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thanksgiving-worthy

Give-ForgivenessAs we pause to express increased thanksgiving this week — in wake of the U.S. State Dept. issuing a worldwide travel alert late yesterday — it seems a little funny to me to pen some post on some topic — perhaps on how people keep focusing on the specks in others’ eyes without first removing the plank in their own. Pick your topic… ISIS, the Syrian refugees, the political campaigns, the college protestors, or the protestors being angry that Paris stole their perceived spotlight.. really. None seem noble enough to focus upon right here, right now.

I then saw the arrest of an 18 year old young man in Indianapolis yesterday. He faces charges of murder and armed robbery. Follow me here…

On Nov. 10th, at 8:22 a.m., pastor Davey Blackburn returned home from an early morning workout only to find his wife lying unresponsive on the living room floor. She had been shot in the head during a robbery; she died the next morning, after being removed from life support.

Amanda Blackburn, only 28, was also 12 weeks pregnant with the couple’s second child. Her 15 month old son, Weston, was home but not harmed when the murder took place. The scene, the crime… there are few words to describe… it is simply heartbreaking.

And yet today I wish to share her husband’s just, humble, selfless response. This is worth focusing on. This remarkable response is, for lack of better words, “Thanksgiving-worthy”…

“Though it does not undo the pain we are feeling, I was extremely relieved to get the news of the arrest made last night of Amanda’s killer. The investigators have assured me they have a solidly-built case to ensure justice is levied and the process is expedited. The family and I couldn’t be more thankful for the level of compassion and professionalism the IMPD and investigators have shown us through the last couple of weeks. My hope is for 3 things in the weeks and months to come:

(1) That the court system would have wisdom on how to prosecute this man, so that no one else endures the pain Amanda and our family have had to endure because of his actions.

(2) That through all of this and although there will be great consequences for his actions, he would become truly sorry for what he has done and would even begin to experience the life-transforming power of the Grace and Mercy of Jesus Christ.

(3) That Jesus would give me and our family a heart of forgiveness.

Though everything inside of me wants to hate, be angry, and slip into despair, I choose the route of forgiveness, grace and hope. If there is one thing I’ve learned from Amanda in the 10 years we were together, it’s this: Choosing to let my emotions drive my decisions is recipe for a hopeless and fruitless life. Today I am deciding to love, not hate. Today I am deciding to extend forgiveness, not bitterness. Today I am deciding to hope, not despair. By Jesus’ power at work within us, the best is STILL yet to come. Even when I don’t see it, I believe it to be true.”

Here is a man who’s life was changed for the perceived worst in an unexpected instant…
… gut-wrenchingly awful…
… through no fault of his own.

And yet instead of focusing his efforts and energy on any vocal venom directed at who he thought was most responsible — instead of allowing his emotions to drive his decisions — Davey Blackburn focuses on forgiveness, grace, and hope. Yes, this is who a Christian is…

Even when I don’t see it, I believe it to be true.

We could each learn much from Davey Blackburn… we could quit focusing on the planks in others’ eyes; and we could choose a far wiser path… which would include the profoundly beautiful, humble embracing of forgiveness.

His is a story worth sharing.

Respectfully…
AR

Posted on

dividers

Blank folder with multicoloured index tabs at the bottom ready for your header or text

Love that Amazon Prime!

You, too — especially this time of year — can hop on amazon.com and purchase most anything your heart desires. As I strolled through the site recently in hopes of making an increased dent in this year’s Christmas shopping, I found a unique product… one, perhaps, that many seem to already own — and, have already utilized…

It’s a cheap product… but also, seemingly, fairly popular. I speak of none other than, that one thing that’s certainly on everyone’s shopping lists… those, great…

“BIG TAB INSERTABLE PLASTIC DIVIDERS”!!

Excellent. There’s nothing quite like creative, functional office supplies.

They’re big.
They’re insertable.
They’re plastic.
And they’re dividers.

Allow me, if you will, to acknowledge what dividers do…

They’re big…
… meaning you can see them; they’re noticeable.

They’re insertable…
… meaning they go where you put them.

They’re plastic…
… meaning they’re not real nor organic; they’re artificial.

And they divide…
… meaning they purposely split things apart.

Allow me to say such again for emphasis. Dividers are intentionally inserted into a specific spot. The placement is intentional… purposeful. The division is willingly created.

