Christmas 2016

Celebrating Christmas in 2016 is different. While I will treasure the moment of being with my family, I cannot escape the sense of caution as we approach January 2017, the inauguration of Donald Trump. What the election has done to me is solidify my awareness of the meaning of living in the moment. I do not have to be concerned about what I have no control over.

In the moment, I will be conscious of the love and good will in our family. I will remain in awe that I was gifted with such a great family.

The uncertainties about the future of our nation and its expected idiosyncratic approach to national and international affairs will hang in the background, but it will not be a major concern. I know that I can do little to change the projectory of potential chaos.

We will be reading about the events that transpire. Clearly, I hope for the best, but I am aware of the potential for catastrophic decisions. Our nation has been the enabling nation for so much good, even though we have been far from perfect.

My focus for Christmas and the future remains living in the moment. I know that the problems facing our world are immense, but in the big picture, they only threaten the people. Mother Earth will continue to exist for a very long time, even if not forever. We have been given the gift of life on a planet that so far appears unique. We know of no other planet where life exists, far less human life. The privilege of experiencing the joys of Christmas is repeated daily when we wake to a new day. The experiences, however mundane, are priceless. Christmas celebrations are special because they seemingly include many people beyond those who identify with the beliefs embodied by the day.

I surely look forward to every moment with my adult family and the children they have given us. I think of all the people who have been a support to me and hope that everyone will be able to feel the love of the day.

Thanksgiving 2016

THANKSGIVING 2016

The “shattering” election news stimulated me to appreciate a day of thanks for my blessings that exceed all expectation.

Fortunately, I live with such beautiful people. I realize that most people experience this gift of a loving family.  But, I am also aware that others are less fortunate. Circumstances and unfortunate decisions resulted in alienation and discord. Living in a loving family is gift for which I am thankful.

I am aware that I have the gift of living in a unique nation, blessed with natural beauty and copious richness. Although often marred by violence to others, our nation has given me

peace and many opportunities to provide service to others. My past encourages me to think that we will survive Trump and ultimately thrive.

Along my path in life there have been so many who have touched me with their dedication to their work in the service of others. Work introduced me to some great people who provided me with the excitement of reaching beyond my past to a better future.

It is almost a paradox that my age will spare my experiencing any of the potential negative effects of global warming. I may be vulnerable to decisions made by our new President, but I have the opportunity to support those who will fight to protect the advances gained in recent times, viz., inclusion of everyone in our body politic regardless of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, and beliefs.

As we prepare to hold hands at our table of Thanksgiving in New Orleans, I will be mindful of my children and families in Cambridge and New York. I will smile, knowing that all of them have given me so much. I am a grateful American who hopes to be on the side of those protecting the values that have made us so great. The melting pot of yesterday is still vibrant enough to gather more into our national story. The strength in shared values of inclusion will overcome any attempt to erode the gains of yesterday. No one need fear that the commitment those values will ever be compromised.

I am one very thankful person.

Trump 22 November

The last fourteen days have been strange. I never really considered the possibility that the American public could listen to Trump and discount the statements as mere rhetoric when they entered in polling booth. I was aware that many, many people throughout the nation were hurting because their local economies could no longer support them, as they were accustomed to. Migration was not a realistic option. They would not have the skills required for working in urban America. Moving elsewhere would represent no change. So many people have been left in the lurch when traditional workplaces for autos, machines, and clothing disappeared. The needs of America would require so many fewer people. They were left in the lurch. The plight of so many was a result of advancements in technology that eroded the structures of traditional employment. Suffer and be angry were a recipe that enabled people to look at Trump as some sort of savior.

I have recognized that the world of work has dramatically changed. Meaningful employment was becoming a scarce reality in Middle America. My solution, voiced by others, was Universal Basic Income (UBI) whereby the gains of some would be redistributed to ensure that everyone had a steady source of income. The idea of redistribution of wealth was never a realistic option at this time. However, without some such plan, I admit that anyone claiming to make matters better, as Trump did, would represent a viable political option.

The dramatic growth in unequal wealth has been identified as a problem that would fester the fabric of any society. Unless there is some measure of shared benefits, society becomes a source of distain. No one wants to be left out in the cold!

I know that many share anguish at a future marked by Trump. It is so unreal, except that it stares at us as the next President of the United States!

I have been trying to come to terms with the turn of events. I cannot bury myself in some imaginary world to avoid the reality of a Trump administration. I have to figure out a way to maintain a level of contentment.

I know that I am fortunate to have such a wonderful family. I enjoy life in a beautiful and peaceful setting. Reinforcing this reality as a gift will shelter me somewhat from any political shenanigans.

I have developed a mentality to focus on the moment, knowing that at each moment, I can be in touch with all of reality that extends far beyond national politics. The wonder of being aware that I exist in a universe that is so spectacular is overwhelming. It puts this moment of a political nightmare in perspective.

I will continue to reinforce my basic love for others, even those commanding high offices in our national government that I disagree with. I may find myself detesting some decisions and actions, but it will do me more harm to hate those people initiating those actions.

I will continue to support the basic reality that everyone is my brother and sister. Just because I was fortunate to be born in this nation makes me no better or worthy of more than anyone else. We are all in the community of Mother Earth.

It does appear that people that are tribal in their orientation still populate the world. Unable to see that all peoples are essentially the same, they most often see themselves identified with some, while discounting others. Our nation has its set of problems stemming from ethnic and religious differences. Similar problems are more dramatic in the Middle East, Africa, and the East. Islam is a problem for many, even for its adherents who differ by their identification with either the Shiite or Sunni traditions. It seems so primitive, but I cannot deny the reality.

My excitement at seeing growth in the tolerance of differences in ethnicity, gender, and sexuality may have jaundiced my vision. I thought that we had entered a new era. Maybe we are still in stages of early development. We need more time and effort to persuade more people to a vision of inclusion. Unfortunately, global warming may represent the possibility that we will ruin Mother Earth before we realize the benefits of living in peace with each other.

Politics - 12 Nov 2016

I am still awestruck by the election.  I am saddened by the turn of events.  While I can identify with the need to change the system, I am aware that the changes identified by the winner and his supporters were not consistent with my vision.

