter what you call her/him.

Comment - On Marriage and Women's Rights

"Women in Saudi Arabia are considered property, not people.  Most spend their lives locked away indoors.  They're not permitted to drive an automobile.  They're not permitted to go out in public without a make escort and without first concealing themselves beneath an abaya and a veil.  They're not permitted to travel, even inside the country, without receiving permission from their fathers or older brothers.  Honor killings are permissible if a woman brings shame upon her family or engages in un-Islamic behavior, and adultery is a crime punishable by stoning. In the birthplace of Islam, women cannot even enter a mosque except in Mecca and Medina, which is odd, since the Prophet Muhammad was something of a feminist. 'Treat your women well and be kind to them,' the Prophet said, ' for they are your partners and committed helpers.'"

The above is from the book, Portrait of a Spy by Daniel Silva.  It is the book I am currently reading and it is a novel. However, it reminded me of the time I was in Egypt in 1976 and one of the lecturers arranged for us to go to an Egyptian wedding.  We were told that what we would be attending was the party after the wedding.  The wedding itself took place in a small room of the Mosque and the bride did not even attend.  She would be at the party but her presence was not necessary at the wedding itself which took place between her father and her husband,  It was a "transfer of property."  She went from being the property of her father to that of her husband. We were told that many times the woman only left the house to go to her husband's house from her fathers at the time of her wedding and also that her bridal veil was her burial shroud. On top of that the Islamic man may have up to four wives.. (at least to my understanding)


When I think of the storm we have going in our country right now over marriage and the presidential candidates have all signed a pledge to define marriage between one man and one woman the mind boggles.


One of the candidates (whom I will not mention by name) goes around saying that a paper towel is not a napkin and a glass of beer is not a glass of water in his homophobic rants he insists (as do the others) that the only kind of marriage anyone can have is between one man and one woman.  


Well, I wonder... What kind of marriage did Abraham have.. Three wives??  Yep.  And don't tell me that two and three were concubines. He had those also.  Later down the line King David wound up with EIGHT wives.


King Solomon - 700 wives and 300 concubines.   Most for alliances but wives never-the-less. 


And as far as their claim that the only type of traditional marriage is between one man and one woman.  I got to wondering.  I knew that there was a couple of men who were "married" in ancient Egypt and were buried together as a married couple.  I found the following:

Various types of same-sex unions have {existed throughout history}, ranging from informal, unsanctioned relationships to highly ritualized unions. It is believed that a same-sex union was a socially recognized institution at times in Ancient Greece and Rome, some regions of China, such as Fujian province, and at certain times in ancient European history. These gay unions continued until Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire. A law in the Theodosian Code (C. Th. 9.7.3) was issued in 342 AD by the Christian emperors Constantius II and Constans, which prohibited same-sex marriage in ancient Rome and ordered that those who were so married were to be executed. "

So their "traditional marriage dates only from 342 AD. And it was not even a sacrament of the Catholic Church until about 1350.

Paper towel or napkin.  It depends on what you use it for.  For the Catholic Church marriage is for procreation.

Some folks, beyond the age of procreating, still get married.  They do so for other reasons. Some get married because they are lonely,  or because they want someone to take care of them or they want to take care of someone.  Some get married for money.  I remember in one of my college classes the professor asked us about our dreams. The men had various things which they dreamed about.  Most of the women were dreaming about getting married.  Some of them could see their groom.  Others could not see a specific person but they were marrying someone.  It seems our culture has programmed little girls to think of being married as the end all, be all of their lives.  Not for all but for most. (And remember this was in the years 1961 - 65.

In those marriages described to me by our Egyptian guide the wedding was for the transfer of property... "What's Love Got to Do With It?" as the song goes.  