Friends, one of my greatest frustrations in this day and age is how people play the role of dividers. That means they noticeably, intentionally attempt to split us apart.

It is certainly true that we can’t all agree nor align on all things. It is equally true that we shouldn’t be so divided.

There is no reason to be divided, for example, in our assessment that ISIS is evil and attempting to destroy us; we need to eliminate their threat; we need to care for the American people.

There is no reason, too, to be divided in our assessment that the Syrian refugees need to be cared for; people are in need; we need to help. It is also true we can help here or there, and it’s reasonable to pause prior to welcoming potential, possible terrorists into this country.

It bothers me, friends, when persons attempt to identify the enemy in this world as anything other than the “evil” that exists. To identify Republicans as the enemy… Democrats as the enemy… please…

Any who engages in such is foolish and incorrect.

They also have far too much in common with office supplies.

Respectfully…
AR

Posted on

on the side of love

welcome-mat-on-doorstepWhich of the following images is most disturbingly etched in your mind?

  • A still shot outside the Bataclan theatre in Paris, where multiple victims of the radical Islamic terrorists lie. Or…
  • A shot of a 3 year old refugee lying still on the shore, as he and his family fatally attempted to flee the terrorists in Syria.

Both are — in a phrase recently articulated here — by all means, awful. How are we to choose between the two? They are equally heartbreaking… equally awful. Each is evident of all that is not good, not true, and not right in this world.

In recent days, sadly, a “whole lot of awful” has entered into our national conversation. Shocked by the evil on the streets of Paris and in the Egyptian air, we feel helpless; we haven’t been able to halt the radical Islamic terrorists who are determined to destroy us. And so in our shock and horror, we react — sometimes positively, sometimes negatively, sometimes respectfully, sometimes not. Predictably, in our efforts to stop this obvious evil, we gasp and grasp for solution, yet we approach it from varied angles. We then are lured into finding something new about which to argue, something fresh that divides, and finding fault in perceived, opposing perspective. The rhetorical battlefront is now how to handle the thousands of Syrian refugees attempting to flee their country’s civil war. Should they stay or should they go?

You will remember the scenario which was magnified late this past summer… Actually beginning in 2011, Syrians began fleeing their country en masse as a means of survival, with over 300,000 refugees crossing into the European Union in the first half of 2015 alone. The story gained increased global attention when the lifeless body of 3 year old Aylan washed up on a Turkish shore. It was awful. The U.S. has thus sent more than $2.9 billion in aid so far, and along with multiple other countries, the U.S. announced we would welcome up to 10,000 refugees here in our land of the free and the brave. Sec. of State John Kerry then later announced that the administration “will increase the number of refugees the United States is willing to accept in 2017 to 100,000.”

In Friday’s horrific incident in Paris, one of the terrorists possessed a passport from Syria. Just yesterday, in fact, Honduras detained 5 Syrian men with stolen Greek passports, reportedly heading for the United States. Hence, many are now concerned that in the mass welcoming of Syrian refugees on American soil, we will also inadvertently welcome some radical Islamic terrorists. Note that the terrorists have vowed to come here. Remember, too, that 9/11 was executed by only 19 men. It is also admittedly difficult, according to FBI director James Comey, to accurately vet the massive number of current refugees.

Let me state the bold, challenging, underlying reality…

Each of the above perspectives — both the laying out and withdrawing of the metaphorical, refugee welcome mat — is a position that may be motivated by compassion. One is moved most by the refugee in need of safety and security; the other is moved most to ensure the American citizen’s safety and security. Both positions — as difficult and challenging as this is for many to see and admit — are valid. Let me say this again: both positions are valid. Both may be motivated by love. We would all like to be on the side of love.

Want to know what gets my goat, so-to-speak?

The person, legislator, or lawmaker — from either perspective — who says, “Side with me. I am right. Those other people don’t know what they’re talking about. They are motivated by the impure. I am looking out for all people. I am the only one motivated by love.”

The reality is that each perspective is looking out for some people. Thus…

  • Can we quit choosing?
  • Can we quit taking sides?
  • And can we quit labeling only one perspective as loving and compassionate?

Impure motives certainly exist on all sides of this equation. These motives include both fear-mongering and political posturing; they do not include caution and alertness. Let me also propose a related tangent that may be included in the impure motives: (1) the desire to portray all Muslims as terrorists — and (2) the desire to ignore the terrorists’ motivation, which is embedded within Islam. It is inaccurate to identify only one side as good and true and right.

