When I was Rector of St. John's Waterbury, from 2000 on, we rented our parish house to a mosque.
They were wonderful people--mostly not Arabs--but people who followed their faith and were a part of our community...owning stores, selling real estate, working as medical folks, lawyers and more.
When 9/11 happened, after we had heard from Mimi and Josh (both our kids lived in NYC on that day) and knowing Cathy was alright, walking from the subway stop after the World Trade Center back to Brooklyn, I drove to Waterbury to be with my Muslim friends, knowing it would be a day they would be blamed for.
99.99% of American Muslims are just like you and me. Hard working, tax paying, Constitution respecting members of our so, so diverse society.
And yet they are, too often than not, painted with the same brush as Isis and Alkadia and all the radical, war raging Muslims of the Middle East.
I remember walking with them from the old Parish House of St. John's, which we tore down for parking after they left, to the building they bought a few blocks away. My friends of a different faith.
The Republican primary contestants are appealing to the worst of our society--though too many for me to imagine--by being Islamic-phobic. And it needs to be named and exposed.
It is bigotry of the worst kind. Labeling all members of a Faith as like the worst of their Faith.
It's like seeing me as 'like' the most right wing Christians.
It's wrong and needs to be exposed as wrong.
Republicans like Trump and Dr. Carson and Fiorina are playing to the worst in us--our fears and ignorance.
It has to stop. Muslim Americans must be seen as Americans first and foremost and Muslims as an after thought--just like I am an American who happens to be Anglo-Saxon and Christian.
Just like that.
Else there will be hell to pay, in a big way.
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
big, big bed
So, what I sometimes say to our dog is this: "want to go to the big bed?" and he runs upstairs before me to jump on our futon.
Well, in a process that took months, we are now the owners of a King sized bed. We've had the frame for months and months, through Amazon, which Bern loves and I hate. Amazon sent, get this, three bed frames and had to come pick up two. God love their little computer minds....
Today we went to Costco--which gives me angina from the moment I go inside--too much of too much of too much 'stuff'. Makes me crazy. But we bought a King sized mattress which took all the energy we had to get upstairs and on the frame. The box it came in had wheels, just to give you some insight into how hard this thing was to move. It was folded into three and took an hour or so to unfold completely on our frame.
But now, our aging dog can't jump up on it. So Bern took the yard long table that was beside my side of the futon and put a rug on it and believes Bela will learn to jump on that and then on the bed. I'm not betting on it.
Getting the mattress home and upstairs made me feel like I've been in a fist fight. The dog isn't he only one getting old!
We spent a good part of yesterday looking for a sectional couch for our TV room, which is upstairs. When Mimi and Tim and Josh and Cathy and the girls are all here for holidays, there's not enough places to sit in the TV room.
I was awful to shop with. I AM awful to shop with. I hate to shop. Bern knows that but drags me along. And I didn't think anything we looked at would fit in the TV room, but she did. And then I said, "let's make sure whoever delivers it will deliver it to upstairs, cause we'll never get it up there."
She turned and said, "let's go home."
In the car I asked, "are you upset with me." She said 'yes' and after that we just drove to Costco and found the mattress we bought today and muscled upstairs, finally.
I hope the mattress makes her know we could in know way move a sectional sofa upstairs to the TV room. No way.
Our dog isn't the only one of the three of us who are getting older....
Well, in a process that took months, we are now the owners of a King sized bed. We've had the frame for months and months, through Amazon, which Bern loves and I hate. Amazon sent, get this, three bed frames and had to come pick up two. God love their little computer minds....
Today we went to Costco--which gives me angina from the moment I go inside--too much of too much of too much 'stuff'. Makes me crazy. But we bought a King sized mattress which took all the energy we had to get upstairs and on the frame. The box it came in had wheels, just to give you some insight into how hard this thing was to move. It was folded into three and took an hour or so to unfold completely on our frame.
But now, our aging dog can't jump up on it. So Bern took the yard long table that was beside my side of the futon and put a rug on it and believes Bela will learn to jump on that and then on the bed. I'm not betting on it.
Getting the mattress home and upstairs made me feel like I've been in a fist fight. The dog isn't he only one getting old!
