September 2007
How often do we hear about how we should "give back?" We are told, preached to, implored and very nearly beat over the head that we all must contribute and give to charitable organizations and events.
I do believe that as human beings sharing the world with one another we have a certain obligation to help and/or aid those in need. Those of us in a somewhat better financial position donating to a non-profit organization or "cause" is one way to "give back" to society. It is noble and humanitarian; however, it also seems that the less some of us may have to donate the more requests for donations we receive.
There seems to be a telethon, mail or telephone campaign for every disease, disorder, "cause" and "issue." I’ve been asked to attend a "steak fry" to donate to someone’s illness or endeavor to raise money. Non-profit organizations call my house asking for money.
We’d all like to solve all the world’s problems, wouldn’t we? Alas, we cannot; all we can do is what we are able to do. I’m a bit of a sensitive soul at times and would love to be able to give to every organization, "cause" and "issue" that moves me. However, financial limitations prevent me, and many of us, from being able to do so. After all, as much as we’d like to contribute, we have our own lives to deal with though we would like to be able to contribute something; it often comes down to keeping our electricity on or food for ourselves.
"Giving back" and support doesn’t necessarily mean giving to telethons, societies, political programs, and etc. money. It isn’t solely about those less fortunate, in trouble or wanting.
We gladly give to many. I’m thinking about our United States Armed Service people. Depending on our own politics, we aren’t so giving and supportive of them, are we? We may disagree with how they are deployed and/or used, but the men and women in our Armed Services should not be the targets of disdain and attacks by the American people. These men and women have devoted their lives to our Country and to us, the American People. It is sinful for any American to act out against them because of what one disagrees with the Government. They are tools of the government, soldiers; doing the patriotic duty which they have sworn and devoted themselves. Think of it another way: would one despise our Armed Services if one is being protected from harm that actually affects one’s life? No, then one would be happy and supportive of them.
It is not conscionable that we don’t support our servicemen and women. We can, however, in at least a small way.
We all know Xerox, don’t we? Sure we do … the copier people. What many of us may not know about Xerox is the company’s commitment to "giving back."
Xerox is sponsoring a program called "Let’s Say Thanks" on the Internet. What is it? I’ll let Xerox say it: "To honor U.S. military personnel and increase community morale, Xerox Corporation has created Let's Say Thanks, a national program designed to deliver millions of cards to servicemen and women overseas with messages of support from home … The Let’s Say Thanks program provides one more outlet for the company to deliver value to the community and support the men and women stationed overseas … Postcards sent through LetsSayThanks.com will be delivered to men and women from all military branches deployed on active duty around the globe - including Iraq, Afghanistan and Asia."
Xerox’s partner in this program is Give2TheTroops. "Give2TheTroops® is a non-profit organization formed to support the physical, moral, and spiritual health of America's armed forces in combat zones around the world through the letters and packages prepared and shipped by volunteers. It is incorporated and certified as a non-profit charitable organization. The organization is managed by volunteers who ensure that deployed U.S. military members in all branches of service are supported with letters and care packages."
It’s very easy for us to sit here at home and go about our daily lives and forget what is happening outside our own little worlds. It’s not that we actually forget, of course, but we are often caught up in our own lives and don’t really know what we could do anyway to show our love and support to those brave men and women in our armed forces. Men and women, who are not only risking and sacrificing for the call of their Country, but are away from family, friends … away from HOME.
Frankly, most of us cannot even imagine it. Whether or not we agree with what our armed forces are being called to do, the fact is, those in our military are away from HOME and family and deserve our respect and support. Regardless our own personal "political beliefs," these men and women serving our Country, serving US, deserve our respect, love and support.
Xerox and Give2TheTroops have given us an opportunity to show our support of their endeavors, their dedication, and their patriotic duties. As citizens at home, we owe them our support. Through the "Let’s Say Thanks" program, we are able to show them.
Let’s let our military men and women know that we support them and we are thankful for their commitment and the sacrifices they have made to serve the United States of America.
The Internet link to send a postcard of love and support to the brave men and women in our armed forces is:
http://www.letssaythanks.com/Home1024.html
Let’s say thanks and let them know that we at Home are thinking of them, praying for them, grateful for them and want them safe. As American citizens, we owe them our support and love.
Like most West Virginians, I was disappointed to see "Wild Wonderful West Virginia" be replaced. "West Virginia: Open For Business," what was THAT?
Now, our Governor is asking us for suggestions to replace "West Virginia: Open for Business."
How about:
"Detour: Road Closed."
Well, maybe that’s just the frustration speaking, at least here in Wheeling. If one can get INTO Wheeling, the odds of getting back out are laden with delays and detours. We’ll not even go into the Wheeling Tunnel fiasco!
