The table was set for 24 in a large square so that each guest could see the others.
My oldest son came from Washington.D.C.
My youngest son and daughter-in-law hosted and led the SEDER.
My granddaughter Emma, just completed a paper which compared a popular American author
with Greek philosophy, came from Bard College in New York.
My grandson Hoben, just helped to stage the 10th Annual Central Regional Audio Student Conference for Webster University, was there along with two friends.
My sons' step family from Baltimore, Maryland was there along with friends from Peru.
My grandchildren's fifth-grade teacher and her significant other, a war veteran who made a plea for greater understanding of the needs of returning war veterans, were there .
Former colleagues from Chicago, and the suburbs of St. Louis were there to participate in telling the story of Passover.
Some people had never attended a SEDER before, some people were of different faiths, and some
were not affiliated with any religion or belief.
All were aware of the tumultuous times we are in, regardless of politics and nationality.
We thought too, of the vast seas of migrants making their ways across the planet to find a better home than where they were.
The Passover ritual was recounted in song and readings, both serious and lively, sparkling with maraacas, drums and guitars.
People may have come to our SEDER as strangers but my hope is that we all left with the understanding that we need not fear each other, but we do need to take the opportunity to get to know each other better.
Thursday, April 28, 2016
Saturday, April 9, 2016
EARTHDAY 2016
Nearly fifty years ago, a small group of people sat around a dining room table in a seaside
community. They were for the most part strangers who shared a single purpose, to understand how wetlands affected their lives.
Among them were men and women, influential and plain, credentialed and self-taught, merchant,
fisherman, sportsman, teacher, engineer, chemist and clergy.
They lived within 30 miles of each other. Even though they held different political views, they
were unskilled in the ways of political organizations. And so this small group became a part of
the national ecological movement.
They developed an outreach plan to recruit other people. They investigated the appropriateness
of regional land use plans. They toured sewerage plants and measured air and water
stream pollution. They spoke at schools, to the press, and testified before local and state
commissions and elected officials, and with Chambers of Commerce.
They worked in an office space contributed to them along with typewriters, ditto
machines and old metal filling cabinets. Other people anxious for information volunteered
to do "something" and formed a telephone squad to contact local and state elected officials.
As public interest grew for this small band of citizens, the group soon learned they
were up against powerful self-interests and so they learned to ask "tough"questions.
In retrospect, today this story seems innocently quixotic compared with
the global concerns we wrestle with today and the scientific and
technological tools we use to monitor information about our planet its atmosphere and the impact we have on it.
But it is worth noting that nearly 50 years ago a small band of citizens did in fact
helped gain passage of New Jersey's Wetlands Act of 1970, one of the first such
laws in the nation at a time few believed it could be done.
SEE YOU AT THE POLLS!
This blog was written before I learned of the death of Ruth Fisher Hamilton of
Cape May County, New Jersey. Ruth was an inspiration for me and all those with whom she had
contact. She worked tirelessly to alert all who knew her of the consequences of our actions toward
each other and to the species with whom we share our environment. I shall miss her and most
importantly so will the causes to which she dedicated her life.
community. They were for the most part strangers who shared a single purpose, to understand how wetlands affected their lives.
Among them were men and women, influential and plain, credentialed and self-taught, merchant,
fisherman, sportsman, teacher, engineer, chemist and clergy.
They lived within 30 miles of each other. Even though they held different political views, they
were unskilled in the ways of political organizations. And so this small group became a part of
the national ecological movement.
They developed an outreach plan to recruit other people. They investigated the appropriateness
of regional land use plans. They toured sewerage plants and measured air and water
stream pollution. They spoke at schools, to the press, and testified before local and state
commissions and elected officials, and with Chambers of Commerce.
They worked in an office space contributed to them along with typewriters, ditto
machines and old metal filling cabinets. Other people anxious for information volunteered
to do "something" and formed a telephone squad to contact local and state elected officials.
As public interest grew for this small band of citizens, the group soon learned they
were up against powerful self-interests and so they learned to ask "tough"questions.
