The American Friends Service Committee has done some research on the cost of the Iraq War and has come up with some interesting and enlightening statistics. Besides the cost in human life (both American and Iraqi) we, as American taxpayers, have to take a closer look at what is being spent on this needless and useless war and make a decision as to where our tax money should go. To wit:
$720,000,000 = One Day Cost of War
$720,000,000 = 34,904 Four Year University Scholarships
$720,000,000 = 423,559 Children with Health Care
$720,000,000 = 95,364 Head Start Places for Children
$720,000,000 = 84 New Elementary Schools
$720,000,000 = 12,478 Elementary School Teachers
$720,000,000 = 6,482 Families with Homes
The Bush Administration favors tax breaks for the rich in this country while the middle class bears the brunt of the costs of the war. Bush is always wanting to increase the funding for the war while vetoing measures aimed at providing health insurance for children and subsidies for farmers. What we need in this country is leadership which will truly lead and listen to vox populi. I am hoping for a renewal of Kennedy liberalism with a vision for a country which can pursue lofty goals and fulfill the promises of the Founding Fathers. JFK established the Peace Corps; envisioned legislation which led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and led us to the moon. We truly need new leadership which will get us out of the quagmire in Iraq and have the vision to lead us into a new day which will result in a better world for all. I look forward to the day when we will no longer have to celebrate Memorial Day because there is no war.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Sunday, May 18, 2008
A Life Lesson
I had a life lesson this past week which really stuck with me and reminded that we cannot take anything for granted.
Being a volunteer for Hospice, I am called upon from time to time to assist others, either by visiting with them, taking them places or simply running errands for them. I was called upon last week to assist a hospice patient who needed to go to the hairdresser one day and to the doctor the following day, as her cleaning lady, who usually performed such duties was away due to a death in the family. It should be noted that Ruth was a childless widow who had no family in the area. I got to know Ruth and she made the comment that she wished that I could be her regular volunteer. I had no objection to it and notified the Hospice Volunteer Coordinator to pair Ruth and me up. This was on Friday. On Sunday, Ruth called me to ask if I would move her garbage can to the curb, as it was too heavy for her to do alone. I went over to her house and assisted her. When she wanted to pay me, I refused saying it was against Hospice policy as well as my own. However, I indicated that a hug would be payment enough and so she paid me off in that fashion.
That evening, Ruth had a stroke and died just three days later. In thinking about her, it dawned on me that, as her cleaning lady was still out of town, the hug we shared on Sunday afternoon was probably the last meaningful interaction she had with anyone. I took away from this the lesson that we should not take others for granted and tomorrow is promised to no one. One never knows if, or when, they will see another again and that, even though a hug is not necessary, the fact that we leave someone with the sense that we love them is how we should leave them, lest our paths never cross again.
Being a volunteer for Hospice, I am called upon from time to time to assist others, either by visiting with them, taking them places or simply running errands for them. I was called upon last week to assist a hospice patient who needed to go to the hairdresser one day and to the doctor the following day, as her cleaning lady, who usually performed such duties was away due to a death in the family. It should be noted that Ruth was a childless widow who had no family in the area. I got to know Ruth and she made the comment that she wished that I could be her regular volunteer. I had no objection to it and notified the Hospice Volunteer Coordinator to pair Ruth and me up. This was on Friday. On Sunday, Ruth called me to ask if I would move her garbage can to the curb, as it was too heavy for her to do alone. I went over to her house and assisted her. When she wanted to pay me, I refused saying it was against Hospice policy as well as my own. However, I indicated that a hug would be payment enough and so she paid me off in that fashion.
That evening, Ruth had a stroke and died just three days later. In thinking about her, it dawned on me that, as her cleaning lady was still out of town, the hug we shared on Sunday afternoon was probably the last meaningful interaction she had with anyone. I took away from this the lesson that we should not take others for granted and tomorrow is promised to no one. One never knows if, or when, they will see another again and that, even though a hug is not necessary, the fact that we leave someone with the sense that we love them is how we should leave them, lest our paths never cross again.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Every Vote Counts
One thing which I fail to understand is that so many Americans, living as free as we do, fail to exercise their right to vote. They seem to feel that their vote will make no difference, so why bother? I was talking to a fellow hospice volunteer a couple of weeks ago and mentioned the upcoming election. She reacted with the comment that she does not pay any attention to it and does not vote.
I am currently reading The House Divides, a history of the United States between the War of 1812 and the Civil War by Paul I. Wellman. In it the author cites a passage from the book, The History of Our Country, by Edward S. Elliott:
"The power of one vote was never shown more strikingly than in Indiana in 1844. A sick man in Switzerland County, was carried two miles in a carriage to vote for David Kelso, who was running for the state senate. The sick man was a client whose life had been saved by Kelso. The act of gratitude caused the client's death, but elected Kelso who received one more vote than his opponent. The state senate had to elect a United States Senator. Kelso bolted the Democratic caucus and took with him a friend. This tied the vote for weeks. Then Kelso selected Edward A. Hanngan [sic] as a new candidate and declared that he would vote with the Whigs unless he was supported. This threat brought about the election of Hannigan [sic] who took his seat in the United States Senate. Then came the wrangle over the admission of Texas to the Union. The most prominent candidate before Hannigan [sic] entered the field had pledged himself to vote against the measure. The bill for the admission of the State passed by a single vote and that vote was cast by Hannigan [sic.] Thus it may be said that the vote of a dying man in the wooded hills of Switzerland County, Indiana, made Texas a state and brought on the war with Mexico.
"As a comment on the above, Edward Hannegan (the correct spelling of his name), had he voted against the resolution would have tied not defeated it and thew issue would have had to be decided by the vote of the president pro tem, a Whig and presumably against annexation."
Therefore, it is and has always been my belief that each American has, not only the right, but also the duty and obligation to vote, regardless.
I am currently reading The House Divides, a history of the United States between the War of 1812 and the Civil War by Paul I. Wellman. In it the author cites a passage from the book, The History of Our Country, by Edward S. Elliott:
"The power of one vote was never shown more strikingly than in Indiana in 1844. A sick man in Switzerland County, was carried two miles in a carriage to vote for David Kelso, who was running for the state senate. The sick man was a client whose life had been saved by Kelso. The act of gratitude caused the client's death, but elected Kelso who received one more vote than his opponent. The state senate had to elect a United States Senator. Kelso bolted the Democratic caucus and took with him a friend. This tied the vote for weeks. Then Kelso selected Edward A. Hanngan [sic] as a new candidate and declared that he would vote with the Whigs unless he was supported. This threat brought about the election of Hannigan [sic] who took his seat in the United States Senate. Then came the wrangle over the admission of Texas to the Union. The most prominent candidate before Hannigan [sic] entered the field had pledged himself to vote against the measure. The bill for the admission of the State passed by a single vote and that vote was cast by Hannigan [sic.] Thus it may be said that the vote of a dying man in the wooded hills of Switzerland County, Indiana, made Texas a state and brought on the war with Mexico.
"As a comment on the above, Edward Hannegan (the correct spelling of his name), had he voted against the resolution would have tied not defeated it and thew issue would have had to be decided by the vote of the president pro tem, a Whig and presumably against annexation."
Therefore, it is and has always been my belief that each American has, not only the right, but also the duty and obligation to vote, regardless.
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