For more than 40 years, the children of Margaret (Hunt) and Griff Von Schmittou have continued a tradition begun when they would gather at their maternal grandparents’ house on Christmas Eve along with their cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. Quickly, they outgrew that little house and they began meeting in other venues and eventually changed the date to the Sunday before Christmas. We were able to attend this year and I watched as they took a photo of the seven siblings (2 sisters, 5 brothers) and thought, “It’s amazing in these times that not a single divorce has taken place among the children.” Of course, their parents and grandparents had set that particular example for them. It struck me then, that it is what children see day in and day out that teaches them far more than our words. They had honored their vows, and probably without even thinking about it, recognized their duty and the need for commitment. Of course, the very fact that this occurred revealed the love that was evidenced not so much in words as in deeds.
All of a sudden it came to me, “That is what the real Christmas story is all about.” God so loved the world that he sent his only Son to save us. Jesus Christ, honored his Father, recognized his duty, and was committed to fulfilling it—no matter the cost. Through his death, he bore and experienced the degradation of all our sins. He paid the full price and more importantly, he was victorious over death and made it possible for us to join him in his glory. As the apostle Paul taught, the greatest gift we can receive is love. He also told us what real love is: “Patient, kind, NOT envious, boastful, proud, rude, self-seeking, or easily angered. Love keeps no record of wrongs or delights in evil but rejoices with the truth. Love always protects, trusts, hopes and perseveres. Love never fails.” (I Cor.13:4-8)
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
Chicago and Bossism--Nobody Does It Better
I don't know if the Daleys were ever officially anointed "Boss" of the state of Illinois but they have reigned in Chicago (with fingers of corruption extending to every sector of the state) for most of my lifetime and that's been awhile. Many big cities have had their king of cronies: Boss Tweed of NYC, Boss Crump of Memphis, Huey Long in New Orleans and the state of Louisiana, and Papa and Son Daley of Chicago. It seems no matter how many are sent to jail for a tiny "pimple" of their corruption, Chicago's political monolith spreads it corruption throughout the state. In case you haven't noticed, all these guys were Democrats. (Well, Long called himself a populist but he was a Democrat.)
If you weren't blinded by the hype, you probably noticed that Obama had an inordinately large campaign chest from the get-go. Like it or not, he was groomed and financed by high-ranking members of the powerful Chicago political machine.
It was hard not to laugh out loud when Jesse Jackson, Jr. denied vying for the senate job and willingly playing for the highest bidder stakes. After all, he knew how the game had always been played. His father has used that ploy for decades on corporate executives all over the country by playing the race card and shaking them down for large contributions to whatever he was pushing at the time.
You would think the citizens of Chicago would get tired of the game. But I suppose that's the only game they know. Jobs, appointments, elections, bridges, highways, buildings, officials and high stakes players in all walks of life owe their very existence to the machine.
Someone said that only one party could win in Chicago (Democrats) and the Republicans had, for all practical purposes, given up any hope and thus, the fight.
I remember it took a long time for the corruption started by Boss Crump in Tennessee to finally give up the ghost. When Governor Ray Blanton was convicted of selling prison pardons, the people of Tennessee finally had enough and elected a Republican governor (Winfield Dunn) for the first time in fifty years. This let some light shine on the political process in Tennessee and I remember it well.
There has always been corruption in politics. It's kind of like watching some fresh young talent do well in entertainment and then hoping against hope they will not fall prey to the drugs, greed and sex purveyors that flock around them. But the Daleys and the Chicago empire seem to withstand any long-lasting cleanup campaign that has been launched. I suppose too many people owe their livlihood to them.
If you weren't blinded by the hype, you probably noticed that Obama had an inordinately large campaign chest from the get-go. Like it or not, he was groomed and financed by high-ranking members of the powerful Chicago political machine.
It was hard not to laugh out loud when Jesse Jackson, Jr. denied vying for the senate job and willingly playing for the highest bidder stakes. After all, he knew how the game had always been played. His father has used that ploy for decades on corporate executives all over the country by playing the race card and shaking them down for large contributions to whatever he was pushing at the time.
You would think the citizens of Chicago would get tired of the game. But I suppose that's the only game they know. Jobs, appointments, elections, bridges, highways, buildings, officials and high stakes players in all walks of life owe their very existence to the machine.
