Benevolent Grammarian

Two Writing Titans

2012-01-19T12:15:00.002-05:00

Just about everyone who has a blog has Andrew A. Rooney to thank.

Yes, that Andrew A. Rooney. The one who was often caricatured as a cranky old man who griped about absolutely nothing at the end of 60 Minutes. A small fraction of those dismissing Rooney knew that he was a writer long before becoming, reluctantly, a television personality. Of his days as a war correspondent for The Stars and Stripes or his years as a newspaper columnist.

Whereas many of my fellow Gen-Xers were watching MTV and reading Mad Magazine, I was reading Andy Rooney's collections of old columns, and would occasionally envision myself commenting equally breezily on life's big questions as on life's more mundane things, bringing observations to light, and causing millions of people to think, "Yeah! I thought I was the only one to notice that..."

I would often nod my head in agreement with things Andrew A. Rooney (as he preferred to be known) wrote or said, and would shake my head when I would disagree, but such is the case for every pundit, columnist, or blogger. I imagine that many of those who would ridicule Rooney for his weekly segments on things such as cereal boxes would rush to Twitter or Facebook or [ahem] Blogspot to tell the world the great new cheese they sampled the other day at WholeFoods.

I was less familiar with the writings of Christopher Hitchens, but whatever I did happen to read of his wowed me with his command of the English language and what to do with it. Yes, one could agree or disagree with his ideas, but no one could seriously attack him for his prose. In a semi-conscious state from a hospital bed, Hitch was able to come up with far deeper thoughts than most people could on their best days.

Andrew A. Rooney was far older than Christopher Hitchens, but Rooney, like Hitchens, "retired" only out of necessity, not for a want to stop writing. With both, we get the feeling that a great practicer of a faded art was taken from us far too soon.

The Bigotry Facing Herman Cain

2011-11-07T00:35:00.003-05:00

Published in the November 3, 2011, issue of The Philadelphia Inquirer:

http://articles.philly.com/2011-11-03/news/30355430_1_herman-cain-student-loans-debt

I'm still learning about Herman Cain, and I don't know what I think about his tax plan, but I'm disappointed (though unsurprised) at the bigotry he has faced. Cain joins the queue of prominent conservatives who don't happen to be Caucasian (see also Clarence Thomas, Condoleezza Rice, Alberto Gonzales, Marco Rubio) and have been on the receiving end of treatment that would be rightly condemned if they'd been more left-leaning.

Now that we have a multiracial president, the narrative that has been built is that anyone who questions or disagrees with him is guilty of racial prejudice. Since Cain's popularity among conservatives greatly weakens that narrative, he is now being labeled a "sellout" or an "Uncle Tom" - outrageously offensive terms.

It's rather racist to expect all people of a certain color to think the same way. It's also noteworthy that the only people who feel the need to reference Herman Cain's race are those on the left who oppose him.

Naturally, as I got top placement and my letter was topical, I've gotten much feedback. Unfortunately, functional illiteracy appears to be another trait of Cain's critics, who mistakenly believe I was endorsing Cain, while astute readers will notice I was not endorsing any one candidate. One sad fool who likes to make everything about race has resurfaced in my inbox. It's gratifying when they prove your point.

Remembering Patricia Overberg

2011-10-07T22:19:00.002-04:00

From the website of Stop Abuse for Everyone (www.safe4all.org), on the recent passing of Patricia Overberg, who sought to ensure that all victims of domestic abuse, irrespective of gender, get the help they need:

SAFE Speaker Patricia Overberg, Pioneer Domestic Violence Advocate Who Refused to Discriminate Leaves Lasting Legacy

Overberg was trained in social work before most social work programs adopted the philosophy that all domestic violence is rooted in patriarchal power and control. She believed that family violence needs to be viewed holistically, and her commitment to the principle of equal treatment for all informed everything she did.

Although most battered women's shelters refuse admittance to sons 12 years or older and force mothers to place their sons in foster care or be denied entrance to a shelter, Overberg refused to require mothers to choose between their own safety and the well-being of their children.

When male victims, whether on their own or with their children, sought help, she didn't turn them away. Overberg was director of the Valley Oasis Shelter in Lancaster, Calif. from 1989 through 1998. During that time, Valley Oasis was the only shelter in the U.S. that men needing help could turn to. Even today Valley Oasis remains one of the very few shelters in the U.S. that offers the same level of services to male victims as to female victims.

Overberg treated gay men and lesbians with the same respect and level of service accorded to all the people she helped. She pioneered in bringing a transgendered volunteer on board at the Valley Oasis.

Erin Pizzey, founder of the first modern battered women’s shelter, says: “Pat was a brave, honest and courageous woman. She faced persecution from her colleagues in the domestic violence field and fought back. All of us who work at the coal face of human relationships owe Pat a great deal.”

Because of Overberg's principled refusal to discriminate on the basis of sex or sexual orientation, she was treated as a pariah by many of her peers. In a 2002 sworn deposition, Overberg testified that she "was subjected to continuous abuse by other shelter directors for sheltering battered men."( http://www.ncfmla.org/pdf/overberg.pdf )

Undaunted, Overberg encouraged the Los Angeles chapter of the National Coalition for Men (NCFM) to file a lawsuit to end the discrimination against male victims of abuse, and their children. With help from Overberg's testimony, NCFM won a landmark ruling that held it is unconstitutional for the State of California to exclude male victims from state-funded domestic violence services.(David Woods v. Horton (2008) 167 Cal.App.4th 658,http://law.justia.com/cases/california/court-of-appeal/2008/c056072 )

The effects of this ruling are far-reaching. All states are now on notice that equal protection clauses in constitutions mean what they say. State funds cannot be used to support agencies that discriminate on the basis of gender.

Overberg’s legacy lives on for all victims of domestic violence and in efforts to provide equal access to services for people everywhere.

SMEARWEEK

2011-08-08T20:28:00.002-04:00

Let me say first that I do not agree with everything Rep. Michele Bachmann does or says. I disagreed, por ejemplo, with her renegade response to President Obama's State of the Union address.

But I've never heard her "rage." So I see Newsweek's latest cover with Bachmann, replete with the title "The Queen of Rage," as one more example of the magazine's ceding credibility in order to carry the far left's dihydrogen monoxide.

The picture's not great, but it's the headline that's intentionally outrageous.

BeneGram's 2011 Final Forecasts

2011-03-17T12:40:00.004-04:00

Is it March already? Guess it is. Remember: I had all four teams right on my women's bracket in 2005 and in 2009, and three of four teams right on my 2003 men's bracket. Last year, I had two teams right in the men's bracket, but West Virginia couldn't quite finish.

Women: Connecticut, Stanford, Notre Dame, Baylor. Connecticut over Baylor in the final. (3-for-4. Pretty good, but the women's tournament is mostly chalk.)

Men: Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, San Diego State. Ohio State over Pittsburgh in the final. (Another zeeero-for-four in the men's.)

From 2008: "How to Take the Buss"

2011-02-16T14:00:00.002-05:00

In 2008, around this time, the Washington Post ran a story in tune with Valentine's Day, and I thought another view ought to be represented. The following letter of mine was published three years ago today:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/15/AR2008021503206.html

How to Take the Buss

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Having read "The Differences in Gender -- Sealed With a Kiss" [Science, Feb. 11] I'd caution against anyone making any sort of judgments about a love interest based solely on if and how the person kisses.

Many people are more reserved and prefer to hold hands and kiss on the cheek rather than get all hot and heavy, even -- yes -- in 2008. But if their partners have been conned into believing that these more modest gestures are signs that they are uninterested, then they may miss out on something special.

Meanwhile, others engage in "soul-kissing," even with people they have no romantic interest in. So sexual attention, or lack thereof, is not a reliable barometer for love.

