Sunday, December 23, 2012
Merry Christmas from Mike, Molly and Pat
I've always loved Christmas music. Well, everything but "The Christmas Shoes" and "Dominick the Donkey."
Here are two Christmas songs I hope Michael holds dear to his heart.
I love U2's version of this song. It makes you realize it's still good to believe in thing even as you grow up.
"Little Drummer Boy" is my favorite Christmas song. I love the idea of adding "Peace on Earth" theme to it.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Friday, December 21, 2012
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Dr. Franklin's thoughts on peace
I
hope...that mankind will at length, as they call themselves reasonable
creatures, have reason and sense enough to settle their differences
without cutting throats; for in my opinion there never was a good war,
or a bad peace.
-- Benjamin Franklin
Why am I posting quotes about nonviolence?
-- Benjamin Franklin
Why am I posting quotes about nonviolence?
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
On Jesus, Gandhi and nonviolence
As a child, I thought strength and courage were shown through the ability to dominate someone or something.
I thought peaceniks and pacifists were people who lacked the courage to fight.
Things changed in college. First, I read about the philosophy of Jesus, someone I thought I knew. There was a moment in the book that talked about Jesus' pacifistic teachings. Turn the other cheek. Blessed are the peacemakers. All that stuff. It was hard for me to accept those teachings. The ideas that you don't fight back, that diplomacy is a worthwhile tool, weren't macho enough.
The book didn't dwell on those teachings and, well, neither did I.
But a seed was planted.
Growing up, my father always told me I could buy a book whenever I wanted. He didn't really say so in words, but through his actions. If I went to a store and asked for a toy, a CD or a movie, I usually wouldn't get it if I didn't have my own money. But if I asked for a book, he always bought it.
When I moved to State College for my junior year at Penn State, I spent a lot of time in the bookstore. I was supposed to buy textbooks, but there were these other books that interested me. I called my dad, hoping to give him a list of possible Christmas presents.
Instead, he said, "Buy them. Don't go crazy, but buy the books you will read and I'll pay you for them."
It was a conversation that changed my life. There were so many things I wanted to learn about.
I was interested in politics and picked up Bob Woodward's "Shadow," which examines the legacy of Watergate. It fostered a love of journalism that still grows in me today. I have also read every book Woodward has written. I picked up "The Three Musketeers," and "Don Quixote" hoping to read a classic tale or two. To this day, they are two of my favorite novels.
But the biggest purchase was a collection of the writings of Gandhi. I had no connection to the man, but something called me to that book.
It is, to this day, the hardest book I have ever read (Well, other than "Walden," which I still haven't finished). It challenged me in ways I never expected.
It sparked a respect for the politics and way of life that is nonviolence.
I realized, through Gandhi's simple prose, that it often takes more courage to not lash out. It also got me respecting nonChristians more than I ever did - which interestingly made me understand the teachings of Christ more deeply than before.
Don't get me wrong, I do think there are times when you have to act out to protect yourself. I'm not 100 percent in agreement with Gandhi. Because I don't have the courage to be.
I'm afraid to die. I'm afraid for the people I love to die. It is that fear that allows me to think it is OK to turn to violence when necessary.
Of course, I think soldiers serve a valiant purpose when they defend our country, which makes me think it's an even greater sin when leaders send them into danger for reasons that are not solely for our country's or an protection or defend human rights on a global scale.
Of course, I think a police officer has a duty to protect the public and a person the right to defend his or her home.
But I still believe that non-violence is the right course of action nearly 100 percent of the time.
After Friday's attack on a Connecticut school, and the feelings of rage it brought out in me, I feel the need to recommit myself to the ideas of nonviolence. It's why I'm publishing a quote espousing nonviolence every day.
I can only hope it will make me a better father, husband and citizen.
I thought peaceniks and pacifists were people who lacked the courage to fight.
