Green Eggs and Spam

Why?

I know this has been published and commentated on by many more eloquent than myself, but the story of the Wal-Mart employee being trampled to death in a Long Island, New York store hit me very close to home.  My wife works at a local Wal-mart here in Memphis to give the family some extra funds to cover expenses.  She works as a greeter and cashier and if this had happened at her store, she would have most likely been at the center of the accident.  That chilling thought as well as looking at the pictures and video from the linked story above has made me question what we have become over the years.

I like "stuff" just like the next guy, but have we reached a point in society where the desire for more "stuff" at the lowest possible price causes us to act in irresponsible and reprehensible ways?  While the above story is the worst event of the day, my wife told me of actions taken by grown men and women that make me cringe, both in disbelief and belief at what we do when we think we are not getting what we "deserve."  When did we become a society that is so centered on what "we" want that we don't even see the man we are stepping on as we run to claim what is rightly ours?  Fist fights over toys and TVs that will be restocked tomorrow and go on sale again before Christmas are insane.  Taking things out of other people's carts because they aren't looking and you want it borders on psychotic in my book.

I will not pretend I am above the fray on this as I struggle everyday with the desire to get more "stuff," to have the biggest, fastest, most advanced piece of hardware/software/gadget imaginable.  I would spend myself into the poor house if it were not for my loving wife gently reminding me what is really important.  In the end what value are all of these things if a life is lost in the process of getting them?  What is so high of a value at a Wal-Mart store, or any store for that matter, that would make you ignorant of the fact you are stepping on a human body and not a concrete floor?

The saddest part of this entire story is looking at the pictures and watching the video of people still trying to get into the store even as the paramedics were trying in vain to save the man who had been trampled.  Throughout all of this, one question continues to ring out....Why?

My faith in humanity restored

Like many of you, I have been on the receiving end of bad people. You know the ones; They are the people who use you and abuse you and then throw you to the side. They are the people who take any advantage they think they can use, and they do NOT care who they step on or destroy in the process. There are people who take all they can get with no thought of sharing in their abundance and people who are just so bad, the only nice thing you can say about them is they didn't stay long.

I have seen so much of that selfish behavior in the human race, I had almost give up hope of ever seeing compassion and loving-kindness again. I know I am around people everyday who give of themselves willingly, but I saw them as a shrinking minority who I surrounded myself with because I felt and believed the same way. Then I saw this thread posted on my favorite social media site Plurk.com. (I'm AndyG1128 if you're looking for me)

To summarize it for you, a fellow Plurker LillyAnn, whom I was not following at the time, had medical issues that suddenly turned for the worse. LillyAnn's daughter Gabrielle, who was not supposed to be on social networks per her mother, decided the risk of facing the wrath of her mother was outweighed by the need to inform her mom's online friends of her condition. It turns out LillyAnn's condition was a direct result of not receiving a medical treatment because she was unable to afford. She has no insurance to help pay for the treatment and could not pay out of pocket. By not being treated, she had further medical issues which resulted in her being admitted to the hospital and placed in Intensive Care. Now most of us on the Nets hear a story like this more often than we should. We usually rant on about politics or needed healthcare reform or some other such drivel which puts more words and polarization into the Nets. However, that's NOT what happened this time.

This time was very different. Instead of just talking about how bad it was LillyAnn was in this predicament, instead of going off on rants about the nation's healthcare situation, or vilifying the insurance companies pricing insurance too high, a group of dedicated Plurkers DID something about it. They began a drive to raise the money needed for the treatment, some volunteering their time and energy to create a special PayPal account for donations, others giving Gabrielle encouragement and advice. Typing prayers and well wishes regardless of their personal beliefs not necessarily being those of LillyAnn or Gabrielle. They posted in other timelines asking for help, each one reaching out to another friend or fan in an effort to help this family in a time of crisis. These people, these fellow Plurkers, decided that talking was no good and instead, they SHOWED they cared for their fellow human by DOING and not talking about doing.

I know some of you will post about other times this has happened, or how it isn't the first time a group of loosely knitted friends came through in a crisis, and I also know it won't be the last. from my perspective, however, this time is different as it came in front of me at a time when I had almost completely lost hope. It has increase my once flagging faith in the human race. We are not as lost as I had once feared. We are still capable of compassion for our fellow person. If you have a chance, read the link and see real love in action.

*****Update*****

There have been questions, hard questions raised about the validity of the claim made by LillyAnn/Gabrielle.  While I hope the doubts raised turn out to be false, I recommend you read the story with a grain of salt.  My post still stands because it is not about LillyAnn's claim or call for help, but the unselfish way fellow humans jumped to her aid.  If the claim is indeed false,  it in no way diminishes the selfless act of those who have responded.

