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guest writer series

4263193267_fb5cee0c57_z‘Tis time to reflect upon why we do what we do — on the purpose of the infamous Intramuralist.

Contrary to the blogs of many, my goal has never been to make you think like me.  Sorry, but I have news for you:  there are places where I’m wrong; there are places where my perspective is unknowingly limited; there are places where my perspective is not so limited and I’m still wrong.  There are also places where my reasoning is wrong and I have no idea.

Hence, the purpose of this blog is not to encourage likeminded thinking.  In fact, that approach by many of our elect and supporting activists disturbs me.  This country has never focused on likemindedness.  Wisdom has never equated to the robotic toeing of an ideological line.

The purpose of our posting has always been to model respectful dialogue.  That means stating our opinion in such a way that it’s respectful to all — even and especially to the one who disagrees with us.  The subsequent goal is to encourage dialogue — and then really listen, — because (1) listening is a basic form of respect, and (2) we craft solution from respectful dialogue.  Friends, one thing all leaders need to learn is that they do not solve an issue by shutting an opponent down.  Such is merely a foolish escape deliberately guised by the intelligent, albeit not the wise.

Thus, a primary belief I have always adhered to is that we’re in this together.  As recently written, we are “doing life” together; therefore, we grow.  While three days a week, I pick up my figurative pen and promptly post a semi-humble sentiment, it is my sense that we are in this together.

As evidence of such, on Tuesday we begin one of my favorite, summer activities.  It’s time for our 6th annual Intramuralist Guest Writers Series!  For half a dozen years now, we have featured the writings and perspectives of a wide variety of people — people I know… people I deeply respect… people who may or may not think like me.  Thinking like me doesn’t matter.

We will hear from thirteen creative, expressive individuals who have agreed to model our respectful mantra over the next four weeks.  Their topics of choice are diverse.  From a writer to a state senator to a food bank director… from a retired teacher to a current teacher to a young man living overseas… from a college kid to a stay-at-home mom to a career pastor… from a psychologist to nonprofit director to a realtor and wise  new grandma… We have a creative, articulate, passionate group of writers sharing wit and wisdom, strength and sorrow, learnings and leanings, and all sorts of other wise nuggets in between.

Let me state one aspect to be clear:  the Intramuralist may or may not agree with the opinions expressed; that’s not the point.  The point is that each of these admired men and women desire to share their thoughts with you in a respectful way.  At times you will undoubtedly jump out of your seat and cheer along.  You may ‘amen.’  Other days you may grimace.  You might share in their triumph or gasp in their heartache.  But along the way, you will witness respectful, encouraged dialogue.

So join me for this excellent series.  I promise two things:  one, it will be good; and two, I will be back.

Respectfully…

AR

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life together

12458_10204397800406760_2323747440649054753_nEvery now and then I have a piece penned and ready to post and an event arises that trumps what was previously planned.  Today is one of those days.

I had this great, insightful blog — noting the commonality between the most pressing current events — and how they magnify the failure of man in recognizing that boundaries are good.  Then something more significant happened in my household.  Something trumped that post.  Something affected my heart so much more…

While seemingly small in comparison to any international incident, yesterday I watched my oldest son say goodbye to one of his best friends…

Jake and Seth have been friends as long as I can remember — no doubt as long as they can remember.  I can’t remember a time when these two weren’t hanging out together.  From their earliest days, they attended the same Sunday school classes — sometimes even paying attention.  🙂

They did school together, baseball together… they’ve done life together.  Together with four other wonderful young men, they became each other’s support.  They were each other’s “group.”  They were each other’s guys.  During those tricky adolescent years when some teens talk lesser to their parents, Jake and Seth were still always talking to each other.  They grew up together.

They’ve laughed together, cried together, gotten in trouble together… eaten together… eaten a lot together… shared stories and girls and loves and heartaches.  They’ve shared ambition — and ambition lost.  They’ve shared dreams and faith and their honest hopes for the future.

They’ve gotten mad at each other.  They’ve hurt each other.  They’ve also been quick to forgive.  They have loved each other well.

As you read this post, Seth will have begun an exciting new journey in his life.  He and his family are literally traveling half way around the world, where his father will be working for the next three years.  There is so much to look forward to; there is also much they leave behind — one of many being their great “group.”  Thanks, no less, to the advances of social media, the boys will still tweet, talk, and text; they will be in touch; it just won’t be the same.  So yesterday Seth came to say goodbye.

