Nuclear Peace?

It is too early to tell but it looks promising that the world powers may finally have a means to craft nuclear peace with Iran. That is something to celebrate. The deed is not done. But the thinking has made a great breakthrough.

Why is this so important? For two reasons that pop to mind:

First, Iran has suffered long enough from economic sanctions imposed by the global community for acts committed in the name of their sovereignty and religion without regard to the sovereignty and religion of the rest of the world community. That is a stark fact. It has to be recognized to understand what has happened over the past 30 years.

Second, the global community – as diverse and divisive as it is – was able to keep a unified voice in dealing with Iran in this matter.

Of course there are other points to make. One would be the global community accepting the fact that nuclear power is important and vital for energy generation without water and fossil fuels heading into the future. For me this is a valuable given. Of course safer nuclear power generation needs to be invented, secured and implemented. Spent fuel rods will poison the planet forever if we don’t find a solution to using those fuel rods completely.

Another point would be this: in the land of oil, nuclear energy generation is vitally important. Oil and natural gas are finite. They will one day be extinct. Mankind needs to replace this energy source with another one. Hopefully the new one will be infinite, plentiful and not injurious to the planet’s health! Our physicists need to continue researching solutions. And the engineers, too! Get at it boys and girls. Our future depends on you.

Still another point: without the politics of oil world peace has a stunning chance to succeed. It is time we all get this point.

With nuclear peace and energy solutions I think the world community can finally sit down in clusters of knowledgeable people and discuss other big issues that lie before us:

• Religious freedom and getting along in a world of cultural diversity
• Clean drinking water supplies for the entire people of the world
• Clean and productive soils worldwide for the growth and sustenance of the world’s peoples
• Access to health services to enable all peoples to live out their potential
• Access to education and research for everyone able so that we can continue to live in sustainable peace.

So many barriers we have had to deal with. Each and every one of them have been manmade. Each was manageable. Each can be put behind us so that we can move forward in time, all of us together. No nation should be pre-eminent. No religion should be the ‘one and only’. No race shall outshine all others.

It is time to awaken to our potential and make it happen. Those of ill will and bad playing habits will need rehabilitation services. Any volunteers for that duty?

April 14, 2015

Filling Holes

You buy a new home. You assess the exterior to be sure it is weather tight. You gaze on the property’s curb appeal and wonder how it can be improved. Once weather tight, what should I tackle next? The lawn, shrubs, tree trimming, flower planting, overall design of the landscaping? How about the driveway? Does it need patching or replacement?

These are the concerns outdoors, but the indoors, now that’s a whole other topic. Before moving in what flooring needs replacement or at least deep cleaning? And the paint; are the colors right for us and our décor? What about rooms in which the walls are dirty and scarred by previous residents? Are repairs needed?

Of course the status of the kitchen and bathrooms need to be assessed. Before long we may have some projects to take on to make the place our own, and to update common conveniences.

That leads to an inspection of plumbing, electrical, heating and air conditioning. Are all of these systems whole and working properly? Might they need preventive maintenance soon, or even replacement? So much to think about and plan. And of course we need to time the expenses for times we are most likely to have the funds to pursue these projects.

Holes. Holes in our home – the gaps between what we expect and what we have.

Similar to our lives, too. What we expect from life, and in life, compared with what actually exists. Are things working out as expected from past dreams? Or are there glaring gaps? And if the latter, what do we do about it?

There are many tactics to examine. We can determine just how important our dreams and expectations were and whether they were important at all. We adapt to circumstances fairly easily most of the time. When it comes to dreams being fulfilled, however, the adjustment is a bit more difficult.

In my own life I had dreams of owning a big home sustained by a magically huge income from investments and brilliant business careers!  Of course I would dream of that, in the days when still a teenager filled with wonder at what lay ahead. That’s what those years are for. A teenager thinks about what interests him/her. What might that interest importune as a way of living, or a career, or financial success? At that time of life all things are possible.

