Current Event – Page 69 – intramuralist ™

02/28/2017

state of the government ’17

For the last several years, the Intramuralist has published our annual “State of the Government” analysis in conjunction with the president’s annual State of the Union Address. Technically, tonight is not a State of the Union Address.

Pres. Trump is not bucking tradition; SOTU speeches are typically not offered until a sitting president has been in office for at least one year. It is then billed as a reflection of what they’ve done and a look forward at what’s next to do.   So while the President’s speech is instead being called an “address to a joint session” this evening, the Intramuralist would like to proceed with our annual State of the Government analysis…

As repeatedly opined for several years now, the state of our government is “too partisan, too influenced by money, too big, too financially imbalanced, and too far removed from the Constitution.” With a pulse, too, of our current culture, let’s again focus on one embedded angle in that analysis which has become increasingly pronounced. One may remember it’s the singular angle that Pres. Obama acknowledged in his final SOTU last January as a “regret” of his tenure. Obama shared, “The rancor and suspicion between the parties has gotten worse instead of better.”

Exactly.

Too much rancor. Too much division. And too many fueling the division.

Part of the problem with the division seems to be that most of us like to blame anyone other than self. We are not very good at taking a tough look at ourselves, honestly reflecting upon how we individually contribute to the problem. Let’s be clear: the division is a problem… and we are far more comfortable pointing the finger elsewhere.

We point the finger at someone else’s…

Arrogance
Insults
Obstruction
Blindspots
Unwillingness to listen
And their lack of loving all people well.

We fail to look at our own…

Arrogance
Insults
Obstruction
Blindspots
Unwillingness to listen
And our lack of loving all people well.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… if we’re only loving and respecting the person who thinks like we do, then we are only loving and respecting some people well.

When we fail to love and respect all people, we are adding to the division.

In last year’s SOTG address, the Intramuralist shared our earnest, impractical desire to wave some unifying magic wand that could somehow end this growing, disturbing digression; that would no doubt be easiest. But perhaps the best place to start is not with any magic nor fictional tool or exercise that relies on something or someone else.

The best place to start is within each individual — putting away our pointing fingers and looking instead, inside of self.

How have I fueled the division?

Tough question. Tougher answer… albeit necessary.

Respectfully…
AR

02/26/201702/26/2017

freedom of the press infringement

In the polarized, political hot bed many seem to be lying in, the following story got the attention of many this weekend. As reported by Reuters:

“The White House excluded several major U.S. news organizations, including some it has openly criticized, from an off-camera briefing held by the White House press secretary on Friday, representatives of the organizations said.

Reporters for CNN, The New York Times, Politico, The Los Angeles Times and BuzzFeed were not allowed into the session in the office of press secretary Sean Spicer.

Spicer’s off-camera briefing, or ‘gaggle,’ replaced the usual televised daily news briefing on Friday in the White House briefing room. He did not say why those particular news organizations were excluded, a decision which drew strong protests…

Spicer’s decision drew a sharp response from some of the media outlets that were excluded.
‘Nothing like this has ever happened at the White House in our long history of covering multiple administrations of different parties,’ Dean Baquet, executive editor of The New York Times, said in a statement.

‘We strongly protest the exclusion of The New York Times and the other news organizations. Free media access to a transparent government is obviously of crucial national interest.’ “

The intentional omission of the press has troubling First Amendment implications. I feel that today. I felt it also in 2009…

As reported by Judicial Watch, eight years ago:

“Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, announced today that it has uncovered documents from the Obama Department of Treasury showing that the Obama administration, contrary to its repeated denials, attempted to exclude the Fox News Channel (FNC) from a round of interviews with Treasury’s ‘Executive Pay Czar’ Kenneth Feinberg. The documents, which include email exchanges within the Department of the Treasury and between Treasury and White House staff, also provide colorful evidence of an anti-Fox News bias within the Obama White House.

