Let Us All Give Thanks: Or The Power of Gratitude

In George Will's column this past Sunday, he lamented the lack of civility in American society, especially the self-absorbed culture brought about by cell phones, iPods, and other portable media. I agree that American's have forgotten many of the common courtesies; but Mr. Will blamed this decline on "the welfare state", a term I haven't heard in ages.

I disagree with Mr. Will because "the welfare state" refers to government entitlement programs, which have been around for decades, and far longer than the rude, crude behavior he laments. Most Americans are fortunate enough not to have depend on entitlement programs, at least until we retire and need our Social Security. And our older Americans generally still mind their manners.

Besides most folks in "the welfare state" can't afford the high-tech gadgets in Mr. Wills lamentations.

So what has taken America from a country that values the individual rights to a culture that worships individual whimsy. It is or materialistic, advertising drive age. The get-rich-and-buy-everything mentality that tells each of us, hundreds of time a day: "It's all about you!" To happy, we need to look good, feel good, eat oversized portions of junk food, wear the right clothes, drive the posh cars, and, yes Mr. Will, own the latest high-tech gadget.

It is this lust for wealth and the symbols of status that has given birth to this age of Me-ism. And it extends all the way to the White House and Congress, which are blatantly giving tax breaks to their rich, powerful friends while cutting programs for the poor.

But there is a cure for Me-ism, and it begins with Gratitude.

Today is Thanksgiving, the day in which all Americans at least give lip-service to gratitude for their good fortune. We will turn off the personal media long enough to enjoy a meal with family and friends, and perhaps at least part of a football game or move together before we turn them back on. Then tomorrow, we turn our thoughts to what we each want for Christmas.

But real gratitude is not just for a day, but it can begin today with real "thanks-giving". It begins when we turn off the greedy give-mes and look at everything we already have. It's called counting your blessings, and it can be a wonderful, transforming experience.

I am an American. I was fortunate enough to be born in a country where I have the right to write and share these thoughts with you dear readers. A nation in which every poor citizen has the same rights as very rich citizen; where every citizens voice can be heard.

I don't have an iPod, or even a PDA. And my cell phone doesn't do much except make phone calls. So what!

I have this wonderful computer to type this on. I have a terrific new Saturn in my parking space. I have a roof over my head, plenty to eat, clothes to wear, a few creature comforts, and more books than I can ever read in this lifetime. My family is in good health, and I have a wonderful man who loves me...

I could go on forever. But the point is not to just take inventory. It is to consider the real blessing of having all your "blessings".

Last Sunday, I learned that the earning power of the United States averages out to $100.00 per person per day.

In Mozambique, it averages about 60 cents per person per day.

I learned these statistics because I was at a meeting for one of our UU congregation's Social Action Council projects; sending girls to school in Moz, which I wrote about a few months ago. We hoping to expand the program this year, and send more girls to school.

Why? Because we can! We know we can, and because we can; we want to do it.
Among us, and our friends, families, and acquaintances; we can scrape together the funds we need to send 48 girls to school. In fact, the formal fund-raising began with Sunday's meeting, but before that meeting we are almost half-way to our goal.

Why do we do it?

Because we can. Because of all we have. And because we know that much of what we have is more from happenstance than from our own efforts.

Think about it. If you're an American, and especially if you were lucky enough to be born here, you have all the promises and protections of our U.S. Constitution. You live in the world's most blessed country.

But you didn't earn it. The birth of our nation, and its nuture and growth into a global power are the work of several hard-working generations before us. And we owe them a huge debt of gratitude.

If you're healthy, you owe it to having shelter and enough to eat, and possibly inheriting a favorable gene pool. And much of that, too comes from being in the right place at the right time (or in the case of the last, your ancestors being in the right place at the right time!)

Think about how in the course of a day, so many things go wrong. Now think about the things all the things that go right! It's a miracle.

Karma, Chance, or even call it plain old Good Luck plays a major part in our lives and in our having of our blessings.

And when the true realization of these wonderful blessings hits you, not having an iPod is not such a big deal. Instead of grumbling about what you don't have, you think "Hey, this is the great!"

Those of us working on the Moz project know how fortunate we are. So, we want to share some of our blessings with others. We do a lot of work in our local community as well. And we're proud and happy to be helping these young girls half a world away.

Because we know when these young ladies return to their villages, they will teach and help their family and neighbors with their knowledge. When, they become mothers, they make certain their children are educated.

Some of the girls plan to become teachers or nurses. And already, they are becoming leaders in their villages, especially for their younger peers.

Over time, many people will benefit from the education of just a few young women in Mozambique villages. More children will be educated. There will be better access to health care and health information. In time, there will more teachers, nurse, doctors. Farmers will be smarter and more productive, and other job opportunites will become available.

Why? Because a handful of grateful Americans sat in our meetinghouse basement one Tuesday evening and said "we want to help."

That my friends, is the power of Gratitude.

Gratitude is not greedy or rude. After all, gratitude comes from the same origins as another word; a word we don't hear too often anymore "gracious". And the two reinforce each other, because being able to give or to help is also a blessing.

So take time to really be grateful for your blessings this holiday weekend. We have so much to be grateful for, including opportunities to help others. So help with the cooking and cleaning up for your Thanksgiving feast.

Oh, and don't forget another blessing, the chance to mind your manners.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

The Fat of the Land: Or That's Where OUR Money Goes

A number of pundits in the past week have pondered, as I have, about the contrast between President Bush's call for us to conserve energy and his almost incessant travels around the country for photo-ops galore. It takes thousands of gallons of fuels for each stop of these visits, not to mention a significant expenditure of tax dollars for security, planning, Secret Service, etc.

And the communties he visits have to prepare for these visits too, with resources and personnel being diverted His Photo-Op's royal visits.

I can understand the President's urgency to pump up his dismal poll numbers. And he's particularly good at presidential appearances. Sadly however, too often they seem to be just that appearances.

During his re-election campaign, Bush made two visits to my hometown. On both occasions, attendance was by invitation only; party-faithful-only please. Of course, it appeared that every American supported him, because every person at these speeches did. Even the undecided, whom these events were presumably supposed to persuade, were kept at a distance. They didn't fit into the rosy-glasses version of the Bush Fantasy Presidency.

But as the one great Republican president said, "You can't fool all of the people all of the time." And the poll numbers started to nose drive even before Katrina's winds of reality sent them into free fall.

As the President goes from one Katrina or Rita ravaged neighborhood to the next, with his gestures of compassion and concern; the nation is learning that FEMA and Homeland Security were understaffed, underfunded, and bogged down with red tape; while being run by Republican cronies with little or no expertise. And like their ignoble leader, they tried to give us a rosy view of relief efforts; even as the media reports so unequivocally showed us the brutal reality.

Yes, the body count has proved less than originally feared; and the worst reports of violence proved to be only hear-say horror stories. And yes, the local governments bear some responsibility. But FEMA, the hero agency after previous disasters like Hurricanes Andrew and Hugo, should have been ready and should have done better.

And haven't we been told that our country is safer now, thanks to the Department of Homeland Security?

And now, we've been promised that the storm-ravaged communities and lives will be rebuilt, although the debate on how we will pay for this huge undertaking.

Some, like Robert Reisch in his NPR commentaries have called for a recall on "pork" and tax breaks for the wealthy:

http://www.robertreich.org/reich/20050928.asp

Fat chance of that. As today's Green Button Link article shows this would likely put a damper on the Republican Party's party, just as campus security might put an end to a fraternity kegger.

We're talking serious gluttony here. Just days after Katrina, Congress still planned to cut food stamp and Medicaid programs. And now there's talk of cutting the Medicare prescription program (Of course, a program that actually helped patients and rather than the the drug companies would be a damn good idea).

I remember watching Katrina's aftermath and thinking, "This is a perfect example of the Administration's vision for America." There it was for all the world to see: the rich safe and happy, the poor abandoned and miserable.

It's going to take more than a few handshakes and hugs to help your poll numbers Mr. President. How about putting some of our tax dollars where your mouth is? Show the America people you care about them. And not just the rich, Christian conservatives cronies you love and take care of so well.

Throw a few perks to the middle-class. And show the world that its richest nation can and will take care of its poor.

You remember the middle-class and the poor; don't you Sir? The people who do most of the real work in this country? The people who earn the wages, that we spend on the goods and services that we buy, the money that leads to the profits that make your rich friends just a little bit richer every day? Remember "We the People?"

We're the ones with the bucks, and the votes. We're where those darned poll numbers come from. We are America, Mr. President!

So, show us you really do care. Take back the pork projects. Hell, be really brave and take back the tax breaks. Go all out and give us a Supreme Court nominee that will be good for Country and Constitution, and not just for your Conservative party's agenda.

But you've already showed us where your faith and loyalty lie, in those 6,000 pork packets in the transportation bill, among other atrocities.

So keep wasting fuel and tax dollars. And keept glad-handing in front of all those cameras, Sir. It won't help the country. And it likely won't help the Republican Party, either.

But you might just have a promising acting career waiting for you in January 2009.

