In the midst of life, there is death. And in the midst of death, there is life. In our darkest hour of grief, we can be brought to tears of joy at the birth of an awaited and beloved child - and in our brightest joy we can be brought to our knees in grief for an unexpected death.
This is not to say we should look for the worst to happen - NO! Rather we should embody the joy to the fullest extent possible, as a source of strength when bad things do happen! And when we are in our hour of grief, we should allow that its time as well - as hard as it may be.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
The Bill of Rights
Many people erroneously believe that the Constitution or it's Bill of Rights guarantees "equal rights to all" or "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness". While these are important ideals underpinning our society, they are not actually law.
The Equal Rights Amendment, which stated "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex," was proposed in 1923 and failed to be ratified before its deadline in 1982. There is similar legislation currently proposed."We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." is from the Declaration of Independence. It is the moral basis of the Constitution that eventually came to be written by the Founding Fathers, but it is not law.
We must keep in mind that citizens' rights are, in fact, restrictions of governmental and institutionalized political power. Please note in particular Articles 11 and 12 (the 9th and 10th Amendments).
The Bill of Rights
The conventions of a number of the States having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added.
Article the first [Not Ratified]
After the first enumeration required by the first article of the Constitution, there shall be one Representative for every thirty thousand, until the number shall amount to one hundred, after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall be not less than one hundred Representatives, nor less than one Representative for every forty thousand persons, until the number of Representatives shall amount to two hundred; after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall not be less than two hundred Representatives, nor more than one Representative for every fifty thousand persons.
Article the second [Amendment XXVII - Ratified 1992]
No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.
Article the third [Amendment I]
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Article the fourth [Amendment II]
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Article the fifth [Amendment III]
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Article the sixth [Amendment IV]
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Article the seventh [Amendment V]
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Article the eighth [Amendment VI]
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
Article the ninth [Amendment VII]
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Article the tenth [Amendment VIII]
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Article the eleventh [Amendment IX]
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Article the twelfth [Amendment X]
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
These additional amendments are NOT part of the Bill of Rights but important to this discussion:
Amendment 13 - Slavery Abolished
Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Amendment 15 - Race No Bar to Vote
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Amendment 19 - Women's Suffrage
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
The Equal Rights Amendment, which stated "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex," was proposed in 1923 and failed to be ratified before its deadline in 1982. There is similar legislation currently proposed."We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." is from the Declaration of Independence. It is the moral basis of the Constitution that eventually came to be written by the Founding Fathers, but it is not law.
We must keep in mind that citizens' rights are, in fact, restrictions of governmental and institutionalized political power. Please note in particular Articles 11 and 12 (the 9th and 10th Amendments).
The Bill of Rights
The conventions of a number of the States having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added.
Article the first [Not Ratified]
After the first enumeration required by the first article of the Constitution, there shall be one Representative for every thirty thousand, until the number shall amount to one hundred, after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall be not less than one hundred Representatives, nor less than one Representative for every forty thousand persons, until the number of Representatives shall amount to two hundred; after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall not be less than two hundred Representatives, nor more than one Representative for every fifty thousand persons.
Article the second [Amendment XXVII - Ratified 1992]
No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.
Article the third [Amendment I]
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Article the fourth [Amendment II]
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Article the fifth [Amendment III]
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Article the sixth [Amendment IV]
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Article the seventh [Amendment V]
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Article the eighth [Amendment VI]
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
Article the ninth [Amendment VII]
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Article the tenth [Amendment VIII]
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Article the eleventh [Amendment IX]
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Article the twelfth [Amendment X]
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
These additional amendments are NOT part of the Bill of Rights but important to this discussion:
Amendment 13 - Slavery Abolished
Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Amendment 15 - Race No Bar to Vote
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Amendment 19 - Women's Suffrage
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Fall garden
This morning I am potting up cuttings of basil, rosemary and mint to bring indoors for the winter. Tomorrow we will pull up the lettuces that are going to seed and the tomatoes that are done for the season, and in their stead we will plant kale, spinach, additional green beans and cabbages.
