For those of you who have been reading along for a zillions years, I just wanted to let you know I've heard from the Intrepid Pigeon Fighter. He was called in to consult on a new urban animal problem. It's squirrels.
Yes, I said squirrels. He calls them rats with fluffy tails, but I think that's a bit harsh, don't you? It turns out a close friend of his has a massive squirrel infestation in the numerous oak trees surrounding her house. The problem is the squirrels discovered a heated attic was a superior dig to a ball of leaves, mud and spit wedged in the crook of a tree. Isn't that just a big surprise.
It turns out squirrels are terrible tenants. They leave acorn shells everywhere, and don't even get me started on their toilet habits. If you could overlook their sloppy housekeeping and lax attitude toward feces, it's when they get drunk on acorn tannins and binge out on the house wiring which makes these medium sized rodents tenants from hell.
I did a little research, and it turns out the Intepid Pigeon Fighter is scientifically correct: Squirrels are rodents. Their part of the rodent family tree includes marmots, guinea pigs, chipmunks, and prairie dogs. What really surprised me was to discover squirrels have an Air Force - there are ground squirrels, tree squirrels, and flying squirrels. You can recognize the ones who fly since they have those cool flight jackets with little wings pinned to the shoulders. The others are just flight mechanics and control tower geeks. Even if flying squirrels have an element of cool, IPF's friend shouldn't have to share her house with squirrel slobs. I mean, it's not like she advertised on Craig's List for roomies.
The IPF's friend did manage to finally get the original house squirrels evicted, but after the eviction, every time she went outside and looked up into her trees, she could see the squirrels plotting to reinstate themselves in her attic. It was time for drastic measures. She called in the Intrepid Pigeon Fighter for a consultation. First, he suggested she rent a cherry picker and coat the trees with tasty poison. She tactfully pointed out while the squirrels would be toppling dead out of her trees, so would all the birds. She doesn't have a thing against birds.
He made another drastic suggestion: Shoot them out of the trees. He keeps a gun totin', beer drinking buddy on his Rolodex just for emergencies like this. (Yes, I said Rolodex. The Intepid Pigeon Fighter thinks all this silly electronic stuff will eventually fade away, and he'll still have his trusty Rolodex. That's another whole topic - back to the squirrel problem.)
The plan would be for Deadeye to shoot the squirrels out of the trees. He'd do the job just for the cost of the bullets and all the light beers he could drink while shooting. Then, the IPF would jump into action. In his plastic rain poncho and rain pants, with his hands sheathed in a pair of yellow latex kitchen gloves, he would pick up all the dead squirrel bodies and load them into double strength trash bags. Then, it would just be a matter of buying a jumbo sized plot at the local pet cemetery. Whether or not to have a funeral service would be at his friend's discretion. While this would certainly be a squirrel problem solution, the IPF's friend wondered aloud if there might be a tiny little problem with shooting off a gun inside the city limits.
Grudgingly, the Intrepid Pigeon Fighter got on board with his friend's totally unorthodox approach: Humane traps with peanut butter bait paired with re-location. Ten miles from the friend's house is Turkey Mountain. It's a wilderness area which is home to a gorgeous squirrel condominium development. I mean, it's squirrel heaven: large nut bearing trees, moss covered ground which means cushioned landings for their air force, a seasonal swimming pool/ice rink and best of all: no cars. You just can't teach squirrels to look both ways when they cross streets, and a lack of cars cuts down on squirrel funerals. Now, if the squirrels can just get the Pecan Processing Plant they've been negotiating for, Turkey Mountain would be perfect.
This plan does require quite a bit of work. We are talking MAJOR OPERATION: Sneak out in the dead of night to set and bait the trap(s). Up at dawn lurking with binoculars for reconn. And, then, loading any trapped squirrels into her car and driving them to the Turkey Mountain condos. The squirrels are fighting back. They now won't touch bargain basement peanut butter; they've started holding out for organic. And, she had to argue long and hard with the Squirrel Negotiating Committee to obtain the agreement their members wouldn't try to dig up and take all their buried acorns before relocation. It's become a battle of wits, but she's winning.
Having not heard from his friend all summer, the Intrepid Pigeon Fighter was happy to receive a call this week with an update. The friend was crowing she'd relocated 38 squirrels and counting. The Squirrel Negotiating Committee is satisfied with the new Turkey Mountain condos, and they've formed a Welcome Wagon group for the newcomers.
