Yesterday I left for the prison shortly after getting the blog up. It was the first of two annual “banquets” that the group of men, for whom I volunteer, hold for family members, volunteers, and themselves. The group has become so large that the prison visiting room is not large enough to accommodate all at once, so there are two banquets for half the men each. The second will be next month for the other half of the guys. They pay for the food themselves out of the $1 – $3 per day they receive for their prison jobs. I particularly enjoy an opportunity to talk to family members about how hard their husbands, sons and brothers are working to learn the skills they need to be pro-social, law abiding citizens. The down side is that I returned home sore and exhausted. My COPD limited my sleep, so I am too tired and foggy for a normal day of research and writing. This is today’s only article. I am not current with replies, but will be tomorrow. Tomorrow is a catch-up day.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 4:28 (average 4:50). To do it, click here. How did you so?
Short Takes:
From NY Times: Staff Sgt. Robert Bales will be charged on Friday with 17 counts of murder and various other charges, including attempted murder, in connection with the March 11 attack on Afghan civilians, a senior United States official said on Thursday.
Because the acts, however horrific, seem so out of character for this man, I hope this trial focuses more on the war.
From MoveOn: The Most Eye-Opening Fact About Inequality That We’ve Seen All Week
That certainly paints a true picture.
From MSNBC: Authentic Christianity
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
This is what happens when authentic Christians act on their belief. It is the polar opposite of Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christianity.
Cartoon:
14 Responses to “Open Thread–3/23/2012”
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The hoodie comment is about as intelligent as saying that a woman deserves to be raped because of the way she dresses. Way to go, Geraldo, blame the victim. A**hole!
You anticipated a short take in today’s Open Thread, and today’s cartoon.
3:48 I “rammed” that one home.
You guys both clobbered me and will today too!
The minimum wage was no Sunday picnic back in the 1980s. I tried living on it for awhile. I can’t even imagine trying now.
I barely squeaked by on it in the 1960s, but I had a $35 rent controlled apartment.
Indeed there has been, Nameless. I had yours released within an hour. The one that claims to be studious, isn’t. I hope you enjoyed having them for lunch. 😉
3:46 Nailed it!
How wonderful that the inmates hold that dinner for all of you. It must give them a sense of accomplishment.
Sgt. Bales seems to be a victim of his surroundings. I hope they focus the trial on the war too.
Geraldo should have known better than to make such a ludicrous statement. He looks like a thug if you ask me. I would definitely cross the street if I saw him walking toward me.
Good one, Patty!
Good one, Patty.
They do. Every year I try to donate atr least my own meal, and every year they refuse it.
Amen to that!
Staff Sgt. Robert Bales — I in no way condone Bales’ alledged actions, however, I know there is more here than meets the eye. My step-father was a Canadian paratrooper during WWII, jumping into northern France, Belgium and Holland — he was 18- 20 years old. After the war, he did all the normal things of working on the family farm or in factories, and raising a family. One thing that he would not do was talk about the war. That was his way of keeping the horrors locked away. And they stayed locked away until he died in 2004. Each person will react differently to the actions he/she is called upon to make in times of war. The lines are fuzzified! Is this a civilian or a combattant dressed like a civilian? Is this person wearing a suicide bomb or are they just wearing loose clothing? Like TC, I hope that the trial will focus on the tasks that soldiers are asked to take, and their affect on soldiers — long standing affects that can not only blurr the lines of right and wrong, but change a person in ways that the person is often not aware of until something inocuous happens — the perverbial straw that broke the camel’s back.
MoveOn — Definitely a good one! I remember back in 1972 trying to rent an apartment — it was $250/mth but I only netted $220/mth. Someone today doing the same work still can’t afford to rent a one-bedroom apartment and get by. Yet Bank executives sure do manage well, and not in a one bedroom apartment.
Lawrence O’Donnell — Excellent! When I first heard of Trayvon Martin, and now James Craig Anderson, my first thoughts were of Troy Anthony Davis. From the letter to the courts from the Anderson family ” . . . sparing them may help to start the dialogue that one day will lead to the elimination of capital punishment.” His sister talked of respect, love and faith in God in court. These are people, in very difficult times, living their faith. This is the Christianity of the true Jesus Christ.
Cartoon — Louisiana hasn’t recovered from the last disaster, the BP oil spill, and they end up with more sludge! Disgusting! But then all the Greedy Old Pharts are sludge!
Thanks for the personal touch Lynn. A lot of the prisoners, whit whom I work, are vets and I have seen how badly war can screw up a person.
In 1967, the onlky reason I could make it on minimum wage is that I had a rent-controlled apartment: $35.
Exactly.
Thank you for the idea for today’s cartoon