The Sound of Music
Dear friends,
As many of you know, that movie has been a pillar of my life. We went to Austria the first time, with my whole family, in 1965, just after the movie came out, and I got a dirndl from the window in Habig's in Kartnerstrasse, which FIT me-- a miracle for a chubby kid--- and I said to myself, this is a country where I could fit! So when I got to the question of going away for junior year abroad, I was definitely going to Austria. I took German to be prepared, and I learned with Judy Cloherty, Terry Pfeiffer, Jeff Clark and Gene Gilully and others to make kugelhupfs (Bundt cakes with powdered sugar) for the school fair. Gene's mom, who was Austrian, gave us a lot of tips, to help us prepare. I figured we would fly in over the alps, just like in the entrance to the movie!
I wore my dirndl often, as I grew up and got into college, and I learned every note of the Sound of Music score. My parents went to Europe and Africa a few years later, and I wrote new words for the Climb Every Mountain song, to wish them well on their trip-- my sisters wore their dirndls, I strummed the zither, and we sang it at the goodbye party for them-- "climb every pyramid, see Holland too; go to darkest Africa, in our dreams we'll come with you!" My parents always requested that song from us at every party our family had for the rest of the decades of their lives!
My children have been raised on the songs, and have grudgingly admitted that they find it a comfort now, when they watch this well-loved movie with me.
As I am an obstetrician, and wait for babies to slide down from the fields of glory, I often sing "Raindrops on Roses" for women in labor, who sometimes ask me to sing for them. "When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when you're feeling bad, (aimed at laboring women), I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don't feel so bad!" We sing it in the CSection room sometimes, when all is going well, it helps calm people down-- one of the anesthesiologists plays it for me on his music player-- and we all have a rollicky time!
Twice, I have won the Sound of Music sing-along competition at San Francisco, for acting the part of the 3rd runner up at the Salzburg festival--- I wear my echt dirndl, and lace-up brown boots that look like the 30's, and wear my hair wound in pugs around my ears, and bow and grin and bow and grin like Fraulein Schneider from St. Agatha's in Muhrbach-- everyone stomps and screams "third runner up!" and I win, against the girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes, and the nuns, and the green felt "Climb every mountain", and even the 'brown paper packages tied up with strings!" Kathy and Lindsey were with me the first time I won-- and Kathy took a picture of me on the stage-- I didn't believe I would win, but she thought much better of my chances! Bonnie and Margaret came with me the second time, and we wore our dirndls, and Bonnie wore her loden coat. I tried to get Andy to wear Greg's lederhosen, and play the part of Rolf, but he preferred to act like The Captain, and wear his dad's loden hat-- but he didn't get a prize, here in Santa Cruz, where the winner was the goat and goatherder act! The woman had puppet strings tied to a guy who looked very goat-like-- with Rasta hair!
I have even reflected that my husband is somewhat like the Captain, emotionally distant, but basically a good person who might be teased or coaxed into singing Edelweiss, (which has NOT happened yet), and that I am a lot like Maria. "I have confidence in sunshine, I have confidence in rain; I have confidence that spring will come again-- besides which, you see, I have confidence in ME!" I used to swing my guitar around like that-- and my husband has often complained that I burst into song at the least or NO provocation!
I have often thought of Tunie dancing in her kitchen to the Landler, while cooking dinner; watching it on a small tv.
Many, many times, I have thought about the problem of leaving a country where the government has become destructive and impossible to live with, and the time the Captain rebukes Uncle Max for his indifference to what is happening politically to the country he loves and honors.
When I was in residency in New York we went up to Stowe, to look at the lodge where the Von Trapps now live. I thought about the difference between the real story, and the story in the movie, and how Vermont is so like the Tirol.
My friend Gundi lives in Salzburg, very near the Mozarteum, where they sing "Doe, a deer", on the steps. We have maintained our friendship since 1965, and still write to each other. When I went to Salzburg with my family in summer 2001, Gundi was standing on the church steps waiting for us, as we drove into town, so she could show us where to park. We stayed at the Dreifaltigskeit monastery, which was letting out rooms-- it was a former bishop's palace, and it was amazing to stay in this large vaulted room there on the ground floor. I stood outside the Franciskanerkirche, while the Mozart festival singers were singing the Requiem inside-- and I held onto the pillar as they sang the "Dies Irae" which is one of the most powerful pieces of music I know! Gundi slipped me and Andy into behind the scenes at the Festspielhaus, where the Von Trapps sing the goodbye song just before they make their escape. We watched Bryn Terfel sing Falstaff, while I pinched myself, and couldn't believe we were actually standing ON THE STAGE, at the Salzburg festival, in real life. It was fantastic, amazing, miraculous-- one of the greatest highlights of my life.