Let’s go back to "Almost Heaven." Or "Wild Wonderful West Virginia."
After all, there was a SONG written about West Virginia. "Almost heaven, West Virginia…Take me home, country roads to the place where I belong…all my memories gather ‘round her, miner’s lady, stranger to blue water; dark and dusty painted on the sky; misty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eye…I hear her voice in the morning’ hours she calls me, the radio reminds me of my home far away; and drivin’ down the road I get a feeling that I should have been home yesterday…….yesterday."
Do we not love our state? Of course we do! We may not always be happy or content with certain economic, governmental or political aspects of our home, but that is common to anyone living anywhere.
The last line of that song rings true for so many. Many native West Virginians have left home only to come back again. "I get a feeling I should have been home yesterday." West Virginia IS HOME. Let’s regain our pride and show it to the rest of the country; display our love for our state on our roadways and invite visitors and passers-through to enjoy the beauty that we call home.
"Almost Heaven." Regardless of the economic hardships and struggles we face, what we have here is more than many other places. We have community; we share our struggles together; we bear our burdens with one another; add that to what surrounds us, the hills and mountains and rivers and woods and forests and nature’s other beauties….yeah, West Virginia is almost Heaven.
It’s September, actually mid-September. I woke up this morning and sat in my kitchen drinking coffee, reading a book as is my morning routine. I finished Confessions Of An Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire (author of Wicked and Son of a Witch.) What a terrific book. Wicked was the story of "the wicked witch of the west" that told the story of the green-skinned from "The Wizard of Oz." Now, "The Wizard of Oz" is my all-time favorite film. It was funny while I was reading Wicked because I had to keep reminding myself that it was NOT a historical account; so ingrained is the film in our memories, consciousness and a piece of Americana (in fact, the Library of Congress and the National Film Preservation Board declared the film a "national treasure" which prohibited editing during broadcast.) Confessions Of An Ugly Stepsister is another novel along the same lines. It is the story behind "Cinderella." I encourage all to read these books.
Anyway, this morning as I was drinking my coffee and reading I noticed that it was chilly. The breeze blowing through my open kitchen window was quite chilly. Ahhh, autumn; I could feel it and smell it. I don’t really know how a season can have a smell but autumn does have a scent that let’s you know. Before I knew it, I was actually shivering from the chill in the air. Unlike other members of my family who are weather-freaks and actually understand "Doplar Radar," I didn’t know it was going to get this chilly.
I think autumn is my favorite time of year, the seasonal transition from summer to winter. There is a beauty in autumn. The leaves on trees turn from green to glorious golden yellows, oranges and reds; they release their grip on the limbs which hold them to their branches and fall to the ground. The air is crisp, the sky seems somehow clearer than in those hot, humid and hazy days of summer.
Autumn also brings forth Halloween at the end of October. I’ve never been a fan of Halloween. I never liked the "holiday." As a young child I think it scared me. Of course my mother didn’t like it, so I may have just picked up on her dislike as well. As a young boy I would don the plastic mask and costume and "trick or treat." However, it was much safer then than it is now. We were escorted by my father and every house went to knew us and we knew them. But I never really enjoyed it and as soon as I could I stopped participating in Halloween.
Then came my godson (the most perfect child on earth.) He and I, each Halloween, have participated in our community’s Halloween parade, children’s parties and even trick-or-treating. He and I have worn matching costumes: we have both been Superman and Spiderman. Oh, heck, I even dressed in my costume at work; that’s how excited I’ve become through my godson (who is also my nephew.)
Last year I missed being with him on Halloween because I hurt my back. I still have the Cat In The Hat costume unopened.
He is six years old now and he’s informed his mother (my sister) and me of our Halloween costumes. He has decided that he will be Patrick, his mother will be Squidward and I will be SpongeBob. Yes, me….SpongeBob SquarePants. Imagine that! Until last year I had no idea what a SpongeBob was, but in spending time with my baby (that’s what I’ve always called him and it doesn’t matter how old he becomes, he will always be my baby) I’ve seen the cartoon. Even worse than that, I’ve enjoyed the award-winning show while watching it with him.
So now autumn has arrived, we may have a burst of an Indian Summer, but Halloween is approaching. I need to start preparing to be Uncle Joey Square Pants.
I’m not against dressing up or wearing costumes; as an adult I’ve enjoyed wearing costumes before: I’ve been Dracula, Pee-Wee Herman. Though Halloween still causes me some trepidation, which is just another one of my own issues or phobias, I actually do look forward to being with my nephew/godson on Halloween in all his excitement of the occasion.
