mandela

Isn’t it interesting, when someone passes away, how so many seem to rush to claim him as “one of our own”?

 

When we observed even the anniversary of JFK’s death 2 and a half weeks ago, politicians and pundits and authors and activists again averred how Kennedy would undoubtedly be a staunch liberal leader or would have converted to strict conservatism if still alive today.  As initially addressed here, JFK advocated for a variety of positions, none wholly consistent with either contemporary party’s platform.

 

When respected “Fast & Furious” actor, Paul Walker, passed away in a tragic accident 2 weeks ago, fans rushed to express their adoration in their grief.  The massive outpouring made me wonder if Walker felt that strong connection with so many fans when still alive.

 

Once more, no less, in the death of former South African leader, Nelson Mandela, we see the inherent claims of Mandela being “one of our own.”

 

Mandela was unique…  an educated man… originally embracing non-violent protests… for a time associated with communism… serving 27 years in prison… working to extinguish apartheid, South Africa’s intentional system of racial segregation… becoming president… inviting other parties to help him govern… promoting forgiveness… mediating between other nations — such as between Libya and the United Kingdom in regard to the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103… developing a full and free democracy in his country… advocating for charity… respected by many… inspiring even more…

 

On par with Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., Mandela was one of the great moral leaders of the past century.  His significant, perceived positive, global influence is considered comparable to Churchill, Reagan, and FDR.  His consistent message of unity and forgiveness in a racially-charged world spoke volumes.

 

After passing away at 95 last Thursday, many have seemed quick to identify with Mandela, claiming him as their so-called own.  The challenge is that to identify with him, one must not only weigh — but also practice — the wisdom within the complete spectrum of his teaching.  In other words, his message of racial reconciliation is hollow without the accompanying forgiveness and humility.  To identify with the man means to believe and practice his actual words…

 

I stand here before you not as a prophet, but as a humble servant of you, the people.

 

Money won’t create success; the freedom to make it will.

 

A good leader can engage in a debate frankly and thoroughly, knowing that at the end he and the other side must be closer, and thus emerge stronger. You don’t have that idea when you are arrogant, superficial, and uninformed.

 

I detest racialism, because I regard it as a barbaric thing, whether it comes from a black man or a white man.

 

Does anybody really think that they didn’t get what they had because they didn’t have the talent or the strength or the endurance or the commitment?

 

I was not a messiah, but an ordinary man who had become a leader because of extraordinary circumstances.

 

Unlike some politicians, I can admit to a mistake.

 

With the wide number who claim to either identify with or revere Nelson Mandela mightily, we should perhaps first take stock of his words, humbly recognizing that some of his words may subtly — or sharply — rebuke us instead.

 

Respectfully,

AR

together

Funny how there are some stories that are retold through the centuries with little question of actual occurrence due to widespread acceptance of the inherent wisdom…

 

David was up at the crack of dawn and, having arranged for someone to tend his flock, took the food and was on his way just as Jesse had directed him.  He arrived at the camp just as the army was moving into battle formation, shouting the war cry.  Israel and the Philistines moved into positions, facing each other, battle-ready.  David left his bundles of food in the care of a sentry, ran to the troops who were deployed, and greeted his brothers.  While they were talking together, the Philistine champion, Goliath of Gath, stepped out from the front lines of the Philistines, and gave his usual challenge.  David heard him.  The Israelites, to a man, fell back the moment they saw the giant — totally frightened.

 

But David, the youngest, smallest — thought to be weakest — was not afraid…

 

David took off from the front line, running toward the Philistine.  David reached into his pocket for a stone, slung it, and hit the Philistine in the forehead, embedding the stone deeply.  The Philistine crashed, facedown in the dirt.  That’s how David beat the Philistine — with a sling and a stone.

 

Something about that account makes me smile and cheer every time.  There’s something about David’s underdog status that feels good… something about the victor who no one simply expected to be there… something about not taking success for granted… something about faith and hard work and humility that’s attractive…

 

On Friday night my sons’ high school played in the Division II football state championship.  They had never won before; in fact, in the school’s 132 year history, they had been to the playoffs only 4 times, netting a single game victory.  The school had no championships in any sport.

