The sheer numbers of the amount of dead coming out of Asia/Africa from the tsunami disaster is absolutely incomprehensible. As of this morning (0630), the number was placed at 66,000 people (and that number is still rising quickly). Since the number is staggering, let me give three examples that might put it into perspective:
1. Imagine the city of Bradenton FL - The entire city is gone (and there are still more dead on top of that!).
2. Now imagine Fort Wayne IN - Almost one third of the city is wiped out (and the numbers are still climbing).
3. Last, imagine the small Pennsylvanian towns of Lansdale, North Wales, Montgomeryville and Norristown NO LONGER EXIST!
That is how catastrophic this disaster was and the numbers are still being calculated!
One last thought for consideration: This happened in the Indian Ocean, half a planet away. It didn't affect us, did it? But, truth be known, it could VERY EASILY happen ANYWHERE.
Take some time today to have a moment of silence for the people that died or were injured.
December 29, 2004
December 20, 2004
Holidays
I have found that I share a different outlook on the Christmas than almost everyone else (I won't be arrogant and say everyone because I am sure SOMEONE out there must agree with me. I'm just not sure who.).
I don't feel that there is any need for anyone to get me presents for Christmas. I feel that people have been given the idea that they have to purchase something to show that they care for you. That they can't show they care through other ways (i.e. making something, a hug, showing it the rest of the year, etc.). I think that it also teaches our children that affections can be bought (at least one day out of the year).
I don't want to hurt the people who we love and care for. We have quite a few friends in PA and will treasure them for the rest of our lives. The names go on and on (not as long a list as most people have, but still a few). We have had many people here show they care in immeasurable ways. Why does it have to involve purchases at Christmas when I can see how they feel the rest of the year? The dilemma breaks my heart.
On top of that, this is not isolated to Christmas. I feel the same way about birthday presents. In fact, about the only time I am willing to accept presents would be between my wife and me.
The problem arises when I have express this to other people and I get incredulous looks. Inevitably, to a T, I get the present anyway and a "Well, we just ignored you because we care". From my viewpoint, this does not honor me, even though I know that the giver has the entirely opposite intention (when it happens, the person is someone I think the world of and has a heart of 100 karat gold).
It is not like this is a peripheral belief and I can just placate the person and move on. This has become a core belief or, as they would say in the Army, a "hill to die on" (fight to the end). I worry about hurting people's feelings, but would really like people to understand where I am coming from.
I don't feel that there is any need for anyone to get me presents for Christmas. I feel that people have been given the idea that they have to purchase something to show that they care for you. That they can't show they care through other ways (i.e. making something, a hug, showing it the rest of the year, etc.). I think that it also teaches our children that affections can be bought (at least one day out of the year).
I don't want to hurt the people who we love and care for. We have quite a few friends in PA and will treasure them for the rest of our lives. The names go on and on (not as long a list as most people have, but still a few). We have had many people here show they care in immeasurable ways. Why does it have to involve purchases at Christmas when I can see how they feel the rest of the year? The dilemma breaks my heart.
On top of that, this is not isolated to Christmas. I feel the same way about birthday presents. In fact, about the only time I am willing to accept presents would be between my wife and me.
The problem arises when I have express this to other people and I get incredulous looks. Inevitably, to a T, I get the present anyway and a "Well, we just ignored you because we care". From my viewpoint, this does not honor me, even though I know that the giver has the entirely opposite intention (when it happens, the person is someone I think the world of and has a heart of 100 karat gold).
It is not like this is a peripheral belief and I can just placate the person and move on. This has become a core belief or, as they would say in the Army, a "hill to die on" (fight to the end). I worry about hurting people's feelings, but would really like people to understand where I am coming from.
December 12, 2004
Church a Second Time
For the information of the people who are interested, I attended church a second time. I didn't manage to make it through the whole service, but I was able to get out and wake up a couple of times. Cindy's Sunday School class also had a soiree' that I was able to attend. The class is made up of a lot of neat people.
This is definitely becoming a habit.
This is definitely becoming a habit.
