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August 5, 2004
My Niece's Graduation
Today was one of those rare occasions when everything worked in my favor--my work life and personal life converged to a point where there was little difference between them. We are considering making some changes to how we conduct the graduation ceremony at my university but had a few concerns about how the revised process would work. To help get some answers the Registrar worked out a deal where a few of us could fly down to LSU to see their ceremony, meet with some of their people, and still get back home at a decent hour.
Okay, so why was it a special day? It was special because my oldest niece graduated from college. After starting with us a few years ago, she later transferred to LSU and graduated today with a degree in political science. She will join us this fall in graduate school and I am really excited about that.
I do have another niece and I have several nephews--and I love them all dearly--but there is something about Jennifer and she will always have a special place in my heart. You see, when Jennifer's father was in school, they lived right down the road from us and we saw a lot of them. When my wife and I would walk down for a visit, I would usually take Jennifer outside (she often didn't give me a choice) and we would play. I was the Uncle who did the things her mother and father wouldn't let her do. When she was with me, she could swing as high as she wanted to and I would even push.
Jennifer and I had a lot of fun and then my daughter came along. Jennifer got a little angry with me over that because I couldn't spend as much time with her anymore. They moved away shortly after that and I didn't get to see her quite as often. The bonds we formed some twenty years ago are still as fresh in my mind today as if they happened yesterday.
Without a doubt I will be happy when all of my nieces and nephews graduate from college (none have started yet though). It will be a milestone in their lives, their parent's lives, and in my life. But there will always be something a little special about Jennifer--she was the first. Congratulations Jennifer! I love you!
Posted by robertgreen at 9:52 PM
August 3, 2004
Vernon Broyles' "American Values"
Vernon Broyles, the associate for corporate witness in the PCUSA National Ministries Division publishes a regular column in Presbyterians Today, a column I regularly take issue with. I emailed him once and disagreed with him only to learn he does not take criticism well. He latest column on American values appears in the August 2004 edition of the magazine.
Mr. Broyles obviously reads news that I never see. He, like most liberals, continues to harp on the Abu Ghraib prison abuse (he calls it a scandal but I see only deplorable behavior, not a "scandal") and talks about how it is becoming obvious "that these atrocities are not isolated incidents" but, in his typical fashion, he fails to offer any proof of this. Sure, he goes on to say that "Some are calling for full investigations that go 'all the way to the top'." Well, Mr. Broyles, since when did "calling for full investigations" constitute wrongdoing? If that is indeed the standard we use, then there is obvious corruption in the PCUSA for many have "called for full investigations".
Calling for full investigations is a typical ploy used by those without proof. If there was proof that these were not "isolated incidents" then why investigate? If you have proof then the next step is to prosecute, not investigate.
Later in his column, Mr. Broyles cites a long list of sins that he believes we should "boycott" he leaves out gay marriage. Now, I have no desire to debate gay marriage right now but I find it very interesting that in his sin list he leaves out the very topic that is currently being hotly debated at this very time within this very church. Could he perhaps be more interested in not stirring things up within the church than in presenting a list of sins?
I can't say he is all wrong, however. He does mention that "as Christians we have a unique privilege and responsibility to call people into a community anchored in the gracious promise of God that we can be different if we are willing to be changed." When he cites that our current "City on a Hill" is Las Vegas, he loses me. I certainly admit that our coutnry has problems but to say Las Vegas is our city on a hill is a bit extreme. Obviously the America Mr. Broyles lives in is very different from the on in which I live. But that is not really news either. I've often said that the church in Louisville is very different from the church in America.
I am still waiting to read an article on Condoleezza Rice in Presbyterians Today, she is after all, a Presbyterian, but I doubt that day will ever come. I've asked the editors about doing such an article but am told that when they ask for an interview, Dr. Rice is always too busy. Is should say so! Given the leftist leanings of the magazine I doubt Dr. Rice really thinks she would receive a fair shake anyway. Yes, the PCUSA claims to desire more women and more African-Americans in the church yet are hesitant to profile the who is arguably the most powerful African-American female in the world who just so happens to be a Presbyterian. It is, after all, much more fun to talk than to deliver.
Posted by robertgreen at 9:41 PM
So where has Kerry been?
This morning as I was getting ready for work I was listening to NPR's Morning Edition, that exceedingly liberal "news" show I typically refer to as simply Morning Sedition, and they, as usal, presented a Kerry sound bite without coment. The clip was Kerry's comments on the need for a Intelligence Czar and he said that it was about time the BUsh administration did something.
Perhaps he was on extened leave or just reliving his Vietnam days (you do realize he is a war hero, don't you?), but he seems to have missed the entire Department of Homeland Security. It was, I beleive, created by Bush in response to the threatof terrorists. He may also want to take stock of the fact that there have been no incidences of terrorism in the US since 9/11. That is not to say there will not be some in the future, for as many in Washington say, they only have to be right once, we have to be right all of the time.
I realize this all just politics and sound bites are the standard fare in an election year. What disappoints me is that NPR airs such without comment or without airong the other side. Morning's like this make me grateful for Sirius.
Posted by robertgreen at 6:38 PM