We spent a good part of yesterday looking for a sectional couch for our TV room, which is upstairs. When Mimi and Tim and Josh and Cathy and the girls are all here for holidays, there's not enough places to sit in the TV room.
I was awful to shop with. I AM awful to shop with. I hate to shop. Bern knows that but drags me along. And I didn't think anything we looked at would fit in the TV room, but she did. And then I said, "let's make sure whoever delivers it will deliver it to upstairs, cause we'll never get it up there."
She turned and said, "let's go home."
In the car I asked, "are you upset with me." She said 'yes' and after that we just drove to Costco and found the mattress we bought today and muscled upstairs, finally.
I hope the mattress makes her know we could in know way move a sectional sofa upstairs to the TV room. No way.
Our dog isn't the only one of the three of us who are getting older....
Monday, September 21, 2015
my man Scott
Governor Scott Walker has apparently exited the Presidential race. He was one of the two Republicans I feared most. The other is the current Governor of Ohio. He actually seems to make sense from time to time.
Walker didn't, but he hates Unions, which I love, and I thought that might be a real selling point. It wasn't.
So we've got The Donald, Carlie and Ben out in front of all the sensible people.
Lord, this is so much fun. The clown car is full to overflowing. What a joy.
Maybe they'll kill each other off, who knows?
Walker didn't, but he hates Unions, which I love, and I thought that might be a real selling point. It wasn't.
So we've got The Donald, Carlie and Ben out in front of all the sensible people.
Lord, this is so much fun. The clown car is full to overflowing. What a joy.
Maybe they'll kill each other off, who knows?
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Bad day defined
OK, I was two miles down the road to St. Andrew's in Northford when I realized I'd left my coffee at home. The line at the drive through Dunkin' Donuts in Cheshire was long and I kept going, caffeine need growing, until I stopped at one in Hamden and stood in line behind Quinipiak (sp) students with complicated orders.
Back on the road I knew I'd get there with 15 minutes to spare. When I parked, I went in without my coffee (drat!) to meet a man in a clerical collar named Daniel.
I'd gone to the wrong church! What an idiot.
In my feeble defense, I have been jumping around all summer because supply clergy like Daniel are so hare to find and we're a presbyter short right now. But I was so sure I was supposed to be at St. Andrew's that I left my alb and prayer book there.
Realizing I was supposed to be at Emmanuel, Killingworth, I grabbed my alb and BCP and ran out. I called them before starting to drive and was actually only 12 minutes late by the time I got there and they were amused by it all. (Being a total idiot cuts you some slack!)
Problem was, I suddenly realized I had picked up Daniel's Prayer Book instead of mine, so after the Eucharist I called St. Andrew's to tell him I'd mail it to him tomorrow...reinforcing the total idiot reputation I have....
I wasn't going to write this part--but being a total idiot deserves to be totally exposed--I wore my Snoopy from Peanuts silk Valentine Boxer Shorts because they are large and roomy. When I went to the bathroom after church at Emmanuel, I realized they were so large and roomy I'd put them on backwards and not realized.
So how was your Sunday morning.....?
Back on the road I knew I'd get there with 15 minutes to spare. When I parked, I went in without my coffee (drat!) to meet a man in a clerical collar named Daniel.
I'd gone to the wrong church! What an idiot.
In my feeble defense, I have been jumping around all summer because supply clergy like Daniel are so hare to find and we're a presbyter short right now. But I was so sure I was supposed to be at St. Andrew's that I left my alb and prayer book there.
Realizing I was supposed to be at Emmanuel, Killingworth, I grabbed my alb and BCP and ran out. I called them before starting to drive and was actually only 12 minutes late by the time I got there and they were amused by it all. (Being a total idiot cuts you some slack!)
Problem was, I suddenly realized I had picked up Daniel's Prayer Book instead of mine, so after the Eucharist I called St. Andrew's to tell him I'd mail it to him tomorrow...reinforcing the total idiot reputation I have....
I wasn't going to write this part--but being a total idiot deserves to be totally exposed--I wore my Snoopy from Peanuts silk Valentine Boxer Shorts because they are large and roomy. When I went to the bathroom after church at Emmanuel, I realized they were so large and roomy I'd put them on backwards and not realized.
So how was your Sunday morning.....?
Saturday, September 19, 2015
I think Lukie is dying
Our cat, Luke, (Bern calls him 'our last cat' because we used to have four and are down to Luke, who was always my favorite.
