From the Associated Press via the Tucson Citizen:
Mascoutah, Ill., school officials have resolved their dispute with the parents of a 13-year-old girl given detention for hugging her friends.
Melissa and Dean Coulter met with officials of the Mascoutah School District 19 to discuss the two detentions given their daughter, Megan, for hugging friends goodbye for the weekend. School officials said the eighth grader violated a policy banning public displays of affection.
....
“I’m grateful they sought this meeting and we could have a level of discussion that helps us both understand each other’s concerns more clearly,” McGowen stated.
....
Coulter said McGowen was very receptive during the meeting, and that the family is satisfied with the district’s promise to at least look into revising the policy.
Surely the school officials have better things to do. I've seen my granddaughter and her friends hug each other good-bye at school on more than one occasion. That's what pre-teen and teen-age girls do. Thank goodness her school exercises more sensible judgment before handing out detentions for PDAs.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
My Spanish Ancestors
Earlier I linked to Ormonde's post at Through the Dust on the gumbo mixture of ancestry in New Orleans. My own heritage is a prime example of that mix.
On my mother's side, those who came before were French, Cajun French, Spanish, and German. My father's ancestors include French, English, Portuguese, and Hispanic from South and Central America. I think that's it, of what I know.
As we were growing up in New Orleans, we were aware that my mother's maiden name was shared by a group of African Americans in the city. Their spelling of the name was different by one letter. One of my cousins, who had desires and pretensions of moving into old New Orleans society, made much of dismissing the African American folks in New Orleans as being of an entirely different family, because of that one letter difference in spelling.
I never thought much about the black families with the same name, because it didn't really matter to me, and because I didn't care about being part of old New Orleans society - which was a big deal back in the day, with those in "Society" with a big "S" having large influence, not only in the social life of the city, but also in politics and civic affairs. Of course, one had to be white to belong.
The Carnival balls, in which their daughters were queens and maids, and the débutante balls and parties of those same daughters were written up at great length in the local papers. We knew well the names of the families in the top tier.
It's already too late to make this long story short, but I'll try to get to the point of the post. My brother-in-law, the husband of my deceased sister, took up genealogy rather late in his life, mainly searching for his family, but he also plunged into our family history, so that his children would have the information, if they wanted it.
He located our Spanish great-great-great-grandfather. I'm not sure how many "greats", maybe more, but he traced the family back to the times when, for a man to have a wife and a mistress, a woman of color, and a family by both women was not uncommon. He found that our ancestor had, indeed, followed the custom and had a wife and several children and a woman-of-color mistress and several children by the mistress.
One of his sons by his wife grew up and married and had a family and took a woman-of-color mistress and had several children by her. Another son by his wife, married, had a family, took a mistress of color, had a family, and then took another mistress of color, and had several children by the second mistress. One wife, two mistresses, and three families!
It turns out that the African-Americans in New Orleans, very likely, share an ancestor with us. We are family. My cousin, the cousin with pretensions to being a part of old New Orleans society, was not speaking to me at the time that I learned about this - she took umbrage quite easily over minor words and actions, and stopped speaking to various people, for varying periods of time - but I made sure to tell her sister the news about our newly-discovered cousins. I know. Bad me.
When she was young and unmarried, that same cousin worked as a secretary for one of the movers and shakers in New Orleans. One day, a black man came in the office to see her boss, and when she asked for his name, he gave the same family name as hers. There was that one letter difference, but the names were pronounced exactly the same. She had to go to her boss and give him her own family name, followed by the visitor, a black man. She was not amused.
I'll give her this, she told stories on herself that set us to laughing, and she did not mind that. On another occasion, a man named Fuchs came to see her boss. She had him spell his name, she wrote it down, and, as she handed the paper to her boss, she saw what she had written and turned crimson. She had not written Mr. Fuchs, but had changed one letter, and I'll leave it to your imagination to determine which one.
She was engaged to her husband for at least fifteen years, before they married and had one child when she was in her forties - à propos of nothing.
On my mother's side, those who came before were French, Cajun French, Spanish, and German. My father's ancestors include French, English, Portuguese, and Hispanic from South and Central America. I think that's it, of what I know.