 

We were playing a team known for their athletic tradition, a team coached by a well-respected man, whose son plays in the NFL — a team boasting several starters fully expected to also succeed at the collegiate level.  Noting the massive size of several of their lineman, the Goliath comparisons came quickly.

Imagine then our humble glee when on this freezing, snowy night, shockingly, our boys raced to a 34-0 halftime lead.

 

As the clock ticked away — and victory became more sweetly apparent, the thousands of us that travelled the approximate 4 hours, began to catch a glimpse of what we had actually grasped…

 

Here was a group of young men — young, impressionable teens — who were about to taste something that could propel their confidence to new levels, arguably spurring them on, boosting their self-confidence for whatever’s next in life…

 

They worked hard.  They believed in one another.  They encouraged one another and held each other accountable.  They played and prayed together.  They had a vision and belief in what they could accomplish together, united, as a team! … not this me-oriented thinking that is so prevalent in today’s society within leadership and perceived success.

 

The student body, staff, administration, and community all then rallied around them.  Friends from outside the community — former residents, adjacent school families — they rallied around.  There was no negativity, no permeating criticism, no dwelling on what we weren’t or aren’t or have never been; rather, there was a community focus on together, who we could be and what we could accomplish.  Let’s cheer these growing young men on… in celebration… together.  Amazing what unity will do… how good it feels.

 

There’s just something about the victor who no one simply expected to be there… something about not taking success for granted… something about faith and hard work and humility that’s attractive…

 

Well done, boys.  Well done.

 

Respectfully,

AR

could you keep an open mind?

Rarely do I simply repost the words of another, but there are aspects of the below piece that strike me as profound.  It’s written by Kirsten Powers, a liberal Democrat I’ve admired for years.  Powers is a nationally known contributor to USA Today, Newsweek, FOX News, and The Daily Beast.  Here is an edited version of her story, sharing how of all the people surprised by her decision to become a Christian, it was she who was most surprised…

 

Just seven years ago, if someone had told me that I’d be writing for Christianity Today magazine about how I came to believe in God, I would have laughed out loud. If there was one thing in which I was completely secure, it was that I would never adhere to any religion—especially to evangelical Christianity, which I held in particular contempt…

From my early 20s on, I would waver between atheism and agnosticism, never coming close to considering that God could be real. After college I worked as an appointee in the Clinton administration from 1992 to 1998. The White House surrounded me with intellectual people who, if they had any deep faith in God, never expressed it. Later, when I moved to New York, where I worked in Democratic politics, my world became aggressively secular. Everyone I knew was politically left-leaning, and my group of friends was overwhelmingly atheist.

 

I sometimes hear Christians talk about how terrible life must be for atheists. But our lives were not terrible. Life actually seemed pretty wonderful, filled with opportunity and good conversation and privilege. I know now that it was not as wonderful as it could have been. But you don’t know what you don’t know. How could I have missed something I didn’t think existed?

To the extent that I encountered Christians, it was in the news cycle. And inevitably they were saying something about gay people or feminists. I didn’t feel I was missing much. So when I began dating a man who was into Jesus, I was not looking for God. In fact, the week before I met him, a friend had asked me if I had any deal breakers in dating. My response: “Just nobody who is religious.”

 

A few months into our relationship, my boyfriend called to say he had something important to talk to me about. I remember exactly where I was sitting in my West Village apartment when he said, “Do you believe Jesus is your Savior?” My stomach sank. I started to panic. Oh no, was my first thought. He’s crazy.

When I answered no, he asked, “Do you think you could ever believe it?” He explained that he was at a point in life when he wanted to get married and felt that I could be that person, but he couldn’t marry a non-Christian. I said I didn’t want to mislead him—that I would never believe in Jesus.

 

Then he said the magic words for a liberal: “Do you think you could keep an open mind about it?” Well, of course. “I’m very open-minded!” Even though I wasn’t at all. I derided Christians as anti-intellectual bigots who were too weak to face the reality that there is no rhyme or reason to the world. I had found this man’s church attendance an oddity to overlook, not a point in his favor.

