Savior of the World.
A new Leonardi DaVinci recently discovered work.
Coming to the National Gallery later this fall.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
CHURCH
AS IT SHOULD BE
At Holy Trinity in Georgetown last night, there was a middle eastern dinner and a movie "Promises" shown with a special after film discussion led by the Social Justice Lay Minister Eli McCarthy who spent time as a UN trained mediator of sorts in Israel.
The movie PROMISES shows a Jewish guy trying to broker friendships between Israeli kids and Palestinian kids, in Israel (many such efforts take place on US soil but its much harder to do in Israel) and makes connections through soccer and kids play in spite of check point barriers and nervous parents.
The event was a successful collaboration between the DeChantal group (led by Eve Marie who is a cordon bleu trained amateur cook and former diplomat with the US State Department) and the Holy Trinity Social Justice Ministry. Eve Marie instructed the volunteer kitchen help how to make Schwarmas (did you know plain yogurt mixed with olive oil make a perfect dressing for pita stuffed grilled chicken?) and served up grape leaves, fruit salad, grilled egg plant and other tasty treats which were gobbled and gone in a New York minute.
Many thanks to the DeChantal folks, Eli and the Social Justice Ministry, Holy Trinity and all Jesuits everywhere for a special evening that had everyone thinking and talking peacebuilding in this most volatile and ironically most holy place on earth.
At Holy Trinity in Georgetown last night, there was a middle eastern dinner and a movie "Promises" shown with a special after film discussion led by the Social Justice Lay Minister Eli McCarthy who spent time as a UN trained mediator of sorts in Israel.
The movie PROMISES shows a Jewish guy trying to broker friendships between Israeli kids and Palestinian kids, in Israel (many such efforts take place on US soil but its much harder to do in Israel) and makes connections through soccer and kids play in spite of check point barriers and nervous parents.
The event was a successful collaboration between the DeChantal group (led by Eve Marie who is a cordon bleu trained amateur cook and former diplomat with the US State Department) and the Holy Trinity Social Justice Ministry. Eve Marie instructed the volunteer kitchen help how to make Schwarmas (did you know plain yogurt mixed with olive oil make a perfect dressing for pita stuffed grilled chicken?) and served up grape leaves, fruit salad, grilled egg plant and other tasty treats which were gobbled and gone in a New York minute.
Many thanks to the DeChantal folks, Eli and the Social Justice Ministry, Holy Trinity and all Jesuits everywhere for a special evening that had everyone thinking and talking peacebuilding in this most volatile and ironically most holy place on earth.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Cardinal
McCarrick
makes a rare appearance July 5 to say the noon Mass at the Catholic Information Center on K street and talk up his new book which is a collection of catholic standard editorials he penned while DC's reigning Cardinal -Archbishop for six years.
He is currently almost more busy retired than when he was DC's main red hat. He hangs his red cap at the Library of Congress these days writing and studying. He was recently featured in a Diplomat magazine article which favorably spoke of his diplomatic global missions over the years and penchant for languages. It is rumored he currently is studying arabic (on top of the greek, latin and hebrew they all have to learn along the way.)
It will be packed. Light lunch follows and everyone invited. Now it will be even more packed.
And in this week's episode of 'How does Wikipedia know so much!" fun facts about cardinal's hats here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galero
makes a rare appearance July 5 to say the noon Mass at the Catholic Information Center on K street and talk up his new book which is a collection of catholic standard editorials he penned while DC's reigning Cardinal -Archbishop for six years.
He is currently almost more busy retired than when he was DC's main red hat. He hangs his red cap at the Library of Congress these days writing and studying. He was recently featured in a Diplomat magazine article which favorably spoke of his diplomatic global missions over the years and penchant for languages. It is rumored he currently is studying arabic (on top of the greek, latin and hebrew they all have to learn along the way.)
It will be packed. Light lunch follows and everyone invited. Now it will be even more packed.
And in this week's episode of 'How does Wikipedia know so much!" fun facts about cardinal's hats here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galero
Update
Flotilla delayed a few days
One of the greek boats was sabotagued. They were supposed to leave with a non violent mission of giving humanitarian aid in the face of the Israeli blockade to
GAZA- now it leaves Friday they think. This could provoke another international incident if Israel doesn't handle it properly.
\ And if the flotilla crews don't let the Israeli soldiers on board to inspect
it will be deemed a ruse and bloodshed will happen again. 38 Congressional signatures to
Turkey succeded in getting Turkey out from the middle of it. Still, serious injury could result. Please pray for everyone on board if the flotilla leaves- there are more than a few americans amongst the 300 going now waiting in Greece to leave and you know who some of them are.
http://www.oecumene.radiovaticana.org/FR1/articolo.asp?c=500261
One of the greek boats was sabotagued. They were supposed to leave with a non violent mission of giving humanitarian aid in the face of the Israeli blockade to
GAZA- now it leaves Friday they think. This could provoke another international incident if Israel doesn't handle it properly.
