Fertile Land

Today the U.S. State Department announced a 25% increase in global terrorism. This is passing for major news.

Isn't that just what the anti-war movement was predicting more than four years ago? How can you illegally invade another country and expect it to go off without a hitch. How can you propagate violence and not expect it to spread?

I wonder how much crime--the other terrorism--has increased in the U.S. There was a shooting at a shopping mall in Kansas City yesterday. What's next?

Of the People

Congress came through, voting for a measure to bring about the end of American military involvement in Iraq. They remembered how they came into office last November.

The wait for the veto begins. What will Congress do then?

Healthy Healing

Several months ago, I confessed on this blog that I had been diagnosed with leukemia--CLL, to be specific.

Soon after my diagnosis, I began receiving encouragement to go for treatment. From our friends. From my family. From my doctor. I did the research and decided, for several reasons, that chemo wasn't a good solution for me. I found another doctor who respected my decision, and investigated other ways to get well.

My methods are simple. Sleep as much as I need. Eat as well as I can--while dealing with various food sensitivities. Drink water frequently. Get plenty of sunlight. Laugh at least once a day. And don't give up.

So far, these methods have served me well. I'm not cured--cures are nearly impossible for CLL. But I'm energetic, gaining weight, and feeling healthy.

I believe my lifespan has already been determined. If I live to be 60, 70, 80, or 100 is up to God, not me. If I go into treatment, I will probably be sick from the medicines. If I don't go into treatment, and I feel great--well, don't rock the boat.

I also believe the body is equipped to heal itself, given the proper circumstances. This is what I'm trying to do. I'm not a scientist or an MD, but I know what is working for me.

High Crimes and Misdemeanors

Treason
1. a crime that undermines the offender's government
2. disloyalty by virtue of subversive behavior
3. treachery: an act of deliberate betrayal

Prominent members of Congress are being accused of this very serious crime because they:
A. donated thousands ofdollars to terrorist organizations
B. met with terrorist leaders and pledged their support
C. spoke out strongly against the war in Iraq

The first two actions are treasonous. The last is freedom of speech.

Did they commit treason? Or did they exercise their Constitutional rights and responsibilities? (You remember the Constitution, don't you? That ancient document which says something about the right of the legislative branch, not the executive, to declare and fund war.)

I miss the Constitution.

In the Land Between Right and Wrong

Because I'm a baby boomer, I was among the first generation exposed, en masse, to the learning of situational ethics--the idea that something may not be entirely right nor entirely wrong. My early training has stayed with me.

In fact, it has teased and taunted me quite a bit this last week. The issue is gun control. I'm reluctant to admit that I don't know where I stand on this issue.

I used to be adamantly for it, and I couldn't imagine thinking any other way. I had young children, and I worried about them. What if they found a gun at a friend's house, as other children had?

My children are older now. I don't know if that's why my opinion is changing. But it is. I still don't own a gun--my youngest is 11, and I'm not comfortable have a weapon within easy reach because I know kids sometimes do really stupid thing (even my kids!). I can understand, though, the argument.

I remember hearing of terrible stories during the Bosnian war. Serbs would enter a Bosnian home, detain or kill the husband, and rape the wife. When I read of these atrocities, I wondered if the household had a gun. Did the woman have a chance to defend herself?

I don't want to see a revival of the wild west, but I'm wondering if being armed isn't such a bad thing. We take precautions in other aspects of our lives. What about this?

Yes, I still believe very strongly in peace. The problem is, most of the world doesn't. Should pacifists be prepared to defend ourselves (as in Billy Jack) or should we simply turn the other cheek?

There are no easy answers to this question.

Rights Threatened

I'm a woman, and an advocate for women's rights. I have had some experience with sexism, and I know those before me tolerated much worse.

I'm a mother. Eight times I had the experience of becoming pregnant. Two miscarried. Six times I gave birth, enduring all the pain and weakness of this incredible event.

All of my children were real to me from the moment I knew I was pregnant. As they grew in my womb, they developed personalities. My first seemed to jump around constantly, like a frog. My third moved steadily, like the ocean. I found comfort in their movements, knowing they were healthy and safe inside of me.

I have never understood how women's rights can be expressed through abortion. We must have the right to equal pay and equal opportunity. But how can we claim the right to take a life?

My unborn children relied on me, but from the beginning they were separate from me--each with his own personality. (My "frog" never stops. My "ocean" is still calm.) I was their lifeline for those nine months (ten, with my fourth), providing the nutrients they needed to grow. When they were ready, they emerged into the world as individuals.

I loved my children from the very beginning. I cannot imagine allowing a doctor to rip my child from me and cruelly killing him with an injection. I can't imagine anyone advocating for that.

