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.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
ANGELA DAVIS: ACTIVIST STILL!
Angela Davis activist for human rights since the 70s, author of 8 books, Professor Emeritus of History of Consciousness at University of California at Santa Cruz spoke to hundreds of people, some seated, some standing inside and outside of the St. Louis Christ Church Cathedral. She was here at the invitation of the Central Library in observance of Black History month.
She is still the woman I remembered. Tall, striking and still able to bring a cheering crowd to its feet. Students, people of different colors and life styles,
people young and old were stirred by her words.
She spoke of her own imprisonment for a crime she did not commit; of the need to divert funding for prisons to community-wide education and asked that the Occupy Movement work toward the goal of making all levels of education available to all people; urged that capital punishment be outlawed; and cited human and economic figures showing capital benefits and costs for each.
After she spoke, a friend asked if I thought she had changed since the 70s? No, I replied, but I have!
She is still the woman I remembered. Tall, striking and still able to bring a cheering crowd to its feet. Students, people of different colors and life styles,
people young and old were stirred by her words.
She spoke of her own imprisonment for a crime she did not commit; of the need to divert funding for prisons to community-wide education and asked that the Occupy Movement work toward the goal of making all levels of education available to all people; urged that capital punishment be outlawed; and cited human and economic figures showing capital benefits and costs for each.
After she spoke, a friend asked if I thought she had changed since the 70s? No, I replied, but I have!
Saturday, February 25, 2012
THREE STRIKES: YOU ARE OUT!
I have always questioned "three strikes and you are out" law because it often usurps judicial deliberation. On the other hand, I wish such a law was available to me on a recent Delta Airline flight.
All passengers were seated and the luggage stowed when the Captain announced we would be delayed. We were waiting for passengers who missed their connection from Belize to Atlanta. Fair enough. Ten minutes later, the family of seven, with five children all slipped into two rows directly in front of me when I learned they had been in Fort Lauderdale not Belize.
Our take off was delayed three more times. Each time, the Captain announced over the inaudible humming intercom that we were having "mechanical problems." We did not know what the problems were. Still, we took off and arrived an hour late in St.Louis but not before the ramp to the airport had trouble hooking up to the fuselage. Finally, we got off the plane.
We had made it safe and sound but I wish I had asked the Captain if Delta had ever heard about "three strikes and you are out!"
All passengers were seated and the luggage stowed when the Captain announced we would be delayed. We were waiting for passengers who missed their connection from Belize to Atlanta. Fair enough. Ten minutes later, the family of seven, with five children all slipped into two rows directly in front of me when I learned they had been in Fort Lauderdale not Belize.
Our take off was delayed three more times. Each time, the Captain announced over the inaudible humming intercom that we were having "mechanical problems." We did not know what the problems were. Still, we took off and arrived an hour late in St.Louis but not before the ramp to the airport had trouble hooking up to the fuselage. Finally, we got off the plane.
We had made it safe and sound but I wish I had asked the Captain if Delta had ever heard about "three strikes and you are out!"
Thursday, February 9, 2012
"A SEA OF RED"?
Recently, one of the candidates running for office described the middle part of the Country as a "Sea of Red."
When I first began to paint, I learned about the use of color. I learned there was no such thing as a "pure" color. Tints of blue, yellow, green, purple, black and even white can be found in any color including red. Since moving to Missouri, I have been exposed to the many colors and broad range of thinking of my fellow citizens. Misleading pundits and political gurus often place people who live in the Midwest, East, West, and South for that matter in a one-color landscape.
Folks, there is no such thing as a "pure" color, unless we believe that the colors of nature are "pure" and without different shades. The next time you hear of a "Sea" of any color, open your eyes and ears, take a walk outside, look at the nearest bush, squint your eyes and you may find what you are looking at is made up of many colors just as are the needs of people.
When I first began to paint, I learned about the use of color. I learned there was no such thing as a "pure" color. Tints of blue, yellow, green, purple, black and even white can be found in any color including red. Since moving to Missouri, I have been exposed to the many colors and broad range of thinking of my fellow citizens. Misleading pundits and political gurus often place people who live in the Midwest, East, West, and South for that matter in a one-color landscape.
Folks, there is no such thing as a "pure" color, unless we believe that the colors of nature are "pure" and without different shades. The next time you hear of a "Sea" of any color, open your eyes and ears, take a walk outside, look at the nearest bush, squint your eyes and you may find what you are looking at is made up of many colors just as are the needs of people.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
WEAKENING LINKS TO EACH OTHER?
I had the benefit of growing up close to loving grandparents. All four of them shared the same faith. Yet,the differences between them was striking. One set of grandparents accepted the doctrine and customs of their faith without question. The other set believed questioning led to greater understanding. Sometimes, this difference created a schism between them and their links to other family members.
I thought of my grandparents when I heard the news of the divide between two major organizations dedicated to serving the health of women.
Denying funding to Planned Parenthood for questionable reasons is a set back for the health of women, men and families. It also weakens America's policy for Women's Rights and our links to each other as women.
I thought of my grandparents when I heard the news of the divide between two major organizations dedicated to serving the health of women.
Denying funding to Planned Parenthood for questionable reasons is a set back for the health of women, men and families. It also weakens America's policy for Women's Rights and our links to each other as women.
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)
