Learning Letters with Scrabble Junior

Learning Letters with Scrabble Junior is here.

What Are We Doing?

I was saddened to hear that the Wisconsin Assembly, too, passed the controversial bill banning collective bargaining for state workers.  I was further saddened to hear that some of the Republican senators who first passed the bill have received death threats from opponents.  This is a perfect repeat of the Healthcare Reform Act with the actors merely changing sides!  I think the biggest difference between these two controversial bills is that one was meant to help the American people, whether you agree with it or not, and the other was meant to strip Americans of their rights.  What are we doing?  We are going to destroy ourselves if we don't stop buying into polarizing propaganda, look at the facts, and start finding compromises that will truly help solve the country's problems.

And I guess that's all I have to say on the matter.

Pot Meet Kettle

I heard this morning that the Wisconsin State Senate Republicans passed the controversial bill to ban collective bargaining for public employees.  They did this quite slyly, removing the budget aspects of the bill that would have required Democrats to be present.  Might I say they are forcing this bill upon a populace that doesn't want it?  The large demonstrations in the capitol and elsewhere as well as multiple opinion polls showed that a majority of the people in Wisconsin did not support this bill.

I am saddened to hear that it passed because I fear it does not bode well for the plight of public sector employees in other states, and really all employees, if it becomes law.  More than this though I am flabbergasted by the Republicans' hypocrisy.  It seems not so very long ago that I heard national Republican leaders decrying the President and Democratic majority in Congress for "forcing" the Healthcare Reform Act on a "disapproving" American populace. 

Whether we're talking about national, state, or local politics, I think that if you're going to get on your high horse about the responsibilities of the majority, you really should practice what you preach.  Rather than "ramming" an unwanted bill down your constituents' throats, why not work towards some honest, fair compromise?  I hope the Wisconsin Assembly will act with less duplicity than the Senate Republicans.  I hope they will listen to what the people are telling them and consider a reasonable compromise to solve the state's budget woes while still protecting the collective bargaining rights of public employees.

Forgiveness Vespers

And so begins Lent.  I feel like I'm off to a good start, but as soon as I say that I'll trip and fall...

After liturgy, we had friends over for a last cheesy meal, which I regret was not as tasty as I had hoped it would be.  The company was good, though, and the kids had special bedtime stories from friends before we returned to church for vespers.

The vespers service seemed unusually well attended for a 7 o'clock service at our parish.  It was rather uplifting.  My children were unusually well behaved, too.  That was even more uplifting.  Yaya even stood in the forgiveness line by herself this year.  It was the first time she wasn't being held by someone.  We were joined at the service by Archimandrite Mathias, and his brief sermon was just the pep talk I needed to get moving in the right direction.  One comment, in particular, has stuck in my mind, and I think it is worth repeating.

He said... Just as with the prodigal son who came walking back to the father, and whose father ran to meet him, so if we take just one step, God the Father takes many to meet us.

There is such great hope in that for me.  Although I may not take as many steps as I'd like during this Lent or throughout my life, God will be running to meet me as long as I keep taking some.

To all of you who were not at Holy Trinity's service tonight, I ask your forgiveness for any offenses I may have committed against you.