Monday, January 4, 2010
Baby's Running a Marathon
12 weeks exactly today. We went in to our second prenatal with our midwife; this was the big one, we were going to get to hear the heart; now we could finally find out if there was really something in there or if it was just our imagination. Morning sickness has been mild and Elly's been handling everything GREAT; couldn't ask for more (except for maybe some kind of shampoo that would make me smell good to her; heck, I'd even settle for not smelling bad haha), but even so we where stoked to find out if there was really something going on down there, or if she had a bad taste in her mouth for nothing. First thing we heard was a high pitched whining, like when a mike gets to close to the speaker, but that disappeared after our midwife moved the speaker away. Nothing but weirdness, then, we heard it. And boy was it moving!!! The kid's running a marathon in there or something. It was really neat; finally, we had some external proof that there was something there and some real interaction-even though it was just a little bit-with our baby. Can't wait till July!!!
Friday, October 23, 2009
RANDom thoughts
Force. The root of all evil. Think about it, what is it that makes stealing evil? That a man takes from me without my consent, that he forces me to give up or lose something that is mine. It is force, the without consent, that is the corrupting element, that is the evil, in the action. Fundamentally, the action is the same as if I’d given or sold that which was stolen: a good has been transferred. The difference between the two is my consent. Anytime we engage in force we are handling the One Ring. We are in danger of contaminating ourselves. It may be necessary, but when it is it is activated by the necessities of circumstance, by certain particulars of a specific moment. We do not carry around with us the right to use force whenever we wish. Unactivated use of force is evil. That right is activated by the use of force against us, activated for our defense. When the moment is passed, the right is no longer there. Even the rightful use of force can be corrosive; constantly carrying the arbitrary right of force would destroy a man’s soul. Governmental force, as constituted, is of this nature: perpetually active. That is why it is so dangerous-power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely-the constant presence of the right to use force is what makes the power of government corrupting. It’s heady, empowering, makes men feel like gods, superior and infallible, with a right to anything. There are only two types of men who constantly feel the right to force: men that are evil, and men who work for government. To protect ourselves from the arbitrary force of the first we instituted institutions with ultimate force, nominally limited, but because it was ultimate, it was necessarily arbitrary. Is government innately immoral?
Monday, September 14, 2009
SPIT IN HIS EYE!!!
It’s midnight. Overcast, cold, you’re in a back alley and a loan shark has you by your unmentionables backed up against the wall with a knife to your throat. The most logical thing you could do would be to spit in his eye. Right?
Late last Friday President Obama did just that. For every one dollar of goods sold to China by the United States, we import $4.46 worth of Chinese goods. In 2008 the trade deficit with China was $268 billion. Additionally, China holds almost $2 trillion dollars of our foreign debt. Financially, we aren’t in a good position with them. Not a good time to be slapping them with tariffs; that’s just what we did when President Obama levied tire tariffs on China. Their response was hardly enthusiastic, and while initial plans for retaliation only include tariffs on U.S. exports to China such as automotive parts and chicken, some in China are calling on the government to “dump” their treasury bonds. If they do…
Maybe this isn’t that big of a deal. Maybe it’ll all smooth over. But this latest turn of events is eerily reminiscent of events in the past, events that precipitated major crisis and conflict. The one that comes immediately to mind is the Smoot-Hawley tariff of 1930, which spread the Great Depression to Europe. I’m not saying history will repeat itself; I don’t think it always does. But I’m not saying it won’t. I think at times like this it pays to be informed, ready for anything. President Obama has often referred to the recent months as a “crisis.” Characteristic of a crisis, anything could happen. Be informed. Be prepared. When/if fit hits the shan, we may be all we have.
