Lessons from the Dying

I've wondered over the past few days just exactly what I would do with Wednesday's post. What I came up with was--Nothing. Why? I usually have a lot to say, some say I have too much to say, I have nothing... but I will offer the following observations for my Wednesday post.

I have spent the past 6 years watching my in-laws die. I would spend my time visiting my Father-in-law when he lived in the Assisted Living home; using that time to help him with the "this and thats" of every day life. Time to sort his Medicines. Time to take him shopping or go over the weeks menu selections. Time to watch a Suns Basketball game on the Television (that's when he would "SCREAM at the TV!").

As he aged and his body and mind became weaker my time was spent there with him. I was there to help him through the transition from Assisted Living to the Nursing Home, and then I found that I couldn't find the time as easily. I found that I wasn't comfortable being there with him. It was if we had transferred him to die and I struggled internally with this thought. I had spent time visiting my Mother in-law at the same Nursing Home for a year or more prior to Pop's arrival and it never bothered me, but to watch such a fiercely independent man arrive at a place where he became dependent upon everyone for everything was heartbreaking. I know it wasn't so much the the home itself but the realization that my buddy would be moving on it was just a matter of time.

This week the journey of watching and spending my time ended. My Father in-law passed two years ago on Christmas Eve. My Mother in-law passed on the 9th this month. Both of my In-Laws were in their 80's when they passed. Immigrant Americans from Germany. They came over in the early 50's by boat and traveled from New York to Arizona by car as soon as they arrived.

They lived a full and vibrant life. They have been through, seen, and done things that most can never imagine.

So what have I learned on my watch? I'm glad I gave my time, other than that I wish I knew. I can tell you that the health care system needs fixing. I can tell you that some of the best and most caring people in the world work in the elder-care industry. I can tell you that Arizona, lacks greatly when it comes to caring for the elderly. I wish I could tell you more. I'm certain that the dying have lessons for all of us to learn.

I think they are lessons we see more clearly after time has passed on.

Schlaf gut, Omi



You have been given the ability to listen - do it. Go out and sit and listen to someone you care about.

Assisted Living, Nursing Home, Arizona Elderly Care, Elderly Care, Health Care, Society

Humanitarian: Giving Thanks by Example

Thanksgiving preparations are underway. Turkey will be grilled, potatoes mashed and the table set with nice cloth and stoneware. The napkins will be banded by fancy little rings, the center piece will look impeccable. Our guest will arrive and we will celebrate.

It is during this celebration that we must remember those who aren't saddled with the burdens of our comforts, those who's only hope is a IDP camp someplace in a war torn countryside. We must remember those who fight for basic needs, immunizations, drinking water and medical assistance.

Take your position this Thanksgiving, not as the "Head Of The Table", but as the role model for the younger generations sitting with you (or at the kids table). Talk about those in need. The homeless, the less fortunate, those who have not. Be a voice and influence those around you to do the same.

A blessing for the Thanksgiving table:

"Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them. This fundamental precept can be found, in almost identical form, in all the great religions, Brahminism, Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism and Taoism." Jean Pictet, in his commentary on The Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross

Your voice can be heard through music if the world is willing to listen.... Ladies and Gentlemen, the band that taught me to SCREAM! at a very young age.



my undying thanks to Pink Floyd for their music


You have been given a voice, use it. Go out and SCREAM! about something you care about.

Humanitarian, Society

Children and Guns in Northern Arizona get National Attention

It's Thursday, so it must be time for a National post. Today in the news we could SCREAM about Madonna's Divorce, the Government's no-deal on the Auto Industry Bailout, US being warned about China's Cyber Syping... Notice that most of my sources are not (and usually never are) US Based... why?

Because the Mainstream Media in this country always presents a myopic view that suits the sales figures for the day ... bunch of lying-half-truth-telling-mamby-pamby-ass-kissing-troglodytes... but I digress ;)

You know, I once saw an interview where a reporter stated that he would rather get the information and agree not to publish it until it was useless than to not get the story at all... what the hell?!? I bet that Nixon was wondering where the hell this clown was when he needed him! Sorry, this is a long way to go to get to today's post (how many to's in that sentence?... is that even legal?!)

