Pledge SUUSI
SUUSI is approaching; it is coming at the end of July. I am a veteran of 11 SUUSIs so I was thinking this would be just another SUUSI. The Pledge of Allegiance ruling changed all that. The 9th Appellate Court ruled that the Pledge of Allegiance could not be recited in public schools because it contained the words "under God". Right away, the entire government of this country condemned the rating. This includes many other judges, the entire Senate, and all but three members of the House, and the President. So I find it comforting when I hear that the President of the Unitarian Universalist Association welcomes the ruling, and members of my congregation support it. I am glad to hear of people wanting to keep church and state separate.
This could not come at a better time for SUUSI. A group called Relative Viewpoint will be performing at SUUSI. To me they are the musicians who play "I Pledge Allegiance", where they pledge allegiance to the world we live in and to peace. I would like to hear the Pledge without "under God". Maybe I will at SUUSI. But for sure, I believe that I am going to hear Relative Viewpoint's Pledge, probably several times, and it may become a de facto theme for SUUSI. This pledge is especially inspiring when it is played to music. Pledge SUUSI. And now I am getting psyched up about going to this annual summer wonderland where anything can happen, and has, and will.
A Journey through Blogrealm
Blogtrek
Blogtrek
2002/06/28
2002/06/26
Wow! What a day! A lot happened.
Pledge of Allegiance
Today the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional because it contains the words "under God", thus making it an establishment of state religion.
To me, this is good news. I remember when the words came into the pledge first from a scholastic magazine that I read when I was in 4th grade. Congress passed it in 1954, and this was followed by bombastic words from President Eisenhower. I did not think much of it then, but during the years since I wondered whether those words were a violation of separation of church and state. I felt they were. I do not believe in a Christian God, and when the words "under God" are put into the pledge, to most people that means the Christian God, even if people intend it to mean whatever the person saying it chooses it to mean. So I feel that the court decision was appropriate. Further, I feel that people leading the pledge in government or public places should not say "under God", but I also feel that people reciting it can say what they want, or even say nothing.
But having "under God" stricken out by a court is good news. Now maybe they'll include in the pledge a word that got deleted long ago: "one nation, indivisible, with equality, liberty, and justice for all".
The Economy
So Worldcom cooked the books. The stock market took a hit but recovered nicely. I have watched as the averages, such as the Dow, hold steady, then start a steep decline. The market does not go up and keep it up when good news comes, but it goes down when bad news comes. The investor does not have trust in the market right now, and the bookcookers of Enron and Worldcom don't help things much.
The economic signs seem good, however. Interest rates are low and are likely to stay that way. Unemployment is going down. Bonds are holding their own or going up slightly. People are spending more, and gasoline prices are still low. So what seems evident is that a negative bubble is forming. This is like a positive bubble, such as the one hitting the Nasdaq in late 1999 and early 2000, but one forming in a downward direction. The Nasdaq soared, then it collapsed in March of 2000, once people realized that all this gain was illusory. The same holds now, but in the other direction. Much of the loss of the stock market is unwarranted. Once the economy gets going again, and many say it will, then people will find stocks cheap and buy in droves. This will break the bubble and cause the averages to soar. They will eventually correspond to the long-term growth, which is about 5-8% or so for the next few years, at least.
Construction
Today they took out a large part of our kitchen floor. It was damaged by water when a valve under the kitchen sink broke. In two weeks they will install new flooring, but in the meantime we walk on plywood floors and may have to keep our cats in a room upstairs. The end result will be worth waiting for - a new kitchen floor. So it is with much construction in life. If something gets torn down, then when it gets rebuilt it is better than ever. Sometimes we need to tear things down to get out of the rut we are in.
Pledge of Allegiance
Today the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional because it contains the words "under God", thus making it an establishment of state religion.
To me, this is good news. I remember when the words came into the pledge first from a scholastic magazine that I read when I was in 4th grade. Congress passed it in 1954, and this was followed by bombastic words from President Eisenhower. I did not think much of it then, but during the years since I wondered whether those words were a violation of separation of church and state. I felt they were. I do not believe in a Christian God, and when the words "under God" are put into the pledge, to most people that means the Christian God, even if people intend it to mean whatever the person saying it chooses it to mean. So I feel that the court decision was appropriate. Further, I feel that people leading the pledge in government or public places should not say "under God", but I also feel that people reciting it can say what they want, or even say nothing.
