Monday, June 30, 2008

...won't ever see a flag pin on me.

I think I'm patriotic. To a reasonable degree, that is. I don't want to be a super patriot. I don't want to declare loyalty to America above all else. I generally don't cite the pledge of allegiance. I don't wear the American flag pin in my lapel. When I buy postage stamps, I ask for anything but the American flag. Oh, when I'm at a ball game, I stand for the national anthem. Out of respect. I'd stand for other national anthems, too. Out of respect. I was born an American citizen. And I accept my responsibilities as a citizen. Even served three years in the military. Overseas. But I would have disobeyed an order if I thought it was morally wrong. My allegiance is to something more lofty, more spiritual than my country. I guess I'm writing about this because Barack Obama gave a speech today. About patriotism. That he doesn't question anyone's patriotism. And therefore, he doesn't want his patriotism questioned either. Wasn't long ago that Obama was called to task by some super patriot for not always wearing the American flag pin in his lapel. My reaction? Why should anybody care about such a trivial matter? Anyway, Obama has started wearing the pin. Maybe because it's the politically expedient thing to do. But I have no desire to be a politician. So you won't ever see a flag pin on me. --Jim Broede

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Staying power & the written word.

I think that maybe I am a better writer than speaker. Because when I write, I give myself a little more time. To think. Clearly. To give myself an extra moment. To really turn inward. When I am speaking to someone. Directly. In the flesh. It's a little different. The flow isn't exactly the same. There's a difference between a physical presence and a spiritual presence. When I write, it feels more spiritual and less physical. When I speak to someone -- well, it's just different. Hard to describe. I think I feel most comfortable as a writer. More at ease. Because I've always done it alone. In solitude. Maybe that is what makes writing so special. Often, writing feels a little like a prayer. To something holy. Divine. Maybe it's a little like carrying on a conversation with god. In that the best words feel as if they are divinely inspired. It's easiest for me to be naked with the written word. Rather than the spoken word. I can see the written word. It's tangible. Solid. I can touch it. The spoken word often evaporates. It does not linger like the written word. The spoken word is easily forgotten. The written word has staying power. --Jim Broede

Friday, June 27, 2008

Don't underestimate Obama.

Barack Obama is a courageous man. The man I want to see as the next president of the United States. But still, Obama is a politician. One who may well sacrifice principles to get elected. He really has no choice in the matter. That is, if he wants to win. A candidate who sticks to his/her principles all the way doesn't have a chance. Politicians have to be liars or deceivers or stretchers of the truth. Whatever you want to call it. That's the nature of the game. George Bush is a big, big liar. That was the only way for him to get elected. And to have the opportunity to promote his real agenda. If he had told us the truth, he'd have lost big time. Well, now it's Obama's turn to lie his way to the White House. He has mastered the successful formula. He told us once that he would accept public financing for his campaign. But now he's opted out. Because he can raise huge sums of money -- far more than he can get from public financing. Can't really blame him for that. For abandining his principles. Because that may be the only way to assure that he's a winner. He'll easily outspend his Republican opponent. And he'd have to be a fool to deny himself that opportunity. Yes, Obama knows how to play politics. I think lots of folks have underestimated him. Hillary Clinton did. And it looks like that goes for the Republicans as well. --Jim Broede

Maybe it won't work for everyone.

When I chat with people with mental problems, I tend to try to buoy their spirits. And I suspect that's kind of risky. Because I become an amateur psychiatrist, of sorts. For instance, when I'm engaged in conversation with someone in depression, I probably should just be a good listener. Instead, I try to convey a happy feeling. Cheery. Positive. Maybe that's the last thing they want to hear. Actually, they probably want me to just keep quiet. I try to reason with the depressed. For them to think their way out of their mental mess. To refocus. And that's far easier said than done. I'm told by some that depression often is a chemical imbalance. And that it's necessary to pop a pill to help find one's way out of the labyrinth. I don't know if I've ever been in so-called clinical depression. I doubt it. But I've felt mighty sad at times. In the doldrums. But I've always managed to find my way out. With mental gymnastics, I suppose. I tell myself I'm gonna find a way to find a reasonable degree of happiness. Contentment. Maybe just by going for a walk. And searching for something that's going right in my life. Even if I have to stretch and pretend to find a blessing. Eventually, I find that I'm in love. With some aspect of life. Yes, that's my way. It works for me. But I have to acknowledge that maybe it won't work for everyone. --Jim Broede

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Progress...and priceless strides.