He's one of those big yellow cats with an M on his forehead. Some measure of Maine Coon Cat, though not full bred.
He is, who knows how old. When we got him from Meow, a cat rescue group, he was almost a year old. And Mimi was 20 or so. Mimi's now 35, so Luke is at least 15 or more.
He's always been an indoor cat. Yellow cats, in my experience, are magnates for cars, so it is best to keep them inside.
Zoe, our next door neighbor teen, came over and fed him when we were away in North Carolina. When we got back, he seemed strange, but I credited it to him being angry that we left him for so long.
(He's laying on the table beside my desk where I am writing. He often does that, but much more since we came back from North Carolina, I rub him often.)
He hasn't eaten anything much since we got home--not tuna, not turkey from the Deli, certainly not stuff in cans or bags. He also drinks a lot of water and seems, from time to time, a tad confused. He still moves rapidly and can jump up on anything. But I'm worried.
It's been a week--that's long enough to be angry, even for a cat. He's really beautiful, laying on the desk beside me. And from time to time he seems fine.
But he won't eat and drinks water constantly.
I don't want to lose him. I will be a nail in my coffin as well since he is, according to Bern, "our last cat".
He's really very dear, comes when you call him like a dog, is affectionate to a fault.
Oh, Lukie, don't die. Please don't. I will mourn you and miss you so.
I'm going to pet him on my table now and try not to be sad.
He's one of those big yellow cats with an M on his forehead. Some measure of Maine Coon Cat, though not full bred.
He is, who knows how old. When we got him from Meow, a cat rescue group, he was almost a year old. And Mimi was 20 or so. Mimi's now 35, so Luke is at least 15 or more.
He's always been an indoor cat. Yellow cats, in my experience, are magnates for cars, so it is best to keep them inside.
Zoe, our next door neighbor teen, came over and fed him when we were away in North Carolina. When we got back, he seemed strange, but I credited it to him being angry that we left him for so long.
(He's laying on the table beside my desk where I am writing. He often does that, but much more since we came back from North Carolina, I rub him often.)
He hasn't eaten anything much since we got home--not tuna, not turkey from the Deli, certainly not stuff in cans or bags. He also drinks a lot of water and seems, from time to time, a tad confused. He still moves rapidly and can jump up on anything. But I'm worried.
It's been a week--that's long enough to be angry, even for a cat. He's really beautiful, laying on the desk beside me. And from time to time he seems fine.
But he won't eat and drinks water constantly.
I don't want to lose him. I will be a nail in my coffin as well since he is, according to Bern, "our last cat".
He's really very dear, comes when you call him like a dog, is affectionate to a fault.
Oh, Lukie, don't die. Please don't. I will mourn you and miss you so.
I'm going to pet him on my table now and try not to be sad.
Friday, September 18, 2015
OK, is this what will rid us of Trump...and do I want to be 'rid' of him
In Donald Trump's question and answer period of a speech in New Hampshire, some questioner said that the problem we have is 'Muslims' and our President is one and not a citizen and there are camps in America training terrorists and what was Trump going to do about that.
The Donald never corrected the man about Obama's citizenship or religion (American and Christian, by the way) because he was the 'birther' of all birthers' a few years ago.
Most Republican candidates and all the Democrats were outraged (not Sen. Cruz, by the way, who is riding Donald's coat tails, it seems).
So maybe this is the moment so many have been waiting for--the demise of Donald!
I'm not sure.
In a recent poll, 46% of Republicans had some lingering doubt about Obama's religion and birth place. 46 friggin %!!!!!
So, why would Trump alienate almost half of the Republican Party?
The reason I'm not sure I want to be 'rid' of him is this: If he, beyond all rationality, actually got the nomination, it would mean 4 more years of some Democrat in the White House. In a general election campaign he would implode in so many ways, not matter if Bernie or Hillary or Joe was his opponent.
So, why would I want this to take him down? My dream is Trump vs. Bernie Sanders. A socialist in the White House is what I long for. That pairing would make it so.
Lordy, Lordy, this election cycle is going to be so much fun.....Really.....
The Donald never corrected the man about Obama's citizenship or religion (American and Christian, by the way) because he was the 'birther' of all birthers' a few years ago.
