Irene has come and gone. The fear of water gushing into the basement kept me awake until 3:30 am Sunday and during that time I used my big shop vac to vacuum water coming up through the cracks in the cement floor. After succumbing to fatigue, I went to bed and slept for a long time. When I returned to the basement there was moisture around the entire perimeter and the many cracks in the floor. But to my great surprise, very little water came under the outside door. Both sump pumps worked through the night (the one in the front of the basement has not pumped for years) and were still working through Sunday. I am thankful I did not have any disastrous standing water but I am now determined to remove much of the unneeded and unwanted "stuff" in the overfull basement. I am resolute!
Monday, August 29, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Reflection
I am in my eightieth year. This is actually true - I am not imagining this. And there is notable evidence of my longevity. Sore and weak knees, aching back and hips, falling asleep like a baby and so and so on.
But there are some positive effects of having achieved this level of existence. For example, I really know a lot. Of course, much of this knowledge is trivial and only suitable for game shows. But a surprising amount is useful and satisfying.
Another result of having lived a long time is my ability to savor life: my life, the lives of others, and the life in all living things.
This may be of interest only to me. What is the reaction of those who read this?
But there are some positive effects of having achieved this level of existence. For example, I really know a lot. Of course, much of this knowledge is trivial and only suitable for game shows. But a surprising amount is useful and satisfying.
Another result of having lived a long time is my ability to savor life: my life, the lives of others, and the life in all living things.
This may be of interest only to me. What is the reaction of those who read this?
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Should We Care?
In these past weeks, during which there has been a hateful and scandalous "debate" about raising the debt limit, I have tried to understand why I see so much hate among some of my fellow citizens. These persons do not want to make any attempt to alleviate the suffering of those who either do not have health care or have inadequate health care. They do not care about those who barely eke out a living and do not want to support any program that will help them. These selfish citizens say, "why should I pay any of MY money to help others in need...they are probably lazy anyway".
Who are these citizens who do not see suffering around them? Who are these citizens who are obviously affluent enough to enjoy a comfortable life? Who are these citizens who do not feel any obligation to follow the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you?
Consider what we know about human beings. They are all different. They have a variety of gifts and these gifts vary greatly. We know from psychology, for example, that intelligence varies greatly from person to person. We even know how intelligence is distributed. In the twentieth century, psychologists have developed valid and reliable tests to discern and measure intelligence. We generally accept, using the results of such tests, that the distribution of intelligence scores produces a "bell curve". A score of one hundred is considered average intelligence. Half of the population scores higher than one hundred; the other half scores lower than one hundred. This defines half the population as "below average" and the other half as "above average".
Now should we have the same expectations for both groups? Or should we believe that the "above average", having been endowed with greater intelligence, have an obligation to help those who are "below average"?
I think it is reasonable to assume that many of those who are "above average" are fortunate to have a job, an income that can support a comfortable life style, and who have reasonably decent health and/or good health insurance.
But what of those citizens (or non-citizens) who do not have these blessings?Where did they come from? Why do they lack good jobs, good health, good health care? Can we possibly attribute these to being "below average"? Yes, for some, it is a question of their abilities. But not for all. There are those who have been born with intelligence but have physical limitations through no fault of their own. There are those who have been born in places where there is little opportunity for education. There are those who have been born in circumstances which seriously impact whether or not there will be opportunity to grow and develop.
So, what should we think of those who do not want to share the bounty of this country with those citizens who have very little, who have had no chance to succeed, who live lives of pain, poverty, and neglect?
I know what I think.
What do you think?
Who are these citizens who do not see suffering around them? Who are these citizens who are obviously affluent enough to enjoy a comfortable life? Who are these citizens who do not feel any obligation to follow the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you?
Consider what we know about human beings. They are all different. They have a variety of gifts and these gifts vary greatly. We know from psychology, for example, that intelligence varies greatly from person to person. We even know how intelligence is distributed. In the twentieth century, psychologists have developed valid and reliable tests to discern and measure intelligence. We generally accept, using the results of such tests, that the distribution of intelligence scores produces a "bell curve". A score of one hundred is considered average intelligence. Half of the population scores higher than one hundred; the other half scores lower than one hundred. This defines half the population as "below average" and the other half as "above average".
Now should we have the same expectations for both groups? Or should we believe that the "above average", having been endowed with greater intelligence, have an obligation to help those who are "below average"?
I think it is reasonable to assume that many of those who are "above average" are fortunate to have a job, an income that can support a comfortable life style, and who have reasonably decent health and/or good health insurance.
But what of those citizens (or non-citizens) who do not have these blessings?Where did they come from? Why do they lack good jobs, good health, good health care? Can we possibly attribute these to being "below average"? Yes, for some, it is a question of their abilities. But not for all. There are those who have been born with intelligence but have physical limitations through no fault of their own. There are those who have been born in places where there is little opportunity for education. There are those who have been born in circumstances which seriously impact whether or not there will be opportunity to grow and develop.
So, what should we think of those who do not want to share the bounty of this country with those citizens who have very little, who have had no chance to succeed, who live lives of pain, poverty, and neglect?
I know what I think.
What do you think?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)