Let the Red Ink Flow: Or Responsible, Maybe; But Not Fiscally So

Maybe some prominent red ink manufacturers made significant donations to Bush's and
other Republicans' campaigns.

Like many Americans, after hearing the Presidents impressive plan for rebuilding the
Gulf coast after the ravages of Katrina, "I thought 200 billions dollars, where will it come
from? He'll need to raise taxes."

But the following day, we learned that he will stay his no-tax-increase course as
steadfastly as he stays the course on the war in Iraq. The funds for Katrina will come
from cutting "unnecessary spending."

So what should be cut? I heard a commentator on NPR this week suggest that Congress
could rescind all the pork-barrel programs in the federal budget. He said there is more
than enough money in these special trophy projects that representatives take back to
their constituents to help insure their re-election. But this idea sounds like good common
sense, and we're talking about the government.

Also, how many members of Congress will be willing to gamble their job security by giving up these gifts to their constituents? They view their pet projects as necessary to their districts
and states.

So what will be cut? Up until the President's Thursday speech, Congress still planned to vote
to cut Medicaid and food stamp programs. Yes, even after Katrina's devastation, and the accusations of racial and class discrimination, Congress still planned to cut these programs.

The Administration and the Republicans in Congress set themselves up for those
accusations. Since Bush took office, his agenda has primarily benefitted Corporate America
and wealthy individuals, often at the expense of the poor and working classes. After
almost 5 years of taking care of his cronies, it was easy for the public to conclude that
the poor New Orleans refugees were forgotten and neglected. That idea fits in with the
collective persona Conservatives have forged for themselves. So they have only themselves
to blame. In many ways, they've been neglecting the poor and needy for years.

I represent my Unitarian Universalist congregation on an interfaith council that oversees
our local food bank. And a few years ago, the food bank's monthly statistics. Our food bank
used to serve between 300 and 400 families per month.

I just got their newsletter the other day, and the new average is 660 families a month.
And these are households that generally don't qualify for food stamps or other assistance programs; individuals and families struggling to get by on Social Security, disability, unemployment or minium wage paychecks.

We've got a great food bank. They have a garden and a gleaning program; and during the summer and fall, volunteers go to local farms to pick fresh fruits and vegetables for the
families. And they have a training kitchen, teaching recipients about cooking and nutrition.
And they work with local agencies and volunteer organizations to get any additional
assistance they might need. Yes, we're proud of our food bank:
http://www.projectshare.net/.

But Project S.H.A.R.E and food banks across the country are taking a hit. When hurricanes
and other disasters strike, donations to worthy relief efforts often mean a drop in donations
for other organizations. Donors families only have so much money to donate to charity.
So please remember your local relief organizations, too; as we enter the fall and winter
seasons. More families will likely need food, as they face higher heating costs in the coming
cold, snowy months.

The need for assistance programs like Project S.H.A.R.E is growing in America, as the
population living at or below the "poverty line" has increased significantly since Bush
took office. But that to many, seemed like somebody else's problem until Katrina gave
thousands of human faces to the problem of poverty in America.

Hurricane Katrina struck our nation with a terrible blow. A blow so strong that His
Resoluteness finally had to take responsibility for our government's worst-laid plans. And
as much to try to rescue his poll numbers as to rescue the Gulf region, he has laid out a
number of promising initatives.

Will the red ink of the federal deficit flow. Will the pork fat be trimmed? Will so called "entitlement" benefits be redirected and refocused to Katrina refugees?

Or will these plans, like No Child Left Behind and so many Homeland Security initiatives, be
long on promise and short on funds?

And that's the issue few have mentioned. From time to time, since 9/11; there have been
media stories about police and fire departments being unable to purchase the rescue and communications equipment they need to prepare for attacks or disasters. Some of these
are necessary because of new Homeland Security measures, but the promised funding
was late or non-existent.

I believe Katrina relief will likely play out the same scenario. Bush needs some positive
Q points right now, so it's "We screwed up. We're sorry. We'll make it better."

And when all the national boo-boos are bandaged, it will likely be back to BAU:
Business As Usual.

So here's an idea: Maybe someone can invent a car that runs on red ink. Then maybe some
good can come out of the flood in Washington.

===============================================================

To help Katrina victims, visit the Unitarian Universalist website at:
http://www.uua.org/news/2005/050831_katrina/donate.html

Or you can contact these organizations from NPR's website:

The Higher Ground Hurrican Relief Fund 1-800-833-2660
The Red Cross 1-800-435-7669

The Salvation Army 1-800-725-2769

And please don't forget the needy in your own community. Support your local food

bank and other relief organizations. They likely need volunteers as well as monetary

donations.

As we say at our UU meetinghouse, give until it feels good. It's one of the ways that I

count my blessings.

Thanks and take care,
JLH

The Big Uneasy: Or The Answers, My Friends, Are Blowing In The Wind

Lesson 1: Forewarned, But Nor Fore-Armed?
The hurricane is past; and the flood waters are receding. But the storm of controversy regarding the rescue and relief efforts will likely rage on for months, if not years to come.

The Green Button Link is a timeline Katrina announcements and actions, beginning with Louisianna Governor Louise Blanco's declaring a state of emergency in Louisianna on Friday, August 26, three days before Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. This declaration also came shortly after Katrina, as a Category 1 hurricane had killed 11 people in Florida.

If nothing else, FEMA, and the Administration, had two or three days to plan and prepare, to gather needed supplies and personnel, and to put National Guard and other response teams on standby to move in when the hurricane was over. There was likely even time to assist with the evacuation efforts. But as the Iraqi war has shown us, planning for unfavorable contigencies is not the Bush Adminstration's strong suit. And so the Blame Game has begun, spin and fingerpointing are the order of the day. It can't possibly be our fault!

I won't list the litany of mistakes and criticisms aimed at the Administrations, as it's difficult to sort out the truth from the fiction. But I did see two members of the National Guard on TV yesterday. One said they were waiting for the orders to go into New Orleans, eager to begin helping the refugees. The other said they could have moved in within 6 hours! But "red tape" mucked up the system.

One well-documented problem seems to be that FEMA is now part of the Department of Homeland Security, which has created a whole new level of protocols, which apparently delayed communications and action in these most critical hours, or more accurately days. Apparently, they are too busy focusing on terrorism to be bothered responding to mere natural disaster.

Does that make you feel safer? Shouldn't Homeland Security be about keeping Americans safe from disasters, whether man-made or natural? Whose tax dollars are they spending? Whose country is it anyway?

Let us, as citizens, remind all our government official; local, state, federal, and especially the President that they work for us; and we will hand them their pink slips if necessary. Let us ask questions and demand answers about Katrina, Iraq, Social Security, and any and every other issue that concerns us-- We the People.

Lesson 2: Mother Nature's Two Minute Warning?
Just a few days before Hell came to New Orleans, as Katrina was approaching the southern tip of Florida; I read an article about global warming. The article listed some possible consequences of global warning, including more numerous and more deadly hurricanes. At the time I was thinking about last year, when four strong hurricanes battered Florida; which is still recovering from this series of assaults.

Now I'm not saying global warming caused Katrina. But we have seen a few rather active hurricane seasons lately. And I don't think I've ever seen us get as far as the letter "O" in hurricane names before; and the hurricane season doesn't end until November 30.

We also know that glaciers near the North and South Pole are melting at a faster rate then usual, and that there are holes in the precious ozone layer that helps to protect our planet.

It has also been noted that the loss of wetlands, or marsh areas, on the Mississippi delta contributed to the severity of the floods. But our efforts to tame the Mississippi River and other bodies of water have decreased the amount of silt the river deposits in the delta; diminishing this natural barrier which would have dissipated much of the hurricane's flood waters.

Humankind is just beginning to understand the impact we can have on our home planet; and Americans should join our neighbors in this blue-green oasis in trying to balance our two "green" concerns: economy and environment.

After all, if you were sitting in your home, watching TV, and caught a wiff of smoke; you'd at least get up to investigate the problem, right? Nature appears to be sending us some warning signals. And Mother Nature will win in the end. Just ask the dinosaurs.

Lesson 3: Don't Put All Your Eggs...
And speaking of dinosaurs and environment, Katrina also offers us a lesson about our reliance on oil.

One of my younger coworkers was surprised last week when I mentioned the energy-crisis of the 1970's; and how at that time, there was a lot of discussion about the need to find other, and preferably cleaner and renewable, energy sources. And how in those 30 years, next to nothing has been done.

For decades we blamed OPEC for our petroleum-based woes. And now the oil companies and the Republicans whine because they can't drill in pristine regions of Alaska, even though much of the oil from our own domestic rigs is sent to foreign countries.

The fact remains that, we got our warning 30 years ago. And Katrina has shown us another downside to our oil addiction; we have no viable options to fall back on. The greatest nation in the world can be brought to its knees without its petroleum fix. And we likely will be one day; due to our shortsightedness, not to mention the greedy tyranny of the oil companies.

Americans are coping with the high gasoline prices, for now. But I realized today, I've seen very few RVs on my daily 80-mile round-trip commute this summer. And the crunch is likely to affect our gift-giving purchases for the upcoming holiday season. But of course His Resoluteness, his minions and his supporters neither think ahead or consider unhappy possibilities. Welcome to Fantasy Island.