Now, there are plans afoot for the IPF to start a new small business: HAVE SQUIRRELS? WILL RELOCATE. Of course, the Intrepid Pigeon Fighter will need to attach a big plastic squirrel to the top of his car. It's free publicity, baby. I wonder what he's going to do with the big pigeon he usually drives around with.
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Friday, September 20, 2019
Weather Girl
Well, you can take the girl out of Oklahoma, but, well, you know the rest. I've been fleeing Oklahoma most of my life. Early on it was the provincial aspects. In 1972 there wasn't really any great art - not according to my limited 22 year old perspective. It wasn't until eons later I realized the wealth of Native American art the state possesses. Gilcrease, in my hometown of Tulsa, is a small museum dedicated to Native American art and is considered one of the finest in the country. The ballet was (and is) woeful, and the theater offerings not much better. Most cultural events still arrive and leave sometimes after giving only a single performance.
Perhaps that longing to see the great paintings of the world and to watch great dancers and actors live is one of the reasons I've been so delighted to live in NYC. This Saturday we are headed to the New York City Ballet to see a performance of 'Jewels', a famous ballet choreographed by George Balanchine. He's probably the most well known ballet choreographer of the 20th century.
All of that aside, what utterly amused me is today I wore a sweater in September. It was 55 degrees when I took off for the store this morning at 8:00 am, and even as hot natured as I am, that was distinctly chilly. Growing up in Tulsa, it was often chilly in the mornings in late September. (This was prior to the warming trend that is currently assailing all of the continent.) That chill is the reason none of my schools were air conditioned. School didn't ever start until the Tuesday after Labor Day, and if you sweated the first few weeks, well, kids could just suck it up since sweater weather was just around the corner.
If I'm wearing a sweater in September before my birthday, I'm beginning to comprehend my daughter's comment that I was going to need 'over the ankle' snow boots for the coming winter. I think I'm in denial. The last time I experienced WINTER with a capital W was when I lived in Oklahoma while at college. Believe me, Norman (home of Oklahoma University) wind chill hovered below freezing for way, way too many days. Man, was I ever glad I owned a 'maxi coat' - a short lived fashion trend of the early 70's in which winter coats hit your ankles. These long coats were the only really practical solution to problem of winter temps and mini skirts. {Aside: To those too young to remember, a proper mini skirt hit just below your butt curve, and cold air would cause goose bumps in unexpected places. FYI mini skirts fueled the take off of panty hose.}
There was certainly never anything even remotely approaching winter in either Houston or New Orleans which were our homes for about 20 years. Shoot, there wasn't even four distinct seasons in those towns - just horribly hot and humid and mildly hot and humid. It wasn't until we moved to Hurst, Texas (between Dallas and Fort Worth) that I even saw a turned leaf. There are four seasons there - but winter lasts one month. Not snow boot weather.
In New York you walk everywhere, or at least walk to transit to get to your destination. I can see that waterproof is going to be a necessity since I've already seen 4" deep water at the intersections during rain. I've been investigating. Apparently, there are 'rain boots'. These are waterproof shoes - Sperry has been making this type of shoe since rich people started boating. These shoes have sort of slopped over into urban wear. They can be low cut or above the ankle. These also come in the snow boot variety which is different from rain shoes in that there's a faux fur or flannel lining. There are also galoshes which are all rubber boots similar to the child's version. Basically, they just keep your feet dry except when they sweat because, well, they are rubber.
My plan is to try on snow boots some time next week at the DSW, and then decide. Naturally, this will be torturous because of my damn feet. Hopefully, I can find something round toed that doesn't cost a zillion or even half a zillion dollars. I don't want to be stuck with a pair of shoes I MIGHT wear once a year after this grand adventure comes to a close.
So, one more thing to be fascinated about up here in NY - the weather which is the result of a different weather pattern than what I'm used to. At least I'm not having to keep an eye out for tornadoes, and the ragweed is mild rather than virulent. Always a silver lining.
P.S. UPDATE: I bought calf high, waterproof, faux fur lined snow boots with a zipper down the side for easy on/off. WOW! I can't believe it.
