Monday, April 13, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
Easter Weekend
As we have prepared for Easter at my church, we celebrated Lent in color. Each week for the last six weeks, we've tried to find God in Yellow, then Orange, then Red, right down the rainbow to Green this last week. We've found God in the Green Creation of our God, in the Blue skies and stuffed puppies of our children, in the Red skateboard of our teens and the Yellow of flowers and peppers.
And as we've sought God in these colors, we've been encouraged to bring to church and lay some of these symbols of God upon the altar. You can see images of our Lenten season at the Jeff Street blog, if you are so inclined.
This Friday and Saturday, we breathe softly in anticipation of Easter morning, when we celebrate as a community Jesus' triumph over the powers of darkness and hatred. We could use more of that these days.
Happy Easter, to my Christian friends and others who can enjoy the celebration.
Goodness is stronger than evil,
love is stronger than hate,
light is stronger than darkness,
life is stronger than death,
victory is ours through him who loved us.
~Bishop Desmond Tutu
Christ is risen!
And as we've sought God in these colors, we've been encouraged to bring to church and lay some of these symbols of God upon the altar. You can see images of our Lenten season at the Jeff Street blog, if you are so inclined.
This Friday and Saturday, we breathe softly in anticipation of Easter morning, when we celebrate as a community Jesus' triumph over the powers of darkness and hatred. We could use more of that these days.
Happy Easter, to my Christian friends and others who can enjoy the celebration.
Goodness is stronger than evil,
love is stronger than hate,
light is stronger than darkness,
life is stronger than death,
victory is ours through him who loved us.
~Bishop Desmond Tutu
Christ is risen!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
JUSTICE!
We've been having an interesting, rambling discussion about the nature of mercy and justice a few posts below. In the process, I ran across the Holman Bible Dictionary's definition/explanation of the terms and really liked it. I offer it here now, in part, for consideration. Enjoy...
JUSTICE
The order God seeks to reestablish in His creation where all people receive the benefits of life with Him. As love is for the New Testament, so justice is the central ethical idea of the Old Testament. The frequency of justice is sometimes missed by the reader due to a failure to realize that the wide range of the Hebrew word mishpat, particularly in passages that deal with the material and social necessities of life.
Nature of justice Justice has two major aspects. First, it is the standard by which penalties are assigned for breaking the obligations of the society. Second, justice is the standard by which the advantages of social life are handed out, including material goods, rights of participation, opportunities, and liberties. It is the standard for both punishment and benefits and thus can be spoken of as a plumb line. “I shall use justice as a plumb-line, and righteousness as a plummet” (Isaiah 28:17, REB).
Often people think of justice in the Bible only in the first sense as God's wrath on evil. This aspect of justice indeed is present, such as the judgment mentioned in John 3:19. Often more vivid words like “wrath” are used to describe punitive justice (Romans 1:18).
Justice in the Bible very frequently also deals with benefits. Cultures differ widely in determining the basis by which the benefits are to be justly distributed. For some it is by birth and nobility. For others the basis is might or ability or merit. Or it might simply be whatever is the law or whatever has been established by contracts. The Bible takes another possibility. Benefits are distributed according to need.
Justice then is very close to love and grace. God “executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and… loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing” (Deuteronomy 10:18, NRSV; compare Hosea 10:12; Isaiah 30:18).
Various needy groups are the recipients of justice. These groups include widows, orphans, resident aliens (also called “sojourners” or “strangers”), wage earners, the poor, and prisoners, slaves, and the sick (Job 29:12-17; Psalms 146:7-9; Malachi 3:5). Each of these groups has specific needs which keep its members from being able to participate in aspects of the life of their community. Even life itself might be threatened.
Justice involves meeting those needs.
The forces which deprive people of what is basic for community life are condemned as oppression (Micah 2:2; Ecclesiastes 4:1). To oppress is to use power for one's own advantage in depriving others of their basic rights in the community (see Mark 12:40). To do justice is to correct that abuse and to meet those needs (Isaiah 1:17). Injustice is depriving others of their basic needs or failing to correct matters when those rights are not met (Jeremiah 5:28; Job 29:12-17). Injustice is either a sin of commission or of omission.