The documents, obtained last week by Judicial Watch pursuant to an October, 28, 2009, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, concern a series of interviews with Feinberg, who served as the Special Master for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) Executive Compensation, on October 22, 2009, organized by the Treasury Department. According to press reports, the Fox News Channel was specifically excluded from joining the pool of reporters which precipitated a backlash among the networks and a reversal by the Obama Treasury Department…

Regarding general anti-FNC bias within the Obama White House in an October 23, 2009, email exchange between Jennifer Psaki, Deputy White House Communications Director and [Asst. Sec. for Public Affairs in the Treas. Dept., Jenni] LeCompte, Psaki writes, ‘I am putting some dead fish in the fox cubby – just cause’. In an email on the night of October 22, 2009, commenting on a report by Fox News Channel anchor Bret Baier noting the exclusion of the network from the pool, Psaki writes to LeCompte and fellow White House colleagues, ‘…brett baier just did a stupid piece on it — but he is a lunatic’.

Deputy White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest bluntly described the White House’s position on Fox News Channel in an October 23, 2009, email to LeCompte: ‘We’ve demonstrated our willingness and ability to exclude Fox News from significant interviews…’”

Personally, with all due respect, I believe the press should have equal access to our government officials, regardless of proven or perceived bias. I also believe our outrage (or lack of it) should be equal, regardless of administration.

Respectfully…
AR

02/23/2017

ragamuffins, judgment, & searching for more

He was born Richard Francis Xavier Manning, born in 1934, passing away almost four years ago.

According to his widely publicized obituary…

“Brennan was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. After attending St. John’s University for two years, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving overseas as a sports writer for the U.S. Marine Corps newspaper. Upon his return, Brennan began a program in journalism at the University of Missouri. He departed after a semester, restlessly searching for something ‘more’ in life. ‘Maybe the something ‘more’ is God,’ an adviser suggested, triggering Brennan’s enrollment at Saint Francis Catholic seminary in Loretto, Pennsylvania.”

Manning — more commonly known as Brennan Manning to his loyal legions of followers and fans — seemed to find that “more.”

He left the Franciscans in the late sixties, joining the Little Brothers of Jesus of Charles de Foucauld, a religious order committed to an “uncloistered, meditative life among the poor.”

According to Wikipedia’s bio: “Manning transported water via donkey, worked as a mason’s assistant and a dishwasher in France, was imprisoned (by choice) in Switzerland, and spent six months in a remote cave somewhere in the Zaragoza desert. In the 1970s, Manning returned to the United States and began writing after confronting his alcoholism.”

By all accounts, Manning was a humbled, faithful man. He began writing… and writing.

He wrote many books, with his most popular being the bestselling The Ragamuffin Gospel, originally published in 1990.

There’s so much in The Ragamuffin Gospel that appealed to me then… and so much I find relevant still now…

“The Ragamuffin Gospel: Good News for the Bedraggled, Beat-Up, and Burnt Out…”

(… sometimes I indeed feel all of the above…)

“… In effect, Jesus says the kingdom of His Father is not a sub-division for the self-righteous nor for those who feel they possess the state secret of salvation. The kingdom is not an exclusive, well-trimmed suburb with snobbish rules about who can live there. No, it is for a larger, homelier, less self-conscious caste of people who understand they are sinners because they have experienced the yaw and pitch of moral struggle…”

(… sometimes it’s challenging to come to grips with the reality of our own moral struggles, much less anyone else’s…)

With all his wisdom, transparent sharing, and encouraging articulations, Color Green Films has actually made a movie about Manning’s life, entitled “Brennan.” The following quote is included; it’s also especially, seemingly relevant now…

“None of us has ever seen a motive. Therefore, we don’t know we can’t do anything more than suspect what inspires the action of another. For this good and valid reason, we’re told not to judge. Tragedy is that our attention centers on what people are not, rather than on what they are and who they might become.”

Read that again, friends…

… none of us has ever seen a motive…

… we can’t do anything more than suspect what inspires another…

… for this good and valid reason, we’re told not to judge.

And yet a lot of us these days — myself included — sometimes feel so capable.

Craving for more wisdom… recognizing the existence of ragamuffins…

Respectfully…
AR

02/21/2017

all good or all evil

You know the ones…

First… maybe my favorite…

He was an adventure-seeking youth…
… talented and professionally skilled.
At a young age, he was ready to leave home and lead others.
Granted, he grew up unaware of his origins, but his life changed forever, as he persevered through family tragedy.
He would then embark on an unprecedented journey. He underwent extensive training and mentoring.
He began to lead others well — a sensitive leader… unquestionably instrumental…
He also had a solid alliance. Granted, he had to battle many — and many of those came at a significant cost.
He continued, however, to persevere.
He did not shy from conflict nor temptation — and successfully overcame both.
His reputation soon became heroic.
Many even began to worship him, believing he would somehow save them. And perhaps, for some, he actually did.
He fought for the people… with the people… by the people.
He was one of us.

