Eliot's blog

The benefit of civil discussion.

2011-07-16T12:15:00.000-05:00

It has become obvious to me that civil discussion has become fairly rare. We shove and push and yell and scream at one another whether brutally trying to convince someone that our way is right in face to face encounters or even by way of sound bites and sensational headlines and persuasive writing.

There is a story that was told to me years ago. I've even forgotten who told me the story. I don't remember if it was told as a true story or not. Regardless, it makes a fitting point here. I will tell it as a fable:

Once upon a time there were two boys who grew up near one another. They played together on almost a daily basis and went to school together. As the grew up, they each prepared for their bar mitzvah ceremonies, they graduated from high school and then went on to college studies together. The two young college graduates then enrolled in rabbinic studies together and ended up serving synagogues in neighboring communities.

About half way between these two relatively small communities was a diner. Each week day, after their morning chores and duties were completed, these men met together for coffee and morning snack and a good dose of 'arguing the scriptures.' The two men grew old together continuing their daily custom of meeting at the diner with rare exceptions. Finally one of the men died and the remaining man grieved greatly.

The adult son of the remaining man came to his father and asked why he grieved so, especially considering that the two men did nothing but fight every time they met together. The old man looked sadly at his son and said, 'Son, how you mis-understand! The scriptures tell us that man sharpens man as iron sharpens iron. I grieve because I no longer have a trusted friend with whom to wrestle.'

Civil discussion takes place only among those who respect one another. The discussion may be lively and even appear harsh at times but the deep and abiding respect that the participants have for one another assures that the exercise remains healthy and for the edification of each, not the destruction of either.

SPAMMERS

2011-02-28T07:57:00.002-06:00

What a shame that people feel entitled to hi-jack other people's blogs. A blog is a forum for self expression and welcomes some degree of public reaction to the topic presented. Inappropriate content can be edited by the blog's creator/owner/editor but the added burden of having to expunge unwelcome commercial exploitation certainly is a negative thing in what otherwise is a great way to publicly proclaim our ideas.

I would welcome comment about what others think should be the appropriate punishment for blog hijacking . . .

My new hero(s)

2010-06-17T21:22:00.003-05:00

June 2010 . . . almost a year and a half since I posted on my blog. So what is so important to warrant this post now? . . . Well I have a new hero . . . or heroine to be more correct. She's been taking a lot of flack in the press . . . she and her parents too. That is what has prompted me to post.

Abby Sunderland of California is a 16 year old girl who has attempted a solo sailboat trip around the world. Jessica Watson of Australia (also 16 years old) has completed her solo global circumnavigation making her the youngest ever to make the trip. Abby's current attempt came to an unfortunate end in the Indian Ocean with a broken mast and the unfortunate loss of her 40 foot sailboat "Wild Eyes."

Jessica and Abby and their parents have both been the subject of criticism for wrecklessness for attempting and allowing such an adventure at such young ages. Abby's rescue cost the Australian people and commercial fishing boats hundreds of thousands of dollars. This too, has been fuel to the criticism . . . why should others have to pay for the 'foolish risks' of a few?

So why are these girls and their parents elevated to 'hero' status in my opinion? Their courage, determination, perseverance, skills, training, mental fortitude, and the magnitude of their dreams are inspiring . . . When I consider what they have attempted and think about my accomplishments, I'm afraid I feel quite small. I was 40 years old when these girls were born. I have (and continue to) work hard and have accomplished much. I've encountered many challenges and have suffered many devastating defeats. But there is nothing that I have attempted that comes anywhere close in magnitude to what these girls have done. Risky? You bet! Foolish? No. It would be foolish for me to attempt such a feat as I lack the skills, the experience, the training and the support of those who have the expertise. Abby has grown up on the sea and with sailing vessels. Her adventure was risky but not foolish. Her adventure should be an inspiration to us all . . . especially to parents! Dare to let your children dream and then do all you can to empower their dreams. While it's true that you might loose them . . . what a life they might have in the trying!

Me? . . . Abby and Jessica and other like-minded young people are pushing me to re-examine the whole realm of dreaming . . . I think I need to do some stretching exercises!

Abby Sunderland . . . I salute you! May there be a "Wild Eyes II" in your future.

Sick in bed

2009-02-22T11:40:00.002-06:00

WOW! It's been over a year since I made a post . . . not that I don't have thoughts worthy of posting . . . just that in the limited time that I seem to have at my desk there seems to be an unlimited pile of work that needs to be done.

Today, however, I am barely recovering from a bout of intestinal flu and have not left the bed but briefly in 36 hours. Here I am with plenty of time and no energy or inspiration to do anything!

I am thankful for generally good health. I can remember only one other day that I was unable to get up and at least get my chores done in the past several years. And, come to think of it, that was a bout of the intestinal flu as well.

So as I lay here today I am thinking that it surely should be possible to find the discipline to post something worthwhile weekly. At the same time I am plagued with thoughts about that unlimited pile of work waiting for me on my desk that will probably prevent me from doing that.