Perhaps that longing to see the great paintings of the world and to watch great dancers and actors live is one of the reasons I've been so delighted to live in NYC. This Saturday we are headed to the New York City Ballet to see a performance of 'Jewels', a famous ballet choreographed by George Balanchine. He's probably the most well known ballet choreographer of the 20th century.
All of that aside, what utterly amused me is today I wore a sweater in September. It was 55 degrees when I took off for the store this morning at 8:00 am, and even as hot natured as I am, that was distinctly chilly. Growing up in Tulsa, it was often chilly in the mornings in late September. (This was prior to the warming trend that is currently assailing all of the continent.) That chill is the reason none of my schools were air conditioned. School didn't ever start until the Tuesday after Labor Day, and if you sweated the first few weeks, well, kids could just suck it up since sweater weather was just around the corner.
If I'm wearing a sweater in September before my birthday, I'm beginning to comprehend my daughter's comment that I was going to need 'over the ankle' snow boots for the coming winter. I think I'm in denial. The last time I experienced WINTER with a capital W was when I lived in Oklahoma while at college. Believe me, Norman (home of Oklahoma University) wind chill hovered below freezing for way, way too many days. Man, was I ever glad I owned a 'maxi coat' - a short lived fashion trend of the early 70's in which winter coats hit your ankles. These long coats were the only really practical solution to problem of winter temps and mini skirts. {Aside: To those too young to remember, a proper mini skirt hit just below your butt curve, and cold air would cause goose bumps in unexpected places. FYI mini skirts fueled the take off of panty hose.}
There was certainly never anything even remotely approaching winter in either Houston or New Orleans which were our homes for about 20 years. Shoot, there wasn't even four distinct seasons in those towns - just horribly hot and humid and mildly hot and humid. It wasn't until we moved to Hurst, Texas (between Dallas and Fort Worth) that I even saw a turned leaf. There are four seasons there - but winter lasts one month. Not snow boot weather.
In New York you walk everywhere, or at least walk to transit to get to your destination. I can see that waterproof is going to be a necessity since I've already seen 4" deep water at the intersections during rain. I've been investigating. Apparently, there are 'rain boots'. These are waterproof shoes - Sperry has been making this type of shoe since rich people started boating. These shoes have sort of slopped over into urban wear. They can be low cut or above the ankle. These also come in the snow boot variety which is different from rain shoes in that there's a faux fur or flannel lining. There are also galoshes which are all rubber boots similar to the child's version. Basically, they just keep your feet dry except when they sweat because, well, they are rubber.
My plan is to try on snow boots some time next week at the DSW, and then decide. Naturally, this will be torturous because of my damn feet. Hopefully, I can find something round toed that doesn't cost a zillion or even half a zillion dollars. I don't want to be stuck with a pair of shoes I MIGHT wear once a year after this grand adventure comes to a close.
So, one more thing to be fascinated about up here in NY - the weather which is the result of a different weather pattern than what I'm used to. At least I'm not having to keep an eye out for tornadoes, and the ragweed is mild rather than virulent. Always a silver lining.
P.S. UPDATE: I bought calf high, waterproof, faux fur lined snow boots with a zipper down the side for easy on/off. WOW! I can't believe it.
Sunday, August 25, 2019
Coney Island
As you can see, Coney "Island" is now a misnomer. It was divided from the Brooklyn mainland by a slender creek which was continually accumulating silt. Gradually, the slender sliver of water between the mainland and this western most barrier island of Long Island became a land fill. Coney Island became not an island at all, but a peninsula which hangs off the south end of Brooklyn like a dangling foot. The island was discovered in 1609 by Henry Hudson, the English explorer who spent much of his exploration time looking for a sea passage across Canada and the northern United States to China. Geography of the Earth was a little sketchy in the 17th century.
However, it was the Dutch who originally settled the New York City area, and the name 'Coney' is thought to be a English corruption of the Dutch word for rabbit. Truthfully, though, no one really knows this for a fact. Today, Coney Island is a Brooklyn neighborhood of about 30,000 people. The southern shore of the island has been a seaside destination for all of New York City since the mid 1800's.
The Coney Island heyday began in 1880 and continued until post WWII. Coney Island amusements represented the change in the leisure activities of Americans. People immigrated from overseas, or left rural areas, and flocked to the cities. 19th century/early 20th century urbanites had no desire or even ability to 'sit on the front porch' during their limited leisure hours. Huge numbers of the New York City population were desperate to escape their tenements, especially during the hot New York summers. Large urban parks as well as large mechanized amusement parks showcasing electric lights, and other marvels of the roaring Industrial Revolution were constructed all over the country in response to the thirst for leisure entertainment.
The three amusement parks (Luna, Dreamland, & Steeplechase) on Coney Island represented the pinnacle of amusement parks of the era. Adding the seashore into the entertainment mix made Coney Island a 'must go' destination. Completion of the Brooklyn Bridge as well as electric trolleys and finally a subway line opened up Coney Island to all of New York City. A boardwalk system was completed in order to disperse the large crowds flocking to the island. We walked along the Rigelman Boardwalk completed in 1924.
The post war suburban flight together with expanded leisure opportunities sent the Coney Island amusement parks into a long slow decline. Today, there has been a recent revival of the amusement parks on Coney Island due largely to a new minor league baseball stadium as well as the revamping of the New York Aquarium. The beach looks well clean, groomed, and it's even handicapped accessible. And, there's lots of neon and fast food opportunities all along the boardwalk.
 |
| Luna Amusement Park |
 |
| Drake standing on the Boardwalk looking out over the Atlantic Ocean |
Of course, we had to eat here. Drake went for the hot dog, which is a recipe devised by Nathan's wife in 1916, and still made exactly to that recipe today. The french fries were fresh cut and the onion rings perfect. No wonder these folks are still in business. Each 4th of July there's a 'hot dog eating' contest which is baffling and nauseating to me, but it's wildly popular. The current champ ate 71 hot dogs this year. (Barf!)
This is a fascinating place. You can feel the 19th century working class marveling at the wonders in the amusement parks and the excitement of the side shows, the barkers, the moving pictures, and the carnival atmosphere which was available any day you caught the trolley to the island. Today, the atmosphere is more sedate and in many ways less exciting, but it's still like a carnival, and it's still available any day you catch the Q or B Subway lines to their southern terminus.
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Broadway
There's no finer live acting in the world than on Broadway from drama to comedy to musical theater. The trick is to get tickets which don't require you to sell one of your children. There's a thriving business based on getting 'discount Broadway show tickets', so you don't have to choose a child to sacrifice.
In 1955 the cost of a balcony ticket was $2.30 and an orchestra seat was $4.90. Of course, gas was $.23 a gallon, and the average income was $4,137 annually. The average Broadway ticket this year is $122. The 2019 median salary for men was $51K (while women only earned 80% of that). If you do a multiplier...., well, a Broadway ticket in the orchestra should cost about $50 a ticket. However, if you want to see Jeff Daniels in "To Kill a Mockingbird" expect to pay about $400 a ticket.
Today, we went to see a Broadway show which debuted in 1943: "Oklahoma!". It ran for five years and grossed $7 million dollars. The show was revived this year, and it is an electrifying re-imagination of this ground breaking show with book and lyrics by Rogers & Hammerstein. "Oklahoma!" kicked off a collaboration between those two men which dominated Broadway throughout the 1950's.
The 2019 show included Tony nominated artists, as well as cornbread and chili served to the audience at the intermission. Agnes DeMille's breathtaking choreography in the original version, which included ballet in the middle of a musical, was also re-imagined. The re-imagination paid homage to Ms. DeMille, but also had a modern edge which worked. This show ran THREE HOURS. Unheard of in this day of 90 minute attention spans. Basically, this was a wonderful performance in a venue which enhanced it. (Circle on the Square Theater).
We managed to get half price tickets by taking the subway to the seaport ticket booth of TKTS yesterday. These are the NY people who market tickets which haven't sold by the day of the performance. You can get some incredible tickets if you are willing to attend the theater the same night you get the tickets or the next day matinee. We paid 'half price' for our tickets - just about the price they should be according to the multiplier.
I know many people feel we are doing something with our lives which they don't understand. (Believe me when I tell you there are days we don't understand why we are doing this.) Our kiddos can certainly afford to pay for child care, but we are committed to getting our grandson off to a good start. You only get that kind of care using someone who actually has a stake in the child's welfare.
As a perk of doing this incredible upheaval to our lives, we've decided not to miss all the opportunities which New York City offers. Broadway shows are one of them.