A Horrific Tragedy, a Shameful Response

2011-01-25T20:01:00.002-05:00

I had a letter published in the Jan. 11 edition of The Philadelphia Inquirer, though it was shortened significantly. Below the link is my letter in full.

http://articles.philly.com/2011-01-11/news/27021841_1_mental-illness-issue-of-gun-control-semiautomatic-weapons/3

"Like most, I was appalled by the horrific incident in Tucson, in which six innocent people were killed and more than a dozen others wounded, including Rep. Giffords. Then I was disgusted with the eagerness of so many to politicize the tragedy.

Yes, the decision by the operators of Sarah Palin's website to 'target' political opponents was in bad taste and uncalled for -- as was the less-scrutinized ad* in which the campaign of Democrat Harry Mitchell did the same to Republican opponent J.D. Hayworth. But it's still just a clumsily constructed metaphor. Neither Palin nor Mitchell was advocating violence toward another human being.

The more we learn about the young man who shot twenty people on Saturday, the more we find an incoherent mess not resembling any pundit or politician -- of any political stripe. So let's absorb this sad day without pointing fingers at illegal aliens, the Tea Party, environmentalists, Glenn Beck, Richard Jewell, or heavy-metal music. The person responsible is the one who pulled the trigger, and we dishonor the victims when we opportunistically use their murder as an weapon for bludgeoning our political opponents."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqB4tyvxWKA&feature=youtu.be

On Christmas, a Choice

2010-12-25T13:54:00.002-05:00

I really hate to write this actually on the holiday, but I can't take the "have it both ways" attitude any longer.

If you celebrate Christmas, I hope you have a wonderful one. But please pick one of the following philosophies. Choose carefully!

a.) There is nothing wrong with having Christmas displays in the town square, in front of City Hall, or in public schools. Furthermore, we should all say "Merry Christmas!" and not this watered down "Happy Holidays" stuff -- but, recognizing that, we are acknowledging that Christmas is a completely secular holiday with no religious meaning whatsoever, and that it's about Santa Claus and drinking cider and not remembering Bethlehem at all.

b.) Christmas has become way too secular, and we've forgotten its religious roots. We need to remember that the birth of Christ is the reason for the season -- but, recognizing that, we are acknowledging why it's inappropriate for public tax dollars to be used towards a public display honoring Christmas, and that it's perfectly fine for stores and shopping centers to say something more inclusive than the belief-system-specific "Merry Christmas."

I'm closer to (b.). How about you? No hybrid choices, though. Pick one.

Oh, and Happy Holidays!

Two Letters

2010-12-16T23:25:00.002-05:00

The following appeared in the Philadelphia Daily News on November 8 (http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/20101108_Letters__Assessing_the_state_of_the_Obama_presidency.html) No, mine has nothing to do with the Obama presidency:

"I'm in favor of gays and lesbians having the right to marry and adopt children, but Michael McGonigle (letters, Nov. 4) can't be taken seriously if he's comparing those who think differently to violent extremists who stone to death people who disagree with them (including gays and lesbians)."

-- and this appeared in the Delaware County Daily Times on November 27 (http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2010/11/27/opinion/doc4cf088bd81ed9269203692.txt):

"I distribute literature for two nationwide organizations that assist victims of domestic violence, and I am frustrated that people such as Nan E. Fagan (letters, Nov. 14) are still operating under the delusion that violence is a strictly male-on-female phenomenon.More than 250 studies, reviews and analyses demonstrate that women initiate domestic abuse against their male partners approximately as often as the reverse occurs. A recent study by the American Psychiatric Association indicates that, when only one partner in a heterosexual relationship is violent to the other, it is the woman almost 71 percent of the time.There is also a startlingly high amount of domestic violence within the gay and lesbian community. Like straight men, these victims are ignored when people like Fagan pretend violence is only defined as 'when a man hurts a woman.'”

No Need for Candidates to Use Misandrist Insults

2010-10-20T18:48:00.001-04:00

I'm not entirely familiar with Ruth Marcus's work, but I agree with her this week:

Click here: Ruth Marcus - 'Manning up' isn't the problem this election

Excerpt: "'Man up' as in 'man up, Harry Reid,' from Nevada Republican Senate candidate Sharron Angle on Reid's playing down of Social Security's financial woes. And, though it got less attention, from Missouri Democrat Robin Carnahan to Republican Roy Blunt at a Senate debate the very same night, on health care: If Blunt wants to do away with health care for others, Carnahan told him, 'then you ought to repeal your own first. And man up.'

Ladies! If we're so tough, so confident in our toughness and so comfortable with it, what do testicles have to do with it?...Don't -- even, or maybe especially, if you're a woman -- equate toughness with manliness. At least not unless you think it's acceptable for your opponent to tell you to behave like a lady."

I'm pulling for almost every Republican candidate next month, but I still agree with Ruth Marcus's every word here. I'm tired of women -- politicians or otherwise -- who believe that they themselves are not to be attacked for their gender but that they have every right to ridicule men for theirs.

If Harry Reid -- and, again, I am NOT a fan -- had told Angle to "man up" or "woman up," there'd be a tidal wave of anger against him.

You're better than this behavior, Sharron.

Helping Boys to Like Reading Without Scatology

2010-10-16T22:44:00.002-04:00

I liked this a lot:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704271804575405511702112290.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEFTThirdBucket#articleTabs%3Darticle

"When I was a young boy, America's elite schools and universities were almost entirely reserved for males," writes Thomas Spence. "That seems incredible now, in an era when headlines suggest that boys are largely unfit for the classroom. In particular, they can't read."

Spence is not the first to observe this. He disagrees, however, on one of the proposed "remedies."

"According to a revealing Associated Press story in July these experts insist that we must 'meet them where they are'—that is, pander to boys' untutored tastes.
For elementary- and middle-school boys, that means 'books that exploit [their] love of bodily functions and gross-out humor.' AP reported that one school librarian treats her pupils to 'grossology' parties."

His alternative theory?

"The appearance of the boy-girl literacy gap happens to coincide with the proliferation of video games and other electronic forms of entertainment over the last decade or two. Boys spend far more time 'plugged in' than girls do. Could the reading gap have more to do with competition for boys' attention than with their supposed inability to focus on anything other than outhouse humor?"

I'm with Spence. Both boys and girls (and adults) would make room for reading if they weren't constantly plugged in to MP3s, cellphones, Twitter, and Facebook. Making books more available and removing (at least for a little while) devices that feed the picture into young minds, rather than allowing imaginations to do some of the work, is what will help more young people read. I know I'd hate going to a "grossology" party, with everyone talking about poo or their farts or puke. I read a good amount of sports fiction and Encyclopedia Brown mysteries at that age.

Another "solution" I have a problem with centers upon gender stereotypes, as people argue that boys will all love reading adventure and sci-fi stories, while girls read about being saved by a white knight. Have boys and girls alike read Treasure Island, and then have them all read Jane Eyre. Maybe you'll find more boys like the first book and more girls like the second. Maybe you won't. But exposing minds to many types of literature and helping them figure out what they like and don't like seems like the best bet. After all, even though I'm not a patron myself, don't both genders adore the Harry Potter series?

Forget Alpha and Beta and Just Be Yourself

2010-08-01T16:35:00.002-04:00

Boy, oh, boy, (and girl, oh, girl,) am I tired of seeing stories like this one:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/7918699/Women-view-modesty-as-sign-of-weakness.html#dsq-content

From the brief article:

"Research suggested that females have found the rise of the 'more feminine man', or 'metrosexual', a big turn-off.
Women see modesty amonsgt men as a poor character trait that could adversely affect their employability or earnings potential...
The study of 132 female and 100 male student volunteers found, however, that men did not view female modesty negatively.
The participants viewed footage of 15-minute job interviews of males and female actors delivering similar responses to questions for the position that required social skills.
The applicants were judged to be equally competent for the role but the 'modest' males were less liked, results published in the journal Psychology of Men and Masculinity showed."

