Like a lot of people, I constantly complain about the lack of accuracy of weather predictors, better known as weather men and women.
As agreeable a weatherman as Al Roker is, he is no exception. No doubt about it, Roker withstands whatever storm, flood, or disaster Mother Nature hurls at him, but I have never kept score on the accuracy of his weather predictions. Yet he scored big with me when he was able to get Vice President Biden to break order in the Inaugural Parade and shake hands with him.
This very small gesture by the Vice President and Roker's delight in "scoring big" delighted me and spoke volumes about the good humor and egalitarianism so reflective of our country as we celebrated the swearing in of our second term president.
The incident also secured Rocker's place to provide us with a reason to smile even in lousy weather.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Thursday, January 10, 2013
PLAYING POLITICS WITH GUN CONTROL?
I support common sense gun control. Here is why!
I am encouraged by the state-wide and national discussion about guns.
For too long we have regarded questions about what kind of guns should be permitted in our communities, much like the quiet whispering we once did about feared diseases.
My sense is that people are scaling the walls of ignorance. It is no longer enough to speak of the reason for everyday killings on our streets as a matter of culture or mental health or violent movies or poverty, or personal defense. People know different.
We know there has to be legal and enforceable action taken to curb the business of guns.
In St. Louis one widely read columnist feels people should not get all worked up. His "take" on the situation is, "guns are everywhere and owned by everyone, so get used to the reality." A host of letters from readers responded by calling for support of gun control.
In an organization of which I am a member, a draft for support of common sense gun control was combined with the great need for mental health funding.. Though the need for support of mental health is a real one, in this case it appears it was thrown into the draft to placate those who tell us "to stop a bad guy with a gun, it takes a good guy with a gun."
The open discussion about guns is long overdue. We cannot be safe nor feel safe for as long as the manufacturing and selling of guns intended for war are easily purchased on our streets, in stores, or at county fairs.
It is time for our elected officials to understand who we are. We are farmers, sportsmen, parents, grandparents, gun owners and those who would not keep a gun.
We shall no longer be bullied or listen to quick solution suggestions for protecting our children, ourselves or our communities. We want our local police department not a Vigilante committee to protect us.
It is time to enforce common sense gun legislation, regulation and oversight for one of America's largest business markets and for all of us to stop playing politics or speaking in "code."
We need to become serious about gun control.
I am encouraged by the state-wide and national discussion about guns.
For too long we have regarded questions about what kind of guns should be permitted in our communities, much like the quiet whispering we once did about feared diseases.
My sense is that people are scaling the walls of ignorance. It is no longer enough to speak of the reason for everyday killings on our streets as a matter of culture or mental health or violent movies or poverty, or personal defense. People know different.
We know there has to be legal and enforceable action taken to curb the business of guns.
In St. Louis one widely read columnist feels people should not get all worked up. His "take" on the situation is, "guns are everywhere and owned by everyone, so get used to the reality." A host of letters from readers responded by calling for support of gun control.
In an organization of which I am a member, a draft for support of common sense gun control was combined with the great need for mental health funding.. Though the need for support of mental health is a real one, in this case it appears it was thrown into the draft to placate those who tell us "to stop a bad guy with a gun, it takes a good guy with a gun."
The open discussion about guns is long overdue. We cannot be safe nor feel safe for as long as the manufacturing and selling of guns intended for war are easily purchased on our streets, in stores, or at county fairs.
It is time for our elected officials to understand who we are. We are farmers, sportsmen, parents, grandparents, gun owners and those who would not keep a gun.
We shall no longer be bullied or listen to quick solution suggestions for protecting our children, ourselves or our communities. We want our local police department not a Vigilante committee to protect us.
It is time to enforce common sense gun legislation, regulation and oversight for one of America's largest business markets and for all of us to stop playing politics or speaking in "code."
We need to become serious about gun control.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
NEW YEAR GREETING!
When I was packing to move into my new apartment, I came across a New Year Greeting written in 1962. It was one I had written for the United World Federalists Regional Council. I send it now as I believe it applies as much to 2013 as it did more than 40 years ago.
Peace, so serene to say
So hard to achieve.
Our hope,
That it comes not as a whisper
But with all the earnest drive
Of men and women hard at work
To construct something better.
A good year for you, valued reader and yours.
Peace, so serene to say
So hard to achieve.
Our hope,
That it comes not as a whisper
But with all the earnest drive
Of men and women hard at work
To construct something better.
A good year for you, valued reader and yours.
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