***BIG CHANGES IN THE WORKS***

***BIG CHANGES IN THE WORKS***

Be sure to stay tuned to this blog over the next couple of weeks. There are some fundamental changes in the works for this blog.

March 25, 2010

The pen is mightier than the sword.

It does not surprise me that a violent backlash against democratic congressional supporters of the HCR bill are now receiving threats and getting bricks thrown through offices. Despite the obvious public disapproval of the HCR bill, these actions are simply not proper behavior.

One thing is important to note here, the violence is something that should not be politicized as both conservatives and liberals are or have demonstrated violent behavior. (Examples of violence from liberal sources here - and here)

It simply makes no sense to politicise this behavior because it reduces us to the level of children bickering and finger-pointing on a playground. Violence will do nothing more than marginalize the views of those committing the violent acts. Consirvitive voices will be ignored because Tea Party members are considered violent gun toting bigots. Liberal voices will be ignored because they are considered tree hugging hippies. Neither of these generalizations are true.

Over the past year or so I have urged family and friends to make a difference not by picking up a brick, but by picking up their pen/phone/computer and writing a letter, e-mail or making a phone call. This is what our founders did as they penned the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution. I hope and pray that our country is not entering into a period of revolution that turned violent as it did during the 1960's. If we follow that road, we will end up with a revolution like that of France where heads were rolling in the streets.

March 19, 2010

Rug pulled from under my feet...

There have been a few times in my life where something happens and it feels as if the rug has just been violently ripped out from under my feet. Something so great as to shake the very core of my being and force me to rethink the way I approach the world around me. Recently, I have had several personal experiences that have met those criteria.

The death of a young man named Peter Cannon was a major story in the news around the greater Rochester region over the past month or so. Peter was 18 years old and lost his life in a car accident while on his way to go cross country skiing (one of his favorite activities). Peter is Emily’s brother… he would have been my brother-in-law. This tragedy has cast a dark dark cloud over the family in the past month or so.

The outpouring of sympathy and support for Emily and her family has been unlike anything I have seen. The experience of seeing Emily’s parents stand by their 18 year old son’s bedside to the very last minute of his life is a heartbreaking that I wish no one should ever have to witness or live through.

So what happens next? How do you rationalize this? I lost my Grandfather in the middle of last summer, but that had a completely different feel to it. It was tragic, but deep down; we all know that we will eventually lose our grandparents (we just don’t like to think about it). But you are not supposed to lose the younger members of your family. Right? This experience is one big slap in the face for me to wake up and cherish the times with the people that you never expect to lose.

Peter was very active with volunteering in the community and helping others out. Perhaps this can be rationalized by noting that now there will be a scholarship set up in his honor that will help many students pay for college. Some of Peter’s organs were also donated allowing for the lives of others to be saved. Maybe it is like a Mitch Abom - “5 People You Meet in Heaven” story where one day we’ll learn that one of those people that was saved went on to cure cancer or something. It is a warm fuzzy thought, but a painfully difficult story to live.

So I am left with the “rug pulled from under me” feeling. No answers or rational explanation. No clear idea of what to do next. Anger and confusion dominate. No scientist like me likes to be in a situation without answers and a rational understanding. I fear I will never have these answers despite a lifetime of searching.

No one should ever have to experience these things.