Questions of Individual Rights

It is a sad and a suffering day to see the indifference from national leadership in this country to ignore their oath of office to support and defend the U.S. Constitution.  What is even more unforgivable is the lack of understanding of Constitutional Authority that both the Executive Branch or any other part of government possesses. If the President through Executive Order can outlaw birthright citizenship, why can he not diminish further protections guaranteed to all citizens under our Constitution.  If you accept the President’s line of thinking over his personal authority through Executive Orders, then what is there to prevent arbitrary action to suspend both legislative and judicial guarantees under the ‘Separation of Powers’ which are egalitarian foundations inherent within our government.  Be careful of those who do not read or study our History and the Essence of our Constitutional Government.

Moral Sight

What responsibility do you assume from the influence you have on others through various social contacts and relationships with many who hold you in esteem for one reason or another?  Simple Answer - I would say “ NONE”.  Yet, I would ask you as well as myself to consider the urgency and importance of what comes from our spoken words that can have an impact on individuals who can be influenced or impressed by them.  That is always the conundrum when making the decision to speak out on any issue that you view as right or wrong.  Then there is the alternative to ignore the truth of what you see as a moral reality.  Sight and what we see some might say is relative or is it?  What we see and believe can be or probably should be significant in our lives.  Why or what turned my thoughts to dwell on such ideas as sight and belief.  It has been on my mind since I heard the Gospel at church this morning.

Mark 10:46-52 (NRSV)

Jesus and his disciples came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.

Sight does not necessarily come to us by divine intervention but our belief and recognition of moral right can inspire us to see the world in which we wish to live.  It is, I hope, one that is not filled with racial and religious fear and hatred.

Too Much Hate

10.27.18 - What Does Today Mean

The tragedy of today’s attack on a Jewish Community in Pittsburgh is an attack on American Values and our Constitution.  Religious and Racial bigotry have no place in our political discourse which we have been told has no place in America yet it exists and continues to be a part of intentional abuse and prejudice within our society.  We as a nation and a people need to consider what we expect from national leadership when eleven of our neighbors and fellow citizens lie dead because of their religious beliefs.  I believe it must be more than arming houses of worship and forcing fellow worshippers to be screened by metal detectors.  Why do we have to consider such tactics and not as a civil society look at how such events can be avoided?  Humanity should be at the center of our thoughts and prayers if we wish a sane and heartfelt individual and not an abhorrent soul leading us into the future.  When we look back at our recent past, where the focus of our government continued to be on immigration and not on pipe bombs sent to critics of the President of whom some were former Presidents but for some reason don’t seem to be considered “Hate Crimes” and I wonder why.  I praise the fast and effective actions of law enforcement on behalf of the Jewish Community in Pittsburgh but I also wonder why pipe bombs intended to harm both former Presidents Clinton and Obama are not considered “Hate Crimes”.  It is a strange distinction that is being made by the President.  Why couldn’t he speak as forthrightly against potential attacks of Democratic critics of his policies.  You may not see it but I see a very selective perspective of political attacks by the President.

Life and Mortality

We have an election in less than two weeks and I can’t help but pause and wonder what meaning it holds for my life and the happiness of those who are near and dear to me.

“How happy is the little Stone
That rambles in the Road alone,
And doesn’t care about Careers
And Exigencies never fears —
Whose Coat of elemental Brown
A passing Universe put on,
And independent as the Sun
Associates or glows alone,
Fulfilling absolute Decree
In casual simplicity”

This short poem by Emily Dickinson is one that could be so easily embraced by any of us to conceive of a life free from stress and a world full of hope where the transitory evil and foolishness of man does not appear to threaten the mortal grace that is left to each of us.  We need to be freed from fear and discover the wisdom that can be found in individual weakness.  Perfection is an aspiration that none of us possess but we can all strive to be better in an imperfect world.  My prayer and hope for November 6th as we exercise our franchise that we search our hearts for individuals in all their humility desire a world that is better that what we had yesterday and is full of hope for tomorrow.