As he talked, I grew conflicted. On the one hand, I was creeped out. On the other hand, I had enormous respect for him. He is smart, educated, and intellectually curious. I remember thinking, What if this is true, and I’m not even willing to consider it? 

 

A few weeks later I went to church with him… [when] the pastor preached. I was fascinated… Each week, [Pastor Tim] Keller made the case for Christianity. He also made the case against atheism and agnosticism. He expertly exposed the intellectual weaknesses of a purely secular worldview. I came to realize that even if Christianity wasn’t the real thing, neither was atheism.

 

I began to read the Bible… After about eight months of going to hear Keller, I concluded that the weight of evidence was on the side of Christianity. But I didn’t feel any connection to God, and frankly, I was fine with that. I continued to think that people who talked of hearing from God or experiencing God were either delusional or lying. In my most generous moments, I allowed that they were just imagining things that made them feel good.

Then one night in 2006, on a trip to Taiwan, I woke up in what felt like a strange cross between a dream and reality. Jesus came to me and said, “Here I am.” It felt so real. I didn’t know what to make of it. I called my boyfriend, but before I had time to tell him about it, he told me he had been praying the night before and felt we were supposed to break up. So we did. Honestly, while I was upset, I was more traumatized by Jesus visiting me.

 

I tried to write off the experience as misfiring synapses, but I couldn’t shake it. When I returned to New York a few days later, I was lost. I suddenly felt God everywhere and it was terrifying. More important, it was unwelcome. It felt like an invasion. I started to fear I was going crazy.

 

I didn’t know what to do… I was desperate. My whole world was imploding. How was I going to tell my family or friends about what had happened? Nobody would understand. I didn’t understand. (It says a lot about the family in which I grew up that one of my most pressing concerns was that Christians would try to turn me into a Republican.)

I remember walking into the Bible study. I had a knot in my stomach. In my mind, only weirdoes and zealots went to Bible studies. I don’t remember what was said that day. All I know is that when I left, everything had changed. I’ll never forget standing outside that apartment on the Upper East Side and saying to myself, “It’s true. It’s completely true.” The world looked entirely different, like a veil had been lifted off it. I had not an iota of doubt. I was filled with indescribable joy.

 

The horror of the prospect of being a devout Christian crept back in almost immediately. I spent the next few months doing my best to wrestle away from God. It was pointless. Everywhere I turned, there he was. Slowly there was less fear and more joy. The Hound of Heaven had pursued me and caught me—whether I liked it or not.

 

Respectfully…

AR

losing faith

What happens when people lose faith in the one who calls the shots?

 

I wonder what happens when the people’s trust erodes…

… when results fail to match unquestionably high expectations…

Can the leader still be effective?  Can the leader still lead? …

 

In Houston, once hoping to soar to unprecedented professional heights this season, the Texans found themselves losing multiple games and their leader, Texan QB, Matt Schaub, throwing multiple interceptions.  Once revered as the beloved franchise quarterback, Schaub found himself instead the target of weekly, intensifying boos.  While Schaub was mercifully bailed out by an injury that deemed him unable to play, now healthy, he has not returned to the starting lineup.  So even though his peers in Philadelphia, New York, and Cleveland provide some semblance of solace, a clear majority of people no longer trust Schaub to do his job well.

 

In Washington, once buoyed by the support of far more than party loyalists, the administration found the Obamacare rollout severely flawed and their leader, Pres. Obama, initially repeating promises that were untrue.  You cannot automatically keep your insurance if you like it, and you may not be able to keep your doctor or hospital either.  Once revered as the strong leader of the Democratic Party, Obama is finding himself instead the target of intensifying criticism.  In a new CNN/ORC International Survey, an unprecedented 53% of Americans now believe that Obama is not honest and trustworthy.  While the Intramuralist’s perspective is certainly limited (and also somewhat biased because I believe Obamacare to be unwise, massive policy), my sense is Obama is hoping to be mercifully bailed out by a website that finally works.  My sense is he would also like to be mercifully bailed out by a press that changes the subject.  Nonetheless, a clear majority of people, at least at this point, no longer trust Obama to do his job well.