One would think that I would be accustomed to being on the wrong side of the majority.  I identified totally with Bernie Sanders but voted for Clinton because I envisioned a total stalemate with the Congress if he were elected.  If they could not see the wisdom in Obama's initiatives, how could I expect them to support those envisioned by Sanders?

I now have to deal with the reality of losing. While understanding the public's demand for real change, I tremble thinking of what will happen. I will be relieved to find that his consistent hypocrisy and lies will result in his finding it necessary to scale back his stated goals. Unfortunately, I admit that even a retrenchment will only anger me for his ability to have manipulated the public to vote for him.

Trump clearly won the necessary number of electoral votes even though the majority voted for Clinton. They voted for changes that I too wanted to be addressed. National political gridlock was insufferable. But, there were major differences. Our world has changed dramatically and rather quickly. Students graduating from high school with me in 1955 lived in a world that found peace with all sorts of opportunities to experience the American dream. Labor was a necessary ingredient of progress. Advanced technology would not emerge as a tool to destroy a way of life for many years. Eventually, machines rapidly changed the work environment. And in a few decades, the onslaught of advanced technology and computers started to revolutionize the work place. I have yet to read a credible way to restore productive jobs that are comparably compensated as experienced during the middle of the last century.  I will be pleased to see the economic gains associated with agreeing to support funding for repairing our infrastructure, but will remain upset that the Republican Congress resisted similar initiates during the Obama administration.

Again, I lost.

From my perspective, I fear that the gains of the assimilation of minorities will be eroded.  Strangely, this election makes me more sensitive to those who are different from me, since I am now clearly an outsider, if I ever there had been any doubt. I have become fearful to discuss my views with anyone without first knowing their views. I do not enjoy being an outsider, but I enjoy less being confrontational. Life is too short.

My ultimate fear is the impact of all the retrenchment from a more inclusive set of social and political values, both here, as well as elsewhere, e.g., England, France, and Hungary. The world is changing fast, including the efficient ways of killings others, e.g., drones delivering precisely targeted missiles. ISIS and other groups will erupt to protect their vision of reality. The distain between Sunnis, Shiites, and Kurds is not unlike the differences in our politics. We really are in a mess. Accepting others as one would want him or herself to be accepted is now a problem with devastating consequences. There are now so many, and easy, ways to kill.

Jesus promoted an ethic that envisioned loving your neighbor as yourself. John Rawls philosophized that "Each person possesses an inviolability founded on justice that even the welfare of society as a whole cannot override. For this reason justice denies that the loss of freedom for some is made right by a greater good shared by others." While I hope that the incoming government will make life better for those who supported Trump, I cannot envision this happening by bringing back lost jobs that are remunerated at the relative value of 1960. The need for these jobs no longer exists, thanks to increased use of robots. Jeremy Rivkin wrote "The End of Work" in 1995. His insights into the changing workplace has only accelerated in the 20 years. The complexity of this world and the interdependence of nations challenges us to envision a way "to love another as oneself" or die by global warming or violent warfare. The world we live in is terribly complex and intertwined.  We need a way to include everyone as we navigate uncharted history.

Alienation 10 November 2016

I feel very alienated from the reality of Trump’s election as president of the United States. It is so weird to know the reality of this election seems so unreal! Being old means that I can selfishly recognize that I may escape the full consequences of this election. However, being a grandparent brings me fully into a reality my death will still leave our six grandchildren to deal with the consequences of decisions made in the upcoming years.

As I look back into my history, alienation has apparently been a common thread. As a child, I did not feel the comfort of family. Home was always one second away from chaos. It was best to be playing baseball or basketball.

Entering the seminary seemed like a situation where I would be able to feel “at home” for the remainder of my life. Strangely enough, the Church became alien to me as I changed internally. There were many theologians who fathered my transition. What was once comforting became disconcerting. Eventually, to remain sane, I left and found that belonging to a family with Joan was as satisfying as I could have ever dreamed.

Working as a government employee in the Veterans Administration for nearly 35 years was generally a perfect place to use as many of my talents as possible. There were hitches along the way, but in general I looked forward to my work and the people who shared the same spirit.

The world of politics has always been interesting, but I seemed to always be an outsider. As my experience in the Church, I found myself generally endorsing views that were not prevalent. With the Church, I could leave. It is more difficult disassociating oneself from being a citizen. I learned to live with an identity that was shared with relatively few. I was a minority, but there was support for my views. There were various sources of support in the print media. I may have been a minority, but it was a significant minority.

Now, I am dealing with alienation in a more dramatic way.  Historically, I may have been one of a minority of people who one could characterize as liberal, if not radical. However, I was able to identify steps of advancement. Anti-War movements were somewhat novel when Vietnam protests occurred. Now, there are many brilliant scholars who question the nation’s prevalence of resorting to military interventions to solve conflicts. Civil rights was a cause for marching in the 60’s, but over the last 50 years, the rights of everyone are now legally recognized, even if resistance sometimes occurs. Discrimination is now commonly considered unlawful. The rights of women are recognized as equal to males, even though resistance still occurs in the workplace and society, in general.

The 2016 election marks a moment when the gains of the past 50 years are jeopardized. I can look forward to a series of government decisions that will strike at the steps of progress experienced in our society. It feels so weird to consider further progress as impossible for the foreseeable future. Now, success will be identified as searching for ways to hold onto some of the gains that our society has achieved.

When I experience alienation or moments of pure joy, it helps to write about that experience. It provides some comfort to know that I am capturing the human experience that only occurs when one lives. And so, for the moment, I can live to experience this alienation as part of my human experience. Hopefully, I will live long enough to capture the next chapter of life when the turmoil of the forthcoming administration ends.

Presidential Election 2016

A long time ago, I started this blog at my daughter’s suggestion which I adopted because I wanted some way to share my existence with my grandchildren, per chance I did not live long enough to share my ideas in person. In that vein, I want them to know the agony their grandfather endured in the presidential election of 2016.