In retrospect, today this story seems innocently quixotic compared with
the global concerns we wrestle with today and the scientific and
technological tools we use to monitor information about our planet its atmosphere and the impact we have on it.
But it is worth noting that nearly 50 years ago a small band of citizens did in fact
helped gain passage of New Jersey's Wetlands Act of 1970, one of the first such
laws in the nation at a time few believed it could be done.
SEE YOU AT THE POLLS!
This blog was written before I learned of the death of Ruth Fisher Hamilton of
Cape May County, New Jersey. Ruth was an inspiration for me and all those with whom she had
contact. She worked tirelessly to alert all who knew her of the consequences of our actions toward
each other and to the species with whom we share our environment. I shall miss her and most
importantly so will the causes to which she dedicated her life.
Sunday, April 3, 2016
"WHY TRUMP CAN'T BREAK THE G.O.P."*
According to Jacob S. Hacker and Paul Pierson who wrote: "Why Trump Can't Break the
G.O.P American voters choose presidents, not kings (or queens)."*
Both writers are professors of political science, Hacker at Yale and Pierson at the University
of California, Berkley, and author of "American Amnesia: How the War on Government Led
Us to Forget What Made America Prosper."
They write of the complex system of interlocking parts in our government that allows
the "Republican Party to thrive even as its presidential candidates do not."
SEE YOU AT THE POLLS!
*New York Times, April 3, 2016
G.O.P American voters choose presidents, not kings (or queens)."*
Both writers are professors of political science, Hacker at Yale and Pierson at the University
of California, Berkley, and author of "American Amnesia: How the War on Government Led
Us to Forget What Made America Prosper."
They write of the complex system of interlocking parts in our government that allows
the "Republican Party to thrive even as its presidential candidates do not."
SEE YOU AT THE POLLS!
*New York Times, April 3, 2016
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
SPRING 2016
Spring is a reluctant lover this year
One time warm and sunny, another
Frightened away by March's lingering harshness
Soon to be overcome
by the gentleness of Nature's call.
One time warm and sunny, another
Frightened away by March's lingering harshness
Soon to be overcome
by the gentleness of Nature's call.
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
PUNCH AND JUDY AND DONALD
A long time ago,. when we were children, our parents took my sister, my brother and me to a very special place. At the time we lived next to a beautiful, sometimes violent Ocean that had piers extending from its shore to its waters.
One such pier was a truly magical place that we entered by a boardwalk. Before we went
inside, we stood outside to watch live Punch and Judy puppets.
Each time when Judy said something that would upset Punch, he yelled at her, and punched
her in the head until she fell down.
We could not hear what he had said but we were sure it was something awful. We would yell
and scream and jump up and down in consort what was happening on the stage. Our screaming
drowned out the sound of the Ocean, just a few feet away.
When we went inside we walked across old boards and could see the Ocean below as the tide
came in with great swells. We were sure each swell would gobble us up.
At the end of the pier there were booths with all kinds of dazzling stuff from stuffed animals, toys and games at which we could "win" some of the stuff .
The smells of pop corn, fudge, and french fried potatoes over-powered the smell of salty sea breezes that drifted our way.
,
When we spotted a lopsided dark structure, called the "Fun House", its loud sound track and
its raucous laughter fascinated us but also made us a little reluctant to proceed. But proceed
we did.
Once inside, there were mirrors that made us look skinny or fat, short or tall and whistles and
scary sounds came from everywhere, the floor, the wall, the ceiling. There were
many doors, each opening into something more scary giving us the feeling we would soon
come upon one that opened and dumped us into the sea below.
At the end of the pier a very tall ladder and platform held the famous, real live Diving Horse and blond-haired rider. We never gave a thought to the harm that could befall the rider or horse because
both had "magical" power that could keep them from harm.
There were costumed hawkers in flashy dress and tall, spangled hats, some with canes and megaphones who invited us to "buy a ticket", come inside and be treated to something
SPECTACULAR!