Funny Comics and more

The Mad Pigeon shares a few funny editorial cartoons.

I've been quite silent recently on a great deal of these topics. Primarily, it has been because I don't really have the time, with a new job, house hunting, trying to maintain familial relationships across a 600 mile gulf in a different time zone, trying to take over the world....you get the picture.

I have a secondary reason is which even worse,...I'm discovering I don't really agree with the MSM on any topic and, while I admire President Bush, I find I often don't agree with him either on many things. While I have very well defined views on morality and what I feel is the difference between right and wrong, it seems I am now a stranger in a strange land (pardon me Heinlein) where relativity rules the day.

The whole of "what's right for you, isn't right fo me" flies in the face of the fact there are several social, cultural, and moralistic moors which are unyeilding and unchanging. Yet we, as mankind, are rushing headlong into the abyss where any thought, action, or deed can be explained away, justified, and forgiven by the populace. We are making muderers into heros and heros into murderers.

We consume everything in excess, from fuel to food, from solitude to relationship, from legalized ways of altering our mind through medication to illegal way such as huffing and meth. What ever happened to living a life outside your own desire to fulfil your own cravings and lusts? What ever happened to looking out for your family, your neighbor, your community, your friends? Whatever happened to putting others first and trying to reach out to those without hope, those without help?

And we Christians, are we any better than the rable we point our fingers at and cry, "but by the grace of God, there goes I."...? We wall ourselves away in our four walls and preach to ourselves messages of wealth and prosperity while in the shadow of our doors the world lies dying!?! We "walk" in our lives balanceing decisions by asking WWJD, "What would Jesus do?" and then we walk off and do what we want to do anyway, using the same relativism we point our fingers at in disgust at the world around us. We eat fancy meals, drive big, gas-gussling cars, wallowing in our excess and we claim to be God's chosen?

Do not misunderstand me, I am not advocating the life of "poverty" or the total denial of self. We've tried that before as Christians and fallen into error as well.

Whay I AM saying is we have thrown out the biblical principle of BALANCE, moderation, control. When we, not just as followers of CHrist, but humans in general learn to abide by that one priciple, all the others will come in line.

Jesus said the greatest of all the comandments were two in number, Love God with every fiber of who you are, and Love your neighbor as if he were you. I believe number three on that list, which rounds out the first two is, Live in a balance in all things. It is only by striving in this way we can gain anything of value in our lives.

Sorry for the ramt, but when you post infrequently, sometimes it just flows.

Technorati : Iran, Religion, politics

The Pre-Holocaust

Read the article Here.

I remember studying this as a part of the events of WWI with disbelief.  It was almost like a foreshadowing of the Holocaust in WWII.

We need to remember the truth in history and refuse to allow others to "write it off", otherwise it WILL be repeated.

Hubble finds 10th planet slightly larger than Pluto

Official NASA release confirming the tenth planet 'Xena' and finds it is only slightly larger than Pluto.

Official NASA release confirming the tenth planet 'Xena' and finds it is only slightly larger than Pluto.

But Xena....

read more | digg story

NASA - Space Shuttle First Flight 25th Anniversary

NASA - Space Shuttle

It's hard to believe it has already been 25 years since the Space Shuttle first flew into space. I was but a teenager and dreamed of space flight along with many others of that time.

I can remember whatching that first flight and tracking the shuttle in the days before the Web and PCs brought us so much information.

I could discuss the implications of money spent on manned space-flight or the current state of NASA, but instead, I think I'll simply just sit and remember the awe I felt seeing the launch on TV.

Remember the horror and sorrow watching the distruction of Challenger.

Remember feeling the pride as the shuttle fleet got off the ground again with the twinge of fear at the words "Go with throttle up".

Remember the historic first docking with Mir.

Remember the amazing work with Hubble and the ISS.

Say a prayer for the families of the Columbia crew and morn their passing yet again.

Remember that man MUST explore and reach out or fade away with no purpose greater than self.

Remember the eyes of my son as we stood at the Cape and looked out to see the Shuttle on the pad awaiting launch and reliving the awe through his eyes.

Looking at the HUGE Saturn V hanging above our heads and realizing how far we'd come.

Refreshing the dream that maybe...just maybe...one day...I might get to sit on top of all that power and watch the world fall away.

Dream a little dream...no matter how big it may be

Technorati : NASA, Saceflight, Space Shuttle

WOW!, It's been a long time.

