Japan

No words can adequately describe the catastrophe in Japan. An earthquake, a tsunami and a nuclear meltdown. Suffering beyond comprehension, but the Japanese people stand patiently in lines, hoping to receive bare necessities.

Reminds me of a WWII veteran that I interviewed several years ago. His brother had flown a P-38 Lightning fighter plane in the Pacific, but went down in 1945. My friend entered the service after graduation and shipped out to be part of the invasion of Japan when the bomb was dropped.

With this turn of events, this young man went in to establish health services instead of conquering. He began with a hatred for the Japanese, but left with a love for them. Why? They were polite, kind and respectful. Simple as that.

Now these dear people are facing another tragedy. We have no way to imagine the loss of life, homes, businesses, power, food and land. We can definitely help, and should, but we can also learn from their courteous way.

Americans have huge hearts and hate to see others suffer. We will help, but let us learn from the Japanese. We could be a little more polite, kind and respectful also.

One Writer's Life

Writing should be an easy task as I sit at my desk, but I suffer from declutteritis. I know God is not a God of confusion, but of peace, and He wants things to be done orderly. I want to think lofty thoughts, but mountains of unread magazines and books steal my creativity.

A most complicated task stares me in the face. I am sure I left it neat, but mysterious Mr. Messy slipped in and created chaos on my desk. The muse will not visit this scrambled, jumbled corner.

Starting with the book pile, I divide and conquer. Several piles grow on the floor nearby. I make a pile of already-read-to-be-returned to the library books. Next I stack the already-read-need-to-put-away books.

I group the how-to-write books beside the already-read books. I might need those. A mound of economics and history books crowds the how-to books. Lastly, I heap the miscellaneous books – how to read faster, biographies, computer for seniors and fiction – near the history books.

With multiple mounds of books on the floor, I attack my magazines. Three months of Christian Communicator. Every Christian writer should get this. Keeps us focused on what is important. I hope I get time to read these soon. They go near my Bible on the floor opposite the books.

Other writer magazines are next. Three months of two different ones. Wanting to get my money’s worth, I cannot part with any. Sometimes I share them with writer friends or tear pages out and file them away. Scanning them into the computer to save in computer files works – saved for another day. These are useful, and I cannot part with such treasures.

Voila! The desk is clear. Let the muse appear.

Doesn’t help. Words still don’t appear on the page. I fret. I stew. I type. Just anything until thoughts start forming. Words start appearing and the muse starts doing whatever muses do.

Like anything else in life, we must take the first step, then the second. Type the first word, then the second.

Confession and Apology

I had every intention of finishing my Black History series, but I realize right now may not be the time. You see, as I studied, I found that the Democratic Party consistently opposed civil rights and even repealed some of the laws that did get passed. They actually managed to remove Black Legislators who had been elected.

I guess I wanted to lay the facts out and then ask – why on earth do African Americans so vehemently support the Democratic Party? I realize that now the Democratic Party is the party of entitlements and welfare. Maybe that is why.

But, what started it? The Republican Party fought hard to give and protect equal civil rights.

That said, I now wonder about our public employees. I have not said much, but our state (Wisconsin) is broke. We do not have enough rich people to tax.

The public unions gladly take your dues and usually get Democrats elected for you. But have they really helped you? Why don’t you have the supplies you need if they are working for you? Why not put that money into your local schools and keep some control for yourself instead of paying dues?

Maybe the unions should give back just a little of that money to our schools for some of the basic supplies that are needed.

I know that there have been times when unions have really helped the poor workers. Now, however, they seem to clog the system with demands that are bringing the state down. Does it really have to take more than a year to negotiate a contract?

So, now the Democrat Senators have fled the state. I understand that the pink slips would not have gone out if they had come back. Are they actually helping the situation by doing this?

I do not believe the Republicans want to beat the workers into the ground. In fact, your average Republican is probably low and middle class. We live and work here too. Wisconsin does have some of the best civil service protections in the country.

I’ve read. I’ve studied. I have nothing to gain but maybe a state that won’t go bankrupt. I’m being transparent and honest. I want to understand and welcome your comments. I will not argue. I most likely will not comment. I only reserve the right to remove any comments that are vile and obscene.

With that, I hope to return to Black History next February when I can concentrate on the wonderful richness that these Americans have given our country.