 

At the North Pole (sorry), once alive and well in the imaginations of young children,  Santa Claus has found himself competing with the latest technology and fingertip information that threatens to pierce the reality of his fictional existence.  Once revered as the jolly old icon of the Christmas season, Santa is finding himself the target of intensifying disappointment, as he is clearly unable to meet all the desires and demands of each child — and as we live in a world continually drained by materialistic expectations.  Just last week, this semi-humble blogger only added to the growing disappointment, as when my young son asked to pause and take his picture with the bearded fellow at the local mall, I immediately dissuaded him.  “He charges money for that.”  To which my impressionable young son replied, “Why would Santa charge money?”  An arguable majority of children no longer trust Santa to do his job well.

 

What happens when our trust in our leaders erodes?  … when results fail to match expectations?  What happens when we no longer have faith in their performance? … and… or… who they are?

 

Granted, there’s far more to the NFL than the Texans quarterback, far more to Washington than the White House, and far more to Christmas than Santa Claus.

 

Come to think of it, Santa doesn’t have anything to do with faith.

 

Thank God.

 

Respectfully,

AR

false integrity

Gotta’ love our leaders.

 

We choose men and women to lead us because of their ideas and intelligence, courage and creativity.  However, sometimes all of the above veil integrity — or the lack of it.  Yes, sometimes we perceive our leaders’ actions or orations as so brilliant, we forget that actions and orations cannot substitute for what is deeper — for those motivations of the heart and soul that are often repackaged and massaged for the world to see in a more pleasing form, even if the ethical motivations don’t truly exist.  In other words, perceived integrity is often false; it isn’t authentic.  It’s more a personal marketing scheme.

 

The challenge is that we aren’t capable, consistent barometers of discerning those schemes.  In fact, I often wonder if it is our emotions that cause us to assume integrity… because a leader makes us feel a certain way when they speak — when they do something good — they must be a good man… they must be a good leader.  And so we allow their ideas and intelligence and courage and creativity to cover up for what most needs to exist.

 

I had to laugh seeing such on the NBA floor last week.  And truthfully, since the context was on the hardwood and not affecting so many people or policy, it was far easier to chuckle and almost applaud the creativity; the creativity was brilliant!

 

According to USA Today:

 

With eight seconds remaining and the Nets with no timeouts left, [Brooklyn Nets coach Jason] Kidd subbed in Mirza Teletovic for Tyshawn Taylor.  As Taylor headed to the bench, he bumped into Kidd, spilling Kidd’s soda on the court.  The liquid needed to be cleaned up, giving the Nets, who were trailing 97-94, time to huddle and draw up a three-point shot…

According to amateur lip-readers, Kidd said, “Hit me,” to Taylor…

“Sweaty palms,” Kidd explained after the game. “I was never good with the ball.”

Taylor also tried to say it was an accident.  “It might ice a free-throw shooter and be a timeout when you don’t have one.  But that wasn’t the thought process,” Taylor said.

 

So Kidd can’t lead his team within the rules, so he designs a masterful way to accomplish what he desires anyway — and then, lies about the incident.  He’s dishonest in all immediate, succeeding interviews.  Even more remarkable, the player involved, Tyshawn Taylor, a loyal follower of this leader, also lied in all immediate, succeeding interviews.  He even exasperated the lies, saying, “Coach was in my way…’Coach, get outta my way, bro.’”

 

Again, the leadership is brilliant!  Way to be creative!  Way to accomplish what you feel needs to be accomplished!  Way to get your loyal followers to toe the party line!  Ah, but the end result is more important than the integrity of the process.  I wonder if that’s wise.

 

I wonder where else that happens… when else that happens…  when integrity is so brilliantly veiled by actions and orations… when those actions and orations cover all else up… when we are seduced into thinking that’s wise leadership… when we applaud the creativity because of how we feel… when we are again inaccurate barometers of authenticity.

 

At least Jason Kidd’s intentional deception was caught on camera.  My sense is that such isn’t always the case.

 

Respectfully,

AR

thanksgiving

I wrote this post about Thanksgiving… about all we have to be thankful for… and I had lists of all the places and spaces where we need to humbly submit ourselves and give God thanks… where we need to recognize we’re not in control… where we need to give credit to the power and presence that designed us, created us, and still empowers us today — thanking him for all the awesome things which he has so generously bestowed upon us.

