Civic – Page 2 – The Future is Open

January 6, 2021

Preserve, protect and defend

June 1972 I took the oath of enlistment when I volunteered for service in the United States Naval Reserve. The words if you’re unfamiliar are, “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic;…” My enlistment ended in 1978 when I received an honorable discharge. Later as a public school teacher I had to do the same and recently as a trustee of our two county public library system I had to affirm that I would uphold the Constitution.

Today I witnessed lawmakers and our president seeking to overturn the will of the American people who overwhelmingly elected Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to presidency and vice-presidency. Today insurrectionists stormed the US Capitol and threaten the well being of the capitol police and members of congress. One of the people involved was mortally wounded. I wonder if those lawmakers and the insurrectionists have ever read the U. S. Constitution. The lawmakers took approximately the same oath as I did. Did they mean it?

Ironically the current president and many of his followers have made a big deal about law and order. Not much evidence of respect for law and order today. These same folks got upset when athletes knelt at the time of the National Anthem. Today one of the insurrectionists tore down the United States flag from the U.S. Capitol and raised a campaign banner of the president. Apparently their patriotism was fraudulent. We have heard a lot about fraud in this election and we witnessed that fraud today. It was on display for all the world to see. American exceptionalism died today. Our republic is under siege by forces of evil who are hell bent on destroying us.

I hope that order will be restored and that our republic will survive this insurrection and that we will grow as a country. E pluribus unum.

June 4, 2020

I continue to pray

I was up early this morning and following a shower I dressed and went for a walk. I carry the rosary while I walk and begin each day saying at least one complete Franciscan Crown Rosary. Today I prayed for peace and healing for our torn land. I prayed for our president and other leaders. I prayed for those protesting and those suppressing the protesters. Our country is fractured and it has been for a long time. The problem didn’t begin with the election of Donald Trump nor with Barack Obama. Maybe it began in 1619 when the first Africans were brought to our shores to work on plantations. Maybe it began before then when these men and women were sold into slavery.

Lately the popular refrain is “the killing of Mr. Floyd is terrible but what about the looting.” Most folks can understand the brutality of the murder of Mr. Floyd but they see a disconnect with the looting, arson and other carnage. Some of my social media friends lump the looters and arsonists in with the peaceful protesters. There is ample evidence that the two are not related.

How will this end? Is this the end of the United States? In the past few days there have been disturbing scenes of unidentified riot police in our nation’s capitol. Photos of National Guardsmen standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. This is in response to Americans exercising their first amendment rights.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
First Amendment United States Constitution

Today an eight foot high fence is being erected around the White House. This has never happened before. Not even during the Civil War. The root of the problem lies with fear and ignorance. How can we end the fear and ignorance which spawned the racism and authoritarianism? I’ll keep praying.

May 14, 2020

Run Across New York

Be part of a once in a lifetime chance to run across New York State. Many races have been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic so this might be your one chance to compete this year with thousands of other runners from across New York State. I have joined my son and other members of a team called “Fredonia.” We’re diverse by age and geographic location but we’re of one mind to enjoy running and walking across New York State for the good of others. We’re part of the “One NY Virtual Challenge – Race Across New York.” Each participant receives some swag too and in my case be part of a team too. You can elect to register by yourself, join a team or create your own.

According to the website, “OneNY is donating 100% of all donations and a portion of the proceeds from the 500k & 1000k challenges to COVID-19 Relief.” Join us!

May 12, 2020

International Nurses Day

Today is the one day of the year when we intentionally single our nurses who are the front line of our worldwide health care system. Were it not for nurses most of us would lack the essential medical care that we are currently receiving. Tomorrow I’ll be going for a blood test and there will be a nurse taking care of me. I had the privilege of working with dozens of US Navy and civilian nurses while serving as a US Navy Hospital Corpsman in the 1970’s. I was always impressed with their calm under pressure.

One time in particular comes to mind when I was working in labor and delivery and we couldn’t locate the on-call obstetrician. The nurse calmly took over and delivered the baby. She had me scrub and and be her assistant. That’s a memory that’s still fresh from the fall of 1973. Be sure to offer the nurses in your life your thanks today for the amazing work that they do to keep us healthy and well.

May 4, 2020

Reflecting on the Kent State shootings

Reading this piece today brought all the memories back of that day fifty years ago when panicked National Guardsmen fired on protesters at Kent State University. I was seventeen years old in that spring of 1970 and would soon be draft age. The war was real for me as it was for most Americans that spring. Some like me didn’t know what to do other than hope and pray that somehow we avoided the meat grinder of Vietnam. The war still divides our politics. In the last presidential election the current president avoided the draft with bone spurs. That’s a nebulous reason but many sought out of a war that had no real meaning.

We were told of course that Vietnam was another domino and that if we didn’t stop the communist government there that eventually they’d be knocking on our door here on the mainland of the United States. That was of course a huge lie but when militarists and politicians join forces any damn provocation will do. Most of the wars the United States has been involved in since World War II were wars of choice. The military industrial complex is well established in the United States. Despite the will of the people we continue to grow and expand our military might.