In 1955 the cost of a balcony ticket was $2.30 and an orchestra seat was $4.90. Of course, gas was $.23 a gallon, and the average income was $4,137 annually. The average Broadway ticket this year is $122. The 2019 median salary for men was $51K (while women only earned 80% of that). If you do a multiplier...., well, a Broadway ticket in the orchestra should cost about $50 a ticket. However, if you want to see Jeff Daniels in "To Kill a Mockingbird" expect to pay about $400 a ticket.
Today, we went to see a Broadway show which debuted in 1943: "Oklahoma!". It ran for five years and grossed $7 million dollars. The show was revived this year, and it is an electrifying re-imagination of this ground breaking show with book and lyrics by Rogers & Hammerstein. "Oklahoma!" kicked off a collaboration between those two men which dominated Broadway throughout the 1950's.
The 2019 show included Tony nominated artists, as well as cornbread and chili served to the audience at the intermission. Agnes DeMille's breathtaking choreography in the original version, which included ballet in the middle of a musical, was also re-imagined. The re-imagination paid homage to Ms. DeMille, but also had a modern edge which worked. This show ran THREE HOURS. Unheard of in this day of 90 minute attention spans. Basically, this was a wonderful performance in a venue which enhanced it. (Circle on the Square Theater).
We managed to get half price tickets by taking the subway to the seaport ticket booth of TKTS yesterday. These are the NY people who market tickets which haven't sold by the day of the performance. You can get some incredible tickets if you are willing to attend the theater the same night you get the tickets or the next day matinee. We paid 'half price' for our tickets - just about the price they should be according to the multiplier.
I know many people feel we are doing something with our lives which they don't understand. (Believe me when I tell you there are days we don't understand why we are doing this.) Our kiddos can certainly afford to pay for child care, but we are committed to getting our grandson off to a good start. You only get that kind of care using someone who actually has a stake in the child's welfare.
As a perk of doing this incredible upheaval to our lives, we've decided not to miss all the opportunities which New York City offers. Broadway shows are one of them.
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
One World Trade Center Observatory
Back to our old touring ways. C is in upstate New York with his parents on a week long vacation. He went hiking and swimming today, so he's in high cotton.
Drake and I are also ecstatic! We get a week off - after our first time to keep C overnight, and for the weekend.
We thought about taking a cruise to Bermuda, but that's four days on a BOAT and three days on land - not my idea of a good time. We also thought about going out onto Long Island, but instead we decided to play around Manhattan. Believe me, you never, ever run out of new things to do.
Monday, we just rested and puttered. Today, we took ourselves off to TKTS - the discount ticket outlet for Broadway shows. There's one at the Seaport (far south Manhattan island - the Battery area). It's also the World Trade Center area where the 911 Memorial and the Observatory on top of One World Trade Center. We'd already been to the Memorial, so we decided to take in the Observatory because it was a bright and sunny day.
The Observatory is 1200 feet up. 100 stories above the street.
We thought about taking a cruise to Bermuda, but that's four days on a BOAT and three days on land - not my idea of a good time. We also thought about going out onto Long Island, but instead we decided to play around Manhattan. Believe me, you never, ever run out of new things to do.
Monday, we just rested and puttered. Today, we took ourselves off to TKTS - the discount ticket outlet for Broadway shows. There's one at the Seaport (far south Manhattan island - the Battery area). It's also the World Trade Center area where the 911 Memorial and the Observatory on top of One World Trade Center. We'd already been to the Memorial, so we decided to take in the Observatory because it was a bright and sunny day.
The Observatory is 1200 feet up. 100 stories above the street.
There were wonderful views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
as well as the Brooklyn Bridge
Of course, the observatory is all about the views of Manhattan, New Jersey, and Brooklyn.
Check out the pictures:
Oh, and we scored half price tickets to Oklahoma! at TKTS. The show is a hot musical revival on Broadway.
Wednesday, August 7, 2019
Off to the Met
We got a day off from this new job, and thus, we hightailed it to the Metropolitan Museum of Art since there were some wonderful new exhibits - including quite a bit of Oriental art. The great thing about the Met is you go to see one thing, and something else pops up which is better than what you went to see.
This time that honor goes to "Essential Korea". We just sort of wandered into these galleries on our way to the Kyoto exhibit. It turns out the South Korean government sent some national treasures. And, Korean art created in the 12th century looks like something turned out in 2019. The clean, modern quality of this country's art was striking.
