Questions

So, what's your story?  What are your fears?  What are your biggest mistakes, or regrets?  If you had to offer me one piece of advice, what would it be?  If you could negotiate the conflict in Gaza, how would you do so?  Have you ever been outside of the country?  If so, when was the last time, and where did you go?  If you could go anywhere tomorrow, where would it be?  If you could talk to one person who has passed away, who would it be?  Do you pray to God?  Do you go to church?  Can you offer any book recommendations to me?  From what you know of me, either directly or by reading these posts, what do you believe has been my biggest mistake?  And what would be your advice for me to learn from it and overcome it?  Do you know anyone who hates another class of human beings?  Or in this day and age, it may be more proper to ask: do you know anyone who has spoken disdainfully on another class of human beings? poor people? white people? undocumented migrants? black people?  How do you deal with that person(s)?  Do you accept it, or have you asked the person(s) why she or he feels that way?  Do you care about me?  Do you love me?  If so, can you please say a prayer for me?  Would you like me to say a prayer for you?  Would you like me to succeed?  What do you believe is my best field for success?  I ask again, if you could advise me in any way, personally or professionally, what would you say?  If you worked in an environment with others who opposed you, either as an individual or for a category you belong to, would you continue to work there?  If you were somewhere -- a workplace, a party, a conference -- where you felt keenly that you didn't belong, would you leave? or would you stay?  Have you ever wondered why so many people, just in this country alone, disagree on so many things, even just the major public issues?  If everyone is right, then does that truly mean that everyone is wrong?  How would you rate the level of respect that exists in American society today?  How do you feel, deep down inside, about someone who has differing beliefs than you do?  If someone has committed an act that you disagree with, do you believe it gives you the right to talk down on them or look at them as less than a human being?  Do you name-call other people?  If so, would you be okay with others name-calling you? to your face, or behind your back?  Where are the real professionals, who speak and act with professionalism at all times, today?  Do you have children?  If not, would you like to have children some day?  Will you or do you raise your children to name-call others?  Will you or do you raise your children to judge others?  If you could offer one piece of advice -- of all the pieces of advice conceivably available -- to your children, what would it be?  Do you love others as you love yourself?  Do you love strangers as you love your family?  Do you love people of the opposite sex as you love those of your gender?  Did you read this far down?  If so, what's your story?

Free Gaza!

(Image Source)

All Philadelphia, pray for the liberation of Gaza!

I get the impression that Israel wants to wipe out Gaza.  Seeing Israel's reckless bombing of shelters, hospitals, schools, and mosques in Gaza, I get the impression that -- if the world stands by silently -- Israel will commit genocide, will commit holocaust!, in Gaza.

All Two-Fifteeners, pray for the liberation of Gaza!

I get the feeling that Israel wants to completely control everything within Gaza, the opposite of political freedom!  I get the feeling that Israel wants to step on Gaza's head, to forcefully keep Gaza at a subsistence standard of living, the opposite of economic freedom!  I thought that the United States was in favor of a world system of free market capitalism, right?  The United States has gone to war over such ideals.  Yet the United States sits by idly as Israel commits economic strangulation on the people of Gaza.

All Americans, pray for the liberation of Gaza!

Good Second Day, and the issue of Public Education

Today was a good second day at home with Seva.  She had some really good time on her belly, during which she was really able to arch her back and hold her head up for a period of several minutes, without any problem or difficulty at all.  She continues to show great observational skills, as she's clearly curious at all the thing within her immediate field of vision.  Finally, she's showing more and more signs of recognition.  For example, Jeannie and I went food-shopping at Trader Joe's tonight.  Jeannie had Seva in the front-loaded backpack.  At different points, I saw Seva looking at me in recognition, probably precisely because I wasn't holding her.  And again tonight, just a few minutes ago in fact, right after Jeannie finished feeding Seva, Seva just stared at me in recognition, then when I started talking to her and making noises she responded with a smile of recognition.

Tonight, we watched two back-to-back Frontline programs on PBS, both of them excellent: first, Separate and Unequal, then Omarina's Story.  Although each program was only 30 minutes long, each did a great job of concisely presenting the issues.  In Separate and Unequal, the intersection of race and class in the area of public education in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  In Omarina's Story, a vignette of the challenges, both educational and class-related, of Omarina Cabrera, a teenage girl of Dominican descent in New York.  Without getting into too much detail at this point and in this forum, I may very likely have the opportunity to serve as a member of a board of directors of a school, located in an urban, low-income neighborhood.  To say that seeing these programs tonight was timely and apropos is pretty obvious.  As I mentioned to Jeannie, the issues raised in the programs, particularly the first one, remind me of a book that I read a number of years ago: Savage Inequalities: Children in America's Schools by Jonathan Kozol.  I'll have to take a look at the book again.  I remember it was a very good read.