"The myth of the natural inferiority of women greatly influenced the status of women in law. Under the common law of England, an unmarried woman could own property, make a contract, or sue and be sued. But a married woman, defined as being one with her husband, gave up her name, and virtually all her property came under her husband's control.During the early history of the United States, a man virtually owned his wife and children as he did his material possessions. If a poor man chose to send his children to the poorhouse, the mother was legally defenseless to object. Some communities, however, modified the common law to allow women to act as lawyers in the courts, to sue for property, and to own property in their own names if their husbands agreed."[1]

  

In the 1970's there was a push for the Equal Rights Amendment. It made sense to me. Why should women not have the same rights as men?  Why not get equal pay for equal work? Why would any woman be against them.  There was a perfectly horrible woman named Phyllis Schlafly who became the point person for the arguments against it much as that Maggie woman heads up the National Organization for Women today, both are really awful persons.  

"Arguments by ERA opponents such as Phyllis Schlafly, right-wing leader of the Eagle Forum/STOP ERA, played on the same fears that had generated female opposition to woman suffrage. Anti-ERA organizers claimed that the ERA would deny woman’s right to be supported by her husband, privacy rights would be overturned, women would be sent into combat, and abortion rights and homosexual marriages would be upheld. Opponents surfaced from other traditional sectors as well. States’-rights advocates said the ERA was a federal power grab, and business interests such as the insurance industry opposed a measure they believed would cost them money. Opposition to the ERA was also organized by fundamentalist religious groups". [2]

Wow,  the same mentality today as we had then. And all of it bogus.  People ought to be able to get married to join together as a family with the person they love.  Those fighting same sex marriage are fighting Love and Love is God so they are fighting God.  They want to blame God for everything from hurricanes to earthquakes.  Unfortunately for them God had nothing to do with any of that. At least not if you worship the God of Love.  As for the mentality of the people who are fighting this (and who fought the ERA and the Women's right to vote and the right for women to own property.)   


These people have the same mentality of the Islamic men who hold their women as property as described above and also the Puritans who burned the women at the stake as witches.  They would establish a Theocracy.  They would run our country by religious principles as defined narrowly by them. And they would punish according to biblical laws.. Many of them use the Code of Leviticus as a guide for their prejudice or at least parts of it.  


One major problem I have is that not all Christians believe the same thing.  Whose Church is going to be in charge.  I don't agree with those who say that the Bible is the inerrent Word of God. The Bible was written by men.  It is an oral history written down. Sometimes long after the facts of the case.  Men differ.  Even in the four Gospels there are variations in the accounts.  So who is going to be on this religious Council in Charge of our Theocracy?  


The Founding Fathers wisely knowing that the religions of men were many and varied decreed the separation of Church and State.  It should stay that way. Religion should stay out of the government business.  And government should stay out of the religion business.  And that includes giving them tax money (or for that matter tax breaks)  Faith based initiatives should not be run with public money. If you want to be religious and have a religion fine. Up to you. However stay the hell out of anyone else's religion and let them be.


Here are some thoughts on Marriage from a PBS Newshour spot. Interesting ideas on how marriage is evolving:

Watch the full episode. See more PBS NewsHour.

I admit that most of my thinking is pretty simplistic but that's the way I see it.  If you don't agree that is your privilege.


Addendum -  Just in case you don't believe me about the Fundamentalist Agenda go read this. Found it this morning.

Visit to the Doctor

Today I got to go see my Doctor.  Not that I wanted to but I decided that I had better go see him.  Since June my leg has been swelling up and at Grand Council/Chapter some of my Brothers suggested that I needed to go get it looked at.

The Doctors are all on something called My Chart where you can go on line and see your test results and send non emergency questions into the Doctor and he will respond.  So I did that last Thursday.  He couldn't see me until the first part of the week so I did what I had been doing.  I stayed home as much as possible with my leg up.

So I finally got in to see him and he looked at it.  He did not seem too concerned. He does not think I have a blood clot but to be sure a week from Thursday I will have an ultra sound. - In the meantime I shall continue to elevate the leg and fuss about it a little.

On a better note I got weighed and I lost 18 pounds since I saw him in June.  I need to loose at least 100 pounds.  I have cut out some really bad things (chips, potatoes, chocolate, etc)  So that is good.  Jon almost has the spare room cleaned out and soon I will be able to have someone stay over if they want.  Miles seems to be adjusting to his new living arrangements.  I hope he does not miss me as much as I miss him.

