Sea(ing) is believing

Water is as beautiful as it is frightening.  A near drowning experience as a child helped me form this opinion.   Water is to be respected; a giver of life and deliverer of death. Some people are drawn to it like artists to a palette; writer to the words. Boats are starting to dot the inlet harbor nearby, proof that seafaring families are planning adventurous outings on the gray/blue waters of Lake Michigan. Sailboats like the, “Sootie Marie,” and “Cholita” tug at the buoys, swaying in the morning breeze as dirty gulls scream overhead. Mast ropes clang, clang, clang a familiar harbor melody on the wind. Skill and experience is required to safely maneuver on waters so cold, deep, and unforgiving.

The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a tragedy of epic proportion. It will affect generations of wildlife, sealife, and human life on so many levels likely for the rest of time. Why weren’t systems in place to prevent such a catastrophe? Why are we cleaning up after ourselves instead of taking efficient steps to prevent this type of tragic occurance? Did we learn anything from the Exxon Valdez spill in 1989? When will we learn?

Zen of Listening

How well do we listen? Really listen? Most of the time, we are so busy forming our own thoughts, ideas, input, that we don’t even hear the full meaning behind what is being said. According to the book, “the Zen of Listening,” by Rebecca Shafir, true listening can be a powerful “tool of change.” She also says that listening is the first step in “making people feel valued.” What would the world look like if people felt more valued? Less stress, more goodwill, generosity, would we recognize ourselves?  Concentration is key to better listening. Distractions multiply and we struggle to keep up, hang on. I am working my way toward a more mindful, meaningful existence. This book will help.

This made me stand up

An email showed up in my in box at work yesterday. The subject line caught my eye: Burt Perlutsky calls Michelle Obama a B*tch. Who the hell is he? I wondered, clicking on it. Turns out, he’s a racist pig writer whose column appears on a website owned by the Christian Radio Network. Yep. Figures. Apparently he routinely spouts nonsense, so this is nothing new. This particular post was amazingly inflamatory and ridiculous! Affirmative action got her an Ivy League degree…seriously? Firstly, without Affirmative Action our country would still be governed by a league of overblown, puffed-up, ignorant white men like BP himself. But Affirmative Action didn’t “get” Michelle Obama an Ivy League degree –it, along with other grassroots initiatives (the women’s movement), allowed this and other doors to be opened that were locked tightly for decades.  Get over it.  Did Affirmative Action help her get on the honor roll every single year in high school? Graduate Salutatorian? Get into Princeton? BP compares Michelle Obama’s looks to musical icon James Brown. This is ironic coming from an old man who looks surprisingly similar to Bert (of Bert and Ernie fame…Ernie was the smart one).

Michelle Obama is a beautiful, bright, outstanding First Lady. Educated, selfless, kind, dedicated to the promotion of truth and justice, she is an American woman who represents us on the world stage. We could NOT be more proud!

 

 

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This is my blog. ..a place for discussion, consideration, pause.