Late last Friday President Obama did just that. For every one dollar of goods sold to China by the United States, we import $4.46 worth of Chinese goods. In 2008 the trade deficit with China was $268 billion. Additionally, China holds almost $2 trillion dollars of our foreign debt. Financially, we aren’t in a good position with them. Not a good time to be slapping them with tariffs; that’s just what we did when President Obama levied tire tariffs on China. Their response was hardly enthusiastic, and while initial plans for retaliation only include tariffs on U.S. exports to China such as automotive parts and chicken, some in China are calling on the government to “dump” their treasury bonds. If they do…
Maybe this isn’t that big of a deal. Maybe it’ll all smooth over. But this latest turn of events is eerily reminiscent of events in the past, events that precipitated major crisis and conflict. The one that comes immediately to mind is the Smoot-Hawley tariff of 1930, which spread the Great Depression to Europe. I’m not saying history will repeat itself; I don’t think it always does. But I’m not saying it won’t. I think at times like this it pays to be informed, ready for anything. President Obama has often referred to the recent months as a “crisis.” Characteristic of a crisis, anything could happen. Be informed. Be prepared. When/if fit hits the shan, we may be all we have.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Plug for President Obama
March 28, 1939 marked the end of the 3 year Spanish Civil War. One would expect such a time to be a time of rejoicing, of healing, of rest. It was anything but. 193,000, by some sources, of the losing Republicans were executed by the victorious Nationalists. The reason given: the Republicans and the Nationalists had such diametrically opposed views on the way Spain should be governed that one could not permit the other to live, let alone have a voice. This may be an extreme, but it is by no means an isolated example of what happens when dialogue between two opposing people or parties is allowed to shut down and they cease to find common ground. In America we are not preparing mass executions of those who disagree with us, however, the events of the Spanish Civil War should give us pause; perhaps those on the other side aren’t evil or crazy, maybe they’re just human.
I’m not a big fan of President Obama. I don’t like his policies; I don’t like his advisors; I don’t like his pastimes and, frivolous as it may be, I don’t like the way he talks; it bugs me. When I got my hands on the text of his speech he gave to K-12 students last night, I went into it expecting-hoping, really-to find a propaganda piece that I could rip on and feel justified in complaining about the President. I was disappointed in that hope; but the fact that I was disappointed demonstrated how far I had adopted the party spirit so prevalent in America today, and, to a greater extant, in Spain 70 years ago. So this post is a plug for President Obama; for once, we agree. I can work with that.
“But at the end of the day, the circumstances of your life-what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you’ve got going on at home-that’s no excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude…That’s no excuse for not trying.” Personal responsibility. That was the essence of his speech. And in a time of government bailouts and a debate over “free” healthcare, nothing could be more pertinent. What life hands you doesn’t matter, what matters is what you do with it; I can think of few messages it would be better for the children of America to hear. Good one, Mr. President. Now if I could just change the way you talk…
I’m not a big fan of President Obama. I don’t like his policies; I don’t like his advisors; I don’t like his pastimes and, frivolous as it may be, I don’t like the way he talks; it bugs me. When I got my hands on the text of his speech he gave to K-12 students last night, I went into it expecting-hoping, really-to find a propaganda piece that I could rip on and feel justified in complaining about the President. I was disappointed in that hope; but the fact that I was disappointed demonstrated how far I had adopted the party spirit so prevalent in America today, and, to a greater extant, in Spain 70 years ago. So this post is a plug for President Obama; for once, we agree. I can work with that.
“But at the end of the day, the circumstances of your life-what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you’ve got going on at home-that’s no excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude…That’s no excuse for not trying.” Personal responsibility. That was the essence of his speech. And in a time of government bailouts and a debate over “free” healthcare, nothing could be more pertinent. What life hands you doesn’t matter, what matters is what you do with it; I can think of few messages it would be better for the children of America to hear. Good one, Mr. President. Now if I could just change the way you talk…
Saturday, July 4, 2009
The Fourth: It's Time We Remembered
It’s time we remembered.