I wrote to Bernie Sanders before he announced his intention to run for the Democratic nomination to suggest that he would be a great candidate. I even suggested that I would volunteer my “skills”. Surely, my email had no influence over his decision, but I was pleased with his willingness to run.

When Clinton joined him as a competitor, I still saw him as the one person in my lifetime that actually supported the values I held dear. I am essentially a socialist, measured by the values I endorse. I never felt that my talents and efforts should be compensated at the expense of others who did not enjoy the same traits and education. I always envisioned the world as a community. We were all essentially the same, albeit the circumstances in which people lived were different, at times starkly so.

At the time, I did not want Hillary to be nominated. I did not want her in the White House. My reasoning was rather straightforward. I hated her use of her former positions, especially Secretary of State, to secure outlandish compensation for speeches. I also grew to hate the methods of the Clinton Foundation to secure funding that seemed to be less than altruistic. I surely did not want her husband back in the White House. When he was in office, I wrote to the Democratic National Committee to share my total distain for his use of polls to determine what initiatives he would endorse. Admittedly, it is important to know what the citizens want, but I felt that a leader should advocate for change my sharing a vision that would be different, but better. Hillary shared what I perceived as the same calculating politician who supports initiatives that would win political support, at the expense of what was right. I can support negotiated political decisions as an essential component of a democratic government. But, I want the President to share a vision that requires compromise, rather than initiatives designed as expedient and calculating.

In addition, Hillary’s stupidity and grandiose self-assessment resulted in her thinking that she did not have to comply with federal regulations regarding the use of emails. Having her own server would be hilariously stupid if it was not motivated by such a distorted self-image that she need not comply with regulations. That was beyond the pale of acceptance.

.

As the political rhetoric proceeded during the primary, those who explained that Sander’s platform was not politically viable swayed me. If he were nominated, he would lose. He was too liberal for the moment, at least. If, at the time, there had been a “reasonable” Republican as an alternative, I may have continued my support of Sanders. But, Trump was not a reasonable option! Clinton may be distasteful, but I am confident that the government structure will essentially be same when her tenure expires. I cannot say that same for a Trump administration. Clinton will promote a good program that has been enhanced by her need to attract Sanders' supporters.

From one point of view, I can understand the support that Trump enjoys. I share the anger at the dysfunctional government that is so divided that the Republican Senate majority leader’s stated primary goal was to make sure that Obama was a one-term president. Not successful at that, he and his House colleagues would frustrate all efforts proposed by the administration. Anyone would be angry at such a performance by our elected officials. Unfortunately, not everyone shared the same rationale for his or her anger.

We are a divided nation. When proposals to curtail gun ownership cannot achieve a compromise that would reduce some of senseless violence, we have a divided nation. When efforts to ensure that everyone can have access to affordable health care, we have a divided nation. When immigration is seen as a threat instead of advancing our nation founded by immigrants, we forget our history and distort our future. Even when our military weapons create more problems than the ones intended to be addressed by their use, we cannot agree that the military is not capable of resolving all problems. In fact, they create more problems, a proposition that divides our country. Our capitalistic nation has achieved much entrepreneurial success, but we find it hard to agree on ways to address the inequities generated by our advancements.

With all the reasons for being angry with our government, I cannot contemplate the impact of a Trump administration.  He may make some happy to see him annihilate existing programs and treaties, while building a wall preventing unwanted people entering our country. For me, I would be petrified by his use or misuse of the power he would enjoy. There have been so many articles lambasting his misogyny, intemperate rhetoric, and lies in spite of recordings that contradict him. And then, to think that the President of the United States would be in an office where decisions could be designed to benefit his personal business.

For me, I have no choice but to vote for Clinton because Trump is beyond the pale of reasonable. Yet, I know that November 9 will be painful regardless of who is elected (presumably, it will not end up in the House of Representatives). I fear that there will be unrest and, most likely, violence. As I fear a Trump presidency, I know that his supporters share the same level of fear of a Clinton administration.

In conclusion, I have experienced an election that is virtually unreal. I am chagrined to think that we have come to this point in our history. I hope that my worse fears will not materialize, but I am modestly confident that we will recognize our mistake and work to stabilize our ship as it sails into the future.

Presidential Election 2016

A long time ago, I started this blog at my daughter’s suggestion which I adopted because I wanted some way to share my existence with my grandchildren, per chance I did not live long enough to share my ideas in person. In that vein, I want them to know the agony their grandfather endured in the presidential election of 2016.

I wrote to Bernie Sanders before he announced his intention to run for the Democratic nomination to suggest that he would be a great candidate. I even suggested that I would volunteer my “skills”. Surely, my email had no influence over his decision, but I was pleased with his willingness to run.

When Clinton joined him as a competitor, I still saw him as the one person in my lifetime that actually supported the values I held dear. I am essentially a socialist, measured by the values I endorse. I never felt that my talents and efforts should be compensated at the expense of others who did not enjoy the same traits and education. I always envisioned the world as a community. We were all essentially the same, albeit the circumstances in which people lived were different, at times starkly so.

At the time, I did not want Hillary to be nominated. I did not want her in the White House. My reasoning was rather straightforward. I hated her use of her former positions, especially Secretary of State, to secure outlandish compensation for speeches. I also grew to hate the methods of the Clinton Foundation to secure funding that seemed to be less than altruistic. I surely did not want her husband back in the White House. When he was in office, I wrote to the Democratic National Committee to share my total distain for his use of polls to determine what initiatives he would endorse. Admittedly, it is important to know what the citizens want, but I felt that a leader should advocate for change my sharing a vision that would be different, but better. Hillary shared what I perceived as the same calculating politician who supports initiatives that would win political support, at the expense of what was right. I can support negotiated political decisions as an essential component of a democratic government. But, I want the President to share a vision that requires compromise, rather than initiatives designed as expedient and calculating.

In addition, Hillary’s stupidity and grandiose self-assessment resulted in her thinking that she did not have to comply with federal regulations regarding the use of emails. Having her own server would be hilariously stupid if it was not motivated by such a distorted self-image that she need not comply with regulations. That was beyond the pale of acceptance.

.

As the political rhetoric proceeded during the primary, those who explained that Sander’s platform was not politically viable swayed me. If he were nominated, he would lose. He was too liberal for the moment, at least. If, at the time, there had been a “reasonable” Republican as an alternative, I may have continued my support of Sanders. But, Trump was not a reasonable option! Clinton may be distasteful, but I am confident that the government structure will essentially be same when her tenure expires. I cannot say that same for a Trump administration. Clinton will promote a good program that has been enhanced by her need to attract Sanders' supporters.

From one point of view, I can understand the support that Trump enjoys. I share the anger at the dysfunctional government that is so divided that the Republican Senate majority leader’s stated primary goal was to make sure that Obama was a one-term president. Not successful at that, he and his House colleagues would frustrate all efforts proposed by the administration. Anyone would be angry at such a performance by our elected officials. Unfortunately, not everyone shared the same rationale for his or her anger.

We are a divided nation. When proposals to curtail gun ownership cannot achieve a compromise that would reduce some of senseless violence, we have a divided nation. When efforts to ensure that everyone can have access to affordable health care, we have a divided nation. When immigration is seen as a threat instead of advancing our nation founded by immigrants, we forget our history and distort our future. Even when our military weapons create more problems than the ones intended to be addressed by their use, we cannot agree that the military is not capable of resolving all problems. In fact, they create more problems, a proposition that divides our country. Our capitalistic nation has achieved much entrepreneurial success, but we find it hard to agree on ways to address the inequities generated by our advancements.

With all the reasons for being angry with our government, I cannot contemplate the impact of a Trump administration.  He may make some happy to see him annihilate existing programs and treaties, while building a wall preventing unwanted people entering our country. For me, I would be petrified by his use or misuse of the power he would enjoy. There have been so many articles lambasting his misogyny, intemperate rhetoric, and lies in spite of recordings that contradict him. And then, to think that the President of the United States would be in an office where decisions could be designed to benefit his personal business.

For me, I have no choice but to vote for Clinton because Trump is beyond the pale of reasonable. Yet, I know that November 9 will be painful regardless of who is elected (presumably, it will not end up in the House of Representatives). I fear that there will be unrest and, most likely, violence. As I fear a Trump presidency, I know that his supporters share the same level of fear of a Clinton administration.

In conclusion, I have experienced an election that is virtually unreal. I am chagrined to think that we have come to this point in our history. I hope that my worse fears will not materialize, but I am modestly confident that we will recognize our mistake and work to stabilize our ship as it sails into the future.

Five Keys to Happiness

Oprah Winfrey is one of my heroes. I was not a follower of hers when she was a daily icon to many. But, from a distance, I admired her reach to many people. Her views and values were similar to mine. Over the last year, we have been recording her Super Sunday interviews. Some of these interviews do not interest me, but others are strikingly helpful in clarifying or solidifying some of my values.

Recently, we watched her interview of Jeff Weiner, the CEO of Linkedin. His career started with Yahoo and then transitioned to Linkedin as interim President until the firm was bought out by Microsoft. He is now the CEO of Linkedin. He was named in 2014 as one of the top 10 CEOs at U.S. Tech Companies.

Oprah Winfrey’s interview focused on his understanding and philosophy of managing people. He attributed much of success to his wife’s influence, a phenomenon I can identify with.

But, I was most interested in his Five Keys to Happiness since they affirmed my vision of a meaningful life. They provide me a chance to express my understanding of these principles.

1.   BE IN THE MOMENT

My worldview transitioned over time from a “set of truths” associated with organized religion. Now I have been able to focus on the moment as the most relevant principle. In the moment, I have total awareness that I am alive and in relationship to all that exists. I have this moment now. The past no longer is and I may never see tomorrow (or as my granddaughter says, “you will never see tomorrow, because tomorrow will then today”). What matters is my awareness of the gift of being a part of this universe, a concept that does tie to my past that included Pierre Theilard deChardin. Focusing on the moment makes the painful more bearable and beautiful simply ecstatic.

2.   BETTER TO BE LOVING THAN TO BE RIGHT

My history speaks loudly about the prevalence of my being wrong about so many things. There was a time when my current life style and value system would have been castigated as virtually depraved. Surely, the outcome would be hell. So much has changed in these 80 years that it would be hard to recognize continuity. Just as I watched Oprah’s interview of Jeff Weiner, I remain open to the awareness that my current thoughts and values could be as wrong as my understanding of life was in my earlier life. So, being “right” is of far less of value than being loving. Love has no bounds but is concretized in the moment-to-moment interchange with people we meet whether in person or by extrapolation. As much I disagree with Donald Trump, I have no need to wish him ill. There is no personal gain by hating someone, even if I totally disagree with him or her.

3.   BE A SPECTATOR TO YOUR THOUGHTS ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU BECOME EMOTIONAL

When I was a priest, I slowly realized that much of what I was saying was based on my education, which possibly could be better characterized as indoctrination. At any rate, when I ordained a priest, I started out with the conviction that I had the “truth”. I owe the people I met as principal movers of my change. I realized that the people who disagreed with me actually were providing me a conduit for change. Initially, I resisted their views by repeating the “truths” I learned. In time, however, I learned that the feelings of resistance to change would be self-defeating. What I learned then was to respond to disagreements by saying something neutral until I could get time for adequate reflection, thought, and study. Admitting I was wrong was the first step to change. When challenged, I would say “I have to think about this”. It gave me to time to regroup. Over time, it has become easier to deal with moments of resistance. Even though I now am at peace with myself, I also know that life provides opportunities for change, often precipitated by my adult children and grandchildren, and change is often an avenue to progress.

4.   BE GRATEUL FOR ONE THING EVERY DAY

I endorse this key to happiness even though I cannot say that I have consciously done it. As I consider my life, I consider myself as consciously being aware of my good fortune on an ongoing basis. Apart from two years when I felt locked into a job I no longer liked when I was working for the VA, I have been a happy camper since Joan loved me. I generally took one day at a time and enjoyed the people I worked with, the ones I served, and surely found being home with Joan and then, children, as gifts beyond expectation.