Here we go: National attention has been focused on a small town in North Eastern Arizona. A small town in Apache County. A town that is now populated by more satellite trucks, reporters, camera-men/women and signal technicians than it has residents.

Why?

Because a father taught his son to hunt at the age of 6 or 7. Because a father taught his son how to lock-load and fire a weapon with apparently a great deal of speed and accuracy at a very young age. Notice I called it a weapon - not a gun. A gun sounds so passive, so nice and non-threatening. We played with guns when we were little; cowboys and Indians, cops and robbers, we even made our own rubber-band guns.

There is another reason that I've called it a weapon instead of a gun and I'll get that in a moment.

This small Northern Arizona town has been invaded by the worlds Press Corps because an 8 year old boy is accused of shooting and killing his father and his fathers friend. "I think I may have shot the gun." the 8 year old told Police.

I don't know if he did or didn't that will be for the system to find out and then determine how to deal with an 8 year old on such an issue. I do know that it is tragic. Extremely tragic and needless. My heart goes out to that little boy.

Now, let's get back to what's really stuck in my craw... that distinction between a weapon and a gun. A weapon is nasty, it's made to inflict harm and to kill - that's it. That is it's only purpose for existing. That is the goal that is poured in to every aspect of it's design. It's accuracy, velocity, weight, balance and every other aspect are finely tuned to do one thing and one thing only - hit and destroy it's target. Now, a gun, well a gun is a different story.

Here's your education on a gun as provided and paid for by Uncle Sam's U.S. Military Services; each and every one of them teach this: This little lesson has hand and arm movements so you have have to stand up to follow along....

Here is my weapon (hold your rifle/pistol out in front of you or just point to it)
Here is my gun (grab your crotch, set your rifle or pistol down first)
This is for killing (hold your rifle/pistol out in front of you again)
This is for fun (grab your crotch)

and repeat... it helps if someone yells "I CAN'T HEAR YOU" while you're saying this.

Okay, got it? Pretty simple right... So the next time someone asks if you own a gun you can smile and say "why of course - don't you?"

Weapon = Bad
Gun = Fun

Now, go play with your gun and have a good day.


You have been given a voice, use it. Go out and SCREAM! about something you care about.

National, Mainstream Media, Arizona, Apache County, Father, Weapon, Gun, Northern Arizona, Police, Killing, Shooting, Military

Sundown

I've seen so much of everybody's art on the web and the blogs that I visit on a regular basis...

I just had to join in on the act.

This one is titled "Sundown", and is an original oil painting on 24" x 36 canvas. I painted it around 2004/5.

So why put this on "SCREAMING!"?

Ah, who knows, why not? I talk so much about all of the bad in the world - I figured the blog could use a little bit of color, you know brighten the place up a bit - dust out the corners, change the light bulbs... kick the tires.

Okay, really, I was just feeling a bit left out :)

I hope you enjoy.





You have been given a voice, use it. Go out and SCREAM! about something you care about.


art, original oil painting, blog, sundown, painted

UN uthorized UNAMID Falls Short of Promise

Protect the People of Darfur

It has been a year since the U.N. Security Council authorized the UNAMID peacekeeping force for Darfur and promised to deploy 17,000 additional troops to protect the people of Darfur.

In the last year, barely 2,000 additional troops have so far reached Darfur. This failure to act is simply unacceptable.

The people of Darfur need protection more than ever. The prosecutor of the ICC / International Criminal Court issued formal charges against Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir for genocide, which may cause him to take his vengeance out on Darfuris.

Pesident al-Bashir came to power in Sudan in 1989 on July 14 2008 he was charged with ten counts of war crimes and genocide as a result of Resolution 1593. It is unlikely that there will be any action. President al-Bashir will not be arrested, he will not be transported to the Hague for trial. He will continue his ways.

Why? Why wont the world take action? The world view and it's approach is fairly conservative, especially given the big oops in Iraq, here's why I say that.