My affection for that movie has continued unabated, all these years. One of the moments which remains electric to me is when Rolf discovers them in the cemetery, and the Captain tries to get him to come with them. Psychologically, it is an immensely important moment, when I want to say to the Captain, "NO-- don't say that to him! " Instead of saying "You'll never be one of them!" in a cruel way, he should have continued to encourage him by saying "You can come with us, and be more free!" It is the only moment in the movie I have always wanted to change.
As you know, I learned to sing a lot of folk songs from Frau Brossman, in Vienna, and I can still sing many of the Christmas carols, along with the Vienna choir boys' cd! I would love to go to the Christkindl markets again, and get little straw stars, and little carved wood figures for the Christmas tree. I gilded some walnuts for our Christmas tree, after seeing them in Austria.
I always wish I could have the puppet theatre they use for the Goatherd song. And I always wish my voice were as good as Maria's (or actually Julie Andrews) as she yodels through that song, like quicksilver sliding on the high notes effortlessly!'
Singing Jet Plane, we made it through that extraordinary year. One of the greatest miraculous moments in my life was singing at the reunion in Charleston, with my voice gone hoarse, and then completely gone with laryngitis-- and you all singing the words for me-- so that the song was coming from you, and from my heart, and I was playing the guitar, and your voices were my voice. I feel so very very blessed to have had you all in my life, and to have had that year in Vienna; and the way that the Sound of Music has been sort of a lace-work to hold my life together!
Love, martina
Saturday, September 4, 2010
3 guys building a cathedral
There is a wonderful story Rachel Naomi Remen MD tells, about 3 guys in the middle ages, building a cathedral. They are stone-cutters. Someone asks each of them why they are doing this work. The first one says he is cutting blocks of stones, and he will be doing it til the day he dies, and he doesn't know if he will ever see the building they are for. The second one says he is providing a home and food for his beloved wife and children, and he thinks of them all day as he cuts the stones. The third one says he is building a shrine to God, to be a light for the world, which will stand for at least a thousand years.
5 years ago I broke my back in an almost fatal car accident. (T8 fx). I thought I would not be able to operate or deliver babies, or do meaningful work again. But my partners struggled to keep our practice going, and I did not want it to fail. And I love my work. So I said my prayers, and wore my brace, and managed to keep functioning. And we managed to keep the practice going. And my patients know that I have lived through difficult suffering like they have. So when I give advice, they are more likely to take it. I swim every day that I can, to keep myself from being twisted up and crippled. I have been able to do surgery, at a reduced pace, even the vaginal surgery I love. The whole story is to illustrate that not giving up is really an important part of the picture. What helps people to not give up? Everyone has a different answer. Metaphysically, I believe that, in medicine, we are all building that cathedral.