For a century now, we've put all our energy eggs into one basket. And we're paying for it now, at the pumps; and gambling on it for our future. In the meanwhile, millions of poor Americans will struggle to pay their heating oil and natural gas bills this coming winter. And some will likely die, as heating assistance programs have been slashed or eliminated across our nation.

The time has come, as the Walrus said, to talk of many things; like national security, the environment, and energy.

And if Bush and company would cease their two-handed fingerpointing; they could take off their rose-colored glasses; and pump up their poll numbers by actually working on these, as well as other, real problems facing our nation and the world.

But they're apparently too busy trying to save face, when they should have been saving lives.

Too bad, Tattoo and Mr. Rourke can't vote them off the Island.

Members of the UUCV Social Action Committee sold fair-trade foods and merchandise at a local festival to raise funds for their Mozambique project.

Seeds of Change: Or You Can Make a Difference

Wow! I felt a delightful mixture of joy and pride when I glimpsed the green button link article in the latest issue of our denomination's quarterly magazine. There is was, the article about our social action committee, and one of our major projects.

We are a small to midsize congregation, so the idea that we can send 25 girls to school and help feed 40,000 people seems pretty remarkable. And to me, it feels like a miracle.

I first visited our congregation in late May 1997. We were meeting in a room on the Dickinson College campus, and not yet an official congregation. I, a long-time nonaligned monotheist, quickly became involved in congregational activities; including the choir and the social action committee.

In those early days, the Social Action Committee talked about what our fledging church should be doing; and we planned to find ways to act locally, nationally, and globally. We began a program of working with the food bank and other local organizations. And one member's idea for a fund-raising choic concert proved to be an important fund-raiser for our local food bank for several years. It seemed we were on our way.

We eventually became an official congregation, and later purchased our own building. And about that same time, I agreed to be chairperson of the Social Action Committee.

I chaired the commitee for three years. Since we were still a very small congregation, most of were serving on, or helping out, several committees at the same time. We had our new meetinghouse to attend to, and new members to welcome. A committee member or two moved away, another traveled abroad for a year. My committee was disappearing.

Still, I went to our meetinghouse on the first Tuesday of every month for our monthly meetings.
Some times, another member or two would show up; or a new interested member would stop in to see what "we" were all about. But there were many months when I felt that I was the committee.

I kept our existing projects going, and tried to start some new ones. I desperately tried to stir up some interest in Social Action with articles in our church newsletters and bulletins, even trying to start a social action newsletter.

Nothing much happened. I had some successes and some flops. Mostly I was discouraged. Many times, I was just a breath away from saying "Fine. We just won't have a Social Action Committee." But a voice inside me said "No."

So the committee of one limped along. And I felt like a failure.

Eventually the business and excitement of moving and settling into our new building settled down, and we had lots of new, as well as existing, members eager to get involved in social action. And the member returned from his trip abroad. The committee was growing! And it was exciting, but I was also burnt out. I stepped down as chair; and after a few chair changes, we now have a wonderful new chair who's helped me rediscover my own enthusiasm for our social action work. We have a wonderful vibrant committee, and lots of new projects and initiatives.

One of our favorites is an idea brought to us by one of our ministers, after a visit to another congregation. We call it "Change for the World"; and each month our members contribute their pockey change for a different (usually local) organization. We've continued our original programs, and started a number of new events and projects, and worked on both local and national issues.

And of course, we're working globally too; with a wonderful program this green button link only begins to describe. And we're looking for other ways to bring sustainable change to Mozambique; because that's the right thing to do. Not just give them help, but opportunities to grow and prosper, and help others in their own country.

I'm not sure what my social action friends in that cramped little office in 1997 thought our committee might be doing eight years later. I certainly never imagined we'd be feeding people and educating girls half a world away!

I am so, so proud of our committee.

And I see now, that I did my part by keeping the basics of our program going during my lackluster chairperson stint. I didn't want to. I was busy; I had lots of other things to do. There were other committees I wanted to join. I was discouraged and frustrated; and wanted to just close down the committee.

But I stuck with it. Because it was the right thing to do.

And now, of course, I am so, so glad that I did. Especially when I look at our display of the 25 hopeful faces of the young girls in Mozambique who dream of becoming teachers, nurses, etc. because who helped them continue their education.

Doing the right thing is not always easy. It is seldom the easiest or most convenient choice. Nor is it generally create instant positive results. Or such obvious results as our Moz project.

But in the long run, doing the right thing is always the best choice. And each day, we are each given scores of such opportunities, small as well as large.

And as I've learned, our decisions do affect others. Choose, and act, wisely.

Pat Robertson, American Terrorist: Or What Would Jesus Say ?!

Not surprisingly, Pat Robertson, finding himself in some very hot water, is moving into a frantic spin cycle; trying to launder his offensive suggestion that the our nation assassinate Hugo Chavez, the President of Venezuela.

In the typical deny-reality fashion preferred by many Republicans, he's trying to deny what he said; despite the fact that by now most Americans have certainly seen the video on his remarks on The 700 Club.

The truth is out there, Mr. Robertson. Just apologize and move on; the damage is done.

It would have been bad enough if any well-known American had uttered such comments. But Pat Robertson is not only a prominent American policitian, but also a leader and founder of the Christian Coalition, an organization that has declared itself a moral role model for our nation. And of course, the whole world also knows how strongly the conservative Christians, and the Christian Coalition influence the Bush Administration.

And unfortunately, the Administration has failed to stongly denounce Mr. Robertson's remarks, dismissing them as the remarks of a private citizen.

But Mr. Robertson is a very public figure, with a great deal of influence in conservative circles. And "take him out" comments concerning Chavez are not really any different than an Al Quaeda call to kill Americans. It is an example of how evils of extermism.

Pat Robertson and his Christian Coalition have set themselves up as self-proclaimed paragons of American virtue. And President Bush has declared that he will eliminate evil from this world, casting the United States as the global super-hero for truth, justice, and the American way.

But unfortunately, Mr. Robertson's words have given further ammunition to our critics who maintain that our nation is power and oil hungry, imperialistic world power, eager to subdue the world for its own profit. His words will exacerbate the rise of anti-American sentiment and perhaps bring greater danger to American soldiers and citizens.

And because of the strong partnership between the Christian Coaltition and the Bush Administration, some will consider his words to be an example of our nation's true intentions in Iraq and the rest of the world. If nothing else, it's made us a number of enemies in South and Central America.

Perhaps instead of trying to deny the facts, Pat Robertson should admit that he is an ordinary, fallible human being like the rest of us; and then perhaps spend sometime out of the public eye, contemplating the lessons of Yeshua and the Scriptures.

Might I suggest Matthew 7.01 and Leviticus 19.18?

And of course, don't forget "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you."

A Resolute Summer Repeat: Or Uncle W's Tales Grim

This week began with a surprisingly low-profile story that the Bush Administration was making a more realistic assessment of the war and condtions in Iraq, even admitting that their early expectations has been too optimistic. You know the plan that after defeated Saddam, the happy Iraqis would take a quick break from dancing in the streets and embracing our soldiers to draft a constitution, elect a democratic government, and (although this wasn't really mentioned) start selling us their oil.

Now His Resoluteness is back in the saddle, riding around Crawford, Texas with Lance Armstrong, and trying to sell us on this war, again.

Of course, he really does need to sell it since another story reveals the Army is planning to maintain current troop levels there through 2009:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2005-08-20-schoomaker-iraq_x.htm?POE=NEWISVA

This is not too surprising either, as it seems that as the interim government labors to create their new constitutions, the civil war between the Iraqi factions is heating up. I heard a report this week that wealthy Iraqi's are moving to other, quieter countries in dreading an upcoming bitter and bloody civil war.

Meanwhile, the recent missle attacks in Jordan, along with London subway bombings and near-bombings, among other recent incidents show that not much seems to have changed on the terror front.

And even though nearly all his reasons for the war in Iraq have been proved questionable, if not downright wrong, Bush is still trying to sell us his fairy tales.

Some members of the Administration may be facing the realities in Iraq, but it seems W remains as clueless as ever.

Meanwhile, homeland security measures here at home remain underfunded and overlooked. Almost four years after the 9-11 attacks, first responders still report problems with obtaining the funds, and equipment they'll need to face another terrorist attack. A recent NPR story decried a lack of training for subway emergencies and rescue; another on the communication problems between the different fire departments and other emergency response personell. And of course, there's the ongoing debate about how and when the various investigation and intelligence organizations should share their information.

Airport security measures remain in constant (and questionable) flux, and changes often seem more inclined to benefit the business traveler. Too often in this Administration, keeping the corporations happy seems to trump the peoples' interests.

So over the next five days, the President will continue his charade of going out to speak in front of groups of reporters, apparently hoping that their guaranteed support for his message will convert those of us who choose to see the facts and think for ourselves.

Bush can repeat his list of reasons why we had to go to Iraq, and his little fantasies about how our presence their is reducing terrorism in the world. But the fact is virtually all those reasons have been proven wrong.