\ And if the flotilla crews don't let the Israeli soldiers on board to inspect
it will be deemed a ruse and bloodshed will happen again. 38 Congressional signatures to
Turkey succeded in getting Turkey out from the middle of it. Still, serious injury could result. Please pray for everyone on board if the flotilla leaves- there are more than a few americans amongst the 300 going now waiting in Greece to leave and you know who some of them are.
http://www.oecumene.radiovaticana.org/FR1/articolo.asp?c=500261
Stick to Substance Boys
If you hit low blows I am coming out soft swinging.
Michele Bachman may be policy unwise or misguided on her view of government- but she certainly is no 'flake' and doesn't deserve the Stephanopolous grilling over alleged history mis-speaking on whether or not John Adams lived during the revolutionary war. You cannot pull a Palin on her like the Paul Revere nonsense- John Adams DID live during the revolutionary war. I went to Cornell and Georgetown and I agree with her- he is someone who later in his life did fight against slavery in his way and he could in a fair minded stretch be considered a 'founding father' if you loop in everyone who was alive during the revolutionary war. He was the Second President- OK , so maybe never signed the Declaration of Independence or went to the Constitutional Convention (or did he? I don't know I have to look it up but I am not running for anything and would before I did)- So picking hairs over this sort of stuff is going to backfire- it looks sexistly like persecution over nothing.
Here is who she is- William and Mary law grad with post grad work in tax, practicing tax attorney, business owner who probably made more money than Pelosi selling grapes in St. Helena, congresswoman for many years, and mother of more people than would come to your
funeral.
This is a very solid person. She is also so attractive and telegenic she could have done none of that and tried to be in a few films and volunteered for Unicef and the trotting the globe as Ambassador to the high commission on refugees like Angelina if she felt like it-but she didn't because she has a brain and self dignity and went to law school. You can disagree on policy-you cannot try to make her look stupid- because she is smarter than you. Trust Me. and miles cuter. Plus she knows how to dress and has class- unlike some fashion faux pas that have come from la maison blanc on diplomatic occasions. Talk policy- the other stuff is going to tank you without warning.
Michele Bachman may be policy unwise or misguided on her view of government- but she certainly is no 'flake' and doesn't deserve the Stephanopolous grilling over alleged history mis-speaking on whether or not John Adams lived during the revolutionary war. You cannot pull a Palin on her like the Paul Revere nonsense- John Adams DID live during the revolutionary war. I went to Cornell and Georgetown and I agree with her- he is someone who later in his life did fight against slavery in his way and he could in a fair minded stretch be considered a 'founding father' if you loop in everyone who was alive during the revolutionary war. He was the Second President- OK , so maybe never signed the Declaration of Independence or went to the Constitutional Convention (or did he? I don't know I have to look it up but I am not running for anything and would before I did)- So picking hairs over this sort of stuff is going to backfire- it looks sexistly like persecution over nothing.
Here is who she is- William and Mary law grad with post grad work in tax, practicing tax attorney, business owner who probably made more money than Pelosi selling grapes in St. Helena, congresswoman for many years, and mother of more people than would come to your
funeral.
This is a very solid person. She is also so attractive and telegenic she could have done none of that and tried to be in a few films and volunteered for Unicef and the trotting the globe as Ambassador to the high commission on refugees like Angelina if she felt like it-but she didn't because she has a brain and self dignity and went to law school. You can disagree on policy-you cannot try to make her look stupid- because she is smarter than you. Trust Me. and miles cuter. Plus she knows how to dress and has class- unlike some fashion faux pas that have come from la maison blanc on diplomatic occasions. Talk policy- the other stuff is going to tank you without warning.
The Lord God is Sovereign
And Moves Over All
The National Cathedral, a House of Prayer for All Nations, ten years after 9-11 has an interfaith service where a woman Rabbi, a Muslim and Christians all gather to pray together in unity to the God, the Creator of all Life and
Source of all Good who lives reigns and Moves Over All.
http://www.nationalcathedral.org/exec/cathedral/mediaPlayer?MediaID=MED-585E2-2L001F&EventID=CAL-56DB2-AR000G
The National Cathedral, a House of Prayer for All Nations, ten years after 9-11 has an interfaith service where a woman Rabbi, a Muslim and Christians all gather to pray together in unity to the God, the Creator of all Life and
Source of all Good who lives reigns and Moves Over All.
http://www.nationalcathedral.org/exec/cathedral/mediaPlayer?MediaID=MED-585E2-2L001F&EventID=CAL-56DB2-AR000G
First Fridays
And a New Kid on the Block
One of the best things happening in DC is the First Friday Gallery Night Open House where galleries all around Dupont Circle and elsewhere throw open their doors hosting receptions for new and old artists alike, from all over the world.
There is a new gallery opening on the R Street Art walk called YIGALLERY after it's owner, Israeli born Yigal Rappaport, who after emigrating to America, attending American University ran a real estate business and bred and raised horses for racing from his Frederick, Maryland farm. This Friday evening (5:00pm-9:00pm) and Saturday (11:00pm until everyone leaves in the evening) he is opening the doors to a charming R Street rowhouse choc-o-bloc full of amazing unique classic and modern art and sculptures, some of which belong in the Smithsonian.