By using the "Do nothing" approach the world will operate under the blind eye of it's been here all along why screw with it now or; the region stays as status quo - it is no more nor is it any less stable than we have experienced for a decade or more. However, get involved and the region may fall in to complete chaos (quite the opposite of what we have there right now isn't it?).

So what's the benefit to turning a blind eye with the exception of the occasional publicity laden political outcry? We benefit from Sudan's intelligence sources on our "war against terror" and thus won't cut our own wrists to push someone, who is "helping" us, out of power. At least not without first setting up a puppet government and we seem to be just a bit busy right now with other parts of the world that we thought we could do this in.

Other than that what's holding us back, well, we, the US, may be a bit gun shy about getting involved in another Muslim country at this point, our recent attempt doesn't seem to be going so well politically at home or with our allies.

And the world turns, evil begets money, money begets evil, and oil! Oh my God, Oil begets it all! There is an election scheduled in Sudan for July of 2009, it is highly doubted that it will be free and/or fair. It is also highly suspect that the self-determination referendum for the south, in 2011, will be on time or honest. Why bring these dates and elections in to the conversation? The Sudanese election in '09 is important for al-Bashir to maintain control. The referrendum, if it were to pass, would successfully separate al-Bashir from 80% of the oil produced in Sudan, and don't forget....Oil begets it all.

To insure that things go his way, it seems Sudan's President or representatives thereof, have been making nice with some entrepreneurs in China: The BBC uncovered concrete evidence that weapons from China - a permanent member of the Security Council - are being used in Darfur in violation of a U.N. arms embargo.

It has never been clearer that the member states of the U.N. Security Council need to muster the political will to deploy peacekeepers to Darfur.

Write your local / state representatives, tell them this has to stop. Deploy the troops authorized by the UN mission in Darfur / UNAMID.

You have been given a voice, use it. Go out and SCREAM! about something you care about.


Darfur, UNAMID, Omar al-Bashir, al-Bashir, genocide, Hague, referrendum

Postcard to President-elect Obama

Fellow "SCREAMERS!" now that the election has past and the political feeding frenzy will begin to die down a bit it's time for us to get back to the business at hand.

Saving the world one small scream at a time.

I would like to ask you to join me in signing and sending an electronic postcard to President-elect Obama (I love writing that!!) for the Voice for Darfur campaign.

Both candidates pledged "unstinting resolve" in pursuing an end to the Darfur genocide. Now it's time to begin the campaing of urging President-elect Obama to uphold his pledge.

Please join me in signing the post card. You can get to the Postcard by clicking the Save Darfur graphic or by clicking here.

President-elect Obama's Record on Darfur:

Obama/Reid Amendment

On Oct. 2, 2006, Sens. Obama (D-IL) and Reid (D-NV) offered a $20 million amendment to H.R. 5631, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act. The amendment allocated funds to support the African Union troops in Darfur.

The African Union is currently the only protection for Darfurians. While it is imperative that a United Nations force take over for the African Union, the latter must be supported in the meantime.

The Obama/Reid amendment provided sorely need funds, but this is just a step. We must add our voices and keep the issues in front of our government. Sign the postcard to let our President know that his voice and that the voice of our country is needed now more than ever.

You have been given a voice, use it. Go out and SCREAM! about something you care about.

Technorati Tags: President-elect Obama, Voice for Darfur, genocide, Darfur, Darfur, voice for darfur, President-elect Obama

Tuesday, November 4th - Election Day

One last post prior to getting out and voting. I would like to give a big thanks to all who have read my blog during this election cycle.

Agree or disagree, it is not important. Prop 102, 105, 201, Local races or the Presidential race it doesn't matter, what is important is the process and thank you for taking part.

Now that leaves us with one last thing - get out and:

VOTE!

Keep SCREAMING at the TV! and I'll see you on the other side.

Papercages

I'd like to give a BIG shout out to Papercages for jumping in and joining Team SCREAMING at the TV! at KIVA.

Papercages is one of my favorite reads. And it's one of the first places I head when I need to laugh at all of the crap that life throws my way. I suggest you jump on over to Papercages Blog and give it a go.