The content of justice, the benefits which are to be distributed as basic rights in the community, can be identified by observing what is at stake in the passages in which “justice,” “righteousness,” and “judgment” occur. The needs which are met include land (Ezekiel 45:6-9; compare Micah 2:2; Micah 4:4) and the means to produce from the land, such as draft animals and millstones (Deuteronomy 22:1-4; Deuteronomy 24:6).
These productive concerns are basic to securing other essential needs and thus avoiding dependency; thus the millstone is called the “life” of the person (Deuteronomy 24:6). Other needs are those essential for mere physical existence and well being: food (Deuteronomy 10:18; Psalms 146:7), clothing (Deuteronomy 24:13), and shelter (Psalms 68:6; Job 8:6). Job 22:5-9,Job 22:23; Job 24:1-12 decries the injustice of depriving people of each one of these needs, which are material and economic.
The equal protection of each person in civil and judicial procedures is represented in the demand for due process (Deuteronomy 16:18-20). Freedom from bondage is comparable to not being “in hunger and thirst, in nakedness and lack of everything” (Deuteronomy 28:48 NRSV).
Justice presupposes God's intention for people to be in community. When people had become poor and weak with respect to the rest of the community, they were to be strengthened so that they could continue to be effective members of the community—living with them and beside them (Leviticus 25:35-36). Thus biblical justice restores people to community. By justice those who lacked the power and resources to participate in significant aspects of the community were to be strengthened so that they could.
This concern in Leviticus 25:1 is illustrated by the provision of the year of Jubilee, in which at the end of the fifty year period land is restored to those who had lost it through sale or foreclosure of debts (Leviticus 25:28). Thus they regained economic power and were brought back into the economic community. Similarly, interest on loans was prohibited (Leviticus 25:36) as a process which pulled people down, endangering their position in the community.
These legal provisions express a further characteristic of justice. Justice delivers; it does not merely relieve the immediate needs of those in dire straits (Psalms 76:9; Isaiah 45:8; Isaiah 58:11; Isaiah 62:1-2). Helping the needy means setting them back on their feet, giving a home, leading to prosperity, restoration, ending the oppression (Psalms 68:5-10; Psalms 10:15-16; compare 107; Psalms 113:7-9).
Such thorough justice can be socially disruptive. In the Jubilee year as some receive back lands, others lose recently-acquired additional land. The advantage to some is a disadvantage to others. In some cases the two aspects of justice come together. In the act of restoration, those who were victims of justice receive benefits while their exploiters are punished (1 Samuel 2:7-10; compare Luke 1:51-53; Luke 6:20-26).
The source of justice As the sovereign Creator of the universe, God is just (Psalms 99:1-4; Genesis 18:25; Deuteronomy 32:4; Jeremiah 9:24), particularly as the defender of all the oppressed of the earth (Psalms 76:9; Psalms 103:6; Jeremiah 49:11). Justice thus is universal (Psalms 9:7-9) and applies to each covenant or dispensation. Jesus affirmed for His day the centrality of the Old Testament demand for justice (Matthew 23:23). Justice is the work of the New Testament people of God (James 1:27).
God's justice is not a distant external standard. It is the source of all human justice (Proverbs 29:26; 2 Chronicles 19:6,2 Chronicles 19:9).
Justice is grace received and grace shared (2 Corinthians 9:8-10).
source
======
Wow. Can I get an Amen?
JUSTICE
The order God seeks to reestablish in His creation where all people receive the benefits of life with Him. As love is for the New Testament, so justice is the central ethical idea of the Old Testament. The frequency of justice is sometimes missed by the reader due to a failure to realize that the wide range of the Hebrew word mishpat, particularly in passages that deal with the material and social necessities of life.