I'm hoping for the death of capitalism. At least, capitalism as we know it. And it'd be nice if it happened in my lifetime. That would make me happy. Because I think capitalism is full of greed. Too much opportunity to create a wide gap between the rich and the poor. That doesn't seem right to me. The 'haves' so often lord it over the 'have-nots.' Oh, we can say that under capitalism everybody has an opportunity to get rich. To lift themselves up by the bootstraps. But I don't buy into that. Instead, the rich have the opportunity to exploit the not-so-rich. The less affluent are put at a distinct disadvantage under capitalism. The tendency is for the rich to keep getting richer. Without limit. They monopolize the wealth. They monopolize power. Especially political power. Money buys political influence under the capitalist system. I'd like to see a lid put on the accumulation of wealth by the individual. Once the plateau is reached, one would have to pay into a fund intended to accomplish the common good. Yes, in a sense, to narrow the gap between the rich and the poor. I'm not arguing for full equality. Or no gap at all. That won't ever happen. But I'd like to see the gap narrowed to the extent that everybody is guaranteed the basics of life. And we'd have to define the basics. Nobody should be destitute. People would still be allowed to get relatively rich. But not obscenely rich. Some might say I'm in favor of a welfare state. Well, I am, to an extent. For instance, I'm for socialized medicine. Universal health care. And a decent minimum wage. And expanded social security. If we had the basics of life -- well, then maybe we wouldn't have to pursue getting rich. We could learn settling for the basics. If that ever happens, we humans will have made progress...and priceless strides. --Jim Broede

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

...proud of my country.

I think dramatic change is coming to America. And that makes me happy. Because I don't like the direction America has taken in the past 30 years or so. Much too conservative. And that has benefited the rich. They kept getting richer. And the poor kept getting poorer. Yes, an ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor. And to the detriment of the middle class. We've also waged a senseless and obscene war. And we've run the nation into record debt. Sort of an anchor around the neck of the next generation. But finally, most of us are recognizing that we've been sold a bill of goods. By the neo-conservatives. By the Bushies. By the pilfering corporations. All at the expense of the common good. But I'm sensing in this year's election campaign, there's a mood for change. To a new kind of American dream. A better sharing of the wealth. So that we all benefit. A new sense of mission. And no more preemptive wars. And finally, universal health care. And significantly higher taxes. On the rich. Yes, all this could make me a patriotic American. I will finally be proud of my country. --Jim Broede

...love for all of creation.

I'm in love with the heavens. With Paradise. Yes, with the unknown. With the far reaches of the cosmos. I speculate about what lies beyond. That's what furthers my belief in god. And in the spirit world. In other dimensions. Life beyond anything we humans can fathom. To me, it's romantic. Just to conceive of the unlimited size of the cosmos. The infinite. The fact that we're seeing creation that's billions of light years away. Think of that. Light traveling at 186,000 miles a second. And it takes 50,000 years for that light to cross our Milky Way galaxy. And this is only one of billions of galaxies. How can that be? Imagine the enormity of it all. And now we are discovering that most all of the billions of stars (suns) in our galaxy have planets. And many of them with earth-like planets. The possibility of life must abound. All kinds of life. Humans. And intelligent life that far surpasses our human intelligence. Or so I'd like to think. And hey, for us humans to be a part of it. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Oh, I so much want to live forever. In one form or another. Just so I can experience the vastness of space and life and time. Yes, I feel that I was created to live. And to love. To feel much of what god feels. Because that is the way god would have it. A desire to share his very being. To be able to attain the feeling of love for all of creation. --Jim Broede

Monday, June 23, 2008

Please god, we need more time.

