Polarization

 

Our society is more polarized then every before with no seemingly way out. At the risk of stating the obvious, I believe one major contribution to the polarization is the politicization of sporting events.

It is not to say that sporting events have much importance in the grand scheme of life and salvation, but the most redeeming value was that it brought people together of different persuasions to stand together for at least a short period of time. If people can come together for one reason, they can talk reasonably about the things they disagree in other venues.

There was a time where local people of all religions and political persuasions would come and root for the “home team”. The differences weren’t discussed, the commonality was the team.

The Olympics brought together athletes from all nations, even enemy nations for a respite. (Of course there have been exceptions to this – recall the Olympic boycotts of recent memory.)

Now we have sport teams getting involved in pride days; we have Olympic opening ceremonies showcasing mockery of Christian beliefs.

It is hard to unify for anything if the mechanisms for unification are being used for division.

Oremus pro invicem!

My favorite thing

I like taking down trees and splitting wood with an axe. It is just one of my favorite things to do. I just can't explain it.

Being behind in putting together the wood we need for next winter, we have been taking trees down, couple a week, for a couple weeks now. Usually it is just Greg and I; recently Lori has been out there helping too. (It lets me show off for my love.) This morning I didn't hit the fall mark for the tree, but it was not a problem. 

Lori took some pictures; in the first (on the left), you can tell it is falling if you look at the notch, as the notch has closed. 

These trees are long overdue to come down as they are choking the Cedar trees which line the property. But it is convenient now as we can do our lumberjacking close to home.

I think we now have enough wood for the winter stacked up, but we not done clearing the edge of the property of unwanted trees and shrubs. I have a month left before I head back to school, so we trying to make the most of it.

We have been now getting a sort of regular rain/thunderstorms, so the garden is continuing to produce. This is probably the best crop of Roma tomatoes we have ever had. The green beans have been a disappointment, but I planted some in the best ground we have after we harvested the sweet corn out of it, so we still have a chance.

Oremus pro invicem!

Making Sense and Nonsense of the Trump assassination attempt

I have read Democrat leaning commentators try to blame Trump and followers for the attack ("They promote violence"). I have read Republican leaners blame liberals, (They have portrayed Trump as evil to be destroyed.) 

At this point I don't believe we know whether the attacker was politically motivated or mentally unbalanced (or both). I think the commentary is jumping the gun - but in any event, we do live in a violent and polarized society. I have heard Republican types refer to Biden, Pelosi, etc as evil. Are they promoting assassination attempts or is it political rhetoric?

Come on!

However, I did read one comment today I would like to address from Crisis Magazine

The attack on President Trump was an attack against those who believe in the sanctity of life, the gift of liberty, and the divinity of love. Leftwing politics and its votaries are taking up the final form of their mounting hatred: murder. And Catholics have a duty to seize this moment in solidarity against the influences and forces that would tear down—now, gun down—their political opponents.

Did I miss something? Hasn't President Trump been campaigning to make abortion legal and the law of the land for the first 16 weeks of pregnancy? Hasn't President Trump forced the marriage between one man and one woman plank out of the Republican party platform? I don't think his economic policies promote family and productivity in the home. (Biden is the same or worse on these issues.)

It seems ironic that we have to find new ways to justify supporting President Trump as he abandons conservative and Catholic values.

Oremus pro invicem!