First off, could we please desist with the idea that one can speak for all women or all men or all anything else? Women are not a monolith, and neither are men. I'm certain some women would love to marry James Bond or Cary Grant, and many others want the quiet bookworm who talks about his feelings a lot. (I won't get into right now which category I'm more likely to fall under.)

Secondly, we don't need any more damn labels to stick onto people. (I agreed when Michael Stipe said that he thinks "labels are for canned food.") There's a stereotype about men and boys that they're generally slobs or barbarians who like to hit each other with sticks while rolling around in the mud in their underwear. Then, when it's time to go out to dinner, they wet their hands and run their fingers through their hair to comb it. If you do anything beyond that, the stereotypers first assume you're gay (not that there's anything wrong with that, of course), and if they find out you're not they'll give you the new label of "metrosexual." If you fail to live up to one stereotype, they'll hit you with another one, rather than reconsider whether they should be pigeonholing people. I was never a fan of John Edwards politically, but I didn't give him any crap over his $400 haircuts while he was running for the presidency. If women can throw down four Bennies at the salon -- then go for it, man. And I spend $18 at The Hair Cuttery, so I'm not speaking from experience here.

Next, and this will come as a surpirse to many women: men don't merely say they have emotions because they think it will impress you or turn you on. Men have emotions because they're human beings. I'm always disturbed when I find a woman who talks about her feelings or cries or needs a shoulder to lean on (about every day) suddenly turns around and ridicules a man whom she sees doing these things even once.

When people first began to move away from these stereotypes years ago (prompting the sort of backlash we now find in the Telegraph piece), it wasn't merely because the stereotypes were unfair (which they are, to both sexes), but also because they're simply not true. Society must stop telling men that they're not to have emotions or to admit that they have them. Maybe men's average life expectancy will start to rise if they don't insist on internalizing everything.

My Declaration (for the) Independence

2010-07-19T11:39:00.002-04:00

How cool is it that my letter about the Philadelphia Independence was published on July 4?

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/currents/97751314.html?viewAll=y

"I was pleased to see the Philadelphia Union draw such a large crowd to the first game in its new home, PPL Park in Chester. But too little attention has been paid to Philadelphia's other expansion soccer team: the Philadelphia Independence, of Women's Professional Soccer.

It was good that The Inquirer had a sizable article about a recent Independence win, but too many news outlets seem to be ignoring the team, despite the fact that it's in second place in the WPS at the All-Star Break."

Laugh Away -- Just Not When Someone Gets Hurt

2010-04-28T18:48:00.004-04:00

I thank Dr. Helen Smith for again sticking up for men and boys everywhere.

http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/ask-dr-helen-does-society-encourage-genital-assault-against-men/2/

I have no idea why anyone would consider it funny when anyone else is hurt, and writing around (or on the ground) in pain.

A few years ago, I was in NYC with friends, and I decided to take a break from the bar scene to grab some bottled water at a nearby all-night-deli. I excused myself and walked about half a block west. In the time I was in the store, getting my liter of water (probably for about $6.49), it began to rain. POUR. I said, "Oh, jeez," and then ran as quickly as I could back to the bar. It didn't help. Upon my re-entrance, tugged at my drenched shirt and made some comment to the effect of, "Well, I wanted water, and I got it!" and one of my friends laughed. He apologized immediately for laughing, but I said, "It's okay! You can laugh; it was funny." On the other hand, had I been HURT instead of wet, and people had laughed, I would have been very upset.

On Sesame Street many years ago, there was an episode on which one of the adult characters hurts his thumb while using a hammer. Oscar the Grouch appears and asks what the commotion is, and the man explains what happens, adding, "You probably think this is funny." But, in one of the great moments of the show's history, Oscar says, "No! I laugh at people sometimes, but I don't laugh when someone is in pain. Pain HURTS!"

If only television writers, screenwriters, and Madison Avenue writers would watch more Sesame Street.

One Published Letter, One Irate Reader. Check.

2010-04-25T22:53:00.003-04:00

A letter of mine appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer today. Sweet placement, too, as I'm batting leadoff in a Sunday section:

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20100425_Letters_.html?posted=y&viewAll=y#comments

I'm not affiliated with the Tea Party movement, but I am taken aback by how quick its opponents are to dismiss it as a band of racists. Now E.J. Dionne has joined the chorus, albeit in a muted fashion (Apr. 20).

If about 11% of Americans are African-Americans, and about 6% of Tea Party supporters are African-Americans (as a Gallup poll tells us), then I really don't see that as a huge disparity.

When pressed for evidence that the Tea Party comprises 2010's version of segregationists and would-be slave-owners, its opponents either repeat anecdotes of racial slurs (mostly unsubstantiated) or point out all the white faces -- as if "Caucasian" is now automatically a synonym for "bigot." Meanwhile, African-Americans and Latinos who align themselves with the Tea Party movement, or identify themselves in any way as conservative, receive even more vitriol, being called "Uncle Toms," "Oreos," "coconuts," and "traitors." Isn't it a tad wrong to suggest that all members of a race should think the same way about everything?

Calling one's opponent "racist" used to be the last, desperate step when losing an argument. Sadly, it's become the first.

I've gotten some good feedback, but, of course, not everyone's a fan:

"Your letter simply underscores the frightened and frantic politics of the far right wing...[B]y the way, if you believe that the far right wing fringe of the Tea Party movement is not motivated by racism, you are either not paying attention or you are ridiculously obtuse."

The more intelligtent readers will, no doubt, take note that my letter wasn't about any far-right wing OR far-left wing of any movement; it was about a movement as a whole. It's buoying when someone is so kind as to prove my point so soon after my work meets the public eye.

BeneGram's 2010 Final Fourcasts

2010-03-18T00:52:00.004-04:00

I have two perfect women's final fours (2005, 2009) and one 3-for-4 performance on the men's side (2003). Which means nothing with regard to this year, of course. (Then again, I said something to that effect last year.)

WOMEN: Stanford, Nebraska, Connecticut, West Virginia. UConn over Nebraska in the final.

MEN: Pittsburgh, Kansas, Duke, West Virginia. West Virginia over Kansas in the final.

Happy Dancing.

Losing Jerry Won't Diminish Lyndsey's Love

2010-02-25T19:16:00.005-05:00

Those of us who contributed money over the months so that Massachusetts woman Lyndsey Medeiros could afford cataract surgery for her pet turkey, Jerry, received the sad news today that Jerry passed away after complications from the surgery.

Medeiros and her family, no doubt, have had to endure months of anger and failed attempts at humor from dimwits who think they're wildly clever when they suggested keeping Jerry "warm" in an oven set to 450 degrees. (These are the same people who write "People Eating Tasty Animals" and think they're Jonathan Swift.)

The Medeiros family deserves our credit for their consistency and selflessness, and -- it bears repeating -- while the people who spend hundreds or thousands of dollars buying flat-screen TVs and sports cars for themselves have every right to do so, they also have no ground to stand on when they accuse Lyndsey of "wasting" money by helping a pet -- including a pet they themselves don't have the presence of mind to find worthy.

A Call to Be Grateful

2010-02-14T12:02:00.003-05:00

I will reiterate my thoughts from last year at this time, as well as add some wise words from a speech I heard a few years back, with things for all of us to think about.

"Happy Valentine's Day to those of you who have a special someone to spend it with. While you're staring at each other across the candlelit table, remember those who've spent every February 14 of their quiet lives alone. There are those who've just suffered through a divorce and those who are finding themselves without someone for the first time in a while, but there are also those for whom romance and dating and true love have always been mere widespread rumors. Some are teenagers; some are inhabiting college dorm rooms; some are in their 40s or 50s. Keep them in mind on this day, and you will treasure what you have more."

