Tag Archives: Family

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Do we still justify injustice?

The practice of eugenics is a scar on our nation’s character.  This scarring should be a warning to us of how easy it is for “good intentions” to go too far. During a war, some may feel the good of the whole outweighs the good of a few, but this is seldom justified during civilized peacetime.  Providing for the general welfare of a population may infringe on the monetary rights of the citizens, but should not infringe on the human rights of the citizens.  The practice of eugenics crossed this ethical line.

For the most part, I agree with the philosophy that money does not undo injustice, as North Carolina’s Senate determined this week in regards to monetarily compensating the victims of forced sterilization. When injustice is isolated, a few are victimized and should be compensated.  When the injustice is widespread, we are all the victims and there is no compensation equal to the harm which was done.

As a society we tend to turn away from how injustice has been part of our nation’s “modern” past.  In doing so, it is easier for us to ignore injustices still in practice.  When the ideology of one group, no matter how large the group may be, infringes on the rights of others, we are in danger of ignoring the lessons of the past and we may try to justify the unjust.

It is through remembering the past that we become empowered to work for a better future.

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Saith the Husband… Running

Today my husband ran 6 miles for the first time.  As he has reminded me, it has taken 19 years for me to convince him to attack such a feat.

His comment at the completion of the run was, “After covering 6 miles, I have determined Nike, Suacony, Asics and Brooks are all fine, but Honda is still better.”

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Saith Me… Likability

The most important person you want to please is the person looking back at you in the mirror.

It is certainly better to be disliked and respected, than to be liked but held in contempt.

Just remember to be respected does not mean to be feared; and if everyone seems to dislike you, you might want to take a good hard look at your own nature.

However, if you are virtuous and kind to yourself and the world around you, yet still are not liked my the masses, you must be doing something right.  Keep up the good work, and maybe the masses will learn something from you.

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Censorship or Good Neighbor

Is it censorship or a violation to constitutional rights when a privately owned company providing a service chooses to set decency policies?  In a recent Facebook debate, I read a multitude of criticism over Facebook deleting a photo some deemed objectionable and others deemed humorous.   The following are some questions that came to my mind.

  1. When does a privately owned company providing a service become so big that it is perceived as “public” space rather than a service?
  2. Why is an attempt to protect civility or decency perceived as a civil rights infringement to so many?
  3. When did the public come to conclusion it is a smart idea to save original data, photos or conversations on a server they do not personally own?

I have become a huge fan of using technology and social media to communicate with distant acquaintances and friends.  I have found social media to be an enjoyable way to connect, but I always utilize the advice of my mother, my journalism instructors and my own common sense.

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Vacations

You know you have reached exhaustion when unpacking the souvenirs seems beyond your ability.  It is strange how the excitement of a vacation can push you past the aches and pains of a tired body.  You can walk further than you normally do, sleep briefly and restlessly night after night, and unhealthily for days on end, all with continued stamina.  Then you arrive home, drop your bags, cringe at the piles of mail, dread the laundry and want to sleep all day.

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Remembering the Roses

It is funny how memories can return with a flood due a smell, sight or sound. The flood of recollection washes over you. For a moment, time and space dissolve and you are transported to a different moment of your life. A time you once thought you would never forget, but somehow had.

While it is easy to remember big events in life, remembering the roses often takes a low priority. You may have taken the time to smell them, you may have even taken a roll of film or two, but you didn’t take the time to reflect on the roses over the years. Occasionally looking at the photos in a book, does not seem to be enough to keep the roses fresh and vivid. The fragrance fades with time and only an image remains, not the full experience.

It seems the best remembered roses are the ones we share with others. Those who originally smelled them with us, those who help us remember the fragrance as well as the shape and color. Taking time to smell the roses is important, but if we hope to remember the fullness of life’s journey, then taking time to cultivate and nurture the relationships of the loved ones who walked with us through the garden is vital. It is how we will remember the roses.