~Living a life of sophisticated domestication deep in the heart of Texas~

Monday, July 30, 2012

Speaking of....

....I did read with interest (and one eyebrow elevated) J.A’s Independence Day column in which he laments – as religious conservatives so very often do – Supreme Court rulings and related developments of justice that have restrained Christianity from quite dominating society. You know, what with that dirty no-good ACLU, so busy “getting God, the Bible and prayer out of our schools and the workplace” even as “other religions and radical groups…receive special treatment.” He recalls ruefully how Satan won when alcohol was made available for sale to (local) adults, and now here we are with all this passing out condoms instead of copies of the Ten Commandments. And not letting anyone sing “Jesus Loves Me.”


God bless those who see that the "no establishment" provision of the Bill of Rights clearly authorized such historic steps as ending compulsory sectarian prayer in public schools and, for another example, banning loudspeaker prayer “in Jesus’ name” at public school district football games. Measures like that have been nothing but fair and are lamentable only to those who have a problem conceding equal rights to their neighbors.



Worse by far than anything from Professor A was Hobby Lobby’s full page of right-wing “Christian Nation” graffiti on July 04. Kicking myself now, as I had forgotten they were like that and went in there for something just the other day. We need to remember Hobby Lobby plainly does not want our heathen patronage, and try to go to the other places. The same holds true for those shops with a fish symbol – “Christian dollars only, please,” I’m pretty sure it means, so I try to honor that.

And for all you smart-alecks who have an issue with “In God We Trust” on the currency: Word is it’s a free country, and one with an activist’s heart need not meekly endure this kind of thing. Collect some ones and fives and tens and when you’ve got a few minutes, get you a red ballpoint pen and go to correcting. Simply scratch out the presumptuous “motto,” and while you’re at it you might leave a little free speech there underneath in neat block print. “STOP ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION,” I always used to say. Or hey, what if one had a little rubber stamp made? Certainly it’s a good feeling if we can make a difference, however small.

Speaking of, how about that Higgs boson? Wasn’t I just telling y’all a while back about the way subatomic phenomena speak of a living universe that contains its own meaning and purpose? In its way, science gestures toward the Wonderful Law or Dharma extolled in Buddhism. Accordingly, when we consider the cellular nucleus and the atomic nucleus in turn, it would appear that life proceeds from a truth that is inscribed within and ever within, and so belongs to us originally and fundamentally.

With the objective, testable nature of reality turning out to be this positive and inspirational, why isn’t everyone retreating from dogma that says we have no intrinsic worth and deserve eternal suffering? Oh wait, they are.

I have every confidence that the Pledge of Allegiance continues to be recited in school and at PTA meetings in our town, and for that matter I’ll bet it is still broken up with pauses between the phrases: “I pledge allegiance. To the flag. Of the United States of America. And to the republic.” That method is a real blessing to those of us who want to participate but prefer the original version without “under God” stuck in there. The pause right after “one Nation” is where one can raise his or her voice a little and proudly declare “one nation indivisible,” making the omission conspicuous. Individualism is inevitable in a society that values equality and respect the way we do. I don’t understand getting all worked up about the Pledge of Allegiance when it is so easy to adapt and have an attitude of cooperation.

SGTex
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Friday, July 20, 2012

On Friday....

I wanted to blog about something lovely today.  It's a hot, summer Texas day and the Mr. and I have been down sick.  There's something extra dreadful about being sick in the summertime, but he took really great care of me and then when he got sick, he managed pretty well.  He might say I took care of him, seeing how he's nice and all that, but I really didn't.  I was still sick and he just got better.  It's good to have things closer to normal, I have to say. 

Last night while we lay in bed getting some actually restful sleep, a tragedy occurred in Aurora, Colorado.  Someone came into a theatre, tossed a couple of cannisters of noxious gas and started shooting.  At this time it's been reported that 12 people died and 59 others remain wounded.  I don't know why things like this happen, but it's horrible.  One might suppose that someone who had a successful academic record and was on his way to a Ph.D. wouldn't do something like that, but he apparently was in the process of changing directions and took a really wrong turn.  I'm less interested in the details of what was going on in his mind and why he did what he did, than I am in the lives of those who have been cut short or suspended in this nightmare.  It will take longer than forever to heal.

We offer our most sincere condolences and prayers for healing peace.

Shawn & SGTex
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Saturday, July 7, 2012

It's not that complicated....

....but on most days, it's easier said than done.  For adults, anyway ;~).

I had no idea what to blog about today, but felt compelled to stop by and come up with something. 

Live....

The 4th of July came and went.  I heard that our local fireworks were great.  We have decided that grilled salmon should be an annual event in our back yard.  It was yummy (thanks, Mr!!) and we nearly polished it off with some toasted sandwiches last night with our popcorn ;~).

I guess that's about it for now about living. 

Laugh....

Well, the usual stuff.  Bizarro comics, CNN news, the Havanese Hellboys and just generally silly stuff can give us a much-needed laugh in the midst of the workaday world.  His days are workadays.  Mine are just times to hang out and make plans to make myself useful ;~).  I do appreciate not having to put in those hours that way (thanks, Mr!)...and I am in the planning process of making plans for some good things to do.  Hey!!  Don't laugh!!!  ;~)

Love.... 

Well, I'm learning all sorts of new and different and old things about loving.  And if I said more than that, I might give you ideas.  Hey, you go get your own ideas!!  There is much to be appreciated about loving.  Any more to say about that?  It'd be TMI.

Au revoir pour le moment, les gens dans l'amour

Shawn
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