Time's Man of the Year

There is much that disturbs many Americans about the Electoral College's selection of Donald Trump as President while the American Electorate voted for his opponent with a plurality of 2.5 million votes.  There are those especially admirers of Alexander Hamilton that believe our government is not a democracy but a republic.  Yet, our founders did show their wisdom in providing the means to amend the Constitution to reflect changes in American Society and remain consistent with the mores of a civilized state.  Time magazine announced its 'Man of the Year' which it has done since 1927.  Mr. Trump was interviewed by Matt Lauer of the Today Show on NBC.  He told Mr. Lauer that it was an honor that he appreciated but denied the appropriateness of the subtitle of 'President-Elect of the Divided States of America'.  The first aspect of this of Time's Man of the Year is for an individual who has made a fundamental impact on events and the international scene of that year.  It is not a statement on the benevolence or malevolence of that individual.  It is instructive to remember that the Man of the Year in 1938 was Adolph Hitler, in 1939 and 1942 was Joseph Stalin, in 1957 was Nikita Khrushchev, in 1979 was the Ayatollah Khomeini, and in 2007 was Vladimir Putin.  Yet, there were also individuals such as Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Mahatma Gandhi, Dwight Eisenhower and Pope Francis.  I am not saying that Donald Trump is deserving inclusion in either list of recipients that I have provided.  Mr. Trump's actions once he becomes President will make it evident among which group of recipients he will deserve to be associated.  Yet, I have concerns and I can feel my heart take a second beat each day when I hear of the most recent appointees made by Mr. Trump's Transition Team.  This is only my opinion but there are far too many generals and billionaires to my liking.  His association with the Alt. Right and White Nationalist is, I believe, is a potential danger to all of us.

Is the Electoral College Relevant

Today I had the opportunity to spend a good part of the afternoon with my wife and a good friend whom I have known since August of 1977.  We live in Northern Virginia, very much a part of the Metropolitan Area of the District of Columbia.  During the course of our conversation we were sharing both our lament and disgust at the failure of our electoral process in our recent presidential election.  There is much I question about it yet I do not deny the legality of it but above every aspect that has brought Mr. Trump to a position of power that, I believe, it possesses no legitimacy in a truly democratic state.  I have always been an ardent defendant of the U.S. Constipation as well as a supporter of the ACLU with both my voice as well as financial support.  Why?  Because it is an organization dedicated in the defense of the Constitution and the rights it guarantees to all our citizens.  Yet, this election presents and faces each citizen with a constitutional dilemma that confounds us with our perceived wisdom of the Founders when the Constitution was written and approved in the 18th Century and the changes along with the realities of the 21st Century.  Twice, now, in less than twenty years we have allowed two men to assume the awesome office of the presidency without receiving a majority vote of the American Electorate.  We need to give considerable thought whether we wish to turn our backs to the concept of one person one vote in determining those whom we wish to serve in elective office.

When the Constitution was written in 1781, we were a nation of 3 million within 13 coastal states.  Today we are a continental nation with a population of over 300 million.  I can understand the hesitancy in amending the Constitution which has only happened 27 times in the history of our nation.  We should also remember that the first ten amendments were agreed upon with the adoption of the Constitution in 1787.  I agree with those who feel care and deliberative thought should be taken at anytime we consider amending the Constitution but I also believe that we have reached a point in our history where the Electoral College is no longer a safeguard to fair and equitable national elections for the highest office in our government.  I believe that 2000 and 2016 have shown the fallacy in that assumption.  If we wish to be the shining beacon of democracy to the rest of the world, the election of the president should be based on one person one vote.  The Electoral College should be seen as an anachronistic period of 18th and 19th Century America and not belonging to 21st Century America.  If we deny such a democratic concept as I suggest for electing our president, should we then rethink how we elect all our other local and national officials.  I am sure there are some who would disagree with me but I believe that there are far more who believe in our democratic heritage as I do.

Troubled Soul

What do I talk about today?  I am not sure but I am watching a show on TV with Kiefer Sutherland called 'Touch'.  He is the single father of son with Autism and the story line is about how this autistic child brings his father to moments of self discovery.  To many the scenario of this story may seem quite implausible because the withdrawn autistic son leads the father to a point (of understanding without verbal communication) where the father is able to have an impact on stranger's lives through numbers.  It takes me back to a period in the early to mid 70's when I worked at the State Hospital in Fort Wayne, IN.  I was trying to put myself on a sounder financial footing so that even with the benefit of GI Bill support I could return to school.  I had no concept of autism before working at the State Hospital but I encountered so many individuals who spoke to me through their eyes without a word spoken or heard.  Most of these individuals, I believe, were placed at the State Hospital through a hopeless frustration of what to do and an inability of how to meet the immediate and emotional needs of such individuals.

My time at the State Hospital was difficult in knowing how to deal with the needs of individual residents and provide appropriate treatment though I was one having a hands on relationship with residents while taking direction from a staff that was aloof at the best of times.  For right or wrong our government decided to close such institutions and there were those who could thrive in a healthier more unstructured environment than what had existed.  I still feel that there is a need for specialized mental health care facilities that can help and support those who are mentally challenged and those who don't seem to be able to be able to cope in 'Our Real World'.  I have no answers but I don't think President Reagan's answer to mental health in this country was an avenue with long lasting results and benefits.