Saturday, August 02, 2003
WORTH SOME SECOND THOUGHTS
“I believe that the Lord doesn't necessarily call only those who are qualified, but he qualifies those who are called.”
That a quote from Jim Bishop's column “Bishop's Mantle” Daily News-Record , Harrisonburg, Va.. May 17, 2003 sharing the emotional impact on him when his Uncle Phillip Dayton because an ordained minister of the Mennonite Church at the small Pinto congregation church located on the the shores of the Potomac River just off of Route 220.
Bishop's grandfather had served as pastor of that church from the year of his ordination in 1830 until his death in 1953, so the naming of his Uncle Phillip to take over the post was a special moment for the newspaper columnist and radio personality in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia area had special meaning and importance. He wrote about that feeling in his weekly column and I clipped it at the time. I see it as recommended reading.
The premise that the column sets forth was applied directly to a religious placement of people, but I keep seeing it as also being true concerning the choices we make in our elections which place specific men and women in particular jobs. We choose a candidate to fill an established place. We expect great things of them most of the time, and yet one man is hardly ever so expertly qualified to be the miracle worker to bring about such a varied host of dreams and plans. We are, at times, too demanding , I am sure. Yet, amazingly that person often “blooms” under stress, as it seems, and accomplishes commendable work. Thinking about it make me realize that it often just as Jim Bishop says. They are “empowered” after they have been chosen as leaders rather than before.
When we go to the narrow confines of the voting booth and are there alone with the forms or the machines needed, we need to realize the fact exists that we re there seeking some one capable of becoming a leader for us and our locality, state or nation. We are looking for individuals who have the basic comprehension of the need of mankind at heart; someone who understands the underlying principles upon which our government is founded and someone who can be appreciate the importance of working with others even contending with those who have divergent views when necessary.
We might find it wise to think about such a thing when we go to the polls to favor a man or a woman. It is most important that we consider how vital qualities which suggest the nature of a truly good person - someone who can lead and learn. A political candidate who is presented as the perfected product may well prove to be a veneered creation with all sorts of cognitive enhancements being used to make him or her seem to be genuine. That can be risky, at best.
Chose the person or person whom you feel might become what you hope they will be,rather than one who claims to be at that pinnacle of attainment.
Very often it is just as Jim Bishop says: the Lord “qualifies those whom he calls.”
A L.M. August 1, 2003 [c549wds]
Friday, August 01, 2003
GOING WITH THE WIND
What's wrong? We have been talking about generating electrical power in quantity and less expensively by making use of Nature's forceful winds from when I was a kid, and that wasn't just the day before yesterday ,either.
There's a crosswind in the system somewhere. I, from time to time, come across account of the construction of a new “wind farm” - as they are now cutely called. In each story everything is coming along well and we are on the breezy edge of totally new era of power creation . We usually get a few picture in the Sunday supplements, a time-filler on TV and stories on computer news. That all goes on heavily for a month or so - about the time the latest project is to be completed and placed on line - and the whole thing seems to disappear. It does not slowly fade away away,either. It goes away suddenly completely!
The fact that we do not hear a bragging sequence concerning them suggests they have been a failure. The mere fact builders fail to follow up with selling statistics indicates they have been less successful than expected. If so, I, for one, want to hear about what has happened – both good and bad.
One reason so few people seem to b e interesting in power from wind driven blades, is that the concept seems old-fashioned. The old windmills we saw on farms all over the place were adapted to their use in pumping water, primarily. So, remembering hundred of such towers having been re-assigned the task of holding up TV antennae, they think of system as antiquated, dated and inefficient,old, creaky and unworthy suggestion for our time and effort.
In some areas environmentalists have been aroused who object to whatever might alter the habitat in any way, major or minor. To the combative Econut all such towers are “ugly”; to others a series of them, sweeping gracefully across the top of a mountain ridge, or out over the expanse of a body of water, can be an artistic thing we can admire and be proud of having created.
Other conditions which may exist and which I would like to know about. Is economy rally a value of the wind system?. What about reports I hear of heavy loses of power in the transmission of power back to where it is needed? Is that a major factor of special concern? The stance of federal, state and governments, too, may well be handicapping the drive toward economical wind sources in some areas. If so let's slap few political hands here and there and and awaken our put-off pols to additional paths of power for us all.