 

We can be such an arrogant people.  I can be arrogant!  We like to do so many things for ourselves… we think we’re so smart… think we’re so intelligent… think we have no need of any higher power.  Geepers.  I am learning.  I hope we all are.

 

My encouragement today is thus simple:  slow down.  Pause.  Quit filling up all the empty moments of our day with app’s and applications and people and policy and effort and activity.  Quit investing in criticism.  Take time instead to be still… to rest… to think… to think of others… to give thanks.

 

My related “a-ha” is that we’re typically too busy to give thanks; our busy-ness actually gets in the way.  We spend so much time doing — even doing good things — but all that doing keeps us from giving thanks to someone bigger than ourselves.

 

So slow down.  Give thanks.  Let’s be intentional.

 

Happy Thanksgiving… with an awareness of the incredible blessing God makes available to all…

 

Joyfully,

AR

origin of thanks

[The primary content of this post first ran on Thanksgiving Day, 4 years ago.  In preparation for the week ahead — and noting all that currently surrounds us, all that makes us busy, and all the news that tempts us to shift our focus to things of lesser importance — my sense is it would be wise to remember the origin of Thanksgiving… and put such into personal practice…]

 

After a treacherous transatlantic voyage during the fall of 1620, the adventurous Pilgrims landed at what is now Cape Cod, Massachusetts.  Their original destination was somewhere in the northern part of Virginia; however, stormy winds blew them off course.  The succeeding winter on the Cape was then grueling and harsh.  Few families survived in tact.

 

The following summer, when life abounded with a fresh hope and rich harvest, the Pilgrims hosted the first Thanksgiving dinner in America.  Legend has it there was no turkey, but there was pumpkin… boiled, I believe.  According to the account written by the leader of the colony, the feast included ducks, geese, venison, fish, and berries.  (No disrespect to the beloved Pilgrims, but I much prefer fresh baked rolls, mashed potatoes, and apple pie… lots of it…)

 

The original feast was designed to thank God for his unmerited favor.  After surviving the rigorous winter and witnessing significant death in their close community, the settlers were grateful for a life in which goodness still obviously existed.

 

In 1789, after approving the Bill of Rights, Congress then “recommended a day of public thanksgiving and prayer” to thank God for blessing America.  On November 26th of that year, President Washington declared said day as the first national day of prayer and thanksgiving, proclaiming:  “Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be.  That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks…”

 

75 years later, after the Civil War ended, President Lincoln established the last Thursday in November as a day to acknowledge “the gracious gifts of the Most High God,” recognizing that “No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things.”  Every president repeated this acknowledgement until 1941 when Congress officially made Thanksgiving a national holiday.

 

The Intramuralist finds it interesting that according to Wikipedia, “Thanksgiving is now primarily identified as a secular holiday.”

 

Perhaps the practice is now secular, but if Wikipedia is accurate, cultural developments have altered the original meaning of the Thanksgiving celebration.  The original meaning is to give God thanks.

 

As the retailers and some irreverent quietly creep increasingly more into the sacredness of the celebration — all the more as we see the day approaching — may our motive this week be simple and pure…  to slow down… following in the footsteps of Washington and Lincoln…

 

… and thanking God for his blessing… for his gifts, available to all.

 

Respectfully,

AR

JFK

Over the course of the past week, we’ve heard many tributes, remembrances, and questions about the life and death of JFK.  Friday was the 50th anniversary of those shots reportedly heard ‘round the world, the assassination of Pres. John F. Kennedy.

 

I never heard those shots.  As a person whose most significant ‘I-remember-when’ moments are 9/11 and the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger, my thoughts on JFK stem most from the impressions shared by others.  I was not alive on that fateful November day in ’63.

 

Hence, with all due respect to the many who have far more knowledge than me, I thought it would be interesting to share/wrestle with my perspective.  Let me be more specific…  I thought it would be interesting to share my perspective, which I know is limited and incomplete.  (Wouldn’t we be more respectful and respected if we each knew and acknowledged an incomplete perspective??)  My observations are as follows:

 

JFK seemed iconic…  There seemed more fascination with him than with other presidents.  Maybe the iconic status manifested itself due to being so young… maybe so handsome.  Maybe it was that he had such young, playful children in the White House.  Maybe being the first Catholic president was a factor.  Maybe, too, his iconic status was more cast and preserved via his shocking, untimely death.

