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Saturday night someone I loved and cared about died after a long bout with cancer.
Although she and I went to school together, it wasn't until after a high school reunion that we connected. It was a glorious time...... it was everything that a passionate relationship is - the good and the bad.
We hadn't talked lately, she shut herself off from the world when treatments started. I wish she had let her friends share her time.
We will all miss her smile, her sparkle, her joy.
At least we have our memories
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Saturday, April 24, 2010
Oklahoma Land Run Celebration
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April 22nd was the anniverary of the Oklahoma Land Run. On that day people lined up to race for 'unsettled' land.
What recent accounts continue to forget to tell is that we gave the lands to the Indians, then decided we wanted it so we shuffled them off to another plot of land they could call their own - until we decided we wanted it back.
You can't cherry pick your history facts. It's time Oklahoma admitted that we ignored treaties and pushed the Indians off their land time and time again.
Of course now their getting our money with casinos and smoke shops....and in many cases the tribes are getting very rich off of us while folks.
Karma has a way of coming back on you.
April 22nd was the anniverary of the Oklahoma Land Run. On that day people lined up to race for 'unsettled' land.
What recent accounts continue to forget to tell is that we gave the lands to the Indians, then decided we wanted it so we shuffled them off to another plot of land they could call their own - until we decided we wanted it back.
You can't cherry pick your history facts. It's time Oklahoma admitted that we ignored treaties and pushed the Indians off their land time and time again.
Of course now their getting our money with casinos and smoke shops....and in many cases the tribes are getting very rich off of us while folks.
Karma has a way of coming back on you.
The Arizona Sinks Again
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Say what you will about America's screwed up immigration system, Arizona's new law allowing police to stop anyone they think is an illegal sets a new low for the US... well, maybe behind the Patriot Act but just behind.
When asked, Arizona's Gov. Brewer couldn't define what an illegal looked or acted like, saying that was up to the cops - maybe Sheriff Joe can give her some pointers (he's under investigation for a host of illegal activities.
Countries with evil governments have laws that allow police to "ask for your papers". We don't. That's not the American way.
What happened to the Fourth Amendment?
“ The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
Illegal immigration is a problem for many. We need to find ways to stem the flow of people without giving up more of our Constitutional freedoms.
If we, the US, were smart, we'd help Mexico end it's drug business (remember, we're the ones who want the illegal drugs from Mexico), help end their civil war and do for them what we're doing in Iraq and Afghanistan, and work towards improving the economies of all countries in North America.
And why are we not going after the businesses and people who hire illegals? For the most part, they seem to get off scott free for adding to the problem.
If there was no money to be made in the US by illegals, if we cracked down on businesses who hire them, we'd go a long way to stopping the problem. But, we seem to have a problem punishing the people hiring the illegals.
If we, the US, were smart, we'd help Mexico end it's drug business (remember, we're the ones who want the illegal drugs from Mexico), help end their civil war and do for them what we're doing in Iraq and Afghanistan, and work towards improving the economies of all countries in North America.
But we're not smart. We'd rather point the finger and blame someone instead of solving the problem.
Immigrants built this country. My feeling is anyone who wants to come here and work his or her ass off for minimum wage to get started needs to be welcomed with open arms. They're trying to embrace the American Dream.
That's better than a lot of us are doing.
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Say what you will about America's screwed up immigration system, Arizona's new law allowing police to stop anyone they think is an illegal sets a new low for the US... well, maybe behind the Patriot Act but just behind.
When asked, Arizona's Gov. Brewer couldn't define what an illegal looked or acted like, saying that was up to the cops - maybe Sheriff Joe can give her some pointers (he's under investigation for a host of illegal activities.
Countries with evil governments have laws that allow police to "ask for your papers". We don't. That's not the American way.
What happened to the Fourth Amendment?
“ The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
Illegal immigration is a problem for many. We need to find ways to stem the flow of people without giving up more of our Constitutional freedoms.
If we, the US, were smart, we'd help Mexico end it's drug business (remember, we're the ones who want the illegal drugs from Mexico), help end their civil war and do for them what we're doing in Iraq and Afghanistan, and work towards improving the economies of all countries in North America.
And why are we not going after the businesses and people who hire illegals? For the most part, they seem to get off scott free for adding to the problem.