Mother Nature is not going to do her generous handout on fossil fuels forever. We had best make adjustments to assure that we will have electrical power sources in the future when Mama Naturalle cries “Enough! No more!”
A.L.M. July 30, 2003 [c494wds]
Thursday, July 31, 2003
THE TIME IS NOT NOW
No two people ever seem to see any one thing in exactly the same way, do they?
There is a special reason for us to be aware of this simple, well-known maxim right now when we are engaged in a war which few, if any, of us really, truly understands.
Our President, and hence, our Command in Chief of military forces, has chosen, in his privileged wisdom, to withhold those elements of the recently unwrapped report of the events “September 9-11th”, those specific passages dealing with the participation of Saudi Arabia.
He has cited as his reason for withholding the details of Saudi participation the very sound reason that to do so, at this time, might compromise and even destroy our line of communications with those sources which have enabled us to learn what we have about September 9-11. This is no time to make any announcements concerning our sources and neither is it time for any of us to dredge up fanciful tales about what role the Saudis may have played. It will be best to wait until time when the actual facts, as now know,m may be set forth with jeopardize existing contingencies.
We do ourselves and our nation a disservice if we attempt to build a possible scenario made to fill in the blank for the time being. We are not aware of circumstances which compelled some people to do what they did under stress. We had best leave it to our chosen leaders to fulfill their obligations in seeking to clarify special questions and circumstances. Without the proper facts – best not to be revealed at this point – No two of us would see it in the same light, anyway.
I think most American feel that there was, indeed, something amiss in our relationships with Saudi Arabia in the past. We did not relate to dictator-ruled nations with ease. The association of the nineteen skyjackers in the September 9-11evens could not have been a condition which occurred by chance. There have been views on that point. We did not know the exact circumstances which brought about such actions and have held back on discussing possibilities. The subject has been placed “On hold.” Let's keep it that way for a while longer until such time as the entire matter can be discussed and every piece of the puzzle placed precisely where it belongs.
Until such a time come along when that can be done, we had best leave it in the capable hands of few who do now ...know what has gone on, what is - even now - taking place and who have a far better basis for understanding things which are likely to happen in our future.
Just hold the hand you have been dealt; play your holdings with special care,and hold them them close and wait for guidance from the dealer.
A.L.M. July 30, 2003 [c406wds]
Wednesday, July 30, 2003
ARE WE?
In recent weeks I have read three letters in “Letters To the Editor” sections of a variety of newspapers which declared us to be a nation which is noted for being selfish, greedy, pushy, mean-spirited, sexually obsessed , evil-minded and far too aggressive.
The writer's of all three letters appeared to be intelligent by educational standards generally accepted today. They were adept in the language and did not fall into any of the usual traps which often cause letter writers to fall short of their intended mark. They accused us of those qualities and two of them went so far as to explain why we have fallen to such a low level. They blamed it on our two major political parties - one each way.
Such letters demeaning our country are a blight upon our national pride and respect for our predecessors. The writers of such tracts seemingly to not realize they are acting out some of the very qualities they accuse the rest of us of having. To attempt to blame political parties for our alleged shortcoming is cowardice and selfishness. I think of patriotic drive and being
something more personal.
Do we plead “guilty” or “not guilty” to their charges?
Before anyone steps forward and does either, let's review some of the ground rules for such talk. It is best for all that the playing field be level and free of real or imaginary obstacles.
Yes, people do have “rights” as citizens which allow them to express their views in public. It is held that they are, as a result of any such statement or action, held accountable for what results from their charges, admission, confessions, mal-practice, or, suspected mis-alignment. It is also held that the opposition has an equal “right” of rebuttal. Far too often, letter writers, in particular, adopt a pontifical attitude which used to reject any other view.