5 years ago I broke my back in an almost fatal car accident. (T8 fx). I thought I would not be able to operate or deliver babies, or do meaningful work again. But my partners struggled to keep our practice going, and I did not want it to fail. And I love my work. So I said my prayers, and wore my brace, and managed to keep functioning. And we managed to keep the practice going. And my patients know that I have lived through difficult suffering like they have. So when I give advice, they are more likely to take it. I swim every day that I can, to keep myself from being twisted up and crippled. I have been able to do surgery, at a reduced pace, even the vaginal surgery I love. The whole story is to illustrate that not giving up is really an important part of the picture. What helps people to not give up? Everyone has a different answer. Metaphysically, I believe that, in medicine, we are all building that cathedral.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Fishing in Baja
Dear friends,
I had a wonderful time fishing with Sebastian and Andy, in Baja. We have been to the hotel, Spa Buenavista, on the East Cape, on the Sea of Cortez, about an hour north of Cabo San Lucas, about 5 times over the last 20 years. Pat and her daughter Jenn went with us just before she went to Afghanistan, and we also went the first time with my parents, just before my dad died in 1994, when the boys were very little. It was a new experience to be there with such grown-up young men-- Sebastian brought his friend Josh, who also loves to spear fish. Andy came from San Diego, where he has been staying with a friend this summer. One of the hardest things for me at this time is to convince my sons that each of them have the right to respect for different beliefs and ways of doing things-- we are all so critical, and we are sure we are "right". I want them to both find themselves with room in the world, and able to be good brothers, even with such widely different viewpoints. Andy will always be on the creative-artistic side, and Sebastian will probably always want to do something very useful in the world, and mainstream in content. Andy brought some bauble-goggles, and there was a lady there who was the daughter of a Parisian couturier, who gave him a lot of credit and positive feedback for his fashion-sense. On the other side, there were some very experienced technical fishermen, who were very helpful to Sebastian, and impressed with his spear-fishing skills, and enjoying his and Josh's fun company. There were people from Australia, Canada, France, Switzerland and Germany this time, but not so many Americans. Of course we were there 1 week after their big fishing competition, the Bisbee, which draws fishermen from all over the USA, so that may be part of the reason for a slow week.
I love being able to swim in warm water, and there is a small reef with a jetty about a 1/2 mile down the beach-- a perfect distance to swim and then be able to snorkel, then come back again. I was able to see the fish, and they are so beautiful, swimming suddenly into view and out into the blue-green haze again. Like coke-bottle glass, the color of the water; and when the yellow-tail school of fish flash into view it is just so beautiful!
We went fishing on a boat one day, and Sebastian caught a beautiful Dorado. These fish are gorgeous; aquamarine and deep teal blue on the top, then iridescent fading to yellow on the underside. They fight hard also! We ate it for dinner, and it was scrumptious!
Every day we had fresh fish ceviche, which is like pickled fish with salsa; and cooked fish fixed various ways. The cooks are very good, and it is a blessing to me that I don't have to do anything== and they feed us! :)
The hotel is built on a hot springs, with safe drinking water, and the hot water bubbles up in the ocean floor as you swim, which is wonderful. The water is very refreshing, but warm. When it is so hot outside, the pool water is almost too warm for comfort, but in the winter it is lovely.
I read a lot-- the biography of the great Russian poet, Anna Akhmatova, and all the cruel changes she lived through from before the Russian revolution through to her death in 1966. The harrowing Stalin era was so awful. I have loved her poetry, although I can't read it in the original Russian. I have always been intrigued that she was a devoted follower of Pushkin, and also used Russian fairytales and folklore in her work.
I also read a great book called The Emigrants, by Sebald. This book is wonderfully written, beautifully written-- it was called a masterpiece by the great critic Susan Sonntag. I highly recommend it. It covers the whole century in Western Europe, that the Akhmatova book covers in Russia. It is amazing to think about what that whole century entails, and how people's lives were before and during and after those big wars, WWI and WWII.
It was so great to sleep, take siestas, swim slowly in the pool at night before bed. I had forgotten how to live at that lovely more humane pace. I am especially grateful to not have had to see a tv for a whole week, and no news. It was great. I feel terrible about the outcome of our local special election. Without John Laird winning, I feel hopeless that the budget in our state will ever be solved. I just read that more and more Americans are being what I consider to be falsely informed by Fox news, and turned against the President and the efforts to reform the laws holding the corporations in check. It is a dismal time to be getting old, and to be losing the energy to keep fighting for better laws. It totally feels like the time before WWI in my thoughts-- so I am very afraid of escalation of hatred and fear at Iran, and pro-war activities, instead of beefed-up diplomacy. "when will we ever learn, when will we ever learn?"
Still, it was so good to have that 1 week of a kinder, gentler vacation time, and time with both my sons!