Hence, let’s instead find a way to work together, respect opposing perspective, vet the refugees adequately, pause a little, assume some risk, recognize we can’t eliminate all risk, and love all people well… domestic and abroad, both here and there. Let us never be heartless toward any. Let us also quit encouraging a clearly divisive, taking of sides.

Respectfully…
AR

Posted on

demandingness

60431f5bObviously, there is no bigger topic today than all the ugly that happened in Paris, why it occurred, and how we individually, corporately, and nationally respond. It’s challenging to wrap one’s mind around the killing of the innocent and the motivating evil. While there are moments in my day where the broad scope of the horror is “out of sight/out of mind,” so-to-speak, we cannot escape what happened. We cannot escape the fact that the threat of evil has not been extinguished. We cannot rid ourselves of the probable reality that terror will soon strike again.

Nothing compares to terror.
Nothing compares to evil.
Let me be clear.

I’m still struck by what dominated the news flow the week prior. Those silly red cups (although I now believe there were more upset about the uproar than actually involved in the uproar)… the pitfalls and perceived positives of socialism… Donald Trump’s latest loquacious soliloquy… and what was happening on the college campus. Oh, the college campus… Amid the weekend tragedy, we have omitted extended conversation about the current movement on college campuses across the country.

Before I say more, let me repeat what was briefly articulated above:

Nothing compares to terror.
Nothing compares to evil.
Let me be clear.

Prior to the explosions that rocked our world — and perhaps most significantly, rocked the peace and comfort of our daily lives, finally getting our attention in regard to the evil of ISIS and their adherence to the violence encouraged in the latter chapters of the Qur’an — there was quite the conversation on college campuses across the country.

After initial protests at the University of Missouri and Yale in regard to racial relations, the movement morphed into a question of free speech. What is allowed to be said? What is not? The conversation gained attention and intensity after the VP of the Missouri Student Association said in an interview with MSNBC that she was personally “tired of hearing that first amendment rights protect students when they are creating a hostile and unsafe learning environment.” Missouri students were also encouraged to call police if they heard any “hateful and/or hurtful speech.” [Emphasis mine.]

Just a reminder, according to the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, we are guaranteed the freedom of speech. While there exist some limits on that freedom — such as “falsely shouting fire in a crowded theater” — there is no law against unpopular opinion or distasteful advocacy. People’s feelings do not trump people’s rights.

I think what’s challenging for each of us is how to deal with those whose speech we find insulting. There are a lot of people who say a lot of things that I personally find incredibly inappropriate. Whether that be those who call for the killing of police, the killing of any innocent, or the picketing at a military funeral, I typically find their words to be disrespectful and by all means, awful.

I also respect their right to say what they feel. My then chosen response is to not validate them via my attention.

What becomes further challenging for us, though, is because we do feel a certain way, we sometimes become demanding instead of withholding our attention. We demand that those insulting us be silenced; we demand that their words be squelched. The embedded dilemma within such demands is that we are trumping feelings over rights.

Friends, activism is not a dirty word. Vigorously campaigning to bring about desired change is an activity that can make sense at the right time, right place, and in the right way. However, when activism turns into “demandingness” — when what we want and feel trumps all rights of another — that’s concerning. We can’t see anything but our own angle, passion, and opinion.

Seeing only our own angle, sensing only our own passion, and thus prioritizing our feelings can be a dangerous thing.

Respectfully…
AR

Posted on

peace, violence, & evil

photo-1444388204584-7d0da8506291To think that last week we were talking about polarizing red cups and football uniforms is a little embarrassing today. Witnessing the horror in the streets of Paris wakes us up.

I think it’s vital that what happened is not watered down in any way. I think it is equally vital that relevant facts are not omitted due to motivations of political correctness, sensitivity, etc. If we will not acknowledge who, what, and why it happened, then we will not wrestle with this well…

At least 129 innocent people died at the hands of evil, Islamic terrorists; over 300 more were injured. Sorry to be so blunt; these men were motivated by evil. As one man I’ve long respected said, “Oh, how deceived you are, to think that you can pave your way to paradise with blood from ‘infidels.’ ” Let us continue by being more blunt, no less…

Some say Islam is a religion of peace. Others claim it to be a religion of violence. Both are actually true.