I thought of all of this, the high pitched organ grinder and monkey with a red and gold
pill box hat, the screams and squeals from children and adults alike, the pushing crowds,
the crying children who were "lost"as I watched Donald Trump and his entourage during
his campaign for "office."
I thought of the color and sounds of people as they watched fetes of "magic"during a balmy
summer night when we knew for sure all these things were "true."
I think now and wonder how can we trade this country's lasting beauty for something or someone as grotesque as Donald Trump's call to "buy" into his brand of "magic."
Are we still looking for a ticket to the fun house or can we step back and distinguish "magical"
thinking from the real work we must do as citizens from the glitter of Donald Trump and the
Punch and Judy show?
One such pier was a truly magical place that we entered by a boardwalk. Before we went
inside, we stood outside to watch live Punch and Judy puppets.
Each time when Judy said something that would upset Punch, he yelled at her, and punched
her in the head until she fell down.
We could not hear what he had said but we were sure it was something awful. We would yell
and scream and jump up and down in consort what was happening on the stage. Our screaming
drowned out the sound of the Ocean, just a few feet away.
When we went inside we walked across old boards and could see the Ocean below as the tide
came in with great swells. We were sure each swell would gobble us up.
At the end of the pier there were booths with all kinds of dazzling stuff from stuffed animals, toys and games at which we could "win" some of the stuff .
The smells of pop corn, fudge, and french fried potatoes over-powered the smell of salty sea breezes that drifted our way.
,
When we spotted a lopsided dark structure, called the "Fun House", its loud sound track and
its raucous laughter fascinated us but also made us a little reluctant to proceed. But proceed
we did.
Once inside, there were mirrors that made us look skinny or fat, short or tall and whistles and
scary sounds came from everywhere, the floor, the wall, the ceiling. There were
many doors, each opening into something more scary giving us the feeling we would soon
come upon one that opened and dumped us into the sea below.
At the end of the pier a very tall ladder and platform held the famous, real live Diving Horse and blond-haired rider. We never gave a thought to the harm that could befall the rider or horse because
both had "magical" power that could keep them from harm.
There were costumed hawkers in flashy dress and tall, spangled hats, some with canes and megaphones who invited us to "buy a ticket", come inside and be treated to something
SPECTACULAR!
I thought of all of this, the high pitched organ grinder and monkey with a red and gold
pill box hat, the screams and squeals from children and adults alike, the pushing crowds,
the crying children who were "lost"as I watched Donald Trump and his entourage during
his campaign for "office."
I thought of the color and sounds of people as they watched fetes of "magic"during a balmy
summer night when we knew for sure all these things were "true."
I think now and wonder how can we trade this country's lasting beauty for something or someone as grotesque as Donald Trump's call to "buy" into his brand of "magic."
Are we still looking for a ticket to the fun house or can we step back and distinguish "magical"
thinking from the real work we must do as citizens from the glitter of Donald Trump and the
Punch and Judy show?
Thursday, March 10, 2016
WELCOME: PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARYCANDIDATES!
Presidential primary candidates for President of the United States of America welcome
to the great state of Missouri!
We welcome each of you. We want you to know we anxiously await what you have to say.
We want to learn where you stand on issues that will affect the quality of our lives.
For too long this lovely State has been seen as out of the main stream of this Country's
laws and politics, sometimes bringing that reputation on ourselves.
We should tell you that we know the differences between blarney, emmes and the high sales
pitch exerted by traveling salespeople. In our history, we have had many traveling salespeople
come here, stay and establishd many of our fine institutions, yet were less than truthful.
Some even tried, unsuccessfully, to convince us that Federal Laws that helped bring about
equitable justice for all of us did not apply beyond state borders.
With the help of a handful of journalists, county and slender, once great
newspapers exposed the discrepancy in systems which became enamoured
of their own importance and now will be covering each of you as well.
As voters, we know the process of representation is not an easy one. We know too that
none of government, with all of its foibles, happens overnight. We are prepared to hear you
out but we urge you to be mindful of our intelligence and life experience.