I had a wonderful time fishing with Sebastian and Andy, in Baja. We have been to the hotel, Spa Buenavista, on the East Cape, on the Sea of Cortez, about an hour north of Cabo San Lucas, about 5 times over the last 20 years. Pat and her daughter Jenn went with us just before she went to Afghanistan, and we also went the first time with my parents, just before my dad died in 1994, when the boys were very little. It was a new experience to be there with such grown-up young men-- Sebastian brought his friend Josh, who also loves to spear fish. Andy came from San Diego, where he has been staying with a friend this summer. One of the hardest things for me at this time is to convince my sons that each of them have the right to respect for different beliefs and ways of doing things-- we are all so critical, and we are sure we are "right". I want them to both find themselves with room in the world, and able to be good brothers, even with such widely different viewpoints. Andy will always be on the creative-artistic side, and Sebastian will probably always want to do something very useful in the world, and mainstream in content. Andy brought some bauble-goggles, and there was a lady there who was the daughter of a Parisian couturier, who gave him a lot of credit and positive feedback for his fashion-sense. On the other side, there were some very experienced technical fishermen, who were very helpful to Sebastian, and impressed with his spear-fishing skills, and enjoying his and Josh's fun company. There were people from Australia, Canada, France, Switzerland and Germany this time, but not so many Americans. Of course we were there 1 week after their big fishing competition, the Bisbee, which draws fishermen from all over the USA, so that may be part of the reason for a slow week.
I love being able to swim in warm water, and there is a small reef with a jetty about a 1/2 mile down the beach-- a perfect distance to swim and then be able to snorkel, then come back again. I was able to see the fish, and they are so beautiful, swimming suddenly into view and out into the blue-green haze again. Like coke-bottle glass, the color of the water; and when the yellow-tail school of fish flash into view it is just so beautiful!
We went fishing on a boat one day, and Sebastian caught a beautiful Dorado. These fish are gorgeous; aquamarine and deep teal blue on the top, then iridescent fading to yellow on the underside. They fight hard also! We ate it for dinner, and it was scrumptious!
Every day we had fresh fish ceviche, which is like pickled fish with salsa; and cooked fish fixed various ways. The cooks are very good, and it is a blessing to me that I don't have to do anything== and they feed us! :)
The hotel is built on a hot springs, with safe drinking water, and the hot water bubbles up in the ocean floor as you swim, which is wonderful. The water is very refreshing, but warm. When it is so hot outside, the pool water is almost too warm for comfort, but in the winter it is lovely.
I read a lot-- the biography of the great Russian poet, Anna Akhmatova, and all the cruel changes she lived through from before the Russian revolution through to her death in 1966. The harrowing Stalin era was so awful. I have loved her poetry, although I can't read it in the original Russian. I have always been intrigued that she was a devoted follower of Pushkin, and also used Russian fairytales and folklore in her work.
I also read a great book called The Emigrants, by Sebald. This book is wonderfully written, beautifully written-- it was called a masterpiece by the great critic Susan Sonntag. I highly recommend it. It covers the whole century in Western Europe, that the Akhmatova book covers in Russia. It is amazing to think about what that whole century entails, and how people's lives were before and during and after those big wars, WWI and WWII.
It was so great to sleep, take siestas, swim slowly in the pool at night before bed. I had forgotten how to live at that lovely more humane pace. I am especially grateful to not have had to see a tv for a whole week, and no news. It was great. I feel terrible about the outcome of our local special election. Without John Laird winning, I feel hopeless that the budget in our state will ever be solved. I just read that more and more Americans are being what I consider to be falsely informed by Fox news, and turned against the President and the efforts to reform the laws holding the corporations in check. It is a dismal time to be getting old, and to be losing the energy to keep fighting for better laws. It totally feels like the time before WWI in my thoughts-- so I am very afraid of escalation of hatred and fear at Iran, and pro-war activities, instead of beefed-up diplomacy. "when will we ever learn, when will we ever learn?"
Still, it was so good to have that 1 week of a kinder, gentler vacation time, and time with both my sons!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Terrorist Sentenced
Dear friends,
I loved the opinion written by Justice Young. Please see the entire thing below. But also, I put in bold the paragraph I think deserves to be circulated widely, as widely as possible. Unfortunately, facebook will not let me post it because it is too long. I may post it in 2 parts. Love, martina
Shoe Bomber Sentenced
Remember the guy who got on a plane with a bomb built into his shoe and tried to light it?
Did you know his trial is over?
Did you know he was sentenced?
Did you see/hear any of the judge's comments on TV or Radio?
Didn't think so.!!!
Everyone should hear what the judge had to say.
Ruling by Judge William Young, US District Court.