Across the nations today people gather to celebrate. Hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and salsa. Parades, fireworks, dances. Maybe some speeches, but not too many. We wouldn’t want to get in the way of the celebrations. What exactly are we celebrating? It’s America’s birthday! Independence! Today’s the day our Founders signed the Declaration of Independence. Or voted on it. Or something like that. I forget, hand me another beer. WAHOO!!!
Today Americans party. Two hundred and thirty-two years ago, we couldn’t afford to take the time of work. Americans were locked in a titanic struggle against the superpower of the 18th century world. Less than two months after the Declaration of Independence was accepted by the Continental Congress, Washington was driven from New York with devastating losses by British General Howe. The ragtag American army was beaten again and again across New Jersey, before taking refuge across the Delaware River as the winter snows began to fall. “These are the times that try men’s souls,” wrote Thomas Paine, and indeed they were; 1776, the year of America’s birth, held some of the darkest days of the revolution. Today, we celebrate, because then, they sacrificed.
It’s time we remembered. Remembered what today is really about. It isn’t about parties or barbeques or parades, although I enjoy those things as much as anyone. It isn’t about speeches or rallies or protests. It isn’t about Republicans or Democrats. It isn’t even about freedom, really, at least not completely. It’s about sacrifice. Two hundred and thirty-two years ago our forefathers pledge to each other and to us, their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to maintain an idea. The idea that men could-and should-direct their own lives, free of unwarranted intrusion from anyone. Many did lose their fortunes, some their lives. They pledged to sacrifice their all and they did, to a degree that most modern Americans cannot begin to comprehend. It’s time we remembered what it means to sacrifice.
Today many of us are upset with the way things are going in our nation. We wish Congress would stop spending money; we wish the President wouldn’t kill flies on television (after all, that’s the worst thing he’s done, right?); we wish the Supreme Court would stop making things up from penumbras. Most of us don’t do anything about it though. Our excuse? We’re too busy. Well, with the average American watching something like 30 hours of television a week, I find that a lame excuse. If we can’t sacrifice a couple TV shows to find a way to make our voices heard in Washington, we deserve everything we get. Stand up and be counted. Scream. Call, write and email your reps in DC until they know your name and are afraid of it. Talk to your neighbors, organize. Chances are they feel the same way. Do something. If you think about it long enough, you’ll figure something out. After all, that’s what freedom really is, the right to solve your own problems.
This Fourth of July, let us take a moment and remember. Remember the cost of what we have. We are so blessed as a nation; we have no idea the way the rest of the world today and throughout history have lived. Remember the responsibility we have to maintain it for our children. Remember that, cliché as it may sound, freedom really isn’t free and, like it or not, we are the ones who have to pay that price. If we’re unwilling to, we are unworthy of our freedom.
Across the nations today people gather to celebrate. Hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and salsa. Parades, fireworks, dances. Maybe some speeches, but not too many. We wouldn’t want to get in the way of the celebrations. What exactly are we celebrating? It’s America’s birthday! Independence! Today’s the day our Founders signed the Declaration of Independence. Or voted on it. Or something like that. I forget, hand me another beer. WAHOO!!!
Today Americans party. Two hundred and thirty-two years ago, we couldn’t afford to take the time of work. Americans were locked in a titanic struggle against the superpower of the 18th century world. Less than two months after the Declaration of Independence was accepted by the Continental Congress, Washington was driven from New York with devastating losses by British General Howe. The ragtag American army was beaten again and again across New Jersey, before taking refuge across the Delaware River as the winter snows began to fall. “These are the times that try men’s souls,” wrote Thomas Paine, and indeed they were; 1776, the year of America’s birth, held some of the darkest days of the revolution. Today, we celebrate, because then, they sacrificed.
It’s time we remembered. Remembered what today is really about. It isn’t about parties or barbeques or parades, although I enjoy those things as much as anyone. It isn’t about speeches or rallies or protests. It isn’t about Republicans or Democrats. It isn’t even about freedom, really, at least not completely. It’s about sacrifice. Two hundred and thirty-two years ago our forefathers pledge to each other and to us, their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to maintain an idea. The idea that men could-and should-direct their own lives, free of unwarranted intrusion from anyone. Many did lose their fortunes, some their lives. They pledged to sacrifice their all and they did, to a degree that most modern Americans cannot begin to comprehend. It’s time we remembered what it means to sacrifice.