We have men of science, too few men of God. We have grasped the mystery of the atom and rejected the Sermon on the Mount. The world has achieved brilliance without conscience. Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants. We know more about war than we know about peace, more about killing than we know about living. If we continue to develop our technology without wisdom or prudence, our servant may prove to be our executioner.
Omar Bradley

The United States of America will finally become great when we beat our swords into plowshares and accept the Sermon on the Mount. Omar Bradley had us pegged. We are indeed nuclear giants and ethical infants who know more about war making than peace making. Maybe this current pandemic can become a metanoia for our country.

Fifty years later I remember that spring afternoon in 1970 when we learned of the deaths of Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, William Schroeder and Sandra Scheuer who were protesting our addiction to war.

January 22, 2019

The Paradox of military service

Today’s refusal of the Supreme Court to rule against this administration’s transgender ban got me to thinking about the paradoxes of military service. It wasn’t that long ago that being gay was not allowed in the military. The reasoning was somewhat along the lines of why women weren’t allowed in combat. As recently as 1948 the armed forces of the United States were segregated. African-Americans were separated from white units because they were judged inferior and likely to affect the combat readiness of our forces. In the past seventy years we have come to realize how ignorant that way of thinking was. When I served in the United States Navy in the 1970’s being gay was not an option. There were gay sailors and when they were outed they were summarily discharged dishonorably. As if one’s gender or sexuality could negatively impact the battle readiness or quality of one’s work.

Recently the current administration wants to ban transgender service members from serving. I think its ironic that a person who was unwilling to serve and went to great length to avoid military service would now take issue with the gender of the members of our military. Members of the military take and an oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States from all enemies foreign and domestic. Many of those who take the oath find themselves in harms way and some actually end the lives other human beings in the being true to that oath of enlistment. There is no religious or moral tradition that legitimizes murder yet that is often the result of military action. At the same time we hold members of our armed services to much higher standards than the general public. The paradox is while protecting the life of the country service members are often required to end the lives of the enemy. While that may be an expedient for a country it is hardly a moral act by anyone’s definition.

By what sophistry does this administration operate that they would deem that one’s gender determines one’s patriotism or readiness to serve the country in our armed forces. This action has done irreparable damage to the morale of our armed forces at a time when we can ill afford such an affront. I hope that this ruling is challenged and overturned in our courts.

June 30, 2015

Two Years

It’s been two years since I retired or almost that long and in that space of time I’ve found time to do as much or more than I ever did before. Since January I have been writing for Opensource.com and today I found out that two of my interviews made it to the top ten interviews on the site for the first six months of the year. That’s gratifying but also humbling too. I remember praying a few years ago about finding a job where I could research and write and that is exactly what I am doing. Add to that I am part of a much larger whole. I am part of a team of selfless souls who make the community of moderators and content managers at Opensource.com.

In addition to my recent work with Opensource.com I’ve found lots of other ways to give back to the community. I’ve recently become involved in a local food pantry which is operated by Catholic Charities of Buffalo. The patrons come from around the Franklinville area and it too is an answered prayer although one of a more recent nature. My prayer life has deepened and I’m more relaxed most of the time than I ever have been. The open source community of which I am a part invites the humanitarian, compassionate and contemplative within me and I see it’s application everywhere. Recently I was given a chance to refurbish two ten year old computers and I installed Lubuntu, which is a version of Ubuntu Linux on them. Yesterday I was thinking that there might be an opportunity to help some lower income members of the community with these two older computers. Exactly how they might be deployed I’m not sure yet but there is an opportunity to give back in yet another way.

I’m grateful for each day. Peace.

November 17, 2013

St. Bonaventure University Basketball Rocks the House

Last night our family attended the St. Bonaventure University vs. Canisius College men’s basketball game at The Reilly Center. We sat in Section 10 and had a birdseye view of the court. We participated in a rich tradition that spans decades. My Mom and Dad attended these games at the Olean Armory when I was a preschooler. I’ve been an active St. Bonaventure fan since the days of Bob Lanier, Billy Kalbaugh and Jim Satalin. My first time at the Reilly Center was in 1967, I saw Bonaventure beat Loyola of Chicago. Thirty-two years ago next month my wife and I came on our first date to a St. Bonaventure game at Reilly Center. Coming to St. Bonaventure games is sacramental. Last night as I sat with my father-in-law, wife, daughter Dara and her fiancée Shaun I felt a sense of gratitude and joy for our participation in this rich tradition. The appeal of the Bonnies is inter generational. My wife, daughter and I are all St. Bonaventure alumni too. That’s a point of pride for us. We’ve been treated to many great games over the years and last night’s game against Canisius was no exception. The cast of players changes each year but the mystique continues. Thank you to St. Bonaventure University their opponents the Canisius Golden Griffins and to the coaches for a wonderful evening of memories.