Even kids living in poverty are able to scan the news stories based on kids striking it rich in the entertainment industry, or the technology field. There are magical stories readily available to fuel the belief that anyone can get rich if they play their cards right, or if they are very lucky at just the right time!

Sure. Anything is possible. But as we grow older, as we deal with the day to day living details we mature our thinking and focus on what most important: food, shelter, clothing, health and relationships. Safety first; happiness second. The basics of life. Learned the hard way with a helping hand from time to time from family and friends.

Help from the family is not guaranteed. Many families live lives of diverse expectations. College education is not a given in most families. High school graduation, yes, college degree no. In such families the depth of a person’s life is not computed with educational achievement. Somehow they are kept separate.

Not in our family. Education and happiness were equated. A person in the family simply kept going to school until they felt they were ready to go out on their own. A bachelor’s degree at the time was the primary marker to begin life on one’s own. But more study beckoned and I returned twice to higher education, earning a master’s degree in the early 1980’s. That was my normal. Others stopped at the four-year degree, still others went on to a PhD and even post doctoral study.

It mattered to many that career challenges begged for more education. That is how entire industries move forward to develop new technology, new services and products. We, the people, participate in this movement with our curiosity, intellect, training and education. We search for new things and make them real. We who are alert and willing will make this happen. All others will have to follow or fall by the wayside. Theirs is not an owner’s role – part and parcel of what is happening. They are just there, users and takers, not givers and creators.

Although America is a consumer’s culture, it has also been a makers culture. What is real, shared and used, is what we make and create. And that is the business of recognizing holes and filling them intelligently. Finding the holes and filling them.

It works in personal lives, too. As we move beyond one phase change to another we discover holes and will work to fill them. The question is: How well will we fill the holes? How serious will our efforts be in learning about the holes and what is truly needed to fill them?

Time, honesty and self awareness -- the magical ingredients to doing this work. Will we be up to the task? Well now, that's the real question isn't it?

April 13, 2015

Thought for the Day

Seasons’ Change

As we experience spring’s budding we are reminded of winter’s passing. As well we are mindful of summer’s approach.

Having been born to a two-season climate (southern California) while spending the vast majority of my life in four-season climates, I can recall how different life is in the two different weather zones. One simple, the other complex, yet richer in the nuance of passing time. The days are each so different. Not all are good for a picnic spontaneously planned! And many a walk in the woods was spoiled by rain but never a sudden thunderstorm! Or a walk in the park during a light snow fall. Each has its allure.

Spring or winter. Four seasons or two. Each has its purpose, its value.

Best we give this some thought as we anxiously await warmer weather and green growing things.

April 11, 2015

Wanting or Needing?

At the teen group meeting the other night we went around the room asking what was the best thing that happened this week for them and what was the worst thing. The usual sorts of things came out, some funny some not so funny. One girl expressed anger that her parents think she has demonstrated high risk behavior but denied it vigorously. When asked to expand on her comments, she claimed her folks examined her phone data and learned she had been texting and querying various topics that indicated her interest in topics that were drug related or plot-based planning. The word terrorist jumped into the conversation, from where I’m not sure.

The group commented that some of her queries would be easily misunderstood by anyone scanning her texts. She was asked why she had done this and was it really a tease to her parents?

She became quite distressed and accused us of telling her what to do. Combative. Emotional. Without warning or build-up. Obviously some subtext was present of which we were unaware. Others in the room became uneasy. Soon our hour was over and with relief we ended the session and made our exit. I suspect most of us were glad the hour was over.

On the drive home I thought and rethought the exchanges with this girl. The illogical, irrational turn of the discussion’s trajectory was very odd. Eventually it alarmed me. Had I been trained in this I think I would have reported the incident to the program staff and suggested an intervention and possibly a hospitalization. Her parents were already considering moving her into a residential rehab facility and this had scared the girl. Perhaps the parents’ instincts were spot on?