I'm not particularly proud to be an American. Oh, I am proud in some ways. Proud that I live in a country where I have freedom of speech. And a relative amount of freedom, period. But I also think that my nation does some pretty shameful things. Like starting a war, for instance. And denying its citizens universal health care. And for allowing such a wide gap between the rich and poor. Oh, so many things I don't like. But I'm trying to make America a better place. By working for change. In my own ways. I could choose to run off to another part of the world. To live. And give up on America. But I don't do that because there are some things I like. And I'm sort of addicted to America. Because I'm allowed to gripe and complain. Without being put in prison. At least, so far. And I'm also allowed to proclaim that I consider myself a citizen of the world. Not just Amerca. I think there are other reasonably nice places in the world. I like different cultures. One thing I like about America is it's melting pot population. Quite a blend of nationalities and races. Unfortunately, lots of strife, too. Blatant racism. Sometimes, we are mean to each other. But there are more and more instances of many of us coming together. Changes for the better. Albeit, it's a slow, slow process. Maybe it'll take forever. Please god, give us more time. --Jim Broede

Sunday, June 22, 2008

The pursuit of happiness.

When I wake in the morning, I think about how wonderful it is to be alive and well and in love. And that thought lingers with me all day. That keeps me going. Makes me want to live forever. So I can continue the pursuit of happiness. I try to focus on the day. The now. If I get too far ahead of myself, it poses danger. I start to imagine what might go wrong some day. --Jim Broede

Friday, June 20, 2008

If one chooses not to love life...

I like to think -- and believe -- that there are so many kinds of life. That we keep evolving. To other dimensions. To other forms of life. Beyond our physical being. Far beyond our present comprehension. Maybe there's no end to life. To our own lives. We just keep moving on and on and on. That makes life interesting. To speculate about what might be beyond. Maybe we all have a piece of god in us. That would make forever possible. Eternal life. Maybe all of creation is endless. Infinite. And if one learns to love, one never gets tired of living. Because it is love that makes us want to live forever. Love is the ultimate pleasure. One never wants to let go of it. If there were no love, one would not want to live. That is the only way to be obliterated. To not have forever. If one chooses not to love life-- well, then there is no sense in living. --Jim Broede

Love for life...and others.

I think about how nice it'd be to live forever. Happily. And in good health. So one feels good. But there's a possibility there is no forever. No guarantees. Used to be I wanted guarantees. So somewhere along the journey of life, I decided I'll believe what I want to believe. Even if it's wrong. And preposterous. I'm going to believe in forever. And in love. So I am trying to live that way. I put any doubt way, way back in the recesses of my mind. And I sort of create my own reality. Maybe that's why I am a writer. Writing allows me to create. To put things down. In black and white. I create words. And thoughts. In a sense, I create myself. And I give dimension to what's around me. For instance, love. The depth of love I have for life...and others. --Jim Broede

Thursday, June 19, 2008

...because I am in love.

I look at it this way. The Cubs have lost 3 straight games for the first time this season. Three games they could just as easily have won. But still, the Cubs should feel blessed. Because second-place St. Louis also has lost three straight. At home. To one of the worst teams in baseball. If you had told me at the beginning of the season that on June 20 the Cubs would be in first place and 17 games above .500, I would have been elated. I am assuming that sooner or later, the Cubs will right the ship. And go on another lengthy winning streak. But if they don't, it's only baseball. A game. Life goes on. With ups and downs. And in the grand scheme of my life, all is well...because I am in love. --Jim Broede

And that's priceless.