How do 17 year old boys who love each other say goodbye?

First they grab the Nerf guns.

Then they play swords.

Then they play baseball on the XBOX.

They gab the entire time.

They laugh and joke and even yell at the players on the XBOX.

They tease and smile and cheer each other on.

They sometimes even share a serious thought.  Then they go back to yelling at the players on the XBOX.

They’re “doing life” together — one last time — at least for now.

I cried yesterday.  Something significant happened in my household.  What a beautiful thing.

Respectfully…

AR

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2 strikes

photoAs our youth baseball schedule wraps up for another year, I am again reminded of how God teaches me through the ordinary.  I used to think the God of the universe utilized some cleverly, divine two by fours; then I realized the ordinary is so much more effective…

We were sitting in the stands, eagerly awaiting a come-from-behind rally, under the lights of the small D1 school.  It was a special moment for those undaunted, 15 year old boys.

Truthfully, the game had become somewhat emotional by this point, especially for the adults, soaking in the sentiment of previous innings.  In a split second swing at an earlier fastball, one of our players’ cleats remained firmly lodged in the artificial turf;  his right knee cap was then immediately dis-lodged.  With the instant, accompanying cries of pain and panic, it was a gruesome sight… especially when you love the kid.  Thus, we were waiting for something good.

With a man on and the rally ready, our non-fiction version of Speedy Gonzalez stepped up to the plate.  The young man is a joy to watch, as a hard hit combined with his uncommon quickness often leads to an exciting play.  The moment was undoubtedly intensifying.

“Strike,” the umpire subtly motioned on the first pitch thrown.

We eagerly awaited…  and then…

“Strike three!  You’re out!” yelled the ump in a far more emphatic fashion.  However, “strike three” was called on strike number two.

In the questioning that immediately quieted the crowd, neither team’s supporters knew how to respond…  “Really?  Did he really just call the boy out on only two strikes?”

Fairly respectful clamors clang from the crowd, attempting to respectfully alert the umpire of his obvious error.  The coaches also joined in the questioning, perhaps wondering if there was some kind of “new math” that had yet to be announced.  The ump motioned to our coach to hold off — stay where he was; he would confer with his likeminded peer on the field to discuss what happened.

For an odd, a little-too-long, hushed moment, the two umpires huddled on the field.  It was obvious neither had a ball/strike clicker — and that neither truly knew the count.  After the brief conference, the home plate umpire raised his clenched fist in the air and again signaled “out.”

At that point our coach stepped onto the field, and yelled, “What?  It’s only two strikes,” to which the field umpire promptly yelled more loudly back for our coach to get back in the dugout, as “the decision has been made.”

So here in front of teens who tend to take in all of our adult behavior were two men who had made a obvious mistake, discussed only with the likeminded, and when confronted with the facts, simply shouted for all opposition to shut up.  They refused to dialogue; they refused help from both partial and impartial influence; they refused to acknowledge they even needed help; they instead focused most on silencing refuting fact.

Sometimes we teach our children well.  Sometimes we don’t.  They will learn from both our successes and mistakes… even from the ordinary.

Respectfully…

AR

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flight mh17

26422957.sfI can only imagine…

How it feels…

… to have loved ones in a plane intentionally shot down…

… to have actually been on that plane…

… would I have felt anything?

… known anything?

… what my final moments on the planet would have been like…

… what my eyes and face will someday see…

I can only imagine.

The depth of the emotion of those left here…

… Australian Kaylene Mann, who lost her stepdaughter in this crash — after losing her brother and sister-in-law when Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 tragically disappeared in March — a plane still not found…

… Barry and Izzy Sim, who were told in the final moments before boarding that their flight was too full; they were being moved to another plane — thus shockingly, mercifully learning later what they were spared…

… how they will live now…

I can only imagine.

What goes through the heads and hearts of those involved or those expected to react…

… world leaders — expressing outrage at the act, respect for the victims, compassion for the families, and attempting to cede all scoring of self-motivated political points…

… Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin, who may or may not have been aware or responsible, who may or may not be motivated by evil…

… the one who pulled the trigger on the missile, who most likely was motivated by evil…

I can only imagine.