Prior to sentencing, the Judge asked the defendant if he had anything to say His response: After admitting his guilt to the court for the record, Reid also admitted his 'allegiance to Osama bin Laden, to Islam, and to the religion of Allah,' defiantly stating, 'I think I will not apologize for my actions,' and told the court 'I am at war with your country.'
Judge Young then delivered the statement quoted below:
Judge Young: 'Mr. Richard C. Reid, hearken now to the sentence the Court imposes upon you.
On counts 1, 5 and 6 the Court sentences you to life in prison in the custody of the United States Attorney General. On counts 2, 3, 4 and 7, the Court sentences you to 20 years in prison on each count, the sentence on each count to run consecutively. (That's 80 years.)
On count 8 the Court sentences you to the mandatory 30 years again, to be served consecutively to the 80 years just imposed. The Court imposes upon you for each of the eight counts a fine of $250,000 that's an aggregate fine of $2 million. The Court accepts the government's recommendation with respect to restitution and orders restitution in the amount of $298.17 to Andre Bousquet and $5,784 to American Airlines.
The Court imposes upon you an $800 special assessment. The Court imposes upon you five years supervised release simply because the law requires it. But the life sentences are real life sentences so I need go no further.
This is the sentence that is provided for by our statutes. It is a fair and just sentence. It is a righteous sentence.
Now, let me explain this to you. We are not afraid of you or any of your terrorist co-conspirators, Mr. Reid. We are Americans. We have been through the fire before. There is too much war talk here and I say that to everyone with the utmost respect. Here in this court, we deal with individuals as individuals and care for individuals as individuals. As human beings, we reach out for justice.
You are not an enemy combatant. You are a terrorist. You are not a soldier in any war. You are a terrorist. To give you that reference, to call you a soldier, gives you far too much stature. Whether the officers of government do it or your attorney does it, or if you think you are a soldier, you are not----- you are a terrorist. And we do not negotiate with terrorists. We do not meet with terrorists. We do not sign documents with terrorists. We hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice.
So war talk is way out of line in this court You are a big fellow. But you are not that big. You're no warrior. I've known warriors. You are a terrorist. A species of criminal that is guilty of multiple attempted murders. In a very real sense, State Trooper Santiago had it right when you first were taken off that plane and into custody and you wondered where the press and the TV crews were, and he said: 'You're no big deal. '
You are no big deal.
What your able counsel and what the equally able United States attorneys have grappled with and what I have as honestly as I know how tried to grapple with, is why you did something so horrific. What was it that led you here to this courtroom today?
I have listened respectfully to what you have to say. And I ask you to search your heart and ask yourself what sort of unfathomable hate led you to do what you are guilty and admit you are guilty of doing? And, I have an answer for you. It may not satisfy you, but as I search this entire record, it comes as close to understanding as I know.
It seems to me you hate the one thing that to us is most precious. You hate our freedom. Our individual freedom. Our individual freedom to live as we choose, to come and go as we choose, to believe or not believe as we individually choose. Here, in this society, the very wind carries freedom. It carries it everywhere from sea to shining sea. It is because we prize individual freedom so much that you are here in this beautiful courtroom, so that everyone can see, truly see, that justice is administered fairly, individually, and discretely. It is for freedom's sake that your lawyers are striving so vigorously on your behalf, have filed appeals, will go on in their representation of you before other judges.
We Americans are all about freedom. Because we all know that the way we treat you, Mr. Reid, is the measure of our own liberties. Make no mistake though. It is yet true that we will bear any burden; pay any price, to preserve our freedoms. Look around this courtroom. Mark it well. The world is not going to long remember what you or I say here. The day after tomorrow, it will be forgotten, but this, however, will long endure.
Here in this courtroom and courtrooms all across America , the American people will gather to see that justice, individual justice, justice, not war, individual justice is in fact being done. The very President of the United States through his officers will have to come into courtrooms and lay out evidence on which specific matters can be judged and juries of citizens will gather to sit and judge that evidence democratically, to mold and shape and refine our sense of justice.
See that flag, Mr. Reid? That's the flag of the United States of America .. That flag will fly there long after this is all forgotten. That flag stands for freedom. And it always will.
Mr. Custody Officer. Stand him down.