But having "under God" stricken out by a court is good news. Now maybe they'll include in the pledge a word that got deleted long ago: "one nation, indivisible, with equality, liberty, and justice for all".
The Economy
So Worldcom cooked the books. The stock market took a hit but recovered nicely. I have watched as the averages, such as the Dow, hold steady, then start a steep decline. The market does not go up and keep it up when good news comes, but it goes down when bad news comes. The investor does not have trust in the market right now, and the bookcookers of Enron and Worldcom don't help things much.
The economic signs seem good, however. Interest rates are low and are likely to stay that way. Unemployment is going down. Bonds are holding their own or going up slightly. People are spending more, and gasoline prices are still low. So what seems evident is that a negative bubble is forming. This is like a positive bubble, such as the one hitting the Nasdaq in late 1999 and early 2000, but one forming in a downward direction. The Nasdaq soared, then it collapsed in March of 2000, once people realized that all this gain was illusory. The same holds now, but in the other direction. Much of the loss of the stock market is unwarranted. Once the economy gets going again, and many say it will, then people will find stocks cheap and buy in droves. This will break the bubble and cause the averages to soar. They will eventually correspond to the long-term growth, which is about 5-8% or so for the next few years, at least.
Construction
Today they took out a large part of our kitchen floor. It was damaged by water when a valve under the kitchen sink broke. In two weeks they will install new flooring, but in the meantime we walk on plywood floors and may have to keep our cats in a room upstairs. The end result will be worth waiting for - a new kitchen floor. So it is with much construction in life. If something gets torn down, then when it gets rebuilt it is better than ever. Sometimes we need to tear things down to get out of the rut we are in.
2002/06/24
Worst events in American history
Yesterday I read an editorial by Kathleen Parker in which she says that the worst event in our history ought to have a better name than 9/11. I came up with a name and sent it into her. However, I don't agree with her statement that 9/11 was the worst moment (meaning day) in American history. Except for the war on terror and a recession, things are pretty much the same as in premillennium days. But not so with some of the other events in our history. Here is my ranking:
10. Assassination of John F. Kennedy, 1963. This one event ended "Camelot" and signaled a change of mood in this country (see http://www.fourthturning.com - it was the beginning of a Second Turning).
9. Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, 1865. Undoubtedly the worst event in our history was the Civil War, which took four years. It was Lincoln who brought the North to victory in this war, so it was a sudden jolt when the bullet came flying into his brain scarcely a week after the war ended. The result was endless bickering between a Republican Congress and President Andrew Johnson.
8. Defeat of South Vietnam, 1975. The think tank people thought they could win this one. But the most we could muster is a stalemate, and we questioned our need to be in Vietnam. When we pulled out, the enemy gathered forces and overran South Vietnam in two years.
7. Black Monday, 1929. There have been many stock market crashes, in 1873, 1987, 2000 and other years. But the one in 1929 heralded a long period in which nothing seemed to go right with the US economy as bread lines built, labor unrest increased, and rich people suddenly found themselves begging for dimes.
6. The Terrorist Attacks of 2001 September 11. I feel that the attacks, which killed 3,056 people, fit in the number 6 spot. True, it was a horrifying event, and it came from overseas. But it so far has not caused the kind of pain that wrenches the entire country, the sort that events 1-5 did. Note that this is the worst event of our country for anyone aged 57 or less. Maybe the reason why we think it is the worst in history is that we have not gotten an appreciation for what happened before we were born. So let's go on...
5. D-Day, 1944 June 6. This was a planned event, and it was the start of the turn of World War II in our favor. But it was a horrible event, as anyone who has seen "Saving Private Ryan" can appreciate. Many, many of our loved ones overseas died in those days that we started to reclaim France from the Germans.
4. First Battle of Bull Run, 1861. Three of the top four come from the Civil War, the worst thing that has happened to this country. This battle was noteworthy in that the South won it, and it made the US realize that this war was not going to be easy; it was going to be several brutal years.