And we've left the Iraqi people with a terrible mess, no reliable electricity or water, civil unrest, and daily violence. Is it any wonder some of them don't like us being there? But we just can't abandon them either. To many, we may look like bullies or imperial invaders now, but our image will be tarnished further if we pull out before maintaining at least a minimal semblance of order. We made promises to the Iraqi people, after all. And so far, we've only really kept one--we overthrew their dictator and his regime.

In short, the Iraq war in only slighty more successful then the President's promised efforts at non-partisanship. It's good that the Army's planning a long stay in Iraq; unless something changes we're going to be there awhile. And all His Resoluteness will tell us, again, over these next few days is that we have to stay the course.

And he's spending our tax dollars to go around the country to try to sell us, again, on an increasingly unpopular war that we're already paying for, in money and in blood.

The season for repeats is over, Mr. President. The people are ready for something new. How about a little truth for a change?

Service With A Sneer: Or Check Your Brain at the Door

I'm not sure which frustrates me more: the notion that a company that once provided excellent customer service has taken a nose dive over the cliff of corporate indifference, or that because of their changes, I can't do my job according to the requirements of my position.

But I find myself in the S.S. Catch-22, sailing on a sea of inefficiency, between the proverbial rock and a hard place.

As I wrote in an earlier blog, I work for a medical billing company. One of our local Blue plans is changing their customer service strategy, and now requires that all routine inquiries be handled over their computer site. This site is one of the few we're currently using at the office. And it's a great site; it generally answers most of my questions when I work that section of my monthly report. But it doesn't answer all the questions I need to complete my job. And therein lies the problem.

It used to be that we could call up and ask the questions that couldn't be answered by the website. Now, we're just told to use the site and if we have any problems to call the site techies and they "will walk us through" our inquiries. Most of us know how to use the site, but some insurance groups, such as some out-of-area groups, won't come up; and we don't have access to some of the information that we need.

I understand the needs for work and cost efficient behind the insurance companies decision to promote the use of their website. I love the website! But their inflexibility with inquiries outside the website's efficiencies is downright maddening! And in the long run, this inflexibility will only perpetuate problems and create more work for insurance company, as well as my coworkers and me, and all other medical billers.

Because with limited information, I have limited options. For instance, we had received a denial stating the insurance company needed information from another medical provider to process our bill. So I called them up to see if they had received that information. I was told to use the website to ask them to review our claim again. I even asked to speak with a supervisor, but was not able to obtain this simple bit of information.

Now, all I was asking was if the information was received; no other details about said information. And, if my question had been answered and the information had been received; I could have asked them to adjust the claim for payment and the problem would be solved. If the information had not been received, I could have called the other provider's office and alerted them to this omission (information they also certainly need to know!), and again the problem would be solved. And was just asking for some common courtesy and common sense. What I got was a prime example of corporate facism at it's most pigheadedness.

Now, I must keep up requesting adjustments each month until the information is received; and if it is never received, our doctors won't get paid.

Oh, they did say that if we gave them the name of the other provider, they would call the office and request the information. So in my website inquiries, I gave them the provider's name and phone number. But I'm a bit skeptical about this offer of service. After all, I found more than 12-20 or more such cases on the day of the conversation; and I worked that part of the report for 5 days! And I'm just one biller working for one doctor's group. Even if they send letters instead of making phone calls, that's thousands of contacts; and a virtual quagmire of inefficiency that will drag on for months. This cost-cutting measure could end up creating costs in the long-term.

And in time, this inflexibility and inefficiency will affect the company's image and popularity. Such rigidity does not foster new ideas or growth, and disaffected customers may choose to take their business elsewhere. After all, you can find bad customer service anywhere, and maybe save money too! Bad customer service is bad business.

And, I still can't do my job the way I'm supposed to; and solve the problems with a few phone calls as I usually do with the other insurance companies. So, I've had to sent notices to our patients to alert them of the problem. This is usually our last resort, after a few phone calls turns into a number of phone call with no results.
I'm hoping our patients call in to complain about the notices so we can explain what the insurance company is doing, or rather not doing, on their behalf. Because I know they will listen to their members. That's what we pay those every increasing health insurance premiums for!

So, friends, if your doctor's office calls you or sends you a notice asking you for information, or to contact your insurance company; please know that we're only trying to get your claim paid. Sometimes we just need to ask for some help; from you, another doctor, or even an insurance company. If everyone works together problems can get solved quickly. And if one party in the agreement doesn't cooperate, problems stagnate and go unresolved.

So, as I said in my previous medical insurance blog, be proactive about your medical bills and claims. Make the phone calls and get problems resolved. Then maybe the insurance companies will get the message that you expect them to do their jobs.

And isn't sad that we need to ask a service company to provide service?

I was on vacation last week and never did find a computer (not that I looked very hard). I'm sharing some vacations photos now. And I'll be back at my keyboard in a few days. Take care and enjoy! --JLH

Liberte, Egalite, Fraternitie: Bonne Fete, Chers Amis/Liberty, Equality, Brotherhood: Happy Holiday, Dear Friends

La Tour Eiffel: novembre 1997/
Eiffel Tower: November 1997




Cette semaine, je veux etre a Paris pour le 14 juillet, le Jour de Bastille. Et je veux rester la pour voir la fin de la Tour de France quand Lance Armstrong gagnera le prix encore.
Pour moi, Paris est la plus belle ville du monde. Je y'ai visite pour six jours en novembre 1997. Et je retournerai quelque jour. J'aime l'art, l'histoire, et la beaute de la ville.
Au commencement du guerre en Irak, beaucoup des americans ont deteste les francais. Ca me fait bien triste.
Ils ont parle de notre assistance pendants les deux guerres mondiale. Plus moins ont rappelle que France a nous aider pendant notre guerre contre les Anglais, notre guerre pour la liberte. Et parce qu'ils ont nous aider, nous a gagne cette guerre! Vive la France!
Demain est la fete nationale francaises. Envoyons-nous les mieux sentiments aux nos cousins en liberte.
Vive la France! Vive les Etats Unis! Vive l'amitie!
Et le plus important, vive la liberte!
*********************************************************************
This week, I want to be in Paris for the 14th of July, Bastille Day. And I'd like to remain there to see the end of the Tour de France, when Lance Armstrong wins again.
For me, Paris is the most beautiful city in the world. I spent six days there in November 1997. And I intend to go back one day, I love the art, history and beauty of the city.
At the beginning of the Iraq War, many Americans hated the French. This made me very sad.
They spoke of the help we'd given France during the two World Wars. Few Americans seemed to remember that France helped us in our war against England, our war for independence. And because of their assistance, we won that war. Hooray for France.
Tomorrow is France's national holiday. Let us send the very best of wishes to our cousins in liberty.
Long live, France! Long live, America! Long live Friendship!
And most importantly of all, Long Live Liberty!

Prescription for Medical Insurance Woes, Part 1: Knowledge is Power

I had a rather quirky day at work today. I work for a medical billing company, following up on our claims with the insurance companies. I've worked in this field for almost 15 years. So I'm used to quirky, but today was particularly quirky.

Today was calling our patients regarding outstanding balances; and I had some rather amusing conversations, or amusing for non-business reasons. Mostly, I talk to answering machines just leaving name and number and a request to call back. But today, I found more people at home than usual; although in between the quirky and the indifferent, I think I preferred the answering machines.

But in the course of these conversations, a woman asked me a question that made me realize that people might not understand some important basics regarding their medical insurance coverage. And so, I'm writing today with hopes of helping to alleviate some of the confusion.

The woman was surprised that I was calling on a relatively small coinsurance balance. And I wish I'd explained that we have to bill coinsurance and copayment balances, we are legally obligated to do so.

Your medical insurance policy is a contract between you and your insurance company. Under your policy, you may have deductibles, coinsurance, or copayment amounts that you agree to pay, and the insurance company pays their portion of the bill.

Participating doctors also have contracts with insurance companies, stating how much they will be paid for their services. This payment amount is called an allowance; and how much of this allowance your doctor receives depends on the terms of your coverage contract.

For instance, Medicare pays 80 percent of their allowance for medical services, the patient is responsible for the other 20 percent. So if the Medicare allowance is $100.00, if you've met your annual deductible, Medicare will pay $80.00, and you are responsible for the $20.00 coinsurance amount.

If you have commercial insurance, it may pay 90 percent or 70 percent, or you may have flat fee copayment amounts, such at $10.00 for each office visit. And these are your responsibility to pay.

It might not seem fair to have to pay these fees when you're paying rather high medical insurance premiums. But it is part of your contract agreement. And it's still better than having to pay the whole bill. Let's go back to the Medicare example above. Let's say the doctor's bill was $450.00 and he's participating with Medicare. The Medicare allowance is still $100.00, they still pay the $80.00, and you are still responsible for only $20.00. And your doctor will only bill you for this amount.

Your best bet for success in dealing with medical bills and insurance if to know your coverage. I know the insurance manual is a generally a great remedy for insomnia, but you've got to at least skim through it a bit so you'll know where to look for information you may need later.

