Flights Fraught with Fear

Here is one reason I'm not eagerly anticipating my flight in a few weeks. Flying these days is starting to look like taking the public bus. In this story, a paranoid stewardess made everyone on the flight twelve hours late and publically humiliated an entirely innocent (Arab-looking) American citizen becaus she suspected he had bypassed security. I think a surefire bestseller would be something like, How to Survive Racial Profiling in the Air. I'm sure you can think of a more clever title.

Rose

The Science of Love

Check out this story from CNN for modern day, MRI explanations for why being in love feels so good, why breaking up hurts, and why sex has less to do with it than you thought.

rc

sad holiday for some

I am deeply saddened and appaled by this news story reporting the death of James Emerick Dean, 28 years old, at the hands of the police. The poor guy's crime was that he didn't want to go to Iraq, having already served 18 months in Afghanistan.

I know there are lots of angles to this: volunteer army, mental illness, taking pot shots at the police surrounding his house. Nonetheless, he is another casulaty of the war in Iraq. jc remembers a boy from his hometown who shot himself rather than going to Vietnam.

When will this end?

rc

Not a Fairy Tale Ending

I'm terribly sad that James Kim's body was found today.

I can't image what Kati is experiencing now. My thoughts are with her and the girls.

Rose

Lost- a true story

Kati Kim and daughters found

I'm strangely touched by the story of this San Francisco family. They were traveling in Oregon over a week ago when they got stuck in snow on a back road. Maybe it's because it sounds so much like something I would do. Matter of fact, it's very like something I did once. I got the car stuck in sand in the middle of the Utah desert, only noone knew where I had gone. I hiked to the nearest town for help, eventually leaving the narrow dirt road when I didn't like the direction it was going. It worked out for me. I caught a ride to my friend's house and they went and pulled my car out. That was the time I learned that putting a pebble in your mouth really does help you not to feel so thirsty.

These people were basically trying to go somewhere that there just wasn't a road. I get a little nervous in mid-summer if I'm on those roads after dark. The stretch of I-5 they had to drive on recommends tire chains if there's a chance of snow. Leaving that for BLM roads sounds a little foolhardy to me. I wonder about the human interaction in this story. Was it a joint decision to take this route, or did Mrs. Kim get understandably upset when they got stuck on a road she never wanted to take in the first place? If it had been us, it would have been jc getting upset because I got stuck.

I love it that Mom and the girls were found. I hate it that Dad went looking for help and...? His footprints indicate that he left the road. I can't figure out why he would do that, but I hope that he is found, however unlikely that may seem. My thoughts go out to the Kims.

Rose

The Memorial Day of the New Century

Reminded on all sides of the grim anniversary that today is, I pause to remember.

I remember hearing the news on the radio while driving to school and thinking it must be a joke.

By Google maps, we were only 64.7 miles from Shanksville, PA, where Flight 93 went down.

I spent part of the day with XBFRN; I remember not wanting to leave.

I was supposed to work at the airport that day, but it was closed.

I turned off the television to keep from seeing that horror replayed over and over.

I thought then, and still believe now, that we will lose our freedom to terrorism if we don't stand up and hold onto it with both hands.

In memory of those who gave their lives that day, I walk free and proud, my head held high. I do not fear what may happen; I fear that I will not respond bravely and boldly.

It seems apt to quote Abraham Lincoln at this juncture. I cannot say it as well as he did.

Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a
new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men
are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether
that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure. We are
met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of
that field as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives that
that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do
this.

But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we
cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead who struggled here
have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will
little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what
they did here. It is for us the living rather to be dedicated here to the
unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It
is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us --
that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which
they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that
these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a
new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the
people shall not perish from the earth.

A Song of Peace

This song is in one of my piano books. I came upon it and played it today. As always, the words and the music carry much meaning for me. It used to be played on the school bus when I was in grade school.