 

The nation didn’t know him…  Granted, in the days before TV and celebrity were synonymous — far before Facebook — much less was known about our leaders.  Kennedy was the first president regularly seen on TV, but there were some things people didn’t see.  The rumors of Marilyn Monroe, others, the unfaithfulness… I don’t know what really happened there.  I don’t know how faithful or ethical the man really was.  I don’t think those that were alive then truly knew either.

 

His liberal affiliation didn’t mean what it means now…  Many seem to enjoy the debate as to whether Kennedy would be a liberal or conservative if alive today — not this semi-humble blogger.  I am far more interested in thought-provoking dialogue.  No doubt JFK supported several stereotypical, liberal positions, such as Keynesian Econ (an Intramuralist “egad”) and the expansion of Social Security.  But Kennedy also advocated for more conservative ideas, such as limited government, a reduction in taxes for the wealthiest Americans, and more autonomy given to cities and states.  While it seems incomprehensible to suggest JFK would definitely be a strong Democrat or definitely lean Republican, the reality is that Kennedy was a moderate.  What he stood for 50 years ago is not wholly in sync with the current platform of the Democratic National Committee.

 

And my final, perhaps most poignant observation about Pres. John Fitzgerald Kennedy…  We’ve forgotten what he taught us.  Kennedy shared some incredible wisdom which has been generously repeated over the past 5 decades…  “ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.”  How refreshing in a debt-ridden country that appears plagued with a growing entitlement epidemic!

 

But Kennedy taught the generations one more thing, more in his death than his life — one thing I believe we’ve forgotten far too quickly.  We’ve forgotten that we’re vulnerable… that we’re not in control of all things.

 

People die — sometimes in their prime.  Too many are taken so early, and no matter their power or influence or money or other earthly matters, we are a vulnerable people.  We are not God.  We are not in control.  If we truly realized our own vulnerability — and yes, limitations — my sense is we’d be wiser… nicer… more respectful, compassionate, and empathetic.  We’d be kinder, humbler, and better.  We certainly would not be so arrogant.

 

Like I said, there are people who have far more knowledge than me.

 

… working on that humility… always before knowledge…

 

Respectfully,

AR

why/when race matters

Tell me:  why does skin color matter?  When does it matter?

 

In an interview with the BBC to promote her new film, “The Butler” — a film about race relations — Oprah Winfrey discussed race relations and the White House.

 

The BBC interviewer asked:  “Has it ever crossed your mind that some of the treatment of Obama and the challenges he’s faced and some of the reporting he’s received is because he’s an African American?”

 

Noting the celebrity status and thus power of Winfrey, there is ample credence to the notion that Oprah’s public relations team most likely provided this question to the interviewer beforehand.  Nonetheless, here is Oprah’s response:

 

“Has it ever crossed my mind? … Probably it’s crossed my mind more times than it’s crossed your mind.  Just the level of disrespect.  When the senator yelled out, ‘You’re a liar’ — remember that?  Yeah, I think that there is a level of disrespect for the office that occurs, and that occurs in some cases and maybe even many cases because he’s African American.”

 

While the timing of Winfrey’s public assertion may have more to do with her theatrical release, it’s interesting indeed that the claim comes simultaneously with Pres. Obama’s approval ratings sinking steeply.  With the flawed rollout of Obamacare and the recognition of unknowns, mistruths, and broken promises, Obama has plummeted to approval numbers comparable to Bush after Katrina and Bill after Monica (… sorry, that line flowed off the keyboard just a little too quickly).

 

But my point today is not about approval numbers.  In fact, my personal impression is that our leaders and their staffs pay far too much attention to polls and perceptions; too much decision-making is guided by their perceived image.  My question today centers more around race.

 

Regardless of whether the question was posed prior by her own PR staff, I have little doubt Oprah said what she meant and meant what she said.  She believes that Pres. Obama has been disrespected many times because he is black.  In other words, she believes skin color matters.