Think about this: Should you find it hard to get to sleep tonight --

Just remember the homeless family who has no bed to lie in.

Should you find yourself stuck in traffic; Don't despair. There are people in this world for whom driving is an unheard of privilege.

Should you have a bad day at work, think of the man who has been out of work for the last three months.

Should you despair over a relationship gone bad, think of the person who has never known what it's like to love and be loved in return.

Should you grieve the passing of another weekend, think of the woman in dire straits, working twelve hours a day, seven days a week, for $15.00 to feed her family.

Should your car break down, leaving you miles away from assistance -- think of the paraplegic who would love the opportunity to take that walk.

Should you notice a new gray hair in the mirror, think of the cancer patient in chemo who wishes she had hair to examine.

Should you find yourself at a loss and pondering what is life all about, asking "What is my purpose;" -- be thankful, there are those who didn't live long enough to get the opportunity.

Should you find yourself the victim of other people's bitterness, ignorance, smallness or insecurities -- remember, things could be worse -- you could be them.

Haiti/Dominican Republic S.O.S.

2010-01-14T01:40:00.001-05:00

Pick one.

www.foodforthepoor.org

www.redcross.org

www.salvationarmy.org

Jesus: "Happy Holidays" Is Just Fine, Folks

2009-12-20T21:49:00.003-05:00

This was passed along to me in an e-mail. It was a change of pace from the other forwards I get on subjects such as these. By the way, I believe the reference to someone having a conniption over the Bush White House's "Happy Holidays" cards is rooted in fact.

Letter from Jesus about Christmas

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that, let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know: they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up... It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5 . Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nitpicking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary -- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember :

I LOVE YOU,

JESUS

Woods Saga Reminds Us of Domestic Violence Double Standard

2009-12-14T19:32:00.002-05:00

In response to Christine Flowers's fine piece highlighting the disparity with which many treat female-on-male violence as opposed to male-on-female violence, I wrote to her, and a later version of it ran in the Philadelphia Daily News on December 9:

http://www.philly.com/dailynews/opinion/20091209_Letters__Christine_s_right_about_domestic_violence.html

I THANK Christine Flowers for her op-ed on Elin Nordegren and Tiger Woods.
Though we don't know what did and didn't happen, it's sickening to see all the responses saying that violence is deserved (or even humorous) if the recipient is male. More than 250 studies indicate that women initiate domestic violence against men approximately as often as the reverse occurs.

Too many people don't treat it seriously enough, arguing that men are usually stronger and bigger, but this difference often works to women's advantage, as men are told never to strike a woman (some say "even in self-defense"), giving abusive women the idea that they have carte blanche. Domestic violence is not about size, strength, or gender.

Woman Smeared for Helping the "Wrong" Type of Animal

2009-12-08T15:44:00.003-05:00

For the Thanksgiving season's prime example of hypocrisy, we look at the silly furor that followed a New England woman's good deed towards a much-maligned creature. Lyndsey Medeiros, of Rehobeth, Massachusetts, had rescued a turkey from ending up deceased and stuffed on someone's table. She named her new friend "Jerry" and then realized he had a cataract problem. So, just as people might do for a cat or dog, Medeiros opted for surgery, but needed a little financial assistance to do so.

Well, out of the alleys came nasty comments from people completely up in arms that someone would adopt a turkey, let alone that anyone would contribute to helping with surgery. It highlights the extremely inconsistent way we deal with animals. I doubt anyone would be suggesting we kill Milo the cat or Scruffy the dog to feed a hungry family, but this is exactly the "solution" many numbskulls took the time to write.

The only reason the image of having a turkey in one's house as a pet would strike anyone as bizarre is because people aren't used to it. I sponsored an Indonesian child through Childreach a few years ago (contrary to the claim that animal-lovers don't also care about human beings), and was told that, when I write letters or send pictures to him, I should avoid sending any photos of someone lovingly holding a pet, because their culture views animals differently from ours. In other words, they would find it bizarre that anyone here would take an animal into the home, and raise him/her lovingly as a pet -- including cats and dogs -- because they're not used to it. Now, if we adopted the philosophy of Jerry's critics, the fact that Indonesians think we're crazy for caring about some animals means we shouldn't be doing it.

The more I think about this, the more I realize HOW hypocritical Jerry's critics are. I'd bet that few to none of these people give to the homeless. I'd also bet that a good number of them would gladly donate if someone's newly rescued cat or dog needed eye surgery, and the total could go two or three times $2,600. I'd ALSO bet that most of them have flat-screen TVs or swimming pools or three-hundred-dollar jackets. Chances are, nobody gave them any crap about spending all that money when they could have been using it to feed the hungry and to house the homeless. Fine.

But then this woman adopts an animal they don't personally deem worthy of our compassion, and all of the sudden they start "caring about the homeless." Hard to believe.

Happy Tofurky Day

2009-11-26T21:11:00.002-05:00

Yeah, Dawg: http://www.tofurky.com/

Happy Anniversary, BeneGram.

2009-11-09T23:14:00.001-05:00

Yay, blog. Way to go. You don't look a day over zero.

Happy Halloween

2009-10-31T18:16:00.002-04:00

My two favorite holidays of the year are Independence Day and Halloween. I usually shake my head with befuddlement when I hear about parents or schools "doing away with" Halloween because of its supposed pagan origins. The pagans also gave us the idea for a Christmas tree; let's see if those parents and schools hold true to their principles in a couple of months.

Some dislike Halloween's backdrop, citing "horror stories" (tee hee!) about people wearing fake knives "through" their hearts or dressing up as scary monsters in front of children, but Halloween doesn't have to be about that at all.

I'm 36, and I've gotten dressed up just about every year. Wanna know my costumes? A painter, a baker (a few times), a turtle, a cockroach (a friendly-looking one), Bert from SESAME STREET, a train engineer, a scarecrow, a farmer, and, last year, Joe the Plumber (my first political costume). Not a frightening get-up in the bunch (unless, perhaps, you're a crow).

It's not a holiday for everybody, of course, but many people like having fun with it, putting together a costume, trying to guess who everyone else is supposed to be, bobbing for apples (in the pre-H1N1 years), and going through cornfield mazes. See, folks? No need to sacrifice a chicken for Satan at all in order to enjoy All Hallow's Eve.

Goose, Gander: The Media's Selective Outrage; Racism vs. Legitimate Criticism

2009-09-22T20:31:00.004-04:00

Published today in The Philadelphia Inquirer. It appeared much as I sent it in, and so I will provide it for you here:

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20090922_Letters_to_the_Editor.html?viewAll=Y&text=

For eight years, the most despicable things were said about President George W. Bush, who was slammed as a liar, a moron, a Nazi (or Hitler himself), and Satan. All who reelected him in 2004 were dismissed as idiots.

Did R. Danielle Egan ("Racism underlies rage at Obama presidency," Wednesday) or Tony Auth (cartoon, Thursday) decry these attacks with equal zeal? Did they balk when people portrayed Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as a Stepin Fetchit character, joked about giving Bush more pretzels so he would choke to death, or prayed that Vice President Dick Cheney would suffer one final heart attack?

Is this what we have to look forward to for the next 3 1/2 years? Anyone who points out ACORN's shenanigans, disagrees with massive government spending (from both parties), or questions changes in health care is being called a racist. This is a blatant attempt to change the subject and to intimidate decent people into remaining quiet.

Are there racists in this world? Yes, too many of them, and they come in all colors. But suggesting that any criticism of President Obama is racially based is utterly reprehensible.

Eight Years.

2009-09-11T17:05:00.002-04:00

Many, many people have their personal 9/11 stories. Here are mine.