5.   BE OF SERVICE TO OTHERS

I never felt that I have done enough for others. The needs of others are overwhelming. I wish that I had done more. I can honestly say that I seldom, if ever, refused to help another. I regret having not the opportunity to be in a position to do more, but I never was egocentric enough to think that I could make this world better. Never saying, “no”, seemed the best that I could do. I try to support others who provide services to those in need. My role as a hospice volunteer is a token expression of the intent to give to others, as others have given to me.

Last Letter to President Obama

45 Glades Rd

Scituate, MA 02066

1 October 2016

President Barack Obama

1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW

Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President,

It has been some time since I last wrote to you. I wanted desperately to observe progress in advancing the agenda you advocated eight years ago.  Many of our citizens had our hopes energized by your election and inauguration. It has been a tough slog, described so well by Senator Reid’s congratulation to the Republican leaders for stonewalling your initiatives. If it has been difficult to watch, it must have been agonizing to experience.

I dare say that my prior recommendations did not make any difference. I never saw evidence that there was movement based on what I shared. There is humor that any citizen would think that the President of the United States would maneuver his prescription for change based on a citizen’s suggestions.

Even if my hopes were not totally materialized, I share my gratitude for your many successes.

First and foremost, thank you, Michelle, your daughters, and mother-in-law for giving us such a beautiful portrayal of family life. All the frills of your office come with opportunities to think that you are not subject to the same ethical standards of being human. I watched with sincere gratitude the sincerity of your love for your family. Thank you.

If you had followed my suggestions, you would have been meeting weekly with legislative leaders. As futile and frustrating that would have been, your persistence could possibly have altered the consistent resistance to anything you promoted.

Similarly, I have encouraged you to continue to promote Middle East peace by regular visits and speeches modeled after your early visit to Egypt to promote a positive future for Muslim dominated world.

As it is, you will be leaving office with a real mess in the Middle East. I am grateful that you chose not to use the military to resolve problems beyond the scope of the military. Andrew Bacevich’s remarkable understanding of the role of the military, including its limitations, may have served as a support to your thinking. The military’s role is not to serve as the police of the world. It’s purpose is not nation building.

One can only imagine what today’s world would look like if we dealt with the 9/11 catastrophe as a police action, i.e., finding those responsible and bringing those to justice. Our military cannot fix nations that are broken for whatever reason. The Middle East will never be at peace until the Islam world addresses its inner conflicts. No military action will resolve the Sunni/Shiite enmity.

On the domestic side, I surely wanted a Single Payor Health Plan. Until we can relinquish the private sector’s profit incentives, the gains in successfully extending care to more people is diminished by the high costs of deductibles and the costs of treatment, now escalating by incredibly wonderful advancements.

I am surely a supporter of your strong agenda to address global warming. Within the limits of my extended family, I am like a record spouting the dire consequences our grandchildren will experience unless we change.

I wish that there had been more effort to explain the benefits and necessity of a trade agreement with Far East nations. The issues are complex, but are addressed by many economists.

The current issue of the Economist devotes a section on the various effects of global trade. Its complexity may have been a reason for devoting more public time to this issue. But, in the long run, it is clear that we cannot hide from international trade without suffering severe consequences.

As we approach the election of the next president, we are witnessing the fruits of political dysfunction. There must be a few people who think that Congress has satisfied the needs of our nation. However, most people have been frustrated with the level of dysfunction. The days of committee recommendations being processed in an orderly fashion seems like a fantasy. It has been so long since Congress has passed a budget on time. It has been so long that issues identified as important are addressed. The choices provided the electorate are surprisingly poor. It epitomizes the state of our national affairs that talented, younger persons would not seek the office you have held.

In closing, I wish you and your family all the happiness that everyone deserves. I look forward to your contributions to our world, as a private citizen, albeit with some added benefits.

Peace and gratitude,

Edward Toomey

9/11 Again

Since it is my birthday, I easily think of 9/11. Since 2001, however, my birthday becomes an insignificant blip because of the horrendous tragedy of planes zeroing in on national treasures, the people in major buildings. With time, it has not become easier to think about the tragedy. In fact, the last 15 years have been a series of horrendous events that circulate in the news that bewilder any attempts to rationalize their implications.

From a personal perspective, given my age, I am now accommodating to a personal future which will undoubtedly end before current world events "normalize", whatever the word references. Our current political maelstrom epitomizes the international dysfunction which seemingly only gets worse.

And so, celebrating my birthday becomes a relatively innocuous way to escape for a few moments and remember how I got here. Prior postings have detailed most of my history, but I am now basking in the innocence of grandchildren who are young enough to escape the world's turmoil and wish me "Happy Birthday" with the enthusiasm that is engendered by their own birthdays.

I worry about the world that they inherit. Would they live as long as I, they would be approaching the end of this century. I tremble thinking of that future, but am relieved that I will not personally have to grieve their plight, nor would I be aware of a major reversal of hatred and violence. I can surely hope for such a future.

Political Mess

As we zero in on the National political conventions, I wanted to delve into my brain’s dilemma between fascination with the absurd and depression about what is occurring.

I am aware that I have been frustrated with the national government’s state of affairs for a long time. In a sense, my political awareness occurred in 1957 when I read the “Conscience of a Conservative” by Barry Goldwater. I found him so logical and clear that it gave me clarity on how to think about the future.

It did not last long. Reality is not that logical. Life is messy. People are hurt. Life is unfair! And then, there is death, the unique moment in life that cannot be shared!

As I came into a messier world, I felt that my calling to be a priest would give me an avenue to be with those marching to a beat of other drummers who voiced the need for peace and shared prosperity.

I got involved in civil rights, ecumenism, and Catholicism voiced by Vatican Council II. There were so many moments of hope, ultimately shattered by the reality that those with a different agenda ruled the systems. Advocating for peace and justice only infuriated the powers to be.  Marching with those who were being enabled by Martin Luther King, Joan Baez, and others seeking a more equitable sharing of the Earth’s resources was so fraught with energy that we thought that we could live to experience the fruits of the work.