Today many of us are upset with the way things are going in our nation. We wish Congress would stop spending money; we wish the President wouldn’t kill flies on television (after all, that’s the worst thing he’s done, right?); we wish the Supreme Court would stop making things up from penumbras. Most of us don’t do anything about it though. Our excuse? We’re too busy. Well, with the average American watching something like 30 hours of television a week, I find that a lame excuse. If we can’t sacrifice a couple TV shows to find a way to make our voices heard in Washington, we deserve everything we get. Stand up and be counted. Scream. Call, write and email your reps in DC until they know your name and are afraid of it. Talk to your neighbors, organize. Chances are they feel the same way. Do something. If you think about it long enough, you’ll figure something out. After all, that’s what freedom really is, the right to solve your own problems.
This Fourth of July, let us take a moment and remember. Remember the cost of what we have. We are so blessed as a nation; we have no idea the way the rest of the world today and throughout history have lived. Remember the responsibility we have to maintain it for our children. Remember that, cliché as it may sound, freedom really isn’t free and, like it or not, we are the ones who have to pay that price. If we’re unwilling to, we are unworthy of our freedom.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
I'M BACK!!!
It's been almost a year since I last wrote. The original purpose of this blog was to describe adventures in Africa. Since I've been back, I've had adventures, but they've been less African. As the world around us attempts to shake itself to pieces, I thought that somebody out there might be interested in what I'm doing with my life. Might inspire you to do something with yours, other than read my blog. So welcome, my non-existent reader.
Almost three weeks ago I met Glenn Beck. The featured speaker at my university's annual fundraising gala (George Wythe Universtiy, for those of you who don't know), he got stuck at a table with 8 students. We loved it. More importantly though, he loved it. He said in his speech, "I had dinner with Michael Steele, Newt Gingrich and other high ups that don't want to be seen with me last week in DC, and I just had a better conversation tonight with these students." We hemmed and hawed in our seats, and ate it up. I'd known I'd be sitting at his table for about a month before it happened, and going there, I had 3 things on my agenda: 1. Let him see what the school was all about, and have him buy into it enough that he'd promote it. He did. 2. Have him invite us to breakfast the next morning. He did. 3. Get an internship. During breakfast I asked. His response? "I need people like you doing research for me. You guys get it. A lot of people out there don't get it." His assistant gave us his business card and told us to e-mail him in the next couple of weeks; we'd see if we could get things worked out. I just heard back from them today. Nothing's set in stone yet-I haven't even officially applied-but I'm really hoping that sometime soon, within the next six months or so, I'll be writing these entries from New York. If you believe in God, I'd appreciate the prayers. If you believe in quantum, any positive vibrations you could send my way would be appreciated as well ;-)
All in all, it was an amazing experience. America is changing; across the nation people are feeling it; the question we have to ask ourselves is is it changing for the better? And what are we doing to ensure that it does? The momentum for freedom is building; if we all start pushing, who knows where we'll end up. For a person who keeps his head on straight, a crisis is a huge opportunity for influence. Use it. It's here anyway. Keep reading; I'll let you know how it goes on my end.