Essie, my favorite dog

2007-11-07T17:57:00.000-06:00

Of all the dogs we own (12 on our farm plus some others) Essie is my favorite. Considering how amazing each one of our dogs are, it's hard to pick a favorite. It has to be something more than good looks, great personality, etc. There is just some sort of connection between us. Essie happens to be our largest breeding female. At over 115 pounds, she's a lot of dog. She also happens to be my favorite color pattern . . . classic black and tan (although a little heavy on the black for some people.) She's got a great build with a tall stance, straight back and deep chest. Essie has a heavy bone structure so she is sturdy and fun to roughhouse with (although she is by nature quite calm.) At 6 months, she was the youngest dog of any breed ever to earn her AKC Canine Good Citizenship at the Oak Ridge Kennel Club. She was the first dog we were able to teach to catch a Frisbee. Essie is named for Queen Esther in the Bible and she really has a rather regal air about her. And yet, for all that, she's my favorite because of all the dogs, she likes me the best. I mean, of all the dogs, she's the one who is looking at me when I get home. Of all the dogs, she's the one who want's to snuggle and give kisses. Isn't it amazing how easy it is to love and give preference to someone who loves us? . . . Sadly, it seems harder for us to love and prefer those who do not love us or treat us well. . . . And even more sadly, considering how much God loves us and lavishes His attention and goodwill on us, why do we have such a resistance to loving God with all our heart and all our mind and all our soul and all our strength? . . . . . . .

Pet Peave

2007-10-26T19:35:00.000-05:00

I have a pet peave. It's not like I've picked it up by the road and brought it home. I haven't named it yet and I don't set out food for it nor do I buy it toys or treats. Yet I can't quite seem to get rid of it and its been with me for a long long time. SO, I guess it's become a pet . . . an annoying one, yet still a pet. Peaves can be like that sometimes.

This is related to my last post. It has to do with patriots and citizenship (or lack thereof.)

I have a great deal of respect for law enforcement officers. I was one for a short period of time many years ago (when surely I was way too young to be carrying a gun!) I am extrememly grateful for the work they do and I recognize the risks they take daily (every shift they show up for) on behalf of the citizens of a community and the peace and safety therein.

However . . . (here is the peave sneaking in) . . . have you noticed that maybe 2 out of 3 times you see a law enforcement vehicle on the open road WITHOUT lights &/or siren operating they are driving in excess of the posted speed limits . . . sometimes WAY in excess . . . enough so that if you or I did that we would be pulled over. If they had their emergency lights operating, I wouldn't give it a second thought . . . even if they were merely on their way home for lunch. But the idea of those who are charged with enforcing our laws so frequently and apparently casually breaking those laws bothers me.

BUT . . even more than marked law enforcement vehicles, I am REALLY bugged by cars with judicial or legislative plates which almost without exception are left laning the interstate and passing almost everything on the road. At such disregard for our laws, I take offense.

What does it say about attitudes in our government when those who write the laws, those who judge us by the laws and those who enforce our laws have so little respect for simple laws like the speed limit? How much harder is it for me to drive within the limits of the law when these in government won't?

A patriot loves their contry and loyally and zealously supports it. Obeying our legal* laws is a must for a good citizen and certainly for a patriot.

*[The Supreme Court has ruled that any law that is written, passed, &/or enacted which is contrary to the U.S. Constitution is no law at all. It is the courts job to make those determinations and the citizen's job to make sure the courts do their job.]

It appears to me that at even the very simple levels our nation is suffering from a lack of good citizenship and it is that which makes this otherwise insignificant matter into a peave which has become one of my pets.

Patriot

2007-10-26T16:48:00.000-05:00

pa.tri.ot : a person who loves and loyally or zealously supports his own country. (Webster's New World Dictionary 2nd College Ed 1970)

Years ago (when I was MUCH younger) two ideologies clashed within our culture and nation. Some on either side considered themselves to be the 'true' patriots. The battle cry on one side was "America! Love it or Leave it!" The other side retorted: "America! Change it or Lose it!"

I find it interesting after all these years to find that I have gone from one side to the other and now must scream out both of these battle cries. If you don't love America (as in the United States of America . . . the sovereign nation) then you have the freedom to leave it and I strongly suggest that you do at your earliest convenience. If you don't love and loyally or zealously support this nation, then your presence here suggests mere selfish ambition to use the liberties which are guaranteed for citizens to your own personal gain shirking the responsibilities and costs of being a patriotic citizen. You are certainly no patriot! In the same breath I must also say (write) that if you truly love and loyally and zealously support this nation then you will also be severely concerned for the state that this nation has fallen to and should be actively involved in efforts to change it. For if we do not restore this nation to it's noble heritage with a government 'of the people, by the people and for the people' (rather than a government that believes that it exists for itself) then we shall certainly lose what is great about this nation (if we haven't already lost it.)

Youngest (for now) grandson and kitty

2007-10-14T21:07:00.000-05:00

Our youngest grandson Dalton was looking out the window at their German Shepherd dog "Duke" when his kitty "Phoebe" came to see what was so interesting . . .

2007-10-13T20:46:00.000-05:00

A fairly recent picture of me in a very casual moment. . .