Abortion is sometimes necessary, even in the second trimester. If the life of the mother is at stake, the child cannot survive. But even the prospect of aborting my child to save myself would be a painful and difficult decision.

Women have enough obstacles. Sometimes pregnancy is one of them. Fatigue, morning sickness, swollen ankles. And after nine months, give or take, it's over. A small sacrifice for bringing another person into the world.

Let's focus on equal pay for equal work and concentrate on protecting women from abusive partners. We need to stick with the real issues.

Let's not sacrifice our children.

Frustrations

Life is challenging. Some handle problems better than others. All are tried.

My week started off being anything but peaceful. The city decided to revamp the street outside our house. Monday morning started with a constant hammering outside as crews worked to pulverize the pavement in one lane. Oh, I now live on a one-way street too. The worst part is the hammering, hammering, hammering. It finally stopped sometime today as crews worked in the rain to push the dirt beneath the pavement. I don't know what they have planned next. I'm sure they will eventually continue the process for the other lane.

This means I can't hold a moving sale at the end of this month. I'm thinking of hauling our stuff to a flea market. Or I may just give it away.

My youngest was frustrated this evening because I asked him to do dishes while his older brother, who should have done dishes tonight, worked to finish his homework. It will all even out tomorrow, when the older guy does his duty, but you know how siblings keep count.

I received a letter in the mail today too. I won't go into detail, but it was official and it was asking for money. Grrr.

The frustrations build. Rain. Gray skies. Messy house. Fighting kids. Bills. Noise.

And all that is a blessing compared to what many are going through.

After the Shootings

After the murder of 32 and the suicide of one, what's next?

Should there be tougher laws for entrance to college campuses? Maybe the sales of weapons should be restricted. Or perhaps foreign-born students should not be allowed to attend schools or universities until they've undergone thorough background checks. Oh, and all students who write about violence should be immediately reported to the police.

No, I don't think so. Can you imagine what kind of life that would be? Is that what America is about?

What happened is definitely a tragedy. But it wasn't carried out by an army. It was just one man, out of 26,000 students, who stepped over the line and did the unthinkable. We don't need to change our lives because of the actions of one.

Senseless murders are tragic. So is the senseless loss of freedom.

Obviously

The obvious story for every blogger today is the Virginia Tech shooting. It's being called the greatest mass murder in the history of the U.S.

But I wasn't there--unlike the scores of student bloggers who can probably provide something more substantial. And I have some serious questions about the official story. First, like everyone else, I wonder about the connection between the two shootings on the campus and why college officials and police failed to act sooner. I also wonder about the news report I heard stating that the suspect, who supposedly killed himself, was shot beyond recognition. How many times can a person shoot himself?

So I won't write about the Virginia Tech murders today. Instead, I ask my readers to remember other important issues. What about Iraq? I would like to know more about al-Sadr's coalition. Apparently, Sunnis and Shias are coming together in opposition to American military presence.

What about Afghanistan? Is America still losing? How much opium is being produced in the country this year?

Tell me about South Korea. They failed to meet an deadline regarding their weapons. What's next?

When will the U.S. go to war against Iran? What crisis will set off the war?

And why is gas nearly $3.00/gallon? How rich do the oil executives really need to be?

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

This week another example of the poor use of sppech stole the headlines, divertibg attention from international matters of life and death.

Is it free speech? Are the comments protected by the U.S. Constitution?

That's what some would have us believe. Racist slurs, profanity, and pornography are protected forms of expression which must, at the very least, be tolerated. When I hear this argument, I always wonder what the famed Founding Fathers would say if they knew the Constitution was being used to defend vulgarity.

I always liked that Oliver Wendell Holmes statement that the freedom to stretch my arms extended as far as the next guy's nose (to paraphrase liberally). It's all about speaking responsibly. And respecting each other.

I want to see free speech back where it belongs--in the political realm. When anti-war protestors can gather without harassment, and not find their names showing up on no-fly lists, we will have returned to the ideals of the Constitution.

Busy. . .

Today was very busy. At some point I overheard a news broadcast about the Middle East, and it didn't sound good. I haven't had time to check it out.

To be informed, we need to stop what we're doing and really listen.

I confess to losing track of the news this week. I pick up bits and pieces, but I'm too busy to indulge myself in the details.

We're spending spring break in Kentucky. It's a nice place. Pleasant weather and courteous people. Rolling hills and horse farms. Plenty of sunshine.

I have traveled to every one of the 50 states, and have lived in seven of them. I'm curious about the differences in the regions. Even though nearly every town has a McDonalds and WalMart, I've found that all places I've been to have retained a local flavor.