-- Just hours after the attacks, I began thinking of the man who operates a convenience store near my house. I had interviewed him for a research paper I was working on in college -- one that contrasted the management and operation styles of local convenience stores. Because he is of Middle-Eastern descent, I started to worry that some violent, terribly misguided goofball would show up and begin starting some trouble. I headed up that way.

When I arrived, there were only a few customers in the store, and the man's wife was returning from a pharmacy across the street, where she had purchased a portable television (no doubt to keep abreast of the incoming news). I was unsure of how, exactly, I was going to suggest that they close down their store or take similar precautions without coming across as insulting or needlessly alarming.

The customers had all left, and I was about to say something when the man said, "Did you want anything? Because we're about to close." I sympathetically told him he was probably doing the right thing, and then made my exit.

-- On that September 11, there was a blood drive scheduled at a nearby church, one at which I had planned to donate that day, anyway. Well, in part because of the news flooding in throughout the day, and the Red Cross pleading for help, by the time I got there the place was packed. A local school group was in line -- whether or not they would have been there under normal circumstances I do not know -- and the queue weaved up the stairwell and out the door. I hadn't gotten near the front of the queue when a volunteer said, "Sorry. We've had so many people come in that we're out of supplies."

Probably a problem they wish they had every day, huh?

With All Due Respect to Kool and the Gang

2009-08-24T16:32:00.003-04:00

A letter of mine appeared today in The Philadelphia Inquirer:

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20090824_Letters_to_the_Editor.html?posted=y&viewAll=y#comments

It was trimmed; here, for thoroughness's sake, is my original letter in its entirety:

The argument that "ladies' nights" actually benefit men is ludicrous. Straight men go to bars and clubs mostly to eat, drink, and meet women; straight women go mostly to eat, drink, and meet men. Their goals are the same, so why should one group have to pay and not the other?

Furthermore, how do women feel, knowing that the bar is "stocking" the singles' bars with women as though they were fish in a trout pond?

Comparisons of ladies' nights to "kids eat free" or "senior early-bird specials" are fallacious, since most people get to be kids and senior citizens eventually, whereas most of us spend our lives as just one gender or the other.

What if a yoga class or crafts store allowed men to shop there at huge discounts? Women, rightfully, would be furious. Likewise, bars, clubs, car washes, and golf courses should treat everybody the same.

Joke About Poisoned Wine: "Disgraceful;" Joke About Assassinating Bush: "High Five!"

2009-08-10T01:30:00.003-04:00

I see now that Rachel Maddow and the kind folks (he said charitably) at Media Matters are losing their [stuff] over Glenn Beck's stupid little joke last week. On his show, he pretended to share some wine with a cardboard cutout of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. In one brief moment, he says, "By the way, I put poison in your -- no..."

The whole "sketch" was rather dopey, and I certainly doubt that I would have made the little "poison" joke, even if Speaker Pelosi were not in government. But to hear Media Matters tell it, you'd think Beck had designed a T-shirt with Pelosi's face shown in a shotgun's crosshair, or gave out directions to her grandchildren's grade-school classrooms. It was a dumb little joke that he made clear right away was such by "retracting" it.

Here's the question: was the left up in arms when Al Franken, at the 2004 Republican National Convention, joked about helping Al Qaeda to assassinate President Bush?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loVTU-ASWZA

That's hardly the only such example of someone on the left "joking" about something bad happening to Bush/Cheney/Rice/etc., not even to mention the "Nazi"/"Satan" double standard that's also especially illuminated these last few weeks. But I ask this sincerely (sort of): If anyone has proof of MM or similar left-wing groups expressing outrage on the level of what is being expressed now, I'll applaud them for their consistency. I won't stay up waiting, though.

The Agitator Beautifully Scrutinizes the Two Faces of Jon Stewart

2009-08-05T18:15:00.004-04:00

I don't know who The Agitator is, but (s)he has Jon Stewart pegged perfectly, including his careful selection of when to be Mr. Kill You with a Smile with his guests, and when to fawn. This is smack on:

http://www.theagitator.com/2009/08/04/cash-for-clunkers-is-a-huge-success-pause-for-laughs-or-why-the-daily-show-just-isnt-funny-anymore/

"Stewart’s interviewing skills are suffering, too. When he interviews people he disagrees with, he can be brilliant. When he interviews Democrats, he tends to sound like he’s hosting The Chris Farley Show."

Score.

EMBRYO a Thorough, Airtight Work

2009-08-02T14:34:00.004-04:00

Some months ago, I finished reading Embryo: A Defense of Human Life, put out by Princeton University's Robert P. George and the University of South Carolina's Christopher Tollefsen:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0385522827/ref=cm_rdp_product.

The book is thorough, airtight, and painstakingly researched in its presentation of the facts that human embryos, considered mere "balls of cells" or "potential human beings" by many people, are, in fact, "actual human beings with potential."

Those who support the destruction of human embryos -- specifically, for the purposes of stem-cell research -- have persistently argued that those who describe embryos as human beings are merely foisting their religious ideology or personal views on the rest of the populace, but George and Tollefsen make little to no reference to God or any sort of religion or religious belief throughout their work, instead presenting the facts of embryology (citing numerous embryology texts already in existence) and carefully picking apart the various arguments that have been put forth over the years by the pro-ESCR lobby. As someone who makes no claims of having inside information on what or who created us, I can tell you that the authors' arguments will convince the most confident atheist as well as the most devout believer. Further arguments are made as to what should be done with those human embryos currently trapped in a cryogenic limbo in fertility clinics.

Embryo is a good resource for those who'd like some more scientific substance in their defense of human embryos, and might give those who support embryonic research a little something to think about -- namely, that most of the people who oppose it really aren't anti-cure Luddites who wish to see more people suffering and dying from disease.

And That's the Way It Is

2009-07-20T11:08:00.002-04:00

The sad passing of Walter Cronkite led me to a sidebar thought on CBS News, who went from Edward R. Murrow...to Walter Cronkite...to Dan Rather...

...

...

... to Katie Couric.

FOOEEEEZH.

Obama Gets One Right -- But Also Kills Animal :-(

2009-06-18T12:05:00.004-04:00

Feel free to fill in your hackneyed expression about blind squirrels eventually finding a nut, but I agree with the President's decision to expand benefits for same-sex couples. People should not be denied health benefits because of their sexual orientation.

I disagree, on the other hand, with Obama's swatting of a fly during a recent interview. BeneGram is an animal-friendly place, dude. Perhaps someone should acquaint President Obama with the humane Bug Vacuum®: http://la.indymedia.org/news/2009/06/228277.php.

I've got one, though the easiest way to capture a critter and release him/her outside, unharmed, is to use a drinking cup (just not one you drink from) and a piece of paper.

1. Wait for insect to land on surface.
2. Gently entrap insect with cup.
3. Being careful to avoid harming insect's legs, slide piece of paper between cup and surface.
4. Escort insect outside.
5. EMANCIPATION.

Janeane Garofalo Talks Like an I-D-I-O-(tea)

2009-05-16T21:19:00.004-04:00

My unfashionably belated thoughts on the April Tea Parties and the media coverage thereof:

I reeeeeeeally used to dig Janeane Garofalo. Back during her stand-up days. I loved how she would cover red-carpet award-show previews while wearing a sweatshirt and jeans. So counter to the rest of the night she was. Very cool and unpretentious. She struck me as the college friend you could always count on to go to a Breeders concert with, and then talk about the show at 2:26 in the morning in a diner.

That was long before her highly public plunge off the deep end, of course, with the most recent exhibit for the prosecution being her appearance on Countdown with Keith Olbermann, who'd probably cordially invite the Menendez brothers on if he believed they'd spend their time ripping into Dick Cheney.

“Let’s be very honest about what this is about,” Garofalo spewed. “It’s not about bashing Democrats, it’s not about taxes -- they have no idea what the Boston tea party was about -- they don’t know their history at all. This is about hating a black man in the White House. This is racism straight up. That is nothing but a bunch of teabagging rednecks.”

