This has been a horrible week for me to try writing a decent blog. Maybe I'm not feeling very peaceful. At least not when I look at the headlines.
More than half of what I read or hear is about Iran--either for or against war, the failures in Iraq and Afghanistan, the persecution of the Palestinian people, or unethical behavior by our so-called leaders. There doesn't seem to be much to be happy or proud about, at least not on the national or international scene.
My son's school went on a field trip today. They went on a hayride, saw farm animals, ate apple cider doughtnuts, and generally had a great time. There. I just reported something peaceful.
Muhammad said there will come a time when the best people can do is to live in the mountains and take care of their families and their goats. I think that time is fast approaching.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
A Classic Truth
I've been very busy these last few weeks and I think it's catching up with me. Right now I can barely keep my eyes open, so I'll keep this short.
Give peace a chance.
Give peace a chance.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Still Hoping
Sometimes I look in the news for topics to discuss in this blog. Sometimes the news headlines are so aggravating or so depressing that I would just rather not even think about what's going on the in world.
Like the immunity granted to Blackwater. Or the decision by California's governor to allow cloned meat into the food supply. Or any time I read about another case of child abuse. A man in Lexington was recently arrested for abusing a 6 week old baby. Nine months to carry and wait for the child. Six weeks to lose him.
But I won't talk about these things tonight. I'm fed up.
I am still looking for peace, and finding it here and there. If there were no peace, and no promise of peace, I don't know how I could wake up tomorrow.
Like the immunity granted to Blackwater. Or the decision by California's governor to allow cloned meat into the food supply. Or any time I read about another case of child abuse. A man in Lexington was recently arrested for abusing a 6 week old baby. Nine months to carry and wait for the child. Six weeks to lose him.
But I won't talk about these things tonight. I'm fed up.
I am still looking for peace, and finding it here and there. If there were no peace, and no promise of peace, I don't know how I could wake up tomorrow.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
"Playing With Fire"
No, today's blog isn't about the wildfires in California. It's about something much more frightening.
The star of this show is the United States government--the White House, to be specific. Supporting roles are played by Iraq, Iran, and Turkey, and the Kurds, with cameo appearances by Russia and China, Syria, and Lebanon. The role played by Israel is debatable, depending upon your point of view.
Two wars don't seem to be enough for this administration. There is very serious talk about a third. They keep talking about Iran. I wouldn't be at all surprised if Syria was thrown into the mix. And of course there's Lebanon, where Hizbullah--a recognized political party--is determined to defend against Israel (again, this whole question is debated, often loudly).
While the White House disses Iran and imposes new sanctions, Turkey makes a move into northern Iraq against the Kurds--who did, after all, launch a raid into Turkey earlier this week. This unwelcome development is being blasted on all sides.
Ooh, I shouldn't use the word 'blast.' This is what scares me. All these players are poised and hungry for conflict. And then of course there's Pakistan, which is a powder keg within itself because of the U.S.-backed dictator, Pervez Musharraf.
When I teach about World War I, I emphasize, as do most social studies teachers, the danger of entangling alliances. The situation we have now is more one of entangling enmities, most countries out for their own good and the rest of the world be damned.
World War I began with a single bullet. I hope that moment stays relegated to history books. Meanwhile, I'm holding my breath and praying. Often.
The star of this show is the United States government--the White House, to be specific. Supporting roles are played by Iraq, Iran, and Turkey, and the Kurds, with cameo appearances by Russia and China, Syria, and Lebanon. The role played by Israel is debatable, depending upon your point of view.
Two wars don't seem to be enough for this administration. There is very serious talk about a third. They keep talking about Iran. I wouldn't be at all surprised if Syria was thrown into the mix. And of course there's Lebanon, where Hizbullah--a recognized political party--is determined to defend against Israel (again, this whole question is debated, often loudly).
While the White House disses Iran and imposes new sanctions, Turkey makes a move into northern Iraq against the Kurds--who did, after all, launch a raid into Turkey earlier this week. This unwelcome development is being blasted on all sides.
Ooh, I shouldn't use the word 'blast.' This is what scares me. All these players are poised and hungry for conflict. And then of course there's Pakistan, which is a powder keg within itself because of the U.S.-backed dictator, Pervez Musharraf.
When I teach about World War I, I emphasize, as do most social studies teachers, the danger of entangling alliances. The situation we have now is more one of entangling enmities, most countries out for their own good and the rest of the world be damned.
