It’s quite a legacy he left us

Hi again from the Bastion on the Puget Sound. Well, for a great deal of the world, today marks one of the most significant ~ if not controversial ~ events in history, the birth of an extraordinary human being. Even those religions which deny that he was ~ as even some of their own prophets contended ~ the son of God acknowledge that he lived, that he ministered, that he died and that whether his resurrection was physical or spiritual, it set into motion a chain of events which defined both the capacity for divine nobility and the relentless denial of those values for which a man named Jesus stood.

Perhaps because of my own genetic blend of the two faiths Christ symbolized and because of the incredible persecution both Jews and Christians have suffered since Calvary, it is not important to me whether Jesus was the son of God. What does mean something to me ~ and it means a very great deal ~ was that this individual came among us and by both the doctrine he preached and the personal example he set, he inspired others to actively work for a more compassionate society.

There can also be no denying that the example he set resonated. Yes, it bothers me that much that was not humane was done in his name but then this too was going on long before that fateful night in Bethlehem. Like so many fine and decent things in life, his gospel has been tarnished and used to shackle those very people Jesus sought so desperately in his life to free.

A great deal has transpired since his birth. Mighty empires have risen and fallen. Even the geography of the planet has changed. In a relatively swift passing of those years, the human species has emerged from primordial darkness to claim the planet for its own and to launch its destiny into the universe.

It is somehow reassuring to me that for perhaps the most tumultuous aspect of that span, millions have continued not only to celebrate the birth of Jesus, but in their own way, to emulate his example in their own lives.

It’s quite a legacy you left the world, Jesus. Happy birthday.

IN OTHER NEWS

Well, the good news is that we’re living longer. The bad news is that a lot of us are not living longer well. Factors like morbid obesity and hypertension ~ as well as a general lack of attention to preventative health measures ~ are on the increase. To me, that suggests that life has become so difficult that subconsciously, some of us don’t want to add years to an existence which doesn’t seem to be providing a lot of joy, security or satisfaction. That’s sad but it’s also a personal choice and sometimes attitude really is all.

I’m not sure why I’m glad about this one but it might just be the smidge of French in me. Apparently, the head of King Henry IV, who was assassinated and then decapitated in 1610, has been verified as legitimate. The embalmed skull of this particular monarch circulated among private collections for 183 years and then, during the French Revolution, disappeared entirely. Somehow, now that it’s been found, the universe seems just a bit tidier.

One out of four applicants for military service in the United States Army cannot, apparently, pass the entrance examination, leading many educators and the Secretary of Education to conclude that America’s “underperforming” (Gotta love those euphemisms, eh?) education system now poses a threat to national security. Among 30 other industrialized nations, America ranks near the bottom on the literacy level.

We found the newly released 2010 Census Report absolutely fascinating. Thanks to population growth well ahead of the national average, Washington became the 13th most populated state in America and gained a Congressional seat. To see how your community has changed, please go here.

Felina: Humans certainly do take this time of the year seriously. Such delicious aromas from down in the valley and such delightful sounds. I am a little overwhelmed by the apparent diversity of beliefs involved. They do, however, all seem to be celebrating something very important. And this human, who was to some apparently also a child of the creator and the creator, this, I must admit, confuses me.

Sam: I’m going to take a shot at this and say we are not talking about Santa Claus here.

Felina: Quite so and no, not Saint Nicholas, who was of the early Christian faith when Rome still ruled the world, and who was very good to the humans he served, so much so that the Emperor became jealous.

Sam: Yep, that big Roman, Diocletian.

Felina: Diocletian, quite so. This Diocletian person tried to get St. Nicholas to renounce his faith, then imprisoned him and tortured him when he would not.

Sam: Yep. Then another Roman emperor, Constantine, came to power. And this emperor was a Christian.

Felina: And St. Nicholas found himself a hero among the people.

Sam: Particularly when he helped a poor father out by collecting dowries for the man’s two daughters and then tossing the sacks of gold down the chimney.

Felina: Ah, so that was the origin of that particularly quaint custom of theirs?

Sam: Yep, another good idea that managed to get diverted some. However, we digress.

