In A Quiet Moment

In a quiet moment

thoughts flow past,

blossoms floating down a slow river;

each moves on,

until this one.







Rob Seward © 2009

War is not the answer

If you are like me you wonder what to think as an American about the violence in Gaza.

Take a few minutes now to listen to Bill Moyer's commentary here: http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/blog/2009/01/bill_moyers_reflects_on_middle.html


Also read this exchange between Bill Moyers and Abraham Foxman of the Anti-Defamation League: http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/blog/2009/01/exchange_between_bill_moyers_a.html

We know that terrorists have assaulted innocent Israelis, and are hiding among civilians in Gaza.

And you also know that Israeli soldiers are counter-attacking them, but are killing innocent civilians in Gaza.


It is a complex issue with a simple response: war is not the answer.


Acts of terrorism are criminal acts which require judicial response. Reparation of victims should be the goal, not retribution against perpetraters, because retribution, especially in the form of military action, war, does not work.


What do you think?

Rob

Fear no more the heat o' the sun

On Bill Moyer's journal last week http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/blog/atom.xml. John Lithgow read this song from Act IV of Shakespeare's Cymbeline http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/cymbel_4_2.html

Fear no more the heat o' the sun,
Nor the furious winter's rages;
Thou thy worldly task hast done,
Home art gone, and ta'en thy wages;
Golden lads and girls all must,
As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.

Fear no more the frown o' the great;
Thou art past the tyrant's stroke:
Care no more to clothe and eat;
To thee the reed is as the oak:
The sceptre, learning, physic, must
All follow this, and come to dust.

Fear no more the lightning-flash,

Nor the all-dreaded thunder-stone;

Fear not slander, censure rash;

Thou hast finished joy and moan;

All lovers young, all lovers must
Consign to thee, and come to dust.
No exorciser harm thee!

Nor no witchcraft charm thee!

Ghost unlaid forbear thee!

Nothing ill come near thee!

Quiet consummation have;
And renownéd be thy grave!

-- William Shakespeare

Snow, snow, snow!

It has snowed here in Juneau every day for the last couple of weeks. It is glorious!

I like to grill all during the winter, but sometimes that is put on hold:

That is my grill out there, under three feet of snow.

But when there is snow like that here, there is also know like that on the slopes at eaglecrest, 30 minutes away!

I hope you are as happy to live where you are, as I am to live here in Juneau, Alaska!

Rob