THAT is more important to me than anything. I’ll BE SpongeBob, or Uncle Joey Square Pants, because it makes him happy. Sometimes I think I cannot bear the love I feel for him; though I have several nieces and nephews who I love equally, my godson came into my life when I was at a different point in my life.
My youngest sister had her son and asked me to be his godfather just when I was accepting my mother’s death and learning and realizing that my living wasn’t a betrayal of her, accepting and admitting my homosexuality to myself after too many years of grief and denial. Then September 11, 2001 changed all of our lives. I lost whatever advances I’d made toward self-recovery that day. I, quite frankly, fell apart.
Only through the love, care and intervention of my sisters and a friend was I saved. And the baby. As I slowly recovered from the depression that threatened me, which previously I’d have been glad to allow to overcome and destroy me, that baby renewed me every day. Godfather, godson (though my brother-in-law would ask if my "position" could be revoked…..GOOD LUCK, pal! LOL); uncle, nephew; I had a love for him and I felt a love from him that I’d never felt or experienced before. That baby, the most perfect child on earth, saved me as much as any medication, that baby gave me much more. I was given more than a new lease on life; I discovered happiness and love again. I began enjoying life as I never had before; I felt feelings which I’d been sure I’d been unable to feel; I received feelings and affection from another that had nothing whatsoever to do with who I thought I was. I was loved for ME. I was loved, important, wanted and needed.
A baby did that. Oh, how I lost my way; how I was brought back by an infant.
So a SpongeBob costume I shall order. As well, another memory we’ll share.
Seeing Is Believing But Not Encouraging
I look around; I see. "Seeing is believing," so they say.
I look around, I see. Most times I cannot believe what I see!
Many people will say, "Nothing surprises me anymore." I am continually shocked!
A mother leaves her child in the car for eight hours to bake and broil in the summer heat and ultimately dies (though she remembered to buy doughnuts while again leaving the child in the car); the mother is not prosecuted because it was "an accident" and not a crime according to state law. HUH???? I think it sounds like neglect to me; gross neglect. If the mother had not been a white schoolteacher but had been a single mother, a black mother or any other ethnicity, a mother who receives welfare would the outcome have been the same?
I’m not one to play the "race card" or "poverty card." However I do think that in this circumstance, it wasn’t so much the state law’s definition of negligence as much as WHO was negligent.
What parent "forgets" their child? We are busy people; we run here and there, there is much that requires our attention. We all get busy and distracted but when we are responsible for another human being, shouldn’t we be held accountable for the life that perished because of our pursuit of our own of our own selfish lives
If this had been a black mother, a mother on welfare, any mother of a minority I’m sure that Social Services and the prosecuting attorney would be going for murder. Come on!
A group of white boys torment and torture black boys. As the harassment escalates and becomes physical, a white boy gets injured. All the while the white boys got a slap on the wrist, but when a white boy got injured the black boys got much more than a slap on the wrist; they face attempted murder. The white boys aren’t so much held accountable for their actions by law; but the black boys are seen as criminals.
The man patronizing a bar for all the same reasons anyone goes out to a bar walks toward his car and is jumped and beaten. Does it matter what "kind" of bar he was in? Does it matter whether those who jumped him were in the same bar or not? Does it matter that someone doesn’t approve of another? Does it matter that the one(s) deciding that violence is appropriate? Does it matter that the "law" excuses or ignores such crimes?
I’m constantly shocked by the behavior of not just people, but by the reaction of society and "the law." As much as I truly believe in the inherent goodness of people, my beliefs are shaken to the core.
How is it, in our society, that a person who just lives his life is tortured and beaten nearly to death is seen as the criminal or antagonist but someone else who neglects their own child so far as to cause the death of that child is seen as a victim?
Our society is totally screwed up. Some of us scream and advocate acceptance and tolerance of others, not all though. What should we accept and tolerate: child neglect and abuse; boys with boys; girls with girls; persecuting sexual orientations but not the neglect, violence and the resulting death?
I look around and I see. I don’t like what I see. I’m hurt by what I see. I’m discouraged by what I see and by what we as a society are. I wonder whether there is a place for someone like me in our society. Is there a place for someone like me who advocates personal responsibility; someone who demands personal responsibility; someone who has made mistakes but has learned from them and makes the appropriate changes in one’s life; someone who doesn’t expect more from anyone else than one expects from oneself; one who doesn’t consider abuse or neglectful death of any kind as acceptable?
I don’t think I’m alone. I think, I really believe, most people feel the same way. Of course, I could be wrong (it wouldn’t be the first time.) If I’m not alone, we really could be as God intended us to be and the human race can really overcome evil; if I’m wrong, we’re in for the destruction of ourselves.
I hope for the former; I fear for the latter.
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