At the very least, you need to know the basics:

• whether you need to have a primary care physician (PCP)
• your deductible, coinsurance, or copayment responsibilities for office visits and other services
• if, and when, referrals or authorizations may be required for medical services
• how benefits may differ for participating and non-participating providers
• specific coverage details for your particular health concerns, such as allergies or diabetes

It is also a good idea to know what's not covered by your policy, the exclusions; as well as the steps to be taken to appeal an insurance decision.

And you should consult the manual anytime you need to see a specialist, especially if you may need tests or surgery. Know if you need a referral or authorization; and if so, ask questions to confirm this gets done. And if you're not sure, ask! Ask your doctor. Call the insurance company. It's better to be a pain in the neck now, then to have a really big pain in the neck later if your claim gets denied.

Forewarned is forearmed, as they say. So learn the ins and outs of your plan, and make it work for you.

Whenever possible use participating providers. This is good for the insurance company, and the doctors; and of course, for you. Using non-participating doctors may result in more money out of your pocket.

However, there will be times when you have no choice and have to use a non-participating provider. There may be only one particular specialist in your area, for instance. Or if you are in the hospital and need an xray, the radiologist may be non-participating with your plan. Your insurance company will still pay these providers. In the first example, you will likely need a special referral or authorization.

In the second example, if there is a balance due after the insurance payment, you can contact your insurance company and explain you had no choice of a provider and ask them to reconsider the bill for additional payment. This is known as an "invisible" or a"blind" provider. They will likely expect payment in full from either your insurance company or you. So you need to know your policy and how to appeal a claim to get the most bang out of your insurance buck.

And just so you know, medica providers generally will work with the insurance companies to get the claim paid, and only contact you if there is a balance due; or if they need you to contact your insurance company with some required information. Once again, feel free to ask questions. If you think the deductible or copayment balance is incorrect, call your insurance company and ask more questions. If the claim was denied, check the manual, if you think it's an error, call and ask more questions. And if you get a second or third notice from your doctor, call the insurance company and ask about the status of your claim.

And if you have a deductible or coinsurance payment due, but can't pay it all at once; call the doctor's office. They can likely work out a payment arrangement for you.

You can eliminate most medical insurance hassles if you're informed and willing to work with your doctor's staff. Know your coverage; and know your rights, as well as your responsibilities.

A Truly American Moment

Our town held the Fourth of July fireworks this evening, instead of on Monday night. In past years, they had been held a week or so later, so we could literally get more bang for our bucks. Still, it is much nicer to celebrate on the correct weekend, if not the correct day.

I live about a mile away from the fairgrounds where the fireworks display is staged. So my neighbors and I watch from the parking lot of our building.

This evening, I found myself watching with an immigrant family that moved in several months ago. I don't know them well, we haven't talked very often; so I'm not sure where they came from. It doesn't really matter. I felt honored to share this celebration of the American dream with them this evening.

My beau has remarked that I have a rather patriotic family. My parents were married on Flag Day. My birthday is the day after Veterans Day. My brother's birthday the day before Independence Day (and I still have to wrap his present)!

My maternal ancestors came to this country at the beginning of our history. Some likely fought in the Revolutionary War; others came perhaps just a bit later. My father's family arrived from Europe around the early 20th century. So as I sat with my neighbors and their visiting friends, we collectively represented the diverse history of American immigration. And I'm sure a fair amount of patriotism across the generations.

As the two youngest children cheered when their favorite colors exploded overhead, I thought about the American Dream, and our values and hopes for our nation. I was happy my companions were able to be here and to pursue that dream for themselves. And I was proud that our nation and its wonderful diversity; a gift that we should always welcome and cherish. As the motto on our national seal proclaims: E Pluribus Unum--out of many one. Our diversity and tolerance thereof is what makes our nation strong; it's what make our nation great.

And our darkest days have been when our differences have been stifled, or when they have divided us. May we always remember that the American Dream must be true for each and every one of us.

Amd may we, as her citizens, continue to strive to make it so. Then may our flag forever fly over the land of the free.

As I write this, I am very grateful and happy that I was born here, and do not need to leave my home to pursue my dreams and goals. I am proud to be an American, and to perform the duties of good citizenship. And tonight, I celebrate the promise and potential of our great nation.

Happy 229th America. And many, many happy immigrants. And many, many happy returns.

Distant Voices: Or Up Close and Very Personal

"Bush's speech does not change anything for the Iraqi people and does not meet their needs for water, electricity, transportation and security from car bombs," said Kurdish legislator Mahmoud Othman. "I think the Iraqi people do not care about the speech."

We've heard a lot about the American soldiers and casualties in Iraq, the various opinions and findings of politicians, pundits and public, and the ever-present, ever-changing poll numbers. But in our media's usual myopic USA-centric view, we seldom hear about Iraq and the Iraqi people.

Recently, we've heard about Iraqi military and police recruits, and members of the Iraqi government. And we hear the numbers after each insurgent attack, a daily body count. But aside from occasional stories about training Iraqi soldiers and police officers, we rarely hear or read anything about Iraq and her citizens, and their opinions and hopes for their country.

As today's green button link shows, Iraqis have mixed feeling about the American presence in their country. As this Associated Press report shows, the Iraqi infrastructure, which was deemed so important after Saddam was ousted from power, remains in a shambles. Iraqis face frequent shortages of fuel, electricity, and drinking water, not to mention danger from the insurgent attacks. And while some are the foreign insurgents so often blamed by the Administration for the ongoing civil conflict, most of the insurgents are home-grown; their neighbors, friends, and relatives.

Also lost in our collective navel-gazing are the numbers of Iraqi casualties since the war began. Estimates range from 22582 to 25590 Iraqi deaths, nearly all of them civilians; men, women, and children.

For the most recent numbers and information, visit:

http://www.iraqbodycount.net/

The Iraqi people are the foundation on which this fledgling democracy will be built. Their opinions, dreams, suffering, and sacrifice matter a great deal more than the President's approval rating. They are the building blocks for the government Iraq will create. And in the end, they alone will determine the success or failure of Bush's goal for a democractic Iraq.

Iraq is their home. The war is happening in their own backyards. For them the stakes are higher, and much more personal.

This is their future we're talking about, half a world away.

So why aren't they part of the media picture?

Hearing Voices: Or Keep Up the Good Work, Fellow Citizens!

I haven't posted in over a week. Life took me on a few detours, but mostly happy ones. And while I was away from this keyboard, some happy things were happening in Washington.

The most noticeable was the House voting to restore funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The American citizens spoke out, and Congress is listening; and responding.

Congress is discussing environmental and alternative energy issues, and asking questions about the war in Iraq and how the Administration is handling it. The Bolton nomination remains stalemated.

And even His Resoluteness blinked and dropped his private investment accounts from his Social Security reform bill. The accounts will remain, in a seperate Social Security bill; but he has finally accepted, up to a point, that the American people just aren't interested.

Our collective voices are being heard, so keep speaking up and speaking out. It's working!

As the green button link show, Bush's poll numbers are dropping. Hence his speech this evening to try to rally American support for the war; another photo-op moment speaking to troops at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

For an Administration and Party that complain so much about Hollywood values, they sure do like to create these movie-like moments. Do they think we need a pep rally?

We support the troops, Mr. President. That's why we're asking questions. That's why we want answers. That's why we want to know when our soldiers are coming home.

The President's speech is just more of the same resoluteness that created the quagmire in the first place. The People want answers. They want the truth. And instead we get the same reassurances and rhetoric.

And Bush might find that the polls show the message is stale. Before, and during the early stages of the war, his rosy-colored plans made it sound as if we'd march into Baghdad, overthrow the bit bad dictator, hand them a new constitution and democracy would reign supreme in Iraq. And they'd all live happily ever after.

The reality is that even some Iraqis who are glad that Saddam is gone, still resent the presence of foreign troops in their country. Wouldn't we? Didn't we? That's basically what the American Revolution was about.

We toppled their totalitarian government, but left only chaos and civil war in its wake. It will sort itself out eventually. But we won't bully them into compliance. And the government they eventually choose for themselves might not be exactly what Bush and Company had in mind.

In the meantime, we stuck helping them try to put their country back together. And yes, some progress is being made. But the insurgency continues. And The People know that means a very long, dangerous haul for our American troops.

The People have found their voice, Mr. President. And so we want truth. We want a plan.

Or to put it in pep-rallyese: We want answers. We want answers...

Bulldozing Sesame Street: Or Pave Paradise, Put Up a Learning Block

We can add a few new entries to the endangered species list:

Big Bird
Elmo
Oscar the Grouch
Cookie Monster
Zoe
Bert
Count Dracula
Ernie
Grover
Kermit the Frog


These cheerful Muppets and their Sesame Street pals, both puppets and people, have been helping kids learn their alphabet, numbers, some primary reading skills, a bit of Spanish, and even some basic problem-solving skills and a bit of tolerance. Sesame Street is a mulitcultural neighborhood, with segments about the abilities of the people with disabilities, and lessons about coping with other differences. In short, Sesame Street is the American Dream in kid-friendly microcasm.

