Category Archives: spirituality

The bombing

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Bear with me, I’m still trying to move stuff, so I’m trying to keep up with the news of the Boston bombing, and may have missed something…

What strikes me about the story is that everyone around these two brothers describe them as “normal”.  That is, they didn’t talk of guns and violence, and no indication of their wanting to harm the public by setting off bombs.  Of course, you would expect that from the parents, but others are saying it, as well.  And the uncle?  He was livid at what they had done and demanded they turn themselves in (before they were caught).

The one detail that is pretty much downplayed here is that Tamerlan had a police record for hitting his girlfriend.  Domestic violence will not be given the importance that it deserves, as far as character and indicator of disregard for boundaries.  This, I believe, is a bigger reason for what happened…somehow Tamerlan got the idea that hurting someone weaker than you is okay–perhaps he saw it in the home.  I would go out on a limb here and say that if the reporters would dig, they would find a link to domestic violence in situations such as this.  I think religion is just an excuse for justifying the behavior.  Islam also has the “do unto others as you would have done unto you…” in the q’uran, so this goes against their religion.

Something else that bothers me is the recent statement by George W. Bush, who announced that he wasn’t sorry for anything that he has done.  Has anyone explored that as incitement to the Boston bombing?

And does anyone else see the irony of the definition of sociopath being applicable to both boys and Bush?

 

Mea Culpa

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In my post here, I made a sarcastic comment on Mitch Daniels’ inability to comprehend a more complicated school “grading” system.

Thinking about that comment, I have to apologize for it.  That is not in keeping with  “Do Unto Others…”  I would not want someone to attack me personally, even if they didn’t agree with my politics.  This is the “old” me and I don’t wish to return to that.

Mea Culpa.

Walk in No Shoes

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Just heard of this— a little late to the party.   I trust that the funds raised are going towards the effort to help them directly.  I’m always a little leery of organizations because of too many times where money has been going towards the salaries of those involved instead of the majority of it going towards the cause.  But I know of Ed Begley, Jr.’s commitment towards the causes he’s involved in, so I trust the funds will go towards the Sudan.

Some background here on Sudan. Even farther background here (1989)

Landmines hampering relief efforts.

Here’s a more up to date story with Turkey trying to help.

Trying to bring attention to the emergency, George Clooney, et al, protests in front of the Sudanese embassy in D.C., and is rewarded by being arrested.  What happened to free speech, again?

More here on the Satellite Sentinel Project.

More here--warning–there are pretty graphic photos of just how bad the conditions are. Also–Nicholas Kristof’s blog at NY Times–a piece written by Michael Abramowitz (be warned–more graphic photos).

And, if you’re like most Americans (myself included), you’re not geographically literate, so here’s a map of where Sudan is.

 

To clarify

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I was re-reading my post yesterday, and I thought perhaps I should clarify what I meant by the forum on Vatican II–it was just a small group of women from my local church that had been asked to participate in a discussion on Vatican II.  I was afraid after re-reading the post that it came across as a major thing, but it wasn’t.

And I left the church after my divorce–was shunned, basically, for getting a divorce (didn’t matter why I had gotten divorced, just that I had left a person from a family of Importance and political connections…..)

So, yeah, not likely I’ll go back there….

Pope washes feet

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Pope Francis washes the feet of inmates of a juvenile detention facility.

When I heard this story over the weekend, I was moved by it.  Of course, it is a symbolic gesture that requires change within the church…

Some have said that there is new hope with the folks who believed Vatican II was the beginning of reform in the church….but were sadly disappointed.

When younger, I was asked to participate in a woman’s forum on Vatican II.  There was just a handful of we women.  When the discussion turned to birth control, I stated that I thought the church should embrace the modern methods of birth control.  (It’s pretty much already in practice by most Catholic women that I knew, so it was merely a blessing by the church.)

Well….that was quickly shot down by the nun that was present.