A mere glance at all that the United States has historically done to assist other nations in time of special need, will suffice to show the initial claim of our being selfish is untrue. We are now, and have always been, a sharing nation. We, in our cosmopolitan nature, may well harbor individuals -even groups of people who exhibit distinct signs of greed, avarice, hatred, distrust and all the other questionable traits on might expect to find active in such a polyglot population. That does not mean that our official, governmental stance is so tainted.
Today - right now - many people scan the news reports for any trivial incident which might show how much people overseas hate and distrust Americans.
Those people who are compelled to write letters to editors, might find guidance in simple ethics of a religious nature. Our nation is not a casual thing to be clipped and modified and changed at everyones whim. To accuse it falsely is costly to all.
A.L.M. July 29, 2003 [c463wds]
Tuesday, July 29, 2003
HINDELOOPEN-WHAT!
I didn't realize what I was letting myself in for when a friend recommended that I do a piece about a specific dress style called a “Hindeloopen” skirt.
I gather that with a name like that,I decide it has to be Scandinavian or Germanic I would probably be as long as its name and just as complex with frills and ad-ons.
I had some trouble finding it. In some strange manner I had acquired the idea she had said “Hickenlooper”. After several tries to track it down, and then the always courteous hand of Goog;le.com came to my rescue with their consistently polite and flattering way of asking:.”Do you mean Hindeloopen?”
Of course, I did - and suddenly there it was – Hindeloopen - and far more of it than I had expected to find!
It did refer to a dress style, but that proved to be minor product. In in the 17th Century when you said the word “Hindeloopen” you were referring to some of the finest plain or ;elaborately decorated furniture ever made by Man, to a fantastic array of delicate porcelain with an Oriental flare of pure simplicity and charm, or o any of thousand of household gadgets and do-dads made of wood. Hindeloopen eels were a well-known gastronomic treat,too. Yes, the dresses were there, too....dance frocks, mostly, but they were copied from other Scandinavian styles.'
In those uncertain years when France and England shifted power by the seasons, declined as a seaport .The importation of porcelain disappeared, and the populace found they were to live by eel fishing alone. The Town Hall stills stands and is reasonably intact. It houses displays of furniture, costumes, birth and death records for the area, mementos the seas glorious years, and examples of many of the customs and traditions. It is a museum of a dead town today. The rest of the old town fell apart in 1932 were a part of Hindeloopen culture of more than three hundred years.
When the Zuider Zee ports took over trade with the completion of the eighty million dollar enclosing dam was completed, the towns - including Hindelooper - found themselves to be located on the banks of an inland, quiet, fresh-water lake. With no sea trade, houses fell into dis-repair, whole streets were torn down as remaining citizens looked across the water which no longer provided them with a good living. Exodus. It is noted that even the town physician packed up and left.
Progress had come to The Netherlands in 1932,but not to this port city... not to this historic town. Think about these things the next time you are talking about “progress” in our own time. What may be good for some can be costly for others. I forgot about the copied skirts and dresses. That seems petty when you see how Hindeloopen - one hundred miles northeast of Amsterdam - was stricken and died.
A.L.M. July 28, 2003 [c537wds]
Monday, July 28, 2003
TWO DRINKS
There used to be a small eating place on, I think, Church Avenue, in downtown Roanoke,Virginia. It might have been one location for a franchised, fast-food place of our day, but I can’t recall seeing them in other cities and towns.
We, as a family, during the late 1920’s and early ‘30’s, when in Roanoke, used to stop frequently at the place called the “White Tower”. It got the name from the fact that it was construction of large, three-foot squares of some type of white enamel-coated metal. The end facing the street continued upward to form a castle-like, square tower – hence the name. The practical purpose of the tower was to conceal the large fan assembly and exhaust pipes from the cooking areas below.
The front window had a large sign I remember so well. In plain old black and white generic type it proclaimed to passersby that they had:
“Buttermilk! Deep Enough to Swim a Horse!”
It may well have included a “five cents” price, as well, because that was the going rate for drinks in those days.
They had a parking area for perhaps six or eight cars, diagonally, and since the place was small and usually crowded, one of us boys usually went in with Dad to help carry the food out to our car.
They featured sandwiches of various kinds, hot dogs, hamburgers and barbecue treats. Their buttermilk offer, however, caught and held my attention.