Nature of justice Justice has two major aspects. First, it is the standard by which penalties are assigned for breaking the obligations of the society. Second, justice is the standard by which the advantages of social life are handed out, including material goods, rights of participation, opportunities, and liberties. It is the standard for both punishment and benefits and thus can be spoken of as a plumb line. “I shall use justice as a plumb-line, and righteousness as a plummet” (Isaiah 28:17, REB).
Often people think of justice in the Bible only in the first sense as God's wrath on evil. This aspect of justice indeed is present, such as the judgment mentioned in John 3:19. Often more vivid words like “wrath” are used to describe punitive justice (Romans 1:18).
Justice in the Bible very frequently also deals with benefits. Cultures differ widely in determining the basis by which the benefits are to be justly distributed. For some it is by birth and nobility. For others the basis is might or ability or merit. Or it might simply be whatever is the law or whatever has been established by contracts. The Bible takes another possibility. Benefits are distributed according to need.
Justice then is very close to love and grace. God “executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and… loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing” (Deuteronomy 10:18, NRSV; compare Hosea 10:12; Isaiah 30:18).
Various needy groups are the recipients of justice. These groups include widows, orphans, resident aliens (also called “sojourners” or “strangers”), wage earners, the poor, and prisoners, slaves, and the sick (Job 29:12-17; Psalms 146:7-9; Malachi 3:5). Each of these groups has specific needs which keep its members from being able to participate in aspects of the life of their community. Even life itself might be threatened.
Justice involves meeting those needs.
The forces which deprive people of what is basic for community life are condemned as oppression (Micah 2:2; Ecclesiastes 4:1). To oppress is to use power for one's own advantage in depriving others of their basic rights in the community (see Mark 12:40). To do justice is to correct that abuse and to meet those needs (Isaiah 1:17). Injustice is depriving others of their basic needs or failing to correct matters when those rights are not met (Jeremiah 5:28; Job 29:12-17). Injustice is either a sin of commission or of omission.
The content of justice, the benefits which are to be distributed as basic rights in the community, can be identified by observing what is at stake in the passages in which “justice,” “righteousness,” and “judgment” occur. The needs which are met include land (Ezekiel 45:6-9; compare Micah 2:2; Micah 4:4) and the means to produce from the land, such as draft animals and millstones (Deuteronomy 22:1-4; Deuteronomy 24:6).
These productive concerns are basic to securing other essential needs and thus avoiding dependency; thus the millstone is called the “life” of the person (Deuteronomy 24:6). Other needs are those essential for mere physical existence and well being: food (Deuteronomy 10:18; Psalms 146:7), clothing (Deuteronomy 24:13), and shelter (Psalms 68:6; Job 8:6). Job 22:5-9,Job 22:23; Job 24:1-12 decries the injustice of depriving people of each one of these needs, which are material and economic.
The equal protection of each person in civil and judicial procedures is represented in the demand for due process (Deuteronomy 16:18-20). Freedom from bondage is comparable to not being “in hunger and thirst, in nakedness and lack of everything” (Deuteronomy 28:48 NRSV).
Justice presupposes God's intention for people to be in community. When people had become poor and weak with respect to the rest of the community, they were to be strengthened so that they could continue to be effective members of the community—living with them and beside them (Leviticus 25:35-36). Thus biblical justice restores people to community. By justice those who lacked the power and resources to participate in significant aspects of the community were to be strengthened so that they could.
This concern in Leviticus 25:1 is illustrated by the provision of the year of Jubilee, in which at the end of the fifty year period land is restored to those who had lost it through sale or foreclosure of debts (Leviticus 25:28). Thus they regained economic power and were brought back into the economic community. Similarly, interest on loans was prohibited (Leviticus 25:36) as a process which pulled people down, endangering their position in the community.
These legal provisions express a further characteristic of justice. Justice delivers; it does not merely relieve the immediate needs of those in dire straits (Psalms 76:9; Isaiah 45:8; Isaiah 58:11; Isaiah 62:1-2). Helping the needy means setting them back on their feet, giving a home, leading to prosperity, restoration, ending the oppression (Psalms 68:5-10; Psalms 10:15-16; compare 107; Psalms 113:7-9).