I wasn’t asked back for my thoughts on women in the priesthood. Ha.  Nor was I asked about my thoughts on women as equals who had more of a purpose in life than just baby machines.  Not trying to devalue that, mind you, as I value that aspect of being a woman–being a mother is the best thing that happened to me, but it was not the only part of me to offer to the world. The church’s stance against feminism speaks to the mindset.  Not that feminists have all the answers, but they offer a different point of view than the traditional that expands one’s thoughts beyond the male mindset of the church.

We get back to the balance needed in the world today–valuing masculine over feminine, valuing culture over nature…when a balance is needed between the two.

It’s good than Pope Francis has taken this step and has asked for Peace.  It is also good that he values the environment–as nature is seen as feminine (Native Americans) and by that standard, our trashing of the environment speaks volumes on our views of the feminine.

Here’s to hope.

Pope Francis

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When I heard that the new pope had a degree in Philosophy, my first thought was he has the equivalent of a Liberal Arts degree! He is humble and lives his life that way….

But after reading this….well, the bit of hope that a new light was coming over the horizon was short-lived…

The article states that the church was publicly endorsing the dictatorship while Bergoglio was helping the victims behind the scenes.  It says he never mentioned this before because of humility.

Well, I think there is a difference between humility and cowardice.  Being a leader requires one to speak out to one’s heart…and if Bergoglio was against the dictatorship, he should have said so.  People were being murdered.

I’m thinking about the Underground Railroad…and how folks there had to go about things in a secret manner, but they weren’t leaders of a church…so I’m having difficulty understanding the thinking that one should support such a government in public?

And the “War on God” thing?  Yeah, that sounds extreme…small glimmer of hope fading fast…

In harmony with nature

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Bhutan is the first country to go entirely organic.  Good for them!  Note that they see this as not only a practical idea, but they incorporate their spirituality in their reverence for nature.  It’s not easy, as the article states, because it’s hard to reorient oneself to farming without chemicals.  Chemicals are just too, too easy.  It takes creative thinking and hard work to do the right thing.

<sigh> I wish the so-called progressive America did the same.  (Remember when the United States used to lead the world?)

No, we’re not the leaders anymore….

…we’d much rather do stupid stuff like genetically engineer a life form and then persecute farmers into bankruptcy for using that technology unknowingly.

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In other environmental news, Canadian Prime Minister Harper is being urged to walk away from yet another trade agreement.

From the article:

The Australian government decided in 2011 it would stop including these rights and investor-state dispute settlement in its trade and investment agreements. Many countries, including South Africa and India, are rethinking their investment treaties because of the way corporations and law firms have abused them to undermine democracy and public policies globally. Several Latin American countries are cancelling their investment treaties for the same reason.

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Again, I ask, “remember when the U.S. used to lead the world….?”  Why are other countries doing the right thing while America lists like a battered ship in the sea?

Making free speech illegal

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…is what the Indiana Senate is trying to do with trying to make it illegal for animal rights activists to publish photos of animal abuse.

Story here.

People have a right to know if  farms are abusing animals.  And journalists have every right to publish that information without going through the police.  This is outrageous.

You will note that Rose Acre Farms complained about the bad publicity they received after video of their operations was made public.  Story here of the abuse. Well, of course they don’t like activists who photograph the abuse–it’s not the abuse that bothers them–it’s the bad publicity!  And if they can keep the photos from reaching the public, who refuse to buy their eggs, well then…

Once again, folks, know where your food comes from–I buy Amish chicken that is raised cage free, without hormones or antibiotics. Same with the eggs, which are locally produced.  And humbly thank the chickens for their sacrifice.

The Pope

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As you may have heard, the Pope is resigning his position.  An abuse survivors group has spoken out about it.  Perhaps they’ll get someone who will propose women for the priesthood and someone who won’t turn their back on child molesters masquerading as priests?? And hopefully someone who wasn’t part of the Hitler Youth?  One can only hope…