Is this the same John Kerry who ran for President in 2004?

Wow. I just stayed up way too late watching this speech that Sen. John Kerry gave at Pepperdine Univ earlier this month. But its worth it. He not only puts words to my feelings frustration with the American political/religious "debate" today, but he also gives me hope that among all the sound-bite sniping across party lines that there actually are very smart, very compassionate people who share my values in Congress. Or at least they are good at pretending.
Video (includes some good Q&A after the speech)

Text (only the prepared language)

Creative Fundraising

I've been to and involved with many different fundraisers in my life, ranging from cheesy (literally) to fancy banquets. But this weekend, the family participated one I hadn't run into before: a rubber ducky race. It was great fun! Gold star to the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle!

We bought a duck for each kid, they decorated it at home, then their ducks joined about 1500 others to "race" down the "water feature" at the American Tobacco campus. No prizes for us, but it was fun!

Not Knowing What to Do

There is a homeless man who is often found on corner on our way to church. He stands there mostly unobtrusively, but in a matter such that he also lets you know that he's accepting donations. Sometimes he has a sign, but often not. And he definitely looks the part.

Of course, the kids have noticed him and have asked us many questions. That is a good thing and has brought up a few good conversations. But usually we don't give him anything. Why? Because we are uncompassionate hard-hearted snobs who, although being on our way to church, don't feel a need to. Ok, hopefully not quite that bad (but probably closer to the truth than I want to admit). Its really a combination of several things:

• Skepticism regarding his actual need for a handout (fed by reports of people making a good living thru standing at street corners)
• Unwillingness to provide cash, due to its potential use to buy things other than "necessities"
• Presumption that he really doesn't want to accept non-packaged food or beverage, lest it be tainted

But I think it really comes down to discomfort in knowing that anything we give him will be inadequate, or at least less than we have been called to do for "the least of these".

I admit that I'm a wimp. At least I could find out his name and invite him to come with us to church. Maybe next week.

Not quite unstuck

Lots of things rattling around my little head these days, but I just haven't been sufficiently motivated to get down on paper, err, umm bits, in this case, I guess.

While wandering around one of Durham's cool arts & community festivals yesterday, there was great pleasure of enjoying a beautiful day, some cool art, and just being with those I love (well, ok, the kids were being a bit whiny as they came down from a birthday-party-induced sugar high). But then something hit me in the gut and gave me that sinking feeling that is so yuck.

In the midst of this nice little festival, two grown men were yelling & pointing fingers at each other. I believe it had something to do with the content of the booth they were in front of - the one presented by "911 Truth". I don't know much about these folks, but from a quick look at their signs, it appears that they believe that 9/11 is a conspiracy by our own government. Ugh. Of all the things that I do not like about our current national "leadership" and of all that makes me embarassed and saddened by our collective national behavior, having a shouting match in the middle of a community festival is so much misplaced and misused energy.

No, I haven't heard their case. I would have been mildly interested in hearing it, but the environment they created was obviously not safe for stopping, especially since I had both kids in tow. I'm not sure what these folks were hoping to prove with their exhibit, although I'm sure it has something to do with avoiding the right-wing media conspiracy that's keeping their story from being told.

Just once, can we stop yelling at each other long enough to listen?

Stuck

So I've tried several times to write this post about my gut reaction to all the 9/11 Anniversary stuff, but I haven't been able to put adequate words to it, so I'm officially giving up.

Maybe next year.

Politically Incorrect

In the "from the mouths of babes..." category, one from each of the kids yesterday.

Friend: "Gee, you're skinny"
Madelyn: "No, I'm not skinny! Mommy doesn't like skinny people and she likes me!"

Before you get to thinking bad things about my dear wife, please know that this is likely from comments made about images of unhealthily (or impossibly) skinny women... e.g. Barbie.

Worse yet... my son, taking off his shirt, says "look, I'm an Indian!"

One word: Spirit

Sigh. We try. Really, we do.

Get my posts via email!

So I haven't been very prolific lately. Its that fall time of year, I guess. Anyway, if you would rather get my posts via email rather than have to check the web page, I direct your attention to the bottom part of the right column of the page... just type your email address into the box under "Get my blog via Email!" and then click "Subscribe Me" and Feedblitz will deliver my posts to your inbox.

Ain't technology wonderful?

What are we so busy doing?

Its been a while since I've posted. My apologies to my reader.

So why haven't I posted in a while? I've been busy. Which has gotten me to thinking a bit about what we are all so busy doing. Because everyone is busy, or so it seems. But what bugs me is that it seems there's a bit of counter-evidence available: for example, TV watching is bemoaned as a national habit and the amount of mostly useless information available on the web (including blogs) is soaring. I wonder what the definition of "busy" really is. (By the way, I'd look up the statistics to prove my above points, but well, I don't have time. :-)

So this got me to thinking that maybe, just maybe, we're all so busy because we're being told that we're all so busy all the time and therefore just believe it. It makes us seem more important. But why else would it be useful for us to believe that we're so busy all the time? So we're more likely to be willing to purchase all the time-saving products that manufacturers are creating all the time.

Just think of all of the time- and labor-saving devices and products that are marketed to us. And what are we doing with all that extra time and energy? Rotting our brains out watching reality TV and creating myspace.com pages? We should be ashamed of ourselves. Maybe everyone buying a convenience product should be required to provide some sort of proof that they are doing something socially redeeming with all the time they are saving by using that product.

But, of course, we're too busy for that.