There are two very different aspects to Islam. The early chapters (or “suras”) of the Qur’an — the compilation of Muhammad’s teachings after his death — are more about peace; whereas, the later suras are more about violence. The hostility, violence, controlling nature, and forceful missionary zeal of Islam (“accept Islam or suffer,” for example) developed in Muhammad’s later teachings, especially after he had some significant negative encounters with Jews.

Across the globe, in places where Muslims are more in the minority (such as North America and Europe), Muslims tend to follow the earlier suras — the more peaceful chapters — but where they are in the majority (such as in the Middle East, Afghanistan, Pakistan, etc.), Muslims tend to follow the later, more violent suras.

Hence, the claim that Islam is a religion of peace may be true. Equally true is the assertion that Islam is a religion of violence. ISIS — and the 8 men who mercilessly murdered the men and women in France Friday night — are obviously adherers to the latter chapters of the Qur’an.

Note: these men were not mentally ill. They were not deranged nor drugged up, that we know.

They also were not Jewish nor Christian nor any other organized faith. It is both inane and illogical for any to liken all organized religion to what these evil men did. They killed the innocent because, as said in an online statement, Paris is “the carrier of the banner of the Cross in Europe.”

They added, “Let France and those who walk in its path know that they will remain on the top of the list of targets of the IS”… “and that the smell of death will never leave their noses as long as they lead the convoy of the Crusader campaign.”

The problem is not world religion. The problem is not Judaism, Christianity, nor any other belief system associated with God-honoring, Judeo-Christian values.

 The problem is evil. 

So how do we wrestle with evil? Great question. Sobering, too.

We can’t simply sit down with evil men and ask/order them to stop. Their motivation is not ours; they do not wish for peace. They do desire unity — but only as the different are destroyed. The grave reality is that evil is incredibly difficult — and arguably impossible — to humanly contain and control. I get the stern responses promising justice and revenge. I am just uncertain that such is fully effective.

So what can we do?

I solemnly see no more effective response than falling to our knees — individually and corporately — admitting our inability and brokenness, humbly asking for the good Lord to intervene.

Respectfully…
AR

Posted on

challenging

photo-1446080501695-8e929f879f2bWe’ve had seemingly all sorts of hot-button, available, challenging topics in recent weeks — some of which we have specifically covered — some, alas, that we have not. Allow me a brief, but insufficient review… a review of what’s happening simply in our schools…

A teenage girl was fiercely thrown to the floor by a school resource officer during math class at her Columbia, South Carolina high school. She was texting during class; she was defiant; people blamed people; the student and her desk were flipped forcefully backwards. The video then quickly went viral, and the officer was soon fired…

In Bremerton, Washington (as previously referenced here) a high school football coach has silently prayed on the field since 2008. While leading no one, multiple students joined in. He was suspended two weeks ago for praying publicly — because of the potential causing of teens to be coerced into an undesired religious practice — individual, silent prayer…

At the University of Missouri, racial slurs were directed at the student body president in September. The next month there were two more incidents — one involving a drunken white student at a black gathering — and a second involving a swastika and feces on a bathroom, residence hall wall. With the administration’s response perceived as piddling and pathetic, one student began a hunger strike. The protest gained ample, albeit minimal attention — that is, until last weekend, when the Mizzou football team announced they would not practice nor play until the university’s president resigned. He resigned on Monday. In the following days, threats against those who disagreed with the protests became vehement…

Also at the University of Missouri — related to the protests — there was a student photojournalist who attempted to chronicle the black students’ reaction to the president’s resignation. The journalist, however, was physically restrained from covering the event by multiple students, faculty, and staff. As this confrontation then quickly went viral, one professor who physically restricted press coverage also resigned…

And lastly… one more challenging topic…

At the known-to-be progressive, Township High School District 211 in Palatine, Illinois, there is a student athlete who is a transgender teen, one who was born male but identifies as female. The student has undergone hormone therapy but not gender reassignment surgery; in other words, the student born with a male anatomy still has visible, male parts. Her family sued the school in order to use the girls’ locker room — not a restroom with individual stalls and partitions — but the locker room, with open changing areas, showers, and prominent nudity. The U.S. Dept. of Education’s Office of Civil Rights ruled last week that the school is discriminating against the student by not allowing her to change clothes with the other girls. The district now has 30 days to “negotiate an agreement” to rescind “its discriminatory denial of access to the locker rooms” for transgender students or face up to $6 million in federal funding cuts in addition to a possible criminal investigation. Question: what are the rights of the totality of students?…

This is a mere sampling of current, hot-button conflicts. From Missouri to Yale, other challenging situations are occurring in our schools. Let’s first take a deep breath… a heavy sigh, if you will.