I got word today that one of my Lodge Brothers died this afternoon.  I had some difficulty with him in the past but we had worked through it and we had a nice visit at Grand Chapter.  I told him about my leg and he was genuinely concerned.  He wanted me to be sure to let him know what happened with the doctor.  I am so very glad that we had gotten past our problems.  He died while fishing with some of the Lodge Brothers.  I count him as lucky to go that way.  I watched my grandfather die slowly over about 10 years.  My grandmother died the same way Bob did. Quick and while doing something he loved.  He will be missed because he had a lot of friends and brothers.  Rest In Peace, my Brother.

Remember Me:

To the living, I am gone.

To the sorrowful, I will never return.

To the angry, I was cheated,

But to the happy, I am at peace,

And to the faithful, I have never left.

I cannot be seen, but I can be remembered.

So as you stand upon a shore, gazing at a beautiful sea - remember me.

As you look in awe at a mighty forest and its grand majesty - remember me.

As you look upon a flower and admire its simplicity - remember me.

Remember me in your heart, your thoughts, and your memories of the times we loved, the times we cried, the times we fought, the times we laughed.

For if you always think of me, I will have never gone.

Pondering

I found this over at Child of Illusion:


Plutocracy: If Corporations and the Rich Paid 1960s-Level Taxes, the Debt Would Vanish

Check out this bit:

This “debt crisis” in no way had to happen. No natural disaster, no tsunami, has suddenly pounded the United States out of fiscal balance. We have simply suffered a colossal political failure. Our powers that be, by feeding the rich and their corporations one massive tax break after another, have thrown a monstrous monkey wrench into our national finances.
...
So why aren't we taxing the rich? Why are we now suffering such fearsome “debt crisis” angst? Why are our politicos so intent on shoving the “fiscal discipline” of layoffs and cutbacks — austerity — down the throats of average Americans?

No mystery here. Our political system is failing to tax the rich because the rich have fortunes large enough to buy off the political system.

The sentence in red got me to wondering - wouldn't it just be as simple for the rich to pay taxes as it is to buy off the politicians?  And wouldn't be interesting if the politicians made it illegal to take a contribution from anyone (real or imagined (i.e. corporate) of more that $1000.  It might also just make the obnoxious ads on TV go away. 

IMHO - Steven Colbert is better than Jon Stewart.

The Colbert Report
Tags: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

Just saying

"I hope all those people who think they were voting against incumbents because they believed conservative candidates had an acceptable plan to achieve cuts are having just a little bit of buyer's remorse." R.K. Barry

Hillary Clinton used to speak of a "vast right-wing conspiracy."  I think we are seeing that she was correct.  We are seeing it particularly in Wisconsin with the things that are going on there.  30,000 public workers at the Capital protesting the governor's plan to take away collective bargaining and cut back on salary for public workers. Plans which are really those of Karl Rove and Fox news to bust the unions - reduce their efficacy and what they have been able to do for their members. Watch The Ed Show on MSNBC to get caught up on this he is broadcasting from Racine, Wisconsin tonight.




Hiraeth is a Welsh word that has no direct English translation. However, the University of Wales, Lampeter attempts to define it as homesickness tinged with grief or sadness over the lost or departed. It is a 
mix of longing, yearning, nostalgia, wistfulness.


Right now I am experiencing Hiraeth for what our country used to be before the crazy Tea Party was able to get some really far out people elected.  


The Koch Brothers have been holding super secret meetings to plan strategies to get their people elected so that they can emasculate the Democratic party (and it doesn't take much) who have few real fighters left. (I miss Ted Kennedy) They even have two Supreme Court Justices in their pocket. 


Some how, some way we have to take our country back and rebuild the middle class and help the folks 
who really make this country great.

Addendum.  Mustang Bobby writes on this issue
The demonstrations in Madison, Wisconsin, are another matter. This time there is a real threat to the jobs and the future of a lot of people. Gov. Scott Walker is making his proposed bill to hit the public sector employees for their health insurance and pension plans sound like it's the only way to balance the state's budget, but it's more than that; it's an attack on the rights of workers to engage in collective bargaining, and the demonstrators -- teachers, firefighters, and other workers in the public sector who would be hit by this -- are rallying against something more than just paying more for benefits.

