The noose and the fist

Let's get this out of the way first. I judge people on their actions, not their race, religion or gender.

What three white students did by hanging nooses on a tree was stupid, immature, rude, redneck, and downright wrong. There is however a gulf of difference between a stupid albet vicious act that actually physically hurt no one and trying to beat someone to death.

The fact that no one seems to want to admit this is why our country stands on the brink of implosion. The Jessie Jacksons and Al Sharptons of this world would like us to believe that the thought is paramount to the crime. There are many times when as human we would like to engage in abberant behavior. We'd like to chase down that guy who cut us off and punch him in the nose. We'd like to strangle that politician who made us all look like idiots just by opening his mouth. We don't however act on those feelings and that my friends is the crux of this matter.

Let's expand the idea of allowing the punishment fit the crime to this particular set of events. The three white students could have been suspended or expelled but would that be enough. No, the only way to prevent such a thing from happening again would be to use the nooses on them. It then folllows all things being equal, and we want things to be totally equal, that the students who almost beat a class to death should be beaten to death thus disabling them from perpetrating the same kind of crime on someone else.

Do I advocate such actions? No, I don't. I advocate common sense. People are sometimes crude, rude, vulgar, disrespectful, stupid, underhanded, and so many more unpleasant things. This doesn't mean that every stupid thing they say and do should become a federal case.

In this case the thugs and he bullies have met and we are all losers if we allow them to divide us. Most intelligent people consider the source and move on. If they didn't many people would spend a lot of time protesting people like Rosie O'donnel, Michael Moore and Fred Phelps.

It's too bad the Sharpton, Jackson circus is headed to Jeta LA. Still if Pred Felps shows up one good thing will come out of it. The three stooges will finally be reunited.

Surreal

Please pardon me for this purely personal post.

I had one of the most surreal experiences of my life. Yesterday I spent the day with my youngest married daughter. It's always a delight to spend time with my children and this was no exception. This is the third time for this little journey and each time is more surreal than the last. My daughter and daughter-in-law presented us with boys last year. The day I went with my oldest daughter to her appointment and heard the baby's heartbeat was truly an out of body experience.

Anyway to make a long story short (too late), we spent the day trying to get her in to see her OB. She is just barely pregnant and this was her first appointment. Her spouse had to work and she wanted a familiar face in the office with her. I remember that feeling. When I was pregnant the first time, my husband and I were far from home (he was in the military) and I so wished my Mom could be there . My daughters fears brought back so many memories. Was she still pregnant? How pregnant was she? How many babies are there? (Twins gallop in our family and have skipped my generation. Two of her cousins have twin girls)

We went to our appointment at 10:00 am but the doctor was called out on a delivery. We returned at 1:00 pm but he was still gone. As it worked out her sweet spouse was able to get off work early and was able to make the doctors appointment at 4:20 pm. They heard the heartbeat and saw the little flicker that is their offspring and were very happy. There is nothing quite the same for a mother as watching her child become a parent. What an amazing thing life is.

As we sat in the Doctors office the first time, I read a magazine which had an article on "Mothers". In this article the author quoted a survey that said that 2/3 of the mothers 45 to 60 who were polled said that mothers today are not as good mothers as they were. To say I strongly disagree is putting it mildly. My daughters and their compatriots are excellent mothers. For one thing they know more, at least they are better educated and most are more experienced, at least the ones who chose to be are. The are also more loving and more patient. While they have to juggle so much more than I did, home, children, and jobs, they do so with unflagging ability. I know there are times when they're tired and wore out but my grandsons get the best from their moms, all the time.

It is so wrong to attach 1980 attitudes to 2007. Things are different and although the basics should be the same the worlds impact is staggering. Just look at the impact technology has had on the world in that last 20 years. Cell phones, I pods, the Global Warming scare, terrorism, the immigration invasion not to mention the fact that most families have to have two bread winners to get ahead now. All of these things impact on our lives and I for one wouldn't want to be just starting out.

The old Indian saying about miles and moccasins comes to mind. Or maybe even better the verse from Proverbs that says even a fool if he shutteth his lips is esteemed a wise man. Something many in the political arena could learn from, right Senator Kicinich.