I just walked 7 miles. A saunter into the great outdoors. Communion with nature. And later this evening I'll go another 3 miles. I'm of the notion that this is the way to live. Leisurely. Casually. In a relaxed, unhurried manner. No stress. Mental or physical. Took me 60-some years to reach this way of living. Had to reach retirement age. And then I retired a bit early. At 62. Just think what I would have missed if I had dropped dead 10 years ago. That's not to say that I couldn't have lived at a significantly slower pace even when I was younger. But I didn't think it was appropriate. Because I was busy making a living. Pursuing a career. Making ends meet. Being a provider. Being responsible, I guess. Doing what's expected. I think it's a little sad that not everyone lives long enough to retire. To slow down. Anyway, I think I've never been more in love with life than I am now. I've evolved. I've become a lover. Because I've learned that what makes life worthwhile is the pursuit of happiness. And it's love that brings me happiness. That's my focus every day now. Love. To love. To feel love. To be loved. And to savor it all. By slowing down. By living in the moment. The now. Not to get ahead of myself. When I think too far into the future, I dilute the moment. The now. Some may say they can't afford to live the way I live. They're too poor. Not rich enough. I don't know about that. All I know is that there are many, many people monetarily richer than I. And many poorer, too. I don't know where one draws the line. I live on less than I did when I was gainfully employed. But I make do with less. And yes, I probably could have made do with less earlier in life. It's a question of priorities. My priorities are different now. I seek to be a better lover. Of life itself. And that's priceless. --Jim Broede

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

...about the true nature of love.

I'm getting ready for a trip. A long trip. Overseas. To other lands. Yes, an adventure. My trip is motivated by love. Mostly, a love for life. And curiosity. I like this idea of not knowing what to fully expect. To wake up every day, and proceed with living. One day at a time. Even in lands where I don't speak the language. But knowing that I will make do. And relish the experience. And I'm going alone. But I won't be alone there. I have contacts. And faith. That all will go well. That I will adjust. And be happy. Because I like people. And I like to learn. About other cultures. And about the true nature of love. That, first and foremost. --Jim Broede

Sunday, June 15, 2008

I'd like to be a Dane.

I watched a TV program tonight. About the Danes. A study by the University of Leicester in England lists the Danes as the happiest people in the world. Even far happier than Americans, who ranked 23rd. I guess it has to do with Danish contentment. They don't have excessively high expectations. And their government provides them with the basics of life. And good education. Danes are actually paid to attend school. To attend universities. In other words, you don't have to pay to attend school. And you can proceed at your own pace. As long as you pass your exams. And new parents are allowed to take off from work for 6 months to tend to their children. And they receive full pay during that time. Danes have cradle to grave care. Free health care. And the averge work week is 37 hours. And workers get six weeks of vacation. Of course, Danes are heavily taxed. If you are middle income, you may be taxed 50 percent. But hey, you are guaranteed the basics of life. You have security. You have leisure time. Gives you opportunity to focus on really living. And loving. --Jim Broede

For my peace of mind...for loving.

Leisure time. It's so important. Good for the morale. So nice to have a break. I've become so much more cognizant of the benefits of leisure time since I retired. It gives me alone time. Time by myself. Time to ponder. To turn within. Also more time to focus on love. Oh, it is a blessing to live long enough to retire. So many of us are spread so thin. So many things to do. So many obligations. So many responsibilities. Sometimes we are doing several things at once. I remember telling Jeanne when she was in the nursing home to focus on only one thing. One thing at a time. To practice having a one-track mind. The more I think about it, the more I think that's the way to live. Focus on whatever one is doing at the moment. Wear blinders, so to speak. Hey, if I have 20 things to do in a day, I have to find a way to tackle one thing at a time. Totally focused on what I'm doing now. Not what I'm going to do next. And when I'm in love, I should be focused on my love. On my affinity with another. On closeness. On intimacy. It feels, oh, so good. Before I retired, when I was working as a writer, my job was on my mind too much. Even when I wasn't on the job. So my attention was divided. It wasn't always totally focused on what I was doing at the moment. And I wasn't making adequate time for leisure. For rest. For my peace of mind...for loving. --Jim Broede

Saturday, June 14, 2008

...time for a revolution.

Watched a TV program Friday night. Bill Moyers Journal. On PBS. Moyers interviewed Steve Fraser, a historian, who believes America is in its second Gilded Age. Because of the big disparity between the rich and the poor. Yes, the poor keep getting poorer, and the rich keep getting richer. Fraser said the ever-widening economic gap is obscene. "When you have such enormous disparities of income and wealth," Fraser said, "there's a kind of warped set of priorities. So that the amassing of wealth...comes at the expense of funneling vital capitol resources into improving the material lives and even the cultural lives of ordinary folk." Fraser said we're living in a period of downward mobility for millions of Americans while the elites at the other end are accumulating vast wealth. And I'll tell you what's so perplexing about this. We ordinary Americans mostly sit idly by and allow ourselves to be exploited by the big-money interests. We don't work hard enough for redistribution of the wealth. Our workers, for instance, over a period of time increase their production by 70-some percent and reap only a 2 percent increase in wages. And actually, with the state of the economy, workers lose buying power. Meanwhile, the ruling elites pocket all kinds of dough. They become filty rich. And we ordinary dumbbells stand for it. As for me, I think it's time we woke up...time for a revolution.--Jim Broede

Friday, June 13, 2008

So I can savor the new day.