Prayers of a Faithful

I just finished watching an episode of Frontline on PBS titled "Secrets of the Vatican."  It raised a lot of interesting issues and gave a nice snapshot of how those issues eventually brought Pope Francis to the papacy.  I am a Catholic.  After watching the program, I'd like to offer the following prayers:

• May God bless and protect Pope Francis.
• May God bless, be with, protect and heal the victims of child sexual abuse by clergy.
• May God bring the perpetrators of child sexual abuse to justice.
• May God lead away from sin (in the form of coerced and manipulated selfish sexual gratification) any clergy, or any person, who considers sexually abusing a child, and lead them toward self-awareness of their weaknesses and awareness of how their considered actions would hurt innocent people.
• May God lead away from sin (in the selfish love of money and power) all mafia, whose criminal actions hurt other people, and lead them toward productive labor in the service of others.
• May God lead away from sin (in the form of pride, power, and arrogance) the Roman Curia and lead them toward humility in the service of others.
• May God bless the Church, that is the people who are the Church, to maintain its faith in God, despite the sins of others.
• May God bless our Archbishop, Charles Chaput, with the fortitude and sense of justice to act decisively and justly in response to any and all allegations of child sexual abuse by clergy in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
• May God bless the new priest, Father Estéban, at St. Charles Borromeo, with faith in action, with wisdom to learn and grow, with strength to persevere through any and all challenges, and with love of God to guide him throughout his life and priesthood.
• May God bless me, that I too may practice what I preach and lead by example to the best of my human ability in God's service.

Critique of U.S. Men's National Team elimination from the 2014 FIFA World Cup

Three criticisms of the United States Men's National Team performance today against the Belgium Men's National Team and overall in the 2014 FIFA World Cup:

1. After his initial quick goal against Ghana, U.S. captain Clint Dempsey was largely ineffective.
2. U.S. forward Jermaine Jones was slow as molasses, beaten on runs and breakaways time after time.  And he was on the ground constantly today.  We need to replace him with someone stronger, more resilient, more able to absorb blows but continue to stay on his feet.  Oh, and someone fast as lightning.
3. U.S. midfielder Michael Bradley -- for all the talk about his "crisp" passing -- did not deliver.  His ball-handling was off.  His passes were certainly not crisp.  We need to replace him with someone with poise, with good vision, and most importantly with that "quarterback" skill and mentality (to use an analogy with American football) that is so valuable to any successful sports team.

Three classes of people who will be happy that the United States Men's National Team lost today:

1. United States social/cultural conservatives who hate the social/cultural liberals that love soccer.
2. Americans of Latin American descent who, out of some combination of anti-nationalism and racism, hate the U.S. men's national team.
3. Most people in the rest of the world.

Mid-week Musings

Immediately upon getting home from work today, I changed into a t-shirt, shorts, and sneakers and walked over to the basketball court at the southwest corner of Marian Anderson Park, at 18th & Catharine Streets.  As a sidenote, the t-shirt I wore was my black Singha Lager Beer t-shirt that I bought on a corner store in Bangkok on the last night of my TLC tour (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia) with Paul.

It felt good to be out.  I was there for over an hour, the first 45 minutes by myself and last 15 minutes or more with Jeannie and Seva.  I was shooting the ball pretty well tonight.  I'll periodically shoot 10 free throws in a row.  When I did so at one point tonight, I went 8 for 10, which is the best I've shot in the few times I've played recently.  After Jeannie got there, we played a game of horse (as we did last time) and I won with only an "H" against me.  I'll grant Jeannie that I was warmed up nicely by the time she got there.  But the point still remains: I was shooting very well tonight.  It felt good and made me miss playing basketball.

The day started out on a different note.  I slept in until 11am.  Today, of course, is Wednesday, thus mid-week and I just needed a break to catch up on rest.  Seva has been an absolute blessing, but she has certainly altered our sleep schedule, which is to say that I haven't slept for eight hours straight since before she was born.  Since I didn't have any morning appointments at the office, I figured I would just stay home and sleep in.

It may not have been the responsible thing to do, but I've always been one to follow my intuition.  If my body is telling me to sleep in, then I'll very likely sleep in.  My health is one of my most important priorities.  I know others that pride themselves on being into the office every day by such and such time.  I really don't care about that; I'm not trying to impress anybody.  My goals are staying healthy and getting my work done, even if it's not within the cookie-cutter schedule that some others would prefer to squeeze me into.

A random note from yesterday.  I went to lunch at Beck's Cajun Cafe at Reading Terminal Market.  As you may remember from my post the other day, I've been loving the vibe I get at RTM these days.  And as you can probably easily glean from my posts over the past year relating to work, I'm always happy to be anywhere but at the office.  So my lunch hour yesterday was a win-win.  I had the blackened chicken breast po' boy topped with a sprinkling of their devil dust ("everything seasoning & dry rub") every few bites.  It was pretty good.