(And this person earlier had the privilege of interviewing the late Elliott Smith, whereas I didn't. Grrr.)

Mind you, she didn't say there might be a few loop-jobs in the crowd, as there typically are in any huge gathering. She smeared every last American who was there.

Ignoring, for the time being, anyway, the 319th "tea-bagging" reference offered to America by CNN and MSDNC combined*, one watches with astonishment her allegation. I'm not sure which is worse: the idea that she'd sink this low for lack of anything else to say, or the possibility that she sincerely believes her own donkey-poo. Is this what we have to look forward to for the next three-and-a-half years? Every person who criticizes (or even questions) White House policy, or complains about rampant spending (by both parties) will be called a racist, obstructionist, bigoted playa-hatah?

Word that all tea-party attendees are nothing more than hateful racists was probably at least a mild surprise to the many African-Americans there -- not that you could fairly expect CNN to mention that they were.

* Or maybe I won't. I mean, seriously? You're doing this on your cable news channels? I'm trying to picture John Chancellor giggling like a frat-boy while making sex references in his commentaries...

Two Ways to Help ALL Victims of Domestic Abuse

2009-03-28T19:53:00.002-04:00

For the past few years, I have gone to local libraries and domestic violence centers to distribute literature for two national organizations: Stop Abuse for EVERYONE (www.safe4all.org) and The Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men and Women (www.dahmw.org). Both are fine organizations that understand that neither violence nor victimhood has a gender. The most common scenario presented with respect to DV involves a violent male battering his wife or girlfriend, but there is much evidence demonstrating that women often initiate (that's a key word) abuse against their male partners. Indeed, this study indicates that, within heterosexual relationships in which only one partner is engaging in violence, the woman is the violent party 70.7% of the time:

http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/42/15/31-a

I mention the word "heterosexual" to point out that a disturbing level of violence also occurs within the gay-and-lesbian community, another facet that is overlooked when we only consider the "man beats woman" scenario. We do female victims of abuse no favors by ignoring male victims. Some DV shelters are fair and will assist any victim who walks through the door, but far too many ignore, ridicule, and harass male victims. I ask you for your help in two ways.

First, please look at and sign a petition that was introduced by DAHMW:

"For decades domestic abuse has been looked upon as a social problem of violence against women by men. Battered women's advocates and others concerned about domestic violence have created and funded over 2000 non profit agencies across the country that help victims. For more than 20 years these agencies have specialized in offering a full spectrum of services to what has been considered the traditional victims of domestic violence, women and children. Yet society has changed a great deal since we first became aware of the violence that goes on behind close doors. Men are now stay at home dads, some do the cooking, cleaning, laundry, change diapers, give the kids their baths and food shop...all the things that were unheard for men to do back in the 1950's and 60's when we first started recognizing the social problem of domestic violence. Women have changed quite a bit also. Many work outside the home, some hold high powered jobs and others run cement mixers. Women are also doing things that were unheard of in the 50's & 60's. They also get violent with their spouses/boyfriends and children. Our current system that offers supportive services to victims of intimate partner violence, everything from obtaining a court order to keep victims safe to clothing and transitional housing, for the most part, still runs under the antiquated notion that 95 - 98% of domestic abuse victims are women abused by men. This means that services for men abused by women or other men in same sex relationships are nearly non existent in these federally funded shelter programs. If you believe that federal and state funded domestic violence victims shelter programs should be mandated to support any victim and give them them same opportunities and services regardless of their gender, age, able-ism, ethnicity, religious beliefs or race etc. please sign our petition."

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/domestic-abuse-victims

Second, you can support this organization just by surfing the Web, at no cost to you. The folks at GoodSearch will donate to DAHMW with every search you make on its site. Go to www.goodsearch.com, and enter "Helpline Men" in the "Who Do You Goodsearch For?" box, and then search away. Thank you.

BeneGram's 2009 Final Fourcasts

2009-03-18T17:24:00.003-04:00

WOMEN: Connecticut, Oklahoma, Stanford and Louisville. UConn over OK in the final. (UPDATE: Yay! Another 4-for-4 prediction!)

MEN: Louisville, Oklahoma, Pittsburgh, Memphis. Louisville over OK in the final. (UPDATE: Pshaw! A 0-for-4 prediction.)

I should point out that I had all four teams right in the 2005 women's Final Four (except I didn't have Baylor winning it all), and I had three of four teams right in the 2003 men's Final Four (the exception being Syracuse, who took the whole thing). I point that out not because it foreshadows future success, but rather because it'll probably never happen again. For amusement purposes only. BeneGram is not responsible for any action taken after reading the predictions herein. Enjoy the Dances.

World Turns Clocks Forward; Obama Turns Calendar Back Eight Years

2009-03-11T23:32:00.002-04:00

Well, on Saturday night/Sunday morning, most of us moved our watches up an hour for Daylight Moving Time. (It doesn’t save anything. It’s like Fake Time. If we all want more sunlight, let’s all just get up earlier. Bah…)

Then, on Monday, Obama was partying like it’s 2001, expanding federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research, all the while polishing the same tired talking points from when this issue was first hitting the fan eight years ago -- talking points that were never true to begin with. Many in our oh-so-evenhanded mainstream media got credit for the assist. I like to think that even many who support ESCR were nauseated by the hyperbolizing going on over the past few days, with comments that “we’re finally going to have science in this country” and “opening the door to hope that had been closed for so many years.” (All those thousands of people who’ve been treated successfully with adult stem cells must have thought for a split second that their improved conditions were just a really nice dream.)

Stunningly, not only did Obama expand the funding of embryo-destructive research, but he also rescinded Bush’s executive order 13435, which had mandated funding of research into “alternative” sources of stem cells. We know that we might as well remove the quotations around the word “alternative,” as advancements with induced pluripotent stem cells – meaning skin cells coaxed at reverting to an embryonic-like state – are coming just about every week, and researchers keep finding easier and more efficient ways of making it work.

Meanwhile, the success stories just keep on comin’ with adult stem cells, such as the story this week of the young man who is regaining feeling in his chest and foot after receiving an injection of umbilical-cord stem cells in Peru. A dirt-bike accident left had left him paralyzed from the neck down. Not anymore:

http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/local/story/415974.html

(Thanks to Don Margolis (www.donmargolis.com) for linking to this story first.)

But remember: a patient with Parkinson’s or juvenile diabetes multiple sclerosis or a spinal-cord injury being successfully treated with anything other than embryonic stem cells simply doesn’t qualify as science, right? This kid can feel the lower half of his body again, and his blood pressure has stabilized, but if no embryonic human beings are destroyed we’re still “in the Dark Ages.” Right, mainstream media?

These exciting stories come from the kinds of promising, completely non-controversial research to which Obama gave lip service during his Monday press conference -- precisely while signing something that revoked President Bush’s executive order to study that research. Millions will support stem-cell research unless embryos are destroyed. Evidently, Obama will support stem-cell research ONLY IF embryos are destroyed. What a unifier.

The Conveniently Brand-New Call for Unity

2009-03-03T20:16:00.002-05:00

This letter of mine appeared in The Philadelphia Daily News on Feb. 25.

I keep hearing this call for unity and bipartisanship. Oddly, the plea for us to all get along just so happened to coincide with President Obama's inauguration. Somehow I doubt that Democrats were this eager to "agree to disagree" when it was the GOP controlling the White House and Congress. No, then they were pledging to "stand up to Bush."

I'm also reminded of the classless louts who decided to "put their differences aside" and show their "unity" by shamefully booing President Bush on Inauguration Day, and making obscene gestures at his helicopter as he left.

As much as people disagreed with President Bill Clinton, I just can't seem to remember people flipping him off while Bush was being inaugurated eight years ago.