I think depression is an illness. One that I have avoided. I don't think I've ever been significantly depressed. Ever. Maybe I've felt down. Or sad. For a day or two or three. But I suspect I've never been clinically depressed. I talk to people who seem depressed. So I have some idea what it's all about. But I don't think I can fully understand what they are going through. I can just imagine it. I suspect my father was depressed. Because he committed suicide. Many, many years ago. Maybe there have been times when I was headed toward depression. But I've always nipped it in the bud. Maybe depression is something like I felt immediately after Jeanne died. Maybe for a few hours. I didn't even feel like living. Oh, I grieved for a while. Weeks. Months. A year. Maybe I still grieve in some ways. But I'm happy. Maybe because I get on with life. And I'm in love. With life, in particular. I love to wake every morning. So I can begin to savor the new day. --Jim Broede

Thursday, June 12, 2008

To make my point.

I don't trust the news media. And hey, that's how I made my living. Writing for newspapers. Almost all my life. Until I retired 10 years ago. I really don't miss it. Because I don't like the direction it's taken. Entertainment. Tidbits. Sound bites. Virtually everything in capsule form. Like what I'm writing here. No depth. You'll be able to read this in less than a minute. If it were longer, you wouldn't read it. We're dumbed down. The writer. And the reader. Equally dumbed down. And often negative. Like the pundits on TV. But that sells. That lures in the readers. And the viewers. Fewer readers though. Because reading is becoming a lost art. So is writing. Soon we may be illiterate. Relying only on the spoken word. And pictures. Have you noticed here? I'm trying to be a man of few words. Few written words. To make my point. --Jim Broede

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

...my heroes

I like people who pick themselves up by their bootstraps. And I encourage so many to do just that. That may make me seem a bit insensitive. But I do it with only people I think are capable of accomplishing such a feat. I know some folks, for instance, who are generally depressed. Which makes it difficult coping with life. But some of them, it seems to me, have the inner strength to get out of the doldrums. To become positive thinkers again. All they need is more self-confidence. And no better way to gain that confidence than by taking a good hold of one's bootstraps, and pulling up. They often become my heroes. --Jim Broede

We have lost our humanity.

As an American, I'm ashamed of my country for the way it treats suspected terrorists. Inhumanely. With torture. Locked up in Guantanimo. Without trials. Often without legal representation. I don't buy that sort of treatment for anyone. Even for the worst of crimes. When we Americans even shun the Geneva conventions -- well, that lowers us. Makes us just as bad as the worst terrorist. We've done plenty of wrong. Before and after attacks by terrorists. Our hands aren't clean. Of course, the Bushies tell us we have to fight fire with fire. That we have to fight despicible acts with despicible acts. If that's the case, we Americans have lost our way. We have lost our humanity. --Jim Broede

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

No more billionaires.

I have the cure for America's economic woes. Get rid of the Republican mentality and policies. Which rewards the rich. And widens the gap between the rich and the poor. I'd narrow the gap. Significantly. And I'd see to it that every American is guaranteed the basic necessities of life. Such as health care. Through a universal health care plan. I'd increase the minimum wage. Significantly. Yes, I'd find a way to eliminate poverty. I'd improve our nation's infrastructure. And I'd have a large public works program. In other words, create jobs and projects aimed at serving the common good. To pay for all this stuff, I'd increase taxes on the rich. I'd eliminate tax loopholes on corporations. I'd put a heavy tax on windfall profits, especially those reaped by energy companies. I'd require citizens to do public service. And I'd greatly reduce the defense budget, and spend the savings on domestic programs. I might even consider making it illegal to be a billionaire. --Jim Broede

Monday, June 9, 2008

...or about death.

