Darfur et al

While searching for performances of religious music, I came across a web-site which called for action against the atrocities in Darfur.  I had a conversation with a friend, whose response to my pain and indignation was that this kind of thing was "inevitable" and "eternal".  It made me sadder and my inherent cynicism popped up and I said, "Yeah, and if they had any resources that anybody cared about, the world would jump in with both feet screaming and shouting about the injustice and the genocide."  Oh, Cynicism, thy name is History.

The Memorial Mass

Father James Quinn was at our parish for seventeen years during the early days.  Then, as is traditional in the church, he was moved about and upward.  He quietly served wherever he was sent.  His integrity and morality remained unquestionable throughout his long career.  He never gave anyone cause to worry.....not the church, not the parish members, nor children, nor any of the thousands he brought the sacraments to, the comfort of God, and the common sense advise and counsel that were his hallmark.  He died as quietly as he lived and if what we believe is true, he sleeps in God awaiting the return of Christ.  As God might say, "Well done, O good and faithful servant."  As for me, requiem in pacem, Father Jimmy.  You earned it.

Understanding Events Through the Media

When I was a student nurse, one of the first things I was taught was that "all behavior has meaning and can be understood."  It took me a really long time to get that.  My other favorite was that nobody does anything without a reason, that there is always some motivating factor. The caveat in both cases is that we have to have all of the facts.  What I find endlessly amusing is that very often, we are clueless.  It is the same way with trying to determine motivations and facts about events from the media.  The media has no business attempting to editorialize about such things anywhere but on the editorial page.  What I see is every wannabe journalist....no, not journalist....reporter on the planet, trying to tell you why things happened.  Excuse me but I believe that being a reporter is about "reporting", not opining.

Making a Sacrifice on the Altar of Public Opinion

Edmund Burke was a member of the British Parliament.  He is quoted as saying that a representative owes the people not only his industry, but his judgment, and he betrays those he represents if he sacrifices that industry and judgment to their opinion.  Back in those days, only the rich had access to education and usually only men had access to true academics.  With the advent of the internet and almost universal access, we have leveled the playing field.  Today, with a little careful research and verification of source reliability, everybody can know almost everything.  And we, the constituency, can communicate our educated recommendations to our leaders.
The point here is that we elect our leaders to office for the purpose of exercising their judgment for our benefit and we trust them to know what needs to be done and how to do it.  If they cave to pressure from us, failing to do what they truly believe is right.....if they are too busy KEEPING their jobs to DO their jobs, they are not leaders, they are merely politicians.

More than a little pain

I know the sorrow of losing my home will cause tears.....probably lots of them.  I cannot permit that to immobilize me.  I have to take whatever action will ensure my survival.  I have to prove to MaryBeth, Patricia, Robert and myself, that I have the ability to survive and flourish.  I need to do a little praying I think.....asking for wisdom and courage and strength and, maybe, a miracle.  The truth is that God helps those who help themselves.  He did not bring me this far only to have me fail miserably.  The fact is that I must succeed spectacularly.  Maybe success is not tied to the life I know at all.  Perhaps, it is about adaptation, change, flexibility.  This will be very hard.

The Excommunication of Sister Margaret

It was because she acquiesced to the aborting of a three month pregnancy in a mother of four living children.  It was a pregnancy that could very possibly resulted in both maternal and fetal death and was certainly extremely high risk for a woman who already had children at home who needed her.  It would have been ok by church law to let mom die.  However the church views abortion as murder.  I am Catholic.  I love my church.  Frequently, I do not love the exclusive men's club that rules it.  Frankly, I don't think Christ had any problem with women being in charge.  Please remember that the Bible, old testament and new, AND the Koran, were all written by men.  What do you think they are going to say?  They were arcane times and the society of men were afraid that the society of women would rule again, so they used every tool at their disposal to prevent it from ever reverting back.  Call it genetic gender defect.  Call it galactic stupidity.  Call it incredibly bad judgment.  Call it what it really is:  a great tragedy.

Recovery

We are starting to recover from the largest single day drop in the stock market in history.  It was purportedly caused by a program glitch that showed what appeared to be a 50% drop in the price of Procter & Gamble stock.  People panicked and what followed was rapid, ugly and painful.  All for no good reason.  There has to be some way to slow down or prevent panic selling.  I don't know how it can be accomplished, but I think it is a worthy goal.