At the time the shot was heard ‘round the world on Thursday, when reports surfaced of the downed passenger plane, I was on the phone with a customer service rep, making a routine appointment.  As she was waiting on her computer to proceed with scheduling, I asked if she was aware of the fateful Malaysian flight.  She responded affirmatively; her shock was obvious and apparent.  When the discussion evolved into the aspect that the jet was hit by a missile — meaning an explosive was intentionally shot in its direction — the gal expressed an audible, strong shiver, adding, “I don’t like to think about things like that.”

Isn’t that the point?

We don’t like to think about things like that.  We don’t like to think about the lives lost… what actually happened.  It’s outrageous.  Awful.  Heinous and heartbreaking.

We also don’t like to think about who could have pulled that trigger — who launched and ordered the launch of that missile.  It was wrong.  Sinful.  Evil.

We don’t like those words.  They make us incredibly uncomfortable.  We don’t like admitting that wrong, sin, and evil exist on planet Earth.

We don’t like to imagine.

Respectfully…

AR

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49

Route 49After celebrating another joyous birthday this week, I’ve decided maybe I should make a few notes of what I’ve learned before I’m 50.  I could publish such a post next year, but then everyone might find out I’m actually turning 50.  So with minimal tongue, cheek, and added rhetorical fodder, I humbly submit a few life lessons, learned by age 49.

  1. We complain about seasons a lot… in the summer, it’s too hot — in winter, too cold; maybe we should do a better job of enjoying what we have when we have it.
  2. We aren’t good at admitting weakness… for some reason we think it makes us look bad, when maybe the admission is the first real sign of strength.
  3. As we get older, some temptations don’t go away… except for that sticking your tongue on a cold fence thing.  (Granted, parents to-the-rescue in their pajamas look pretty funny.)
  4. Wisdom and intelligence aren’t the same thing… they just aren’t.  Wisdom is far better; sometimes, though, I think society teaches exactly the opposite..
  5. There truly is a time for everything… everything; the reality is just that we like some things better than others; there’s a time to sing… time to dance… time to be silent and still; there’s a time for war and a time for peace.  I don’t believe anyone really “likes” war, though.
  6. Social media has completely altered the meaning of “like”… it’s changed the meaning of “friend” and “privacy,” too; there are some excellent things which have resulted from the constant of social media in our lives… some not so great things, too.
  7. People are finicky about soccer… it’s not just all the faking and the flopping.  There are some incredibly talented athletes out there; there just isn’t a lot of scoring; and at least in this country, we like to score.
  8. People crave a savior… always… for all time.  The challenge is that no human — even if named “LeBron” — is so capable; salvation is not a human ability… makes me wonder why we crave.
  9. Some of us cling to faith; some of us avoid it; but everyone has a religion…  as no belief in an ultimate, loving Father is still a belief; it just prompts varied behavior.
  10. Politicians can be so silly sometimes (I’m being nice with the word “silly”).  We then fall prey into thinking all Democrats or Republicans are good because an ideology resonates deeply within us.  But some put ideology before treating others well.  I’m thinking the establishment is a huge part of problem.
  11. People have a hard time refraining from spending… especially if they really want something.
  12. Discipline goes with wisdom… not punishment.
  13. We idolize so many of the wrong things.
  14. We forget about God… worse yet, we think we have no need of him; that can’t be good.
  15. Respect is vital… always… but remember — I know we say this often — but respect does not mean accepting as equally good and right; it means listening, seeking to understand, and resisting the temptation to become the convictor of truth in another’s life.  Yes, yes… far too often we justify disrespect.  Some may even avoid this blog.

Still learning.  Can’t wait for 50.

Respectfully…

AR

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come to the table

316-farmhouse-dining-table-with-foodThis past weekend I had dinner with several couples, celebrating a birthday in one of their families.  Over the course of the evening’s festivities — full of food, fun, laughs, and excellent dialogue, there came a moment which later would cause me to pause.  The conversation turned political.

It wasn’t a sharp conversation, nor anything intentionally rude or harsh or demeaning of someone or something.  It was obvious, however, as the conversation progressed, that one couple felt something deeply… something sincerely…

And so I asked…

“Do you feel respected for what you believe here?”  [Note:  in the context, “here” meant the area in which we live — not at our table.]

There was an immediate, honest “no.”

Let me use a word I typically attempt to avoid… I hate that.  I hate it when anyone feels disrespected.

So let me be clear on who “anyone” is…

Anyone is the person at your table who is pro-life or pro-choice… anyone is the person at your table who adheres or not to an organized faith… anyone is the person who is for or against gay marriage… anyone is the person who believes in amnesty or instant deportation… anyone is the person who thinks the same as you — or not.