Our conservative mindset was outraged by the idea that God is merely watching from afar, doing nothing. Today, I ask, what does it really mean? Is it a theological statement that God set the universe in motion and watches to see what happens? Is is meant to be a comfort that at least God is there?

More to the point is the content of the verses. If only I could go to that place where there is nothing but the peace and calm of nature and stay there. If only every one did have enough. If only no one were fighting. If only harmony and hope and peace and love enveloped us all.

I am reminded to promote harmony and hope and peace and love in the circle that I can reach. I am encouraged to find the good in myself and others and to exude positive energy to those around me.

From a Distance
words and music by Julie Gold, 1986

From a distance the world looks blue and green, and the snow capped
mountains white.
From a distance the ocean meets the stream, and the eagle takes to
flight.
From a distance there is harmony, and it echoes through the land.
It's the voice of hope, it's the voice of peace, it's the voice of every
man.

From a distance we all have enough, and no one is in need.
There are no guns, no bombs, no diseases, no hungry mouths to feed.
From a distance we are instruments, marching in a common band.
Playing songs of hope, playing songs of peace, they're the songs of every
man.

God is watching us,
God is watching us,
God is watching us from a distance.

From a distance you look like my friend, even though we are at war.
From a distance I can't comprehend what all this war is for.
From a distance there is harmony, and it echoes through the land.
It's the hope of hopes, it's the love of loves, it's the heart of every
man.
It's the hope of hopes, it's the love of loves, it's the song of every
man.

Namaste,

Rose

More on flying

Here is an update on the West Virginia hullabaloo. Yes, Rima Qayyum is Islamic and was wearing a headscarf. Her mother says she was carrying drinking water and facewash. She is four months pregnant, by the way.

The Vermont woman who caused all the ruckus on the flight rerouted to Boston Wednesday has been identified as Catherine Mayo, a peace activist and journalist. Below are some quotes from her and links to her writing. Maybe she's crazy, mabye she is making a point.

daily times article

undated article (preceded by thoughts on fascism)

When dissent is silenced, a person does not know the truth of the man standing
next to him.

There was no room in the American system for blind
obedience.

Fear is the one thing that will destroy this world of
ours.
Fear causes each of us to act sooner than we need to. Without fear we
can think
things through, make mistakes, learn from our mistakes. Without
fear, we can
laugh at ourselves. When we laugh at our own foolishness, other
people smile
with us. A world of patient fools has a power that we all
understand.

Here is a report of a naked scanner already in use at some airports.

R.C.

What's next? or Flying Nekkid

This news story reports an 28 year old Jackson, Michigan woman, originally from Pakistan, who may have been carrying liquid explosives in her carry on baggage. New TSA regulations last week prohibit carrying common items like toothpaste and astringent, which skin-conscious j. carries everywhere, in carry on bags.

Also now illegal, fear of flying. By now everyone already knows about the 59 year old Vermont woman, a U.S. citizen, who caused her flight to be diverted and escorted by F-15s, by pacing the aisles, peeing too much (okay, I don't really think people should void in the aisles), and saying "Pakistan". She was also guilty of carrying hand lotion. She was reportedly arrested for "interfering with a flight crew." Does that mean they couldn't get the drink cart through? (Addendum: More on the story. Matches and screwdriver mentioned. Cf. these contradictory accounts.)

Next we will be asked to don a paper gown before entering secure areas of the airport for our mandatory rectal exam.

Anybody want to fly?

Does anybody really think that volunteering our Constitutional rights as a burnt offering is going to keep us safe from terrorism?

This is America, folks. We started the place so we could have a peaceful cup of tea. We fought a major war among ourselves over rights. As far as I'm concerned, the terrorists are successful, because the fact is, American citizens are terrified.

R. Connors

Women in the news

Kashmiri women go without veils.

An interesting movement to watch. Women in this culture do not even directly address their husbands.

Kudos to brave women who are willing to effect social change!

R.C.