And if I'm a bit out of date with the character list above, it because the two Sesame Street alumi in my life, my nephews, and now teenagers.

Sesame Street has been an American preschool favorite for almost 40 years now. The show debuted when I was in elementary school, well past the age of the target audience. And while I derided the show as a child, and benignly toleranted it as a teenage babysitter; as an adult I can see its value and its quality.

Sesame Street rules. It teaches kids the basics they need for school, but it's not all cuddly and sweet. The segments are witty and relevant, even in the world of adults. I became a fan when
I was watching with my nephew and saw Monsterpiece Theater with "Alistair Cookie". I laughed out loud. Cookie Monster was sitting in a chair in a teasing little tribute to a mainstay of PBS' adult programming, and perfectly mimicing its well-known host at the time, Alistair Cooke. And I started watching with the young people in my life, instead of just hanging out in the same room.

Sesame Street, due to its popularity, is likely here to stay. But the lastest brouhaha regarding PBS and NPR funding in Congress could make it difficult for some local PBS stations to afford such important programming.

Congress may righteously tout that they need to make budget cuts or reduce the deficit, but the amount being cut from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is less than 100th of 1 percent of the proposed 2 trillion dollar budget, a federal budget version of spare change. But this cut means 45 percent less fundng for PBS and 25 percent less for local stations. The CPB is such a regretably small part of our federal budget as it, so why cut it even further.

The green button link article from the New York Times suggests a possible reason. A former White House official, working for the CPB was monitoring and rating PBS content on a liberal versus conservative scale, specifically the guest who appeared on NOW, then hosted by Bill Moyers.

A few years ago, I was channel-surfing and came across a conservative journal awards program on CSPAN. As I watched speaker after speaker, both commentator and award winner derided a Bill Moyer and the audience cheered and laughed at each venomous jibe.

A few months later, channel-surfing again on a Friday night, I came across NOW with Bill Moyers, was interested in the evening's topics and watched the whole program. I was hooked, and remain a NOW viewer even though I miss Bill Moyers, who has since retired, as well as the former hour-long format. The current host David Brancaccio has kept the show's format and integrity; but now at its new half-hour length it merely whets my appetite for more. Fortunately our local affiliate has a new program Foreign Exchange, which talks about global issues that affect American issues and vice versa; and gives me a whole new menu of issues to ponder.

NOW is a program that examines current news and politic topics, with views from both sides of any issue. In doing so, they often discuss views and expose details detrimental to the Conservative agenda.

NOW, Frontline, and NPR's Morning Edition and All Things Considered are among other excellent PBS and NPR news shows are the real fair and unbalanced news sources in our country. Without the shareholder, profit spreadsheet, and commericial interests of the corporate networks, they are more objective and complete in their reporting. And they are more likely to cover a story in greater detail, with several points of view.

But of course, the Conservatives don't believe in several points of view. And that's what it's really about, cutting funds for the network that runs these wonderful news resources. We should all be concerned about the proposed cuts to the CPB's budget. It appears to be a step toward media censorship, and away from the First Amendment.

And these networks also run arts shows like Masterpiece Theater, science programs like Nature and Nova, as well as shows like Sesame Street for adults and children. For many Americans with limited resources, PBS and NPR offer rare educational and cultural learning opportunities. And some PBS shows like This Old House and The Antique Roadshow, have inspired commercial television programs, or even entire cable networks; creating new business interests and industries.

We cannot afford not to fund Public Broadcasting. Perhaps we should even all a few hundreds of 1 percent to the federal budget, and invest more in this national treasure trove of knowledge and ideas.

Instead, it seems we have an Administration and Congress with a vendetta against freethought. We need to contact our representatives today and tell them to restore the 100th of 1 percent to the CPB's funding.

For without this bit of federal spare change; Sesame Street may be safe, but other educational programs will disappear from our nation's TV screens. And America's children will be left behind, again.

Long live Big Bird!

The 70% Solution: Or You'll Never Get Roses if You Plant Brussel Sprouts

According to a BBC poll, almost 70% of the people in Indonesia, the most
populous Muslim nation, viewed our country with hostility before the
tusnami. Today, according to a poll released by the Heritage Foundation,
almost 70% think more favorably of us.
Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld, Parade Magazine, Sunday, June 12, 2005

I'm having a rather crazy, busy week. The kind of week that makes you want to hide under a rock until Saturday. So, I didn't get around to reading the magazine supplement to my Sunday paper until Tuesday.

I found today's green button link there: a story of hope and healing, and American heroes; a story that I just had to share. On June 20, the story will go into Parade's archives, but that link is on the cover story page. I hope you'll take the chance to read it.

Dr Isadore Rosenfeld is Parade's health columnist, and I have long enjoyed his articles on medical issues. He gives no nonsense, but also common sense advice; he tells it like it is.

This past Sunday, however, he wrote about his visit to the USNS Mercy, a Navy hospital ship which joined with volunteers from Project HOPE, a health and humanitarian aid organization. to provide medical care to the Banda Aceh region of Indonesia after last December's tsunami.

Then, after helping the tsunami victims, they stopped at other ports of call in the region performing both life-saving and routine medical care. They brought the latest medical equipment and know-how to a world without doctors, or even toothbrushes. And through such miracles as cataract surgeries and other operations; the blind were made to see, and the lame to walk.

And something else happened in this primarly Muslim corner of our globe, as the above quote illustrates. America become more popular in the region. As Dr. Rosenfeld observed:

I cannot image any of the children or parents whom I met on the Mercy
embracing Osama bin Laden's anti-American vitriol or wishing harm on a single
American, or support the cause fo out terrorist enemies.

He came away believing that supporting and deploying such medical missions would not only help the less fortunate citizens of the Third World so desperately in need of health care; but also help to increase our own national safety and well-being.

Such measures would certainly at least help counteract the Administration's efforts to "promote" democracy around the world. Bush's rhetoric and actions have not lessened the Middle East's distrust of our country, and by many reports have exacerbated the hostilities that fuel terrorist activities. Neither Iraq or Afghanistan will have stable government, democractic or otherwise, for some time to come. And there's no guarantee that when they do, they will be pro-American governments.

American must protect itself from terrorists; but we need not become the ogre of the world to do so. Our vigilant, militant, and resolute foreign policy is not winning us many friends, or for that matter vanquishing many of our real enemies. Rather our enemies, too, have become more resolute; and we've created tensions with some of our most important allies.

In an ever-increasingly technological and global society, the United States cannot afford to remain the strong, kick-ass, one-world-power loner nation. More and more, our economy depends on what's going on in every corner of the world.

And let us not forget that terrorism knows no national or cultural boundaries. Remember Timothy McVeigh and Ted Kaczinski our very own home-grown terrorists? Yes, Mr. President, it is a new kind of war and a new kind of enemy. Perhaps we need a new way to fight it?

Yes, we'll still need some bombs and bravado. But we can also add a little healing and hope.

Troops or Consequences: Or Where Have All The Recruits Gone?

Recruitment is down for our armed forces. Way down. Recruiters have missed their quotas for the fourth month in a row.

Today's Green Button is a column by Bob Herbert of the New York Times that sums up the situation quite a bit better than I could.

Just before the war, I heard a few reports of National Guard soldiers who were surprised that they were being sent to war. Then I was shocked at this apparent cluelessness. Now, I'm wondering what their recruiters might have told them.

Because now, in the various stories I've seen or heard, recruiters seem desperate, and sometimes perplexed. There are reports of recruitment hard-sell tactics bordering on harassment. And parents are up in arms about recruitment on high school campuses.

Yet, we haven't heard much from the White House about the situation. Perhaps they're viewing it with their usual rose-colored blinders. See no problem. Hear no problem. Admit no problem. In other words, business as usual.

Before we invaded Iraq, patriotism was high. Many soldiers were excited about defending our nation's interests. Those of us who protested against the war were accused of not supporting the troops.

Now polls show declining support for the war, as well as this decline in military volunteers.

Are today's young adults less patriotic? Or perhaps have they've also noticed that:

• The Administration, at best, was wrong about the fabled weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Or, at worst, they lied to justify sending our young soldiers to war.
• The stop-gap or "back door draft" that has kept soldiers in the service, and on the front lines, well past their scheduled discharge dates.
• The lack of protective armor, both for soldiers and their vehicles.
• Cut backs in veterans services and medical centers.
• An unrealistic invasion plan that sent in just enough soldiers to topple the dictator, but not enough to stablize the country.
• The on-going conflict, now frequently being compared to the "quagmire" of VietNam.
• The seldom acknowledged thousands of wounded.
• 1703 honored dead...

Consider also that military service in recent years has been the choice of middle class and poor students who wanted job training and money for college. Can it be that they no longer feel obliged to support a war favored by an Administration that so obviously favors the rich and powerful?

His Resoluteness still proclaims that we are winning the war on terror, and that things are going well in Iraq. But anti-American sentiment, which spurs terrorism, has increased not decreased. And many of the insurgents in Iraq are home-grown, not the scheming immigrant troublemakers they are often made out to be.

