Tuesday, April 28, 2015
DESPITE CONTROVERSY AND DISASTER SPRING ARRIVES!
These last days of April brought controversy to another city here in America. We seem to have a difficult time understanding that injustice is like a nasty contagious disease that affects all of us.
In spite of national turmoil and natural disaster, Mother Nature blessed us with a glorious day today. The kind of day that we look for excuses to be outside. Even though parts of the country are dealing with drought, while other parts are concerned with flooding, St. Louis enjoyed a cloudless day.
Date and weather conditions are registered by weather people, I prefer to keep track of Spring's arrival by the buds that are suddenly in bloom and the noisy sound of birds.
Today, both showed their presence and were welcomed.
Monday, April 27, 2015
TOP TEN: WHY ARE THE POLICE SO ANGRY?
TOP TEN REASONS WHY POLICE ARE ANGRY IN AMERICA.
1) Congress gives community police departments surplus war equipment
and then tells them, "No rough stuff!"
2) States and communities do not provide programs to train police what
to do when there are protests.
3) The Federal Government makes and has laws to register guns and provide
oversight for the gun and ammunition industry. State governors and legislators
tell local police they will be arrested if they implant Federal Law.
4) The Chamber of Commerce and tourist industry urge open carry laws to attract
gun toting conventions and visitors. A visitor gets drunk and creates a threatening
commotion. We call the police.
5) We vote for representatives and officials who buy war surplus guns and
ammunition to help police maintain the peace and then find it adds to chaos.
6) We claim qualified people do not apply for police jobs. We do little to
attract young men and women who want to serve their communities as police
officers.
7) We engage in busy work designing and redesigning guns and equipment for
safety as men, women and children are shot each day on our city streets. The police are faulted.
8) We allow and invite vigilantes with concealed guns and shotguns to protect our
families rather than regulate the weapons industry.
9) We cringe from anything that smacks of gun registration as police are shot
by unknown assailants.
10) And finally, a policeman is held for murder and we run out to buy still more
guns, legal or not to protect ourselves.
Maybe these are some of the reasons police officers are angry and take out
their hostility on the people they are sworn to protect.
1) Congress gives community police departments surplus war equipment
and then tells them, "No rough stuff!"
2) States and communities do not provide programs to train police what
to do when there are protests.
3) The Federal Government makes and has laws to register guns and provide
oversight for the gun and ammunition industry. State governors and legislators
tell local police they will be arrested if they implant Federal Law.
4) The Chamber of Commerce and tourist industry urge open carry laws to attract
gun toting conventions and visitors. A visitor gets drunk and creates a threatening
commotion. We call the police.
5) We vote for representatives and officials who buy war surplus guns and
ammunition to help police maintain the peace and then find it adds to chaos.
6) We claim qualified people do not apply for police jobs. We do little to
attract young men and women who want to serve their communities as police
officers.
7) We engage in busy work designing and redesigning guns and equipment for
safety as men, women and children are shot each day on our city streets. The police are faulted.
8) We allow and invite vigilantes with concealed guns and shotguns to protect our
families rather than regulate the weapons industry.
9) We cringe from anything that smacks of gun registration as police are shot
by unknown assailants.
10) And finally, a policeman is held for murder and we run out to buy still more
guns, legal or not to protect ourselves.
Maybe these are some of the reasons police officers are angry and take out
their hostility on the people they are sworn to protect.
Sunday, April 5, 2015
NOW IT'S OUR TURN! VOTE ON TUESDAY!
We may have spent this weekend in celebration and contemplation of religious holidays or we may have simply communed with nature or been lucky enough to gaze upon a full moon in all its glory.
One thing for sure, not many of us are necessarily in the mood for the serious business of dealing with non glamorous, local elections. No star candidate. No punditry or polls of state or national interest just the hard work of making sure candidates and issues like bonds and propositions are offered in keeping with our democratic process.
Small local elections are the bedrock of our society. Who we elect to school boards, who we elect to judicial offices and who we elect as sheriff is important to each of us and to the community in which we live.
Some may say voting is an exercise in futility. Others may ask, why bother? And still others may believe the very process of voting in wards and districts is weighted in favor of one party or the other, and they may be right.
What to do then? Your vote in this election is the first step in righting unfair decisions.
