Josh Marshall at TPM states clearly why Israel must get out of the West Bank for the sake of its own survival as a democratic country. Although I quote two significant paragraphs, please read the entire article. To me, Marshall makes very good sense.
Let's's be clear what that means: a country that permanently holds territories with residents who lack citizenship, the vote and many of the rights of the citizens of the country in question. You can throw around inflammatory words like 'apartheid' which I don't think is appropriate or apt because of the very different origins of the two situations. But it strikes me as naive to believe that such a situation can be maintained permanently without growing international pressure and isolation that will strangle the country.
What this logic tells me is that getting out of the West Bank isn't a prize to be exchanged for peace if and when you can find a leader on the Palestinian side who you have perfect trust in. Getting out of the West Bank is quite simply necessary to the survival of Israel as a Jewish state. So ideally you get out in exchange for a durable peace. And you try to do it in the smartest and most orderly manner. But you get out regardless. And realizing the necessity of leaving means, at a minimum, as a first step, stopping doing things that make it harder, perhaps nearly impossible, to leave. And the first thing on that list is continuing to build new settlements and infrastructure which creates a growing constituency to stay in the settlements forever.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
More From The Pawty I was Not At
Against the wall are the Lovely Mona, Muthah, and Pseudopiskie. Back of head of unidentified male, Padre Mickey, and Elizabeth in the foreground.
The Lovely Mona and Piskie
The Lovely Mona and sweet young thing, Allie
Paul (A.), Catherine, and Allie against the wall. Backs of heads of two unidentified males in foreground.
And I'm still jealous and cross that I was not there for the pawty.
Thanks to WhiteyCat for the pictures.
Recession Over In UK
According to economists in the UK, the recession is over "over there". Thus reporteth the The Guardian.
One of Britain's leading economic thinktanks has called an end to the recession after industrial output showed its first rise in more than a year in April.
The National Institute for Economic and Social Research said March this year was the trough of the downturn that began in the summer of 2008.
....
"The monthly figures are inevitably erratic but the picture is coherent with the broader picture of stabilisation which has emerged since we first suggested that the output had stopped falling in our GDP release on 13 May", the NIESR said.
The projections seem somewhat premature and over-optimistic to me, but, I know very little about economics, and, of course, I could be wrong.
And, the recession ain't over "over here".
One of Britain's leading economic thinktanks has called an end to the recession after industrial output showed its first rise in more than a year in April.
The National Institute for Economic and Social Research said March this year was the trough of the downturn that began in the summer of 2008.
....
"The monthly figures are inevitably erratic but the picture is coherent with the broader picture of stabilisation which has emerged since we first suggested that the output had stopped falling in our GDP release on 13 May", the NIESR said.
The projections seem somewhat premature and over-optimistic to me, but, I know very little about economics, and, of course, I could be wrong.
And, the recession ain't over "over here".
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Where I Stayed For Doxy's Wedding
The view of the lake from the deck
Kind parishioners from Dear Friend's church offered hospitality to several of the out-of-town guests at Doxy and Dear Friend's wedding. My hosts, whom I shall henceforth call LL, for Lovely Lady, and KG, for Kind Gentleman, were a wonderful couple who have traveled the world. KG has been three times on mission trips to Africa to work with the people of the area to build water wells in villages where there was no source of clean drinking water.
KG and LL were the kindest and most gracious folks that you could image. I had a beautiful bedroom with a bath for my private use. Their house was lovely, with a minimalist look about it, spare, but quite inviting and attractive. It's the look that I'd like to have, but after 26 years, I'd need to get rid of a load of stuff - aka as clutter.
LL and KG dancing at Dear Friend's birthday party. Fran and Doxy are in the background to the left of center.
Saturday was a free day, so LL and I chilled together, ate a wonderful salad on the lower deck, which is down the stairs, right alongside the lake. The picture at the top is the upper deck off the living room and kitchen. Afterwards we walked to town, looked around in the stores, bought some cards, and then strolled back home. During this time, LL and I talked and got to know each other and had an altogether lovely day.
I must tell you the story of LL's dress in the picture. She made the dress years ago, and she had not worn it in 33 years or so, for a very long time. She thought she might wear it to the birthday party. She tried on the dress, and it fit perfectly and looked smashing on her. The colors are gorgeous. The chances are nil that I would fit in a dress 33 years old, probably not even a moo-moo of the day. I can't remember ever wearing moo-moos, anyway.
I talked to Doxy on the phone yesterday, and I told her that my entire time in North Carolina was magical. Seeing old friends again, meeting old virtual friends in person for the first the time, spending time with my friends, my kind hosts and their gracious hospitality, the birthday party, the beautiful wedding, all of it was magical.
UPDATE: The picture below, taken by Fran, is lagniappe added to the post, just because I like the picture. All three of us look good. I hope that the other ladies(?) agree.
Me, Fran, and Doxy having lunch at The Soda Shop after they picked me up at the airport.
"We Prostituted Christianity...."
From David@Montreal:
A thought-provoking extract from Richard Rohr:
"We prostituted Christianity when we told people they had to 'save their souls'. That attitude often affirmed the ego 'spiritually,' which is very dangerous and deceptive. We called it the journey into holiness, but it was often disguised and denied self-interest.
Saving one's soul and falling in love with God are two very different journeys. Because we told our people to save their souls, they got into spiritual consumerism, gathering sacraments, holy works, ascetical practices- all affirming the false self. Now we've got these big Christian egos walking around, who are very self-protective, satisfied and conservative in the wrong way. Conversion is not on their agenda. Every preacher or teacher knows what I'm talking about.
An unhealthy conservatism is incapable of exodus,of risk, of passion, and, therefore, perhaps of the living God."
