Political Labels

I don't know about the rest of the world, but I am sick to death of the mudslinging in the campaigns and the labels stuck on the opponents. It seems if you oppose the war, you are a traitor; if you are Democrat, you are a liberal; if you go against the "good ol' boys" network, you are a liberal. I say campaign on the issues and show the voters what YOU stand for. These races remind me of the Graddick-Baxley-Hunt fiasco of the 80s. Look where the backlash got us then! I am at the point where I would just as soon stay away from the polls as to give any candidate my vote.

Domestic issues have taken a backseat to the war; we are pouring BILLIONS into Iraq's economy and our Gulf Coast has not been rebuilt; people are still living in FEMA trailers or with family and friends; education is in dire straits; the elderly are drowning in medical bills and on and on it goes. So, because I care about these issues, I suppose I will be classified as a liberal. So be it. God knows I'd rather be a liberal than one who doesn't give a flying hoot about the citizenry of this country, about our safety at the borders and on the streets, and the welfare of the most vulnerable in our society.

I am tired of hearing about "blue" states and "red" states. How about let's talk about these United States for a change? Why don't we work on becoming united again like we were after 9/11. Our troops are dying everyday and, if we can't take care of matters on the homefront and pull this nation together, how in the name of all that's holy are we supposed to lead Iraq out of the mire and muck?

Barack Obama

I have been quite impressed with this young man. He is articulate, smart, has a grand sense of humor and, above all else, seems grounded in his faith. His single mom did a wonderful job seeing to it that he was educated and brought up in the faith., and I look forward to reading his new book,The Audacity of Hope, taken from a sermon he heard as a youngster. (Now how many us of can remember sermons of our pastors years ago?)

It is encouraging in this day and age to have a politician we can respect and I really like him and Sen. John McCain. Washington is so full of hot air; it is refreshing to have a breath of fresh air breeze through the halls of Congress.

69-AND COUNTING

I am struck by today's figures that 69 of our troops have died in Iraq in the month of October, and we're only half-way through the month. Among those were Montgomery's own Brad Payne, and Prattville's Steven Bicknell. Both of these young men left behind two very young widows, and Pvt. Bicknell's young wife is five months pregnant. How many more?

I support our military and I pray for peace. But, another 10 years? Hello! Does Vietnam ring a bell? How can we save a nation when its very foundation is being destroyed by its own people? And I wonder: how would we feel if we were in the middle of a civil war and another power came over to try to get us on track? Would we be grateful for the help? No doubt, many would, but I suspect most would react as they did during the Civil Rights Era: there would be resentment for "outsiders."

This war has divided this nation as nothing has since Vietnam. History has proven that those who protested for peace then were right about a lot of things. Protesting doesn't; mean you are un-American or that you don't support the troops.

I just wish we could find a way in this world to fight as hard for peace as we do for war. Mattie Stepanak, who died before his 14th birthday, wrote a beautiful poem, entitled "Our World." This child, ravaged by a neuromuscular disease, showed more wisdom in his young years than many adults. I might add that this was written after 9/11 when Mattie was only 11.

FOR OUR WORLD
We need to stop.
Just stop.
Stop for a moment.
Before anybody
Says or does anything
That may hurt anyone else.
We need to be silent.
Just silent.
Silent for a moment.
Before we forever lose
The blessing of songs
That grow in our hearts.
We need to notice.
Just notice.
Notice for a moment.
Before the future slips away
Into ashes and dust of humility.
Stop, be silent, and notice.
In so many ways, we are the same.
Our differences are unique treasures.
We have, we are, a mosaic of gifts
To nurture, to offer, to accept.
We need to be.
Just be.
Be for a moment.
Kind and gentle, innocent and trusting,
Like children and lambs,
Never judging or vengeful
Like the judging and vengeful.
And now, let us pray,
Differently, yet together,
Before there is no earth, no life,
No chance for peace.

September 12, 2001
© Matthew Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek
Used with permission from Hope Through Heartsongs, Hyperion, 2002

John Mark Karr

I watched John Mark Karr's interview with Larry King last night. He dodged a whole lot of questions and is as crazy as a fox. Dr. Keith Ablow interviewed him, too, and he's on the Larry King Show tonight. How this man can be let loose on society again is amazing to me. I surely wouldn't want a child near him. His thoughts and words are filthy and then he said he's a victim of the media blitz. As Larry King told him: "no one knew you existed until you created this media storm by inserting yourself into the story." And he looks like Lee Harvey Oswald!

What I would like to know is how he supported himself all these years and has been able to travel the world on a teacher's salary. How could he afford to ride around in a DeLorean in Hamilton, AL when he was a teen? I believe he's been somebody's "sweetie" all these years and that "someone" has financed his trips because he's probably very active in the porn business. So now he has access to a passport again? Guess he'll have a sex change and become an adult "JonBonet Ramsey." How sick is that!

Coming out of retirement

As a retired legal secretary, I sometimes fill in at various law firms, and am presently on a six-week assignment. Well, folks, this is why I haven't blogged! My word, how did I ever find the time to do anything when I worked full-time? I have the utmost admiration for all those working moms out there who have to get children dressed and off to school, themselves ready for work, work eight hours, run to various activities---ball practice, cheerleading practice, doctors' appointments, the grocery store, and still find time to get home, prepare dinner, spend time helping the children with their assignments and, if they are married, find time for their spouse! There is just me and my cat, Tara, and I am exhausted! When do you find time to clean house, do the laundry, RELAX? All of you deserve a gold medal and I will be the first to pin one on you!