Each of the above causes me to step back, reflect, and refrain from simply, emotionally reacting. It’s too easy to simply react; it’s too easy in these challenging topics to simply go with my first, gut thought — assuming I’m all right — and also amazingly cognizant and compassionate toward all people.

Each of the above also then prompts me to revisit the definition of the word “challenging.” These are challenging topics.

“Challenging” seems the embedded, increased temptation to lose all respect for some people when articulating an opinion or perspective. In other words, we only respect some people; we only stand up for some people; we only love some people groups; we are only compassionate or empathetic toward some. “Challenging” means we only wrestle well with the so-called some.

What a challenging world we live in… yes, for some.

Respectfully…
AR

Posted on

red cups

IMG_5322We have such thin skin, it seems. I mean, what happened to the age old encouragement to let it roll off one’s back? Why do we get so upset? Why do we allow the little things to make us so mad and loud?

I just read another story surrounding the supposed controversy regarding Starbucks’ version of the red Solo cup. This year — as they always alter their warm beverage cups for the upcoming holiday season — instead of producing a cup comparable to past years in which the cup includes a snowflake, starburst, or wintery something, the cup is plain red… plain red. No flourish nor other wintery motif is included.

Yet there were immediately those many who seemingly have way too much time on their hands, who began complaining that the cup was “anti-Christian.” Many feel as if the simplicity of the design is simply the next battle step in the perceived “war on Christmas,” and it’s thus, one more way in which organized religion is removed from society as opposed to balanced and respected.

Then, as if on some social media cue, many more with also seemingly way too much time on their hands, felt it necessary to begin chastising those who were complaining about the cups — finding yet another opportunity to point out the speck in another’s eye as opposed to wrestling with the log in their own.

What is it? Why do people get so upset on both of the supposed stinkin’ sides? Why are they even creating “sides”?

First of all, let’s be objective and honest…

Snowflakes, starbursts, and wintery somethings have zero to do with Christmas. It’s like the school district which now bans Christmas cookies morphed into sleds and Santas — all inanimate icons that society associates with the holiday, but have no correlation with the day’s actual meaning. Christmas is society’s acknowledgement of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Messiah that people waited centuries for. He proclaimed himself as the Son of God, the only true, eternal bringer of hope, peace, and truth into this world.

I think Jesus, therefore, could care less about red cups.

I think Jesus would ask us to instead focus on what’s most important.

“Quit focusing on yourselves! Quit focusing on those who irritate you! Quit focusing on lesser things!”

Ok, so that’s not veritable scripture, but I can kind of hear him say it. 

I can hear Jesus say that the red cups have nothing to do with him. I can hear him say that picking on the people who are mad about the cups also has nothing to do with him. We have such thin skin, friends. We keep being loud about the wrong people and things.

We’ve spoken here about loving God and loving our neighbor. We’ve spoken here about getting ants in our pants and finding reasons and ways to instead only love some people well. We’ve spoken here about ways in which we each minimize God’s hierarchy and influence in the world and foolishly find a way to put someone or something else on the proverbial throne. We’ve spoken here about things that mean far more than the so-called “lesser things.”

Christmas is not about Starbucks nor their popular new Chestnut Praline Latte nor anything fitting with society’s increasingly, creative pumpkin obsession. If we’re going to be loud about anything, my sense is it should not be for or against red paper cups. My sense is it should also not be about people shouting about red cups.

If we are going to be loud, let’s do it most by encouraging one another to find lasting hope, peace, and truth in this world.

Respectfully…
AR

Posted on

separation vs. elimination

photo-1445768593937-05a3f7832b68And then there was this…

Joe Kennedy, an assistant high school football coach in Bremerton, Washington, was placed on paid administrative leave by the school district 10 days ago for bowing in prayer on the field following football games. He was not leading anyone in prayer — simply admittedly, praying himself.

Let me add three pertinent facts:

(1) Students often joined him.
(2) He never asked any students to join him.
(3) Kennedy has been doing this since 2008.