As we were growing up in New Orleans, we were aware that my mother's maiden name was shared by a group of African Americans in the city. Their spelling of the name was different by one letter. One of my cousins, who had desires and pretensions of moving into old New Orleans society, made much of dismissing the African American folks in New Orleans as being of an entirely different family, because of that one letter difference in spelling.
I never thought much about the black families with the same name, because it didn't really matter to me, and because I didn't care about being part of old New Orleans society - which was a big deal back in the day, with those in "Society" with a big "S" having large influence, not only in the social life of the city, but also in politics and civic affairs. Of course, one had to be white to belong.
The Carnival balls, in which their daughters were queens and maids, and the débutante balls and parties of those same daughters were written up at great length in the local papers. We knew well the names of the families in the top tier.
It's already too late to make this long story short, but I'll try to get to the point of the post. My brother-in-law, the husband of my deceased sister, took up genealogy rather late in his life, mainly searching for his family, but he also plunged into our family history, so that his children would have the information, if they wanted it.
He located our Spanish great-great-great-grandfather. I'm not sure how many "greats", maybe more, but he traced the family back to the times when, for a man to have a wife and a mistress, a woman of color, and a family by both women was not uncommon. He found that our ancestor had, indeed, followed the custom and had a wife and several children and a woman-of-color mistress and several children by the mistress.
One of his sons by his wife grew up and married and had a family and took a woman-of-color mistress and had several children by her. Another son by his wife, married, had a family, took a mistress of color, had a family, and then took another mistress of color, and had several children by the second mistress. One wife, two mistresses, and three families!
It turns out that the African-Americans in New Orleans, very likely, share an ancestor with us. We are family. My cousin, the cousin with pretensions to being a part of old New Orleans society, was not speaking to me at the time that I learned about this - she took umbrage quite easily over minor words and actions, and stopped speaking to various people, for varying periods of time - but I made sure to tell her sister the news about our newly-discovered cousins. I know. Bad me.
When she was young and unmarried, that same cousin worked as a secretary for one of the movers and shakers in New Orleans. One day, a black man came in the office to see her boss, and when she asked for his name, he gave the same family name as hers. There was that one letter difference, but the names were pronounced exactly the same. She had to go to her boss and give him her own family name, followed by the visitor, a black man. She was not amused.
I'll give her this, she told stories on herself that set us to laughing, and she did not mind that. On another occasion, a man named Fuchs came to see her boss. She had him spell his name, she wrote it down, and, as she handed the paper to her boss, she saw what she had written and turned crimson. She had not written Mr. Fuchs, but had changed one letter, and I'll leave it to your imagination to determine which one.
She was engaged to her husband for at least fifteen years, before they married and had one child when she was in her forties - à propos of nothing.
Fr. Tony Clavier Needs Prayers Now
Fr. Tony Clavier, an Episcopal priest from West Virginia, is undergoing serious and extensive lung surgery today. He and his family need your prayers.
UPDATE: The surgery on Fr. Clavier was successfully completed. You can keep up with his progress at the family website.
UPDATE: The surgery on Fr. Clavier was successfully completed. You can keep up with his progress at the family website.
Department Of Ouch!
From the Associated Press via CBS News:
A man trying to loosen a stubborn lug nut blasted the wheel with a 12-gauge shotgun, injuring himself badly in both legs, sheriff's deputies said.
....
"He's bound and determined to get that lug nut off," [Deputy] Wilson said.
....
"Nobody else was there and he wasn't intoxicated," Wilson said.
Out, damned lug nut! Out, I say!
A man trying to loosen a stubborn lug nut blasted the wheel with a 12-gauge shotgun, injuring himself badly in both legs, sheriff's deputies said.
....
"He's bound and determined to get that lug nut off," [Deputy] Wilson said.
....
"Nobody else was there and he wasn't intoxicated," Wilson said.
Out, damned lug nut! Out, I say!