Unity and bipartisanship are great things. Less great is the Democrats' gross misunderstanding of those two words. Contrary to what they believe, "bipartisanship" doesn't mean silencing all who disagree with you.

This time, left on the cutting-room floor was my point that even "if these dolts can’t even show respect to Bush for one day – which they should – then how about showing respect to President Obama by not marring his ceremonies?" Instead, it became a pep rally.

It's About TIME

2009-02-19T18:39:00.002-05:00

Perhaps I'm on a little roll here. Over the years, I've had letters/op-eds published in The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Kansas City Star, USA Today, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, (most recently) The Washington Times, and several other publications. I'm happy to say that I broke new personal ground in one of the weeklies, as Time published my response to a cover story from a fortnight ago...

"Perhaps if Alice Park had interviewed even one opponent of embryonic research, her article would not have lacked so many important facts. Adult (nonembryonic) stem cells, dismissed by Park as 'less versatile,' have already treated thousands of actual human patients in the fight against conditions like juvenile diabetes -- a disease mentioned anecdotally by Park. Different types of adult stem cells (there are several) can be used for diffrent situations; we do not need a one-size-fits-all cell that can become anything."

Trimmed for space purposes (I presume) was this part:

"President Bush’s federal funding limits to those stem-cell lines already in existence – a policy also implemented by the European Union – emphasized less controversial methods, such as the process of inducing adult cells to revert to an embryonic-like state. His policies did not hinder science; they helped it to advance."

Let's hope a couple million pairs of eyes, at least, look at the part that DID get published...

Just Another February Day

2009-02-14T18:36:00.002-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day to those of you who have a special someone to spend it with. While you're staring at each other across the candlelit table, remember those who've spent every February 14 of their quiet lives alone. There are those who've just suffered through a divorce and those who are finding themselves without someone for the first time in a while, but there are also those for whom romance and dating and true love have always been mere widespread rumors. Some are teenagers; some are inhabiting college dorm rooms; some are in their 40s or 50s. Keep them in mind on this day, and you will treasure what you have more.

On that note, here are some nifty YouTube tracks:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tY7Sfavc50o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57cs8dntLyg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jU6z-bKWZy0

More posts to come in the next week...

With Sincere Appreciation for George W. Bush

2009-01-19T11:05:00.001-05:00

UPDATE: the following op-ed of mine appeared in the Jan. 20, 2009 edition of the Washington Times. As the changing of the guard takes place at Pennsylvania Avenue, there will be no paucity of words about the man who has been the White House’s most famous occupant since 2001. Since many will typify the less-than-complimentary view that some hold towards him, perhaps some space can be spared for genuine gratitude.

Thank you, President George W. Bush, for your actions and guidance during and after September 11, 2001 -- the most shocking ter rorist attack on our nation’s soil. Years before, I had read about sports commentator Jim McKay, who, prior to going on the air with the tragic news of the 11 Israeli athletes being slain at the 1972 Summer Olympics, had to keep that horrible secret to himself. I was reminded of McKay as you quietly internalized the sudden news of the attack while you were spending time with schoolchildren, in what should have been a pleasant respite from your executive duties. You would later be derided for your demeanor there – including, ridiculously, for the book you were reading to the students -- by people who would perhaps have preferred you to have terrified everyone in the room by screaming bloody vengeance with your fist hoisted to the ceiling.

Even though many wanted The War on Terror to begin on September 12, military action was deliberate rather than hasty and ill-prepared. And you did the right thing by stressing to Americans that our enemies should be identified by their ideology, not their race. Leading by example, you visited a mosque in your painstaking efforts to differentiate between the radicals who committed the atrocities and the hundreds of millions of peace-loving Muslims living here and abroad.

Thank you, President Bush, for not allowing science to be divorced from ethics. In 2001, you struck a balance on embryonic stem-cell research, limiting the millions of federal funding towards that field of study to those stem-cell lines already created, from human embryos already destroyed. You also devoted generous amounts of funding to studying adult stem cells -- which have already treated thousands of actual human patients -- and signed an executive order for more study of “alternative” methods of obtaining stem cells. Your opponents mischaracterized your view as “religious,” and reviled your policy as “anti-science” (or, worse, as “anti-cure”), but the positive results speak otherwise. A little more than a year ago, scientists successfully reprogrammed ordinary adult cells to an embryonic-like state – one of the “alternative” methods you had outlined. Many researchers are now turning away from embryonic research and toward these induced pluripotent cells – for reasons of both ethics and practicality. Your policy di d not impede research; it helped it to advance.

Thank you, Preside nt Bush, for what you’ve done for Africa. You initiated a bipartisan program that allows more than a million Africans to receive HIV antiretroviral drugs free of charge. You allocated billions in humanitarian aid in the fight there against AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, poverty, and hunger, earning you praise from activist-rockers Bob Geldof and Bono, who may or may not agree with your foreign policy, but nonetheless hold Africa close enough to their hearts that they see you as a champion for their cause.

Your successor, Barack Obama, said in one of his television ads that the question should not be whether we’re better or worse off now than we were four years ago, smugly adding, “We all know the answer to that.” It was part of the centerpiece of his campaign: disparaging you. And yet you’ve been nothing but gracious w hile preparing to hand over the reins to someone who fashioned his presidential run around being your polar opposite.

When you, yourself, were running in 2000, you explained that great leaders and decisions are made by principle, not polls. That can be a dangerous philosophy to embrace, when the nightly news includes continual updates on your approval numbers (more often, oddly enough, when they’re down than when they’re up…hmm). Many, indeed, will be sneering and cheering as you head back to Crawford, Texas. But more than you might realize are thanking you sincerely today, just as I am.

Keith Olbermann Perpetuates Oft-Repeated Lie

2009-01-18T17:46:00.003-05:00

...not that the Bag of Air at MSDNC is any stranger to having things wrong. Remember: this is the same man who was on THE TONIGHT SHOW a few years ago to rip President Bush's stance on embryonic stem-cell research by arguing that the human embryos in question are not fertilized (get thee to a seventh-grade biology book).

Well, on his Jan. 6 edition of COUNTDOWN, KO ripped legal and policy analyst Tom McClusky during his nightly, idiotic, partisan "Worse/Worser/Worst Person in the World" routine. McClusky has sided with those who, according to Olbermann, "interfered" in Michael Schiavo's bid to have his wife Terri clinically starved and dehydrated to death in 2005, over the pleas from Americans that they should -- ready for this? -- "stop their cynical manipulation of this beleaguered family."

K. Here's a little update for those who, while the Schiavo ordeal was transpiring, were a.) trapped down a well, b.) bouncing on the surface of the moon, or c.) Keith Olbermann.

The -- ah-- "beleaguered" family members of Terri Schiavo are the ones who wanted her to live and for the government to intercede to try to save her life. Her father, mother, sister, and brother wanted her to continue to receive food and water. It was her husband -- who was already planning to start a family with another woman -- who wanted her to "go." No evidence was ever provided with regard to a wish of Terri to be "let go" except for hearsay -- which was called into question by contradictory comments Michael made to others.

Furthermore, it was only after they did starve and dehydrate her that her brain functions ceased; before that she was not brain-dead but rather brain-damaged. These are not arbitrary phrases; they are medical terms with medical criteria, and so those who assert that she had been "brain-dead" prior to that are either ignorant or intentionally trying to mislead.

Those who pillory the brave people who attempted to save Terri Schiavo's life conveniently leave out that disability-rights groups were among those protesting the planned ending of her life – perhaps because they don't consider them as worthy a target as the so-called “religious right.” One doesn't need to be religious or a Republican to be outraged and horrified by the Terri Schiavo case -- but, of course, one DOES need to be religious or a Republican to get on Olbermann's list.