So, how much of this Judge's comments did we hear on our TV sets? We need more judges like Judge Young . Pass this around. Everyone should and needs to hear what this fine judge had to say. Powerful words that strike home.
Please SEND this----so that everyone has a chance to read it.
I loved the opinion written by Justice Young. Please see the entire thing below. But also, I put in bold the paragraph I think deserves to be circulated widely, as widely as possible. Unfortunately, facebook will not let me post it because it is too long. I may post it in 2 parts. Love, martina
Shoe Bomber Sentenced
Remember the guy who got on a plane with a bomb built into his shoe and tried to light it?
Did you know his trial is over?
Did you know he was sentenced?
Did you see/hear any of the judge's comments on TV or Radio?
Didn't think so.!!!
Everyone should hear what the judge had to say.
Ruling by Judge William Young, US District Court.
Prior to sentencing, the Judge asked the defendant if he had anything to say His response: After admitting his guilt to the court for the record, Reid also admitted his 'allegiance to Osama bin Laden, to Islam, and to the religion of Allah,' defiantly stating, 'I think I will not apologize for my actions,' and told the court 'I am at war with your country.'
Judge Young then delivered the statement quoted below:
Judge Young: 'Mr. Richard C. Reid, hearken now to the sentence the Court imposes upon you.
On counts 1, 5 and 6 the Court sentences you to life in prison in the custody of the United States Attorney General. On counts 2, 3, 4 and 7, the Court sentences you to 20 years in prison on each count, the sentence on each count to run consecutively. (That's 80 years.)
On count 8 the Court sentences you to the mandatory 30 years again, to be served consecutively to the 80 years just imposed. The Court imposes upon you for each of the eight counts a fine of $250,000 that's an aggregate fine of $2 million. The Court accepts the government's recommendation with respect to restitution and orders restitution in the amount of $298.17 to Andre Bousquet and $5,784 to American Airlines.
The Court imposes upon you an $800 special assessment. The Court imposes upon you five years supervised release simply because the law requires it. But the life sentences are real life sentences so I need go no further.
This is the sentence that is provided for by our statutes. It is a fair and just sentence. It is a righteous sentence.
Now, let me explain this to you. We are not afraid of you or any of your terrorist co-conspirators, Mr. Reid. We are Americans. We have been through the fire before. There is too much war talk here and I say that to everyone with the utmost respect. Here in this court, we deal with individuals as individuals and care for individuals as individuals. As human beings, we reach out for justice.
You are not an enemy combatant. You are a terrorist. You are not a soldier in any war. You are a terrorist. To give you that reference, to call you a soldier, gives you far too much stature. Whether the officers of government do it or your attorney does it, or if you think you are a soldier, you are not----- you are a terrorist. And we do not negotiate with terrorists. We do not meet with terrorists. We do not sign documents with terrorists. We hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice.
So war talk is way out of line in this court You are a big fellow. But you are not that big. You're no warrior. I've known warriors. You are a terrorist. A species of criminal that is guilty of multiple attempted murders. In a very real sense, State Trooper Santiago had it right when you first were taken off that plane and into custody and you wondered where the press and the TV crews were, and he said: 'You're no big deal. '
You are no big deal.
What your able counsel and what the equally able United States attorneys have grappled with and what I have as honestly as I know how tried to grapple with, is why you did something so horrific. What was it that led you here to this courtroom today?
I have listened respectfully to what you have to say. And I ask you to search your heart and ask yourself what sort of unfathomable hate led you to do what you are guilty and admit you are guilty of doing? And, I have an answer for you. It may not satisfy you, but as I search this entire record, it comes as close to understanding as I know.
It seems to me you hate the one thing that to us is most precious. You hate our freedom. Our individual freedom. Our individual freedom to live as we choose, to come and go as we choose, to believe or not believe as we individually choose. Here, in this society, the very wind carries freedom. It carries it everywhere from sea to shining sea. It is because we prize individual freedom so much that you are here in this beautiful courtroom, so that everyone can see, truly see, that justice is administered fairly, individually, and discretely. It is for freedom's sake that your lawyers are striving so vigorously on your behalf, have filed appeals, will go on in their representation of you before other judges.