December 11, 2004
Entertaining the Church Youth Group
We are waiting for the youth group to show up from the church that Cindy and the girls go to. Note the time. Isn't this a little late for a junior high event to occur on a church night?
Random thought:
Why do people move to Florida when they get clobbered by hurricanes so much?
Random thought:
Why do people move to Florida when they get clobbered by hurricanes so much?
December 7, 2004
Church Food
Why is it that many churches feel that they need to serve food at many events? I don't remember it in the Catholic church (at least not in the degree that other churches do). Between Sunday School donuts, snacks, coffee, etc., it might be a factor (not as big as McD's, but still a factor) in the obesity epidemic.
Couldn't we just fellowship and learn without eating?
Couldn't we just fellowship and learn without eating?
December 6, 2004
Something To Contemplate
Since some words in common usage in the English language have evolved from slurs, is it a racial slur if the person is completely unaware of the history of a word and that it is/was a slur?
Random Thought
If someone was born in a certain area (oh, let's say they were born in Delaware), moved a bit in their first 12 (or so) years and ended up in another area (oh, for the sake of argument, let's say they ended up in Lansdale PA) and lived there for 30 years or more, would they be able to claim that they were native to that area?
December 3, 2004
Fahrenheit 9/11
I went to Hollywood video tonight and checked out two movies (for free, since we belong to their MVP program and since I won't put dime one into Michael Moore's pocket), Fahrenheit 9/11 and Fahrenhype 9/11 (the rebuttal).
Michael Moore tends to write off history. It was not just George W (and H.W.) Bush who believed that Saddam Hussein possessed WMD. Most of the world (both East and West) believed the same thing. Saddam was a pariah even amongst Arab nations. He was very dangerous. Nothing about that is mentioned in his movie. Also, Mr. Moore goes to great lengths to write a conspiracy theory about the Bush administration. If you want to see a good example of the conspiracy theory movie that I believe Moore used for an example, see Oliver Stone's J.F.K. I don't believe 70% of what Michael Moore stated in his movie any more than I believed 95% of J.F.K.
I am looking forward to seeing the other side of the coin in Fahrenhype 9/11 tomorrow night.
Michael Moore tends to write off history. It was not just George W (and H.W.) Bush who believed that Saddam Hussein possessed WMD. Most of the world (both East and West) believed the same thing. Saddam was a pariah even amongst Arab nations. He was very dangerous. Nothing about that is mentioned in his movie. Also, Mr. Moore goes to great lengths to write a conspiracy theory about the Bush administration. If you want to see a good example of the conspiracy theory movie that I believe Moore used for an example, see Oliver Stone's J.F.K. I don't believe 70% of what Michael Moore stated in his movie any more than I believed 95% of J.F.K.
I am looking forward to seeing the other side of the coin in Fahrenhype 9/11 tomorrow night.
December 1, 2004
Personal Facts
I consider myself to be a moderate Republican. I reached this determination during the last election. I watched many dirty tricks on both sides of the aisle that absolutely disgusted me. The Swift Boat Veterans may firmly believe what they preach, but the way they did business was wrong! My question is: why did they wait 30-some years to come out with these facts? And the amateurish butcher job that someone tried to do on President Bush is another one. This election turned out to be about a conflict (even amateur historians realize that Vietnam was not a war, though the line between war and conflict is mainly legal) that was rooted in the past, when the voting public should have been considering the future (and John Kerry's voting record).
One more note: Michael Moore (Fahrenheit 911) should be relegated to the dustbin of obscurity. He considers himself an opposition politician, when, in reality, he is nothing more than a schoolyard bully with a camera and a filmmaker's budget. The sad part is that Michael Moore still doesn't realize that George Bush won BECAUSE of Michael Moore, NOT in spite of him.
One more note: Michael Moore (Fahrenheit 911) should be relegated to the dustbin of obscurity. He considers himself an opposition politician, when, in reality, he is nothing more than a schoolyard bully with a camera and a filmmaker's budget. The sad part is that Michael Moore still doesn't realize that George Bush won BECAUSE of Michael Moore, NOT in spite of him.
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