Bush keeps promising the soldiers are coming home, just as soon a Iraq has a new, stable government. But if he wants support, and freshly recruited reinforcements for our battle weary troops, he might have to try a new tactic to spur patriotic fervor: abandoning the fairy-tale vision for some cold, hard facts.

Our soldiers have the unflagging support of our nation's citizens. They certainly deserve full and realistic support from Congress and the President, and in actions and equipment far more than words.

Americans have shown that are willing to rise and face a difficult challenge. Is Bush willing to admit that we are indeed facing one?

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Here are just a few links where you can help show our support for our troops:

http://www.adoptaplatoon.org/

http://www.legion.org/support/index.php

http://anysoldier.com/index.cfm

http://www.heromiles.org/ (donating "air miles" so soldiers can come home on leave).

What is a Patriot? Or Where Were You When The Rights Went Out?

What is a Patriot? Well, there is the "Love It or Leave It" view, those with the "my country right or wrong" viewpoint. The folks who believe anyone who speaks out against the President or the Government is a traitor. They equate disagreement with disloyalty. There are no shades of gray; you're either for them or against them.

I call this Pep-Rally Patriotism because it's so similiar to support for one's school or favorite sports team. Go Yankees! Go USA! But politics is not a sporting event; it's about real consequences, real people, real life and death issues. It's a very different ballgame.

Then consider, the other view of a Patriot. The one who takes a stand and speaks out against injustice. Think of Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, Sojurner Truth, Abraham Lincoln, Rosa Parks, and Martin Luther King, Jr.; to name just a few. They rebelled against the status quo. And they are considered American heroes because of their dissent. They took our American ideals to heart and put them into action; and our country and world are better for their courage.

So who is a real Patriot? Unfortunately the Administration and much of Congress seem to prefer the first model. This is particularly alarming as they are pushing for the renewal of certain aspects of the Patriot Act, and even adding new provisionsto help "protect" our country. It's not enough that the government can review your library records and bank accounts without your consent or knowledge; now that want the let the FBI do so without contacting a judge for a warrant.

But terrorist actions were thwarted before 9-11, as well as after. And as Deep Throat showed us, even FBI investigations can be politically influenced or controlled. Those checks and balances, and the Bill of Rights are in our Constitution for very good reasons.

Ask anyone what makes American great, and they likely won't mention our courageous Armed Forces, our cunning technology, or our kick-ass SUV's. They will mention our liberties and opportunities. Our civil rights, and their judicious use by Americans of good conscience, have sustained our nation for over 200 years.

Yet the Bush Administration says that we must compromise on these rights to protect our nation. Nevermind that they have shortchanged our police and fire departments, and underfunded important national security initiatives. Nevermind that their foreign policy agenda has created even more anti-American fervor around the world. The so-called Patriot Act will keep us free.

They tell us America is safer, but they want us to keep living in fear. And they are banking on that fear, as they whittle away at the very rights that make America the greatest nation in world history.

I love this country as dearly as any Patriot, Pep-Rally or otherwise. And it seems to me that if we give in to fear, then the terrorists win.

Yes, we need to take measures to improve national security, as well as intelligence and investigation techniques. But we also need to stand up for country and Constitution. Because if we don't, it won't matter how many soldiers we have in how many different corners of the globe. Without the cornerstones of our democracy, our sacred civil liberties, America is just another place on the map.

So who are the true Patriots? Those who want to cower in fear and whittle away our civil rights. Or those who are using those voices to preserve those precious liberties?

I'm betting on the latter. They have the better track record. Go USA!

Chances and Choices: Or How Much is Your Life Worth?

The ride home from work proved a bit too exciting today, but not for the usual reasons.

I have a 36 mile one-way trip to and from work every day. And needless to say, some days traffic and/or another driver's impatience make the commute seem like a high-speed adventure ride. But today, it was Nature herself who provided all the drama.

There were rather nasty thunderstorms while I was still at work, and I'd heard the weather reports so I wasn't entirely unprepared. It was pouring, with gusty winds and tiny hailstones. But I grew up at the shore and I'd ridden through such storms before, even a storm with hail the size of marbles, and even the outer edges of a hurricane. Travel was slow and visibility was bad, but ever vigilant I crawled through the wind and rain.

Then I did something I rarely do. The rain became so heavy that I couldn't see anything but the lights on the car ahead of me, so I carefully pulled over the to shoulder to wait out the storm. That was scary, too, though. The shoulder wasn't very wide on that section of the interstate and cars passed by rather closely, as the hailstones grew a bit bigger, the lightining flashed, the thunder rolled, and the wind rocked my car. All I wanted was to be at home. Or more accurately someplace I sometimes think of as home, where I could get a reassuring hug. Staying put was the last thing I wanted to do. But I made it home in one piece, and I'll at least hear some reassuring words sometime very soon.

By the time I got home, the storm has subsided quite a bit. I went online to check my emails, and glanced at the online headlines of the New York Times. Today's green button link is a story that really got my Irish up. It's an article about how our nation's hospitals are crawling with germs. People are getting sick, even to the point of needing surgery. People are dying by the thousands. But only a few hospitals across the country are doing anything about it.

The solution is simple, just a few common sense steps. Hospitals in other industrialized countries have taken these steps and eliminated the problem. But not here, because of the hospitals claim they can't "afford" these simple measures to help keep their patients healthy. And the CDC is against the reporting of hospital infection rates. That's right, the people who are supposed to help the US stay healthy want to keep this important information under wraps.

So there's another reason for extra caution on the highway, you might get injuried, go the hospital and catch a deadly disease while they're mending your broken bones.

Another story from the world of medicine was the Supreme Court's decision that Federal laws regarding marijuana supersede state laws permitting medical uses of the drug.


http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-06-06-medical-marijuana_x.htm

Now, I'm against drug abuse and illegal drug trafficking, and all the ills it brings to our society. But the world is not all black and white, and this issue falls into a very gray shade of gray for me. After all, there are a number of drugs, like morphine, with potential illicit uses, that are prescribed as controlled substances for the patients who need them.

And of course, as the new potent arthritis pain killers are pulled from the pharmacy shelves because of health concerns, one deadly addictive substance remains legal, and readily available to anyone over 18. Tobacco, one of the biggest causes of illness and death; and certainly just as dangerous as marijuana or any other drug, has been studied, debated, and villified for decades. But nobody's pulling it off the shelves, because tobacco is a big money, and a well-taxed industry.
Follow the money.

I've worked in medical insurance and medical billing for almost 15 years. And even though it might put me out on a job, I support the concept of national health care. Oh, I know the horror stories about how the Big Government won't let you choose your own doctor, or how they will ration healthcare. But you know what? Under the current system, for most of us, the Big Insurance companies are making those decisions. And the Big Goverment medical plans, Medicare and Medicaid, are generally less complicated and less frustrating to work with than the commerical health plans.

As for the other horror story about a national health plan, the Taxes that we'd have to pay to support it. Well, those of us who are fortunate enough to have health insurance are already paying a hefty sum in premiums. And the fees charged by medical facilties and doctors are inflated care that doesn't get paid by the uninsured, so we're paying for that too. And we're paying taxes to support Medicare and Medicaid.

A national health plan might cost more in taxes, but many Americans might save money in the long run. Doctors and hospitals could save money too, with less insurance billing hassles. Then maybe they could afford to clean up all those nasty germs.

It's all about choices, my friends. Choices. Do we want hospitals that are cheaper, or cleaner? Who do we want to choose our prescibed medications when we're sick, our doctor or our police department? What kind of healthcare do we want, and how do we want to pay for it? How much do we pay in taxes, and how does that money get spent?

Think about all the times you've thought or said "Somebody oughta do something about that." Well, "that', whether healthcare, poverty, education, crime, or any issue can and should be discussed, researched, and debated. Think about the choices we make as individuals and as a society. Think about what needs changed or fixed, and how we can make it better. And then, we the people, can tell the Congress, or our state legislators, this is what we want. We just have to be willing to work for it, and to pay for it.

And sometimes the best choice, is not your favorite choice; like spending 15 boring, lonely minutes in a purple Saturn at the edge of the interstate, waiting for the hailstones and rain to blow away. But that's also a time when you might get to see a rainbow.

THERE'S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL (or Hockey, or Tennis, or Football, or ...)

Batter Up! Hear the call.
It's time for one and all
To play, ball!