The difference between the Tea Party rallies and the demonstrations in the state capitol in Wisconsin is that there is genuinely something at stake.

Oh, by the way, to you voters who stayed home last November because you were "disappointed" with President Obama and how he hadn't done enough to make you swoon all over again, this is what we mean when we say elections have consequences.
98 and no enemies - human interest story.

All golfers should live so long as to be this kind of old man!
Toward the end of the Sunday service, the Minister asked, "How many of you have forgiven your enemies?"
80% held up their hands.
The Minister then repeated his question. All responded this time, except one man, an avid golfer named Walter Barnes, who attended church only when the weather was bad.
"Mr. Barnes, it's obviously not a good morning for golf. It's good to see you here today. Are you not willing to forgive your enemies?"
"I don't have any," he replied gruffly.
"Mr. Barnes, that is very unusual. How old are you?"
"Ninety-eight," he replied. The congregation stood up and clapped their hands.
"Oh, Mr. Barnes, would you please come down in front & tell us all how a person can live ninety-eight years & not have an enemy in the world?"
The old golfer tottered down the aisle, stopped in front of the pulpit, turned around, faced the congregation, and said simply, "I outlived all the sons of bitches."

Just sayin'

This is really a dumb post but it is late and I have a head ache from the meetings I went to.. or the cold so I am leaving it up anyway.  Sort of disjointed, the way I feel.  Skip it if you want


The picture is just here to remind you that things are still happening in Egypt and you should direct your thoughts to a peaceful settlement to the demands of the people of Egypt who really want a more just government. 


I am really upset with the Iowa Legislature.  They are wasting their time - Fussing with bills about school dress codes and social issues which can wait (as if anybody really cares about the Republican agenda) and the Governator is being typically Terry and cutting Education and throwing out pre-school.  


There are so very many things that could be on our agenda. In particular jobs.  And High Speed Trains.   

Obama's push for high-speed rail spending is part of his broad goal of creating jobs in the short-term and increasing American competitiveness for the future through new funding for infrastructure, education and innovation. During last month's State of the Union address, Obama said he wanted to give 80 percent of Americans access to high-speed rail within 25 years.

This is an incredible idea.  I personally think we need to ground most of the airplanes and find other ways to travel. The airplanes are responsible for a lot of pollution in the atmosphere and no one really needs to get there that fast.  

According to the Center for Climate Change and Environmental Forecasting, CO2 constittutes roughly 70% of aircraft engine emissions, amongst other harmful emissions and particulates.

I rode the train to California twice and it was wonderful.  With high speed train development we would create jobs and reduce pollution and make the world a better place.  And I saw a car that runs on water.  It was awesome.  


That type of thing would be better discussed by our legislature rather than school dress codes and if the National Legislature wants to take women back to the dark alleys of abortion by making it illegal I would suggest respectfully that they are full of crap. There are so many vital important things that need work. Including protecting children from priests and others who would exploit them... It just boggles my mind that we are this far along in our legislative session with nothing accomplished except grandstanding.  Just sayin.  
Have a good Thursday and be good to one another. Hugs, j

just saying

It is cold out. -1 when I came back from Eastern Star. I had a good time.  Tammy is the Worthy Matron.  We sat at the same table after the meeting and talked about earlier times.  I have known her since she was a Rainbow Girl back in the early 70's.  Then I had some of her kids in school.  She was telling me that her son is getting married in November.

The Grand Worthy Matron has Christmas as her theme this year so we are singing Christmas carols all year long. (Not my favorite thing)  I like them at Christmas.  Not sure how singing Joy to the World every month is gong to go down with me.  Oh well we have had worse.  but I won't go into that.  

I have decided that my favorite Network is CBS.  I like their comedy shows and their dramas keep me interested.  I have three hours of TV to watch when I come home from a meeting on Tuesday nights.  