They would probably be hailed into court at some level today to explain why they insisted on doing false advertising, because it is highly unlikely they had a horse handy..
Above all, I will always remember that sign in the window and the fine buttermilk!
We as family ate at the White Tower when in downtown Roanoke, and also at a place west of Roanoke just as we topped the , then, long, slow climb of the Christiansburg mountain on our way to Radford. Everyone, it seems, stopped at Charlie's because most cars and trucks were boiling and roiling when they made it to the top of the long pull up the rutted, dirt road from down in Rose Valley, Shawsville and Elliston. Charlie's ample driveway looked like a field of geysers at one of the national parks out west with so many cars and trucks spouting steam plumes
So often, I find it was not because the food was any better or less expensive at such places necessarily. It was the people who worked there who, by their friendly attitudes, I think, were a lure.. We felt that they were one with us in so many ways. We developed regular places ...usually happy, friendly people, such as the man who wore a white cowboy hat at the White Tower, or Charlie - overweight, always beaming and projecting good cheer as only a black man can. He owned and successfully operated that place for many years. Charlie had a fabulous memory , too. After just a few visits, he knew where we were from and used our names:“ Mr. Al,” and “Mr. Andy” and that impressed a pair of pre-teen boys no end.
Charlie did not have “buttermilk deep enough to swim a horse”, but he did, I remember, stock a semi-popular commercially bottled drink which never caught on, but which I liked ...a chocolate-flavored drink called “Mavis.” Anyone remember that one? Small, but good. I can't be the only person who is blessed with these little reminders of the good things and good times we shared long ago.
A.L.M. July 25, 2003 [c664wds]”
Sunday, July 27, 2003
CRUNCH AT CRUSH
Who would deliberately plan and execute a train wreak?
At least one man has been known to have done so. His name - fittingly enough - was Crush - William George Crush, who was a passenger agent for the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway Company in 1896.
The line was lovingly Katy” know by many people and :The Katy”, but Crush though the RR needed some publicity to get people to use it more. He organized a super-duper train wreak - a deliberate head-on collision of two trains each moving at about sixty miles per hour. He purposely planned for them to be on the same track and that meant they would meet at a velocity of about 120 miles per hour. Crush set the miles long outdoor stage for a classic crunch of complete trains - box cars, included, not just two wide-stacked engines.
Two thirty-five ton steam locomotives, each pulling a string of cars were to be collided head-on at great speed. Experts seemed to think it would be safe for spectators to watch the crash, from a distance, of course. The promoter then advertised that admission were available for the event, that it would be a family affair, too, with no drunks in sight, and with food and beverage stands conveniently located along the length of the two spectator lines -one on each side of the straight stretch of track. His printed advertising g tracts also promised : “Fresh Waco water - Free!.”
Photographs of the great train wreck are extant, and Scott Joplin whom many think was present as a on-looker, wrote a song about it called “The Great Crush Collision”
The publicity intent of the scheme seemed to be working. Excursion trains came from every corner of Texas and rates were never more than five dollars regardless of what part of the expansive Lone Star state thrill-seeking travelers might have called home. Thousands of people gathered in Waco and in adjacent areas. It is said some trains were full and many people had to ride in on top of the cars. Some accounts of the event claim fifty-thousand people were present at the moment the two trains collided, but the pictures of rather thin lines of spectator at the crash site suggest that many be an exalted figure.
The wreak came about but not exactly as planned. Contrary to what the experts had assured promoter Crush could not happen ...one of engine boilers exploded at the moment of contact. It covered the entire area in clouds of steam. It blew metal parts of the engines into the spectator area and two viewers were killed.
Within hours the railway company's cranes had cleaned up the larger debris and souvenir hunters took care of the rest. The temporary city of Crush, Texas, called the '”second largest city in Texas” for a time, dissolved before midnight and was no more. A marker was set up in 1977 to show where it might have been. Agent George Crush was promptly fired by the Railroad management. He was rehired the next day, however, and retired as an average citizen after fifty-eight years of service with “the Katy”.
If you plan any such attraction, be wary of “expert” advice.
A.L.M. July 26, 2003 [c574wds]
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