3. Pearl Harbor attack, 1941. From out of the blue it came, just as on 2001 September 11, and it killed thousands. Unlike last year's attacks, however, this attack came from a powerful enemy nation. It therefore led to four long years of fighting World War II, with its heavy toll on our people.
2. Battle of Gettysburg, 1863. This was the turning point of the Civil War. But it was one of the bloodiest days in our history. The death toll was in five digits, but at least we won this battle. Not so with number 1:
1. Battle of Antietam, 1862. This is the worst event in our history. Like Gettysburg, it killed five-digit numbers of people. Unlike Gettysburg, it was a win for the Confederates, who were already in Union territory in Maryland. From here they could invade Pennsylvania and turn around and threaten Washington. Although it looked like the Confederates were losing out west, this battle was another reminder that this war was going to be long and bloody.
This is my quick estimation of the worst events in our history. I may have missed something (Korean War?). if so I will revise the list later. Tomorrow I will try to find something happier to talk about.
Yesterday I read an editorial by Kathleen Parker in which she says that the worst event in our history ought to have a better name than 9/11. I came up with a name and sent it into her. However, I don't agree with her statement that 9/11 was the worst moment (meaning day) in American history. Except for the war on terror and a recession, things are pretty much the same as in premillennium days. But not so with some of the other events in our history. Here is my ranking:
10. Assassination of John F. Kennedy, 1963. This one event ended "Camelot" and signaled a change of mood in this country (see http://www.fourthturning.com - it was the beginning of a Second Turning).
9. Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, 1865. Undoubtedly the worst event in our history was the Civil War, which took four years. It was Lincoln who brought the North to victory in this war, so it was a sudden jolt when the bullet came flying into his brain scarcely a week after the war ended. The result was endless bickering between a Republican Congress and President Andrew Johnson.
8. Defeat of South Vietnam, 1975. The think tank people thought they could win this one. But the most we could muster is a stalemate, and we questioned our need to be in Vietnam. When we pulled out, the enemy gathered forces and overran South Vietnam in two years.
7. Black Monday, 1929. There have been many stock market crashes, in 1873, 1987, 2000 and other years. But the one in 1929 heralded a long period in which nothing seemed to go right with the US economy as bread lines built, labor unrest increased, and rich people suddenly found themselves begging for dimes.
6. The Terrorist Attacks of 2001 September 11. I feel that the attacks, which killed 3,056 people, fit in the number 6 spot. True, it was a horrifying event, and it came from overseas. But it so far has not caused the kind of pain that wrenches the entire country, the sort that events 1-5 did. Note that this is the worst event of our country for anyone aged 57 or less. Maybe the reason why we think it is the worst in history is that we have not gotten an appreciation for what happened before we were born. So let's go on...
5. D-Day, 1944 June 6. This was a planned event, and it was the start of the turn of World War II in our favor. But it was a horrible event, as anyone who has seen "Saving Private Ryan" can appreciate. Many, many of our loved ones overseas died in those days that we started to reclaim France from the Germans.
4. First Battle of Bull Run, 1861. Three of the top four come from the Civil War, the worst thing that has happened to this country. This battle was noteworthy in that the South won it, and it made the US realize that this war was not going to be easy; it was going to be several brutal years.
3. Pearl Harbor attack, 1941. From out of the blue it came, just as on 2001 September 11, and it killed thousands. Unlike last year's attacks, however, this attack came from a powerful enemy nation. It therefore led to four long years of fighting World War II, with its heavy toll on our people.
2. Battle of Gettysburg, 1863. This was the turning point of the Civil War. But it was one of the bloodiest days in our history. The death toll was in five digits, but at least we won this battle. Not so with number 1:
1. Battle of Antietam, 1862. This is the worst event in our history. Like Gettysburg, it killed five-digit numbers of people. Unlike Gettysburg, it was a win for the Confederates, who were already in Union territory in Maryland. From here they could invade Pennsylvania and turn around and threaten Washington. Although it looked like the Confederates were losing out west, this battle was another reminder that this war was going to be long and bloody.
This is my quick estimation of the worst events in our history. I may have missed something (Korean War?). if so I will revise the list later. Tomorrow I will try to find something happier to talk about.