Someone told me recently that she doesn't want to live forever. Maybe that's what separates unhappy people from happy people. When I'm happy, I could take living forever. Why not? When I'm happy, it's a good life. Quite enjoyable. Usually, that's when I am focused on life one day at a time. Savoring virtually the entire day. I'm so preoccupied with living in the moment that I don't even think about tomorrow...or about death. --Jim Broede

I accept friends unconditionally.

I've been in church thousands of times. I was even a member. Even on the board of deacons. And I graduated from a church-related college. Where I attended daily chapel services. So I've been exposed to all sorts of preachings. Conservative. Liberal. And inbetween. And I've associated with Buddhists, Jews, Hindus, atheists, agnostics. You name it. But I'm still my own man. A free-thinker. I guess the point I want to make is that it doesn't matter what a preacher has to say from the pulpit. Even when I'm in attendance. I listen to all points of view. Doesn't mean I have to accept what's being spouted. I tend to be independent. I make up my own mind. I might associate with, let's say, the black liberation pastor Jeremiah Wright. And attend his church for 20 years. But that doesn't mean I share all of his views, or even most of his opinions. But I can still like him. Accept him for what he is. We don't have to be think-alikes. I like all kinds of people that don't think like me. People on the opposite sides of my political, social, economic and spiritual values/philosophies. I tend to oppose sameness. I like diversity. Different people. Different opinions. And I grant that I may be wrong and others may be right. So it amuses me when Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama is criticized for having belonged to Wright's church for two decades. Without raising a fuss. Until it got to be a political liability. I'm of a little different bent. I would have stuck by Wright, liability or not. Because I'd consider him a friend. And it doesn't matter what he thinks. After all, a friend is a friend. I accept friends unconditionally. --Jim Broede

...laughter is good for the soul.

Some of us don't know how to laugh. Maybe because we're prudes. I don't know. That's just a guess. The satirist Al Franken apparently wrote a satirical piece for Playboy magazine some 8 years ago. And that prompted some folks in Minnesota to oppose Franken being nominated for a U.S. Senate seat. Apparently, what Franken did was supposed to be shameful and disqualify him for public office. Fortunately, the Democrats in Minnesota last week picked Franken anyway to run against Republican incumbent Norm Coleman for the 6-year term. And I think Franken has a decent chance of winning. Because we Minnesotans tend to be a bit on the liberal side. Certainly more so than many other states. We do elect some Republicans, too. We do have open minds. But a few of us lack a sense of humor. We can't even laugh at winter, or at an article in Playboy. You know, laughter is good for the soul. --Jim Broede

Filled with a desire for change.

Maybe I am gravitating into the mainstream of American politics. Or is it just the other way around? Americans shifting more towards me. Anyway, it seems nice to be with the majority for a change. Away from the Bushies. Away from the conservatives. And more to the left. Oh, we Americans aren't nearly as far to the left as I'd like us to be. But hey, the further we get from the right, the better. The fact that Barack Obama, a black man, has become the Democratic nominee for president -- well, I once thought I'd never live to see the day. And what's so nice is that Obama has stirred the passions of young people. The under 35 crowd. A new generation of Americans. Filled with a desire for change. --Jim Broede

Saturday, June 7, 2008

More like a real woman...and less like a man.

I'm warming up to the idea of a Barack Obama-Hillary Clinton ticket. I think it's a good combination. One that would have strong support nationally. A good way to get us out of the disastrous George Bush era. The Bush administration made me sad to be an American. Downright ashamed. The worst president we've ever had. And to think, he was elected twice. Albeit, the first time the election might have been stolen. A third term Bush, even in a modifed McCain form, would mean continued decline for America. And I think most Americans know it. We've learned our lesson the hard way. We've lived through it. Anyway, the Democrats will give us some semblance of sanity again. Some hope of recovery. I have expectations that the Bushies and many of his conservative Republican cronies will be swept out of office. Oh, I'm very liberal. To the left of the Democrats. But still, the Democrats will be an improvement. I certainly can stomach Obama and Clinton. Virtually anything is better than Bush. I've been a strong supporter of Obama, right from the start. I was a little disappointed in Clinton. I think she's too hard-edged. Not as kind and gentle as Obama. But hey, maybe the two of 'em will balance each other out. Maybe Clinton will make Obama more hard-nosed in dealing with what's left of the Bushies. While Obama softens Clinton, so that maybe she'll cry a little bit and act more like a real woman...and less like a man. --Jim Broede

Thursday, June 5, 2008

...the right thing to do.