Kennedy was suspended because he engaged in an overt, religious display on the high school football field. He was suspended because he knowingly prayed to Jesus Christ in front of other people on public property — and most likely (although this point is opinion, not fact) someone, somewhere complained. Most likely, someone, somewhere complained that the exercise of Kennedy’s individual rights infringed upon their individual rights. So question: are one person’s rights more important than another?

Just asking, friends.

Said the district, “While attending games may be voluntary for most students, students required to be present by virtue of their participation in football or cheerleading will necessarily suffer a degree of coercion to participate in religious activity when their coaches lead or endorse it.”

In other words, a student’s required presence at the game may subject them to potential coercion to participate in a religious activity; the presence of Kennedy’s practice may pressure a possibly, trepidatious teen. Granted, remember that multiple students have been required to be at those football games for the past 8 seasons — the duration of how long Kennedy has silently, overtly bowed in prayer.

The district added, “Kennedy’s conduct poses a genuine risk that the district will be liable for violating the federal and state constitutional rights of students or others.”

What’s the risk? Is Kennedy harming other people? Are they harmed by being exposed to the seemingly sincere faith of one man even though it is a silent, individual representation? Is that bad?

So let me ask about 47 more questions… ok, just kidding… but here’s where my head is at the moment…

Do you agree with the suspension?

Is this a simple case of the separation of church and state?

Does the separation of church and state ever equate to attempts to eliminate all church in state?

Are we at the point now where school feels a need to prohibit the free exercise of religion?

Would the school district act the same way if it was a yamaka — or burqa?

Should we then outlaw any religious practice, observance, or display?

Are we not mature enough to observe what might be good and right and true of another religion?

Are we so easily seduced by another’s silent, individual behavior?

Do we thus need government to control it for us?

And how, by the way, can we actually tell if another is praying?

Can one discern if another is really communicating with God?

Is that allowed? …or only allowed if no one knows it’s happening?

Oh, so many questions… so many more inconsistencies… We certainly seem to struggle some days with what is good and true and right.

Respectfully…
AR

Posted on

a game?

photo-1413919873593-061d76ec8452

It’s just a game…

Or so we say.

Sometimes my sense is we’ve got the games and the non-games all mixed up. We discern some activities as a form of play or sport — and other activities as serious and life altering — when maybe they belong in the other so-called category. Once again, we have made something more important than perhaps it should be.

I look at the reactions of last weekend — a typical fall weekend featuring a full slate of college and pro football, the start of hockey and the NBA, and including baseball’s annual World Series. Then I look at the downcast reactions of those who lost the game…

From NY Mets manager Terry Collins and pitcher Matt Harvey, both disparagingly blaming themselves for allowing the Kansas City Royals to tie in the 9th inning and eventually win the Fall Classic… to Steelers QB “Big Ben” Roethlisberger after a tough loss, saying he “let this team down” and “this one is on me”… to all the anger and frustration in the Duke/Miami college football match up, in which an 8-lateral, loose, last-second play with all sorts of errors and inefficiencies (absent a meddling marching band) led to a suspension of the officials.

I get it. I mean no criticism of any of the above; I would be equally frustrated, as we are a competitive people. And as one who also enjoys winning, I understand the deep disappointment. I simply wonder if that disappointment has gone too far in us — and we’ve made games into something more than they actually are. We see it in adults. We see it in our kids. We see it in ourselves.

Let me not act, however, as if a game has no value…

Sports are of great value because they are a venue in which God can work on us to teach humility, hard work, and determination. They are a place where we can learn teamwork and selflessness; we learn to support one another. Also, when we fail, we can turn around and try again. We learn, too — hopefully — to turn around and congratulate the person next to us, knowing no one wins forever — and some will never win; not everyone gets a trophy. Sports are a venue in which we can see the manifest reality that life is not “all about me.” The value is actually in the humility and hard work — not in the winning.

That’s hard, I think, for most of us to handle — especially when we see the economic impact of sports and the big business it’s become. Note how “fantasy football,” for example, has even crept into our presidential debates. Millions of dollars are now exchanging hands there; hence, you know that some will declare a need to regulate or be involved (and, uh, get a piece of that). My point is that our games have become far more than games. No, it’s not just a game.