Such thorough justice can be socially disruptive. In the Jubilee year as some receive back lands, others lose recently-acquired additional land. The advantage to some is a disadvantage to others. In some cases the two aspects of justice come together. In the act of restoration, those who were victims of justice receive benefits while their exploiters are punished (1 Samuel 2:7-10; compare Luke 1:51-53; Luke 6:20-26).
The source of justice As the sovereign Creator of the universe, God is just (Psalms 99:1-4; Genesis 18:25; Deuteronomy 32:4; Jeremiah 9:24), particularly as the defender of all the oppressed of the earth (Psalms 76:9; Psalms 103:6; Jeremiah 49:11). Justice thus is universal (Psalms 9:7-9) and applies to each covenant or dispensation. Jesus affirmed for His day the centrality of the Old Testament demand for justice (Matthew 23:23). Justice is the work of the New Testament people of God (James 1:27).
God's justice is not a distant external standard. It is the source of all human justice (Proverbs 29:26; 2 Chronicles 19:6,2 Chronicles 19:9).
Justice is grace received and grace shared (2 Corinthians 9:8-10).
source
======
Wow. Can I get an Amen?
Monday, April 6, 2009
Confrontation Monday
My friend Robert, who is the director of our local Direct Action group, CLOUT, sent this out this morning. You're familiar with Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, well, today is Confrontation Monday in the Holy Week Calendar...
Happy Confrontation Monday!
This is the day in Holy Week on which Jesus confronted the powers-that-be in the religious-political system of the temple in Jerusalem for their economic oppression of the poor and marginalized. It was a premeditated, strategically thought-out direct action, which shut down the temple for the day.
It is my hope that someday Confrontation Monday will be added to the list of special days during Holy Week, alongside Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, etc.!
May our work together make confronting the powers-that-be for justice so much a part of our congregations’ annual ritual, along with our other many religious observations and celebrations, that someday our Annual Action Assembly will be on Monday of Holy Week!
Blessings on your Holy Week.
Happy Confrontation Monday!
This is the day in Holy Week on which Jesus confronted the powers-that-be in the religious-political system of the temple in Jerusalem for their economic oppression of the poor and marginalized. It was a premeditated, strategically thought-out direct action, which shut down the temple for the day.
It is my hope that someday Confrontation Monday will be added to the list of special days during Holy Week, alongside Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, etc.!
May our work together make confronting the powers-that-be for justice so much a part of our congregations’ annual ritual, along with our other many religious observations and celebrations, that someday our Annual Action Assembly will be on Monday of Holy Week!
Blessings on your Holy Week.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Trabues 1968
I am the fifth of six Trabue boys born of Bill and Mary. No sisters. My oldest brother, Dave (the good looking young fella in plaid in the photo) has been off awandering in California lo, these many years. He's done many interesting things, but perhaps most appealing to me is that he's been a first rate musician for nearly as long as I've been alive. He plays guitar, mandolin, dobro and other stringed instruments. He also sings and writes songs and does it all quite well.
His current band is called Beargrass Creek (beargrasscreek.com) - named after a local stream here in our hometown of Louisville. You can listen to some of their music at their myspace page. I've had a link to his own website over on the left here for quite a while, but thought I might take this chance to point people to his recent band, which I think is groovier than an ancient LP recording.
Check it out.
His current band is called Beargrass Creek (beargrasscreek.com) - named after a local stream here in our hometown of Louisville. You can listen to some of their music at their myspace page. I've had a link to his own website over on the left here for quite a while, but thought I might take this chance to point people to his recent band, which I think is groovier than an ancient LP recording.
Check it out.
Friday, March 27, 2009
RACING PARANOIA!!
Or:
Does Anyone Have a Handbasket?...
