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  My blog was filled up. I'm too lazy to clean it out. So I started a new one. |
| Prompt: "The pen is the tongue of the mind" Miguel de Cervantes Saaverda "The pen is mightier than the sword." Certainly, Thomas Paine with his pamphlets proved to wield more influence and power than he would have with traditional weapons in colonial America. If we think of "the pen" as any written word, which I believe was the intention of both quotes, we have evidence today of the power of that written word. Facebook and Twitter can do more harm and good than sit-ins, marches, and riots. Words written by misled teenagers have destroyed reputations and lives. In fact, in this culture of short attention spans, a Thomas Paine pamphlet would be read by only a few intellectuals. Snarky tweets and biased photo captions are the only news outlets for a lot of folks. Ill-informed politicians and ego-drunk celebrities can incite mass emotional reactions by what they thumb type in haste. The point is they type quickly without rational thought, instead of just speaking to those in the room, sending their thoughts out to huge followings. The first quote referred to the tongue. Yes, the writing is like the tongue, but without being face to face. I have seen notes or e-mails in the business place divide and alienate in ways the writers never intended. The written word is harder to retract than spoken words. The Bible tells us the tongue is a dangerous thing. It likens the tongue, or spoken word, to the rudder of a ship, which can lead it astray or stay on course if controlled properly. In another place, it tells us the tongue, or what comes out of the mouth, indicates what is in the heart. If venomous things are spoken or written, then that is because the heart is full of hatred and venom. Both the written and the spoken word reveal the inner thinking and feeling of the speaker (fiction being the exception). Both can do great harm, incite wars, sway a community, or lead someone to suicide. Both require a good deal of rational thinking and discernment. |
| If you want a great day trip with the family, go to the Marine Museum in Quantico. It's not on the base, and it is not designed or supported y the government or armed services. It is all done by volunteers and donors. It's a massive structure, an astonishing engineering and architectural feat. Inside the museum, which I expected to be small and somewhat boring, there are full-size tanks and helicopters inside. The first thing you learn is that the Marines was formed by the continental congress, before the USA even existed. The time line they have posted the length of the hallway tells not only the history of the Marines, but of the country. There are unique galleries for each major war or police action. The one for Korea includes a freezing room to give you an idea of the harsh winters there. The galleries for Iraq and Afghanistan are not complete yet, so they are sealed. Be sure to keep looking up as you go along. There are things overhead as well as around you. In one spot, they even have trenches and dugouts for reporters. There are authentic vehicles for each time period and mannequins in appropriate uniforms, rescuing fallen comrades. One tank is left open so you can walk into it, and feel the vibrations underfoot. You go upstairs to find the art galleries and two grills. Food and drink is not allowed outside the dining area, and you may not bring in your own to protect the displays. Upstairs you can also look through windows down into the galleries you were just viewing. There are banquet rooms available for rent for bridal receptions, business dinners, and so forth. The grounds outside are beautiful, and there's ample parking. An American flag made of dog tags of deceased Marines stands at the head of the walkway in. Admission is free. What a bargain! You do have to go through metal detectors when you enter. There is a children's gallery, a gift shop, and a movie theater. The movie is not free and lasts less than an hour. It's a good family trip for the family or for yourself if you like history.  |
| There is an assortment of answers. like both, neither, or it depends on the definitions. It turns out on study that both words have evolved within my lifetime, or actually the last several decades. I always knew that "religious" could have some negative connotations, especially if said with an attitude. But studies by theologians and church hierarchy that even the clergy have an almost exclusively negative view of the word. Generally, to them it's about business, handling what they are paid to do as administrators. "Spiritual" on the other hand implies searching. It involves experience and practice. More and more of every day people are identifying as spiritual and not religious. Spiritual is seen as acceptable, if somewhat blurry in its meaning. For most, it means a rejection of traditional religion or at least their parents' religion. Intellectuals claim this "spiritual but not religious" movement applies to all world religions. Buddhists, Moslems, and Hindus supposedly questioning tradition and are seeking something more meaningful. In my world, I encounter mostly Judeo-Christians people, but the Hindus I have known in the recent past, and even those who have converted to Christianity, still follow the teachings and preferences of their families. Of the Christians, I think there are two groups. The first encounter chaplains in prisons, hospitals, or the military. They have initiated the conversation. They seem to be sincere and making a genuine search for answers. The ones I have personally encountered are only using it as a cop-out. They want to live their lives with no accountability to others, including God or a higher power. They want to be in control of their own time, money, behavior, and thought, no rules or restrictions. Essentially, they make themselves god, and don't want anyone to criticize them for it. By claiming to be spiritual, they feel one step safer than those who reject the idea of God all together, sort of a celestial fire insurance, just in case there is life after death. Closer up in my own circle, most want to be both spiritual and religious. They enjoy the routine of church, choir practice, and opportunities for fellowship and community service. They also are trying to become better people and inprove their practice of their beliefs in terms of social justice and mercy as well as personal devotion. I have noticed, though, there is still a strong faction that wants church to be the way it was when they were younger. They think that if they try the same old things, or build a gym, or whatever, that the church will attract new members and regain its former glory. I think those days are gone for good. The question now is how do we adapt to the changing world, to help people grow spiritually and work to improve communities? |
