Just a short note to express my glee that the 2008 election season is finally coming to a close! I'm a great fan of Al Franken's and will be delighted to hear his voice in the senate. I officially surrender Chambliss and Isaacson as my Senators and pick Al Franken and Bernie Sanders. Without a proportional system, we Georgia progressives have to adopt out-of-state.
I teared up when somebody on MSNBC reminded us that this was Paul Wellstone's seat. Almost even more than the supreme court fiasco of Bush's imposition, the dissing of Wellstone's boys' right to hold a funeral the way they wanted to stunned and disgusted me. It represented the beginnings of the darkest days of the media, when opposition was equated with treason. But that time has passed and Paul Wellstone has a worthy heir!
Again, the media is chattering about the 60 seats. Unfortunately, that number includes some pretty significant DINOs. But at least there is one more voice to speak up for a public option, one more reasonable supporter of sensible energy policies to help make America energy independent AND improve the Earth's climate, one more supporter of the Employee's Free Choice Act!
O Happy Day!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Michigan Ramblings
Our family vacations are almost all in Michigan. That's okay because I enjoy seeing my father. He'll turn 87 June 29th. He lives at Independence Village in East Lansing. He's in pretty good health, but his back has deteriorated over the years, and he can only walk using a walker. He also has a wheelchair and a Hover-round (which I call the Hovercraft). He's had some vision problems over the years, partly due to a kind of muscular dystrophy of his left eyelid. He uses a hearing aid. But his mind is sharp, and he's never had any real internal problems. He takes no medication whatsoever.
On October 19th of last year, my mother died. Although she had had many health problems over the years, her passing was fairly sudden. She had gone into the hospital with some complaints, and before many tests were able to be conducted, she died. I talked to her on the phone just a few hours before it happened. Of all things, she was worried about how well Barack Obama was doing. I told her that Colin Powell had just endorsed him, and that things were looking up.
When my sister called to tell me that they wanted family up at the hospital, I rushed to do everything that I could - remember, I live in South Georgia. But she called back within the hour with the terrible news. I had a hard time absorbing what she was saying. In a lot of ways, I still do.
I loved my mother very much. We were very different personalities in some ways, and that caused some conflict when was I younger. But all that had become a part of the past, and we had become a lot closer in the last dozen years of her life. I am grateful for that, but I have to tell you, I'm a little bit different in attitude than some. I would be even more grateful if she were still here.
My parents were together for over 56 years, so it has been very hard on my father. I can see that difficulty etched in his face and his movements. But I also see signs that he is finding ways to cope. He has not completely withdrawn at Independence Village. I hear of friends he talks and socializes with. He participates in some of the events the Village offers.
I have stayed committed to calling him once a week. We use the bulk of our vacation time to come to Michigan. My sister stays in touch with him (she live within 20 minutes) and does quite a bit for him, for which I am very grateful. I need to do more to redouble my efforts, maybe write more, as I think he enjoys letters and cards.
This is a ramble, I know. But I appreciate the opportunity to express myself and a little of what I'm feeling. Sometimes, I guess, I'm just a ramblin' man.
On October 19th of last year, my mother died. Although she had had many health problems over the years, her passing was fairly sudden. She had gone into the hospital with some complaints, and before many tests were able to be conducted, she died. I talked to her on the phone just a few hours before it happened. Of all things, she was worried about how well Barack Obama was doing. I told her that Colin Powell had just endorsed him, and that things were looking up.
When my sister called to tell me that they wanted family up at the hospital, I rushed to do everything that I could - remember, I live in South Georgia. But she called back within the hour with the terrible news. I had a hard time absorbing what she was saying. In a lot of ways, I still do.
I loved my mother very much. We were very different personalities in some ways, and that caused some conflict when was I younger. But all that had become a part of the past, and we had become a lot closer in the last dozen years of her life. I am grateful for that, but I have to tell you, I'm a little bit different in attitude than some. I would be even more grateful if she were still here.
My parents were together for over 56 years, so it has been very hard on my father. I can see that difficulty etched in his face and his movements. But I also see signs that he is finding ways to cope. He has not completely withdrawn at Independence Village. I hear of friends he talks and socializes with. He participates in some of the events the Village offers.
I have stayed committed to calling him once a week. We use the bulk of our vacation time to come to Michigan. My sister stays in touch with him (she live within 20 minutes) and does quite a bit for him, for which I am very grateful. I need to do more to redouble my efforts, maybe write more, as I think he enjoys letters and cards.
This is a ramble, I know. But I appreciate the opportunity to express myself and a little of what I'm feeling. Sometimes, I guess, I'm just a ramblin' man.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Why the title The Strait Line?