 

I struggle with that.  I don’t struggle because I disagree with her.  No, the reality is that there exist people in this country who dislike and disagree with this President and his policies solely because he’s black.  The reality is equally true, however, that there exist people in this country who like and agree with Obama and his policies solely because he’s black.  Neither of those scenarios represents objective, critical thinking.  In both select situations — regardless of opposition or advocacy — skin color matters.

 

Where I hesitate is when a person asserts a definitive conclusion from a limited vantage point… when someone such as Oprah concludes a motive exists, which may be based more on their own passion and opinion than on a complete and comprehensive perspective.  For example, when the congressman yelled, “You lie,” what logical, irrefutable information do we have that ties the assertion of falsehood to the color of Obama’s skin?  Note that no president should ever be chastised like that; no leader should be chastised publicly, so disrespectfully.  Let us also note that the comment was in response to an Obamacare promise, a subject which we are painfully now learning was enacted with some significant mistruths.

 

It is well known here that I believe the Affordable Care Act, in totality, to be an unwise law.  It’s too big, too costly, and too prone to corruption.  Let me also state unequivocally that my perspective has zero to do with the color of anyone’s skin.

 

Race does matter in our country.  It matters to many blacks, whites, Hispanics, you-name-it.  We don’t always know why.  But unknown to Oprah, we can’t tell you when.

 

Respectfully,

AR

bomb threat

Last week, unfortunately, my son’s school ended up being added to the growing list of schools where someone did something stupid.  Sorry, I don’t really care for the word “stupid.”  Yet with a faint but intentional acknowledgement of the existence of evil on this planet, a bomb threat was communicated to my son’s middle school administrators.  While the school system responded admirably indeed, I continue to stand amazed at all the disruption and distress caused by the foolish actions of one person.

 

Thankfully, the threat was nothing more than an empty call for chaos.  Most students were diverted before the busses ever arrived; the school was then searched, and no actual explosives ever materialized.  School was cancelled, as a separate building was then designated as the pickup point for all affected students.  Thank God the threat was nothing more.

 

But as the mind of the Intramuralist often feels as if it’s continuously circling, there was an additional aspect of this process that couldn’t escape my attention.  It was actually rather amazing… fairly fascinating… not really disturbing, although perhaps so to some… as I was especially struck by the actions of a few of the parents.

 

As we rushed to the school, understandably, several ran.  Several sprinted.  We were eager to swoop up our 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders as quickly as possible.  When we reached the pickup point, we then had to wait in line, offer proper identification, and one of the teachers would bring us our child.  I was fascinated by the frantic few who refused to wait in line.

 

When I arrived, came to a stop, waiting my turn, there was a middle-aged mom who ran up directly behind me.  She paused for a mere moment, and then uttered, “@#%&^!!  I’m not waiting in any line for my kid!”  She then swiftly maneuvered around me and all others who proceeded her, boldly barging to the front of the line.

 

Many times since I’ve thought of that woman.  She had to be at the front of the line.  It didn’t matter that the rest of us were each there for our children, that we, too, were facing similar circumstances, nor that we, too, wanted to ensure the safety of our kids.  To this mom (and a few frantic more), all else was irrelevant.

 

Obviously, her passion was pure.  She was passionate about her kid’s safety.  But it struck me how her own passion — which was beautiful and wonderful and yes, for an excellent cause — allowed her to be blind to the needs and causes of all others.

 

Was she arrogant, as some have suggested?  Maybe, but I don’t think so.  I’m not certain we can discern that via such actions.  Rather, I think she was blind.

 

How often, friends, do we allow passions — which are beautiful and wonderful and yes, for an excellent cause — to blind us to the needs, wants, emotions, and passions of other people?  Is our passion so important that all else pales in comparison? … or should pale?  Is it ok, even for those good causes, that we deem all else irrelevant or insignificant?

 

Is this not once more, an example of how intelligence and wisdom collide?  Where a passionate, excellent cause, even among the intelligent, may blind us to other valid circumstances and concerns?

 

Where are we blind?

 

Last week, unfortunately, my son’s school ended up being added to the growing list of schools where someone did something stupid.

 

Respectfully,

AR