Things changed in college. First, I read about the philosophy of Jesus, someone I thought I knew. There was a moment in the book that talked about Jesus' pacifistic teachings. Turn the other cheek. Blessed are the peacemakers. All that stuff. It was hard for me to accept those teachings. The ideas that you don't fight back, that diplomacy is a worthwhile tool, weren't macho enough.
The book didn't dwell on those teachings and, well, neither did I.
But a seed was planted.
Growing up, my father always told me I could buy a book whenever I wanted. He didn't really say so in words, but through his actions. If I went to a store and asked for a toy, a CD or a movie, I usually wouldn't get it if I didn't have my own money. But if I asked for a book, he always bought it.
When I moved to State College for my junior year at Penn State, I spent a lot of time in the bookstore. I was supposed to buy textbooks, but there were these other books that interested me. I called my dad, hoping to give him a list of possible Christmas presents.
Instead, he said, "Buy them. Don't go crazy, but buy the books you will read and I'll pay you for them."
It was a conversation that changed my life. There were so many things I wanted to learn about.
I was interested in politics and picked up Bob Woodward's "Shadow," which examines the legacy of Watergate. It fostered a love of journalism that still grows in me today. I have also read every book Woodward has written. I picked up "The Three Musketeers," and "Don Quixote" hoping to read a classic tale or two. To this day, they are two of my favorite novels.
But the biggest purchase was a collection of the writings of Gandhi. I had no connection to the man, but something called me to that book.
It is, to this day, the hardest book I have ever read (Well, other than "Walden," which I still haven't finished). It challenged me in ways I never expected.
It sparked a respect for the politics and way of life that is nonviolence.
I realized, through Gandhi's simple prose, that it often takes more courage to not lash out. It also got me respecting nonChristians more than I ever did - which interestingly made me understand the teachings of Christ more deeply than before.
Don't get me wrong, I do think there are times when you have to act out to protect yourself. I'm not 100 percent in agreement with Gandhi. Because I don't have the courage to be.
I'm afraid to die. I'm afraid for the people I love to die. It is that fear that allows me to think it is OK to turn to violence when necessary.
Of course, I think soldiers serve a valiant purpose when they defend our country, which makes me think it's an even greater sin when leaders send them into danger for reasons that are not solely for our country's or an protection or defend human rights on a global scale.
Of course, I think a police officer has a duty to protect the public and a person the right to defend his or her home.
But I still believe that non-violence is the right course of action nearly 100 percent of the time.
After Friday's attack on a Connecticut school, and the feelings of rage it brought out in me, I feel the need to recommit myself to the ideas of nonviolence. It's why I'm publishing a quote espousing nonviolence every day.
I can only hope it will make me a better father, husband and citizen.
It is what is in your heart that matters
While you are proclaiming peace with your lips, be careful to have it even more fully in your heart.
-- St. Francis of Assisi.
Why am I posting quotes about nonviolence?
-- St. Francis of Assisi.
Why am I posting quotes about nonviolence?
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
The center of nonviolence
At the center of nonviolence stands the principle of love.
-- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Why am I posting quotes about nonviolence?
-- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Why am I posting quotes about nonviolence?
Monday, December 17, 2012
Committing myself to nonviolence
The massacre in Connecticut has left me filled with a mix of three emotions: sadness, disgust and rage.
Its' OK to feel sadness for the victims and disgust for the action, but it is never good to harbor rage.
So I have decided I will try to spend time thinking about empathy and patience.
I would like to Michael to grow with a father who showed him how to live a nonviolent existence.
Now that doesn't mean I don't look forward to watching movies like "Star Wars," "The Lord of the Rings" or "Harry Potter" series.
Tales in which right overcomes wrong sometimes includes a violent clash. But I don't want him to watch movies where people are violent for the sake of glory, power or bloodlust.
To commit myself to a more nonviolent lifestyle, I am going to try to fill this space every day until Dec. 31, 2013 with at least one quote about nonviolence, it's virtues and its challenges.