If you haven't tossed the Voters Guide written by The St. Louis League of Women in the recycle bin, sit down and read it. If it is nowhere to be found go to your local library and read it or go on line to STLtoday.com/votersguide. The Guide, prepared by 40 members of the League, is non-partisan and published by The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, it lists your area, your candidate and the Proposition or Bond Question now before voters.
Candidates are asked to respond to the same two questions. The Candidate's answer is listed, along with "no" response when appropriate and Questions are explained briefly. When you see a "no response" answer, ask yourself why?
Weather you live in Ferguson, University City, or Franklin County, the only protection we have in a democratic system is to make sure the process of law is protected, not by guns or false rhetoric but by the power of our vote as citizens.
Use it on Tuesday!
One thing for sure, not many of us are necessarily in the mood for the serious business of dealing with non glamorous, local elections. No star candidate. No punditry or polls of state or national interest just the hard work of making sure candidates and issues like bonds and propositions are offered in keeping with our democratic process.
Small local elections are the bedrock of our society. Who we elect to school boards, who we elect to judicial offices and who we elect as sheriff is important to each of us and to the community in which we live.
Some may say voting is an exercise in futility. Others may ask, why bother? And still others may believe the very process of voting in wards and districts is weighted in favor of one party or the other, and they may be right.
What to do then? Your vote in this election is the first step in righting unfair decisions.
If you haven't tossed the Voters Guide written by The St. Louis League of Women in the recycle bin, sit down and read it. If it is nowhere to be found go to your local library and read it or go on line to STLtoday.com/votersguide. The Guide, prepared by 40 members of the League, is non-partisan and published by The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, it lists your area, your candidate and the Proposition or Bond Question now before voters.
Candidates are asked to respond to the same two questions. The Candidate's answer is listed, along with "no" response when appropriate and Questions are explained briefly. When you see a "no response" answer, ask yourself why?
Weather you live in Ferguson, University City, or Franklin County, the only protection we have in a democratic system is to make sure the process of law is protected, not by guns or false rhetoric but by the power of our vote as citizens.
Use it on Tuesday!
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
A WALKER'S INFORMAL TOUR OF SUNDIALS IN ST. LOUIS
Sundials have always fascinated me. One of the people I walk with is something of a sundial historian.
He has developed a unique map for a Sundial Trail here in St. Louis. A member of the North American Sundial Society, he offered to provide an informal tour of some of the locations listed on his map.
We visited six different sites. Each sundial was quite beautiful and unique. Most were located in St. Louis' Forest Park and in gardens dedicated to historical figures or events like the Korean War Memorial.
The Missouri Botanical Garden has an unusual sundial modeled after one located in the Topkapi
Palace in Istanbul Turkey, The St. Louis sculptor Abraham Mohler made the marble pedestal and engravings which display American, Italian, Babylonian and Islamic prayer times.
One of our stops was at the Long Elementary School in the suburb of Crestwood where we found a large sundial made to be on the ground, lined with flower boxes filled and maintained by students.
The Sundial Trail Map locates other interesting sites like the Cahokia Mounds Historical Center, Jefferson Barracks and the St. Louis Arsenal. Each is properly displayed and described on a readable road map.
When you want something to do on a lovely Spring Day try walking outside and hunting for sundials. More information at dls-website.com
He has developed a unique map for a Sundial Trail here in St. Louis. A member of the North American Sundial Society, he offered to provide an informal tour of some of the locations listed on his map.
We visited six different sites. Each sundial was quite beautiful and unique. Most were located in St. Louis' Forest Park and in gardens dedicated to historical figures or events like the Korean War Memorial.
The Missouri Botanical Garden has an unusual sundial modeled after one located in the Topkapi
Palace in Istanbul Turkey, The St. Louis sculptor Abraham Mohler made the marble pedestal and engravings which display American, Italian, Babylonian and Islamic prayer times.
One of our stops was at the Long Elementary School in the suburb of Crestwood where we found a large sundial made to be on the ground, lined with flower boxes filled and maintained by students.
The Sundial Trail Map locates other interesting sites like the Cahokia Mounds Historical Center, Jefferson Barracks and the St. Louis Arsenal. Each is properly displayed and described on a readable road map.
When you want something to do on a lovely Spring Day try walking outside and hunting for sundials. More information at dls-website.com
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