His YIGALLERY is located at 2008 R Street across the street from Teaism and the Starbucks (make a left at the La Tomate corner if traveling North from downtown DC)
Yigal has an amazing collection of original numbered lithographs and photographs featuring artists like Miro, Dali, and Chagall, and many others. He scouts and supports new artists and has finds that he knows will become more valuable with age once the artists get better known.
With a charming gregarious personality he is eagerly awaiting meeting his new customers, whom he takes special kind interest in and loves showing off his amazing art finds.
It's a fun Friday night on R street, where with a glass of Cote Du Rhone you can peruse a vast collection of museum quality pieces and meet the upscale arty crowd in DC.
One of the best things happening in DC is the First Friday Gallery Night Open House where galleries all around Dupont Circle and elsewhere throw open their doors hosting receptions for new and old artists alike, from all over the world.
There is a new gallery opening on the R Street Art walk called YIGALLERY after it's owner, Israeli born Yigal Rappaport, who after emigrating to America, attending American University ran a real estate business and bred and raised horses for racing from his Frederick, Maryland farm. This Friday evening (5:00pm-9:00pm) and Saturday (11:00pm until everyone leaves in the evening) he is opening the doors to a charming R Street rowhouse choc-o-bloc full of amazing unique classic and modern art and sculptures, some of which belong in the Smithsonian.
His YIGALLERY is located at 2008 R Street across the street from Teaism and the Starbucks (make a left at the La Tomate corner if traveling North from downtown DC)
Yigal has an amazing collection of original numbered lithographs and photographs featuring artists like Miro, Dali, and Chagall, and many others. He scouts and supports new artists and has finds that he knows will become more valuable with age once the artists get better known.
With a charming gregarious personality he is eagerly awaiting meeting his new customers, whom he takes special kind interest in and loves showing off his amazing art finds.
It's a fun Friday night on R street, where with a glass of Cote Du Rhone you can peruse a vast collection of museum quality pieces and meet the upscale arty crowd in DC.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Seriously Sexist
The Bachman Bump
No, its not a baby bump. Its the rise in the polls every time someone dogs her from the left underworld press- because why?
Here is a woman, a mother from the midwest, with a law degree and actual experience practicing law--unlike Obama who practiced 'organizing' and political schmoozery with a harvard law degree that lets you teach as a 'lecturer' (no he was never a constitutional law full professor anywhere.)
Here is a woman who is accomplished in her own right, degreed in her own name and effort, who ran congressional campaigns, and sat in Congress for a number of years.
And this is somehow 'a joke?' It is appauling sexism to cast her as not a credible person- she runs a business that provides jobs, she raised five of her own kids and put a roof over 23 other foster kids, she thinks the tax code needs a touch up-WHO DOESN'T?? And this all makes her 'a joke?'
Keep it up fellas. The backlash alone for the disrespect is likely to get her elected. Because this is the Bullshine we all have to deal with. Even women running corporations who are tough get labeled PMS monsters. Women who excel in professions are called biatches just because they are women, and women who dare to stand up for their right to practice their professions are castigated for NOT having five kids already or locking themselves in a convent. Here is a woman who DID have five kids already and she is a Congresswoman and this is somehow all 'a joke?'
What do you want from us??
Disgusting Moron Men. Maybe now I will have to vote for her just because she is a woman-you drove me to it.
No, its not a baby bump. Its the rise in the polls every time someone dogs her from the left underworld press- because why?
Here is a woman, a mother from the midwest, with a law degree and actual experience practicing law--unlike Obama who practiced 'organizing' and political schmoozery with a harvard law degree that lets you teach as a 'lecturer' (no he was never a constitutional law full professor anywhere.)
Here is a woman who is accomplished in her own right, degreed in her own name and effort, who ran congressional campaigns, and sat in Congress for a number of years.
And this is somehow 'a joke?' It is appauling sexism to cast her as not a credible person- she runs a business that provides jobs, she raised five of her own kids and put a roof over 23 other foster kids, she thinks the tax code needs a touch up-WHO DOESN'T?? And this all makes her 'a joke?'
Keep it up fellas. The backlash alone for the disrespect is likely to get her elected. Because this is the Bullshine we all have to deal with. Even women running corporations who are tough get labeled PMS monsters. Women who excel in professions are called biatches just because they are women, and women who dare to stand up for their right to practice their professions are castigated for NOT having five kids already or locking themselves in a convent. Here is a woman who DID have five kids already and she is a Congresswoman and this is somehow all 'a joke?'
What do you want from us??
Disgusting Moron Men. Maybe now I will have to vote for her just because she is a woman-you drove me to it.
Monday, June 27, 2011
On the Importance
of Apologies
When people, or countries are 'stuck' it can be a combined matter of pride wrapped around a sense of self-protection wrapped around a dignity issue wrapped around an enigma.
Turkey and Israel are now stuck. They have had a five hundred plus year friendship, and Turks and Jews had each other's backs vis-a-vis more aggressive Iranians and even Syrians. Now they can't look sideways at each other over an incident involving Turkey sponsoring a boat going to Gaza for allegedly humanitarian aid that Israel nearly blew up and killed the crew.