Almost three weeks ago I met Glenn Beck. The featured speaker at my university's annual fundraising gala (George Wythe Universtiy, for those of you who don't know), he got stuck at a table with 8 students. We loved it. More importantly though, he loved it. He said in his speech, "I had dinner with Michael Steele, Newt Gingrich and other high ups that don't want to be seen with me last week in DC, and I just had a better conversation tonight with these students." We hemmed and hawed in our seats, and ate it up. I'd known I'd be sitting at his table for about a month before it happened, and going there, I had 3 things on my agenda: 1. Let him see what the school was all about, and have him buy into it enough that he'd promote it. He did. 2. Have him invite us to breakfast the next morning. He did. 3. Get an internship. During breakfast I asked. His response? "I need people like you doing research for me. You guys get it. A lot of people out there don't get it." His assistant gave us his business card and told us to e-mail him in the next couple of weeks; we'd see if we could get things worked out. I just heard back from them today. Nothing's set in stone yet-I haven't even officially applied-but I'm really hoping that sometime soon, within the next six months or so, I'll be writing these entries from New York. If you believe in God, I'd appreciate the prayers. If you believe in quantum, any positive vibrations you could send my way would be appreciated as well ;-)
All in all, it was an amazing experience. America is changing; across the nation people are feeling it; the question we have to ask ourselves is is it changing for the better? And what are we doing to ensure that it does? The momentum for freedom is building; if we all start pushing, who knows where we'll end up. For a person who keeps his head on straight, a crisis is a huge opportunity for influence. Use it. It's here anyway. Keep reading; I'll let you know how it goes on my end.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Life post-africa
I’ve been home for a little less than two weeks now. Life’s in full swing, as I’m writing this I’m lounging on the couch at George Wythe College, slightly pooped from a full day (full week, actually) of teaching Hebrew. I’d like to go to bed, but as the new security guard here at the school, I’m required to stay till the school closes and locks up. Fun job, makes me feel powerful. And bored.
Let me tell you a story. It’s the kind of story you’d find in Chicken Soup for the Soul, except this one is real. I met a man in Africa named Timothy. Mid twenties, single, college graduate in computer science. One of the most amazing men I have ever met in my life. Just a couple of years older than me and yet he has something I don’t plan on having for a while. Kids. 328 of them. Ever since he was a kid, Timothy wanted to be a teacher. After graduating college in computer science he worked at it for a month, then quit. It wasn’t what he wanted to do. He started teaching-for free, since he didn’t have a teaching certificate-at a small village school, just a little at first, then slowly more and more. Eventually he branched out and started his own school, not liking the way students were treated at the school he had been teaching at. He wanted to open a school for orphans and impoverished children, taking no account of the fact that he hims
elf was not exactly in the black. He found a partner, found a place, and started driving around in a van, picking kids up off the street and taking them to his school, Cranes Junior School in Mukono. He currently has 700 students, 328 of them orphans-for whom he is entirely responsible-and the rest coming from very poor families, not much better off than the orphans. The funding for the school (as well as the food, clothing, etc.) for the orphans comes from the school fees paid by the families of the other children, when they can afford it. Often they can’t. At the time I’m writing this, Timothy’s orphans are subsiding on only one meal a day, because the money simply isn’t there. Some days they just have to go without, because there is nothing for them. The thought of going without is mind boggling to us as Americans; because of the abundance around us it’s not something we’ve ever had to do. Yet it’s so common for these kids that it doesn’t even seem abnormal to them; it’s a part of their lives.
After I got back, a friend of mine (Elise Fisher, who also spent the summer in Uganda) talked with me about how we could raise money to help. Mother Teresa once said, “If you can’t feed 100 people, just feed one,” and we decided we would do what we could to feed as many as we can. Our goal is, eventually, to help Timothy get his school to be self-sufficient. Just like with our teaching, we want them to be able to keep going without the Mzungus. But that’s long
term. Short term-right now-they need money for food. I think you know where this is going. James 1:27 says, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction.” There are no widows at Cranes, but there are fatherless-and motherless-who are suffering in affliction. I ask three things. First, that you pray for Timothy and his kids, as well as for Elise and I that we’ll be able to help them in some way. Second, that you consider what you could do to help. $25 a month will feed 5 orphans for a whole month. But more than just feed; Timothy’s goal is to educate these kids, to give them a chance at life. Without him, without his school, these kids are back on the street. Is there something you could sacrifice-maybe a couple nights eating out-to make the difference in these kids’ lives? I don’t know your situation; you do. I don’t want to guilt you into doing this; I’d rather you do it because you are inspired to. If you can’t, you can’t, and I understand; I just ask that you consider it. Check out our website for more information, http://www.timothysorphans.org/ and http://timothysorphans.org/compassion/. Third, I ask that you’d share this with your friends, associates, family, heck, even the paper boy. Any one. If you have any questions, call (307-272-8118) or email me (chocolateflipper@yahoo.com). The world has a lot of problems, but one of the things I learned this summer is that you do what you can, where you can to make it a better place. If this is one of your ways to change the world, I’d like to invite you to join with me in doing some good. Slowly by slowly, to quote Ssembuze, change can, and will, happen.
