LOSS

LOSS

A long time ago Joe Biden, a very young man at the time, won election to the United States Senate. No one thought he had much of a chance. I am sure his family: wife, two sons and one daughter, were proud of him and looking forward to this new experience.

One week before he was to be sworn in as a U.S. Senator his family was in a horrific car crash. It took the lives of his young wife and young daughter. His two sons were injured and hospitalized. The Senator-elect is said to have refused to leave the hospital beds of his sons and his swearing-in took place in the hospital. There were some things written about his resigning his seat and looking to his family. Few could believe he would find a way to overcome such a tragedy.

But he did.

Unlike most Senators he did not rent a living space in Washington, DC. Looking back on it I can imagine he decided to fulfill all his responsibilities, personal and professional. So he kept the family home so he could be there to kiss his young sons goodnight, every nite, and to wake them and breakfast with them every morning. In order to accomplish this he had to take a two hour train ride, each way, from home to his Senate office.

I suppose there are some who felt he could not keep this up. Others who may have thought he would do it just for a short time. The fact is he did it every day until I am told he moved into the official quarters of The Vice President of the United States.

For those who felt he would not be able to be an outstanding Senator, let me tell you candidates for president don’t worry about picking a vice presidential candidate because he can deliver Delaware. Biden was selected because of his excellent work, his ease with people, and the kind of dedication to duty that four hour a day train ride took.

Just a few weeks ago a young lady in her ate thirties succumbed to breast cancer. She had a twelve year old son. She had fought hard, lost her hair and proudly went without a wig or cloth covering,  attended church, weddings and social events. We knew her as a baby. We saw her again about two years ago at a wedding and she was as upbeat, vibrant and happy as one could be. I am attending her wake this week.

A couple months ago my cousin, best man at our wedding, living in North Carolina was moved to hospice. I spent a week with him and helped his family move him to what would be his last home. He approached his end with dignity, without complaint, and with the joy that family and friends were there.

We all have stories of loss. It really doesn't matter the cause of one’s demise or even the unfairness of the timing. We have no explanation how people are able to enjoy the gift of years and live into the hundreds while others are taken as infants, teenagers, young mothers or fathers. No matter how we try we cannot find an acceptable reason for dying. Yet we all know that is the common goal we all have in our lives.

Also, some families are hit harder than others. The Kennedy’s come to mind. But they are not alone. During the wars you can see the Gold Stars on the windows of neighbors’ homes. Hardly a graduation weekend goes by that is not marred by the tragedy of losing a young person just starting out on a career.

Loss is part of living.

Accepting loss is part of recovering.

Forgetting loss is never possible but the pain of loss can lessen.

Hold close the ones you love. None of us has any idea how many more days we will be with them.

This & That

THIS & THAT

Today’s column will have some short comments on subjects much in the news these days.

Secretary of State Kerry announces the US will up the number of refugees admitted to the US to 85,000 in 2016, and 100,000 in 2017. 

Yet there was not one statement as to how such a program is to be managed or financed. I suggest that is because they haven’t a clue how to manage that many people crossing our borders and they know, but don’t wish to say, exactly how it will be financed: through our taxes.

Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was kicked of the navy for mental issues and then allowed to enlist in the army. 

Do these people never talk to one another. 

When the sergeant decided to abandon his unit and go over to the enemy his attorney said he simply wanted to bring attention to unsavoury things happening in his unit. Hmmm. Did he think the Afghans would give a darn? 

Now the President has met him at The White House, called him a hero, released five of the worst terrorists at Guantanamo in exchange for this guy. This suggests to me that there are other organizations in DC not talking to one another. 

A well run White House would never have allowed the president to expose his naïveté that way. And the bottom line for me, and for many, is that seven American servicemen are reported to have lost their lives searching for their missing compatriot, Bergdahl, after he was reported gone. Try as I might I cannot fathom how this deal ever happened.

The questions being asked candidates for president have been really naive, often an attempt to simply embarrass, and most questioners have made no effort to ask for policy ideas from these people who want to run the nation.  

The problem is not with the candidates, it is with the press. The press has abdicated its historical responsibility to get to the bottom of issues, not personalities.

 President Barack Obama on Friday nominated Eric K. Fanning to be secretary of the Army, which could make him the first openly gay secretary.

So what. 

If he is the best qualified it should not matter if he dates crocodiles. Lets hope we don’t see him identified as “gay” in every report that comes out of the years about his work. Can you imagine every day seeing in the newspapers “the heterosexual president” said this or that?

This week everyone seemed to have their undies in a wad over remarks made by Donald Trump and Ben Carson when asked if Muslims should have a role in government. 

Why shouldn’t an American citizen of good repute who happens to be Muslim but has through his life performed admirably, demonstrated leadership abilities, operated as an American citizen first and foremost, not be qualified. Religion is never to be a test for leadership positions in our nation.

I thought we solved all this stuff when we elected Jack Kennedy. Remember back then people said the Pope would be calling all the shots! 

We are better than this.

The Speaker of the House, John Boehner, invited the Pope to speak to Congress. This is only acceptable if he has constructed a list of the leaders of other major religions in the world who will subsequently be given the same honor. 

Will we see the Archbishop of Canterbury under the dome any time soon? And when are the Presbyterians, Methodists, Lutherans, etc., getting their 15 minutes? Heck maybe we could just have one protestant leader and they could represent all those smaller groups.

At one time in our nation’s history you took your kids to see the three ring circus when it came to town. Well, clearly we have increased the number of rings and you can watch the circus on your television almost anytime you want.