The second one…

He was notably different… darker, one might say… maybe a longshot.
He believe he was chosen — maybe the chosen one.
It was sometimes hard to see any heart.
In fact, some believed he was more machine than man…
… twisted and evil.
When his talents first became noticeable, he had to choose between leading for good — or leading for bad.
Power undoubtedly corrupted him.
He quit serving the people.
Thus, many were afraid of him — even those closest to him… if there was anyone close.
I would guess he had few friends. He did have children — in which we saw a glimpse of his heart — but the time was fleeting at best. He led most through intimidation and the instilling of fear.
He had no patience for opposing opinion or insubordination.
He had a distinct look to him, although his suit always seemed to augment his diminished strength and vitality.
For some reason, he seemed ever tormented inside… even if he faked it in his plethora of public interactions.

Maybe I’m wrong here, but my sense is we are so narrow in our view. We look at pundits and politicians, names and nominees — and feel justified in placing them firmly in solely one of the above two categories…

… as if one is all evil and one is all good.

But there’s a problem.

The above descriptions are fictional.

As described by “Wookiepedia: The Star Wars Wiki”, the above depicts Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader… yes, fictional characters.

Friends, we are omitting wisdom when we equate real life people and public personalities with fiction.

There is only one Luke — and only one Vader.

And neither one is real.

Respectfully…
AR

02/19/2017

the great political divide

I did a search recently on “the great political divide.” (And let me say for a mere tangent moment, it’s amazing all the things one can search for on Google…) But I was curious. What would arise?

The results were many, with first headlines as follows…

“In America Today, What Is The Real Political Divide?”
“The New Political Divide”
And “Three Ways Marketers Can Bridge Today’s Great Political Divide”

The following comments from those articles were also insightful…

“A recent PEW Research study found that half of Democrats and half of Republicans actually fear the other party…”
“For years now a majority of Americans have realized that neither of the so-called major political parties represents them.”

And perhaps the one that struck me most this day, from Lindsey Lorel, a senior ad agency strategist in Advertising Age, written three weeks ago…

“… This past election has shown us that America is struggling to find that common ground. At its worst, we’ve witnessed acts of hate. And at its most civil, we’ve seen carefully constructed judgments posted to the echoing walls of Facebook users. The nation is more divided than ever, but as any brand strategist can tell you, for every tension there’s a counter tension. The counter to division is unity, and I believe that in the coming four years, we will see a surge in brands that tell stories of togetherness…”

Friends, please pause before going forward. I have no desire to focus on all the things another person and party is doing wrong; my desire is to focus on those stories of togetherness. But right now, there’s too much finger pointing… too much “look at him” — “look what he/she is doing wrong!”…

That’s it. There’s too much focus on someone else; there is lesser focus on self or what “I” may or may not be doing wrong.

Hence, the great divide isn’t between male and female, Democrats and Republicans, or Trump supporters and Never Trumpers…

Look instead at the plethora of good thinking, wise people, who used to know it wasn’t polite, ok, respectful, or discussion-building to scream, point fingers, and tell or think of everyone else in regard to how wrong they are — those who are falling prey to ending conversation and relationships if another doesn’t feel/think/believe like them. We are falling prey to those who wish to divide. We are choosing ideology and issue over all else. We are damaging relationship.

The great political divide, therefore, isn’t between all those listed above; the great divide is within ourselves. Will we or will we not succumb to the idea that ideology is more important than relationship?

Too many groups and social media gatherings are encouraging division. And too many of us are willingly joining in… “I just can’t talk to a liberal any more… I don’t want anything to do with anyone who supports Pres. Trump.”

Yes, the divide is within ourselves.

One of the articles listed above is from an October article published on WPR.org after first broadcast on Wisconsin Public Radio. Per their site, “Wisconsin Public Radio and WPR.org welcome civil, on-topic comments and opinions that advance the discussion from all perspectives of an issue.”