The Cable guy was out on Tuesday to see what he could do about my problems on Monday And you know what the problem had magically disappeared.  The Internet works fine, the telephone is working. He did tell me that they were having a problem in this area.  They are working to find out what it is.  I am very pleased with the way they got out here right away.

The rest of the week is busy. Tomorrow is the Annual Meeting of the Scottish Rite in Des Moines, Thursday is the 100th raising in Arcadia Lodge's building and Re-Obligation night.  I am not sure that I need to be re-obligated.  I have carried my obligations with me since the Spring of 1966 and I have heard the obligations at every degree I have attended in the meantime.  It is very much a part of me and who I am and besides guiding my Masonry it also is something I hold up as a rule for my life. 

Saturday I go to Cedar Rapids for the Iowa Masonic Education Conference. Should be fun.

In the meantime thanks for stopping by. Be good.  Hugs, j

just saying

Seems to fit.  I have been on the computer all day and will probably be on it tomorrow also.  I went to the Robert Burns Supper last night and for the most part I had a good time. I would have liked a little more tenderness in the meat.  It is interesting that someone I thought was a good friend completely snubbed me. Good Scotch though. If you go to the pictures from the event a couple of posts below you have to go to the Picasa  Web Album to seen them.  I usually put up an embedded slide show but this time when I tried to make it all I got was a blank screen.  It was very frustrating. One nice thing however is that the movies of the bag pipes play at the end of the slideshow so that is at least something positive. I also spent about an hour trying to set up Google Analytics for my web album but it would not work either.  


I went out to York Rite tonight and when I got to the Temple the parking lot had not been plowed.  I left and went to pick up my meds from the pharmacy and when I called to see if they needed me for a quorum the High Priest just suggested I park up close to the door so I did.  I can't walk on rough ground without a stick and I am afraid of falling on the ice. I am glad I went because we affiliated a new member and elected officers and set the day for the pancake day. 


Tomorrow night we have two Fellowcraft degrees at Lodge.  I am signed up to pro tem for the Chaplain and I enjoy doing that part. I will pick up Blake and if the parking lot is still not shoveled I will have him let me off at the door and then he can park the car.  Handy to have a young guy to help old farts like me. We are having Crème brûlée after the meeting. I will also work on an Annual Report tomorrow and do laundry. 


The boys have rawhide to chew on and they are pacing and circling each other and it is time for me to shut this thing down. Thanks for stopping by, Be gentle with one another, Hugs.

just sayin' - Grammar Gripes

My Grammar died in 1959.

Grammar Gripes

Really, like, you know.. I used to tell my students not to use those words as punctuation.  I am amazed at how many supposedly intelligent people populate their conversation with those words.   When telling a story on Letterman a famous actress used "you know" so many times that I totally lost track of the story and wound up counting the times she said, "you know."

"Really"

That is another overused word.  People seem to think that saying "really" is the only response to being told that someone fell down the stairs.  Really?  Just a replacement for a comma.

Spelling

I read a comment on a blog today where a woman said that she had gotten a principle fired... She meant to say principal.. I learned that one because someone told me that the man (or woman) in the main office at school was my pal.

Then there is your and you're.  The first one means something that belongs to you such as your dog or your cat,  The second one is a contraction for you are.  So remember it by You're going to put your apples in the bag.

Then we have there, their and they're.  They're going to put their apples over there.    So which one means:
belonging to them
contraction for they are
place .

These are especially egregious when used in a Facebook status post by a former student.  I always feel that they should know better because I know I taught those little tricks to them.  Perhaps they just don't care... or perhaps the seventh grade teachers taught them that it didn't matter.... Zing.

Thanks for listening and stopping by.  Cherish your friends, be gentle with one another.. Hugs, j

I have no idea

Why I like this.  But I do


It will probably drive you nuts to watch it but it makes me laugh and I need to laugh.  Speaking of laughing I appreciate David Letterman more and more. I know that he uses a formula some of the time but he had good writers and his show has enough variety that there is usually something that makes me laugh and sometimes makes me think.