We began with the moon. The Met has an exhibit focusing on moon photography in honor of the 50th anniversary of the United States landing on the moon. Prior to satellites, the best photos of the moon's surface were actually taken by a couple of Frenchmen in the early 20th century. Those pictures were interesting from an historical point of view.
What was really amusing was the 1969 'console TV' in which Armstrong's first step onto the moon was being played in a constant loop. People were sitting around and watching that TV just as people did 50 years ago. I was working the graveyard shift at the nursing home the summer of 1969 and just by chance, the day/night of the moon walk was my day off. Remember how dramatic it all was, and how it took hours and hours for that 'first step' to happen?
I also wanted to see the new contemporary art exhibition called "Epic Abstraction - Pollock to Herrera". And, once more, something unexpected. There was this absolutely phenomenal pink granite statue which was nine interlocking pieces held together by two pins. Drake speculated the pins had to be on the bottom. Pins sunk into the floor would hold the sculpture steady, so it wouldn't fall over.
I saw a new artist, Sam Gilliam, (well, he's new to me), who attracted my eye with his color palette.
And, to my delight there was an enormous piece by Louise Nevelson. (She's one of my fav modern artists.) She was a native New Yorker who took 'found art' to a new level. Her pieces are instantly recognizable - they are all painted flat black and are assembled pieces of wood (and other stuff) she has 'found'. All major museums in the United States own at least one of her pieces. This piece was about 15' x 15' and incredibly intricate. It took her 13 years to complete it, and she thought of it as her crowning masterpiece. Upon her death, she willed it to the Met. Her art is surprising and fun.
What I thought would be the number one exhibit was basically the history of art created in Kyoto - the ancient name for modern Tokyo. This exhibit was one superbly beautiful object after another including more priceless treasures sent over by Japan. Here's one of my favorites
This is a document box from the early 1700's. My picture doesn't really do it justice.
This time that honor goes to "Essential Korea". We just sort of wandered into these galleries on our way to the Kyoto exhibit. It turns out the South Korean government sent some national treasures. And, Korean art created in the 12th century looks like something turned out in 2019. The clean, modern quality of this country's art was striking.
We began with the moon. The Met has an exhibit focusing on moon photography in honor of the 50th anniversary of the United States landing on the moon. Prior to satellites, the best photos of the moon's surface were actually taken by a couple of Frenchmen in the early 20th century. Those pictures were interesting from an historical point of view.
What was really amusing was the 1969 'console TV' in which Armstrong's first step onto the moon was being played in a constant loop. People were sitting around and watching that TV just as people did 50 years ago. I was working the graveyard shift at the nursing home the summer of 1969 and just by chance, the day/night of the moon walk was my day off. Remember how dramatic it all was, and how it took hours and hours for that 'first step' to happen?
I also wanted to see the new contemporary art exhibition called "Epic Abstraction - Pollock to Herrera". And, once more, something unexpected. There was this absolutely phenomenal pink granite statue which was nine interlocking pieces held together by two pins. Drake speculated the pins had to be on the bottom. Pins sunk into the floor would hold the sculpture steady, so it wouldn't fall over.
 |
| Noguchi - "Kouros" - 1945 |
I saw a new artist, Sam Gilliam, (well, he's new to me), who attracted my eye with his color palette.
 |
| This is called "Whirlirama" |
 |
| Mrs. N's Palace |
There were several screens, but my favorite was this one:
From this angle, there's a slight optical illusion. It looks like you could 'walk across' this golden bridge.
There was also an exquisite kimono filled with hand embroidery. Not surprising I was enamored with this piece.
There are also some odds and ends of American decorative art. as well as Drake posing in front of a set of baseball cards which he swears he owned as a child. (These priceless cards were tossed in one of their many family moves, and is, on occasion, still discussed.....)
As always there are tons of pictures
Saturday, July 20, 2019
I'm Standing Up
My platform is small. The number of people who will actually read this silly blog is small. However, unlike many I DO have this small platform. For some time now I've been inching closer and closer to the realization we are running concentration camps at our Southwestern borders. We call them 'detention camps', and we don't deliberately exterminate anyone. However, if, let's say, children die in our custody; well, that's just their bad luck isn't it?
We've allowed an economic and race issue to overwhelm our societal moral compass. Well, hey, it's REALLY about border security not economics and race, you say? OK, I accept your premise. Now, how do you justify the conditions in the camps?