World War I began with a single bullet. I hope that moment stays relegated to history books. Meanwhile, I'm holding my breath and praying. Often.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Who's to Blame?
I've read discussions on the internet about who caused the fires in California. Apparently some are trying to insinuate that the fires were caused by terrorist attacks.
Interesting. If terrorists were involved, they certainly weren't practicing Muslims. The unnecessary destruction of property, including trees, is forbidden. Killing by fire is also forbidden in Islam.
There's the whole discussion about whether this is an act of God. I believe it was. I can't say the flames were sent down to punish anyone. That's not my call to make. What I can say is that nothing--including these fires--can happen unless God allows it. I have been in enough near-accidents--caused mostly by my own carelessness--to know that God can and does stop bad things from happening. Or sometimes He allows it. And I could engage in a debate about this to last a year, but it all comes down to faith. Even you got it, or you don't.
So why did the fires happen? The only reason I can say with certainty is that government officials, both local and national, ceased to take the threat seriously. The local government proclaimed the end of the fire season. The national government decreased funds for wildfire prevention.
Beyond that, I can't say. Does it really matter?
Interesting. If terrorists were involved, they certainly weren't practicing Muslims. The unnecessary destruction of property, including trees, is forbidden. Killing by fire is also forbidden in Islam.
There's the whole discussion about whether this is an act of God. I believe it was. I can't say the flames were sent down to punish anyone. That's not my call to make. What I can say is that nothing--including these fires--can happen unless God allows it. I have been in enough near-accidents--caused mostly by my own carelessness--to know that God can and does stop bad things from happening. Or sometimes He allows it. And I could engage in a debate about this to last a year, but it all comes down to faith. Even you got it, or you don't.
So why did the fires happen? The only reason I can say with certainty is that government officials, both local and national, ceased to take the threat seriously. The local government proclaimed the end of the fire season. The national government decreased funds for wildfire prevention.
Beyond that, I can't say. Does it really matter?
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
More of the Same
It rained all day today. That's the first time I've seen this much rain since arriving in Lexington back in June. Hopefully, we're approaching the end of the drought and Kentucky will be green again.
Meanwhile, more houses and businesses have burned in southern California and more residents have been forced to leave their homes. There's no end in sight until at least Thursday.
Fire and rain. Like east and west, they represent extremes. And life is still very, very interesting--which is not always a good thing.
Meanwhile, more houses and businesses have burned in southern California and more residents have been forced to leave their homes. There's no end in sight until at least Thursday.
Fire and rain. Like east and west, they represent extremes. And life is still very, very interesting--which is not always a good thing.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Fire and Rain
I remember when the weather was simply a trivial way to conduct a conversation when there was nothing else to say. Nobody talked about the weather much when I was growing up, not unless they were bored.
Now the weather has pushed its way into our everyday lives. The seasons no longer follow a predictable cycle. Yesterday it was 80 degrees down here in Kentucky--warm even for the south in late October. We haven't needed to worry about turning on the heat yet, though that could change this week. Who knows?
We have finally had rain, after months of drought. It rained most of the day today and we hope for rain throughout the week. I also hope the rain reaches northern Georgia, where things seem to be especially rough.
My sister came to visit last week. She lives in southern California. They haven't had rain for a year. They have had fire. Now they have more. The last I heard, the fire was still "0%" under control.
These are trying times. I hate to think what winter can bring. Last year here in Kentucky there was no snow at all, I hear. But I was in Milwaukee, where temperatures plunged to 20 below. (That's not counting the wind chill.) I shudder to think of it.
These are very trying times.
Now the weather has pushed its way into our everyday lives. The seasons no longer follow a predictable cycle. Yesterday it was 80 degrees down here in Kentucky--warm even for the south in late October. We haven't needed to worry about turning on the heat yet, though that could change this week. Who knows?
We have finally had rain, after months of drought. It rained most of the day today and we hope for rain throughout the week. I also hope the rain reaches northern Georgia, where things seem to be especially rough.
My sister came to visit last week. She lives in southern California. They haven't had rain for a year. They have had fire. Now they have more. The last I heard, the fire was still "0%" under control.
These are trying times. I hate to think what winter can bring. Last year here in Kentucky there was no snow at all, I hear. But I was in Milwaukee, where temperatures plunged to 20 below. (That's not counting the wind chill.) I shudder to think of it.
These are very trying times.
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