Another random note, this time relating to a current event.  Yesterday a federal judge struck down Pennsylvania's ban on same-sex marriage.  And today, Governor Tom Corbett announced that his administration is not going to appeal the decision, meaning that marriage equality has now come to Pennsylvania, the last state in the Northeast to do so, if I'm not mistaken.  I have no problem with this.  In fact, I'm in support of marriage equality.

But all the buzz on social media in support of these current events has provoked a criticism on my part.  I've seen so many friends post and re-post the same couple of articles over and over again on facebook.  It's like they're all parroting each other.  And on a very "safe" position for the year 2014.  It ranks up there with anti-racism against blacks as one of the safest social positions in this day and age.  And this is my criticism: nearly all liberals are too scared to stand up for anything but a non-controversial position.

Can I blame them?  I guess not, most people by nature are going to maintain their self-preservation, most people by their nature want to be liked by the most people possible.  But it's bullshit when everyone is too scared to stick out or do anything contrary to the masses.  For example, it's easy for liberals to be angry at a guy like Donald Sterling, because he says something (wrong, yes) that fits squarely within the "racism against blacks" category, against which all liberals are champions and defenders.  And now, it's easy for liberals to post and re-post articles reporting that Pennsylvania is a marriage equality state, since that fits squarely within the pro-gay marriage category.

If you hear me, then ask yourself: what are the edgy social issues of the future? what are the social issues that are not yet ripe according to the masses, but are still the right thing to stand for today? in what way(s) are the masses complacent to something unfair or biased or bullshit?  Who's going to identify these issues and wake up the liberals who are too scared or blind to see the next step?  As my friend Andrew would probably agree (based on a pendulum theory he shared with me), in what way(s) has the pendulum swung too far in another direction, creating an unfair or unjust imbalance?

Friday night musings

Work

I'm in an abusive relationship with the family law unit of [...].  I'm committed to the relationship: I show up every day, I work consistently, I don't take time off unless I'm truly sick or for a pre-planned vacation.  Yet although I'm committed, I'm taken for granted by the other side in the relationship.  I've never once been offered praise or a complimentary word or a positive word of recognition by my supervisor or anyone in the unit.  If anyone in the unit denied that, I would ask the cross-examination question: "can you produce one email or written evidence of having done so."  And like an abusive relationship, when it's not the default of being taken for granted, when I do get attention, mainly from my supervisor, it's criticism, it's what I've done wrong.  Just like the oppressed party in an abusive relationship, I'm made to feel like shit and that I'm never good enough.

Culture

In current events, Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson was released today.  I'm fine with it.  Although he's certainly talented, I still think he's overrated.  Similar to my criticism of members of my own field of law, I dislike how DeSean has such a big ego.  Show up and do your job, do it well.  The media is claiming that there is evidence that he associates with gang members, who have been tied to murders.  I also dislike the glorification of violence and crime so prevalent in a certain element of the American hip-hop, urban, primarily American-of-African-descent culture.  Leaders of society -- chief executive officers, business owners, politicians, coaches, lawyers and judges, media personalities, and others -- should set a stronger, more vocal example against the acceptance or acquiescence of this culture of death.  So, with all that being said, I'm fine with the Eagles releasing DeSean Jackson.

Love

I feel so blessed to have Jeannie and Rocky and the Baby in my life.  With our baby daughter on the way, due to arrive any day now, we're really becoming a family.  My marriage, and my relationship, with Jeannie is strong and healthy.  And Rocky and the Baby are there for me, making me happy day in and day out for the past nine years.  As much other shit may be going on in the world, from my office and beyond, I thank God that my life at home is good and stable and healthy.  Thank you, God.

Animal abuse

I saw (tonight on the 10pm edition of Action News on PHL17) a story about animal abuse.  Someone skinned an animal, likely a dog, from head to tail and removed the animal's ears and rear paws.  As I was watching the story, Rocky was sitting on the couch next to me.  The story is sick.  To know that there are people who can so easily disregard and disrespect life and dignity is sad and depressing.

It made me think about the time when I lived very briefly (for only about six weeks) with Ileana at 777 South Cleveland Street.  I remember we were on the bed when Rocky went walking across the bed and Ileana kicked him in the side.  Without waiting or asking any questions, I punched Ileana once as hard as I could on one of her hips.  I would do that again 100 times out of 100.  There is no right for anyone to hurt an animal, with the only exception being legitimate self-defense.  In hindsight, I'm very happy that I'm no longer in a relationship with Ileana, because that act demonstrated just a seed of what I describe above.

