Gleaning Facebook: Our Rights Are On the Ballot

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The Electoral College (through a very political and very radical Supreme Court) has envenomated America again and again this week.

First a stupid ruling on guns which will cost many lives.

And today overturning Roe v. Wade, eviscerating precedence and human rights.

Facebook Comments:

Chris Goss don't forget Miranda rights optional, forcing states to pay for religious institutions, etc...they are desperate to throw folks off the Hearings and galvanize their single issue voters

Jaki Day Guns owners have more rights than women

Donald Abernathy There is a greater agenda on the horizon I'm afraid.This is just the beginning a radical right,who embraces extremist groups, violence, and the end of our democracy.They are to stupid to cope in a logical world where people work out differences, so they're going to create one of power and violence.

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The right-wing radicals appointed to the Supreme Court by the criminal Trump -- who could not get even a plurality of votes for president -- made it clear: Reproductive rights, contraceptive rights, gay rights, marriage rights are ALL on the ballot this fall.

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A vote for ANY Republican is a vote for the radical right..

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March? Protest? Of course. But most important VOTE!

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Facebook Comments:

Donald Abernathy
We need to plant Flowers in this district, get rid of of Ms radical Greene.

Howard Smith
I could not agree with you more. Women’s rights, gay rights, voting rights and more are all at risk unless we vote for those who will protect them. Your vote is your voice. Use it this November!

Margo Ash
This is what I'll be wearing EVERY time I go out in public, from now through the Fall elections - including while I stand in line to vote. I'll also be volunteering politically - and I'm not a well woman. https://tinyurl.com/2v742r6h

Time for another commitment...

I turned 66 recently -- full social security eligibility -- and am contemplating retirement. This is very hard on me. Part of me abhors the idea of retirement. I love teaching. I love my students. I am thrilled to have captive audience for my silly shenanigans and I relish those "aha!" moments that, after 33 years teaching preteens, I can pretty well predict.

Anyway, I made a commitment in 1971 to Sheila Shaw. I am far from a perfect husband, but I have managed to keep the basics of that commitment and I love her with everything I have. That commitment resulted in promises to Brannon Shaw in 1983 and Lillian Shaw in 1988. My mistakes have been legion in the parenting department, but neither of the girls can doubt my love.

After teaching, with great enjoyment but without a permanent commitment, for 19 years, then taking 11 years off for business efforts, I reentered education, this time, on purpose, in 1999. And, this time,  I made a conscious commitment. Part of that was a commitment to love my students and to find joy in teaching them. I occasionally find myself nose to nose with some little 10-year-old miscreant, but even then I think they know I love them.

Now I face old age. Today my digital buddy, the Questing Parson, gave his goals for old age. I think I can endorse them. I too am determined to keep growing as I "grow old". Time for another commitment.

"I'm Old" by the Questing Parson

Marriage Equality

I have been very conflicted about where to stand on the issue of homosexual marriage.

Several of those near and dear to me, people otherwise very open and loving toward others, are horribly offended by the very idea. I've never understood that.

I have long been sure that everyone should have the legal right to the associations that they wish so long as they harm no one. But I have not been sure about whether we should call those special unions "marriage". I also have had several students who had "two mothers". At least in society as it exists today those kids have generally had lots of problems. Of course children of divorce inevitably also have major problems -- some claim not, after 30 years of teaching ten-year-olds I don't believe them -- and we don't have any problem approving the 50% of marriages that end in divorce.

Actually, I think I prefer that the government get out of the business of taking sides in this controversy at all. Instead the government should license the civil unions that people choose and let individuals and religious groups call the unions what they wish.

I count among my dear friends several "gay" men. I think of one right now who is an inspiring teacher, an active layman in his church, and a dedicated spouse of another man for a dozen years or so. I can see no benefit to society in preventing him from making his loving, committed, stable union legal. Why not issue these fine, contributing citizens their civil union license and let their church marry them. No Southern Baptist would be forced to approve it. No Roman Catholic (who definitely has more important issues in his church about which to be concerned) need attend the ceremony against his will. And we Methodists can just continue to fight each other over it. Let these guys live their lives as they believe they should.

My daughter recently posted on her Facebook wall a wonderful speech of Sen. Diane Savino from the floor of the New York Senate. Savino comes close to convincing me to take the next step and just go ahead and approve legal marriage equality. I know nothing else about Sen. Savino, but judging from this one impassioned, articulate, sincere, but also funny speech, this young woman has a future beyond the state senate.

Speech by Senator Diane Savino

38 Years and Counting...

Here we are again at January 23. I never write that date without thinking of a joyously received "Yes!" that I have reveled in every day since that date in 1971.

You can read more about it here and at other links from that post.

37 Years!

I knew when we started out from Wilmore, Kentucky, that I would take an unscheduled side trip around Fort Mountain along the way to Atlanta. I wanted to ask a question. I wanted the right answer. I needed a little help and I thought the sound of Holly Creek splashing down the mountain, the smell of green pines, the majesty of the Cohutta...
We walked among the giant pines. She rested against one and I leaned in to kiss her, and asked my question.

She gave the right answer! Just one word expressed unreservedly, enthusiastically, beautifully.

That was 37 years ago today.


January 23!

I wrote about it, briefly, two years ago.

PTSW: Jenny Kissed Me / The Lamp

A Poem to Start the Week

My mother recited this poem the other day as she, a couple of my siblings, and I sat around the table. I hadn't thought of it in years. One of my blogging sisters has beaten me to the punch by posting this at her blog. But, what the heck, I'll post it too. I've had some Jenny-kisses, literal and figural, in my life, haven't you?

Jenny Kissed Me

Jenny kiss'd me when we met,
Jumping from the chair she sat in;
Time, you thief, who love to get
Sweets into your list, put that in!
Say I'm weary, say I'm sad,
Say that health and wealth have miss'd me,
Say I'm growing old, but add,
Jenny kiss'd me.

-- by Leigh Hunt

That poem reminds me a little of the more serious poem Sheila recited to me during our wedding ceremony, 36 years ago. Since I got busy and skipped a PTSW last Monday, I'll give a twofer today:

The Lamp

If I can bear your love like a lamp before me,
When I go down the long steep Road of Darkness,
I shall not fear the everlasting shadows,
Nor cry in terror.

If I can find out God, then I shall find Him,
If none can find Him, then I shall sleep soundly,
Knowing how well on earth your love sufficed me,
A lamp in darkness.

~Sara Teasdale

Yes, I recited one of my own poems to her that day: Wedding Song
Another of my sister's has posted poetry this week. Check out Daddy's Roses.

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The series of posts, A Poem to Start the Week, is my little anthology of poetry, many of which I have used with my students in elementary schools during 27 years of teaching.

Previous Poems to Start the Week:
Loveliest of Trees
Flax-Golden Tales
The Dinosaurs Are Not All Dead
Owl Pellets
Mummy Slept Late
Just My Size
The Kindest Things I Know
Miles to Go
Love that Brother
Oh, Frabjous Day!

Other Posts about Children's Literature:

The Lion's Paw top kid's OOP book!
Harry
Aslan is Dead!
Multiplying People, Rice, and Readers
A Teacher's Life

You can read some of my own efforts at poetry here.
And then there's Alien Invasion.

A weblog dedicated to Poetry for Children.
Watch Sonja Cole's reviews of children's books at Bookwink.com.

36 years!

Fort Mountain Georgia
(I found this picture at this site.
I didn't see the photographer's name.
Click on the pic so enlarge it.)

January 23!
This is a very special anniversary for Sheila and me.
I wrote about it, briefly, a year ago.

35 Years

35 Years Ago Today

On January 23, 1971, beside a tiny stream splashing down the side of
Fort Mountain through huge pines, I asked Sheila Ann Matthews to marry me.

Best move of my life.

35 years later she is still the love of my life and my best friend.

Grady Shaw and Lillian Wilkerson Marry 1918

Grady Columbus Shaw and Lillian Ophelia Wilkerson were married on July 21, 1918. 

 

This is the earliest photo I have found of Grady and Lillian Shaw. It was likely taken shortly after their marriage, or perhaps at their marriage.