Once again I am humbly reminded that we are not respectful of just “anyone.”  That grieves me.

Friends, respect does not mean immediate acceptance of all opinion as equally good and true.  Respect means listening, seeking to understand, and resisting the temptation to become the convictor of truth in another’s life.  Far too often we justify disrespect…

… they’ve said too many stupid things…

… they’re just lost…

… they’re so misguided…

You know what?  There are many times in my own life where I’ve said stupid things… I’ve been lost… I’ve been misguided.  No doubt there are areas and issues in which I’m currently misguided — some of which I know, as I can sense the internal pruning — and some of which I don’t.  I am open to and deeply desire that growth.  I also have no doubt that “anyone” will be used to teach me.

My questions today are simple…

Who’s at your table?

And who are you justifying disrespecting?

Humbly…

AR

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illegal immigration

BorderFenceImage_jpg_800x1000_q100Once again our leaders have managed to do what-should-be the impossible.  They have managed to politicize a problem instead of solve it (sigh).

Please pause for a moment before throwing the first proverbial stone in yet another ad hominem attack.  One of the aspects that most gets my goat or some other colloquial critter is how we say “yeah, but” when justifying our response… “Yeah, but he did it first…  Yeah, but it was the President…  yeah, but Congress…”  “Yeah but’s” are the intellectuals covert, clever means of justifying something within their own response that doesn’t make total logical or compassionate sense.  “Yeah but’s” are what allow both our current President and Congress to politicize a problem instead of solve it.  We have a problem with illegal immigration — especially now with child migrants.

This is a tough one, friends.  I remember as a hope-filled child, proudly singing those words with my elementary peers…  “Give me your tired, your poor… Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free;  the wretched refuse of your teeming shore.  Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me.  I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

Today there are huddled massed just across the Texas border, masses no doubt yearning to breathe free.

First, a brief synopsis of the facts so we can speak intelligently (and avoid the “yeah, but’s”):

  • More than 52,000 children have been picked up illegally crossing the border since October — nearly double last year’s total and 10 times 2009’s numbers.
  • Most are from Central America and are unaccompanied by adults.
  • Many are motivated by safety concerns in their own country.
  • Many believe they will not be deported, due to both rumors and public statements by our government.
  • U.S. policy allows Mexican child migrants to be deported quickly.
  • A 2008 law calls for all Central American children to be given a court hearing; the purpose of that law was to combat child trafficking.
  • Court hearings often take up to 2-3 years to take place; many often fail to appear.

Immigration policy has long been the balance of logic and compassion (…remember the two things the “yeah, but’s” allow our leaders to omit).  We can’t allow for total amnesty, as that doesn’t address the very real motive of many in this world, whose chief desire is to destroy America (see September, 2001).  We also can’t simply arrest and ship home, as that doesn’t recognize those tired and poor masses that our country was founded upon to serve.  So what do we do?  While by no means do any of us know exactly the way to solve this problem, let the Intramuralist submit a means of where to — and to not — begin…

We can’t begin by simply throwing more money at the problem.  As a whole for years, our government has not acted faithfully with our money — spending too much on political priorities; hence, hiring more agents, judges, etc. means increased debt, and it doesn’t solve the long term problem.

We can’t begin by fortifying the border.  That takes time.  Securing the border doesn’t solve the short term problem.

What we do first in my semi-humble opinion is semi-simple.  We ask the Central American governments to get involved.  They don’t have to solve the problem alone, but until they choose to be responsible for a solution governing their own people, we halt their current financial aid.  Collectively, the governments of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras receive over a billion dollars annually in military and economic assistance from the U.S.  Granted, we need to be sensitive here, as we don’t want to destabilize the drug-infested area significantly more, but it is logical to expect these governments to be part of the solution and not just the problem.

What we do second is less simple.  Our leaders need to gather together, with no political strategists or schemers — maybe no cameras — role up their sleeves, and set all political motives aside.  That means not adopting any policy motivated by how it impacts a specific voting bloc.  Together they must develop a logical, compassionate, cost-efficient short term and long term strategy.  No one is king; no one person sets the policy; and all refrain from saying “yeah, but.”

In other words, our leaders would serve us best — and craft solutions best — by not politicizing another problem.