Needless to say, that calling ended up in pure frustration. I made no difference to the world I experienced nor did I help to resolve issues impacting the lives of so many, marked with disease, poverty, and violence.

Living through the era of Nixon and the Vietnam War was agonizingly painful. However, the sight of him stepping into the helicopter that took him away from the White House was only a temporary moment of peace.

As we moved into the latter part of the 20^th Century, it became more apparent that the hopes of better world disintegrated as we now watch the fruits of changes intended to make political life more accountable become more strangulated by political power centered in the walls of Congress and the White House. We became victims of a government paralyzed by self-interest and power.

The dissolution of any hope became synonymous with congressional convictions that the only reality was denying our first black president from succeeding at any level. It is hard to think that success could be achieved by the failure of the president.

And now we come to a moment when I share the frustrations generated by a government designed to stop the wheels of progress by isolating congressional action that could be viewed as a positive outcome for the president.

I, with many others of all types of political persuasions, wanted real change in the operations of government. While admitting to be aligned mostly with the agenda of Bernie Sanders, I recognized his agenda was more that could be absorbed in one election cycle. I shared the views of many that the Clintons were too self-serving and viewed the access to power as a mechanism for personal gain.

When Bill was president, I shared with the Democratic National Party my frustration that his agenda was based on polls rather than leadership that push us into a world that was better for more people. That Hillary saw that she could use a private server to avoid any constraints associated with being a government employee epitomized the identification of Clintons as being above the world of fellow Americans. Whether imprisonment was the appropriate response, surely running for president was a strike against her sharing our human existence. No one should think that they are above the laws designed to make our lives orderly and transparent.

I surely share the anger and unhappiness of many. I wish that our options were other than Trump and Clinton. I will not watch the conventions or the inauguration. I will get no joy of witnessing the first female president that it long overdue. I cannot imagine my feelings if Trump was elected. Hillary’s presence in the White House will make me sad because her personal agenda will color her decisions. I selfishly am grateful that my age will give me an escape from the reality of what could be the outcome of a Trump presidency.

I cannot imagine how the future will unfold. Will the Republican Party be destroyed? Will be Democrats see victory as a sign that its agenda is sanctioned rather than a sign that the voters chose the lesser of two evils? `

What a mess!

Happiness

It's been a long time since we started walking together,
Step by step, made easy by sharing each other.
With no clue how this story would end,
We took our first step by leaving the familiar,
Beginning anew in California.

With so little support, except each other,
We welcomed one and then a second child.
Given the history, it was such a surprising twist.
Being parents, so easy for one, and
So different for the other.

Amazing as it is, taking one step at a time,
We found ourselves swallowed by parenthood,
Leaving disappointments while moving on.
From Louisville to Derry and then Medfield,
West Virginia and Pittsburgh, we returned to Medfield.

From then to now, we lived as many do,
Putting one foot in front of the other,
As we worked at our jobs while focusing
On the great gifts of beautiful children.

Our days now of peace and quiet, often spiced
By a new generation of beautiful children,
Referencing us as grandparents, we
Now resolve to continue the pursuit of life,
Taking one step at a time, treasuring
Each moment with each other.

Dreams Never Realized!

PBS celebrated Joan Baez’s 75^th birthday with a special concert. She has been one of those in my life who made a great impact during a trying time. Along with Peter, Paul, and Mary, Pete Segar and others, they voiced through song the hopes of a world that seemed possible in spite of the agonizing conflicts associated with civil rights and the Vietnam War.

I can recall with vividness my trying futilely to play the guitar so that I could share their songs. I dreamed of a beautiful world where people cared for each other, just because they were fellow human beings. I hoped for a shared experience of the Divine even if the understanding of God was different. We would all know that the human constructs did not do justice to the Divine.

As I listened to Joan once again, I could not help but be teary. To think that I could have been so naïve to think that we were close to a world where we cared for each other. How naïve!

And yet, strangely I cannot stop hoping for such a beautiful world even when the prospects are worse than ever. The hateful language used by public figures only mirrors the thoughts and words of many people. Unfortunately, it is no longer just words that separate us.

In the 1960’s we may have had major differences regarding the Vietnam Conflict and Civil Rights without ever considering that before long we would be on our way to destroying our habitat. Man’s survival is now at stake not just by the possibility of the some sort of nuclear catastrophe, but by global warming.

It seems almost unreal to live, moment to moment, without a fear in the world. I experience peace and love within our family and friends. One would never know that humongous problems loom ahead.

Listening to Joan Baez (who I will experience in a live concert in October) brings back to mind a time when I thought that I would see such a beautiful world where differences would not as much divide one from another, but be an opportunity to grow. We could learn from our differences rather than extinguish them by power. How naïve!

Unfair

My daughter-in-law, the distinguished educator in New Orleans, has been a constant critic of Common Core and Charter Schools, among other issues of concern. In response to some of her writing, I felt the need to share my inherent, heart-felt ache that life is unfair.

That life is unfair may seem to epitomize the obvious! Yet, it is only in lessening the gap separating those who have been fortunate enough to have access to caring parents, good education, and economic stability and those not so fortunate that we can hope for more peaceful and productive society.  Babies are generally more alike than not. The occasionally genetic mishaps strike somewhat randomly throughout the general population. Babies do not chose to be economically deprived!

My view of life is that we are inherently more alike than not. The differences in our lives seem attributed to the impact of poverty on outcomes. Families do not do well if poor. Marriages are less likely to succeed. Poor health is correlated with various aspects of poverty, e.g., inadequate and inferior food and living conditions resulting in obesity, diabetes, asthma, and other medical conditions.

Those living in segregated housing generally have less access to good schools that encourage academic achievement. People often chose communities to live because they support good educational systems. Those unable to exercise a choice are usually characterized by their own history of poverty and poor education, resulting in unrewarding jobs with poor pay.

And this is looking at only this nation. What about those born in Haiti, parts of Africa and Asia, as well as other places in the world? It seems to go on and on. There is no end to the problems associated with poverty.

No one chooses to be poor!

The worldview I have is a more equitable distribution of wealth. I support this vision both from a moral and selfish perspective.

