Why We Grieve, Why I Grieve

I've copied the words of John Pavlovitz here today because he says so eloquently what I feel today.

"I don’t think you understand us right now.

I think you think this is about politics.

I think you believe this is all just sour grapes; the crocodile tears of the losing locker room with the scoreboard going against us at the buzzer.

I can only tell you that you’re wrong. This is not about losing an election. This isn’t about not winning a contest. This is about two very different ways of seeing the world.

Hillary supporters believe in a diverse America; one where religion or skin color or sexual orientation or place of birth aren’t liabilities or deficiencies or moral defects. Her campaign was one of inclusion and connection and interdependency. It was about building bridges and breaking ceilings. It was about going high.

Trump supporters believe in a very selective America; one that is largely white and straight and Christian, and the voting verified this. Donald Trump has never made any assertions otherwise. He ran a campaign of fear and exclusion and isolation—and that’s the vision of the world those who voted for him have endorsed.

They have aligned with the wall-builder and the professed p*ssy-grabber, and they have co-signed his body of work, regardless of the reasons they give for their vote.

Every horrible thing Donald Trump ever said about women or Muslims or people of color has now been validated. Every profanity-laced press conference and every call to bully protestors and every ignorant diatribe has been endorsed. Every piece of anti-LGBTQ legislation Mike Pence has championed has been signed-off on.

Half of our country has declared these things acceptable, noble, American.

This is the disconnect and the source of our grief today. It isn’t a political defeat that we’re lamenting, it’s a defeat for Humanity.

We’re not angry that our candidate lost. We’re angry because our candidate’s losing means this country will be less safe, less kind, and less available to a huge segment of its population, and that’s just the truth.

Those who have always felt vulnerable are now left more so. Those whose voices have been silenced will be further quieted. Those who always felt marginalized will be pushed further to the periphery. Those who feared they were seen as inferior now have confirmation in actual percentages.

Those things have essentially been campaign promises of Donald Trump, and so many of our fellow citizens have said this is what they want too.

This has never been about politics.
This is not about one candidate over the other.
It’s not about one’s ideas over another’s.
It is not blue vs. red.
It’s not her emails vs. his bad language.
It’s not her dishonesty vs. his indecency.

It’s about overt racism and hostility toward minorities.
It’s about religion being weaponized.
It’s about crassness and vulgarity and disregard for women.
It’s about a barricaded, militarized, bully nation.
It’s about an unapologetic, open-faced ugliness.

And it is not only that these things have been ratified by our nation that grieve us; all this hatred, fear, racism, bigotry, and intolerance—it’s knowing that these things have been amen-ed by our neighbors, our families, our friends, those we work with and worship alongside. That is the most horrific thing of all. We now know how close this is.

It feels like living in enemy territory being here now, and there’s no way around that. We wake up today in a home we no longer recognize. We are grieving the loss of a place we used to love but no longer do. This may be America today but it is not the America we believe in or recognize or want.

This is not about a difference of political opinion, as that’s far too small to mourn over. It’s about a fundamental difference in how we view the worth of all people—not just those who look or talk or think or vote the way we do.

Grief always laments what might have been, the future we were robbed of, the tomorrow that we won’t get to see, and that is what we walk through today. As a nation we had an opportunity to affirm the beauty of our diversity this day, to choose ideas over sound bytes, to let everyone know they had a place at the table, to be the beacon of goodness and decency we imagine that we are—and we said no.

The Scriptures say that weeping endures for a night but joy comes in the morning. We can’t see that dawn coming any time soon.

And this is why we grieve."

They’re with her. Are you? | Hillary Clinton

Lisa Bonked!

Miriam Bonked!

Ode to a Toy

Sydney loves to use surgical precision to remove the squeaky component of her stuffed toys.

Fun with Images

One of the twitter accounts I follow was having fun with an app called Prisma. So, I downloaded it and had some of my own fun.

Ciao!

ANDIAMO!

A day sailing on beautiful Andiamo!

#NeverTrump

#NeverTrump #NeverTrump #NeverTrump #NeverTrump #NeverTrump #NeverTrump #NeverTrump #NeverTrump #NeverTrump #NeverTrump #NeverTrump #NeverTrump #NeverTrump #NeverTrump #NeverTrump #NeverTrump #NeverTrump #NeverTrump #NeverTrump #NeverTrump #NeverTrump #NeverTrump #NeverTrump #NeverTrump

Just thought I'd let you know where I stand on Donald Trump Drumpf.