I'm scratching my head. Why would some supporters of Hillary Clinton threaten to stay home from the polls in November or vote for John McCain? That is asinine. Idiotic. The mark of sore losers. Cutting off one's nose to spite one's face. Yes, it would be nice to have a woman nominated for president. And lots of women worked hard to try to make that happen. But to be bitter because Clinton didn't get the nomination -- well, that's too bad. It's still nice that a black man defeated Clinton. Especially a black man who is very much like Clinton on the issues. Can't one take solace in that? And admit that at least Obama is the second best choice? Seems to me that Obama is kinder and gentler than Hillary Clinton. That's why he is my choice. But if Obama had lost, I'd be voting for hard-edged Clinton. Because that would be the right thing to do. --Jim Broede

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

...and wonders never cease.

I think it's more historic for a black man to be nominated for president of the United States than it would be for a woman to accomplish that feat. Over the course of this nation's history, black people have had to come much farther than women. Think of it. They've had to come out of slavery. Out of the Jim Crow south. Women haven't had an easy time of it either. They've been discriminated against. Still are, in so many ways. White men have been favored since the founding of the U.S. Yes, that's been a blemish on American society. But it's changing. A black man could be elected president. In November. Amazing. That's progress. Starting to make me proud to be an American. Next thing you know, even a woman will become president. Give it time...and wonders never cease. --Jim Broede

I like what's happening.

I'm feeling optimism today. The sort of optimism I had when I was a young man in 1960 and John Kennedy was elected president. After Kennedy's assassination, things never seemed quite the same in America. And the last 8 years under George Bush have been sad. A disaster for America. A feeling of pessimism. Decline. But with Barack Obama clinching the Democratic nomination for president last night, I'm revved up again. Something like I was in 1960. For the first time in a long, long time I'm enthused about a candidate for president. And to think, he's a black man. And an idealist. Someone with vigor. And passion. With bold ideas. Oh, so refreshing. I'm 72. On the down side of life. But I feel young again. I like the younger generation. The under 35 crowd. They, especially, have rallied to the support of Obama. Looks to me like we have a new politics. The old ways are being shunted aside. I'm beginning to think that America may have a great future. I see signs of renewed life. Signs of hope. Yes, I'm optimistic. I like what's happening. --Jim Broede

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

I've learned to laugh it off.

I think much of what we hear from church pulpits is funny. Humorous. Sometimes, it's not intended as humor. But that's the way I construe it. I don't take it all that seriously. As for people who take it seriously -- well, I think that's funny. Preachers have all sorts of zany ideas. Doesn't make any difference if it's a conservative preacher or a wild-eyed liberal preacher. They're all equally funny. Take the furor over what's being preached from the pulpit of Barack Obama's former church. Some folks got all hot and bothered over it. They characterized it as hate speech. But much of it was really satirical reflections. Parodies. A way to see the funny side of life. And it worked within the congregation, at least. The laughter was uproarious at times. And then some of the stuff made it on to YouTube and on newscasts and pundit shows. And Obama was being taken to task for ever attending the church. My gosh, every church I've ever attended has aired its share of way-out thought. Doesn't mean I believe it. Yes, I've learned to laugh it off. --Jim Broede

Monday, June 2, 2008

...to make up for past wrongs.