This, of course, is not scientifically valid and I'm not saying it means anything at all, but just for fun, I tried a little experiment. I did a google search on various words along with a year, then compared it to other years. For instance, I googled "socialism 2001" and then "socialism 2009..." and I looked at the number of links returned. I don't even know that, by placing a year on a search you would mostly get hits from that year, this is just an ambiguous experiment.
My results:
"socialism 2001" 3,400,000
"socialism 2007" 4,610,000
"socialism 2008" 6,620,000
"socialism 2009" 7,210,000
"hate 2001" 28,400,000
"hate 2007" 78,700,000
"hate 2008" 112,000,000
"hate 2009" 126,000,000
"godless 2001" 361,000
"godless 2007" 795,000
"godless 2008" 1,140,000
"godless 2009" 1,080,000
"destroy US 2001" 1,140,000
"destroy US 2007" 10,500,000
"destroy US 2008" 12,200,000
"destroy US 2009" 12,300,000
Keeping in mind in all of these, that 2009 is less than three months old. Anyone want to bet that by the end of the year, "destroy US 2009" will turn up something like 50,000,000?
Significant or not? Worrisome or not?
Or, put another way, are there a lot of nuts out there or not?
Does Anyone Have a Handbasket?...
This, of course, is not scientifically valid and I'm not saying it means anything at all, but just for fun, I tried a little experiment. I did a google search on various words along with a year, then compared it to other years. For instance, I googled "socialism 2001" and then "socialism 2009..." and I looked at the number of links returned. I don't even know that, by placing a year on a search you would mostly get hits from that year, this is just an ambiguous experiment.
My results:
"socialism 2001" 3,400,000
"socialism 2007" 4,610,000
"socialism 2008" 6,620,000
"socialism 2009" 7,210,000
"hate 2001" 28,400,000
"hate 2007" 78,700,000
"hate 2008" 112,000,000
"hate 2009" 126,000,000
"godless 2001" 361,000
"godless 2007" 795,000
"godless 2008" 1,140,000
"godless 2009" 1,080,000
"destroy US 2001" 1,140,000
"destroy US 2007" 10,500,000
"destroy US 2008" 12,200,000
"destroy US 2009" 12,300,000
Keeping in mind in all of these, that 2009 is less than three months old. Anyone want to bet that by the end of the year, "destroy US 2009" will turn up something like 50,000,000?
Significant or not? Worrisome or not?
Or, put another way, are there a lot of nuts out there or not?
The Bible and Economics
Part of a continuing series where I post biblical passages that deal with wealth, poverty, money, greed, simplicity, the rich and the poor. When I'm done, I'd like to have a fairly comprehensive collection of such passages all in one location. You can see other entries in this series in my sidebar on the left, under The Bible and Economics heading.
I've already looked at Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7). In the last installment, I looked at verses scattered throughout the middle of the book of Matthew, from chapter 10 to chapter 19. Now, let's look through a bit more of Matthew (chapters 20-22)...
[Jesus speaking...] "The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard.
Going out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.'
So they went off. (And) he went out again around noon, and around three o'clock, and did likewise. Going out about five o'clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?'
They answered, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard.'
When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.'
When those who had started about five o'clock came, each received the usual daily wage.
So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage.
And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, 'These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day's burden and the heat.'
He said to one of them in reply, 'My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?
Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?'
Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last..."
...But Jesus summoned them and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.
Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom 11 for many."
Matthew 20: 1-16; 25-28
Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all those engaged in selling and buying there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves.
And he said to them, "It is written: 'My house shall be a house of prayer,' but you are making it a den of thieves."
The blind and the lame approached him in the temple area, and he cured them.
Matthew 21: 12-14
Let me point out here that much of Matt 21 and 22 have economic implications - parables are told about greed, about rich and poor, workers and masters, about feasts and inviting the poor and outcast into the feast and about hypocrisy of the powerful - specifically the hypocrisy of the Pharisees - all of which directly contributed to the plots to have Jesus killed. Read the whole chapters. For now, though, I'm jumping down to Matthew 22: 16...