We Americans are all about freedom. Because we all know that the way we treat you, Mr. Reid, is the measure of our own liberties. Make no mistake though. It is yet true that we will bear any burden; pay any price, to preserve our freedoms. Look around this courtroom. Mark it well. The world is not going to long remember what you or I say here. The day after tomorrow, it will be forgotten, but this, however, will long endure.
Here in this courtroom and courtrooms all across America , the American people will gather to see that justice, individual justice, justice, not war, individual justice is in fact being done. The very President of the United States through his officers will have to come into courtrooms and lay out evidence on which specific matters can be judged and juries of citizens will gather to sit and judge that evidence democratically, to mold and shape and refine our sense of justice.
See that flag, Mr. Reid? That's the flag of the United States of America .. That flag will fly there long after this is all forgotten. That flag stands for freedom. And it always will.
Mr. Custody Officer. Stand him down.
So, how much of this Judge's comments did we hear on our TV sets? We need more judges like Judge Young . Pass this around. Everyone should and needs to hear what this fine judge had to say. Powerful words that strike home.
Please SEND this----so that everyone has a chance to read it.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
RESPONSE TO KRISTOF
How can we encourage impoverished families to devote money more to educating kids and less to alcohol, tobacco and prostitution?
The patterns of self-discipline, respectful cooperation, and delayed gratification, within close-knit and healthy families are the real goal. Teaching by example, so that the children see the joy and love in their parents' willingness to forego a momentary pleasure in order to see them grow stronger and more able to be productive and successful in life is paramount. Domestic violence, emotional abuse and addiction teach the next generation to be violent, abusive and addicted. In each way that we help break the cycle, reduce the violence, advocate for family life and safety for communities, we make the future better. We can inspire hope, and we can offer incentives. I liked the posting which recommended sending financial planners in the Peace Corps. I also liked the posting about the overseas workers' domestic help's way of spending the money they make to better their families' lives. I recently was upset by my son speaking about some of the UN workers raping kids in Africa. You Tube makes all this material up close and personal; --butchery, madness, gang violence, lawlessness. We need to keep inspiring hope for progress. Archbishop Tutu's wonderful modeling of forgiveness is important. Alcoholics Anonymous is really important too. Without a hierarchy to support, it is a free organization for all who need it to help them recover from addiction. It is possible to become sober, and to find joy again. Each person needs to do this for himself, without coersion. Women can be better financial planners for the family, but ultimately, for families to be strong and resilient, the men need to become healthy and un-numb, and non-violent, and become better partners. The best incentive is "the pursuit of happiness"-- which indeed should include healthiness and self-respect.
The patterns of self-discipline, respectful cooperation, and delayed gratification, within close-knit and healthy families are the real goal. Teaching by example, so that the children see the joy and love in their parents' willingness to forego a momentary pleasure in order to see them grow stronger and more able to be productive and successful in life is paramount. Domestic violence, emotional abuse and addiction teach the next generation to be violent, abusive and addicted. In each way that we help break the cycle, reduce the violence, advocate for family life and safety for communities, we make the future better. We can inspire hope, and we can offer incentives. I liked the posting which recommended sending financial planners in the Peace Corps. I also liked the posting about the overseas workers' domestic help's way of spending the money they make to better their families' lives. I recently was upset by my son speaking about some of the UN workers raping kids in Africa. You Tube makes all this material up close and personal; --butchery, madness, gang violence, lawlessness. We need to keep inspiring hope for progress. Archbishop Tutu's wonderful modeling of forgiveness is important. Alcoholics Anonymous is really important too. Without a hierarchy to support, it is a free organization for all who need it to help them recover from addiction. It is possible to become sober, and to find joy again. Each person needs to do this for himself, without coersion. Women can be better financial planners for the family, but ultimately, for families to be strong and resilient, the men need to become healthy and un-numb, and non-violent, and become better partners. The best incentive is "the pursuit of happiness"-- which indeed should include healthiness and self-respect.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Teodoro Luna
This story came to me at the writing retreat. The title, which is the name of my grandson-to-be, came from a poem by Alberto Rios. I thank him for the name. In English, it is "Theodore Moon", but in Spanish, which is the right way to say it, it is "Teodoro Luna"
TEODORO LUNA
I will have a grandson named Teodoro Luna. He has been in my heart from the beginning, but has come here by a circuitous route; though blood, sweat and tears are only a part of the story. People expected him to be a gringo, but I know his geneology and he belongs to California, to the fields in high summer, the golden hills of home; and he belongs to the silvery moon floating in the balmy sky.