It is awfully cold in Iowa right now.  9 degrees that feels like -7 earlier.  As I write this it is 6.6 on my back porch.  I open the door for Bailey and he won't even step outside.  Miles climbed up on my lap and sat there for about 40 minutes.  My leg was going to sleep.  Some of my Blogger friends have nice small dogs who would make nice lap dogs.  Actually Miles makes a good lap dog.

He is not the largest dog I have had on my lap.  Our friends the Rabinowitz's from Minnesota who came to Leech Lake every year when we did had two dogs  a Chihuahua and a St. Bernard.  Mitzi was the little dog and she spent most of her time wrapped in a baby blanked on Morrie's lap growling at the St. Bernard.  Mojo was the Saint and he loved to snuggle and sit on my lap.  And he was big.  I loved him.  Maryjane and Morrie drove Morrie's old car to the lake to use as a dog house for Mojo.  He used to sit in the back seat and bark at this one lady.  We never could figure out why because he did not do it with the rest of us.

I have to tell you that I am awestruck at the almost 161,000 hits on this blog.  I worry that I will not entertain you enough and you will stop coming for a visit.  It was really neat to meet a new person at Lodge last week and find out that he reads Bailey's Buddy.  I look at the map and see the dots all over the world.  It boggles my mind.  I love that I have this blog and I hope I provide a service.

Sometimes we have people we think are friends and then find out that they weren't really friends and it hurts.  But knowing that I have a couple of hundred people out there who stop by to see me and read my scribblings some days keeps me going.  Thanks, once again, for stopping by.  Cherish your friendships and be gentle with one another.  Hugs.  j

Blame Game - Just Sayin'

Right now in our country we are playing a "blame game"  Who is to blame for the tragedy in Arizona?  Could it be Sarah Palin with her targets on a map, the Tea Party with their signs that "this time they came unarmed."

Those on the right are beginning to lay the blame on the left because, well of course it is always their fault.

As I think about it I think about the other things in our society that really have been bothering me.  The bullying that goes on in schools that have lead to a "silent holocaust" of kids killing themselves over someones bullying and calling them "gay" and it isn't just kids.

Politicians regularly level hateful ads at each other during a campaign and yet when the campaign is over they seem to be able to get beyond the rhetoric and work with each other.  We have had many examples of the way things are in this country but none more so than the way kids treat each other and where do they learn this.? Because, you know they have to be taught.  I saw the last part of a spot on TV this morning where a mother was excusing her daughter's behavior as "well she is just sassy."  Is it all right to be "just sassy" or is that bullying?

The behavior of the child was learned at the feet of the adult. When we drive down the road and someone cuts us off what is our reaction? Do we give them the finger? Swear at them?  Think about it. What are we teaching our children.  The kids today (many of them) grow up with privilege.  They live in nice homes with plenty of food, way too many clothes and toys, electronic gagets and an abundance of material things.

What they lack is guidance.  Even when they go to church (if they go) they are liable to be told about "sinners" and how awful gay people are and how they are going to go to hell. (As if being bullied and rejected wasn't already enough of a hell for them) - In the church supposedly founded on a religion of Love?  It boggles my mind.  Many of those "pillars of the church" are there not to help others but instead to bolster their own self opinion.  After all they are "saved" and are going to heaven. You can see the self-satisfaction on their faces.

People constantly mistreat other people and many times without regard for what their actions do to the other person. How it can hurt them.  Some even do it unknowingly... Doesn't make it right because it hurts just as much.

I guess what I am saying is that we are responsible for the shooting in Arizona.  Our entire society.  Yes he is probably a deranged individual... I think you would have to be to do what he did.  But if our society worked he would have been noticed and someone would have gotten him the help he needed.  I will guarantee you that he was not born that way.  Children are born loving, caring. They have to be changed.  Watching the movie "The King's Speech yesterday the therapist got the Prince to open up about when he was a child.  He told him that he was not born with the stammer.  It turned out that his father had deliberately set out to make his children afraid of him..."I was afraid of my father and my children are going to be afraid of me."  He had also been teased by his older brother and pinched and punished by his nanny and made to change his natural left handedness to the right hand..  All of these things together in a sensitive, not yet five year old, caused him to be fearful and develop a stammar.  It was taught.  In the same way bullies are taught to bully.