I think of Kansas City Royals pitcher, Edinson Volquez. Volquez started two games en route to the Royals championship last weekend. Yet nine days ago, hours before his first World Series start, Volquez’s father, Daniel, passed away in the Dominican Republic after struggling with heart disease. His family made the decision not to tell Edinson until after he was pulled from game one. Edinson then flew home to the funeral before returning to start Sunday’s final game.

Upon his return, Volquez was greeted overwhelmingly compassionately by his teammates… “Wow… I’ve got a lot of people that really care about what happened to me.”

Said teammate Eric Hosmer, “I know he’s going to be thinking about his dad and we’re all going to be thinking about it. We’re all going to try to do it for everyone on this team — everyone that’s lost a family member on this team. We’re all in this together.”

Teamwork… selflessness…

The Royals were determined to play hard and make people proud — utilizing the humility and hard work that helped them reach this moment. While no doubt winning was their desire, something tells me, too, the Royals realized what was a game — and what was not.

Respectfully…
AR

Posted on

election day

a570af34Today is election day. (For the record, another way to look at such is that there are precisely 371 days until next year’s presidential election. Yes, you did hear me sigh.)

So what’s on the ballot across the country?

Kentucky and Mississippi are each choosing a new Governor, Attorney General, Sec. of State, Auditor, and Treasurer among other state offices.

Ohio has three state issues on the ballot. The most notable one seems “Issue 3,” which would legalize the medical and recreational use of marijuana. Different than in the few states which have previously specified the legal use, cultivation and sale of the drug, Issue 3 would create 10 facilities, known as “Marijuana Growth, Cultivation and Extraction” (MGCE) facilities, with the exclusive commercial rights to grow marijuana. The unwritten asterisk next to the issue is that the 10 facilities will be owned by private investors who have contributed to the campaign. Those benefitting include singer Nick Lachey, basketball legend Oscar Robertson, former Cincinnati Bengal Frostee Rucker, in addition to several others, including a local radio personality and a descendant of President William Howard Taft.

Some believe Issue 3 would grant a monopoly to the producers. Ballotpedia (an excellent, factual resource, by the way) suggests the ballot initiative is more properly called an “oligopoly” — meaning “a system where a few firms are in limited competition with one another and entry into the market is also limited and difficult.”

Note that our Intramuralist audience in Ohio may also be interested in “Issue 2,” which is a constitutional amendment regulating ballot initiatives concerning monopolies. Issue 2 was created in response to Issue 3, in regard to the creation of the 10 facilities which exclusively control commercial production. Should both issues 2 and 3 be approved, Ohio Sec. of State Jon Husted has stated that Issue 2 would invalidate Issue 3. Issue 3 supporters deny such a claim.

Ah, if only legislation and governing was clear and easy.

(…and I wonder why, more and more of us seem to be leaning Libertarian as we age…)

Colorado, no less, is facing a unique school board election in Jeffco Public Schools; such is the largest district (based on enrollment) in the state, located in Jefferson County, a far west suburb of Denver. Following the implementation of a merit pay plan and proposal for to review the AP U.S. History curriculum, many protested against the board during the 2014-2015 school year. Accusations of censorship, wasteful spending, and a lack of transparency were also directed at the current board. From this far out analysis, we cannot tell whether or not the accusations are baseless, valid, or somewhere in between. The bottom line is that the entire school board is up for grabs — and — the current board is being recalled. For lack of better ways to articulate it — and recognizing that our perspective is distant at best — it is difficult to discern what is good and true and right.

Texas has seven state ballot initiatives… including multiple property tax amendments and extending the right to hunt and fish, recognizing such activities as preferred methods for wildlife management.

The State of Washington offers six state ballot measures… more about marijuana and even an initiative addressing penalties for animal trafficking.

In other issues, states, and cities…

Again in Colorado, they will decide two tax issues in regard to marijuana-related issues.
Connecticut schools will hold elections for 42 seats.
Iowa is hosting a special election for the State House Rep. of District 5, which is currently vacated.
Portland, Maine is debating an initiative to raise the city’s minimum wage.
Maine is also voting on whether to increase penalties for violating campaign finance disclosure rules — and whether to adjust political ad disclosure rules.
Portage, Michigan is debating whether they, too, will decriminalize small amounts of marijuana.

Lots of issues… lots of votes. We the people can decide.

Thank God we can still vote in this country. Thank God, too, at least still today, we are a representative democracy.

Respectfully… and off to vote…
AR