We will also figure a strategy for over-wintering the strawberries :)
Saturday, September 12, 2009
9/11
This was originally written after the first Memorial Service at the World Trade Center in October, 2001. We have come a long way since that day - as individuals, as a family, and as a nation. Some of these changes are for the better - but not all...
The service was unbelievable - such a mix of emotions - it was very well organized for a hasty job, if you know what I mean. We drove in and went down the West Side Highway to Canal Street. As we drove down the West Side Highway, people stood on the median with homemade signs saying things like 'We will never forget' and 'Our prayers are with the families'. On Sept 12, Jimmy and I had seen similar signs while driving down this road when we were desperately looking for a living Tommy, and we felt that each sign and each flag was a prayer for us in our sad search - now we were comforted by these same signs as we realize that we will never find a living Tommy. On September 12, the signs cheered on the rescue workers. On Sunday, all signs were for the comfort of the families. On Canal Street, all available spaces (fences, store fronts, etc) have signs memorializing victims or cheering on rescue workers. Fences are covered with signs, balloons, flowers and photographs. I have avoided going downtown since the middle of September, as I could not handle being in Tribeca and seeing this stuff every day! It does warm the heart, tho, to see all the love and caring...
Jimmy, Matt and I were standing on Dey Street (seats were gone by noon - we gave our seats and our face masks to an older woman with small children) - we were immediately facing the podium on the stage - we had an excellent view - and also had the big screens to watch, since they showed views of the pit that we could not go to. It was freezing cold, but the Red Cross had coffee, tea and hot cocoa for all – and even started passing cups around towards the end. The service was beautiful: Ave Maria - Amazing Grace - an Andrew Lloyd Webber song (Live in Peace??) that got EVERYONE crying - and God Bless America was unbelievable - we all started singing thru the tears, there was a real feeling of strength and solidarity in that song. But it was all over too soon - and they let us out to Bach (Air on a G String), which opened the floodgates. People who were otherwise alright – maybe teary-eyed but still standing strong - suddenly were sobbing openly and walking with that sickly hunched over walk that we all seem to have when the burden feels too heavy. At that point, several families shouted out their goodbyes 'Goodbye Harry, we love you!' and so on. The press photographers, who started the day ok and became visibly upset as the memorial progressed, started openly weeping at the spectacle of families screaming their final goodbyes to an unimaginably huge pile of smoking concrete and twisted steel.
I can't even write this now without crying and feeling that sick pain all over again. As for Matt, I think this helped him to accept that there is no chance for Tommy to come back. Up until we arrived at Ground Zero he still thought they would find Tommy alive in an air pocket - tired, weak, hurt and hungry - but alive. He is now coming to grips with his loss.
The service was unbelievable - such a mix of emotions - it was very well organized for a hasty job, if you know what I mean. We drove in and went down the West Side Highway to Canal Street. As we drove down the West Side Highway, people stood on the median with homemade signs saying things like 'We will never forget' and 'Our prayers are with the families'. On Sept 12, Jimmy and I had seen similar signs while driving down this road when we were desperately looking for a living Tommy, and we felt that each sign and each flag was a prayer for us in our sad search - now we were comforted by these same signs as we realize that we will never find a living Tommy. On September 12, the signs cheered on the rescue workers. On Sunday, all signs were for the comfort of the families. On Canal Street, all available spaces (fences, store fronts, etc) have signs memorializing victims or cheering on rescue workers. Fences are covered with signs, balloons, flowers and photographs. I have avoided going downtown since the middle of September, as I could not handle being in Tribeca and seeing this stuff every day! It does warm the heart, tho, to see all the love and caring...