If there was no money to be made in the US by illegals, if we cracked down on businesses who hire them, we'd go a long way to stopping the problem. But, we seem to have a problem punishing the people hiring the illegals.
If we, the US, were smart, we'd help Mexico end it's drug business (remember, we're the ones who want the illegal drugs from Mexico), help end their civil war and do for them what we're doing in Iraq and Afghanistan, and work towards improving the economies of all countries in North America.
But we're not smart. We'd rather point the finger and blame someone instead of solving the problem.
Immigrants built this country. My feeling is anyone who wants to come here and work his or her ass off for minimum wage to get started needs to be welcomed with open arms. They're trying to embrace the American Dream.
That's better than a lot of us are doing.
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Monday, April 12, 2010
On Second Thought - No More Lawyers for SCOTUS
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There is no Constitutional requirement that a Supreme Court Justice has to be a lawyer.
And, shocker of all shockers, the nominee doesn't have to have the American Bar Association Seal of Approval.
If Obama wants to really break the SCOTUS mold, I hope he appoints someone who isn't a lawyer.
It's about time us non-lawyers got one of our own on the court.
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There is no Constitutional requirement that a Supreme Court Justice has to be a lawyer.
And, shocker of all shockers, the nominee doesn't have to have the American Bar Association Seal of Approval.
If Obama wants to really break the SCOTUS mold, I hope he appoints someone who isn't a lawyer.
It's about time us non-lawyers got one of our own on the court.
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No More Status Quo for SCOTUS
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With the announced retirement of Justice John Paul Stevens, President Obama has another opportunity to change the complexion of the Supreme Court in a radical way by breaking up the Harvard/Yale law grad and Catholic faith connection.
Now before anyone gets their panties in a wad, I'm not anti Catholic. What I am is pro diversity.
Right now all the Justices graduated from either Harvaed or Yale. Their are many good law schools that crank out top flight lawyers. Let's get someone from outside the Ivy League.
Six of the nine justices are Catholic. Let's get a Unitarian or Baptist or Methodist or Atheist or member of another faith in one of the chairs. Just as we need education diversity, let's have some religious diversity.
Let's also see someone who isn't a Federal judge. Once again, it seems to be a "rule" that potential justices serve on the Federal bench - it's time for a different perspective. I'd like to see a state judge or even someone who hasn't been a judge. How about a regular working attorney?
Obama has the power to move SCOTUS away from the status quo - I hope he has the good sense to bring someone with an "outside the SCOTUS Beltway" perspective.
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With the announced retirement of Justice John Paul Stevens, President Obama has another opportunity to change the complexion of the Supreme Court in a radical way by breaking up the Harvard/Yale law grad and Catholic faith connection.
Now before anyone gets their panties in a wad, I'm not anti Catholic. What I am is pro diversity.
Right now all the Justices graduated from either Harvaed or Yale. Their are many good law schools that crank out top flight lawyers. Let's get someone from outside the Ivy League.
Six of the nine justices are Catholic. Let's get a Unitarian or Baptist or Methodist or Atheist or member of another faith in one of the chairs. Just as we need education diversity, let's have some religious diversity.
Let's also see someone who isn't a Federal judge. Once again, it seems to be a "rule" that potential justices serve on the Federal bench - it's time for a different perspective. I'd like to see a state judge or even someone who hasn't been a judge. How about a regular working attorney?
Obama has the power to move SCOTUS away from the status quo - I hope he has the good sense to bring someone with an "outside the SCOTUS Beltway" perspective.
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Their was nothing civil about the War
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The War Between the States was a multi facited war. Slavery is the emotional, easy to blame excuse. We forget it was also a war about economics and states rights.
Slavery was horrbile. It's wrong now (although it still goes on with not a lot of notice or concern) and it was wrong then.
This War was ugly. It pitted brother against brother, family against family. It had more casualties than any other war fought by Americans.
We seem to forget that the North had this lovely custom of indentured servitude - slavery with a better name. Surprisingly, history books gloss over this item. We are led to believe it was more like an apprenticeship than it was, slavery.
Let's remember too that men in the North were given the opportunity to pay a fee so they didn't have to serve.
Let's also remember that many in the North didn't want blacks coming north and didn't want this war.