Let me tell you a story. It’s the kind of story you’d find in Chicken Soup for the Soul, except this one is real. I met a man in Africa named Timothy. Mid twenties, single, college graduate in computer science. One of the most amazing men I have ever met in my life. Just a couple of years older than me and yet he has something I don’t plan on having for a while. Kids. 328 of them. Ever since he was a kid, Timothy wanted to be a teacher. After graduating college in computer science he worked at it for a month, then quit. It wasn’t what he wanted to do. He started teaching-for free, since he didn’t have a teaching certificate-at a small village school, just a little at first, then slowly more and more. Eventually he branched out and started his own school, not liking the way students were treated at the school he had been teaching at. He wanted to open a school for orphans and impoverished children, taking no account of the fact that he hims
elf was not exactly in the black. He found a partner, found a place, and started driving around in a van, picking kids up off the street and taking them to his school, Cranes Junior School in Mukono. He currently has 700 students, 328 of them orphans-for whom he is entirely responsible-and the rest coming from very poor families, not much better off than the orphans. The funding for the school (as well as the food, clothing, etc.) for the orphans comes from the school fees paid by the families of the other children, when they can afford it. Often they can’t. At the time I’m writing this, Timothy’s orphans are subsiding on only one meal a day, because the money simply isn’t there. Some days they just have to go without, because there is nothing for them. The thought of going without is mind boggling to us as Americans; because of the abundance around us it’s not something we’ve ever had to do. Yet it’s so common for these kids that it doesn’t even seem abnormal to them; it’s a part of their lives.After I got back, a friend of mine (Elise Fisher, who also spent the summer in Uganda) talked with me about how we could raise money to help. Mother Teresa once said, “If you can’t feed 100 people, just feed one,” and we decided we would do what we could to feed as many as we can. Our goal is, eventually, to help Timothy get his school to be self-sufficient. Just like with our teaching, we want them to be able to keep going without the Mzungus. But that’s long
term. Short term-right now-they need money for food. I think you know where this is going. James 1:27 says, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction.” There are no widows at Cranes, but there are fatherless-and motherless-who are suffering in affliction. I ask three things. First, that you pray for Timothy and his kids, as well as for Elise and I that we’ll be able to help them in some way. Second, that you consider what you could do to help. $25 a month will feed 5 orphans for a whole month. But more than just feed; Timothy’s goal is to educate these kids, to give them a chance at life. Without him, without his school, these kids are back on the street. Is there something you could sacrifice-maybe a couple nights eating out-to make the difference in these kids’ lives? I don’t know your situation; you do. I don’t want to guilt you into doing this; I’d rather you do it because you are inspired to. If you can’t, you can’t, and I understand; I just ask that you consider it. Check out our website for more information, http://www.timothysorphans.org/ and http://timothysorphans.org/compassion/. Third, I ask that you’d share this with your friends, associates, family, heck, even the paper boy. Any one. If you have any questions, call (307-272-8118) or email me (chocolateflipper@yahoo.com). The world has a lot of problems, but one of the things I learned this summer is that you do what you can, where you can to make it a better place. If this is one of your ways to change the world, I’d like to invite you to join with me in doing some good. Slowly by slowly, to quote Ssembuze, change can, and will, happen.
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