I was so saddened to learn of Bea Arthur's passing yesterday. This was an actress at the cutting edge. Her Maude and Dorothy characters did so much for television and her generations - and mine. Boomers all over the world owe her a debt of gratitude as they march into their "golden" years.
Rest in peace.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
The Notre Dame fuss
Last I heard, Bishop John D’Arcy was still refusing to attend Notre Dame's commencement because President Obama was speaking at their commencement. How childish!
He is offended because President Obama doesn't hold his same value system in all areas and if that is the case, he will not be attending the graduation of a prestigious university in his diocese. Is this what Christians do? Do they say that unless you believe as I do I can have nothing to do with you? Is that what Christ did? Didn't Christ sit down with tax collectors and prostitutes? Even - gasp! - Roman centurions? Who are we to act differently? Is this how one proposes to bring others into the fold by sticking our fingers in our ears or threatening to take all our marbles and going home when no one wants to play by only our rules?
I don't think so. This is our President. I think any school is lucky to have him speak at their commencement. People stood in line in the cold for hours on Inauguration day and Notre Dame attendees get to sit comfortably in good weather to hear one of the greatest men of our time.
And apparently, this bishop is not alone in his thinking. I don't understand the logic of anyone who condemns a peaceful man like President Obama but thinks a man who kills under false assumptions and allows torture is OK because he professes to be a conservative.
He is offended because President Obama doesn't hold his same value system in all areas and if that is the case, he will not be attending the graduation of a prestigious university in his diocese. Is this what Christians do? Do they say that unless you believe as I do I can have nothing to do with you? Is that what Christ did? Didn't Christ sit down with tax collectors and prostitutes? Even - gasp! - Roman centurions? Who are we to act differently? Is this how one proposes to bring others into the fold by sticking our fingers in our ears or threatening to take all our marbles and going home when no one wants to play by only our rules?
I don't think so. This is our President. I think any school is lucky to have him speak at their commencement. People stood in line in the cold for hours on Inauguration day and Notre Dame attendees get to sit comfortably in good weather to hear one of the greatest men of our time.
And apparently, this bishop is not alone in his thinking. I don't understand the logic of anyone who condemns a peaceful man like President Obama but thinks a man who kills under false assumptions and allows torture is OK because he professes to be a conservative.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
ASU still clueless
Apparently, now, in an attempt to show good will, ASU has announced it will name [or was it rename] a scholarship in President Obama's name to show honor instead of awarding him their honorary degree when he speaks at their commencement in May.
Sorry, ASU. That won't cut it. You still look like idiots, as far as I'm concerned. Now you have compounded it. You just don't get it, do you? Not only are you insulting our President, you are also insulting all of us. This is the President of the United States. He is everyone's president, Democrat and Republican. By refusing to correct your mistake in the only way acceptable [giving him the damn degree, already], you are insulting the whole country. Our President isn't good enough for you?
ASU will forever be known as the university that couldn't. Questions will always arise as to what motivated this huge gaffe. Was it racial? Was it political? Was it just plain stupidity from a second rate school?
I'm sure there were people before this error who had never heard of ASU and that was OK. Now ASU [and by association, Arizona] will always be known to one and all as the school who dissed the 44th President of the United States. Don't you know this will be on national news all over again when he speaks there on that day? Nice going.
Sorry, ASU. That won't cut it. You still look like idiots, as far as I'm concerned. Now you have compounded it. You just don't get it, do you? Not only are you insulting our President, you are also insulting all of us. This is the President of the United States. He is everyone's president, Democrat and Republican. By refusing to correct your mistake in the only way acceptable [giving him the damn degree, already], you are insulting the whole country. Our President isn't good enough for you?
ASU will forever be known as the university that couldn't. Questions will always arise as to what motivated this huge gaffe. Was it racial? Was it political? Was it just plain stupidity from a second rate school?
I'm sure there were people before this error who had never heard of ASU and that was OK. Now ASU [and by association, Arizona] will always be known to one and all as the school who dissed the 44th President of the United States. Don't you know this will be on national news all over again when he speaks there on that day? Nice going.
Friday, April 10, 2009
ASU refused to give President Obama an honorary degree
President Obama will be speaking at commencement for Arizona State University next month. Usually when people speak at these occasions, they are honored with an honorary degree from the school. Not this time. ASU has refused to do so.
What the hell were they thinking? Or maybe they weren't. It's all over the news feeds. I am so embarrassed by this. Their reasoning was that he hadn't accumulated a big enough body of work yet to deserve that honor.
Really? Being president of the United states of America wasn't good enough for them? How many people do they actually know who have done that? Is there something else he should have included in his resume?
Like maybe being a best-selling author? Because he did that.
Being a Senator? He did that.
Graduate from Harvard with a law degree? He did that.
Be the first African–American editor of the Harvard Law Review. Oh, wait, he did that.
Be the first African -American to become President? Seems to me he did that, too.
What did he leave out?
I'd like to know. Maybe he should refuse the great honor of speaking at a school known mostly for partying so he can stay at home and see if maybe he can add to his paltry list of accomplishments so that the great ASU will deign to honor him with their honorary degree.
I'm glad I never attended ASU. I would be tempted to send my degree back.
What the hell were they thinking? Or maybe they weren't. It's all over the news feeds. I am so embarrassed by this. Their reasoning was that he hadn't accumulated a big enough body of work yet to deserve that honor.
Really? Being president of the United states of America wasn't good enough for them? How many people do they actually know who have done that? Is there something else he should have included in his resume?
Like maybe being a best-selling author? Because he did that.
Being a Senator? He did that.
Graduate from Harvard with a law degree? He did that.
Be the first African–American editor of the Harvard Law Review. Oh, wait, he did that.
Be the first African -American to become President? Seems to me he did that, too.
What did he leave out?
I'd like to know. Maybe he should refuse the great honor of speaking at a school known mostly for partying so he can stay at home and see if maybe he can add to his paltry list of accomplishments so that the great ASU will deign to honor him with their honorary degree.
I'm glad I never attended ASU. I would be tempted to send my degree back.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Nursing shortage cools
Looks like the recession is hitting the nursing market as well, especially for new grads. Hospitals in their wisdom are treating health care like just any other business and cutting wherever they can.
I'm sorry, I know they have to be profitable but a hospital, or any place that takes care of patients, is NOT like any other business. We are not moving cars along an assembly line. These are people. The wrong paint color on a car doesn't really matter in the scheme of things. The wrong medication or a delay in treatment can be life-threatening. There is a big difference. We need people who know medicine in charge of the big decisions. People who aren't trying to please those higher up or who aren't grovelling in an effort to keep their own job. People who have the gumption to put a stop to pinching pennies when it endangers lives.
President Obama said he likes and admires nurses. When he overhauls the healthcare system, I hope he looks at how the money is being spent there just as he is doing in other areas. Being efficient won't matter if patients suffer because of it.
I'm sorry, I know they have to be profitable but a hospital, or any place that takes care of patients, is NOT like any other business. We are not moving cars along an assembly line. These are people. The wrong paint color on a car doesn't really matter in the scheme of things. The wrong medication or a delay in treatment can be life-threatening. There is a big difference. We need people who know medicine in charge of the big decisions. People who aren't trying to please those higher up or who aren't grovelling in an effort to keep their own job. People who have the gumption to put a stop to pinching pennies when it endangers lives.
President Obama said he likes and admires nurses. When he overhauls the healthcare system, I hope he looks at how the money is being spent there just as he is doing in other areas. Being efficient won't matter if patients suffer because of it.
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