Felina: We are the Carpenters of digression.

Sam: We are the Donny and Marie of digression.

Felina: We are the Mormon’s Tabernacle Choir of digression, which sings the praises of this human who is not Santa Claus but whom, it appears, suffered at least as much for subscribing to these particular set of beliefs humans define as “Christian.”

Sam: He was a good example of what human beings can be when they love one another enough. He was a carpenter, a working stiff as it were, who felt he had a real special relationship with the Creator.

Felina: He was apparently a very nice human so that would follow, yes. Quite so.

Sam: He was also a very caring and compassionate one who believed that all of his species should be free, not only of body, but of mind and spirit.

Felina: Like the wild oxen we have seen who prospered for the absence of the yolk.

Sam: Yep. This human told all those who would rule his brothers and sisters that no other human being had that mandate; that only that which created life had dominion over it.

Felina: And for that, those of his parents’ faith judged him a threat to society and convinced Rome that he was, as well.

Sam: Yep. They put a ‘crown’ of thorns on his head and forced him to carry the cross of his crucifixion up a big hill on a hot day.

Felina: How absolutely appalling.

Sam: The best is yet to come, love of my life.

Felina: I can hardly wait, sun and moon of mine.

Sam: They nailed his paws and feet to this cross, then put it in the ground, between two others with humans hanging from them, in the middle of what is now called a “landfill.” And they left him to die.

Felina: Only apparently he did not die, which I understand is what Easter for Christians is all about.

Sam: Yep. And depending on the accounts that one reads, this human lived a very long time and became important to people from China to both Americas. Even religions which do not claim his as the progeny of the creator do not deny that he was of, for and with the creator.

Felina: So this Christmas is actually about the birth, life and death of an extraordinary human being who loved powerfully and with the courage a good parent with a big family.

Sam: Aye, Felina, that’s pretty much it. And on that note?

Felina: And on that note, gentle readers, until next time, may the creator bless and keep you.

SURVIVING HARD TIMES

Surviving hard times is also about refusing to accept the status quo when said status quo sucks. In their blog Finding Rootedness, Robin Broad and John Cavanaugh report on their search for the social, environmental, and economic anchoring that sees us through tough times. I recommend this one without reservation.

ON THE CANCER FRONT

Women at high risk for cancer now have two new options, according to results of a recently published federally-funded study and presented at a meeting of the American Association For Cancer Research in Washington, DC. Yep, for more on this one, please go here.

RESOURCES AND RELATED LINKS:
Cancer Research Journal
National Cancer Institute (American)
Fighting Breast Cancer: Breast Cancer Survivor Stories
Science Daily: Health & Medicine News
American Cancer Statistics 2009
Canadian Cancer Statistics 2009

HEALTH NEWS

In what some experts are proving could be the majour medical breakthrough of the 21st Century, researchers saved the life of a Wisconsin child by running the boy’s entire gene sequence and finding the defective one which was causing the problem. He was treated with a blood transfusion and recovered. Yep, for more on this one, go here.

As much as we hate to encourage gluttony ~ our own and those of others ~ we’re also real practical when it comes to the holiday season. It’s past the winter solstice and those of us in the northern climes need to eat more just to stay warm. And since we are nothing but the epitome of good decorum, we do not refuse dinner invitations nor risk insulting a host by refusing second helpings. What we do in the name of good manners and going along with the program has, in the past, given us gout and tummy stretch marks. Here’s something to drink after a heavy meal.

GOOD EXAMPLES

We congratulate the American Congress and Chief Executive for making it possible for people with other than heterosexual gender preferences to serve openly in the military. One of the young people in my life, a medic with the Alabama National Guard, served with distinction in Operation Desert Storm. Her caring, courage, dedication and military professionalism were never an issue. nor was the unmitigated and public record of the service lesbians and gays rendered to their country.

Thanks to the pro bono work of attorneys affiliated with the international Innocence Network ~ a coalition of 63 individual organizations, including the Innocence Project Northwest at the University of Washington School of Law ~ three Washington state men convicted of rape were cleared this year through post-conviction DNA testing. They are among 29 individuals nationwide who were exonerated or whose convictions were overturned in 2010.