I, his grandmother, know that what he wants from me are ways to make him laugh and wonder, and also to cook him something good for dinner. He will call me Nana, but also he will tease me and call me by my name, which he has heard his grandfather call me in exasperation; but always, he will say it, my little Teodoro, with kindness and the sound of little bells in his heart. He will sometimes remind me of memories I thought I had forgotten, and he will hold the pen in his hand, as we start to tell each other stories. Usually, he will ask me to sing.
We will sing little songs in our pajamas, and he will know the words by heart by the time he can speak in sentences.
In the back yard, he will learn the names of flowers. I know that he will like trees more than I do, but he will learn the names of flowers just to please me-- and he will remember which ones need a lot of water-- like hydrangeas and cinerarias. He will also know which ones the deer don't like to eat-- like yellow daisies and lavender. He will know this is a useful like of flower.
Do you think he will be more fond of cats or dogs, I ask myself? I think he will be a boy who loves his dog; and he will love running on the beach with his dog. Somehow he will always understand what the dog is thinking; and the dog will stand quietly waiting for him to be ready to go on their next adventure. Only people will make him impatient.
I think Teodoro will want to eat hot tortillas straight from the comal. He will like things that taste like butter; and I will sigh and say "You inherited that set of tastebuds from me". He will swim like a fish, and I will never worry about him being in water. I think it will take some doing to convince his mother not to worry about this.
The thing about grandchildren is that they are magical. You don't have to be their mother, to make schedules and rules for school and chores, and when to watch tv or read a book. You are allowed the luxury of imagination and play, and having a good time. The time can be quite elastic-- whole Saturday afternoons, even whole weekends during vacations.
Teodoro and I will drink hot chocolate in winter and homemade lemonade in summer. We will go pick fruit for making cobblers. We will take naps on the porch, and tell each other about our dreams.
TEODORO LUNA
I will have a grandson named Teodoro Luna. He has been in my heart from the beginning, but has come here by a circuitous route; though blood, sweat and tears are only a part of the story. People expected him to be a gringo, but I know his geneology and he belongs to California, to the fields in high summer, the golden hills of home; and he belongs to the silvery moon floating in the balmy sky.
I, his grandmother, know that what he wants from me are ways to make him laugh and wonder, and also to cook him something good for dinner. He will call me Nana, but also he will tease me and call me by my name, which he has heard his grandfather call me in exasperation; but always, he will say it, my little Teodoro, with kindness and the sound of little bells in his heart. He will sometimes remind me of memories I thought I had forgotten, and he will hold the pen in his hand, as we start to tell each other stories. Usually, he will ask me to sing.
We will sing little songs in our pajamas, and he will know the words by heart by the time he can speak in sentences.
In the back yard, he will learn the names of flowers. I know that he will like trees more than I do, but he will learn the names of flowers just to please me-- and he will remember which ones need a lot of water-- like hydrangeas and cinerarias. He will also know which ones the deer don't like to eat-- like yellow daisies and lavender. He will know this is a useful like of flower.
Do you think he will be more fond of cats or dogs, I ask myself? I think he will be a boy who loves his dog; and he will love running on the beach with his dog. Somehow he will always understand what the dog is thinking; and the dog will stand quietly waiting for him to be ready to go on their next adventure. Only people will make him impatient.
I think Teodoro will want to eat hot tortillas straight from the comal. He will like things that taste like butter; and I will sigh and say "You inherited that set of tastebuds from me". He will swim like a fish, and I will never worry about him being in water. I think it will take some doing to convince his mother not to worry about this.
The thing about grandchildren is that they are magical. You don't have to be their mother, to make schedules and rules for school and chores, and when to watch tv or read a book. You are allowed the luxury of imagination and play, and having a good time. The time can be quite elastic-- whole Saturday afternoons, even whole weekends during vacations.
Teodoro and I will drink hot chocolate in winter and homemade lemonade in summer. We will go pick fruit for making cobblers. We will take naps on the porch, and tell each other about our dreams.
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