On terrorism

On the Interfaith Peace Walk Saturday, I walked for a while with a nonreligious Jew, who is a good friend of mine. He suggested, and I agree, that terrorism has filled America's 'enemy' role that Communism held for so long. Yes, the shoe fits.

And perhaps our nation's heavy-handed response is the 21st century version of McCarthyism from 60 years ago.

If so, I have cautious optimism that the fervor will cool down and we can get on with our lives with the threat in the background.

Peace, y'all

Molly

On 9/11

The memories of 9/11 are inescapable.  So here are my own reflections.   Maybe I can contribute something new to the morass.

I am so sorry our nation squandered the good will offered to us by other people in other nations.  That our response was military is very sadly predictable.

The boy scouts in my town had a project to put up 2900 or so flags to commemorate each life lost in the tragedy ten years ago.  The flags line a long road and it's quite impressive.  The little boys don't remember a life before the tragedy, and that is a really sad thing.

Our nation has become nastier since 9/11/01.  Embroiled in 2 wars of choice, partisan politics making government completely dysfunctional.   The far right and far left are getting further apart.  This is scary.   The planet's hot, the rhetoric hotter.  Gas prices are high but not high enough to get us to give up our gas hogs. 

The price of higher education is in the stratosphere.   In 2006 or 2007 I bought share in my state's 529 plan at $70/share.   Today those shares cost $163.

10 years ago I got the news while at the gym.  Maybe I'll revisit that gym and see if all my parts still work.

We are no longer #1, except in military might, per capita waste, per capital wealth, and medical technology.  Our people are not healthier, our children are not the most successful in school, and our reputation is in shatters.  

I'm so sorry. 

How do we get better?   Well, we must think globally and act locally.  Do no harm. 

Peace, y'all

Molly

On slavery, chocolate, underwear and abstinence

Clothing shopping abstinence ended in August and I ackowledged it with a trip to buy new underwear. It was high time too, because during my 12 months of clothing shopping abstinence, most of my underwear got pretty ratty. Every morning when I don a new pair, I so appreciate my ability to buy new things! Now I'm abstaining from chocolate. It has been just over two weeks and it hasn't been that hard. Why chocolate? A curious combination of events. 1. I finished reading Chocolate Wars, which ended with Kraft's takeover of Cadbury. 2. I looked, but couldn't find Cadbury's chocolate in my usual store. 3. Alarmed, I checked in another store. 4. I found the Cadbury chocolate! But it was made in USA by Hershey under license by Cadbury. 5. Same day, I read Cadbury's Dairy Milk bars are now Fair Trade (but what I read was written before the Kraft takeover). 6. Also on same day, I got an email askingvmevto sign a petition to protest against Hershey using forced labor from immigrants. I sent inquiries to Cadbury and Kraft to ask if the chocolate I buy in the US is slavery free. I don't have answers yet. So -- no chocolate till I find out. I'm pretty sure fair trade, organic chocolate is slavery free. But what about the chocolate in chocolate chips? Ice cream? Mocha drinks? Oreos? Peace Y'all Molly

Globalization comes home

Yesterday I took my daughter shopping for shorts. While she deliberated, I looked at labels. Vietnam. Indonesia. India. Pakistan. Bangladesh. Mexico. Guatemala. Haiti. Dominican Republic. China China China. Is it possible to find new clothes made by union workers rather than nearly certainly exploited young women?

I am in the tenth month of my yearlong moratorium from clothing shopping (for me). What a great respite it has been from temptation, yearning, time-wasting and closet cluttering!

For clothes to be so cheap after being transported literally across the planet means those workers can't be earning much. This bothers me.

When my year of abstinence ends I will still practice extreme restraint.

Peace, y'all

Molly

On Memorial Day

Another Military holiday. This one to honor those who died in military service to the US. Coming at the end of May, it also serves as the unofficial start of summer. I hope the summer brings more peace in the world, but I doubt it.

Peace y'all

Molly

Can people really listen?

An old saying is that God gave us two ears and one mouth. So we should listen twice as much as we speak. Yet we are so quick to speak, and to share our own views, what we think, what we've experienced. I like silence. I like to listen for the birds. I like the freedom and space that silence gives us.

Asci write this I realize I should be listening. I'm going to take my own advice and listen carefully.

Peace, y'all

Molly

On the murder of Osama Bin Laden

I can't feel joy about this. I recognize the closure many Americans feel, and am glad for the closure. But not the death. Proverbs 24.17 advises "do not gloat when your enemy falls;when they stumble, do not rejoice."

I felt embarrassed seeing the gloating crowds outside the White House last night.

I hope my nation can heal. That we can focus on helping each other, on forming a more perfect union, rather than on vengeance.

Hope this chapter passes quickly

Peace, y'all

Molly