Monday, November 12, 2007
God's Prophet In Our Time
Photo from Wiki.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, retired Archbishop of Capetown, South Africa, our man for all seasons in the Anglican Communion and God's gift to the whole world, appeared on the Sunday Forum yesterday at the National Cathedral Centennial Celebration in Washington, DC. A video of a his conversation is available. It's nearly one hour long, but it was one of the best hours that I ever spent in my life. Tutu is surely one of God's saints who walk the earth at the present time. He radiates the love of God and enthusiasm for the faith of Our Lord Jesus Christ, handed down by the saints through the ages.
How many times do we watch TV for an hour and come away feeling that we have wasted our time? You won't waste your hour with Desmond Tutu.
The Cost Of War
The Huffington Post provides a slideshow of pictures of Bush's visit to the wounded at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. A word of caution: the pictures are hard to look at. Thanks to Roger for the link.
Rmj at Adventus links to an essay by Christopher Dickey, in which Dickey says this:
What I wonder is whether in the real-world crisis of Iraq there is enough sanity and bravery in Washington to deliver us from the evil that's been created in Iraq.
I doubt it. God help us.
Rmj at Adventus links to an essay by Christopher Dickey, in which Dickey says this:
What I wonder is whether in the real-world crisis of Iraq there is enough sanity and bravery in Washington to deliver us from the evil that's been created in Iraq.
I doubt it. God help us.
From The Diocese Of Wenchoster
Too much time has passed since I've posted about the Diocese of Wenchoster, so today we'll have a look at what's happening there. First a word from the bishop. In his most recent column, at the diocesan website, the Bishop of Wenchoster speaks about the change of seasons and the troubles in the Anglican Communion:
For it hes bin a lawng season, hasn’t it? A tame when we have been troubled bay so many issues end disagreements, too much strafe end discord. Es the wither changes it is now tame to put such trivia behained us, end polish our conkers. That is a far, far bitter way to sittle disputes. I know main is!
May you awl be blissed by the Lawd these coming days!
+ Roderick Codpiecium
The website offers news from the southern Province of England:
Unconfirmed reports circulating in the southern Province of England this week are suggesting that if the bishops of the Episcopal Church (USA) are invited to attend the next Lambeth Conference, the Bishop of Doorminster may decline his summons.
The Right Reverend Ali Barbar has intimated to his closest friends and his personal chaplain (male, married, three children) that he has grave misgivings about “certain types of American bishops, if you follow my exegesis. (Wink.) Bless you.” At a recent diocesan press conference he refused to comment any further on the matter other than to re-emphasize his dislike of mincing and fawning while in procession....
And last, but certainly not least, the final word goes to the head verger, Mr. Grindle:
There we were me and Mrs. Grindle who is no longer using the capsules thank you very much henjoying our second cup of breakfast tea well it was a Saturday when we ‘eard a commotion in the ‘allway and Brasso the family retriever bounds hinto the room with the newly-delivered Church Times himagine my surprise when I read that they ‘re making a big song and dance habout churches being green and by that I mean hecologically friendly and nothing to do with junior clergy or mildew of which we ‘ave plenty of both....
Mr. Grindle continues the story without pausing for breath, but I'm afraid I must pause. You'll find the rest by clicking on the link above.
If you'd like to know more about the diocese, you can visit their website.
For it hes bin a lawng season, hasn’t it? A tame when we have been troubled bay so many issues end disagreements, too much strafe end discord. Es the wither changes it is now tame to put such trivia behained us, end polish our conkers. That is a far, far bitter way to sittle disputes. I know main is!
May you awl be blissed by the Lawd these coming days!
+ Roderick Codpiecium
The website offers news from the southern Province of England:
Unconfirmed reports circulating in the southern Province of England this week are suggesting that if the bishops of the Episcopal Church (USA) are invited to attend the next Lambeth Conference, the Bishop of Doorminster may decline his summons.
The Right Reverend Ali Barbar has intimated to his closest friends and his personal chaplain (male, married, three children) that he has grave misgivings about “certain types of American bishops, if you follow my exegesis. (Wink.) Bless you.” At a recent diocesan press conference he refused to comment any further on the matter other than to re-emphasize his dislike of mincing and fawning while in procession....