From Letting Go: A Spirituality of Subtraction
Many thanks to David for sending me this. I can only say, "Amen!"
A thought-provoking extract from Richard Rohr:
"We prostituted Christianity when we told people they had to 'save their souls'. That attitude often affirmed the ego 'spiritually,' which is very dangerous and deceptive. We called it the journey into holiness, but it was often disguised and denied self-interest.
Saving one's soul and falling in love with God are two very different journeys. Because we told our people to save their souls, they got into spiritual consumerism, gathering sacraments, holy works, ascetical practices- all affirming the false self. Now we've got these big Christian egos walking around, who are very self-protective, satisfied and conservative in the wrong way. Conversion is not on their agenda. Every preacher or teacher knows what I'm talking about.
An unhealthy conservatism is incapable of exodus,of risk, of passion, and, therefore, perhaps of the living God."
From Letting Go: A Spirituality of Subtraction
Many thanks to David for sending me this. I can only say, "Amen!"
R. I. P. Miguel Hidalgo
From Nola.com:
Miguel Hidalgo, a goat that was a popular resident of the Audubon Zoo's petting zoo, died Friday.
Spokeswoman Sarah Burnette said the goat, known simply as Miguel to thousands of zoo visitors, apparently died of old age. He was 15.
A registered Nigerian dwarf goat, the animal was born in September 1993 at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas, and arrived at Audubon in January 1994.
Nigerian dwarf goats live an average of 12 to 15 years.
Burnette said Miguel was a favorite of zookeepers and visitors alike.
Well known for his long beard or "goatee," he was "always quick to nibble on shirt tails, radio antennas, keys or school bags," she said.
Even though he was a Texas transplant, he was a good goat and a proud papa, too. He has a daughter named June!
H/T to Oyster.
From The Pawty I Wasn't At
Thanks to WhiteyCat for the pictures from the bloggers gathering in New Jersey last Friday evening. Aren't the folks there lovely looking? And they seem to be having a great time. And I'm not there.
Padre Mickey and the Lovely Mona, who was snapped while snapping. That's Paul (A.) and Allie in the background.
Padre Mickey makes a move.....to help Catherine with her camera
The famous Miss Egyptian Hippo of Love with lesser stars Eileen and Elizabeth
Muthah holds forth and Tobias pays attention
TELP and El Padre smiling sweetly for the camera
Padre Mickey and the Lovely Mona, who was snapped while snapping. That's Paul (A.) and Allie in the background.
Padre Mickey makes a move.....to help Catherine with her camera
The famous Miss Egyptian Hippo of Love with lesser stars Eileen and Elizabeth
Muthah holds forth and Tobias pays attention
TELP and El Padre smiling sweetly for the camera
Monday, June 8, 2009
Ghosts Of Cancers Past
My friends, the news about my niece discovering the lump in her breast rocked me, conjuring up the family ghosts of cancers past to haunt me. First there was my mother's breast cancer and subsequent mastectomy. She lived 20 more years. Then there was my own breast cancer 24 years ago, with a lumpectomy and removal of lymph nodes, followed by radiation. Then there was the diagnosis of lymphoma for my middle sister, Gayle, whom I have written of. She was cured of the lymphoma through surgery and chemotherapy.
Moving right along to the death of my youngest sister of untreated breast cancer. She was out of our lives for years at a time, by her own choice, and was out of touch for three years near the end of her life. We found out that she was dying only a day or two before she died, and we did not make it to her in time to see her alive. Why was her cancer not treated? I can only assume that her life was so miserable that she wanted to die. One year after my youngest sister's death, my only other sibling, Gayle, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Within four months, she was dead.
Mixed in between the accounts above were the aunts and cousins who were diagnosed with cancers of various kinds, breast cancer, another lymphoma, melanoma, uterine cancer, colon cancer, always hitting the women in the family, sometimes killing them, sometimes not.
And now my niece. She's still grieving for her mother, Gayle. My heart breaks for her. I pray that her news on Thursday will be good news, but, for the moment, I'm worried and distracted and haunted, and I may not be myself for the next few days. Sometimes blogging is therapeutic for me, and I may continue more or less as usual. I may even joke around and laugh. Then again, I may not.
And that's the way it is.
Moving right along to the death of my youngest sister of untreated breast cancer. She was out of our lives for years at a time, by her own choice, and was out of touch for three years near the end of her life. We found out that she was dying only a day or two before she died, and we did not make it to her in time to see her alive. Why was her cancer not treated? I can only assume that her life was so miserable that she wanted to die. One year after my youngest sister's death, my only other sibling, Gayle, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Within four months, she was dead.
Mixed in between the accounts above were the aunts and cousins who were diagnosed with cancers of various kinds, breast cancer, another lymphoma, melanoma, uterine cancer, colon cancer, always hitting the women in the family, sometimes killing them, sometimes not.
And now my niece. She's still grieving for her mother, Gayle. My heart breaks for her. I pray that her news on Thursday will be good news, but, for the moment, I'm worried and distracted and haunted, and I may not be myself for the next few days. Sometimes blogging is therapeutic for me, and I may continue more or less as usual. I may even joke around and laugh. Then again, I may not.
And that's the way it is.
Prayers Please For My Niece
My niece's doctor found a lump in her breast. She's scheduled to have it removed today at 2 pm. Cancers of all types, including breast cancer, run rampant in my family. Please pray.
UPDATE: The surgery started late but is now over. The surgeon removed the lump for biopsy. My niece will have the results on Thursday. Thanks for the prayers. Please continue to pray.
UPDATE: The surgery started late but is now over. The surgeon removed the lump for biopsy. My niece will have the results on Thursday. Thanks for the prayers. Please continue to pray.
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