Civil.
On-topic comments and opinions.
That advance the discussion.
From all perspectives.

Are we valuing all of that?

Or are we falling prey to something lesser?

Yes, the great political divide is within ourselves.

Respectfully…
AR

02/16/2017

what’s hard for one

Some things are too wonderful for me…

“Too wonderful” in the sense that as much as I try to wrap my brain around the why and the how, I still cannot offer a definitive, concrete answer…

… like how the hawk can soar, so smoothly and serenely in mid-air…
… how the leopard, lizard, or chameleon can creatively “change his spots,” so-to-speak, blending into indigenous areas…
… or how the tide rolls so swiftly in, the powerful but simultaneously delicate ebbs and flows of the ocean…

Yes, there are things too wonderful for us — things we do not totally have the answer to — and are incapable of fully describing or comprehending.

One of the things I wrestle with on a more daily basis that I have yet to totally have the answer to is why and how we continually project emotion onto other people — the why and the how in regard to our expectation that all people should somehow feel the same way about all things…

… and if they don’t, they are either wrong or something far less worthy or wise than “me.”

Allow me a brief example, if you will…

I have friends and family for whom specific holidays are hard (… truth is, there are specific days for me that are hard). For some, it’s Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukah, or a specific person’s birthday. This past week, it was Valentine’s Day.

For various reasons — some big, some small, but reasons specific to another person — those days are hard.

I keep wrestling with this idea of loving our neighbors well. And the more I ponder and submit to authorities more omniscient than I, the more I see how perhaps the most pragmatic means of loving our neighbor well is having compassion for others in what’s hard for them. Note that I said “them”… not for me, for someone else, nor anyone down the street.

Loving our neighbor well means being in the trenches with that neighbor, so-to-speak… walking beside them… getting into the down and the dirty… showing compassion — empathy as much as possible… and attempting to truly understand another… especially in what’s hard.

But there’s an added nugget of wisdom we tend to omit: what’s hard for them is not necessarily hard for another. And therefore, loving my neighbor well does not mean I must dismiss the legitimacy of how another responds… to the day, event, or something else.

Yes, with some in the trenches, I share tears of sadness; with others, I share tears of joy. If I am am only willing to share one set of tears, then I am only loving some neighbors well. Tears for one do not preclude tears for the other.

It thus makes little sense to me why we continue to project our emotions onto all others. What makes more sense — at least from seemingly, a perspective of wisdom — is as reasonably as possible, without sacrificing authenticity, empathetically being “all things to all people.” That means loving the one you’re with, albeit potentially through various sets of tears.   Sorry. I said this was hard.

Have you noticed the hawk soaring in mid-air lately? … how smoothly and serenely he soars?

Yes, some things are hard to totally wrap the brain around…

“Too wonderful”… yes, indeed.

Respectfully…
AR

02/07/201702/07/2017

an ode to tom brady (and objectivity)

Let’s face it:
Growing up in Indy, it was kind of hard to like you.
Maybe it’s how Baltimore felt, when their Colts
— the team they had rooted for and relished for 30 years —
(… yes, 30 years…)
Sailed away on that Mayflower in the middle of the night.
One feels justifiably spurned.

In Indy it was all about Peyton…
Tom vs. Peyton.
So many years your Patriots were the hump we couldn’t get over…
The obstacle in our way…
The blocking of what we wanted most…
And I’m not sure that it was because you were
So evil or mean or some other severely negative connotation
(… or that Coach Belichick seems totally unable to smile).
But we couldn’t get what we most wanted,
If you got what you most wanted.

And so it felt disloyal, dishonorable, or dis-something
To root for you…
Or better yet…
To acknowledge how good and incredibly talented you are.

Granted, a few curve balls came our way…
I don’t really know what you did or what your role was
In some of that ambiguous, questionable activity.
Sometimes you seemed dishonest.
But the truth for me is best found in my first phrase:
“I don’t really know.”
My lack of knowing provided one more reason to dispute how gifted you are.

And then came Sunday night:
Super Bowl 51.
Down by a ton of points,
With the Falcons owner already on the sidelines
And champagne bottles moving into the Atlanta locker room,
You did the unthinkable…
You did what hadn’t been done all game long…
You led your team back,
Sending the first Super Bowl ever into OT,
And dramatically won the game.