Official Song of the AAGPBL (http://www.aagpbl.org/)

To play hard ball that is. On the radio this morning, I heard of survey indicating that many men's college coaches still resent Title IX; the regulation that assures schools using federal funds maintain equality in athletic opportunities for men and women. Apparently, these male coached feel that women are either not interested in sports, or less capable, less athletic than men.
It's hard to believe that in the land of the free, men are still whining about Title IX after all these years. The continued success of the US women's soccer league and the WNBA certainly attest to the American female's interest in sports and superb athletic potential. And we have our share of US women sports heroines: Babe Didriksen Zaharis, Flo Jo, Mia Hamm (no relation), and a star-filled list of Olympic medal winners.
And there was Alta Weiss, who played semi-pro baseball in the early part of the 20th century. Alta, an impressive athlete, played ona team with men, and used her salary as a ballplayer to finance her education. Then she went on to battle against gender stereotypes again as a doctor. You can't keep a good woman down.
I learned about Dr Weiss in the book, Women in Baseball: The Forgotten History by Gai Berman Inge. It turns out that women have been playing baseball for as long as baseball has existed. Even in the late 1800's, as women's colleges were being founded, intramural baseball leagues flourished on their campuses. The book even includes an amusing drawing of a young player using her long skirt to stop a grounder. These young women played serious ball, sustaining bruises and injuries that often caused society, and especially concerned parents to call for an end to such activities. But even when these voices succeeded, the girls would play less formal games.
And women kept on playing well into the 20th Century. There was of course, the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, made popular by the movie, A League of Their Own.

And there was Toni Stone, an African-American woman, who in the early 1950's played on teams in the Negro Leagues with men like Hank Aaron and Satchel Paige. And she played well, in her first game she garnered 2 RBI's.

http://www.exploratorium.edu/baseball/stone.html

And around that same time, there was Eleanor Engle, a stenographer, who signed a contract to play for the minor league Harrisburg Senators. She was good enough to make the team, get the contract, take the field;and for Ford Frick, the baseball commissioner to ban women players from Major League Baseball and nullify her contract. See today's green button link for an newspaper article on that controversy.

So much for women being uninterested or incapable. It may only be a matter of time before a courageous woman breaks the gender barrier, just as Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in the MLB.

And perhaps, it not just having to share the funding that the men and their coaches are griping about. As woman's sports start to share the media spotlight, perhaps they worry that their macho, men's-club sports world will become as intergrated as the rest of society.

And in a just society, we're all players on the same team. Let's try to make it to the World Series.

Come on, guys! Did you come here to whine, or to play ball? Shake it off and get back in the game.

WHO WAS THAT MASKED MAN? Or Will The Real Deep Throat Please Stand Up?

Today the guessing games are over. For most of my life, from time to time since Watergate, the media pundits would "round up the usual suspects" and try to guess who Deep Throat might have been. Theories circulated, some become popular, then fizzled. The four people who knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, kept silent: Ben Bradlee, Bob Woodward, Carl Bernstein, and of course, Deep Throat.

Driving home from work today, I heard on NPR that Deep Throat had outed himself. By the time the six o'clock news came on Woodward and Bernstein had confirmed his identity. Urged on by the family he'd kept in the dark for thirty years; Mark Felts, former second in command at the FBI, revealed himself to be the most famous whistleblower in history.

In this day of live news feeds, instant communications, and open self-revelation (this latter even to the regrettable point of public self-humilation), it is hard to imagine such an important secret being kept for 33 years. And it is testimony of the integrity of the three journalist who shared Felts secret all these years. I'm sure there were considerable financial and other temptations over the decades; but they held their ground, and their tongues.

And the Felts family was right. At 91, and in poor health, Felts deserves to be acknowledged for the role he played in the Watergate drama. He put himself at risk to speak the truth. And while that truth proved to be the swan song for the Nixon Administration; it also showed the strength of the American government, and Constitution. The President resigned, but the United States continued. And Watergate showed that no one in America is above the law.

I was 14 when Nixon resigned. I remember watching his speech on TV with my family. But all I really remember about the speech was that it was the shortest he'd ever given. For years, I'd seen news about the Watergate investigations and hearings, even seen parts of some of the hearings on TV, as well. This was Social Studies class in action. I remember I was not surprised by the resignation, and perhaps like most of America, was a bit relieved when it finally happened. But I knew it was an important moment in our nation's history.

I grew up in the Sixties and Seventies, a time when most US households had just one TV. In fact, Nixon's resignation came not too long after our old black and white Zenith had finally died and we got our first color TV. But on that old Zenith, I'd watched the news with my parents.
Every evening Walter Cronkite, or sometime David Brinkley and Chet Huntley, appeared in our living room. I saw soldiers in the jungles of VietNam, two Kennedy funerals, scenes of race riots and civil rights protests, anti-war protests, the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show, and Neil Armstong step on the moon for this first time.

And in grade school, they would bring in TV's so we could watch the Apollo launches during class. History-making events seem to have sprouted in my childhood like dandelions. No, wonder I'm such a history buff.

And in all that living history, I saw American at its worst. But I also saw American at its best, and I saw its great potential. And I still see it today, despite all the Red versus Blue naysayers.
Because during those turbulent Cold Wars years, I saw American reach ever and ever farther towards new frontiers, and ever and ever closer to her ideals of liberty and justice for all.

I've seen our country wrestle with dilemnas and become better and stronger because of those struggles. And we will do it again.

And today, we have an unmasked hero to remind us of what we all can accomplish. One voice can make a difference.

Thank you, Deep Throat!

Lest We Forget

In honor of Memorial Day, today's green button link is a list of and American soldiers who died in Iraq; 1657 as of May 29, 2005.

Please also visit this list for the 185 casualties in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan: http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2004/oef.casualties/.


And for a true picture of what this holiday is all about, you can visit this list of casualities from every American war and deployment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_casualties_of_war

From our Revolutionary War to the present, these soldiers died because they believed in our country; in the ideals, promises, and challenges expressed in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution; in freedom; and in the rights of each American citizen.

Let us remember the more than 650,000 American individual lives today. And let us work to honor them, and their comrades in arms who are fighting today, by doing our work for freedom here at home.

For what right do we have to ask our soldiers to risk their lives for our country, if we shirk our duties as citizens here at home? We must be active citizens and make sure our government it doing its job for the American people. We all know the job descriptions; there're in the Constitution and every history text book.

Our Founders did not ask much of us, just to be active and informed, and to use our votes and voices. Let us take on our work enthusiastically and wisely. For we are also freedom fighters, here in the safety of our homes. Freedom is always an on-going process; there are no guarantees.

So let us honor these worthy Patriots, by being true and worthy Patriots ourselves. Then the United States of America may always be "the land of the free and the home of the brave."

Celebrations and Commemorations

One week ago today, I became a blogger with my first posting on this site. And as I was thinking about that mini-milestone, I realized that this weekend also marks the anniversary of two special parts of my life.

This morning found me on the baseball field in my volunteer role as an assistant coach with a baseball program for special needs kids. And it was eight years ago, on the last weekend in May, that I began that wonderful adventure. We have some new faces every year, and this year's brought us a few more younger players than we've seen in the past few years. And other players have moved away or moved on to other interests or Saturday activities. But I've had the opportunity to watch a lot of these kids grow and mature over the years. A few have graduated from high school and gotten jobs. It's been a wonderful opportunity to share my love of baseball, even making the occasional play in the field or taking a turn at bat; as well as to get to know the players and their families.

And on that same weekend eight years ago, I first visited the Unitarian Universalist congregation that has become my spiritual home. My family did not attend church when I was growing up, but I was christened and raised with all the appropriate Bible stories, lessons, and values. Early on, so early on that I'm not sure how or why, I also developped an interest in Judaism. During high school and college, I became interested in the Eastern religions, and later in earth-based, and Native American faiths. I came to understand that all religious share the same basic concepts and values; they just have different ways of teaching about and connecting with the Divine.

Shortly after college, I learned that the first Universalist sermon in the United States had been delivered about a mile from my home, at a site where the local UU's meet. I read the description of Unitarian Universalism and thought "That's me!" But I was living at home again with my non-church-going parents. And I had observed enough of what I call Sunday Christians, folks who attend church religiously, but lived lives of spite, hatred, and other hypocrisies; that I'd become rather suspicious of organized religion. And so, I remained an "unaligned monotheism"; a phrase I'd found in a Time magazine article I read during college.

But about 10 years ago, I began to desire a religious community. I had moved by then, and learned that there was a Unitarian Universalist congregation just over 20 miles away. But I wasn't sure I wanted to make that long drive on Sunday mornings. I also occasionally glanced at the phone listing for the local Jewish congregation, but felt a bit awkward about actually picking up the phone.

Then the night before I first stepped onto that baseball field, I'd stopped by my brother's house to borrow a glove; and there in the newspaper was a listing for a newly forming UU congregation right in my home town. So on the last Sunday in May, eight years ago, I walked into my congregation for the very first time; and I've attended nearly every Sunday ever since. Here I've found a great many friends; a supportive, nuturing community; lots of new volunteer opportunities; a choir to sing in; and my significant other.

I sometimes joke, borrowing a phrase from an old Saturday Night Live skit, that baseball's been very, very good to me. But I'm only half joking, because my enthusiasm for the sport has increased my circle of friends and changed my life in so many more ways than I'd imagined.

And so this weekend, I celebrate the happy little miracles of life that can happen when we say "yes" to a new opportunity. If I'd let my lack of athletic skill, or my shyness keep me away from either activity, I'd still be okay; but I'd likely be less busy and less happy today. And I doubt that I'd be confident enough to share these celebratory words with you.

Eight years ago, I was a stranger who was made to feel very welcome in two very different settings. Yes, baseball's been very, very good to me indeed!