[The Pharisees] sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. And you are not concerned with anyone's opinion, for you do not regard a person's status.
Tell us, then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?"
Knowing their malice, Jesus said, "Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? Show me the coin that pays the census tax." Then they handed him the Roman coin.
He said to them, "Whose image is this and whose inscription?"
They replied, "Caesar's." At that he said to them, "Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God."
Matthew 22: 16-21
I've already looked at Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7). In the last installment, I looked at verses scattered throughout the middle of the book of Matthew, from chapter 10 to chapter 19. Now, let's look through a bit more of Matthew (chapters 20-22)...
[Jesus speaking...] "The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard.
Going out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.'
So they went off. (And) he went out again around noon, and around three o'clock, and did likewise. Going out about five o'clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?'
They answered, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard.'
When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.'
When those who had started about five o'clock came, each received the usual daily wage.
So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage.
And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, 'These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day's burden and the heat.'
He said to one of them in reply, 'My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?
Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?'
Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last..."
...But Jesus summoned them and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.
Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom 11 for many."
Matthew 20: 1-16; 25-28
Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all those engaged in selling and buying there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves.
And he said to them, "It is written: 'My house shall be a house of prayer,' but you are making it a den of thieves."
The blind and the lame approached him in the temple area, and he cured them.
Matthew 21: 12-14
Let me point out here that much of Matt 21 and 22 have economic implications - parables are told about greed, about rich and poor, workers and masters, about feasts and inviting the poor and outcast into the feast and about hypocrisy of the powerful - specifically the hypocrisy of the Pharisees - all of which directly contributed to the plots to have Jesus killed. Read the whole chapters. For now, though, I'm jumping down to Matthew 22: 16...
[The Pharisees] sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. And you are not concerned with anyone's opinion, for you do not regard a person's status.
Tell us, then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?"
Knowing their malice, Jesus said, "Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? Show me the coin that pays the census tax." Then they handed him the Roman coin.
He said to them, "Whose image is this and whose inscription?"
They replied, "Caesar's." At that he said to them, "Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God."
Matthew 22: 16-21
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Rosa Sat
I'll have to be honest and say that I think Obama and Congress look a bit foolish with this passing this huge spending bill and not realizing or overlooking the problem with allowing Big Bonuses to be part of it, AND THEN trying to pass a tax specifically trying to target those bonus recipients. I don't necessarily have a problem with their goals of trying to invest money to shore up the economy, but the way they're handling it sure looks a bit goofy to me.
But maybe that's just me.
Political silliness notwithstanding, I came across a new song today that I thought some might enjoy.
So, enjoy...
Rosa Sat
CHORUS:
Rosa sat so Martin could walk
Martin walked so Barack could run
Barack ran, he ran and he won
So that all our children could fly
1. Thousands of people that November night
All of us here who have fought the long fight
Knowing as one we’re creating a new nation
Join together in celebration
CHORUS
2. Mother and daughter listenin’ to the news
Momma breaks down cryin’, little girl is confused
Honey we worked so hard to get to this place
Daughter puts a loving hand on momma’s face
CHORUS
But maybe that's just me.
Political silliness notwithstanding, I came across a new song today that I thought some might enjoy.
So, enjoy...
Rosa Sat
CHORUS:
Rosa sat so Martin could walk
Martin walked so Barack could run
Barack ran, he ran and he won
So that all our children could fly
1. Thousands of people that November night
All of us here who have fought the long fight
Knowing as one we’re creating a new nation
Join together in celebration
CHORUS
2. Mother and daughter listenin’ to the news
Momma breaks down cryin’, little girl is confused
Honey we worked so hard to get to this place
Daughter puts a loving hand on momma’s face
CHORUS
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Guest Blogger...
I would like to post a few words from my own grandfather, Walter Trabue. Walter died 30 years ago, when I was just 16 years old. Walter was a railroad man, a woodworker whose small garage was alive with the smell of cherry and walnut lumber. Walter occasionally kept a journal, and these are a couple of excerpts from them.