As my son and I sat there on the couch,
Serious sports fans with eyes glued and jaws dropped,
We both thought the exact same thing:
“This is impressive. Brady is impressive.”

There I said it.
After all these years.
After all these years that my objectivity was skewed…
And I couldn’t see it.
I absolutely could not see it.

And it wasn’t because I’m stupid or ignorant
Or some other insult that my Patriot fan friends have graciously
Withheld from calling me
(at least publicly).
It was because I had other loyalties and reasoning that had gotten in the way —
That had blinded me from seeing any other perspective.

It doesn’t mean I was wrong about everything.
It doesn’t mean I now have to be a fan.
But it does mean that there are
Things I could not see.

I think about the amazing, past calendar year in sports…
Villanova over North Carolina…
LeBron over Stephen…
The Cubbies over the Indians…
And Clemson over Alabama during New Year’s…
All victories that went down to a dramatic, climactic wire…

But if I was so focused on my loyalties and loss,
I would miss the unprecedented contest that each was.
I would miss the objectivity.

Here’s to you, Tom Brady…
To your Patriots and New Englanders, too…
Well done.
You simply played incredibly.
Enjoy your well earned break…

May you bask in the joy of extraordinary accomplishment…
May you find gratitude and humility in the sweetness of success…
And know we look forward to seeing you again next year.

(P.S. Go Colts… Bengals and Packers, too…)

Respectfully…
AR

01/29/2017

“the extremist”

While I’m going out on a bit of a blogging limb here, my guess is that every enthusiastic, active blogger has about 37 different ideas they’re pondering in their head all at the same time. Some develop into immediate posts; others take weeks, months, even sometimes years to formulate into a semi-coherent opinion. (I think my current number stands at 38.)

Hence, for over a year, I’ve been pondering the following post. I’m still not quite finished in its formulation, but it seems there’s a deep truth here — a truth I stumbled upon with a long time friend many months ago. Together we questioned the state of society — the good, bad, ugly, and all that’s in between. It was a great time… so authentic, such a give-and-take with many angles to learn and digest from… excellent, varied perspective… with both of us seeking something better than what we too often witness.

We seek solution… peace… and a “win-win” (Covey Habit #4, by the way).

But in our conversation that fall, we soon stumbled upon a proverbial thorn — far more than a thorn, actually. We identified one aspect among us that is challenging. It always seems to be the one thing actively attempting to pierce any progress. It is an unmistakeable impediment to solution. We identified “the extremist” as a significant, societal problem.

The challenge today immediately evolves, no less, to who “the extremist” actually is…

Who is this?

Who is “the extremist”?

And therein lies the challenge.

The challenge is that without a doubt, “the extremist” exists on both the proverbial left and right. However, we tend to minimize the one who, while potentially “extreme,” shares our bottom line opinion; in other words, we are far more graceful to the likeminded — especially, since we like the way they vote — and don’t want to disrupt that.

And so for my friend and me, we found ourselves in search of a better question. Instead of “who actually is this,” we settled on the better question of what do these pejorative persons most have in common; what are the characteristics that identify “the extremist”?

In total transparency, we never settled on a complete, concise list. I think our conversation will continue. But the below is what we pondered then — and continue to ponder now. How relevant are the following 15 characteristics? Is this what we see too frequently in “the extremist”?

An unwillingness to listen
An unwillingness to admit any wrongdoing or wrongful thinking
An inability to communicate with unlike others
An inability to argue calmly
Anger
Arrogance and condescension
An attempt to instill fear in others
A lack of consistent logic
Scornful of compromise
A refusal to change
No admittance of hypocrisy
Utilization of stereotypes or entire people group designations
Provocation and derived pleasure from provocation
The end justifying the means
And complete blame of the “other” side

If we could find a way to effectively and respectfully wrestle with “the extremist” — even if he/she is among our own likeminded — then perhaps we could find more solution and peace… actually making it a win-win… and building those necessary bridges to so-called “other” sides.

Respectfully…
AR

01/24/201701/24/2017

what I’ve learned…

Despite the notion that everything we needed to learn could somehow be done in kindergarten, I’ve learned a few new things in recent weeks…

I’ve learned that words matter…
(… shoot… I did learn that in kindergarten… but… I’ve learned that not everyone did learn it there…)

I’ve learned that people care about our country…
Granted, the masses express their care differently, but difference is not an accurate indicator of sincerity.

