Odds and Ends...

Well, my son John left for London for graduate school 13 days ago and his luggage is still lost.  Luftansa cabin crews walked out on a half day strike the very afternoon he arrived in Frankfort.  Connecting flight was cancelled. He was lucky to get on another flight to London but, of course, his luggage did not.  13 days!!  We still have a little bit of hope because there was also another strike since the day he arrived and things are probably total chaos at Luftansa.  Good St. Anthony, come around, please let John's luggage be found!!

OK.  Why are some people on Facebook complaining about political posts?  I don't get it.  It's like they're saying, "Hey, I just want this to be about fun and superficial things.  Don't make me think.  Don't present me with facts that I might have to make a judgement on."  For heaven's sakes....this is an extremely important election coming up.  What. You don't want your preconceived opinions to be challenged?  Only jokes and funny videos allowed on Facebook?  Why not have an exchange of ideas?    Is this intellectual laziness?  This is America.  Why not exchange ideas?  Aren't we all about freedom of speech?  Just asking....

Cardinal Dolan's prayer at the end of the democratic convention....Awesome!

I just read the full text of Cardinal Dolan's closing prayer at the democratic convention last night.  Here is the text.

"Let us Pray. 
Almighty God, father of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, revealed to us so powerfully in your Son, Jesus Christ, we thank you for showering your blessings upon this our beloved nation. Bless all here present, and all across this great land, who work hard for the day when a greater portion of your justice, and a more ample measure of your care for the poor and suffering, may prevail in these United States. Help us to see that a society’s greatness is found above all in the respect it shows for the weakest and neediest among us. 
We beseech you, almighty God to shed your grace on this noble experiment in ordered liberty, which began with the confident assertion of inalienable rights bestowed upon us by you: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. 
Thus do we praise you for the gift of life. Grant us the courage to defend it, life, without which no other rights are secure. We ask your benediction on those waiting to be born, that they may be welcomed and protected. Strengthen our sick and our elders waiting to see your holy face at life’s end, that they may be accompanied by true compassion and cherished with the dignity due those who are infirm and fragile. 
We praise and thank you for the gift of liberty. May this land of the free never lack those brave enough to defend our basic freedoms. Renew in all our people a profound respect for religious liberty: the first, most cherished freedom bequeathed upon us at our Founding. May our liberty be in harmony with truth; freedom ordered in goodness and justice. Help us live our freedom in faith, hope, and love. Make us ever-grateful for those who, for over two centuries, have given their lives in freedom’s defense; we commend their noble souls to your eternal care, as even now we beg the protection of your mighty arm upon our men and women in uniform. 
We praise and thank you for granting us the life and the liberty by which we can pursue happiness. Show us anew that happiness is found only in respecting the laws of nature and of nature’s God. Empower us with your grace so that we might resist the temptation to replace the moral law with idols of our own making, or to remake those institutions you have given us for the nurturing of life and community. May we welcome those who yearn to breathe free and to pursue happiness in this land of freedom, adding their gifts to those whose families have lived here for centuries. 
We praise and thank you for the American genius of government of the people, by the people and for the people. Oh God of wisdom, justice, and might, we ask your guidance for those who govern us: President Barack Obama, Vice President Joseph Biden, Congress, the Supreme Court, and all those, including Governor Mitt Romney and Congressman Paul Ryan, who seek to serve the common good by seeking public office. Make them all worthy to serve you by serving our country. Help them remember that the only just government is the government that serves its citizens rather than itself. With your grace, may all Americans choose wisely as we consider the future course of public policy. 
And finally Lord, we beseech your benediction on all of us who depart from here this evening, and on all those, in every land, who yearn to conduct their lives in freedom and justice. We beg you to remember, as we pledge to remember, those who are not free; those who suffer for freedom’s cause; those who are poor, out of work, needy, sick, or alone; those who are persecuted for their religious convictions, those still ravaged by war. 
And most of all, God Almighty, we thank you for the great gift of our beloved country. 
For we are indeed “one nation under God,” and “in God we trust.” 
So dear God, bless America. You who live and reign forever and ever. 
Amen!"

We have a very strong and courageous leader in Cardinal Dolan.  May God bless this good shepherd and may He inspire him to continue to lead the faithful through these very difficult times.

I have highlighted the lines it appears were particularly directed toward those policies of the democratic party directly opposed to morality, integrity, and human dignity.

Thank you, Cardinal Dolan.  We will continue to look to you for leadership

The Democrats and Abortion

Well the democratic party is making their views on women very clear.

I was shocked to learn that Nancy Keenan, the president of NARAL ProChoice American spoke at the convention last night.''

NARAL!!! (The National Abortion Rights Action League).  NARAL supports abortion on demand for all nine months of pregnancy.  Yes, all nine months!  I wonder if everyone realizes that the democratic party holds the same position.

One of the founders of NARAL, Dr. Bernard Nathanson, was an abortionist who had presided over more than 60,000 abortions.  He later repented and became a pro-life activist.  Dr. Nathanson was the maker of the pro-life film The Silent Scream which depicted an ultrasound view of a baby being aborted as its mouth opened into a "silent scream."  You can watch the video here.

I'm sorry.  I was horrified that the democratic party would give a microphone to the president of NARAL.  Then I realized that to do so is very consistent with the positions of the democratic party.

Is it any wonder that they have also removed the word "God" from their platform?  Read about it here.  I have heard several interviews of democrats this morning and none of them will answer the question as to why this was done.

I find it curious that the democrats continue to talk about abortion and artificial birth control as though the two issues were synonymous with health care for women.  Is not this attitude profoundly sexist?  If health care is all about a woman's sexual behavior what are we to assume about women?  That their sexuality defines them?  That their purpose and value is intimately intertwined with their sexuality?  I find that attitude deeply offensive.  Is it any wonder that Obama's numbers with women voters have experienced a sharp decline?

Random Stuff...

My son John's luggage is still lost somewhere in London or Frankfort.  It's been 5 days now.

Good St. Anthony come around, please let John's luggage be found!

I've been having an interesting dialogue on Facebook with my brother about politics.  I may bring some of that dialogue here.

Saw the movie 2016 last week.  I found it a very thoughtful, factual movie.  I'd be interested in what others who have seen it thought.

My girls have gone back to high school.  I have a junior and senior this year.  How did this happen?  You mean in two years all of my children will be out of high school??  That's crazy.

Jim is back at University of Dallas.  We're back down to only two children living at home.

The above photo is of my three girls-- Liz, Anne, and Mary at Sam and Vanessa's wedding.  Sam is Zach's brother.  It was a really fun wedding!!  We love Zach's family.

Great fun at Uncle Mike and Aunt Brenda's the following day.

On a completely different note....some have asked if we're thinking about getting another dog.  Of course, I am.   But we're not ready yet....