Someone said that only one party could win in Chicago (Democrats) and the Republicans had, for all practical purposes, given up any hope and thus, the fight.
I remember it took a long time for the corruption started by Boss Crump in Tennessee to finally give up the ghost. When Governor Ray Blanton was convicted of selling prison pardons, the people of Tennessee finally had enough and elected a Republican governor (Winfield Dunn) for the first time in fifty years. This let some light shine on the political process in Tennessee and I remember it well.
There has always been corruption in politics. It's kind of like watching some fresh young talent do well in entertainment and then hoping against hope they will not fall prey to the drugs, greed and sex purveyors that flock around them. But the Daleys and the Chicago empire seem to withstand any long-lasting cleanup campaign that has been launched. I suppose too many people owe their livlihood to them.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
History Forgotten = Patriotism on the Wane
Sunday, December 7, 2008 was the 67th anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day and very little mention was made of it. Perhaps that is because you must be in your 70s to have been alive when it happened. It will soon be just another forgotten or distorted piece of American History if the liberal revisionists have anything to do with it. Even now, people in our own country are trying to belittle what our country did for the rest of the free world in its role in defeating the Axis powers. Few Europeans want to admit they owe their very sovereignty to the brave fighting men of the United States. We gained no foreign soil except as graveyards for our young boys. Yet we are criticized and denigrated on a daily basis for our lack of sophistication when we display our patriotism and the liberals of this country agree with them!
Only five years old at the time, I was playing outside on a warm December Sunday. Mother had just baked some cornbread and I buttered a piece and took it outside with me as I joined my sister and brother in play. When they saw what I was eating, they too wanted some and we went back inside just in time to hear the radio blaring: “The Japs have bombed Pearl Harbor.” Yes, they said “Japs” and we didn’t think it an offensive word; it was just a short way to say Japanese. People weren’t as touchy in those days. I was only in the first grade and didn’t know where Pearl Harbor was and wasn’t really sure who the “Japs” were. But we knew something very important and frightening had happened because of how our parents reacted. Our house was on a hill and we ran down toward the road shouting “The Japs Bombed Pearl Harbor!” Just like a headline on a newspaper, we shouted to no one in particular and I don’t know if anyone heard us at all. Yet, I’ll never forget that day, December 7, 1941.
America has since been embroiled in Korea, Viet Nam, Bosnia, Afghanistan, Iraq, and other battles where American lives were lost in an attempt to protect the freedom of others. Still, the only ground we have gained is that of a burial site. I suppose we should learn our lesson and become isolationists but is it ever right to stand by and watch when we could actually help others? That hasn’t been the American Way but I’m not sure there will even be an “American Way” in the future.
Most Americans over twelve remember 9/11 but even now that memory seems to be fading in relevance and importance. If this trend continues, will America lose its courage and honor and no longer answer in kind to an act of war against us?
Only five years old at the time, I was playing outside on a warm December Sunday. Mother had just baked some cornbread and I buttered a piece and took it outside with me as I joined my sister and brother in play. When they saw what I was eating, they too wanted some and we went back inside just in time to hear the radio blaring: “The Japs have bombed Pearl Harbor.” Yes, they said “Japs” and we didn’t think it an offensive word; it was just a short way to say Japanese. People weren’t as touchy in those days. I was only in the first grade and didn’t know where Pearl Harbor was and wasn’t really sure who the “Japs” were. But we knew something very important and frightening had happened because of how our parents reacted. Our house was on a hill and we ran down toward the road shouting “The Japs Bombed Pearl Harbor!” Just like a headline on a newspaper, we shouted to no one in particular and I don’t know if anyone heard us at all. Yet, I’ll never forget that day, December 7, 1941.
America has since been embroiled in Korea, Viet Nam, Bosnia, Afghanistan, Iraq, and other battles where American lives were lost in an attempt to protect the freedom of others. Still, the only ground we have gained is that of a burial site. I suppose we should learn our lesson and become isolationists but is it ever right to stand by and watch when we could actually help others? That hasn’t been the American Way but I’m not sure there will even be an “American Way” in the future.
Most Americans over twelve remember 9/11 but even now that memory seems to be fading in relevance and importance. If this trend continues, will America lose its courage and honor and no longer answer in kind to an act of war against us?
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