| Most visitors to my area want to see Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello. It's kind of on the pricey side and is a big, commercial style deal. When I was a younger adult, you could enter the driveway on the side of the highway where the house is. You'd drive uphill through the woods and park in a lot just below the house. Now you enter on the opposite side and ride a shuttle up to the house. It's a big money making operation now, but the fundamentals are the same. The house is preserved according to what they believe it was in his lifetime. (If you read about its history, you'll know the mansion fell into hard times and was used as a barn by one owner.) You'll see the genius of his creations and inventions, and learn of his agricultural skills. Just down the mountain, you'll find Michie Tavern, an authentic inn of the time period. It has a water wheel, and is placed on a dangerous curve in the mountain road. Just before the tavern, you find a steep road going up to a well-known operational orchard with lots to see and do. Have lunch at Michie Tavern, above the museum. It's new, but serves southern cooking, like Grandma used to make. They feature fried and baked chicken, barbecue, black-eye peas, stewed tomatoes, mashed potatoes and gravy, biscuits, cornbread, coleslaw, etc., from the buffet line. Apple or peach cobbler is extra, but very tasty. The wait staff dress colonial style, and your iced tea or soda is served in metal cups. Jefferson would get his ice from the Rivanna River below. (The slaves would get large chunks in the winter, haul it by mule up to his ice house and store it in the shaded building with a carved out floor. It would last until summer time and kept the butter and milk cold.) If you drive a little further down the winding road, the mountain levels off a bit, and you come to Ash Lawn, the home of another president. At this one, you'll learn more about excavation, and historic preservation. Live peacocks display their colors on the grounds. Only minutes away, our downtown end of Main Street was turned into an outdoor mall decades ago. I have memories of parking on Main Street in front of businesses, but that is only a memory now. Downtown parking is its biggest shortcoming. Once there, most people find it very charming. There is a pavilion at one end, where concerts are held in the open air. In the summer, we have Fridays after Five, for free, featuring live music. Many cafes are out in the open, some all year round. Many street vendors flaunt their wares. My favorite reason to still go there is The Paramount Theater. It closed for ten years, but was refurbished and opened ten years ago as a vehicle for many kinds of performances. The Paramount is still a grand, elegant movie theater, with Baroque styling and wall paper. The top floor, which once was offices, is now reserved for balls and banquets. Operas from the Met and broadcasts of live plays are shown there. Concerts are always sold out. Ronnie Milsap and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band are two acts coming soon. I have seen Bob Newhart, Kris Kristofferson, Gordon Lightfoot, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Michael McDonald there, not to mention swing bands and orchestras. It's fun to see a Christmas movie, available on TV now, on the big screen with a full audience that loves old movies like I do. Except for a manager and some grant writers, it is staffed by volunteers. There are many more attractions from which to choose. I obviously am proud of it. |
| I watched the parade in DC on TV. I loved it. It wasn't big and flashy like Macy's or the Rose parades. It was any town, every day people parading their patriotism. It was unique in that there were so many different people backgrounds. A group of Sikhs marched in their garb, Vietnamese Americans had a large group in a graceful presentation, and an African group paraded. Only in DC would so many diverse groups be found in such large numbers. It was great to see them parading their pride in America. I didn't see any politicians or political messages. It was a hot muggy day. Overweight people walked alongside the bands pulling wagons of water bottles. Some folks, presumably parents, weaved in and out of the heavy uniforms and big hats tending to the kids in the burning sun. It really had that hometown, homespun feel to it. Our usual family gathering fizzled out. My brother passed away a few months ago, and he always ran the fireworks and got everyone together. I think his daughters needed a change of pace, so they made other plans for their kids. My younger brother in another town just got back from California and is going to New York later this month, both trips for his wife's family events. His young son is in day camp this week, so they stayed home to chill. Dad and I had already purchased a lot of food, but decided we would just have al low key day to ourselves and watch fireworks on TV late tonight. But in between her other plans for the day, my widowed niece showed up with her 3 young children. They were hungry, so I had to dig hot dogs out of the freezer and proceed with the original menu really fast. We had hot dogs, baked beans, cantaloupe, watermelon, potato chips, and ice cream cones. We didn't fix the corn on the cob because of time. I had the makings for s'mores and sparklers, but they were for after dark. They're already gone to their next stop. I've washed all the dishes and swept the floors. So we didn't do any yard work, but we had our indoor picnic. I am sorry about the earthquake in California, but am glad no one is hurt so far. I hope nothing more severe happens in the next few days, which is possible with any earthquake. I think the fire in a fireworks store in North Carolina is suspicious, especially today of all days. I wish that more people living in America knew more about its history. Too many celebrities speak and act on feelings rather than knowledge and serious deliberation. In fact, I've often thought anyone running for public office should be required to enroll in civic, government and history classes. A college education does not guarantee a well rounded education. A few ethics classes wouldn't be a bad idea, even for career politicians. I hope everyone has a safe and happy independence Day. It truly is a great country. We need to recall once again the words of JFK: "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country." |
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