Her honest and heartfelt wit can make even a grumpy old man like me stop screaming and smile.

PC, Thanks for joining the "Team".

You have been given a voice, use it. Go out and SCREAM! about something you care about.

Papercages

Arizona Supresses Votes... Oh so Subtly

Secretary of State for the great state of Arizona, jan brewer (Rep.), is enforcing an election polling place "Dress Code". This is just another way that the Republican party is trying to insure that their man get's in. jan brewer is helping the Republican party with their voter suppression strategy. And you want to know the really cool part about this? Jan wasn't even going to tell the voters! There was no announcement, no news blip, no 30 seconds on FOX anti-NEWS, nothing, not until the ACLU challenged her and then it was the ACLU that talked not JAN!

Here's the gist of what jan brewer stated: Any voter wearing a button, pin, sticker, t-shirt or any other form of candidate or proposition support will be in violation of the Arizona Campaign Laws. Arizona campaign laws bar voters and poll workers from wearing anything that displays a political message within 75 feet of a polling site. County officials will enforce the rule actively. Voters will be required to either turn their clothing inside out or cover it up. Your buttons and pins - well, you'll have to remove those and put them in your pocket before you can vote.

Okay, so why say it's voter suppression? I personally have never worn a T-shirt or campaign button to a polling place, but if you look at the overall tone of this election combined with the very strong drive and support from the young voters; many first time voters supporting Obama, you can see how this may have an impact. You're not dressed appropriately you need to get out of line until you are... think about it.

Supporters of specific candidates will be easily identifiable if they are sporting a button, sticker, t-shirt or other paraphernalia; "Excuse me miss, you'll have to change. It is against the law to vote with an Obama shirt on." Effectively weeding out certain supporters and sending them away, hoping, I'm sure, that they are not able to make it back in line before the polling places close.

AZCentral.com Reports: "Voters may be forced to lose their place in line to alter their clothing and not have enough time to return, particularly if it is late in the day," Dan Pochoda, ACLU's local legal director, wrote in a letter Thursday. "The gratuitous loss of this fundamental right is not acceptable."

In a letter Friday, Secretary of State Jan Brewer rejected ACLU's interpretation, saying any political display by a voter near a polling place is "clearly electioneering and may not be permitted."

Clearly the Home State of John McCain is worried that his 7 point lead isn't enough for him to carry Arizona and Jan Brewer being a good soldier for the Republican Party is doing her part to help the cause.

I'd normally say screw the system, wear your button's, T-shirts, hell show up covered in Obama bumper stickers, but this time YOUR vote and YOUR voice and it is far to important. Go, go silently and vote - make sure your ballot is cast and cast it for the future. Yours, mine, the children and our country.

One last thought from me; I find it interesting that this law has been on the books for all of these years and Jan Brewer picks now, this historic presidential election, to enforce it. Nice. If you must protest - wear duct tape over your mouth as a sign of how you've been silenced.

Read more at: AZCentral, Daily Kos

Read more about Republican Voter Suppression at: Blog for Arizona The Raw Story and Brad Blog

You have been given a voice, use it. Go out and SCREAM! about something you care about.

Technorati Tags: voter suppression, jan brewer, Obama, Campaign Laws, Arizona politics

Continuing Efforts

Sometimes you scream, and scream and scream and wonder "What the hell, is anyone listening?!" and sometimes you get heard and occasionally you get a small nod of thanks. Readers of "SCREAMING at the TV!" are the best, and I appreciate you spending some of your time here... I'm certain that sometimes you shake your heads and just walk away... that's okay - sometimes I do it as well... thinking "OH God, I put that one together way too late at night..." :)

Yesterday 10/15/08 was "Blog Action Day 08" a big day to raise awareness. I was glad to be a part of it and while "SCREAMING at the TV!" didn't make front page news in any of the mainstream media and we're not splashed all over page 1 of Google (it wasn't what yesterday was about or what this blog is about) We did however get a tip of the hat for our efforts:

We were mentioned at Change.org and The American Red Cross .


