The crocuses, daffodils and forsythia all showed their heads a few weeks ago. Our city is awash in color. Here the parks are alive with activity and people. We take our conversations and food outside. It's Spring! But wait!
Mother Nature reminds us we are still in March and she has stored plenty of wind, fog and rain. Whenever She makes an exhilarating dip to spread frost we prepare to cover buds, flowers and trees. We wait to put winter cloths away. We hope she gets over surprising us.
We try to reason with her. No more trading winter for summer and summer for fall. No more tossing things about. Let the seasons be as you arranged them so we may admire your beautiful handiwork.
With it all, we know that she will have the last word, uttered in a very loud voice.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Saturday, March 24, 2012
SILENT ABOUT WHAT WE KNOW?
Trayvon Martin, 17 years old was shot and killed on February 26 in one of Florida's many gated communities. We know that federal, state and local agencies are investigating the case. We know that like Florida more than 20 states have little or inadequate gun control legislation, including the "Show Me State" of Missouri.
We know gun Laws like "Carry," concealed or otherwise, and "Castle " Laws, as in "my home is my castle" are expanded through national campaigns by the National Rifle Association supported by our elected officials and us. We know that our presidents, elected representatives, children, and innocent people have been shot and killed by guns, legally and illegally purchased.
We know that parents and grandparents in all communities, gated or with special security patrols, speak of their realistic fear for the safety of their children and grandchildren when walking "outside." We know that the meaning of the "right to carry arms" is debated by lawyers, Constitutional Scholars, and voters. We know that laws giving each of us the ability to kill each other outside of our judicial process do not strong communities or a nation make,leading to anarchy.
Yet, as voters we remain silent bemoaning our legislators' inability to fight the power of misguided citizens and the organized gun industry. We know these laws, passed by the men and women who are and who would be elected by us, make our future bleak and cheapen our quality of life, yet we remain silent.
We know gun Laws like "Carry," concealed or otherwise, and "Castle " Laws, as in "my home is my castle" are expanded through national campaigns by the National Rifle Association supported by our elected officials and us. We know that our presidents, elected representatives, children, and innocent people have been shot and killed by guns, legally and illegally purchased.
We know that parents and grandparents in all communities, gated or with special security patrols, speak of their realistic fear for the safety of their children and grandchildren when walking "outside." We know that the meaning of the "right to carry arms" is debated by lawyers, Constitutional Scholars, and voters. We know that laws giving each of us the ability to kill each other outside of our judicial process do not strong communities or a nation make,leading to anarchy.
Yet, as voters we remain silent bemoaning our legislators' inability to fight the power of misguided citizens and the organized gun industry. We know these laws, passed by the men and women who are and who would be elected by us, make our future bleak and cheapen our quality of life, yet we remain silent.
Monday, March 12, 2012
SARBANES-OXLEY LAW TO BE GUTTED?
According to the March 11 New York Times editorial,there is bipartisan support for "gutting" the Sarbanes-Oxley Law. The name of the law may not dance trippingly off your tongue but it is or should be known to directors of present and past profit and nonprofit making organizations.
It came into being after the havoc caused by ENRON, the Texas company that functioned with little or no regulatory oversight in the 90s. Enron grew like a giant octopus with tentacles that surrounded and destroyed much more than investor portfolios. It destroyed lives, communities and institutions around the country.
In the field of energy it trampled environmental concern, disregarded responsibility for human welfare, and was lead by a calloused management some of whose actions were found to be criminal. We are going backwards if we pass a politically expedient, watered-down version of the law whether nonpartisan or not.
It came into being after the havoc caused by ENRON, the Texas company that functioned with little or no regulatory oversight in the 90s. Enron grew like a giant octopus with tentacles that surrounded and destroyed much more than investor portfolios. It destroyed lives, communities and institutions around the country.
In the field of energy it trampled environmental concern, disregarded responsibility for human welfare, and was lead by a calloused management some of whose actions were found to be criminal. We are going backwards if we pass a politically expedient, watered-down version of the law whether nonpartisan or not.
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