Respectfully…

AR

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teenagers

IMG_1955AR:  “So what is your opinion of my blog?”

JT:  “It’s current.”

AR:  “What do you think I do?”

JT:  “Report on current events.”

AR:  “Why do you think I do it?”

JT:  “To share your opinion about current events in a respectful way and inform people at the same time.”

AR:  “Are there any current events you especially care about?”

JT:  “Mrs. Obama influencing my school lunch choices… Justin Bieber getting caught again (snicker, snicker)… and Germany kicking the crap out of Brazil in the World Cup.”

AR:  “What about politics?  What do you think about politics?

JT:  “They’re overhyped.  So many people are stupid in politics, but we elect stupid people.”

AR:  “‘Stupid’ isn’t a very respectful word.”

JT:  “Yeah, but people aren’t very respectful in politics.”

AR:  “Tell me how do you see that.”

JT:  “They’re so one-sided, and they can’t handle anything but having their own way on an issue.  No one’s willing to compromise.”

AR:  “How could we fix this?”

JT:  “Quit electing stupid people.”

AR:  “Why do you think we keep electing these kind of people?”

JT:  “Because they’re good communicators and they make you think they’ll do something when they really won’t.  Some of them are lying; others just aren’t really focused or they’re unable to work with other people.”

AR:  “Why do you think they’re unable to work with others?”

JT:  “Because some of them come from a background where they never have to work with other people.  Like those who are lawyers — they’re used to fighting everyone to get a certain result — to convince everyone in the room and get them to agree with their opinion.  Lawyers don’t practice how to compromise or work with anyone else.  They are better at defending opinions than running a country.”

AR:  “Could you run the country?”

JT:  “No.  Too much work.”

AR:  “So who’s the ideal candidate to run a country?”

JT:  “Someone who comes from a background that knows how to manage people and handle a budget.  Someone who knows how to run a big company.  Someone who’s not whiny.”

AR:  “Why not whiny?”

JT:  “If the President is whiny, he’ll be like the whiny people in the world.  We don’t need more whiny people.”

AR:  “What about how relatable the President is?  How important is it that to you?”

JT:  “Like social media?  In some ways he needs to relate to us, but that’s not the most important thing.  Just because people think they can relate to you doesn’t mean you’re doing a good job.  Every leader has supporters.  They need to lead well regardless of how well they relate — regardless of whether people like or dislike you.”

AR:  “Is there anything else you’d like to say to today’s readers?”

JT:  [grin] “I’m available for babysitting.”

AR:  “Is babysitting ‘too much work’?”

JT:  “No.  Kids are fun.  It’s adults who are sometimes whiny.”

(As told by one blossoming, growing-in-wisdom, 15 year old boy…)

Respectfully…

AR

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the example of carlos

Fifa-World-Cup-Brazil-2014-e1396712263296So once again in recent weeks, we’ve witnessed the many bold, (for lack of better words) in-your-face comments on cyberspace — some by us, some by professional politicians and editorialists.  I am always a bit taken back by the many who justify such passionate vitriol, typically in the name of justice for some but rarely justice for all.  We seem to elevate who is in need of justice… who is a victim… and who actually deserves respect; then in turn, we justify injustice or disrespect to another.  I don’t always get that.  We simply don’t know how to treat all people well.

I continued to ponder that quandary while watching yet another World Cup match, and then I saw the story told by both ESPN and USA Today about young Carlos Alberto Junior, a 27 year old soccer fan living in Sao Paulo, Brazil — in a story which instantly put life in a far better perspective…

Carlos has been deaf since birth.  He loves soccer — and especially the World Cup.  One of his favorite memories, in fact, is of the 2002 World Cup, in which he watched Ronaldo’s Brazil triumphantly score.  “I remember the 2002 World Cup.  That was an excellent game!  Ronaldo scored the goal.  With his stylish hair he did the goal dance, and all the players ran to hug Ronaldo.  I remember this move, the dance, and Ronaldo’s hair.  That was great!  I got really emotional with this move.”

Carlos, however, also has Usher’s syndrome, a genetic condition that causes one’s sight to dim over time.  Since that 2002 Cup, Carlos has gone blind, only able to discern dim shapes and shadows.  Brazil’s 2002 competition is not only one of his favorite memories, but also one of his last visible memories.