We won’t know for another week or so what if anything came of this incident. It does serve to illustrate what issues we encounter in this drug/alcohol abuse rehab program we are involved in. Although we come to it from an Alcoholics Anonymous perspective, we are embedded in the substance abuse program. Ours is a means to get the kids to discuss their issues and move forward toward a life without substance abuse be it alcohol or drugs. Just the talking about these matters is a positive step. You might be surprised at how difficult it is to get these young people to talk about their issues, however. They will talk about anything but.

Of course there is group sharing with gales of laughter and gossipy sniggers all about their use patterns and how they went over the top on such and such a date. Or event, or circumstance…blah, blah, blah. A lot of blah! It is maddening to me to watch them avoid the hard work of facing their problems. They say they don’t have a problem! That others are projecting on them the ‘problem’. But we all know they are afflicted.

With what, you say? With the illusion that they are fully responsible adults and can do as they wish. These are kids of 13 to 17 years of age. Most are not even able to discuss post puberty issues yet. And even then with smirks and feigned sophistication. No they are mostly immature and unwilling to say that word, let alone be willing to discuss the issues for which they have been forced to enroll in the program. They are in full denial of their problems.

A few of the older kids have come to their own awareness of this and you can read it in their eyes. They ‘get it’ and they seem embarrassed that we adult volunteers have to witness the silliness of their peers. Because of their reaction I know the program works. It just takes time and individual participants react in their own time to deal with the reality.

I will see them tonight and it will be interesting to learn if anything came from last week’s incident. It is not always easy to keep such momentum on track or follow it; two or three new kids join the group each week while others are graduating or disappearing. We don’t always know why they disappear. Some are in resident treatment centers. Others are in jail. A very few wind up in prison. It all depends on how honest the kids are with their inner selves and with each other.

The more open ones graduate to a life of self control and unfolding potential. The less open ones repeat their behaviors over and over again and sink below the waves of society never to be seen again. One always wonders how much potential is lost to this disease of substance abuse. And why it goes on and on.

It is a medical and psychological condition. Not a criminal one. Yet that is the ultimate treatment, isn't it? I wonder how we can save them from this fruitless, painful devolution?

April 10, 2015

Election Day Afterthoughts

I've lost track of the years I've served as an election judge. It must be at least six years, probably more. Of course some years there is no election held, but in most years at least one election is scheduled and sometimes two. One doesn't make a living from this work; I think the most I earned from the election commission was $364 for a two-election year. Still there are rewards.

Like Tuesday's election. It was a municipal election in the main. Two of our town’s aldermen were running in contested elections; one won, the other lost. All four of the candidates I know. Of course I had my favorites: one lost, one prevailed. And so it goes.

Yesterday’s post made a claim that some would think bold. I said the story of the election would not be who won or lost, but rather who didn’t bother to vote. In our polling place four precincts were served with about 2700 eligible voters. Only 459 of them bothered to turn out. Not even 20%; barely 17%! That is a blotch on the voters in Warrenville, Illinois. At least 25% ought to have turned out. Better if 55% or more had turned out.

The story in America is citizen involvement and active understanding of their government. The issues are often tiny but taken as a whole make up large principles that matter in the long run. Governance is about the long term. It’s about building long term futures for generations of citizens now alive and yet to come. Building blocks of decisions are made one at a time. Sometimes these seem insignificant but that would be in error.

Democracy is a labor intensive deal. We, the citizens, have the authority and responsibility to know the issues, understand them well, and know and trust candidates we will select to do our business. Sometimes we volunteer to be that candidate; mostly we support others in that role. But in all instances it is our duty to know, study, spend time and energy, and then take action to vote and to urge others to vote. That behavior will maintain our democracy in good health. Ignoring our democracy and not participating in it will surely lead to its death.

In most of our communities there are citizens who talk, teach, write and report on civic matters so others will have the opportunity to understand the issues. The tragedy in most of these communities is the general public doesn't pay attention, is easily led by nonsense chatter about some issues, and then doesn't bother to vote. Such is/was the case in Warrenville, Illinois on April 7, 2015.