Well, it sure has been a long time since I posted. A LOT of things have happened since December so buckle your seat belt and get ready for a doozy of a trip!!!

First, I am no longer employed at US Xpress. Without publicly burning any bridges, let's just say the place was not for me and leave it at that.

I've been actively searching for employment since September. Needless to say, with USX being one of the largest IT employers in Chattanooga, I had to look in a much broader area. The primary reason for this is the open contracts USX keeps with head hunters and recruiters. Because of those cntracts, most of the mainstream vendors in the region refused to help me unless I left USX first. While I considered the option a little thing called eating kept me from follwing through with the idea.

It was slow going, to say the least, however a company discovered my resume and active persued me. Enter Harrah's Entertainment.

Long story short, they (cue the gangter accent) "made me an offer I couldn't refuse" and so, I accepted. I turned in my notice to USX in mid December and took a couple of weeks to visit family and travel to where my new job was located...Memphis, TN. Or so I thought....

When I got to my parents house to celebrate Christmas before traveling to Memphis to start work on January 4th, everything was fine. But my digestion system decided to shut-down and I discovered I inherited a little thing caled diverticulosis. Because of the pain, I didn't get part of my Christmas present, a trip to watch NC State in a bowl game and I didn't get to start my new job as scheduled. I ended up a week late, but Harrah's seemed so happy I was coming they had no issue. That was a unique feeling to say the least.

In any case, here's where I am now....Memphis. I am currently in an extended stay and my family will be moving into the area after the school year is over, until then it's a six hour trip to visit and work to keep me busy.

Please, remain seated until the car comes to a complete stop and thank you for riding this rollercoaster of a life....

Over Reaction Central

While I don't agree with everything Pia of CourtingDestiny.com usually has to say, I must agree with the posting made here.

The post says

I'm a New York Jew; a life long Democrat and a card carrying member of the ACLU. Much of the time I'm very disappointed in the Democratic party, but at this moment it's better than the alternative. I don't believe in all of the ACLU's causes, but I believe that everybody has a right to be represented.

But when I read blogs that blame the ACLU and/or minority groups for taking Christ out of Christmas, I have to say that as a Jew I, and most Jews, want you to celebrate Christmas. On Christmas Jews traditionally went to the movies and ate Chinese food. We think it would be good if you spent time in church or with your family; as we liked it when the theaters weren't packed.

The post then goes on to say

Before the news of the mega churches closing I wrote a post in my personal blog about the Christmas/holiday season mess. One of the comments was from a Jewish blogger, Neil, who is usually very witty and tres lite. He really struck a chord; couldn't stop thinking about his comment and asked for permission to quote him.

Frankly, I think one of the things that makes our country so great is that the majority religion has tried so hard
to make minorities feel comfortable. Where else have Jews and others been made to feel as equals and as comfortable with Christian holidays? Certainly not in many European countries where you are considered Jewish first, then a citizen of that country.

New York is not the rest of the country. I think it would be nice to bring back some of the religiosity to Christmas in big cities, so it isn't such a consumerized holiday. Thank you, Christians, for being so good to the rest of us. You can now celebrate Christmas a little more openly.

However, things are different in smaller cities and towns around the country. Those places have a habit of mixing up religion and public policy. It is places like those where I don't think it appropriate for the public sector to promote religion symbolism and ideology.

Here is where I want to delete most of what I wrote before Neil's comment. It feels too silly. As Jews we do feel grateful to the Christians in this country for allowing us to be full citizens. We're grateful because our great grandparents weren't, usually, allowed to own land, have a profession or be citizens of their towns. They were allowed to be conscripted into the Czars army so they could wipe out Jewish villages. We're grateful that they left and came to this remarkable country.

It is important we who are of the "majority" religion in this country remember why this country was founded in the first place: FREEDOM!

Taking our religion and shoving down other people's throats just because we know we're right runs opposite, not only of the wishes of the founding fathers, but the desires of the Founder of our Faith, Christ Himself! In another post, I defined Tolerance as:

I acknowledge your right to believe or do as you believe even if I believe you are dead wrong. It means respectfully disagreeing on some matters while recognizing common ground where it exists. This is also a two-way street and I expect the same respect I give.

We did we as a nation decide tolerance was making everyone think and act like us?

The post finishes up with

Many of us are fully assimilated; marry outside our religion; feel and look WASPier than the biggest WASP. But there's always one moment when something happens that reminds us that other people view us as different. I know that most people are rational; that most people don't believe this. (Did a Google "ACLU" "Christmas" search and this was the number one document.)