We also equate other forms of serviture with slavery, which we should. Let's not forget the "company store" for coal mines and other industries.... nothing but slavery by another name.
As long as slavery is the topic, why are we not asking Rome and Greece to apologise for their long record of slavery?
This War was ugly. It pitted brother against brother, family against family. It had more casualties than any other war fought by Americans.
Why is there not more condemnation of the African slave traders, many who were black? We don't hear as much impassiond hand wringing about them as we do the Southern slave owners.
My family is from the South. Some fought for the Confederacy, some for the Union. We never owned slaves. I'm proud of my southern heritage.
I think it's time history paints a more even picture of the War. The reasons may Southerners fought was not about protecting slavery, it was about protecting their state and their land from the meddlings of a faraway big government (sound familiar).
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The War Between the States was a multi facited war. Slavery is the emotional, easy to blame excuse. We forget it was also a war about economics and states rights.
Slavery was horrbile. It's wrong now (although it still goes on with not a lot of notice or concern) and it was wrong then.
This War was ugly. It pitted brother against brother, family against family. It had more casualties than any other war fought by Americans.
We seem to forget that the North had this lovely custom of indentured servitude - slavery with a better name. Surprisingly, history books gloss over this item. We are led to believe it was more like an apprenticeship than it was, slavery.
Let's remember too that men in the North were given the opportunity to pay a fee so they didn't have to serve.
Let's also remember that many in the North didn't want blacks coming north and didn't want this war.
We also equate other forms of serviture with slavery, which we should. Let's not forget the "company store" for coal mines and other industries.... nothing but slavery by another name.
As long as slavery is the topic, why are we not asking Rome and Greece to apologise for their long record of slavery?
This War was ugly. It pitted brother against brother, family against family. It had more casualties than any other war fought by Americans.
Why is there not more condemnation of the African slave traders, many who were black? We don't hear as much impassiond hand wringing about them as we do the Southern slave owners.
My family is from the South. Some fought for the Confederacy, some for the Union. We never owned slaves. I'm proud of my southern heritage.
I think it's time history paints a more even picture of the War. The reasons may Southerners fought was not about protecting slavery, it was about protecting their state and their land from the meddlings of a faraway big government (sound familiar).
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Monday, April 5, 2010
It's Time for the Catholic Church to Repent
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Dear defenders of the Catholic Church:
It's not about your fath or your brand of religion.
The latest smack down on the Catholic Church is directly related to the actions of some leaders of the Church, not or beliefs.
These men have done everything under the sun to cover up decades of abuse and worse by priests.
These leaders seem to be taking their playbook from the Morman Chuch, another example of a male dominated faith who will do anything the to "protect it" (read "The Morman Murders" for examples).
What is so infuriating to those outside the Catholic Church is the Church's unwillingness to formally, loudly and fearlessly crack down on these priests who abuse children.
Why is it so hard for the church to confess its sins, repent, and make things right?
Covering up, denial, obfuscation and lying are the cowards way out.
It takes real men to admit their mistakes and correct them.
And where are the lay Catholics? Why are they not demanding this coverup end? Why are they not refusing to fund the church until it stops thiese crimes?
Until the church does a Jimmy Swaggert and airs it's dirty laundry in toto, we'll all suspect the coverup and the crimes continue.
Dear defenders of the Catholic Church:
It's not about your fath or your brand of religion.
The latest smack down on the Catholic Church is directly related to the actions of some leaders of the Church, not or beliefs.
These men have done everything under the sun to cover up decades of abuse and worse by priests.
These leaders seem to be taking their playbook from the Morman Chuch, another example of a male dominated faith who will do anything the to "protect it" (read "The Morman Murders" for examples).
What is so infuriating to those outside the Catholic Church is the Church's unwillingness to formally, loudly and fearlessly crack down on these priests who abuse children.
Why is it so hard for the church to confess its sins, repent, and make things right?
Covering up, denial, obfuscation and lying are the cowards way out.
It takes real men to admit their mistakes and correct them.
And where are the lay Catholics? Why are they not demanding this coverup end? Why are they not refusing to fund the church until it stops thiese crimes?
Until the church does a Jimmy Swaggert and airs it's dirty laundry in toto, we'll all suspect the coverup and the crimes continue.
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