Turkey prides itself on being a Switzerlandish peaceful island in a troubled land. It protests, we just want to do business, and they are doing a yeoman's job at that. They need peace and stability to trade- they are about building up not destroying. They talk to everyone.
So will they ever get unstuck. An Israeli Ambassador says, no apology so long as the Israeli foreign minister is who he is as it was viewed as a provocative act of aggression to go there. Turkey says, hey- you killed our guys, please say you are sorry.
So how to move forward? Israel is between a Rock of Gibralter and a hard hearted Syrian monarch it seems with an unstable Egypt chomping at the bit and opening up avenues of travel to heretofore blocked off passages. Can't we all just get along?
Israel could be more diplomatic even if they view the Flotilla as a provocation by saying something like-we regret deeply the loss of any life and we regret deeply that our warnings were not heralded. That would still maintain their territorial integrity issues and maintain a security posture wouldn't it?
Israel can't keep everyone out of international waters but isn't there a few feet out that are territorial waters so that they could put buoys out or something that stopped anything transgressing the water baricade brigades? I'm just thinking like an amateur sailor in former years who nearly ran into a few buoy things stuck in the waters.
Turkey is right if all they were doing is getting humanitarian aid to Gaza. Gazains are people too who need to eat and Turkey loves to feed people. But Israel is right if they didn't get to do a customs inspection where the international waters line traversed territorial waters. And no one is ever right shooting first. No one should have to die in policing international waters for weaponry. If you know there is only rice and a few bloggers on the boat why shoot?
Everyone needs to say they are sorry. Israel, you are sorry you couldn't figure out how to board a boat for a customs inspection without killing the crew. Turkey you are sorry you didn't figure that out and were a bit tauntingly provacative.
Now kiss, make up and pass the baklava.
When people, or countries are 'stuck' it can be a combined matter of pride wrapped around a sense of self-protection wrapped around a dignity issue wrapped around an enigma.
Turkey and Israel are now stuck. They have had a five hundred plus year friendship, and Turks and Jews had each other's backs vis-a-vis more aggressive Iranians and even Syrians. Now they can't look sideways at each other over an incident involving Turkey sponsoring a boat going to Gaza for allegedly humanitarian aid that Israel nearly blew up and killed the crew.
Turkey prides itself on being a Switzerlandish peaceful island in a troubled land. It protests, we just want to do business, and they are doing a yeoman's job at that. They need peace and stability to trade- they are about building up not destroying. They talk to everyone.
So will they ever get unstuck. An Israeli Ambassador says, no apology so long as the Israeli foreign minister is who he is as it was viewed as a provocative act of aggression to go there. Turkey says, hey- you killed our guys, please say you are sorry.
So how to move forward? Israel is between a Rock of Gibralter and a hard hearted Syrian monarch it seems with an unstable Egypt chomping at the bit and opening up avenues of travel to heretofore blocked off passages. Can't we all just get along?
Israel could be more diplomatic even if they view the Flotilla as a provocation by saying something like-we regret deeply the loss of any life and we regret deeply that our warnings were not heralded. That would still maintain their territorial integrity issues and maintain a security posture wouldn't it?
Israel can't keep everyone out of international waters but isn't there a few feet out that are territorial waters so that they could put buoys out or something that stopped anything transgressing the water baricade brigades? I'm just thinking like an amateur sailor in former years who nearly ran into a few buoy things stuck in the waters.
Turkey is right if all they were doing is getting humanitarian aid to Gaza. Gazains are people too who need to eat and Turkey loves to feed people. But Israel is right if they didn't get to do a customs inspection where the international waters line traversed territorial waters. And no one is ever right shooting first. No one should have to die in policing international waters for weaponry. If you know there is only rice and a few bloggers on the boat why shoot?
Everyone needs to say they are sorry. Israel, you are sorry you couldn't figure out how to board a boat for a customs inspection without killing the crew. Turkey you are sorry you didn't figure that out and were a bit tauntingly provacative.
Now kiss, make up and pass the baklava.
Turkish
Delights
And Here's to New Friends. What does the Turkish Ambassador to the US and the French Foreign Minister have in common? They both think NATO is doing the right thing puttng their foot down on Khadaffi for engaging in threats of slaughter against his own protesting people among other of his strongman henchman tendancies. They are a Muslim majority country, so it isn't a religious crusade thing on our part- the civilized world thinks Khadaffi has to be stopped and Turkey has told him to step aside also.
Today the Turkish Ambassador to the US gave an address to an eclectic crew of foreign policy junkies, hill staffers and fans of the Rumi Forum (me) after a luncheon of homemade turkish treats.
Turkey is geopolitically poised to be the most major peacemaking influence in the region, and organizations inspired by the prophet of peace Gulen are helping.
Emre Celik, a turk via Australia complete with charming Aussie accent is brokering
kindness in his own magnanimous way by bridging religious and ecumenical divides far and wide. Big Thanks for the invite. In the new Turkic Alliance headquarters of a federation of sorts of Turkish organizations in DC photos line the walls of various congressional and senatorial dignitaries with the Tukish Alliance President/Director, including with Bob Casey who is the Senator from the State where Gulen now resides.