According to ACLU "Christmas haters" everyting refering to Christ inpublic has to go. But try as they might, they can't take the spirit out of Christmas, something this group is in dire need of. Boy talk about selfishness

Yes let's talk about being selfish; selfish is the same woman saying the following.

The Constitution can be read front to back, sideways, upside down, and nowhere does it read there needs to be a separation of church and state. Good grief! The framers would have been very dense or dumber than a box of rocks, to put separation of church and state in the most "intentionally" misunderstood document, and then proceeded to have a nation built on God and in every aspect of their lives

Good grief, indeed. If this is true then I have to not only be grateful to you, but bow down to your religious superiority, and that is where I draw the line.

Just understand that we're not your problem. You are. If a person can find G-d in a concentration camp, any American can find G-d anywhere. It's up to you to put Christ back in Christmas, not us.

I could never celebrate Christmas as a secular holiday. Why? It is the symbolic observation of Christ's birthday no matter how you look at it. But selfishly I want you to celebrate it so that I can see the trees, lights, decorations and even go to some Christmas parties. That's right; Christmas parties at peoples homes. Every other year my friends make an Italian feast in their Tudor house in Forest Hills Gardens, a picture perfect Ives & Currier Christmas community. It's wonderful, but I will never have a Christmas dinner in my apartment.

Merry Christmas; Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Winter Solistice. I will call this season whatever you want me to call it as long as The First Amendment remains intact. And I will always be grateful to the USA for allowing my family to live as full citizens for over a century. Grateful but I will never feel less an American than you do. And I thank G-d for organizations like the ACLU that make sure I will always be a full American.

Quite frankly, I feel we Christians should be ashamed of ourselves! We preach the message of Christ and yet refuse to live the life of a servant. We must remember we share this planet with others who believe differently that we. While we may feel and know they are wrong, we MUST respect their right to believe as they do. It is ultimately their choice as to who/what they believe in and while we may tell them what we think, THEY ultimately must choose. We have NO right to force our convictions upon them. Convictions which are accepted by force are not truely accepted.

Technorati : ACLU, Christmas, Religion

To Execute or Not To Execute

Although the Death Penalty is seen by many in Europe as barbaric, here in the US, it is considered a viable punishment for especially heinous crimes. It is the supposed "deterrent" used to make those thinking of committing crimes which are deemed "Capital Offences" reconsider their actions. While the debate still rages on the effectiveness of the deterrent, there is a real decision which must be made in California on the behalf of Stanley "Tookie" Williams.

 

Williams was convicted for the brutal slaying of a man during a robbery in February 1979 and the deaths of a couple and their daughter at a South Los Angeles motel the following month. Williams also was the founder of one of the Crips, one of the bloodiest gangs in the US which, along with their rivals, the Bloods, became the new Mafia in the US. The reign of these gangs, which are still spreading across the US, initiated a wave of violence which is still occurring to this day.

 

Williams has been in prison since 1981 and has proclaimed his innocence of the crimes for which he was convicted and sentenced to death. If that were the end of the story, most of the world would think nothing more of these events other than taking a shot at the US for continuing the practice of condemning men to death. It is not, however, the end of the story. In Williams 20+ years of incarceration while awaiting various appeals before the final act could play out, he "redeemed himself." Time alone in a cell awaiting his date with execution caused him to rethink his gang days and become an outspoken voice against the gangs and the violence they perpetuate. He has written children's books telling of the dangers of joining gangs and writing essays and articles trying to convince young black men especially, to leave the gang way of life and become productive members of society.

 

Williams change seems to be so profound, he has been nominated for a Nobel prize for Peace and Literature repeatedly. This man who has seemingly changed his ways has sparked a debate in the US over his scheduled execution which can now only be stopped by the Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Should a man, who has changed his ways, still pay the ultimate price for the crimes he was convicted of in the first place?

 

If the Governor chooses to commute the sentence, Williams will live out his life in prison, but what of the sentence which was pronounce by a jury? What about the others on Death Row? Can they claim "redemption" to save their lives? Will this become a new ploy to delay further executions? Do the feelings of the victim's families have any bearing or the fact Williams still refuses to admit guilt?

 

The list of questions this opens is bottomless and whether you believe in the Death Penalty or not, it raises questions which strike to the core of the penal system in the US. Is prison about punishment or is it about correction?

 

In the end, I know I am glad I am not Schwarzenegger. This decision is one I do not relish making.

Technorati : CA, Death Penalty, Tookie