 It is morally outrageous that the wealth of more successful people is not better shared with others. I look at my life as a gift of a series of fortunate strokes of luck. Given my early family history, it is still a mystery that I survived rather unscathed by childhood experiences. I surely do not attribute any success to my extraordinary capabilities. I was spared suffering consequences from some poor decisions and blessed by other experiences that turned out well. One could say that it was “dumb luck”. I surely was not clairvoyant, thinking strategically how best to further long term goals and objectives

My eight years studying to be a priest were less a good preparation for life than another test of survival. Our recent reunion of my priest brothers (53 years since ordination) was an opportunity to recall contemporaries now defamed because of pedophilia. Some have literally fallen off the face of the earth, i.e., no one knows what happened to them. I do not know what would have been my ultimate history if I did decide to leave on my terms. And I cannot claim that I was experienced in the business of choosing a partner in life. My choice was great in every way without giving me credit for such magnificent insight.

In short, my good fortune in my choices makes me aware of my moral obligation to share my “wealth” with others. I have consistently admired nations that used its tax system to redistribute wealth for the benefit of everyone.

But, in addition to a moral obligation arising from my common humanity with others, there is also a selfish motive. I do see wars and conflicts arising from perceived injustices rising from the maldistribution of wealth and corruption. Instead of so much spent on weapons of war, why not work with others to use economic changes that enable people to live more easily at peace. Present discussions of problems associated with immigration reminds me that such issues would never surface if people could live justly and securely where they were born. People generally migrate to survive, as did my Irish ancestors. Irish society only worked for first-born males and women who married first-born males. Migrating was a mode to survival!

Until we address the societal unfairness resulting from economic disparities, we will continue to see that poor are more likely to have poor health, less successful education, poor choices in adult relationships, less rewarding jobs, and higher probability of a shorter lifespan.

Living with Discordance!

Reading the column of Charles Blow set me thinking of the "problems" I have when I consider my views of reality. Until recent events, e.g., Trump's nomination to run for the office of the President, I was more easily able to live with the disconnect between my views and reality. However, I now must deal with the possibility of a disturbing reality not only breaking into my constructs, but into the actual world itself. I have lived all these years knowing that my views were considered as aberrant. I did find fellow travelers, but most often I realized that my views would be problematic. My conversations with many people zeroed in on more mundane topics. However, now everything could be really screwed up!

Blow's column focused on issues affecting the black community. I always found it easy to identify with the black and other minority populations. I could easily vicariously experience my life under similar circumstances. It never made sense why everyone should not be able to live under conditions similar to my own. I never experienced any form of crazy discrimination. I may not have been a star athlete or a person of power in adult life, but this was because I did not have sufficient talent. (I have to consider aspects of my life as a priest as an aberration that allowed me to experience being an "outsider").

At any rate, here we are with the possibility that we may witness Donald Trump as our next president! If that were to happen, I would realize that the enough voters who hated their lot in life as a US citizen wanted someone like Trump to make their lives better. I have to admit wanting things to be better, but unlike Trump, I do not know how to make things better.

The status of my problems that Trump plans to fix makes me feel uncomfortable since I cannot deny the validity of people wanting a different world than they experience.  I too want it, but I do not have answers.

I want racial discrimination to end. I cannot understand how we can treat another based on racial identity.  At the same time, I am aware that the problems impacting the minority communities will not end until we end segregated housing. Segregated housing is inherently a force that frustrates forward movement educationally and economically.  I realize that many escape their history, but they are a minority that is hard to replicate. If I see racial discrimination as a problem that I cannot solve by a plan to end segregated housing, then I feel helpless in the face of a national choice of someone who has an answer that I violently oppose.

Any attempt to restore the historical reality of the white European ancestry that benefitted from accidents of history, e.g., economic growth with marked progress in living conditions, will ultimately be doomed. We can admire the immigrants who went from conquering virgin land to become the great farmers because of advancements in technology.  Our food production now requires few human hands (except for discriminated immigrants). We can recall the wonders of our growth in manufacturing from New England mills to Detroit factories, but know that robots now are enabling us to succeed in manufacturing. People are no longer needed as much.

I see no easy answer to the problems associated with the loss of good paying jobs for the majority. With more and more of the economy controlled by automation, I see no end to the situation. The only solution that seems reasonably available is Universal Basic Income (UBI) whereby tax dollars support a base income for everyone. Yikes! How could we afford such a new expenditure? Higher taxes may be disturbing, but to me, it is the least disturbing possibility that I can see for the foreseeable future.

The world of yesterday cannot be replicated. Scary maybe, but the reality is that even if Trump would close our borders to the Chinese economy, we could never achieve an economy relatively comparable to the experience of the past century. Closing our borders to trade will only make our economy more expensive without a commensurate growth in income.

Closing our borders with a wall separating us from Mexico while denying immigration to Muslims may appear to be a safe solution to problems associated with terrorism and drugs. However, I see this as a betrayal of our historical values without admitting that we ourselves are, at least partially, responsible for the drug and terrorist problems. There would be no problems with the transportation of drugs to this country if there were no buyers. Blaming the Mexicans for our problems will not stop the flow of drugs until the demand ceases.

Again, how I can I blame those who would vote for Trump whose wall is thought to stop the flow of drugs if I do not have a plan.  I do not see how we can stop the importing of drugs without changing the demand. I do not know of any plan to change the drug habits of our citizenry.

Similarly, terrorism is fertilized, at least partially, by our armed intrusions into the world where we make matters worse.  Our history includes the remarkable valor and success of WWII which includes the Marshall Plan of restoring the devastated European nations. But, there have been so many disasters involving Latin America, the Far East, and now the Middle East.  We inadvertently create terrorists!

Again, I do not have an answer.  While I consider war as inherently unjust, I am not a pacifist. I may identify with pacifists, but I cannot rule out the need of violence in the face of imminent harm. I identify with those who support the view that we should allow other nations to take care of their own problems. Yet, I consider it abhorrent to read about those living in Allepo!  And there are so many Allepos!  What to do? I surely disagree with Trump's plan to provide nuclear arms to South Korea and Japan.  I can understand his view that Europe and South Korea should be responsible for their own well being.  I can also understand that our support of NATO may be questionable.  But, I am not sure that the world is quite ready for our retreat.