Knowing how much Carlos loves soccer and his beloved Brazil, Carlos’s friend, Hélio Fonseca de Araujo, a sign language instructor, wanted to help Carlos experience the excitement surrounding this year’s competition.  He created a mini, maneuverable soccer field to scale, using cardboard, felt, paint, and plastic goals.  During the games, watching the television, Fonseca de Araujo then guides Carlos’s hands on the mini field, to indicate where the ball is.  At the same time, Fonseca de Araujo’s wife, Regiane Pereira, also an interpreter, sits behind Carlos and uses hand movements upon his back to relate play-by-play of the match.  Observing their means of communication is fascinating to say the least.  As ESPN meaningfully articulates, “From the national anthem to the player introductions to the ebbs and flows of the match, this is how Carlos experiences the World Cup.”  To see how he experiences a goal by Brazil is even more beautiful.  His cheers are no less joyful… no less resilient… no less.

Says Fonseca de Araujo, “It was the same emotion of any other person who could actually see the goal.  He celebrated.  He jumped up and down.  He yelled and screamed.  It was something unique.”

As Carlos says in regard to his way of watching the World Cup, “I remember I had a sad life.  I was always lonely.  I met Hélio and his wife, Regiane, and they started to help me.  It is a true friendship that will last.  They are great friends.  They helped me and made me grow.  God bless their life!”

There is no focus on being a victim or on limited injustice.

There is a focus on the positive.

There is a focus on growth.

And there is a focus on how to treat all people well.

Thank God for the example of Carlos.

Respectfully…

AR

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slippery slope

p_18_p_2021Many of us heard the clamoring calls in response to the court’s decisions last week:

From the Daily Kos:  “Here’s that Hobby Lobby slippery slope in action…”

From The Week:  “Hobby Lobby will not lead us down a slippery slope of religious exemptions.”

And from Hillary Clinton:  “This is a really bad slippery slope.”

Allow the Intramuralist an instant reaction.  I agree; we’re on a “slippery slope” — a downward, digressing slide.  Allow my second thought…

When any of us are on a slope or a slide, all we can discern is one thing for certain:  we are sliding.  That’s it.  We can’t immediately comprehend when the slide begins nor how fast we are going; we’re also not always sure of the end until we actually fall into the mucky pit.  On any slide, all we know for certain is that we’re sliding.

Far too often, however, we are misled by our own knowledge, experience, and resulting emotion.  That combination then leads us to declarations which may or may not be true.  For example…

Consistent with many American households brimming with ample testosterone, video games are plentiful in my semi-humble abode.  Initially, I was comfortable with all of the games in our home.  There’s just something about Mario, Luigi, and that cute, little, green Yoshi character that make even the adult smile (… and sometimes quietly partake, when no one else is looking, of course…).  

As the years passed, no less, my boys moved from the Mario Bros. to Madden’s NFL, enjoying increased adult, athletic competition.  After a few years more, they then entered a new genre, playing popular games such as “Call of Duty” and “Assassin’s Creed”… those beat ‘em up, shoot ‘em up, oh-so-ethical games.  (Ugh.)

I’ll be very honest.  I don’t like them.  I don’t like those games.  I also don’t like that my boys like them.  And while the older boys entered this genre via the seemingly more innocent Star Wars “Battlefront” series, when they began playing a game that actually had the word, “assassin,” in it, I loudly declared that my family is now on a “slippery slope.”  Loudly.  Boldly.  And dare I also add… arrogantly.

Yes, we were — are — on a slippery slope via virtual video scenarios.  But when did the slope begin?  … with only the entrance to the violent genre?  … before that? … with the adult athletic competitions?  … or with the initial introduction of video games in our household — albeit disguised nicely due to the cuteness of that Yoshi?

My point, friends, is that we declare the slippery slope when we’re already sliding; we are not good at recognizing its commencement.  We claim the onset in so many areas — from birth control to “Call of Duty”… from the sanctity of marriage to the sanctity of life… Yet where were the clamorous critics when the callousness evolved in the decades prior?  I do not mean to be insensitive in any way to those among us who have unfortunately experienced such a painful scenario; my point is simply that we conveniently decide the onset of the slide, often negating or ignoring previous events that obviously contributed to the digression.

Note that in our household this month, soccer continues to dominate our time and television.  Hence, my older boys have been immersed in their video game, EA Sports FIFA World Cup for their XBOX 360, reverting to athletics instead of assassins.

To this parent, that reverting is refreshing.

Respectfully…

AR