I'll tell you what's discouraging. And disappointing. That some folks didn't vote for Barack Obama because he's black. And that others didn't vote for Hillary Clinton because she's a woman. Those ain't good reasons. And it's a sad state of affairs when that happens. Polls in West Virginia indicated that 20 percent of the voters wouldn't vote for a black man under any circumstances. Think about it. One out of 5 are admitting they are racists. Makes me wonder how many others are racists, but won't admit it. I'm not aware if the pollsters determined how many voters shunned Clinton because of her gender. But I'm sure there were some misogynists who wouldn't be caught dead voting for a woman. Funny thing about me. I've voted for some blacks primarily because they were black. And I've voted for some women mainly because they were women. Made sense to me because blacks and women have been given the shaft too often in this society solely because of race or gender. So I'm prepared to give them special treatment to make up for past wrongs. --Jim Broede

...the right to think freely.

I suspect that some people -- especially politicians -- are church-goers and 'religious' because it's expedient. It's one of the qualifications for getting elected to public office. An atheist probably wouldn't stand a chance. That's too bad. But it's reality. I know some atheists. And most of 'em are rather solid people. Quite moral. Honest. Trustworthy. Maybe we have some U.S. congressmen and senators who are atheists. But I suspect they wouldn't admit it publicly. Instead, they play the game. They pretend otherwise. Or they just avoid talking publicly about their religious or spiritual beliefs. And really it's nobody's business. I'm a free-thinker. I believe in god. So I'm not an atheist. But I don't identify myself with any particular religion. I'm independent. I form my own views. Nobody dictates to me what I'm supposed to believe, or not believe. I like things about religions. All kinds of religions. But there also are things I don't like. So I pick and choose. I reserve the right to think freely. --Jim Broede

...where Bush belongs.

All right, Hillary Clinton, it's time to hang up your quest for the presidency. Leave it to Barack Obama. Come out and support him. Be a good loser. And you'll become a winner, of sorts. I know this will be a hard decision for you. But a gracious loser often turns out to be better off for it. You might be picked as vice president. Or secretary of state. Or a justice on the Supreme Court. You'll still be influential. And you'll have power. Maybe not all the power you covet. But still enough to salve your ego. It's been truly nice to see you and Obama fight it out for the Democratic nomination. You put up a good fight. You were my second choice. But you did disappoint me a little bit. With your direct and veiled attacks on Obama. He was much kinder to you. Maybe that's why he was my first choice. You seem to have a little mean streak about you. It sure came out in this campaign. Oh, some of your supporters will say it's more tenacity than meanness. And for now I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. Show me that's so. By working your butt off to get Obama elected this fall. It's time we ended our national nighmare. By sending George Bush back to Texas...where he belongs. --Jim Broede

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Makes me chuckle.

Preachers are preachers. When they get up on the pulpit, they often spout a different language, of sorts. By that, I mean they take issue with the status quo. They tell us to shape up. They dare go to the edge, or over the edge. I think that's fine. Does no harm, really. Let them spout. It's no skin off my back. Anyway, I tend to like way-out views. If anybody had way-out opinions, it's Jesus himself. And how many of us would do what Jesus would do? Not many. Oh, we'll spout the platitudes. And the beatitudes. We'll say that Jesus would do such and such. But we'd seldom, if ever, live a Christ-like life. Just too darn difficult. But still, I hear some Christians saying that Jesus' way is the only way. And that all they have to do is proclaim faith in Jesus and they'll automatically be saved. Makes me chuckle. --Jim Broede

But I'm trying.

I suppose I believe in god. Without believing in religion. The organized church turns me off. By trying to tell me what I have to believe. By establishing ground rules. I like to be flexible. I suppose if I have a religion, it's a one-on-one relationship with god. I like to go directly to god. And shun the intermediaries. Oh, I like to cultivate a relationship with clergymen and clergywomen. With theologians. With seminary professors. With writers. With thinkers. All sorts of people. I like to talk about spiritual matters. To ponder. I like direct conversations with god. Even with Jesus. I treat Jesus like a buddy. Not like the son of god. Oh, I think we all are creations of god. Therefore, we are related to god. One way or another. I suspect we were all created with the potential to love. To love each other. To love life. I think that's what god wants us to do. Love. Love. Love. Some of us do it better than others. But that's my mission. To learn how to love. Better. And better. And better. I'm not sure if I'll ever master the art. But I'm trying. --Jim Broede