WARRRR EAGLE!

Okay, boys! You proved you could play tonight, and what a joy it was to watch you! Now, see, had you given that effort last week, you might have won and, with USC's in trouble tonight, you could have been in the driver's seat. But, that is history, and all I can say is that the second half of tonight's game was a thriller! What a game! Now, take this with you to the field next week, and leave it all on the field again.

Thank you, Tubby!!!!

Local Marine, Brad Payne, killed in Iraq

I wondered this morning as I read this "blurb" on page one of the Tri-County section why the Talladega Motor Speedway antics took precedence over this. Here is a young man, age 23-24, on his second tour of duty to Iraq, who was killed, along with his fellow Marines, when a Humvee hit a roadside bomb; yet, we put sports before that? He was the only son of Howard and Carol Payne of Pike Road. His dad has been the pharmacist at Baptist South for many years. He died, leaving a young wife and two small children.

Why wasn't he given the same coverage as poor Officer Houts? Why didn't someone go to interview his family?

This is a military town and I am sure there are many who are shaking their heads this morning. While I am thankful that at least it appeared in the paper, if I live to be a hundred, I will never understand who at the Advertiser determines what is front-page news. Because the truth is, the paper lacks sorely in that area. This paper is an institution of the state of Alabama and more care should be given to what is determined news in your paper.

You didn't cover a deadly crash down the road on Hwy. 80 that involved a Ft. Deposit policeman, but yet you cover a "crash" at Talladega Motor Speedway. Go figure. (I might add that the White Hall crash was put in the paper the following day, after I expressed my concerns to the editorial staff.)

So, I truly hope that Brad Payne will get the homage he so rightly deserves.

Funds for police video cams and computers

While I find it admirable and touching that the family of Officer Houts is using the contributions in his name for the purchase of video cameras in the cruisers, as well as computers for the cruisers, it disturbs me that we have come to that. Why weren't our members of law enforcement, as well as those who serve with the sheriffs’ departments, and fire departments--not given FIRST PRIORITY by the City of Montgomery, rather than the Riverfront Stadium? So many officers have to work two jobs or a lot of overtime to make ends meet. And for those who are in the Guard and called away from their jobs to serve a year in Iraq, the financial hardship is worsened. Why do we put so little value on their service? We do the same for teachers, and then it takes a tragedy such as this to "open the eyes of our heart, Lord."

I think a percentage--maybe ten percent--of the revenues from the Riverfront Development should be put into the coffers for our public servants.

My nephew, Bruce Evans, died in the line of duty with the Jackson County, MS Sheriff's Department on July 18, 2000. He, too, was 30. Too many of our young men and women are being taken on the streets they are committed to "protect and serve." We, as a community, need to do more. And it starts with the City Government.

We appreciate Chief Baylor and the job he does. We have a mayor who wants to see growth in our city. But, first and foremost, we should take care of those who take care of us, and I just regret that we only recognize it when we are overwhelmed by tragedy--a tragedy for the Houts family, the Police Department, the City, and, yes, the parents of Mario Woodward. How tragic for them to know that their son is responsible for this tragedy.

I hope we all learn valuable lessons from this and make protecting our public servants more than lip service. I want us to remember this every day and make it our mission to get the materials our Police Departments, Sheriffs' Departments, and Fire Departments need and when the City considers the next budget, stop and remember Officer Houts and all the others who paid the ultimate price. Don't send them to "war" on the streets without adequate protection.

Congressman Mark Foley

It angers me to no end that Congressman Mark Foley (R-Florida), and co-chairman of the Congressional Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus, is involved in this latest cyberspace scandal. The very idea that not only a Congressman, but one who claimed to be protecting children as the co-chairman of the Congressional Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus, could send these vile messages to an underage boy, makes me want to heave. I don't care if he's a Democrat, Republican, married, gay, white, black, Christian or whatever, he is nothing more than another Mark Karr. And as vile as Mark Karr is, at least he didn't hold public office.

And when the heat is on, what does he do? He checks himself into a rehab clinic, as if that will explain away his reprehensible behavior.

And if anyone—and I do mean anyone—knew of this and didn't do anything about it, they, too, should be held accountable. The very idea that these predators can hold themselves out to be other than the scum they are is disgusting. I say dump him out of Congress and prosecute him as you would the other sexual predators.

I am sick of hearing about teachers, preachers, lawyers, congressmen---people who have access to our most valuable resource, our children—using their authority and power to satisfy their own sick urges.

Voter Guides in the Church

I am disturbed by this morning's article that "voter guides" will be distributed to churches from the former Christian Coalition of Alabama, as well as Redeem the Vote. We have separation of church and state for a reason and I believe that our pastors and church members should be in the "business" of leading people to Christ, not to the voting booth. I, for one, would not want to worship where a voting pamphlet is handed to me when I cross the threshold. Try handing out a Book of Psalms, the New Testament, or a spiritual bookmark. I think Christians can make their own decisions about who they want to vote for and I think we are treading on dangerous ground when our pulpits become entangled in politics. There is enough political grandstanding in the world today. As far as this Christian is concerned, I see no place for it in the church. If I want to go to a political rally, I will; when I go to church it is to worship the Almighty God and His Son, Jesus Christ, through choral praise, prayer and the Biblical message.