Untitled essay, 1970
Thru the forest paths our trails were crossed by
white men,
which before were traveled by wild animals and
red men.
Those trails have sprung into ribbons of concrete
reaching from ocean to ocean,
villages have spawned cities of great sizes.
Where once were fields of grass or woods
cornfields came and went,
and now houses.
Houses, no woods as once I played in
or fields where my uncle rode horses.
No more are things as of the old days
of my boyhood,
even the place where I was born is gone.
Will all things change with time?
The Old Pine Tree
WL Trabue, July 1945
Come, Love, let us wander again, along
the Old Trail
Up the mountain trail as we did long years ago.
Beneath those long shadows of our youth and the
Old Pine Tree,
side by side as we did when we were younger.
Remember the parting, how sad it was to
You and I.
Our country called, the call I had to answer.
Come, Love, we must go again along
that Old Trail
to find the love we left there long ago.
I haved dreamed of this trail, at night
Far Away,
and feared I would never see it again.
Let me feel its bark again, it is still there!
The Two Hearts,
As ours, they have entwined over these missing years.
Untitled essay, 1970
Thru the forest paths our trails were crossed by
white men,
which before were traveled by wild animals and
red men.
Those trails have sprung into ribbons of concrete
reaching from ocean to ocean,
villages have spawned cities of great sizes.
Where once were fields of grass or woods
cornfields came and went,
and now houses.
Houses, no woods as once I played in
or fields where my uncle rode horses.
No more are things as of the old days
of my boyhood,
even the place where I was born is gone.
Will all things change with time?
The Old Pine Tree
WL Trabue, July 1945
Come, Love, let us wander again, along
the Old Trail
Up the mountain trail as we did long years ago.
Beneath those long shadows of our youth and the
Old Pine Tree,
side by side as we did when we were younger.
Remember the parting, how sad it was to
You and I.
Our country called, the call I had to answer.
Come, Love, we must go again along
that Old Trail
to find the love we left there long ago.
I haved dreamed of this trail, at night
Far Away,
and feared I would never see it again.
Let me feel its bark again, it is still there!
The Two Hearts,
As ours, they have entwined over these missing years.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Barbie's Birthday
Apparently, Barbie turns 50 this year. Woo hoo.
In honor of this esteemed event, I give you a song from Cap'n Randy...
Barbie Nation
1992, Randy Stonehill
She was told when she was young
Ah - that blondes always have more fun
Lie lie lie dirty lie du du dumb
Perfect hair perfect waste
With a perfect prom queen smile upon her face
For everyone
But it's all right, it's okay
Now your self-respect is the only price you'll pay
It's okay, that's all right
You're the queen of the Barbie nation
Queen of the Barbie nation
Queen of the Barbie nation tonight
Tonight yeah
Romance books, magazines
T.V. shows and the movie screens
They lie lie lie dirty lies empty dreams
It's a shame you bowed down
To the deity of Helen Gurley Brown
So obscene
It's all right, it's okay
Just don't forget you're always on display
It's okay, that's alright
You're the queen of the Barbie nation
Queen of the Barbie nation
Queen of the Barbie nation tonight
You're sexy and driven and doomed to succeed
You'll get what you want but it's nothing you need
And echoed in the heartache you conceal
Is something good, something real
She was told that in the end
Every Barbie gets her Ken
Lie lie lie no such guy just pretend
We pull the strings, wind the doll
We create the myth that she can have it all
It's a sin
But it's all right, it's okay
Though your dignity is all that's left to trade
It's okay, that's all right
You're the queen of the Barbie nation
Queen of the Barbie nation
Queen of the Barbie nation tonight
In honor of this esteemed event, I give you a song from Cap'n Randy...