The further tragedy is/was that most communities in the USA suffer from the same ailment.

Oh, people will say they can’t trust the politicians. But who made the politicians in the first place? Those who don’t vote truly make politicians possible. Now, I’m using a negative definition of the term ‘politician’. My definition is: ‘A person who intentionally misleads others in order to gain elected office and maintain that position for his/her own self interest or gain.’ I know that is a cynical view. But having been an elected official and knowing what my intentions were and how irrelevant they were treated by voters taught me that my efforts were not appreciated in the main. My decisions were well thought out and focused on the long term. Such decisions are often misunderstood by the non-involved. So they vote against you. This happens a lot in most communities. And it produces local governments that do not work effectively in managing the long term affairs of the community. In Warrenville we are most fortunate. Long term concerns rule the daily routines. The community is successful. But it will remain so only if the electorate fulfills its duty by knowing and understanding the issues before it and open to elections.

Such is the tenuous nature of any democracy. It is healthy only as long as its people work hard to make it so. Knowledge is power. Ignorance breeds corruption and loss of power except for those stealing it for their own gain.

Which is our type of democracy? Tenuous and in danger? Or healthy and vibrant. Only the voters have the power to make that decision. Where do you stand with your duty?

April 9, 2015

Power Within

The waitress walked with some difficulty. Her shoes were over-sized around her toes, and the crepe soles hinted the shoes were orthotically designed to fit just her feet. Her eyes were large and extended, walleyed. Her complexion was mottled and lined. I guessed her age to be 60-ish. Gnarled hands and knuckles informed the world this was a sufferer of arthritis. Yet she waitressed, carrying heavy platters, trays of hot food to far off tables and booths. Countless trips to and from the beverage center added to her agonies.

Yet when she approached me for my order, her mouth formed a smile as big as the restaurant. Hospitality was her middle name yet her body was not designed for this job. Clearly she labored through her shift in pain and physical awkwardness.

I ate at this restaurant nearly every day, sometimes twice a day. It was half way between my apartment and the L station in Oak Park, Illinois. I knew the owners – Carol and George – who were hard task masters on themselves and their hired help. Barking orders to them, they were not friendly employers. They were wonderfully welcoming to their customers, however. That’s why I came back over and over.

The waitress didn’t last long in this atmosphere. Carol chided her on being slow and not very attractive. But then the work didn’t require attractive, did it? No, just diligence, tolerance, and a high threshold for pain.

I remember being impressed by this waitress the first time I met her. So impressed I wrote a poem about her spirit and inner beauty. In those days I wrote some poetry; I was a new college grad, commuting to the Loop in Chicago. Living alone with my family in New York, I was lonely. And ungainly in my youth. Unknowing, too, in my understanding of the world. But I was aware of beauty in places, things and people.

A short time later Martin Luther King. Jr. would be assassinated and I would be moved to enter seminary. It was 1968 and America was deeply disturbed by civil strive over civil rights as well as broad unrest over the war in Viet Nam. Flower Power and Hippies, pot and free sex, Haight-Ashbury and Woodstock – those were the names in the news in those days. Turmoil and smiles, however. Question marks everywhere and lively chats at the water cooler and cocktail lounge.

Unrest may describe a person or an era or a clash of movements and ideology. But unrest is also a clue to an inner person wanting to emerge. Some power tingles and twinges the consciousness and the individual begins to express feelings and ideas. From this inner sense comes a power to say, think or do something different than what he has experienced in the past.

This emergent inner person is the power within each of us. We become aware we can do more than what we have been doing. We stretch and move in ways unfamiliar.

Such is the way we slowly grow into mature, conscious persons. We begin to think in ways that push forward ideas and commitment to action. We realize the world is a place, that people fill the places, and people make things happen.  News is mostly made by people acting within their spaces. Those acts gather into movements as more people join in similar actions. A trend line forms and history takes a shape.