For a small voice in a big world it's a nice nod, but I have to warn everyone it really will only incite me to SCREAM more often and maybe even louder.

You have been given a voice, use it. Go out and SCREAM! about something you care about.

SCREAM,Change.Org, American Red Cross

Changing Addresses - good idea or not?

On the way home tonight I heard something that just kind of clicked with me so I'm thinking about changing the url for wyndmills to http://screaming-at-the-tv.blogspot.com.

Any input?

oh, and as you can see I'm still not happy with the layout so I continue to tweek it...

Address is changed... file this one away in the what was i thinking file....

Children and Religion

Twenty plus years ago when I got married my wife and I agreed that there were certain aspects of parenting we would not compromise on.  One of these areas was religion.  We agreed that an upbringing in the church was fundamental to our children's future. Wanting to do everything we could to prepare our children to be contributing members of our society when they became adults, teaching them values, right from wrong, and providing them with a cornerstone for their lives we believed that a belief system and role modeling these behaviors would do this.  We still believe this.  Regardless of what our children did with their religion once they became adults, this was their choice, we believe that providing a community cornerstone where they felt safe to turn was core for them.  Wander as they may, as we did;  Question as they may, as we did and still do.  Believe or not, there was a part of both of us that felt this was instrumental for them. 
 
I was not raised religious.  My brother attended church on occasion and participated in youth activities through the church he went to while we were growing up, this I later found out was because that's where all the girls hung out.  Other than his exposure to that environment I had no exposure to organized religion.  I believed then as I do now, that there is a higher power, what that is I have questioned over my life.  I believe that I have come to know God through many ways over my many years of life, for the past 15 years it has been through the Catholic Church and our Parish's members and those who are active within the faith community.  I don't agree with all that is said and done by these people but I try to look for the message that exists within each.  It's been a long journey and one that continues but I believe it has made me a better man. 
 
My wife was raised Catholic and continues to have a very strong belief.  She is active in the community and believes that giving back is core to the well being of the church and it's future.
 
Why the background?  Why is any of this important?  I guess to set the stage for the quandary that we find ourselves in - to push or allow our oldest to start his own path.
 
The struggle that we have is with our eldest son who is nearing his 18th birthday.  Trials and tribulations have strafed his teen years as they do with many teen boys.  His search for independence, self-confidence, fitting in and the laundry list has led him in many directions.  Experimentation with drugs and alcohol; parental defiance (rebellion I believe it was called when I was youn); self absorption and on and on.  So, for the most part I think this makes him nearly "normal".  I could be wrong but I hope not.  He has been, through all of it, active in his religion.  He was active in the youth ministry and other ministries within our community, until he was soured by the people involved.  He used to attend Mass regularly with us without many complaints, but this is all starting to change and it's causing us to look back at our original views on what we intended to provide to our kids.
 
The church offers opportunities to participate in retreats to places like Disneyland and other theme parks on the west coast for minimal cost - I think a weekend in Disneyland cost $100.00 including the bus ride over to Anaheim. Our son has participated in many of these over the years.  Always with the caveat from my wife and I that he must give back to the church through participation and not just the monetary cost of the trip.  Always it's a promise that he will; the youth groups have changed; he's going to be a leader.... he hasn't.  He finds a complaint, excuse, reason to forego his commitment.  His argument is that over half of the kids/teens that go on these trips are what he calls "part time Catholics", they don't give back, they don't do this... or... they don't do that....  He has a point, but we talk about being a role model, setting the example, moving past the people and on to the spiritual realavance of what he is doing.  Maybe we ask to much, maybe we are misguided, I don't know.  Where's the chapter in the parenting handbook that tells you what to do when one questions their religion?
 
It is not easy being a parent.  It is even harder learning to let you child find their own way, spread their wings and explore their inner self.  I hope, as do most parents, that we have done right by our kids.  That our plans, in this case the plan of providing a safe haven, a cornerstone to lean on, are the best that we could have done by our children and their future.
 
There's no ah-ha moment to this post, just the general wondering of a parent of a teen.

parenting, parent of a teen, Catholic, religion