Dear Senator Cruz...or any Republican for that matter...

Thought it time to resurrect this:

Dear Mr./Ms. Republican,

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I 
have learned a great deal from you and understand why you would propose and
support a constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage. As  you 
said "in the eyes of God marriage is based between a man a woman." I try to 
share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to 
defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that 
Leviticus 18: 22 clearly states it to be an abomination. . . End of debate.

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements 
of God's Laws and how to follow them.

1. Leviticus 25: 44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and 
female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine
claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you 
clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in 
Exodus 21: 7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for 
her?

3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her
period of menstrual uncleanness - Lev. 15: 19-24. The problem is how do 
I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a
pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev. 1:9. The problem is, my neighbors. 
They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35: 
2. clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to 
kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?

6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an
abomination - Lev. 11: 10, it is a lesser abomination than 
homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination?

7. Lev. 21: 20 states that I may ! not approach the altar of God if I 
have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does 
my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle- room here?

8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair 
around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. 
How should they die?

9. I know from Lev. 11: 6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes 
me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19: 19 by planting two 
different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of 
two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to 
curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the 
trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev. 24: 10-16. Couldn't 
we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with 
people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20: 14)

I know you have studied these things extensively, Mr./Ms. Republican,  and 
thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can
help.

Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and 
unchanging.

Interesting Podcast Episode

I listen to a number of different podcasts and came across a new one yesterday. It's called "The Edge of Sports" with Dave Zirin.

In this particular episode, Dave interviews Dr. Harry Edwards, a renowned sports sociologist. The main subject was regarding March Madness and the NCAA. But towards the end of the interview Dave asks Dr. Edwards about Donald Trump. He states that what the ascendancy of Donald Trump says about us is that we are an extremely volatile society - divided by race and class - exploited for personal gain, particularly by the Republican party going back to Nixon and the southern strategy.

To call Trump names is not appropriate. I've quoted and paraphrased his remarks:

“I’m not concerned about Donald Trump. I’m not concerned about what he is or might not be. What I am concerned about are the people who are frustrated enough, desperate enough, hurting enough and so forth, to follow him. Those are the people that we’re going to have to sit down to the table with and say, Ok, what are our best options in terms of resolving the issues and, so forth, we’re confronted with. I’m not concerned about Donald Trump. Donald Trump is a clown. We need to look at the real legitimate frustrations, the pain that so many people feel that they would be driven to support this kind of hucksterism, this kind of performance…those people who are following him are Americans, too. How do we embrace, how do we engage, how do we respect their pain, concerns and issues even if they are “racists”? The world is pulling against all of us. We need to get a grip and get on with it.”

An Alternative to Donald Drumpf? Yes, I think so...

Walter For President Facebook Page

What God Hath Wrought

Booty

Today was a glorious day! Went to the farmer's market and brought home these goodies, or booty, as I like to say.

Ciao!

Lazy Sunday

Iowa Caucuses

Yes, it's that time again! National elections are right around the corner.

I watched the Iowa caucus on C-Span last night. It was very interesting - but also somewhat disturbing. I understand tradition but the caucuses tend to exclude a lot of people - if you want to participate and "cast your vote" you've got to devote an entire evening to this. No early voting - if you've got to work or not available this one evening you're out of luck. Not only that, your vote is public not private! Not liking this.

From now until the election I will post some thoughts on the election, the candidates and the parties. I will leave emotion out of it and discuss the facts.

Ciao.

Peanut

One of our sweeties...Peanut.

Merry Christmas

While driving around looking at holiday lights...pretty, huh?

Halloween in St. Augustine

Had a lovely time spending Halloween in St. Augustine. TNT always know how to throw a great party!

Neat wolf in historic St. Augustine.

Dead Donna greets you in the foyer.

Dr. Watson, I presume?

It's elementary, dear Watson.

Ghoulish...

Another ghoul in historic St. Augustine.

Halloween is Coming

Working on our costumes.

Frogger

Saw this little guy while sitting on the porch this evening.