Since I've been in a relationship with Jeannie, she has been nothing but kind and loving towards Rocky and the Baby.  And so it's no surprise that there has never been any violence of any sort in my relationship with Jeannie.  Whereas Ileana eventually at the end of our relationship brought out the worst in me, my relationship with Jeannie has been healthy and normal, as a family should be.

Earlier today, due to the clocks springing forward one hour, we missed our normal 9:30am mass at St. Charles Borromeo.  Instead, we went to the 6:30pm mass at St. Patrick's.  After receiving the host of Christ in holy communion, I returned to the pew and as usual I said a prayer for Rocky and the Baby.  I always thank God for Rocky and the Baby being in my life and bringing me so much joy and happiness; and I prayed that God bless them and protect them.  I love Rocky and the Baby.

On the topic of animal abuse, without even knowing what the punishments are, I can say that I'm very likely in favor of increasing the punishments for convicted animal abusers.  Anyone with a complete disrespect of life, as demonstrated in their abuse of an animal, should be incarcerated for a long time and intensively treated to get to the heart of what has led them to such a skewed disdain for life.

Several reflections on society

I think all the media and events sympathetic to Trayvon Martin are ridiculous.  Trayvon Martin was bashing George Zimmerman's head into a sidewalk.  George Zimmerman was justified in defending his life.  There was likely poor decision-making on the part of both men, but George Zimmerman did nothing unlawful at any point, either before, during, or after.  And if poor decision-making is a punishable crime, then we're all guilty.

I think it's terrible that the United States has militarized the border with Mexico.  Open the border.  The whole point of the NAFTA was free trade (obviously, since that's part of the acronym).  If the U.S. is in favor of free trade and commerce, then it should be in favor of the free movement of labor.  Labor and capital are two sides of the same coin.  Policies must be consistent, or else they are simply hypocrisy.

I think it's a real shame that so many people of wealth and means are not religious.  Everything you are, everything you have is due to the grace of God.  To be ignorant of that is sinful pride and arrogance.  Failure to give thanks for the people and things in your life, and for life itself, is a sin.  I have little respect for people who think they are "the shit."  God shall humble you when the time is right, and your wealth will be exposed for its worthlessness.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Riley Cooper has been getting lots of publicity, largely negative, for getting caught on camera using the "n-----" word.  I condemned my friend Paul for using the word several years ago.  And I stand in my position that the word should never be used.  But returning to the theme of hypocrisy from above, I disrespect any person that uses the "n-----" word, including persons of African descent and/or dark skin color.  Quit using the word; depending on your appearance you either sound like a racist or an ignorant, uneducated fool.  If the United States is going to be the greatest country in the world, it must act like it; being or looking like a racist or ignorant, uneducated fool demonstrates the opposite of being great.

And speaking of judging others, up until I created a big hullabaloo a few months ago by speaking truth at a weekly unit meeting, my supervisor would frequently use the word "asshole" to describe men, and only men, opposing parties in cases where we considered whether to provide attorney representation to our clients (who, in these particular cases, were women).  I have no tolerance for any kind of racism, sexism, or bias rooted in immutable characteristics.  Quit name-calling others, you sound like an insolent adolescent.  Again, if we're going to be a great nation, each and every one of us must hold ourselves to high standards of conduct, not just for ourselves as individuals, but also as mindful of the example we set for others, especially the young.  Regularly calling any class or category of people an "asshole" or some other offensive word is the opposite of great; it's a base reflection of the reality television culture we live in, where people are implicitly encouraged to speak and act impulsively, often at the expense of other people's dignity.

Facebook status update

Today, on Human Rights Day, Liu Xiaobo is being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China. He cannot receive this high honor, however, because he is currently serving an 11-year prison sentence for proposing democratic reforms in mainland China. He should be freed immediately and without condition!

Facebook status update

Violent crime against immigrants sickens me. This man's duodenum and part of his pancreas and right colon had to be removed and his gastrointestinal tract had to be reconnected. Whether he was targeted because he was Asian and/or an immigrant and/or a non-English-speaker and/or a minority business owner is unjustifiable and beside the point. I hope the attacker is fully prosecuted and sentenced and I pray that this man recovers.

Facebook status update

I strongly oppose Attorney General Tom Corbett's lawsuit against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Healthcare reform is necessary for our nation's best interests. A healthy workforce is a productive workforce, and a productive workforce is key to a robust economy.

Facebook status update

Any two individuals should be allowed to marry each other in a civil ceremony. Any civil marriage law that doesn't provide this is contrary to "liberty" and "the pursuit of happiness," and for those who choose to marry, the definition of "life" itself.

Facebook status update

Congratulations on the successful launch of Space Shuttle Discovery. One of the astronauts is Jose Hernandez, the son of Mexican-born migrant farmworkers. As a child, Hernandez worked alongside his family in the fields throughout California, picking cucumbers and tomatoes. Much respect to him and all the crewmembers. Godspeed!