Sticks and Stones

Some thoughts on reading this morning's paper:

In an editorial a writer calls those who advocate banning the sale of automatic weapons "anti-gunners."

Larry Pittman, a member of the the North Carolina House of Representatives, labeled Planned Parenthood a "bloody, indecent, immoral organization."

It's nothing new, but our cultural tendency to alienate others by bashing those who disagree with us rather than to discuss disagreements civilly is not one of our more endearing characteristics.  If there weren't good reasons on both sides of an issue, there wouldn't even be an issue.  Our political discussions have devolved from being the art of the possible or the art of compromise to sophomoric name-calling.  Sad.

And Back Again

I never imagined that just steering a boat could be so challenging.  On our recent trip to England as we traversed the Severn and Avon Rivers we discovered that the physical demands (standing at the tiller, maintaining the water supply, checking the engine daily, operating unmanned locks) were demanding. For one thing, the boat was 44 feet long and weighed around 15 tons, a lot of vehicle to manage.  Then there were the emotional demands (overcoming a fear of weirs, dealing with surprises along the way, compensating for upstream vs. downstream, mechanical breakdown, the sheer immensity of the rivers and the power of the water).   I freely confess that at times I was terrified, exhilarated, uneasy, anxious, proud.

In retrospect I see this experience as a trial of our individual and corporate mettle.  It may not have been a vacation in the sense of relaxation, but it sure was an accomplishment.  And I'm proud of us all for doing it successfully.  Thank you, Tracey and Jamie, for a marvelous experience!