Forgiveness . . .

"I don't know what [his] final moments were like, but I can't worry about it," Demetrius' mother Phyllis Ferguson told ABC News in an exclusive interview. "You have to accept things done and move on." The parents of Ohio school shooting victim Demetrius Hewlin said today they forgive suspected gunman T.J. Lane for shooting their son, noting sadly that Demetrius was often late for school but not late enough that day. When asked what she would say to the suspected shooter, Ferguson said, "I would tell him I forgive him because, a lot of times, they don't know what they're doing. That's all I'd say."
"I taught Demetrius not to live in the past, to live in today and forgiveness is divine. You have to forgive everything. God's grace is new each and every day," she said. "Until you've walked in another person's shoes, you don't know what made him come to this point."
When I grow up, I want to be like Phyllis Ferguson. To be able to forgive someone who has taken the life of your child for no reason at all and not immediately lash out with violent vengeance and no remorse is beyond pedestrian comprehension. There is some serious love emanating from this soul. What a joy it must have been to be her son and grow up with that love.
There's a line from a West Wing episode - The streets of Heaven are too crowded with angels tonight. They're our students and our teachers and our parents and our friends. The streets of Heaven are too crowded with angels. While I watch the numerous posts of today's loss of singer Davy Jones from The Monkies, I wonder where the RIPs are for the children gunned down at yet another school or the people who lost their lives to the storms in the night or the nameless, faceless, hundreds who, for no cause of their own will die each day.
We say we are a Christian country, yet we stand idly by while profiteers poison our food and pollute our waters and air and destroy our planet. What is so Christian about lying about others for personal gain? I thought one of the 10 Commandments was not to bear false witness against your neighbor. Does that not include political oponents? Of yeah, and the one about committing adultery - multiple times? And what about being your brother's keeper or turning the other cheek or extending a helping hand to those in need? Are immigrants not in need? Are dug addicts not in need? Are prositutes not in need? Are people unemployed not in need? Are people losing their homes not in need?
We can't expect people in other countries to follow their good books and live a pious life if we can't lead by example, can we? I have yet to read every religious epistle or gospel or beatitude for every religion, but I would wager that each is filled good versus evil and the the preference being good.
Walked in his shoes - Phyllis Ferguson actually wondered to herself what this other child could possibly have gone through in his short time on earth to cause such devastation. She found the love inside to empathize with the killer of her son. Phyllis Ferguson - that's who I want to be like when I grow up.


Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .

To Protect and Serve

An Arizona man has been arrested for keeping a raccoon he rescued and adopting him as a pet. I don't use names, so I'll just say, this guy risked his own life by jumping into the Colorado (naming rivers is okay) to save a drowning raccoon. He nurses the animal for a while and the raccoon, Sonny (can use raccoons names, also) hangs around, much like the cat I took in 15 years ago from a tree. It seems you can keep a raccoon as a pet in Arizona, but you must first obtain an "exotic animal license."
This guy, Sonny's hero, checked online for rules about befriending a raccoon and didn't see the clause requiring the license. One day, while walking with Sonny on his shoulder, a neighbor called Arizona Game and Fish - the site where you can learn that raccoons are the one animal that can be killed with a firearm at night. I should be careful divulging that kind of information in this gun happy state - people might start using it as a defense - I thought my husband was a raccoon rummaging though our trash - well it was dark and he was wearing a furry housecoat. Of course, the law implies that you have to shoot the raccoon, not beat them to death with the firearm, so, people be forewarned.
Raccoons typically live about 15 years, similar to domesticated cats and dogs. Had Sonny been rescued and set into the wild and been picked up by Game and Fish or the Himane Society, he most likely would be put to death. To date, Sonny and his adoptive guardian are both behind bars now. I'm sure the neighbor who called it in feels safer now knowing that someone who lives nearby who would sacrifice his own safety to rescue an animal he didn't know is locked up. Is the world really a safer place with this guy incarcerated? I think not. But, I have to admit, if I see that tattling neighbor drowning, I would jump in to save them, but I would then set them free to roam the wilderness and not bring them into my warm, cozy home.

Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .

Whitney Houston

I put Whitney Houston in the top 10 of female vocalists, along with Barbara Streisand, Mariah Carey, Eva Cassidy, Enya , Sarah Brightman, Maria Callas, Janice Joplin, Judy Garland and Annie Lennox. I realize I left out your favorite, but it's my blog. My favorite would be Eva Cassidy. While Whitney Houston surely died at a young age, Maria Callas died at 53, Judy Garland at 47, Eva Cassidy died at 33 and Janice Joplin died at 27 (as did Amy Winehouse). Too often, people we admire are taken from us too soon. Add males to the mix with Elvis, John Lennon, Hendrix, Michael Jackson and Jim Morrison and actors and actresses and the list gets much longer. I watched her service on television with appreciation for her contribution to music. I rewatched The Bodyguard and listened to some of her most popular songs with the same awe as when I first heard them. I continue to watch youthful girls attempting to emulate Whitney Houston on televised singing contests, all hoping to reach not only the notes she belted out with ease, but the life she apparently lead. Like many of the entertainment icons who passed before her, Whitney Houston became ensnarled in the world of drugs and alcohol to maintain the high fame bestows upon the stars.
There are few who escape the temptation of the pleasures thrust upon them - getting drugs on the street may be seedy and dangerous, but they seem to be made readily available for the rich and famous. Instead of dwelling on the lifestyle she and so many others lead, I prefer to listen to the gift they were given and chose to share with others. The moving sounds and emotions offered by these magnificent talents to me far overrides their personal life trials.
So much has been left behind by these superstars for us to enjoy, whether it be songs or movies. Sometines it's comforting to take a weekend and play some old records or watch some old movies and pay homage to those who crossed over too soon for us to comprehend. And so, this weekend, it's listening to Eva Cassidy and watching the Wizard of Oz with some courage, a heart and a brain.

Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .

Facebook

Toaday I signed a few of Facebook petitions, one to Walmart to stop selling Monsanto GMO products, one to tell the governor of Virginia (the state I spent nearly 30 years in) to vetoe legislation to force pregnant women considering an abortion to be subjected to an invasive vaginal sonagram without their consent (as a rider bill to one that says conception begins at the zygote stage). I also posted a FB message from Be The Match to encourage people to sign up as a bone marrow donor. And, I started my own petition to tell the National Restaurant Association to cease using styrofoam - a toxic, unnecessary biproduct.
There were posts from friends with music videos and uplifting messages and informative posts I look forward to reading. This is what I thought Facebook would be - a social networking site where people can become informed, enlightened, entertained and involved.
I have to say, however, that I don't enjoy personal messages sent between two characters posted on the public pages. Either they haven't figured out that personal comments can be sent to individuals and kept off public pages or that they can simply use their email and not bombard the pages with pictures of their baby, or their dinner or information about which mall they are shopping at and what they bought.
I have enjoyed many of today's posts, as they are people using this medium to advance society for what they feel is people's betterment - readers can choose to agree or not, but at least they are attempting to engage the FB public in an event we all can possibly share, rather than a personal diatribe.
So, to those who wish to enlighten, entertain, inform and educate, I look forward to your posts. To those of you who wish to share your latest picture at the beach with your family - use email or skype or personalize and define your posts, please.
I do want to save the world, I just don't know how and must rely on my FB friends for help. I have a page dedicated to Music for Social Change, but I don't send pictures of my breakfast (as good as it was) or my great neice or nephew (as much as I love them)  or my cat (who happens to be Jewish) or even my wife holding a shirt (because she loves clean clothes). The again, perhaps I'm the one who doesn't get it. Maybe the people trying to enlighten, educate, entertain and involve others are taking up space that should be otherwise used for trivial pursuit.
Well, at least the personal message people don't have to worry about Google following them around.

Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .

The Grammys 2012

   Let's review - Adele cleaned up at the 2012 Grammys. Why? Perhaps best put by Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters - the music needs to come from your heart and your head. Adele - no glitz, no glammer, no fire and flaspots, no strings hanging from the ceiling, no weird and wild costumes, no humping by scantily clad gyrating dancers - just melodic thoughtful lyrics sung with feeling and a genuinely gifted voice - heart and head. Not only is she talented, but she is genuine - the real deal. She accepts her award for Best Album and announces to millions of viewers that she has some snot coming out of her nose. I am so delighted that she won, not just because of her music, but because of her honesty. She hasn't been diverted by the junk fame piles onto musicians. She was in love, got her heart broken and sang the story - without all the eye candy diversions.
   Some of the other winners that never even made it to the telecast were: Jazz Instrumental Album: “Forever,” Corea, Clark & White, Improvised Jazz Solo: “500 Miles High,” Chick Corea. You would think one performance by Chick Corea rather than two dancing skits by Chris Brown. If jazz was too complicated for the average listener perhaps these winners would have offered a little more variety to the stage: Reggae Album: “Revelation Pt. 1: The Root of Life,” Stephen Marley, or Pop Instrumental Album: “The Road From Memphis,” Booker T. Jones, or Blues Album: “Revelator,” Tedeschi Trucks Band. It would seem the fans, who obviously bought a boat load of albums by Adele, are more sophisticated in their appreciation of the art of music than the producers of the television event. Hopefully, the Grammy producers of the 2013 event will demand that all artists perform live - even if they have to dance a lot. Rihanna, Chris Brown used to date -  perhaps they also shared a lip-syncing coach. But the best lip-syncing goes to Taylor Swift who sings a sing where she complains nobody sings live anymore - not too swift if you ask me. Adele made it about the music again - not the red carpet poses in gowns missing material; not the outfits no escort would be caught in a motel lounge in; not the Crayola colored hair; but the MUSIC!
   I thought Bruno Mars showed that he is loaded with talent and is up and coming even though he is already there. He would have made James Brown proud. The harmonies of The Civil Wars (strange name) were spot on and should have lasted longer than the look-at-me performance offered by Swift. Jennifer Hudson's tribute to Whitney Houston was masterful, emotional and a true compliment to popular hit by Houston. Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson were good vocally, but lacked chemistry, as did Tony Bennet and Carrie Underwood. Sir Paul McCartney showed he can still write great love songs and can still rock the house with the closing performance. His choice of Joe Walsh on acoustic gutiar was smart, given Eric Clapton performs on the record. Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt were first rate, both showing thier vocal talent and feel for a good song. Katy Perry seemed to want to show she could be a welter-weight, lip-syncing Lady Gaga. The Beach Boys' harmonies were fabulous, but I thibk there were quite a few more singers than original members, and Brian Wilson dropped the end of a verse early - but they have been around so long most of the Staples Center crowd wasn't born when they had their first hit.
   Nicki Minaj - what can I say? - a failed attempt at theatrics and anti-catholic exorcist crap with no end game. I was confused by The Boss' opening song "We Take Care of Our Own." It was, I thought, a sequal to "Born in the USA" but I didn't get it. Now that I have looked at the lyrics, I see that he was not talking about government coming to the aid of those in need - the reference to the flag is what threw me - but I see he was referring to people taking care of one another. Now I can't wait for some politico to adopt the song as their theme at their rallies. Break out the lawyers, Bruce.
   That's about all I call recall from the 2012 Grammys. Perhaps next year I'll have wine instead of Buffalo wings - lots of wine.
  RIP Whitney Houston, Etta James and the myriad talent lost, but not forgotten!



Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .

Twitter A Felony in Oregon?

Oregon - a state that, were it in the physical locatiion of New Mexico, I would move to in a heart beat, has reared its Republican ugly head (and one wayward Democrat) and proposed criminalizing the organizing of civil disobediance: Oregon's Senate Bill 1534- being debated today, would criminalize what they call, "aggravated solicitation applicable to use of electronic communication to solicit two or more persons to commit specific crime at specific time and location."
This is the state I always held up as an example of individual rights and freedom without excessive and unwarranted government intervention. No longer - the state that has the hutspah to ban styrofoam has the inane wherewithall to consider a bill that would make it felonious to gather people through social media - you know - FB, Twitter, et al, if during the gathering a crime were committed. So, if Occupy Oregon happened, and I summoned people to a place and time to protest and a crime - that crime being civil disobediance -were committed, I could be held responsible. That's fascist crap.
According to Wikipedia: The earliest recorded incidents of collective civil disobedience took place during the Roman empire. Unarmed Jews gathered in the streets to prevent the installation of pagan images in the Temple in Jerusalem. Some modern day examples of civil disobediance may include: trespassing at a nuclear-missile installation, bringing medicine to Iraq without permission of the government, sitting in a tree to prevent it from being chopped down, gathering at sit-ins to protest Monsanto's alteration of life. By summoning friends to aprticipate in these events, I could be arrested and jailed in Oregon. I thoug republican wanted smaller government with less interference in in Americans' personal lives - oh wait - corporations don't want to be Occupied. Enter big brother to save the day - even in a progressive state like Oregon. What a perfect place to start - if they can pass it there, they can pass it in every state - then they will ask homeland security to monitor every tweet and posting so they can protect the interests of their contributors - the human corporations.
I hope the good people of oregon fight this and get rid of these crooked politicians, drugged by the money they recieve and replace them with people who believe capitalism should have a conscience.
Of course, to get around their stupid law, should it pass, one would simply invite the masses to gather one at a time.


Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .