A Year for St. Joseph

Since I've been watching Sunday mass online for a year and a quarter now, I'm behind the times on Church news. I just found out we're more than halfway through the Year of St. Joseph that was proclaimed in December 2020 by Pope Francis in his Apostolic Letter, Patris Corde. That title translates to "With a Father's Heart." 

The letter is a beautiful analysis of St. Joseph's many important roles, virtues and qualities. I wish I had learned about it in time for Father's Day, but better late than never.

St. Joseph was my father's favorite saint, and he's mine, too. I (almost) always say a quick St. Joseph prayer at bedtime. To celebrate the remainder of his officially designated year, I'll be spending a bit more time talking to the most significant dad in human history. It's been my experience that he's an attentive listener.

Honoring Dads

“The power of a dad in a child’s life is unmatched.” – Justin Ricklefs

Living in the Now

 Yesterday is a canceled check. Tomorrow is a promissory note. Today is cash.

If you've recovered from whiplash, then welcome to our new national holiday, Juneteenth. There will be very little waiting for "effective next calendar year" this time. The bill was passed by the Senate on Tuesday, by the House on Wednesday, signed by the president Thursday, and many Federal workers had Friday off. This just proves government can move fast when speed serves its political purposes.

I've got no problem with Juneteenth. I had never heard of it until last year, but after I learned about it I agree that it's important. However, I'd feel better about adding a new Federal holiday if Columbus Day could be left alone. That's our history, too.

Slavery in America ended almost two centuries ago. Show me another country that ever fought such a long and bloody battle to end it. Our Civil War was followed a century later by the Civil Rights movement and the heroic efforts of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to achieve equal rights for all Americans regardless of race. Look at the stature of our Black leaders today, including a former president--who is actually half-White, a salient fact that always remains background noise. Black Supreme Court justices, national security advisors, military leaders and heroes, senators, congressmen, professors, writers, sports legends are among our most renowned national figures.

To say that Blacks in America today are oppressed is outright ridiculous. Furthermore (take note, BLM activists), the American people--including Black people--know it's ridiculous.

As I was channel-jumping on my car radio this week, I heard a brilliant proposal put forth. The speaker (name unknown) was talking about the reparations controversy. He offered this resolution: "Every slave owner in America today should pay every slave in America." I laughed, but the preposterous nature of that concept proves how far we as a nation have traveled on the road to progress.

We are not a perfect union; we are only a "more perfect union" than we had been in the distant past. Slavery has been in our rear view mirror for many generations. Let's learn and remember the hard lessons from it, of course. But let's live now, today, in our current day and time, and keep trying to do better as a nation. Happy Juneteenth.

The Necessary Quality

Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities...because it is the quality which guarantees all the others. 

~ Winston Churchill

D-Day Landing ~ Normandy, France ~ June 6, 1944

 

Parental Control, Demonstrated

Andrea Widburg has a terrific piece in American Thinker about a mother, Tatiana Ibrahim, who lit up her town's school board meeting over the nihilist indoctrination being forced upon their children. Read There is a lioness in Carmel, New York who is fighting for the children, and be sure to watch the video that's included in the article.

I first heard the audio of this parent's scathing and fearless takedown of her town's school board on Mark Levin's radio program, and it was riveting. A search for the video led to Widburg's report. I think it must be seen and heard to be fully appreciated; Ms.Ibrahim is breathtaking.

Tatiana Ibrahim is speaking the same message that Andrew Gutmann was recently writing. This link will take you to Gutmann's website, Speak Up For Education. His website provides definitive action items for concerned parents who want to fight back on behalf of their children.

I wish more mothers and fathers--unknown numbers of whom undoutedly agree with both of these brave parents--would find the courage to stand together and speak out for their kids, also.