Its' OK to feel sadness for the victims and disgust for the action, but it is never good to harbor rage.
So I have decided I will try to spend time thinking about empathy and patience.
I would like to Michael to grow with a father who showed him how to live a nonviolent existence.
Now that doesn't mean I don't look forward to watching movies like "Star Wars," "The Lord of the Rings" or "Harry Potter" series.
Tales in which right overcomes wrong sometimes includes a violent clash. But I don't want him to watch movies where people are violent for the sake of glory, power or bloodlust.
To commit myself to a more nonviolent lifestyle, I am going to try to fill this space every day until Dec. 31, 2013 with at least one quote about nonviolence, it's virtues and its challenges.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
What it's like in a newsroom when bad things happen
Gun violence in schools is a fact of life in today's America.
That's the one thing none of us can deny.
My wife teaches in the School District of the City of York. She has for four years. Before that she taught in the South Western School District, at Catholic schools, in her home town of Waverly, N.Y. and in Rochester, N.Y.
I have no doubt in my mind, after watching my wife care for me and our son, that she would lay down her life for a student.
Too often, in today's world, we vilify teachers. We complain that they're public servants and shouldn't make so much money. We moan and groan about their pensions. We argue about what they can teach our kids.
Sure, there are some bad teachers out there, but most of them deserve more respect than we as a society give them.
A couple times each year, I'm reminded about how dedicated teachers are. I'm not just talking about the tragedies that engross our nation.
It's not that rare that the police scanner at work says that Molly's district has been locked down.
When that happens my heart aches.
Terrifying thoughts run through my head: Is she safe? Is she suffering? Are her students safe? Is she lying in a puddle of blood?
That's the one thing none of us can deny.
My wife teaches in the School District of the City of York. She has for four years. Before that she taught in the South Western School District, at Catholic schools, in her home town of Waverly, N.Y. and in Rochester, N.Y.
I have no doubt in my mind, after watching my wife care for me and our son, that she would lay down her life for a student.
Too often, in today's world, we vilify teachers. We complain that they're public servants and shouldn't make so much money. We moan and groan about their pensions. We argue about what they can teach our kids.
Sure, there are some bad teachers out there, but most of them deserve more respect than we as a society give them.
A couple times each year, I'm reminded about how dedicated teachers are. I'm not just talking about the tragedies that engross our nation.
It's not that rare that the police scanner at work says that Molly's district has been locked down.
When that happens my heart aches.
Terrifying thoughts run through my head: Is she safe? Is she suffering? Are her students safe? Is she lying in a puddle of blood?
Friday, December 14, 2012
It needs to be said
I don't think I've held Michael this tightly since the night he was born. I hugged him and Molly in our kitchen and I prayed for those children in Connecticut. The kids in the school, the teachers, the first responders, and, yes, even the villain who took the lives of so many innocent people.
I prayed for him because one day he was a child like Michael. A child who smiled, who took a first step, who giggled at the things children giggle at.
Oh, I know he did terrible, atrocious, unforgivable things today. But his inhumane actions do not take away the fact that at one point he was a child of promise. Of hope. Of love.
I've never understood how someone could take a life. Any life, for that matter. But to take the lives of children is inconceivable.
Look, it's inevitable that this country will one day overcome its issues with gun violence. At some point, we're going to cast aside the wingnuts and dingbats, settle down at the table and have a grown-up conversation about how to solve this problem.
I prayed for him because one day he was a child like Michael. A child who smiled, who took a first step, who giggled at the things children giggle at.
Oh, I know he did terrible, atrocious, unforgivable things today. But his inhumane actions do not take away the fact that at one point he was a child of promise. Of hope. Of love.
I've never understood how someone could take a life. Any life, for that matter. But to take the lives of children is inconceivable.
Look, it's inevitable that this country will one day overcome its issues with gun violence. At some point, we're going to cast aside the wingnuts and dingbats, settle down at the table and have a grown-up conversation about how to solve this problem.
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