To learn more about Terri's story, head right to the source, her real, actual family: www.terrisfight.org. Beleaguered they may be -- but most often by the despicable likes of Keith Olbermann.

Happy/Merry

2008-12-31T20:10:00.003-05:00

BeneGram is not even two months old yet, and we already have our first sizable hiatus, the first of what I'm sure will be occasional hiatuses (yeah, that's the correct plural -- I looked it up). Things have been busy and there are a few situations close to me that warrant my concern more than blogging right now. They also serve to remind us that no time of year is joyous for everybody, and we should remember that as we move through large crowds, whether it's during the holidays or not. Everyone has his or her own troubles to bear -- a layoff, a family illness, a recent loss, a divorce -- and they put into perspective griping about mall traffic or the price of wrapping paper.

The following is another column I had published in Press Newspapers of Delaware County (www.countypressonline.com), this one about two years ago, during the normal December blitz. I thought I should get this in before January. The lefties love griping about President Bush's "war on science," and righties love railing against the "war on Christmas." Q.: What do the two "wars" have in common? A.: Neither one actually exists.

Have a safe and happy 2009.

Nothing Wrong with "Happy Holidays"

Several years ago, while toiling away at a local retail establishment, I affixed a few signs to our drive-through windows. Scattered throughout them were the proper names "Kwanzaa," "Christmas," "Hanukkah," "Ramadan," and "Winter Solstice." At the bottom of each sheet, I wrote, "Whatever you celebrate, enjoy the season."

After my day off, I returned to work and was informed by a colleague that one of our customers had griped about my signs, hollering something to the effect of, "Don’t you get it? These other people don’t even care about their holidays! It’s Christmas!"

Evidently, that malcontent was ahead of his or her time, because in 2006 we now allegedly have a "war on Christmas." While I have no personal problem with Bill O’Reilly or any other pundit making this contention – I’m sorry, but I just don’t see it.

Every shopping center I drive by has red-and-green-and-gold decorations up. Practically every sitcom is doing its ripoff of It's a Wonderful Life. At least one major radio station has been hitting us with all manner of yuletide music, 24-7, since mid-November. (And last year I counted three.) If there’s some sort of "war on Christmas" going on, whoever declared it is losing soundly.

Hey, I like getting presents for family and friends as much as the next bloke. I’ve been to a few Christmas parties already this season, and I’ve even performed some of the music myself. But I’m not about to have a fruitcake-inspired hissy fit just because the cashier at Boscov’s wished me "happy holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." (See, folks: Christmas is a holiday. It’s in there somewhere. Relax.)

I wish the people in my family "Merry Christmas" when the time is right. I say "Happy Hanukkah" to my Jewish friends. But I have friends who are dyed-in-the-wool atheists, and I wouldn’t dream of giving them a greeting that doesn’t apply to them and may, in fact, make them feel uncomfortable.

I can hear charges of being "too PC" already. Well, before anyone created the concept of "political correctness" we had another thing going around called "being nice to people" and one called "don’t exclude anyone."

Ah, the "war on Christmas" people say, but Christmas is a time that can be enjoyed by one and all, regardless of religion. Okay, then why does it seem that those making this argument are the same people telling us to "put the ‘Christ’ back in Christmas"?

If you want to argue that Christmas is becoming too secular, and that we’re forgetting the "reason for the season," fine – I won’t disagree. But we can’t have it both ways, gang. If you’re acknowledging that Christmas ought to remain true to the story of Bethlehem, then you can’t turn around and demand that Best Buy employees wish every customer "Merry Christmas," even when said customer is sporting a yarmulke.

So, please: enough of the boycotting department stores because of what you hear as you’re heading out the door with $600 of Salad Shooters®. (You should be nice to store clerks every day, because it’s thankless work, but that’s another issue.) There’s nothing anti-Christmas about saying "happy holidays" or "season’s greetings" or the even more secular "peace." Be nice to the dude at Genuardi’s, no matter which of these he happens to say to you. It’s the Christian thing to do.

Yep, Still Timely

2008-11-28T22:38:00.000-05:00

The following piece of mine originally appeared in the COUNTY PRESS (www.countypressonline.com) and its sister newspapers for which I work. I thank the editorial staff for the opportunity. It appeared back in October but the issues raised are still quite germane. Hope you're all enjoying your Tofurkey® Day Weekend:

In this increasingly heated political year, some intimations made about Sen. Barack Obama are off-base, such as that he practices Islam. (I doubt he does, not that it should matter.) Obsessing over whether or not Obama wears a flag-pin has detracted from other things.Unfortunately, the mainstream media have back-burnered stories far more legitimate and troubling than Bristol Palin's Myspace page or the pronunciation of the word "nuclear."

Much has been made of Obama’s community organizing. The actual story is the nature of that "organizing": his work on the behalf of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN). Obama served as legal counsel for ACORN, served there as leadership trainer, and, this year, donated $800,000 to the organization. ACORN intimidated banks into offering risky loans to people who couldn’t pay them back, leading to the sub-prime lending crisis devastating the global economy.

ACORN is also the focus of a voter-fraud investigation. The FBI has raided ACORN offices in Nevada and North Carolina. More suspicious activity has occurred in Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Colorado, Florida, and Tennessee. (Q.: What do these have in common? A.: Almost all are swing states.) For example, Indianapolis now has 105% of its population registered to vote. That’s right: the city somehow has more "registered voters" than actual residents. In Nevada, names from the Dallas Cowboys’ roster are appearing on voter-registration lists. Voter fraud -- including imposters to match the fake names on Election Day -- is a danger in Nevada, one of the states where no photo ID is required upon voting.

Obama is in the top three U.S. Senatorial recipients of donations from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, who bought up the aforementioned unwise loans. For years, Sen. John McCain – along with Alan Greenspan, Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight director Armando Falcon, and President Bush (seventeen times) – called for more oversight, forecasting the likelihood of impending financial doom. Congressional Democrats (and, yes, a handful of Republicans) chose not to heed the warning, calling Fannie and Freddie financially sound.

McCain, one of those who sought to prevent this crisis, is now absurdly being blamed for it, while people like Rep. Barney Frank and Sen. Christopher Dodd are being politely asked "what went wrong," when they should be sitting on the other end of the interrogation table.

Long after Sen. Hillary Clinton mentioned it during the Democratic primaries, the fact that Obama began his political career in the home of unrepentant terrorist William Ayers is finally being covered, albeit reluctantly. Some argue that Obama was only eight when Ayers’s group bombed the Pentagon and the U.S. Capitol, but he was certainly much older when he willingly allied himself with Ayers.

While in the Illinois State Senate, Obama went well beyond the pro-choice/pro-life debate by voting four times against protecting newborns who survived failed attempts at abortion. (Just type “Obama BAIPA” into YouTube.)

Not only Republicans should be greatly disturbed over the mainstream media's information blockade. A frightening precedent is set when Americans, whatever their party or race, cannot make an informed decision because they're deliberately deprived of the facts.

And So We Begin

2008-11-09T22:36:00.000-05:00

Part of my first post will be, well, to see if this thing works properly, but part will be to launch something I've been meaning to do for a few years now. Some have asked, since I write about one odd thing or another, when I'm going to get my own blog. Well, this is as good a time as any, as Tuesday's elections have reenergized my angst.

That's not to say, of course, that this will be a completely conservative vehicle. Far from it. See the color-coding on my site? That means I'm in a red-purple sort of mood. I'm not beholden to any one party or viewpoint 100%; I dislike the idea of having to adopt any market basket of ideas. There will be plenty of apolitical commenting/griping here, as well.

Comments will be permitted, but I plan on moderating strongly once would-be commenters start trickling in. Each blogger must determine the amount of incivility, profanity, or nastiness (s)he will allow, and I'm still sort of finding my way.

So this thing will be on board just as soon as I click on the...