I think that as a society we are going to have to change our ways.  We are going to have to watch ourselves and when we see behavior such as bullying we are going to have to stand up to it.  I was on Facebook the other day and someone posted some lyrics to a song.  I posted the next two lines (this is often done) and the next comment was from someone who simply put up the word "gay" -  I told him that I objected to the use of the word gay as a pejorative and told him why.  Needless to say the whole conversation was deleted by the originator of the conversation.  But I felt better in that I took a stand and in a calm and reasonable way stood up against something that has become pervasive in our society.

I can remember my cousin Chris telling some man that she would rather have her children hear him use the word fuck instead of the N word he had just used.  I was inspired that she would take that stance. I think more of us have to realize that words have consequences.  I will boycott those so-called comedians who bully.  Have you ever noticed just how many of them are bullies and justify it by saying "it's just a joke!" as if that excused their behavior.  It is not a joke when it hurts someone.

Several years ago I wrote a couple of poems  Here are a couple of lines from them:

you believe that everyone has a right to live a life free from harassment and hate

instead of living with humiliation and fear

and in another one I wrote:

I also have no doubt that if mankind wants to they can come together and use their collective knowledge to solve the problems we have caused.

When we take self-interest out of our reasoning

And put in sincere compassion and self sacrifice into the mix

And tolerate no exploitation of anyone ANYWHERE!

When we sit down together with our fellows and realize that everyone has the right to a good life, and then work toward solutions to our problems, not worrying about religious beliefs and how to please God-in-the sky and worry instead about how to bring the best life for everyone within the limited resources which we have.

I have no doubt that we can become the solution instead of the problem.

I was watching television  and I saw someone who was supposed to be a preacher begin talking about Muslims.  The hatred spewing from his mouth was palpable...not what I would expect from a Christian.

In Egypt the other day Muslims formed a human shield around a Coptic Christian Church.  They said  "We either live together or we die together."  That is what we deserve to expect from each other.  The acknowledgement that we are all Children of the One Father and if his children then we are brothers and sisters...and we should act like it.

Thanks for listening.  And for stopping by. Be gentle with one another. Cherish your friendships. Promote civility!  Hugs. j

Janus

Janus was the Roman God for which the month of January is named.  He had two heads one to look forward and the other to look back.  This time of year there is a lot of that going on.  As 2010 draws to a close I want to wish all my blog friends the very best for a Happy New Year.

I really do not want to look back on 2010. It will not be one of my favorite years.  I am doing my very best not to dwell on some things and so I am just going to look forward to 2011.  Some of the things in store for me is the new Iowa Academy of Masonic Knowledge that we are working on to establish a new program for Iowa Masons.

I am also looking forward to not being Secretary of the Lodge anymore.  Some people think that once you are Secretary you should remain in that position forever.  After due consideration I decided that I was not enjoying Masonry as much as I wanted to and as the result of some things I won't go into I decided that "Better an handful with quietness than both hands full with travail and vexation of spirit." and because of a change of venue for the Lodge meetings which would require a significan number of steps for me to navigate and my knees just don't take it anymore it was time to give up the job. Unfortunately that made some people angry with me and I don't do that well so I start the year off with two less friends. I think that is about enough of that  - dwelling on the past.. I always prefer to live in the future and look forward to new things.  As for the old.. it is just that old and best forgotten. The painful parts anyway. I hope to make some new friends.  There are about 6 Billion people to choose from.

I am not looking forward to making a decision about Bailey.  He has gotten old.  He does not control himself as he should.  He bumps into things and cannot see or smell things like he used to.  His back legs don't always work as they should and he trips over anything that is in his way. (which he did not see)  He is 15 years old and other than the above he isn't in any pain.  But I know I may not have him this time next year and the tears come every time I consider it.  But that is part of being a companion to an animal.  As long as he can I will care for and love him and when the time comes he will go without suffering.  As Ginny says that is the "last thing we can do for our pets." I will miss him.