Turkey is a Muslim majority country, with a free market economy that is booming and the 16th largest in the world now, with a functional parliamentarian democracy. And Istanbul on the water is georgeous.
West meets East and it's all good. Turkishly delightful. "You will see more of Turkey's face and we are your friend" concluded the Ambassador. High Five for World Peace. Lets return the favor- you help me figure out how.
And Here's to New Friends. What does the Turkish Ambassador to the US and the French Foreign Minister have in common? They both think NATO is doing the right thing puttng their foot down on Khadaffi for engaging in threats of slaughter against his own protesting people among other of his strongman henchman tendancies. They are a Muslim majority country, so it isn't a religious crusade thing on our part- the civilized world thinks Khadaffi has to be stopped and Turkey has told him to step aside also.
Today the Turkish Ambassador to the US gave an address to an eclectic crew of foreign policy junkies, hill staffers and fans of the Rumi Forum (me) after a luncheon of homemade turkish treats.
Turkey is geopolitically poised to be the most major peacemaking influence in the region, and organizations inspired by the prophet of peace Gulen are helping.
Emre Celik, a turk via Australia complete with charming Aussie accent is brokering
kindness in his own magnanimous way by bridging religious and ecumenical divides far and wide. Big Thanks for the invite. In the new Turkic Alliance headquarters of a federation of sorts of Turkish organizations in DC photos line the walls of various congressional and senatorial dignitaries with the Tukish Alliance President/Director, including with Bob Casey who is the Senator from the State where Gulen now resides.
Turkey is a Muslim majority country, with a free market economy that is booming and the 16th largest in the world now, with a functional parliamentarian democracy. And Istanbul on the water is georgeous.
West meets East and it's all good. Turkishly delightful. "You will see more of Turkey's face and we are your friend" concluded the Ambassador. High Five for World Peace. Lets return the favor- you help me figure out how.
Toward Smarter Judiciaries
And a Clerk Experience Policy
The current American model of law has within it certain defects, notably the system of hiring judicial clerks who are second or third year law students who are barely twenty years old and have the life experiences of someone barely twenty years old. Law clerks run the gamut in terms of intelligence and prior work experience, but some may be nothing more than people who were favored enough to get good grades for one or two years in law school after having no more life experience than lifeguarding or waitressing at the beach.
Serious life and death decisions rest in the judiciary. Even civil cases have serious life or death implications for people's ability to run businesses and earn a living. And some law clerks are people you would not hire to put gas in your car from fifth rate colleges and third rate law schools.
And these people are relied on by overworked judges who have too much docket on their plate often to even read a full file before ruling.
Law clerks should be hired only with five years of practice under their belt, or at least the ones who have any serious say doing anything other than shepardizing cases on line or pulling them and tabbing pages. To attract a better quality judicial clerk these people should be paid competitively with top firms of someone of their tracking seniority.
It is absurd and appaulingly ridiculous that someone from a third rate law school who is twenty years old barely is deciding anything or conferring with a judge to decide anything of import. They are not old enough to see how what looks like an incongruity is not or how somethings could be simultaneously true that look inconsistent. Some are so dumb you want to tell them to not forget that facebook is not a daily journal.
I here argue for a new rule- ABA, please require law clerks have five years at least of legal practice experience, and pay them enough to attract top quality clerks.
The current American model of law has within it certain defects, notably the system of hiring judicial clerks who are second or third year law students who are barely twenty years old and have the life experiences of someone barely twenty years old. Law clerks run the gamut in terms of intelligence and prior work experience, but some may be nothing more than people who were favored enough to get good grades for one or two years in law school after having no more life experience than lifeguarding or waitressing at the beach.
Serious life and death decisions rest in the judiciary. Even civil cases have serious life or death implications for people's ability to run businesses and earn a living. And some law clerks are people you would not hire to put gas in your car from fifth rate colleges and third rate law schools.
And these people are relied on by overworked judges who have too much docket on their plate often to even read a full file before ruling.
Law clerks should be hired only with five years of practice under their belt, or at least the ones who have any serious say doing anything other than shepardizing cases on line or pulling them and tabbing pages. To attract a better quality judicial clerk these people should be paid competitively with top firms of someone of their tracking seniority.
It is absurd and appaulingly ridiculous that someone from a third rate law school who is twenty years old barely is deciding anything or conferring with a judge to decide anything of import. They are not old enough to see how what looks like an incongruity is not or how somethings could be simultaneously true that look inconsistent. Some are so dumb you want to tell them to not forget that facebook is not a daily journal.
I here argue for a new rule- ABA, please require law clerks have five years at least of legal practice experience, and pay them enough to attract top quality clerks.
They Will Know
You are Christians By Your Love
Jesuits are the best ecumenical bridge between conservative hard core catholicism and the Protestant world. Father Mark at Holy Trinity noted on the feast of Corpus Christie that Jesus in the Eucharist is in the communion, in the sharing of bread and wine, common elements at a communal table,
because Jesus said "whenever you eat this bread and drink this wine" in the context of a communal supper, he did not say, 'whenever you stare at a piece of bread." Adoration has its place, but should not take the place of communion, or communally sharing- because it is not merely the 'act of consecration' or the intent to manifest Jesus but in the sharing He is actually manifest. Sharing even with enemies.