I’ve learned that we’ve got some tough stuff to handle in this country…
The reality is we’ve had some tough stuff for a while, but certain instances and events often bring specific issues to the forefront.

I’ve learned that pomp and circumstance always has the potential for goosebump giving…
That helps if we respect the office, even when challenged to respect a person.

I’ve learned that politics is still in play for too many people…
Of course, they creatively cover it up and try to sell us on a far better-sounding motive.

I’ve learned that passionate opinion — even when I don’t understand it — is to be respected…
This is not always easy, as understanding the opinion of another typically takes significant work.

I’ve learned that work is worth it…
True, sometimes we’re too tired, exhausted, or even unwilling; it’s still worth it.

I’ve learned that social media doesn’t equate to conversation…
(… oh, wait… I learned that before, too…)

I’ve learned that social media often does more harm than good…
While it’s great to keep connected, too often we feel justified in forgoing connection.

I’ve learned that people are more important than things…
That means that building relationships will always mean more than building opinion.

I’ve learned that too many times, I justify stating first how I feel rather than being intentional in asking another…
“Change Your Questions Change Your Life”… great read, by the way.

I’ve learned that it’s ok to cheer for patriots…
(… and Falcons, Packers, and Steelers, no less…)

I’ve learned that a clear majority seem to crave hope and change…
Granted, what we hope will change is different for different people.

I’ve learned that many people, groups, and adults often feel looked down upon…
Unfortunately, we can be pretty selective as to which groups we’ll support and which ones we won’t.

I’ve learned that empathy is often inconsistent…
(… going back to being selective as to which groups we’ll support…)

I’ve learned that hate speech is still alive on planet Earth.
But true, people have different perspectives and justifications as to what is/is not “hate.”

I’ve learned it’s thus easy to be judgmental — even among the intelligent.
Sometimes I don’t know what I don’t know; and if I don’t take the time to truly investigate, understand, and put myself in the shoes of another, then I’m more apt to be judgmental.

I’ve learned that when we’re judgmental, we have a hard time learning anything else.
(… no doubt one reason why it’s wise to be on our knees each day…)

I’ve learned I’ve got a lot to learn.

Why?

Because not everything I need to learn was done in kindergarten.

Respectfully…
AR

01/22/2017

the magnitude of the moment

The peaceful transfer of power is beautiful. Always.

Let me say that again: always.

I do not mean to in any way diminish the emotion of those who are less than thrilled with our new President. Liking or disliking has nothing to do with my point. Eight years ago I sat amidst a liberal audience. On Friday, I sat amidst a conservative audience. My reaction was the same: I was awed and humbled by the peaceful transfer of power…

… which is…
… always…
… beautiful.

My favorite moment is always right after the swearing-in ceremony…

The new President and his predecessor exit the other side of the building together.

At the top of the stone steps stand congressional representatives from both parties.

And then yesterday, down the steps came the two presidents — side by side… red, white, and blue.

The new Vice President and his predecessor followed.

The spouses came next, via military escort, helping guide those heels down the plethora of steps.

Then they all paused, as if recognizing the magnitude of the moment.

They paused and bantered and seemingly, genuinely enjoyed one another. While I would have loved to be a fly on a wall or a step or somewhere in the adjacent vicinity, I so wonder what they talked about. But whatever it was, it seemed to be good. They each seemed equally humbled and proud — aware of the uniqueness and beauty.

First the vice presidents and spouses walked away — escorting the old to a limo, waiting to deliver the predecessor to his next position. The new wished the old well; the old wished the new well. There were handshakes and hugs and all those fake kisses. But the moment was dear and sincere.

Then the presidents…

The two and their spouses walked to Marine One, the helicopter escorting the old to his next adventure. And at the end of both his tarmac and tenure, again, the new wished the old well; the old wished the new well. And both thanked one another for their service.

Their partisan loyalties… their emotion… and attitudes… none of it got in the way.

What a wonderful day it is…

… the peaceful transfer of power.

May our eyes be ever able to see what’s beautiful…

Respectfully…
AR