Well, one Oregon timberjack who started out augmenting his income by building storage sheds for his neighbours is now building the minimalist type houses that have proliferated in Vancouver, British Columbia. Over the last five years, he estimates he’s built 100 of these and now he’s looking at making an entire subdivision of these for people who have either lost their homes or are facing that bleak future. This is definitely an example that can be emulated so yep, for more, please go here.

NORTHSTAR FAVORITES

Finding Rootedness is perhaps the most empowering blog we’ve yet come across for those of us who are pledged to a work which improves with the subscription to and application of positive and empowering alternatives. This one is for the window pushers among us. It offers not only solid alternatives to the chaos but news of where these options are being successfully implemented.

Irish Newsletter is an outstanding pocket source of Irish life, politics and times. Particularly well written are their news snaps (shorts) which ~ according to friends of mine in Erin ~ literally tell it like it is. While the Republic of Ireland’s population is only about 4.5-million, there are an estimated 80 million people of Irish descent worldwide and email version of this reached 50,000 of them.

Meade Fisher Observes Humanity From A Safe Distance is a blog authored by an outdoor writer, photographer, West Coast kayaker and environmentalist living in the San Francisco Bay area. These short, humorous, few holds barred observations on the machinations of the human species run from the whimsical to the arid and occasionally to the quietly outraged. I’ve been a fan of this particular writer for years and I’ve always found him worth the read.

Sightline Daily is the best Pacific Northwest source of environmentally friendly news we’ve encountered yet. They draw from newspapers and National Public Radio sources in Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington State.

The Northstar Gallery features photography of Seattle available as postcards, computer wallpaper and workspace art.

Wrath of the Testament, an exciting seagoing saga of war and rebellion, is now available for $3.99 at amazon.com.

Yes magazine is the online Life and Look of the Internet combined and their present series “What Happy Families Know is both insightful and inspirational.

SEATTLE SCENES

Seattle's Union Station

Photo by Merritt Scott (Rusty) Miller.

What’s Going On Here?

Whether you live here or plan to visit ~ and whatever it is you enjoy doing at home or as a tourist ~ you’ll find it, you’ll find it listed here at seattlepi.com.

SEATTLE FACTS AND FIGURES
Seattle Rainfall in Comparison To Other US Cities
Seattle Geography & Climate
For more information about Seattle

OTHER RELATED STUFF FROM THE SHORES OF THE SALISH SEA
For live cameras on Seattle, the Puget Sound and Washington State
Mount Rainier slide show
Eat healthy while you’re here – Seattle PCC Co-Op
Take some fresh produce back to your hotel – Seattle Farmers Markets

CRITTER STUFF

Well, for those of us who love “all creatures great and small,” wolverines have apparently either returned to the Northwest or ~ after years of being hunted and trapped nearly to extinction ~ have decided that it’s now safe for them to come out of hiding. They’ve been spotted by several wildlife groups in the region who are also busy doing what they can to make sure this extremely circumspect creature of the woods is protected for posterity.

Recommended Related Links:
National Wildlife Magazine
Go Northwest: Northwest Wildlife Websites
BBC’s wildlife finder
National Geographic Daily News - Animals
Retrieverman’s Weblog: Engaging articles on domestic & wildlife in the American South

YOU GUYS THINK I MAKE THIS STUFF UP

Okay, even for Seattle at Christmas time, this is reaching the outer limits. There’s this Jewish lady who works for the Seattle Aquarium who dons SCUBA gear and goes into the 120,000 gallon Window on Washington Waters tank with these big bags of herring, krill and squid to feed the denizens of the deep. Next time I hear about somebody dressing their hairless Chihuahua in a sweater and hat, I probably won’t be quite so quick to roll my eyes and go, “They should treat their human family so good.” Yep, for a photo and more links to Northwest weird, go here.

Well, that’s it for now. Thanks for the ear. Before you leave, if you’re in a shopping mood and into some interesting choices? We’ve got a “reader stocked” General Store that you might want to check out. If you’d like to sell something with us or know someone who does, email us at minstrel312@aol.com and we’ll see what we can do.

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