God is Trinitarian- relational. Communal. There is a father and a son. And a Holy Spirit, and a woman named Mary who was the earthly instrumentality. Jesus didn't grow in
a pod or pond or hatch from an acorn. He came through a woman's womb. On purpose.
What the church has evolved into is a bit off the mark in that the focus is exclusively on the consecration with smells, bells and whistles and incense laded incantations- like a magic act. Presto-chango- body of Christ, just looks like a wafer.
This isn't the full meaning of what he meant. He meant, you manifest me when you Share my love, I am love, share it, participate in the sharing of what is needed to live, and you find me.
The Catholic church over the years adopted a model of "king" after European royalty appropriated to Jesus that he rejected. It puts priests in royal noble roman robes and puts them behind a table dictating to the congregation who are meant to idolize them as the exclusive mediators between God and Man (the model of Priest in the Jewish world Jesus came to transcend), in the place of Jesus. Jesus was the 'servant King', the one who washed feet. He probably changed a few diapers. He is the model of humility not self exaltation, not lookie lookie me all over the press in my bright red robes. He died so we could have fullness of life, and joy overwhelming. He didn't die to kill us all off- The greatest of all is the servant of All. The first now will be the last. Religious leaders who are all about 'looking good' are totally missing the mark- it's about how well they create an environment of love among the people where there is real giving from the heart going on- real love happening, because God is love. And love is much bigger than a breadbox. It is the creational principle behind the whole world.
Church can and has devolved into a trade association model, where evangelism is about collecting new paying members to finance projects- some of which don't serve large portions of the contingencies- like the focus on catholic schools which ignores people without kids tilting a budget to one segment of the world.
The church is enormously wealthy- if there are a billion people in the catholic church, and everyone just throws one dollar in the bucket every sunday they make one billion dollars every week. So why are they all screaming for money? Because they are not serving Love so much as they are serving their projects which serve various segments and have driven people out for not meeting basic human relational needs. It is an empire builder, it has a head of state and a country with castles and estates.
It is inexcusably greedy to not create a way that priests can have families. It is a profound perversion of the heart of Jesus.
POSTSCRIPT
Imagine if at your family dinner table all the money and preparation and time went into setting the table and lighting the candles and the color of the plates matching the napkins, etc. with next to no time paid attention to dinner conversation. In fact, keep silent, because the noise is distracting. Don't talk, people might start liking each other. That's church roman--- sort of (Jesuits excluded).
Jesuits are the best ecumenical bridge between conservative hard core catholicism and the Protestant world. Father Mark at Holy Trinity noted on the feast of Corpus Christie that Jesus in the Eucharist is in the communion, in the sharing of bread and wine, common elements at a communal table,
because Jesus said "whenever you eat this bread and drink this wine" in the context of a communal supper, he did not say, 'whenever you stare at a piece of bread." Adoration has its place, but should not take the place of communion, or communally sharing- because it is not merely the 'act of consecration' or the intent to manifest Jesus but in the sharing He is actually manifest. Sharing even with enemies.
God is Trinitarian- relational. Communal. There is a father and a son. And a Holy Spirit, and a woman named Mary who was the earthly instrumentality. Jesus didn't grow in
a pod or pond or hatch from an acorn. He came through a woman's womb. On purpose.
What the church has evolved into is a bit off the mark in that the focus is exclusively on the consecration with smells, bells and whistles and incense laded incantations- like a magic act. Presto-chango- body of Christ, just looks like a wafer.
This isn't the full meaning of what he meant. He meant, you manifest me when you Share my love, I am love, share it, participate in the sharing of what is needed to live, and you find me.
The Catholic church over the years adopted a model of "king" after European royalty appropriated to Jesus that he rejected. It puts priests in royal noble roman robes and puts them behind a table dictating to the congregation who are meant to idolize them as the exclusive mediators between God and Man (the model of Priest in the Jewish world Jesus came to transcend), in the place of Jesus. Jesus was the 'servant King', the one who washed feet. He probably changed a few diapers. He is the model of humility not self exaltation, not lookie lookie me all over the press in my bright red robes. He died so we could have fullness of life, and joy overwhelming. He didn't die to kill us all off- The greatest of all is the servant of All. The first now will be the last. Religious leaders who are all about 'looking good' are totally missing the mark- it's about how well they create an environment of love among the people where there is real giving from the heart going on- real love happening, because God is love. And love is much bigger than a breadbox. It is the creational principle behind the whole world.
Church can and has devolved into a trade association model, where evangelism is about collecting new paying members to finance projects- some of which don't serve large portions of the contingencies- like the focus on catholic schools which ignores people without kids tilting a budget to one segment of the world.
The church is enormously wealthy- if there are a billion people in the catholic church, and everyone just throws one dollar in the bucket every sunday they make one billion dollars every week. So why are they all screaming for money? Because they are not serving Love so much as they are serving their projects which serve various segments and have driven people out for not meeting basic human relational needs. It is an empire builder, it has a head of state and a country with castles and estates.