Barbie Nation
1992, Randy Stonehill
She was told when she was young
Ah - that blondes always have more fun
Lie lie lie dirty lie du du dumb
Perfect hair perfect waste
With a perfect prom queen smile upon her face
For everyone
But it's all right, it's okay
Now your self-respect is the only price you'll pay
It's okay, that's all right
You're the queen of the Barbie nation
Queen of the Barbie nation
Queen of the Barbie nation tonight
Tonight yeah
Romance books, magazines
T.V. shows and the movie screens
They lie lie lie dirty lies empty dreams
It's a shame you bowed down
To the deity of Helen Gurley Brown
So obscene
It's all right, it's okay
Just don't forget you're always on display
It's okay, that's alright
You're the queen of the Barbie nation
Queen of the Barbie nation
Queen of the Barbie nation tonight
You're sexy and driven and doomed to succeed
You'll get what you want but it's nothing you need
And echoed in the heartache you conceal
Is something good, something real
She was told that in the end
Every Barbie gets her Ken
Lie lie lie no such guy just pretend
We pull the strings, wind the doll
We create the myth that she can have it all
It's a sin
But it's all right, it's okay
Though your dignity is all that's left to trade
It's okay, that's all right
You're the queen of the Barbie nation
Queen of the Barbie nation
Queen of the Barbie nation tonight
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
King of the GOP
GOP chairman Steele backs off Limbaugh criticism
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In comments that were broadcast over the weekend, Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele called Rush Limbaugh's rhetoric "incendiary" and "ugly" and insisted that he is in charge of the GOP.
On Monday, however, after a blistering response from the conservative talk-radio kingpin, Steele told the online journal Politico that he "was maybe a little bit inarticulate."
"There was no attempt on my part to diminish his voice or his leadership," Steele said. He added, "There are those out there who want to look at what he's saying as incendiary and divisive and ugly. That's what I was trying to say. It didn't come out that way."
=======
So, there was a stand off between Michael Steele - leader of the Republican Party - and Rush Limbaugh - entertainment clown - and Steele blinked and Rush was crowned King. Tis a shame that this is the level to which the Party of Lincoln has devolved.
Hail, Limbaugh, last King of the GOP.
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In comments that were broadcast over the weekend, Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele called Rush Limbaugh's rhetoric "incendiary" and "ugly" and insisted that he is in charge of the GOP.
On Monday, however, after a blistering response from the conservative talk-radio kingpin, Steele told the online journal Politico that he "was maybe a little bit inarticulate."
"There was no attempt on my part to diminish his voice or his leadership," Steele said. He added, "There are those out there who want to look at what he's saying as incendiary and divisive and ugly. That's what I was trying to say. It didn't come out that way."
=======
So, there was a stand off between Michael Steele - leader of the Republican Party - and Rush Limbaugh - entertainment clown - and Steele blinked and Rush was crowned King. Tis a shame that this is the level to which the Party of Lincoln has devolved.
Hail, Limbaugh, last King of the GOP.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Spring lies shallow neath our feet...
Have you seen trees budding? Have crocuses thrust their first green peek through the ground? Is it possible that spring is just minutes away?
It may be a bit hard to believe, at least here in Louisville, where the 20 degree temperature feels even icier in the gusting wind. But I have seen the buds promising change. The forecast here is for warmer days ahead, at least temporarily. I feel the greening of my bones and know it must be true.
How about you? Are you seeing signs of spring? Is the garden planned? Seeds pre-planted indoors?
And speaking of pending change, I also wonder what words of wisdom any here might offer for our young sons and daughters who will be graduating soon? Do you have any truths, profound or not, to pass on, suggestions on how to embrace life and live with joy and a sense of purpose?
I'm taking notes...
It may be a bit hard to believe, at least here in Louisville, where the 20 degree temperature feels even icier in the gusting wind. But I have seen the buds promising change. The forecast here is for warmer days ahead, at least temporarily. I feel the greening of my bones and know it must be true.
How about you? Are you seeing signs of spring? Is the garden planned? Seeds pre-planted indoors?
And speaking of pending change, I also wonder what words of wisdom any here might offer for our young sons and daughters who will be graduating soon? Do you have any truths, profound or not, to pass on, suggestions on how to embrace life and live with joy and a sense of purpose?
I'm taking notes...
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