I am looking forward to a trip out west this summer to Boise, Idaho. I have never been to Idaho so that will be fun to add that to my list of places visited.  I have a blog friend from there and hope to meet him while there.  I am driving out so I got new tires on the Jeep.  My Jeep has about 147,000 miles on it.  I got 19 miles to the gallon on my trip back from Cedar Rapids this week.  With gas prices going up I may regret driving but I truly hate flying with my leg and brace and I do love to see America.  Can't wait to drive across Nebraska..... (NOT)  

I am also looking forward to taking more pictures, sharing them here with you and keeping in touch on Facebook.  Thanks for coming by to share some moments in my life. I am going to make a crock pot of soup tonight so it will be ready for the New Year.  Be gentle with one another.  Cherish your friends and thanks for stopping by. Hugs.

Just sayin

This is in my neighbor's front yard.  I think it is made with buckets of frozen water.  I thought it was unique enough to share.

I took it on my way home from York Rite last night.  It is hard to go to the meeting and not have enough show up so that we have a quorum and thus be unable to do the business of electing officers.  So it has to be put off until next year.

High Priest, Illustrious Master and Commander Kevin and I ate at Buford's before the meeting.  I had ham and it was delicious.  Kevin had steak and sent some home to Bailey and Miles.

We will have to elect next month. I get very discouraged when I think about the York Rite and the lack of interest in it from the members.

When I got home Jon was here. He had just gotten here and he brought his new laptop.  It is a very nice Sony and I am glad he has it.  I like my Mac but when I looked at his I began to get the "New Computer fever" - (However I won't be getting one soon.  My big expense just lately was four new tires and I am going to pay them off before I think of anything to buy. )

We tried to set his computer up so he could connect to my Internet but were unable to do so.  During the process my computer became disconnected from my airport and I could not remember the password and could not reconnect.  AAAARRRRGGGHHHHH - Jay without being able to connect.  Horrors.  I was not a happy camper.  I called my friend Bob and he could not help me.  He tried but we couldn't get it done.  Nothing to do but shut down and use my phone to check my e-mail and Facebook.  I eventually went to bed and slept until after the Heartland Technologies would be open and wound up having to take my airport out to them (5 minutes away) and getting it reset ao I am now back up and running.

It makes me realize just how much I depend on the Internets.  When my Aunt Jo (in her 80's no less) said "I love Google" when we were out for lunch on Sunday I realized just how far we have come because of the Internets.  Because of it I have friends I have never met in person - (Sometimes the best kind because they don't turn on you) and people who read my poor scribblings from all over the world. I can tell you this that I am very grateful for each and every one who stops by and helps run the numbers up.  It was nice to see that 156,156 number when I logged in this morning. (Of course about 56,000 of them are just me checking in and editing ) 

Thanks for being with me and for keeping me sane.  If you are Christian I wish you a Merry Christmas. If not may this season of year when the Light begins to return bring the light of Love into your life. The Jewish people have a tradition at their new year that they make amends with those they have offended during the year.  If I have offended anyone I am truly sorry.  I do not consciously try to hurt anyone.  I know I have pissed some people off but you know that is more their problem than it is mine. 

 I try to overlook my friends faults and go on from there.  My mother had friends which she kept for over 40 years.  I never heard her put any of them down.  She did not tell them what she thought but always made them feel welcome and the coffee was always on at "Ruthie's" - I wish I was like that but evidently I am not like my mother as I seem unable to keep a close friend.  It hurts but that is the way it is.  I would wish things were different but they aren't and that is not my choice.  If you have hurt me my way is to withdraw and leave.  I do not like confrontation and if you chew me out about something - well,  let's not dwell on how I feel about that.  Suffice it to say it will be a new year soon and new things will happen and I will continue to do my best and if you don't want me as a friend that is your choice.  If I am of no value to you I am sure that you will find others to be friends with as will I.  It has taken me from my birthday until now to get some peace back in my heart and while I am not happy I am getting happier.  Life is worth living and there are things to do.  In the mean time I wish you well on your journey. Be gentle with one another and cherish your friends.  Hugs, j