2002/06/23
Gone with the Wind
I read a movie review of this movie. I saw the movie and read the book when I was young. The review points out that the main heroine, Scarlett O'Hara, is a relatively modern 1930's woman in a straitlaced Old South 1860's society. It makes me wonder if a 2000's woman were transported to 1860 Old South, how would she behave? I think she would have tried to organize other women and sought out to claim voting and other rights that our society now take for granted. She might even have picked up a rifle and went up with her husband to fight the Yankees. The book also said that there was a civilization of gentility that is now "gone with the wind", as the movie and book put it, back then; of course that society was based on the toil of slaves. The movie makes it sound like a Camelot, but I feel that I am glad that it is gone. Our society of opportunity and individual assertion makes life more meaningful than it ever was in the Old South. It was an interesting movie, though, and I may want to see it again, just to see Rhett say at the end, "Frankly, I don't give a damn."
I read a movie review of this movie. I saw the movie and read the book when I was young. The review points out that the main heroine, Scarlett O'Hara, is a relatively modern 1930's woman in a straitlaced Old South 1860's society. It makes me wonder if a 2000's woman were transported to 1860 Old South, how would she behave? I think she would have tried to organize other women and sought out to claim voting and other rights that our society now take for granted. She might even have picked up a rifle and went up with her husband to fight the Yankees. The book also said that there was a civilization of gentility that is now "gone with the wind", as the movie and book put it, back then; of course that society was based on the toil of slaves. The movie makes it sound like a Camelot, but I feel that I am glad that it is gone. Our society of opportunity and individual assertion makes life more meaningful than it ever was in the Old South. It was an interesting movie, though, and I may want to see it again, just to see Rhett say at the end, "Frankly, I don't give a damn."
Fireflies
This evening on our front lawn we saw more than the usual number of fireflies. They were blinking all over the place, on our lawn, and across the street in the woods. It reminds me of when I was a teenager going on a trip with my parents. Passing through Virginia, my brother and I caught about fifty fireflies apiece in glass jars. They were really numerous then, and have since been scarcer. Tonight's firefly explosion reminds me of those times, back in the early 1960's.
From the Internet, I find that fireflies are a beetle with a soft underside that glows under certain nervous commands. Fireflies usually glow to find a mate, but stress, such as a nearby Fourth of July firecracker, and cause them to glow. Males and females glow back and forth to communicate their location and to facilitate their coming together.
It made me think of an interesting thought. What if humans had the luminescence of fireflies? Since fireflies glow when they are finding mates, suppose humans glowed when aroused. I think we would hold back on getting aroused by the sight of an attractive person for fear of letting everyone know by glowing. What would be most interesting is a power outage at night, or in a windowless building. Then people would make out with each other to glow bright enough to see where they're going, and at campouts at night, people would get aroused and would not need flashlights. This could make the setting of a fantasy or science fiction story.
We'll have to settle for looking at these bugs that light up summer nights and marvel at how they do it.
This evening on our front lawn we saw more than the usual number of fireflies. They were blinking all over the place, on our lawn, and across the street in the woods. It reminds me of when I was a teenager going on a trip with my parents. Passing through Virginia, my brother and I caught about fifty fireflies apiece in glass jars. They were really numerous then, and have since been scarcer. Tonight's firefly explosion reminds me of those times, back in the early 1960's.
From the Internet, I find that fireflies are a beetle with a soft underside that glows under certain nervous commands. Fireflies usually glow to find a mate, but stress, such as a nearby Fourth of July firecracker, and cause them to glow. Males and females glow back and forth to communicate their location and to facilitate their coming together.
It made me think of an interesting thought. What if humans had the luminescence of fireflies? Since fireflies glow when they are finding mates, suppose humans glowed when aroused. I think we would hold back on getting aroused by the sight of an attractive person for fear of letting everyone know by glowing. What would be most interesting is a power outage at night, or in a windowless building. Then people would make out with each other to glow bright enough to see where they're going, and at campouts at night, people would get aroused and would not need flashlights. This could make the setting of a fantasy or science fiction story.
We'll have to settle for looking at these bugs that light up summer nights and marvel at how they do it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)