Thus people, individuals and groups, do things and develop a form of power from those actions. They are expressing a power from within. They are doing, thinking, acting. The world is changed a little bit from this. And later, probably much later, a historical note documents the happening.

Such is the power of an individual. Such is the power within each of us. To do the work of the world, form communities, help one another, support causes large and small, and support governments and national actions. We make a difference. More so if we are aware we are doing so.

Education comes from this inner power. so too, charity, church, entrepreneurial risk taking, writing, artistic expression and so much more.

When asked ‘what can I do?’ Much. From the inner person, the person within, the power within. Each of us.

The meaning and worth of life is often found only from the power within. It deserves exploration and discovery.

How well is your power within?

April 8, 2015

Election Day

Today is Election Day. Municipal elections, local governing districts, too, give voters the opportunity to select the volunteers willing to do the public’s work for the next four years or so. Fire districts, park districts, too, are elected at this time. So too the boards of trustees of local community colleges, and libraries, and township boards, and oh so many other bodies we rely on but know so little about.

It may be the lack of our knowing that is the story of today’s elections. As a prominent democracy America’s elections are almost sacred proof that ordinary citizens have the combined intelligence to make good decisions on who will represent them in the halls of governance. And advice on referenda as well. Today’s elections will help form public policy as we go forward together.

The story of today’s elections…must include the lack of participation. Local elections garner less than 25% of voters’ attention. So much is decided by so few. And from that public policy becomes distorted, misunderstood, miscreated. Out of tune with what the people truly want for their community.

Lack of participation is not the only ailment. Another is lack of familiarity with the issues. Do we really know what is meant by deficit spending? Tax levies and equalized property valuations? Tax rates and sinking funds? How much policing is a good thing? And fire protection designs that protect our lives and our property? What are optimal issues for us to understand? And what are the issues best left to the elected officials and their professional support staff? Those are the people who study the issues in fine print so the best decisions can be made for the long term protection of public interests.

In our small town of Warrenville, Illinois, there are citizens who feel that building a traffic circle in place of a complicated ill aligned intersection is an expensive folly. They deem their local officials incapable of making this sort of decision in the best interests of the community. So they have built a political campaign to stop the roundabout. They have built an image around this issue as though the city fathers must be stupid and insensitive to the public if the roundabout continues to be an agenda item. Even so the roundabout issue has not been decided and is most unlikely to be built anytime soon. If ever.

Trouble is this. Warrenville is a community that has no debt. All of its infrastructure is up to date and paid for. All of the community’s public buildings are new or nearly new and built to high quality standards for long-term reliability, low cost maintenance, and energy efficiency. Even the infrastructure’s future replacement and major maintenance costs have been handled via an accruing sinking fund so the community can continue its reliability without accruing major future debt.

Warrenville also relies on shared revenues from federal, state and county governments for replacements of bridges, flood abatement structures, and the like. We have learned to live cooperatively among ourselves and among other communities to be strong and self reliant. We come to the aid of other communities when they need it as well. We are not an island self centered on our narrow interests.

No we are a well managed community well partnered with other local government entities who are also well managed.

But is this what a narrow interest group of wannabe politicians focus on? No; it is a roundabout ‘traffic circle’ they focus on as though this oddity ought not have a presence in our corporate lives. An alien concept like this, after all, should not be considered or discussed?

What hooey! Don’t focus on what is right and well with the community. Don’t focus on the problems that might be forming on our horizon for which we need to be prepared. No; focus on a truly meaningless issue, blow it out of all proportion, and then hope the election balances on this ill conceived business.

It is enough to shame us all.

And thus, in a democracy, nutty issues will emerge. It is up to the rest of us to restore sanity and proportion to the reality. And vote accordingly.

Do your duty America. Vote. Vote intelligently. Act and be responsible. Our future depends on it.

April 7, 2015