Gary, and Gary...Indiana

watching the news...can't help but think of that old expression...may you live in interesting times...new laws...old prejudices and fears...and the gentle coaxing...finessing of wording...ah, yes...the wicked witch scratches her chin...these things must be done delicately...these days those that rant against the evils of faraway lands...those countries we can't even pin on a map...ones that treat their citizens harshly in the name of what they call holy...the irony...yes, these days many of our fellow men and women...those we have entrusted with our local and national governments claim a special relationship with the stars and stripes and all we hold dear...and hide deep-seated fears behind the language and intent of law...all as the Judeo-Christian world approaches holy days...reflective days...the days of ten commandments...and then not being worthy of them...of ultimate sacrifice...resurrection...love...i do not mean to offend...but i think of a line from "hannah and her sisters"..."if Jesus came back and saw what was being done in his name, he'd never stop throwing up"...so as this holy week unfolds for many...as we pray for what should pass over and what should remain...think of the messages these days should impart to all...let your love of your faith lead you to greater acceptance of all your fellow men and women...even that which is most difficult for you...and remember...the good ole days weren't all that good...ask anyone still with us who had to wear a pink triangle...or yellow star...

as the saints go marching in

did you feel it today?...it was the feeling that the ground was about to sink from the sheer weight of it all...what weight you ask?...the weight of modern day saints...puzzled?...let my fried fifty-something brain lay it out for you...it all became abundantly clear reading a story in the paper about a man attempting to sue an applebee's in nj for burning his face as he leaned over his sizzling fajitas to pray...glad i read this because if i heard this while driving then i would have laughed so hard that i would have missed the five hundred potholes in front of me and blew out my tires....but it points to the fact that we live in a society where every individual feels blameless...surely it is always the fault of someone else...from anti-bullying assemblies where the most vicious bully wears the feigned smile pledging to be kind while furiously posting with the hidden phone...to the person ranting about the dui accident in his beautiful hamlet while running out of fingers to count recalling all the times driving home after more than a few at happy hour...the political experts among your circle ranting and never voting...people who blame those of other faiths for all life's ills who never step into their own houses of worship...the earth is sinking from the weight of this self-appointed sainthood...and maybe this long winter has left me a bit introspective...then again, maybe this spring all would be a little lighter if we did a little soul searching...a little soul cleaning, as it were...then maybe we could cut our fellow men and women a little slack...realize that each individual is flawed...including ourselves...and by accepting this and taking responsibility we lighten that weight...in time for summer...