Most Republican candidates and all the Democrats were outraged (not Sen. Cruz, by the way, who is riding Donald's coat tails, it seems).
So maybe this is the moment so many have been waiting for--the demise of Donald!
I'm not sure.
In a recent poll, 46% of Republicans had some lingering doubt about Obama's religion and birth place. 46 friggin %!!!!!
So, why would Trump alienate almost half of the Republican Party?
The reason I'm not sure I want to be 'rid' of him is this: If he, beyond all rationality, actually got the nomination, it would mean 4 more years of some Democrat in the White House. In a general election campaign he would implode in so many ways, not matter if Bernie or Hillary or Joe was his opponent.
So, why would I want this to take him down? My dream is Trump vs. Bernie Sanders. A socialist in the White House is what I long for. That pairing would make it so.
Lordy, Lordy, this election cycle is going to be so much fun.....Really.....
First Class
The first class of "Exploring the So-Called Gnostic Christian Literature" met today from 12:30-2 p.m. at UConn's Waterbury Campus. I teach as part of the Osher Life-Long Learning Institute (OLLI) there.
Amazing thing is, in my senior year of college, my plan was to become a college professor--teaching "American Literature" in some small liberal arts school and writing the Great American Novel in my spare time. Then two of my professors, Mr. Stasny and Dr. Meitzen--from the Classics and Theology Departments, came to me to tell me they'd nominated me for a Rockefeller 'Trial Year in Seminary' Grant.
"I don't want to go to seminary," I told Stasny, who I'd had 7 classes with in 8 semesters, and Meitzen, who I'd had three classes with.
"That's perfect," they said, "just keep saying that."
The Rockefeller Grant was for people who didn't want to go to seminary but some teacher of theirs thought maybe they should.
So I got the Fellowship and spent two years at Harvard Divinity School and earned a Master of Theological Studies degree. And got hooked on God.
But now, over 50 years later, I get to teach people in a college. Amazing!
You have to be at least 50 to be a part of OLLI. So these people want to be in class and pay to be there and care about learning.
I had a lecture to take up about 45 minutes of the class--something called 'From the Apostles to the Council of Nicea', but people kept interrupting with questions and that's the way it went--me responding to questions, which is good and the way I like to lead a class anyway. Several folks stayed after to ask more questions and make insightful comments so it was 2:30 before I got to my car.
Teaching and learning--and I do both in the classes I lead every other semester or so--it seems to me that is what a lot of life is about. Teaching and learning. What a joy. What a wonder. How so right that is in the scheme of things. Just as it should be.
Here I am, after all these years derailed by the God stuff, doing what I always wanted to do in the first place.
How lucky and blessed am I?
Amazing thing is, in my senior year of college, my plan was to become a college professor--teaching "American Literature" in some small liberal arts school and writing the Great American Novel in my spare time. Then two of my professors, Mr. Stasny and Dr. Meitzen--from the Classics and Theology Departments, came to me to tell me they'd nominated me for a Rockefeller 'Trial Year in Seminary' Grant.
"I don't want to go to seminary," I told Stasny, who I'd had 7 classes with in 8 semesters, and Meitzen, who I'd had three classes with.
"That's perfect," they said, "just keep saying that."
The Rockefeller Grant was for people who didn't want to go to seminary but some teacher of theirs thought maybe they should.
So I got the Fellowship and spent two years at Harvard Divinity School and earned a Master of Theological Studies degree. And got hooked on God.
But now, over 50 years later, I get to teach people in a college. Amazing!
You have to be at least 50 to be a part of OLLI. So these people want to be in class and pay to be there and care about learning.
I had a lecture to take up about 45 minutes of the class--something called 'From the Apostles to the Council of Nicea', but people kept interrupting with questions and that's the way it went--me responding to questions, which is good and the way I like to lead a class anyway. Several folks stayed after to ask more questions and make insightful comments so it was 2:30 before I got to my car.
Teaching and learning--and I do both in the classes I lead every other semester or so--it seems to me that is what a lot of life is about. Teaching and learning. What a joy. What a wonder. How so right that is in the scheme of things. Just as it should be.
Here I am, after all these years derailed by the God stuff, doing what I always wanted to do in the first place.
How lucky and blessed am I?
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