The President and the Vice-President tell us that everything in the camps is just fine. Well, it's not. People are being held without adequate sanitary facilities. People are being held packed into locked rooms so tightly that everyone in them can't even lay down to sleep. Even if they could, there's no bedding. People are being held without access to shower facilities for weeks. Then, there's the children. How are they about border security? How is denying children basic living conditions ever OK? And that's on top of separating them from their adult caretakers.
Well, obviously, "these people" (let's be sure and make them 'other' - not 'us') should just stay in their own countries. My question is this: How terrible must their living conditions be in their own countries to risk themselves and their children to come here. In this day of instant access, do you think these immigrants seeking asylum don't know about the camps? I guess even these deplorable camps are preferable to starvation, rape, torture and death, so they must not be so bad. If you don't think so, then you haven't used your 'instant access' to hear or read about the facts. Here's your chance:
https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/politics/elections/2019/07/16/migrant-detention-centers-described-2019-us-government-accounts/1694638001/
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/07/border-patrols-oversight-sick-migrant-children/593224/
Did you just skip over those links? OK - fine. Don't read about the camps. Pretend not to know about them. Here's another consideration. Are we a religious nation or not? We tell the world we are. Most of us believe in God. Most of us identify with the ethics espoused by the big three (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) when asked. I am a Christian. More specifically, I'm a Methodist. My brand of Christianity speaks out against injustice by action. This is my action since UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) isn't being allowed into the camps to bring relief even though they have been involved in humanitarian crisis around the world since post WWII.
I refuse to be silent and by my silence endorse the conditions at detention camps. Stand up. Tell your friends. Ask your Congress person why they are letting this happen. Stand up in your church and ask why are we letting this happen. If you believe all the media is corrupt and with an 'agenda', well, here's some media it's pretty hard for a Christian to dispute:
"For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.
They also answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
He will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
(Matthew 25:42-45 - New International Version)
If you choose to do nothing because after all, you're only one voice and can't make a difference, then, so be it. I don't believe that. I stand with Edmund Burke: "Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little."
We've allowed an economic and race issue to overwhelm our societal moral compass. Well, hey, it's REALLY about border security not economics and race, you say? OK, I accept your premise. Now, how do you justify the conditions in the camps?
The President and the Vice-President tell us that everything in the camps is just fine. Well, it's not. People are being held without adequate sanitary facilities. People are being held packed into locked rooms so tightly that everyone in them can't even lay down to sleep. Even if they could, there's no bedding. People are being held without access to shower facilities for weeks. Then, there's the children. How are they about border security? How is denying children basic living conditions ever OK? And that's on top of separating them from their adult caretakers.
Well, obviously, "these people" (let's be sure and make them 'other' - not 'us') should just stay in their own countries. My question is this: How terrible must their living conditions be in their own countries to risk themselves and their children to come here. In this day of instant access, do you think these immigrants seeking asylum don't know about the camps? I guess even these deplorable camps are preferable to starvation, rape, torture and death, so they must not be so bad. If you don't think so, then you haven't used your 'instant access' to hear or read about the facts. Here's your chance:
https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/politics/elections/2019/07/16/migrant-detention-centers-described-2019-us-government-accounts/1694638001/
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/07/border-patrols-oversight-sick-migrant-children/593224/
Did you just skip over those links? OK - fine. Don't read about the camps. Pretend not to know about them. Here's another consideration. Are we a religious nation or not? We tell the world we are. Most of us believe in God. Most of us identify with the ethics espoused by the big three (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) when asked. I am a Christian. More specifically, I'm a Methodist. My brand of Christianity speaks out against injustice by action. This is my action since UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) isn't being allowed into the camps to bring relief even though they have been involved in humanitarian crisis around the world since post WWII.
I refuse to be silent and by my silence endorse the conditions at detention camps. Stand up. Tell your friends. Ask your Congress person why they are letting this happen. Stand up in your church and ask why are we letting this happen. If you believe all the media is corrupt and with an 'agenda', well, here's some media it's pretty hard for a Christian to dispute:
"For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.
They also answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
He will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
(Matthew 25:42-45 - New International Version)
If you choose to do nothing because after all, you're only one voice and can't make a difference, then, so be it. I don't believe that. I stand with Edmund Burke: "Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)