And last, but certainly not least, the final word goes to the head verger, Mr. Grindle:
There we were me and Mrs. Grindle who is no longer using the capsules thank you very much henjoying our second cup of breakfast tea well it was a Saturday when we ‘eard a commotion in the ‘allway and Brasso the family retriever bounds hinto the room with the newly-delivered Church Times himagine my surprise when I read that they ‘re making a big song and dance habout churches being green and by that I mean hecologically friendly and nothing to do with junior clergy or mildew of which we ‘ave plenty of both....
Mr. Grindle continues the story without pausing for breath, but I'm afraid I must pause. You'll find the rest by clicking on the link above.
If you'd like to know more about the diocese, you can visit their website.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
In Honor Of All Veterans
Image from the U. S. Dept. of Veterans affairs.
To all who have served in the armed forces of our country, I honor and thank you for serving. I honor you who have served in wars, you who have experienced the horror of war. I honor you who have returned from war wounded in body, mind, or spirit.
I honor your loved ones who waited, and worried, and prayed for your safe return. With them I join in thanksgiving for your return home.
Lord God, Almighty and everlasting Father, I ask your blessing upon all veterans today. Pour out your love upon them and bring healing of body, mind, and spirit. Grant all strength and courage as they go forward, and, Lord God, give them comfort, consolation, and your peace that passes understanding to keep their minds and hearts.
UPDATE: Doorman-Priest has a beautiful post for Remembrance Day.
UPDATE 2: From Frank in the comments:
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Laurence Binyon
The text of the entire poem, For the Fallen, is here.
Troop Deaths Not Counted
From Iraq Coalition Casualty Count:
Post Iraq Deaths Not Confirmed By the DoD
Name Date
Richards, Jack D. 29-Jul-2007
Cassidy, Gerald J. 25-Sep-2007
Smith, John "Bill" 01-Oct-2005
Salerno III, Raymond A. 16-Jul-2006
Note: The soldiers listed above died from wounds received in Iraq, however, the DoD has not included their deaths in their official count.
That's disturbing. I wonder why they're not counted.
And lest we forget Afghanistan, from the AP:
KABUL, Afghanistan - Militants ambushed and killed six U.S. troops walking in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan — the most lethal attack of the year. The deaths made 2007 the deadliest for the U.S. military here since the 2001 invasion, mirroring the record U.S. toll in Iraq.
May all the dead from all our wars rest in peace.
Post Iraq Deaths Not Confirmed By the DoD
Name Date
Richards, Jack D. 29-Jul-2007
Cassidy, Gerald J. 25-Sep-2007
Smith, John "Bill" 01-Oct-2005
Salerno III, Raymond A. 16-Jul-2006
Note: The soldiers listed above died from wounds received in Iraq, however, the DoD has not included their deaths in their official count.
That's disturbing. I wonder why they're not counted.
And lest we forget Afghanistan, from the AP:
KABUL, Afghanistan - Militants ambushed and killed six U.S. troops walking in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan — the most lethal attack of the year. The deaths made 2007 the deadliest for the U.S. military here since the 2001 invasion, mirroring the record U.S. toll in Iraq.
May all the dead from all our wars rest in peace.
Louisiana Follies
From the Daily Comet:
State Rep. Carla Dartez, D-Morgan City, said she is mulling withdrawal from the Nov. 17 runoff race after NAACP president Jerome Boykin says she referred to his mother as "Buckwheat."
The incident came out during Boykin's radio show on KBZE, FM 105.9.
During a telephone conversation with The Daily Comet, Dartez denies any racist meaning or intent. But Boykin said he sees the reference as a slur. Buckwheat is a reference to a black "Little Rascals" character.
After winning the runoff, Dartez called Boykin's mother to thank her for her volunteer work in driving voters to the polls and allegedly ended the conversation by saying, "Talk to you later, Buckwheat."
From the Times-Picayune:
Jefferson Parish administrators located a noose, a whipping post sign and other items hanging in a sewerage superintendent's office that were brought to light this week by a public works employee [Terrence Lee] who called them racially offensive and designed to intimidate black workers.
....