In Massachusetts, nearly everyone was in a hurry--measuring distance in time rather than miles. Seattle was friendly, and a little different in a nice way. I loved seeing Mt. Rainier tower in the distance. Kansas City is very friendly, but slow on progress. Milwaukee is fun-loving on the one hand, but also serious. St. Louis, my hometown, is generally polite--or it was before the crime rate began to climb. And there are towns like Kirksvilee, Missouri, which serve as extensions of college campuses.

When I'm on the road, I sometimes feel sorry for the people who stay in one town, large or small, all their lives. Though at other times I envy their stability.

I find peace on the road--exploring what lies beyond the bend.

Needs or Wants

The lesson is usually learned at a fairly young age. It's not, "I need a new toy." Instead, parents instruct the tot to say "I want a new toy." Successful adults learn to separate needs from wants, which is an important life lesson for staying out of trouble.

Unfortunately, not all adults have caught on. They continue to confuse wants with needs, often demanding far more than they should.

Such is the case with our dear leader. He reminds me of Captain Hook who, in the movie "Hook" said, "I want my war." Except that our dear leader is much less concise with his language. We know he wants the war, mostly for the sp(oil)s, but he continues to claim that he needs it. That America needs it.

America needs a new war like she needs an idiot president. Our armed forces are already stretched too thin. Important programs have been cut to free more dollars for weapons. We don't need the two wars we have--and most of us don't want them either. We certainly don't want or need another conflict.

But the war drums continue to beat. Iran has the capability to build nuclear weapons. So do many other countries, not counting those which are already nuclear. Iran took 15 British sailors as prisoners--and released them in good health. Iran is a Muslim country, and proudly so. Oh, and I do believe Iran probably has something called oil.

I pray almost daily that this war will be averted, and so far it has been. The problem is the leaders who preach that war with Iran is a necessity, when really it is only a heart-felt (make that wallet-felt) desire.

We need to sit these people down and teach them something kindergarteners already know.

"Walking Wednesday"?

The talk in the media often veers toward obesity in children. Extreme examples are cited, such as a 7-year old who weighs well over 100 pounds. Children, they say, don't get enough exercise.

That may be true, but I can't imagine it. I am in the process of raising six boys, and I never had a problem with keeping them active. Making them settle down is another story. Sometimes it seems as if my boys are constantly moving. My six perpetual motion machines have never been at threat for obesity.

I have taken some common sense steps such as limiting junk food. That's a no-brainer to me. Give the kids water and juice (real juice, not the sugary substitute) instead of soda. Don't allow them to endlessly eat candy or chew gum. Don't buy chips regularly--most of them are loaded with MSG, which causes many health risks. Don't feed them junk food. Learn how to cook a real dinner.

Last night's news brought video of elementary school children participating in "Walking Wednesday." Every Wednesday, at one school, the students go for a walk at noon. They had something similar when I was a kid. We called it recess.

My 17-year old has a different take on the reason for concerns of obesity in kids. He suggests they may be so doped up on Ritalin that they don't get the exercise they need. It's possible.

I'm more inclined to blame video games. My three youngest do play computer games on the weekends and school holidays--though not all summer. We don't own a video game system. I've seen how too much activity of this sort affects my kids' attitudes. Forget it.

We eat food loaded with chemical ingredients we can't pronounce. We drink water from plastic bottles (she said, taking another sip). And our children must be taught how to walk and run because apparently they've forgotten how to be active simply as an expression of childhood.
Are these characteristics of a civilized society, or one in decline?

As you can probably tell, I feel passionate about this topic. Children run, jump, laugh, and play. That is the nature of children. If they are failing to do what comes naturally, it must be because we are failing them.

Labels

British sailors have been released from Iran.

Syria took part in the arrangements for the release.

Are Iran and Syria really terrorist states?

Or can a terrorist state be defined as one which invades another country on false premises?

Ahhh!

We're home.

Good weather.

Almost no rain.

Good trip too.

Glad to be back.

Home is peace.

Notes from Ohio

I'm on the road tonight, writing this from a motel near Cleveland.

Our car radio picks up mostly country music and static, but I've managed to keep up with the news. Nothing new, really. More war. More partisanship. More tragedy--this week in Somalia and the Solomon Islands.

I met someone who asked me when I became a Muslim. My usual answer is that I converted when hostages were being held in Iran. That answer has a different meaning these days.

"Forrest Gump" is on TV right now. War, civil rights, disease. Not much has changed.

I plan to be back home tomorrow, though I may not post. It depends on how much we choose to enjoy the scenery along the way, and if we opt for the back roads or the much faster, if more expensive, toll highways.

Happy trails to all.