Why in the world is this blog called The Strait Line? A tribute to heterosexuality? Celebrating the division of two large bodies of water by a small water passage connecting the two? A comment on John McCain? A simple play on my name, T.M. Strait?
The last is probably closest, but it is not my play. This is the name of the newsletter that my Dad used as a high school Principal. This was in the 60s through the 80s at Bridgeport High School in Bridgeport, Michigan. Not only was a Principal, but he was the Principal of MY high school. Yes, that's right. I was a Principal's kid.
Was it hard to be the Principal's kid? Not really. Because he was an extraordinarily good one. Caring, concerned, devoted to his school, he endured with a longer tenure than almost anybody in the state. He was liked AND respected. A leader in the philosophy of team teaching, an early user of computer technology, he led our blue collar school to excel in academics and in extracurricular activities such as band, drama and literary events. He was not a remote presence, either. He taught one math class for much of the time while he was Principal, just to keep his hand in the game and not forget what education was really all about. He taught me and those who were lucky enough to be a part of his life, the value of hard work, of humanitarian ethics, of the joy of learning.
My Dad will turn 87 this June 29th. He still lives in Michigan, and we are going to see him in about nine days, just in time for Father's Day. I look forward to it. I love him and feel blessed that he is a part of my life, and the life of Alison and my boys.
The last is probably closest, but it is not my play. This is the name of the newsletter that my Dad used as a high school Principal. This was in the 60s through the 80s at Bridgeport High School in Bridgeport, Michigan. Not only was a Principal, but he was the Principal of MY high school. Yes, that's right. I was a Principal's kid.
Was it hard to be the Principal's kid? Not really. Because he was an extraordinarily good one. Caring, concerned, devoted to his school, he endured with a longer tenure than almost anybody in the state. He was liked AND respected. A leader in the philosophy of team teaching, an early user of computer technology, he led our blue collar school to excel in academics and in extracurricular activities such as band, drama and literary events. He was not a remote presence, either. He taught one math class for much of the time while he was Principal, just to keep his hand in the game and not forget what education was really all about. He taught me and those who were lucky enough to be a part of his life, the value of hard work, of humanitarian ethics, of the joy of learning.
My Dad will turn 87 this June 29th. He still lives in Michigan, and we are going to see him in about nine days, just in time for Father's Day. I look forward to it. I love him and feel blessed that he is a part of my life, and the life of Alison and my boys.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
My Wife Makes Beautiful Jewelry
This is just a sample of the great jewelry she's doing. she makes a lot for people's specific needs; to match particular clothing, for special occasions, and incorporating people's own stones or other items. She has great fun and I hope to publish more photos in the future. If you would like to know more, please let me know!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Carnies vs. Rubes
The Carnival is in town! And then things go bad. Who's to blame? The carnies for trying to fleece and take advantage of the rubes, or the rubes for being naive enough to fall for the chicanery? I think the the answer is obvious. I blame the cops, those who should be watching and monitoring these transactions. Certainly, the carnies should have a better sense of morality, a greater caring for their customers. And certainly the rubes should be better informed and guarded. But ultimately, we're dealing with human nature, and without some enforcement of law and regulation, well, carnies will be carnies and rubes will be rubes.
As such, who is to blame for the cracking of our financial structure? The mortgage brokers looking to make a quick killing? The people who wanted a bigger house than they could afford, and shouldn't have been blinded by deals that were too good to be true? The credit default swappers creating a mighty ponzi scheme from the thinnest of airs? Or the average investor who thought they could ride the market whirlwind without a thought of how fragile it all was?
No, it was the withdrawal of the cop on the beat, the common sense regulation that was needed in order to create the checks and balances that make the whole system work.
The carnival can be fun and safe again, the economy progressive and profitable once more. We just need to restore those check and balances, and the cop/government needs to be back on the beat, as one more essential part of what makes it all go round!
As such, who is to blame for the cracking of our financial structure? The mortgage brokers looking to make a quick killing? The people who wanted a bigger house than they could afford, and shouldn't have been blinded by deals that were too good to be true? The credit default swappers creating a mighty ponzi scheme from the thinnest of airs? Or the average investor who thought they could ride the market whirlwind without a thought of how fragile it all was?
No, it was the withdrawal of the cop on the beat, the common sense regulation that was needed in order to create the checks and balances that make the whole system work.
The carnival can be fun and safe again, the economy progressive and profitable once more. We just need to restore those check and balances, and the cop/government needs to be back on the beat, as one more essential part of what makes it all go round!
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