Jimmy, Matt and I were standing on Dey Street (seats were gone by noon - we gave our seats and our face masks to an older woman with small children) - we were immediately facing the podium on the stage - we had an excellent view - and also had the big screens to watch, since they showed views of the pit that we could not go to. It was freezing cold, but the Red Cross had coffee, tea and hot cocoa for all – and even started passing cups around towards the end. The service was beautiful: Ave Maria - Amazing Grace - an Andrew Lloyd Webber song (Live in Peace??) that got EVERYONE crying - and God Bless America was unbelievable - we all started singing thru the tears, there was a real feeling of strength and solidarity in that song. But it was all over too soon - and they let us out to Bach (Air on a G String), which opened the floodgates. People who were otherwise alright – maybe teary-eyed but still standing strong - suddenly were sobbing openly and walking with that sickly hunched over walk that we all seem to have when the burden feels too heavy. At that point, several families shouted out their goodbyes 'Goodbye Harry, we love you!' and so on. The press photographers, who started the day ok and became visibly upset as the memorial progressed, started openly weeping at the spectacle of families screaming their final goodbyes to an unimaginably huge pile of smoking concrete and twisted steel.
I can't even write this now without crying and feeling that sick pain all over again. As for Matt, I think this helped him to accept that there is no chance for Tommy to come back. Up until we arrived at Ground Zero he still thought they would find Tommy alive in an air pocket - tired, weak, hurt and hungry - but alive. He is now coming to grips with his loss.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
What is truly important
To all those who have loved and supported me and my family through difficult times, I say a heartfelt "Thank you!"
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Regeneration
From time to time, we all expend energy giving life to useless and/or destructive habits or thought patterns or relationships, just like this tree.
I think some time for meditation and reflection on my goals and dreams and priorities, combined with a bit of pruning, is in order this month!
Monday, September 7, 2009
Tolkien - Commonplace Book
"Many that live deserve death.
And some die that deserve life. Can you give it to them?
Then be not too eager to deal out death in the name of justice, fearing for your own safety.
Even the wise cannot see all ends."
- JRR Tolkien from The Lord of the Rings
And some die that deserve life. Can you give it to them?
Then be not too eager to deal out death in the name of justice, fearing for your own safety.
Even the wise cannot see all ends."
- JRR Tolkien from The Lord of the Rings
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Remembering
While I would be lying if I said I remember the very day, I do remember the time. I remember being very excited about a new baby, and many family photos taken during his first year show me as a blur, leaning over to kiss my little brother.
My dad's name is also Tom, so we called my little brother Tommy Too (yes, its a poor pun on Thomas II). I still have a card from my second birthday in May, 1966 signed "Love, Tommy Too". I loved being a big sister - I even gave up my bottle for Tommy one day when he was crying and mom was on a call from Canada :)
We played together, and we were joined in complete solidarity. When our next sibling came along, my father was foolish enough to give us a choice of gender. We requested a girl. We received a boy. We told daddy to exchange it.
Obviously he said no, and we didn't speak to him for 3 days. Rest assured, we loved Paul just as he was. When mom and dad were expecting the last baby, in 1973, dad had learned his lesson. We didn't get to choose and we adored "our" little Jimmy!
Years went by, we went to school. We walked to school together almost every day - it was our time to talk things over before our very disparate social lives took us in different directions. These walks were where we discussed things, like the best jeans (Levis - designer jeans are stupid), how much aftershave should be applied so that a girl's eyes didn't water ( a dab, not half a bottle at once), and how much he loved the Hall & Oates cover of "You've lost that loving feeling".
We certainly had spats, and times when we didn't get along - we were teens, not saints! But all in all, we had a special bond, and we appreciated it quietly.
I remember all of these times so fondly today.
Today, Tommy would have turned 44 years old.
I miss him today as much as I missed him eight years ago.
I miss the baby I would kiss and try to carry.
I miss the mischievous toddler who climbed into the Edgerly & Gilson commercial coal bin with me (against strict parental orders to stay out of that lot).
I miss the teenager who would snap "stop calling me your little brother, I'm taller than you! Its embarrassing!"
I miss the man who helped me to raise my son, who told my son he would always be there for him.
I miss the man who loved his wife and daughters so joyfully and tenderly.
My faith tells me to dry my tears, that I will see my brother again, just not in this mortal life. And so I pray for my soul and his, and I send him this wish:
Happy birthday, Tommy Too!
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