[Parish President Aaron] Broussard, hinted during a news conference that another explanation might surface for a wooden contraption from which hung a knotted, looped rope.
"There are going to be some facts revealed about these objects that, when you get more information about them, will help explain what is now a question mark," he said when asked whether a rope tied in the shape of a noose would ever be deemed acceptable by the parish's antiharassment policy. "But I will leave it at that until all the interviews are complete."
Earlier Thursday, [chief aide to Brousssard, Tim] Whitmer described a portion of the object outside the frame of photos taken by Lee in 2005 and shown to reporters this week. Whitmer called it a "butt-kicking machine" that propels a boot upward and outward when someone pulls the rope.
....
He also confirmed finding a sign saying, "BILL'S WHIPPING POST." A dart board that Lee said had an image of a black man pinned in his groin instead bore the image of a white man when found by administrators Wednesday, Whitmer said.
Ernest Johnson, president of the Louisiana NAACP stated that the incident is disturbing, especially coming so soon after the Jena 6 case and the protests in Jena, Louisiana and the discovery of a noose hanging in a hardware store in Ruston, Louisiana.
I remind you of the story of the local policeman, who had a small noose hanging from the mirror of his pickup truck, which was parked in the police parking lot.
I believe Carla Dartez when she says that she meant no racial slur. She was thanking Ms. Boykin for her help. But calling her "Buckwheat"? Words have consequences, as Dartez found out.
As for the other incidents, I attribute no such innocence to them.
UPDATE: Allie at The Conformist Rebel writes of a hunger strike by students at Columbia University with mention of a noose in the story. Racism is not dead in this country, nor is it confined to Louisiana.
State Rep. Carla Dartez, D-Morgan City, said she is mulling withdrawal from the Nov. 17 runoff race after NAACP president Jerome Boykin says she referred to his mother as "Buckwheat."
The incident came out during Boykin's radio show on KBZE, FM 105.9.
During a telephone conversation with The Daily Comet, Dartez denies any racist meaning or intent. But Boykin said he sees the reference as a slur. Buckwheat is a reference to a black "Little Rascals" character.
After winning the runoff, Dartez called Boykin's mother to thank her for her volunteer work in driving voters to the polls and allegedly ended the conversation by saying, "Talk to you later, Buckwheat."
From the Times-Picayune:
Jefferson Parish administrators located a noose, a whipping post sign and other items hanging in a sewerage superintendent's office that were brought to light this week by a public works employee [Terrence Lee] who called them racially offensive and designed to intimidate black workers.
....
[Parish President Aaron] Broussard, hinted during a news conference that another explanation might surface for a wooden contraption from which hung a knotted, looped rope.
"There are going to be some facts revealed about these objects that, when you get more information about them, will help explain what is now a question mark," he said when asked whether a rope tied in the shape of a noose would ever be deemed acceptable by the parish's antiharassment policy. "But I will leave it at that until all the interviews are complete."
Earlier Thursday, [chief aide to Brousssard, Tim] Whitmer described a portion of the object outside the frame of photos taken by Lee in 2005 and shown to reporters this week. Whitmer called it a "butt-kicking machine" that propels a boot upward and outward when someone pulls the rope.
....
He also confirmed finding a sign saying, "BILL'S WHIPPING POST." A dart board that Lee said had an image of a black man pinned in his groin instead bore the image of a white man when found by administrators Wednesday, Whitmer said.
Ernest Johnson, president of the Louisiana NAACP stated that the incident is disturbing, especially coming so soon after the Jena 6 case and the protests in Jena, Louisiana and the discovery of a noose hanging in a hardware store in Ruston, Louisiana.
I remind you of the story of the local policeman, who had a small noose hanging from the mirror of his pickup truck, which was parked in the police parking lot.
I believe Carla Dartez when she says that she meant no racial slur. She was thanking Ms. Boykin for her help. But calling her "Buckwheat"? Words have consequences, as Dartez found out.
As for the other incidents, I attribute no such innocence to them.
UPDATE: Allie at The Conformist Rebel writes of a hunger strike by students at Columbia University with mention of a noose in the story. Racism is not dead in this country, nor is it confined to Louisiana.
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