I would advocate for a more non-interventionist policy in other countries. I would to stop "selecting" leaders, whether in Latin America, South America, or the Middle East.  But the idea of transporting "democracy" cannot be supported by history. Our experience is remarkable, but not easily duplicated! I clearly endorse a minimalist strategy, i.e., help without taking over the responsibility of other nations protecting their own interests.

In summary, people want change. People want today to be as it was yesterday. People see Trump as a vehicle for transporting ourselves to the world that no longer can exists. We live in global world where the fortunes of other nations effect us, as does our fortune effect them.

Living in an Unbelievable World

I recall talking to my father about the changes that occurred in his lifetime. Born in 1890 and living until his 90's, he went from a horse in his early childhood to many significant advancements in transportation and communication. From automobiles to space, from person-to-person communication by telephone and television, it seemed remarkable. And it was. But the changes in my lifetime continue to boggle my mind.

Triggered by my use of Turbo Tax to file our tax returns, I have treasured all the advancements in my lifetime.  Recalling that I was not unusual to grow up without our family owning a car or having a television since they were not yet invented or were generally unavailable, I continue to be amazed that I can be "in touch" with the world while sitting looking at the ocean using either my IPhone or IPad.  It is amazing to think that we have to deal with space being "cluttered" by various satellites transported by rockets so that our world can be governed by awareness of the good and bad resulting from human behavior.

I owe much to computers. I lucked out working for the Veterans Administration which provided opportunities for advancement. I started working on computers when information was generated through access to a mainframe. Personal computers (PC) were still being invented. I never lost the sense of amazement that could write a program on the computer and in short order, have a set of data that would serve as the basis of a report. I am still awed by computers, now so easily available and so powerful.  I owe so much to Wang, Gates, Jobs, Zuckerberg and so many others.

This moment in time which I have been gifted is precious. Aware of how insignificant I am in this vast universe, I want to continue to be a child awed by the experiences enabled by others. I value mindfulness as an avenue to the reality that there is only the moment now and if not grasped with humility, I will have missed its beauty.

Dissent

My great daughter-in-law is a history and social studies teacher in one of New Orleans high schools. My visit to my son and family last weekend prompted her to ask me to share my experience of protest   against the Vietnam War since this was the focus of their class at this time. I appreciated the opportunity and I discovered after I left a paper I wrote on dissent while a priest in Norwood, MA. I share it because I still see dissent in the same light.

Dissent is never easy. Occasionally it brings results; often it entails death. The dissent movement of religious and lay people did help to create an atmosphere that conditioned our government to change its war policy in Vietnam. A negotiated peace is now a realistic possibility. The answer to the dissenting pleas for the poor and the black people from the voice of Dr. Martin Luther King was a bullet. Dissent is not necessarily productive.

The decision to dissent from the established pattern of any society is filled with risk. Not only is responsibility needed; courage and foresight are prerequisites.

Dissent for any reason leaves people anxious. Everyone has convictions --- everyone wants to be right. The numbers who share the same convictions strengthens the group’s hold upon them. This security is threatened once dissent is registered. People must now react to the new voices. Defenses rise to shield the majority from rethinking their position; opposition is justified to protect the order of the community.

The question, however, is whether order must be maintained at any price.

Religion, in general, and Christianity, in particular, has had a long history of supporting order. The moral code of any religion helps to determine people to be steadfast in holding to the ideals of respect and loyalty for authority. In Christianity, there has been a tendency to emphasize humility and docility as a cherished way towards God. This has always made the road of the dissenter more difficult since he is easily relegated to the category of the proud and rebellious. Therefore he is irreligious. Order becomes such a sacred virtue that its stability becomes more important than the integrity of the individual or of a society.

Some of these characteristics were brought to light in our country’s involvement in Vietnam. Since authority is presumed to be correct, the fact that we become enmeshed in southeast Asia implied not only that our presence was right, but also that the thought that we could be wrong was intolerable, treasonous, and unchristian.  The dissenter, whether out of religious convictions or for any other reason, has felt the finger of disloyalty pointed at him. He became un-American.

Why does a person dissent? No one dissents easily. It is an agonizing personal process whereby a person tried to resolve a conflict of principles, convictions and loyalties. Not only must the dissenter establish a priority of one principle over another, but he must also think of the ramifications and consequences of his dissent upon others. In addition, dissent is hard since  there will be few people who will see with equal clarity the reasons for his dissent.

Pragmatism can never be an operative motive for the dissenter. History books usually describe the good that has been accomplished by dissent; the dissenter often never lives to read it. Often personal sacrifice results from dissent. Within the realm of personal honesty lies the root cause for dissent. Unless dissent is voiced, the person becomes dishonest with himself. The conflict must be resolved in fidelity to his conscience.

The life of Dr. Martin Luther King does portray the role of the dissenter. From a bus in Birmingham to the reception of the Nobel Prize for Peace, from the famed Washington March of 1963 to his risking his reputation in his early criticism of our Vietnam policy, from listening to the report that the warring parties were preparing to discuss the means towards peace to the shattering bullet that killed him, Martin Luther King tasted both the sweetness of seeing the light of success and bitterness of personal diatribes and death.

For Christian people to be chagrined by dissent is rather strange since their religion is based on a dissenter named Jesus. To be horror-struck by demonstrations while celebrating Jesus’ entrance on Palm Sunday is incongruous. For Americans to fear revolution when their country celebrates an annual Independence Day is a contradiction.

Injustice, hatred, war and poverty serve as a catalyst for dissent. People who can live comfortably in the presence of evil never appreciate dissent. It is the message of Jesus to love one another that urges many people to dream of a world of peace, justice and liberty. The dream is worth the price of death. It did not stop Jesus nor Martin Luther King. Our country and our churches can only pray that there will be others who follow the same path. Overcoming fear by hope, hatred by love, violence by non-violence, we need, even if we do not always deserve or appreciate, the moral dissenter.