We are voters living in a great State through which one of he world's greatest rivers
runs sometimes respected by us and other times abused by us.
We are all too familiar with voices that tell us there is no such thing as climate change
even as historical floods and winds have destroyed all we hold dear.
We are a State filled with immigrants, racial, religious and non-believers who know
the benefits that can be accrued from learning and working together.
Above all else, we know that we are living in a time of great change. We may not
fully comprehend what this means to each of us.
But we recognize our responsibility as voters to honor calls for equitable fairness
and justice by using the ballot not by using strong-armed bullies.
So, welcome to Missouri candidates. We will see you at the polls!
to the great state of Missouri!
We welcome each of you. We want you to know we anxiously await what you have to say.
We want to learn where you stand on issues that will affect the quality of our lives.
For too long this lovely State has been seen as out of the main stream of this Country's
laws and politics, sometimes bringing that reputation on ourselves.
We should tell you that we know the differences between blarney, emmes and the high sales
pitch exerted by traveling salespeople. In our history, we have had many traveling salespeople
come here, stay and establishd many of our fine institutions, yet were less than truthful.
Some even tried, unsuccessfully, to convince us that Federal Laws that helped bring about
equitable justice for all of us did not apply beyond state borders.
With the help of a handful of journalists, county and slender, once great
newspapers exposed the discrepancy in systems which became enamoured
of their own importance and now will be covering each of you as well.
As voters, we know the process of representation is not an easy one. We know too that
none of government, with all of its foibles, happens overnight. We are prepared to hear you
out but we urge you to be mindful of our intelligence and life experience.
We are voters living in a great State through which one of he world's greatest rivers
runs sometimes respected by us and other times abused by us.
We are all too familiar with voices that tell us there is no such thing as climate change
even as historical floods and winds have destroyed all we hold dear.
We are a State filled with immigrants, racial, religious and non-believers who know
the benefits that can be accrued from learning and working together.
Above all else, we know that we are living in a time of great change. We may not
fully comprehend what this means to each of us.
But we recognize our responsibility as voters to honor calls for equitable fairness
and justice by using the ballot not by using strong-armed bullies.
So, welcome to Missouri candidates. We will see you at the polls!
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
SO GOES FEBRUARY...MAYBE!
We have been through much this month of February, 2016. Mother Nature
teased us with Spring-like weather until old man winter came roaring back
to remind us he has not yet left.
Even so celebrations like Valentines Day, St. Patrick's Day and the Chinese
New Year seemed to lighten some of the lingering gloomy days.
Perhaps Shakespeare described this month best in "Much Ado About Nothing"
when Don Pedro says,
"Good morrow, Benedick.Why, what's the matter
That you have such a February face
So full of storm and cloudiness?"
We have been entertained, few times enlightened, by our Primary races.
as candidates tried to impress us with fact and fiction to win the nomination
for the Presidential race.
Technology has been used by those who believe they can lead us out of
hard times into the future as our brains become cloudy like Benedick's
face from all the rhetoric.
One way or the other, Baseball Season does begin and we call to our neighbors
and anyone else who will listen,
SEE YOU AT THE POLLS!
teased us with Spring-like weather until old man winter came roaring back
to remind us he has not yet left.
Even so celebrations like Valentines Day, St. Patrick's Day and the Chinese
New Year seemed to lighten some of the lingering gloomy days.
Perhaps Shakespeare described this month best in "Much Ado About Nothing"
when Don Pedro says,
"Good morrow, Benedick.Why, what's the matter
That you have such a February face
So full of storm and cloudiness?"
We have been entertained, few times enlightened, by our Primary races.
as candidates tried to impress us with fact and fiction to win the nomination
for the Presidential race.
Technology has been used by those who believe they can lead us out of
hard times into the future as our brains become cloudy like Benedick's
face from all the rhetoric.
One way or the other, Baseball Season does begin and we call to our neighbors
and anyone else who will listen,
SEE YOU AT THE POLLS!
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