It is inexcusably greedy to not create a way that priests can have families. It is a profound perversion of the heart of Jesus.
POSTSCRIPT
Imagine if at your family dinner table all the money and preparation and time went into setting the table and lighting the candles and the color of the plates matching the napkins, etc. with next to no time paid attention to dinner conversation. In fact, keep silent, because the noise is distracting. Don't talk, people might start liking each other. That's church roman--- sort of (Jesuits excluded).
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
Just in Time for the Fourth of July
BELOW THE BELTWAY
You Knew this was coming- and Washington loves a good spoofing of itself. So if you are in DC for the Fourth of July and stay a few more days- come to the DC Film
Festival's July feature: BELOW THE BELTWAY.
In this weeks version of John Hanshaw , CEO of the DC Film Institute, is a genius, I note that he packed the house with support from co-sponsoring L'Alliance Francais for yesterday evening's feature OF GODs AND MEN which won a Palme D'or or something equally prestigious at Cannes. Its the hottest ticket in town, these events which feature happy hour like only John can do them. It's where the beautiful people meet and greet and cut deals in little cut black dresses:-) Bisous Bisous John- next stop San Trope.
tickets purchase on line here:
http://dcfilminstitute.org/belowbeltway/
Funnyman turned Senatorial cruisader of truth and justice Al Franken should love this one. He's
fastly becoming one of my fav. Senators.
You Knew this was coming- and Washington loves a good spoofing of itself. So if you are in DC for the Fourth of July and stay a few more days- come to the DC Film
Festival's July feature: BELOW THE BELTWAY.
In this weeks version of John Hanshaw , CEO of the DC Film Institute, is a genius, I note that he packed the house with support from co-sponsoring L'Alliance Francais for yesterday evening's feature OF GODs AND MEN which won a Palme D'or or something equally prestigious at Cannes. Its the hottest ticket in town, these events which feature happy hour like only John can do them. It's where the beautiful people meet and greet and cut deals in little cut black dresses:-) Bisous Bisous John- next stop San Trope.
tickets purchase on line here:
http://dcfilminstitute.org/belowbeltway/
Funnyman turned Senatorial cruisader of truth and justice Al Franken should love this one. He's
fastly becoming one of my fav. Senators.
promises promises
Holy Trinity at the Movies
The deChantal group at Holy Trinity is hosting a must see movie called PROMISES -here is Eve Marie's write up:
De Chantal Group invites everyone to see and taste what it's like to be a Palestinian or Israeli living in Jerusalem. Enjoy the cuisine (falafell, swarma, assorted salads and sweets or simply sip a traditional mint tea) as you watch the movie "Promises" on Wednesday June 29 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. (it's all good, it's all free)
http://www.trinity.org/
Eve Marie has a wonderful philosophy- part of the deChantal ministry involves introducing people to food of the various states or regions featured in their monthly dinners. The Taste of Spain was particularly well attended with delighted folks eating home made flan for desert after fantastic paella with overflowing mussells and shrimp and chorizo. Kosher food is 'hallal' she explained noting that muslims and israelis eat more or less the same way. Eve Marie explains that she likes to connect people through food. "Like Jesus" I add. It's sure to be a memorable evening.
The Rumi Forum is a Turkish think tank that hosts weekly (more or less) luncheons which feature turkish foods on top of fantastic lectures by Ambassadors and foreign policy practitioners. http://www.rumiforum.org/
The deChantal group at Holy Trinity is hosting a must see movie called PROMISES -here is Eve Marie's write up:
De Chantal Group invites everyone to see and taste what it's like to be a Palestinian or Israeli living in Jerusalem. Enjoy the cuisine (falafell, swarma, assorted salads and sweets or simply sip a traditional mint tea) as you watch the movie "Promises" on Wednesday June 29 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. (it's all good, it's all free)
http://www.trinity.org/
Eve Marie has a wonderful philosophy- part of the deChantal ministry involves introducing people to food of the various states or regions featured in their monthly dinners. The Taste of Spain was particularly well attended with delighted folks eating home made flan for desert after fantastic paella with overflowing mussells and shrimp and chorizo. Kosher food is 'hallal' she explained noting that muslims and israelis eat more or less the same way. Eve Marie explains that she likes to connect people through food. "Like Jesus" I add. It's sure to be a memorable evening.
The Rumi Forum is a Turkish think tank that hosts weekly (more or less) luncheons which feature turkish foods on top of fantastic lectures by Ambassadors and foreign policy practitioners. http://www.rumiforum.org/
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Frivolous
Schmivolous
Tort Reform?
Ever hear of the great 'conservative' push to 'reform' tort law to cap punitive damages, require unwittingly mandatory arbitration clauses to deprive people of jury trial seventh amendment rights and otherwise pervert the basic system of justice we have?
You need to see the new HBO special coming out called "Hot Coffee" about how tort reform and capped damages affects real people. Take that famous or infamous McDonalds coffee case where an elderly woman put a cup of hot McDonalds coffee between her legs to put creamer in and spilled it. You may think that nutty to sue and she became the poster woman for greed gone amuck but a jury first awarded her millions which was lowered by a judge later. What happened? Was it frivolous? Was the jury just all crazy? All nine or twelve of them????
First the case has to survive a motion to dismiss and a motion for summary judgment (and the lawyer can get sanctioned for filing a baseless claim) so there are built in guarantees against frivolous suits. Second, did you see the photos of this woman's skin grafts that had to be performed on her eighty some year old body after fourth degree burns that looked infected???
Now lets talk mandatory arbitration clauses in everything. And where is the media with that case in Texas with the woman who was nineteen years old who was gang raped by Halliburton and locked in a shipping crate who could not get to court because she signed a mandatory employment arbitration clause in an employment agreement. Where is the media on that case? The woman testified before the Senate Judiciary committee and Al Franken championed her cause to void the mandatory arbitration so she could take the batards to court. Al Franken is to be taken way more seriously than I imagined.
Tort Reform?
Ever hear of the great 'conservative' push to 'reform' tort law to cap punitive damages, require unwittingly mandatory arbitration clauses to deprive people of jury trial seventh amendment rights and otherwise pervert the basic system of justice we have?
You need to see the new HBO special coming out called "Hot Coffee" about how tort reform and capped damages affects real people. Take that famous or infamous McDonalds coffee case where an elderly woman put a cup of hot McDonalds coffee between her legs to put creamer in and spilled it. You may think that nutty to sue and she became the poster woman for greed gone amuck but a jury first awarded her millions which was lowered by a judge later. What happened? Was it frivolous? Was the jury just all crazy? All nine or twelve of them????
First the case has to survive a motion to dismiss and a motion for summary judgment (and the lawyer can get sanctioned for filing a baseless claim) so there are built in guarantees against frivolous suits. Second, did you see the photos of this woman's skin grafts that had to be performed on her eighty some year old body after fourth degree burns that looked infected???
Now lets talk mandatory arbitration clauses in everything. And where is the media with that case in Texas with the woman who was nineteen years old who was gang raped by Halliburton and locked in a shipping crate who could not get to court because she signed a mandatory employment arbitration clause in an employment agreement. Where is the media on that case? The woman testified before the Senate Judiciary committee and Al Franken championed her cause to void the mandatory arbitration so she could take the batards to court. Al Franken is to be taken way more seriously than I imagined.
Not a Joke
Pretty and Smart
The smart woman's Palin and born in Iowa.
She's really Obama's triple threat. Pretty, Smart and midwestern to her core.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/21/michele-bachmann-to-launc_n_881686.html
Bachman is impressive. Notwithstanding some tea partiesque remarks and clowning earlier that made her look goofy, she played it smart enough to create a national constituency that put over fifteen mil in her campaign coffers. She is a tax attorney, former state legislator like Obama and in Congress. Nuthin to sneeze at folks.
An American girl- and easy on the eyes.
Girl power will cross party lines on that one. Five children and 23 foster kids- brangelina got nothing on her. Pro Life and her money is where her mouth is. Plus ran a small family business that created real jobs.
No Joke. Weiner on the other hand (because the other hand is busy)
The smart woman's Palin and born in Iowa.
She's really Obama's triple threat. Pretty, Smart and midwestern to her core.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/21/michele-bachmann-to-launc_n_881686.html
Bachman is impressive. Notwithstanding some tea partiesque remarks and clowning earlier that made her look goofy, she played it smart enough to create a national constituency that put over fifteen mil in her campaign coffers. She is a tax attorney, former state legislator like Obama and in Congress. Nuthin to sneeze at folks.
An American girl- and easy on the eyes.
Girl power will cross party lines on that one. Five children and 23 foster kids- brangelina got nothing on her. Pro Life and her money is where her mouth is. Plus ran a small family business that created real jobs.
No Joke. Weiner on the other hand (because the other hand is busy)
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Debouchez mon ame
pour que je puisse voir
et debouchez ma coeur
pour que je puisse vivre
dans le repose estival comme la rose
qui est toujours rouge.
Debouchez ma courage
ma peur me rendre faible et faim
debouchez ma corps
qui est attrapper par la peur le dedans.
Je vais avec toi, jus q'au fin du monde
au pays loin d'ici
Je vais avec toi
across the blue blue sea.
pour que je puisse voir
et debouchez ma coeur
pour que je puisse vivre
dans le repose estival comme la rose
qui est toujours rouge.
Debouchez ma courage
ma peur me rendre faible et faim
debouchez ma corps
qui est attrapper par la peur le dedans.
Je vais avec toi, jus q'au fin du monde
au pays loin d'ici
Je vais avec toi
across the blue blue sea.
I Stand
In Peace and
Solidarity
with discriminated against oppressed women everywhere and particularly my strong sisters in Saudi who are boldly standing in dignity to have the same rights of citizenship as their husbands, brothers and sons in the simple privilege of driving a car. God bless and be with them in their struggle.
(what Hillary could have said. but i don't write her stuff)
Solidarity
with discriminated against oppressed women everywhere and particularly my strong sisters in Saudi who are boldly standing in dignity to have the same rights of citizenship as their husbands, brothers and sons in the simple privilege of driving a car. God bless and be with them in their struggle.
(what Hillary could have said. but i don't write her stuff)
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