In Memory of Mom and Wilson

There are great people you meet along the way, who inspire you to do great things yourself. For me, my mom Teddy Fritts, and my friend Wilson Fang were two such people. I would normally be in San Francisco this week, to do something I do annually - participate in the Light the Night Walk for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Cancer is a terrible things but they both fought with courage, and both lost their battles way too soon.

I first became involved in this event when Mom was diagnosed with leukemia.  She was one of my annual sponsors.  Wilson was too.  In addition to the two of them, I have lost a number of other sponsors because they have lost their cancer fight.  This just makes me more and more determined.

The Light the Night Walk is a fundraising campaign benefiting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and their funding of research to find blood cancer cures. Walks take place on various dates at cities all across the country. In addition to raising money, they also raise awareness. I also find a lot of comfort in something they do before each walk - a remembrance ceremony.  I try hard each year to let folks know I am doing this, so I can raise a good amount of money and really make a difference. If you have been touched by any cancers, you might like to donate money or to even participate in a future event.  Click HERE to give.  (ANY amount can be donated).

Mom and Wilson were an inspiration, and I miss them both. This week I join with so many others to Light the Night (virtually because of the pandemic) in their memory. Find out more and get involved too at http://www.lightthenight.org/

Thank You Nurses

When I woke up this morning, I noticed the hashtag #ThankYouNurses was trending on twitter. Nurses are wonderful. My mom was a nurse and I have many friends who are nurses. They provide compassionate, quality, and critical care to patients every single day, whether is is a routine medical checkup or a crisis and time of great vulnerability. It was nice to see nurses trending, but why? Did something happen overnight? This isn't Nurses Week.

I did some check while drinking my coffee and couldn't come up with anything new. It really doesn't matter though. I'm so glad to see #ThankYouNurses and also #HeroesBehindTheMasks trending. They are indeed heroes and I do thank them. 

This has been a tough year for all of us, but just imagine for a moment the added stress that nurses have. They try to make things better for the rest of us though. I have had the great joy of volunteering in a hospital and I get to see hospital workers close-up. Yes, they aren't all perfect, but I have seen some amazing things. One nurse I observed was always so kind and caring to his patients no matter how they responded. He told me he likes to make people feel good. Isn't that what nursing is all about? Actually I think that is what life is all about!

So here's to all the nurses.  Thank you for what you do.  Thank you for making a difference.  You are indeed heroes behind the masks!

The crown jewel of American liberties

Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States once said "The right to vote is the crown jewel of American liberties, and we will not see its luster diminished."  Well he was certainly correct about it being the crown jewel, but that luster, has it changed any?  What good is jewelry if you don't show it off?  Some Americans go to the polls faithfully on every single election, and some never go at all.

Let me quote another US President, our 32nd, Franklin Delano Roosevelt:  "Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting."  Mr Roosevelt was correct too and that makes me very sad.  When you look at the multitude of problems facing our country, it's hard to believe that some folks don't want to be part of the solution.  It's true though.  Some don't vote and say they never will.  

So many countries around the world don't have this wonderful opportunity.  We are so powerful.  We can make change.  We have to get up from the couch though and do something.  Voting is easy.  It really doesn't take much time at all.  Registration is necessary and then casting your ballot itself.  In most states it is so simple you can register online and have a ballot balled to you.  (PLEASE CHECK THE LAWS IN YOUR OWN STATE).

Last night I joined a group of people online who were encouraging the vote and they had such great energy and hope.  I really had a good feeling after that program.  Now, we need to go forth and spread the word.  Get out there and VOTE!

Christian Values

         In a story about rainbow flags in Heber, Utah, 

         a frustrated mother is quoted saying 

    “As a Christian, our family believes that marriage 

is between a man and a woman. I’d like to think 

that there are other people in this valley who 

feel the same way. Are we the silent majority?

If you still believe in Christian values, 

please speak up.”

After writing yesterday about the term "sexual preference," I came across an article discussing rainbow flags and bringing up same-sex marriage. A woman is quoted saying "As a Christian, our family believes that marriage is between a man and a woman." (I think she means only, because certainly everyone thinks men and women can marry each other). Every time this comes up I look at it closely and I cannot figure out why anyone could possible object. If two men marry each other (or two women) how does that affect anyone at all except the two of them? Oh and just in case you missed it, same-sex marriage is legal all across the United States and Canada.

The "as a Christian" part of this person's objection is an argument that frequently comes up, but there is no record at all of Jesus ever speaking about homosexuality, let alone same-sex unions. In many Christian denominations, there have been specific discussions regarding homosexuality. In 1976, the Episcopal Church said “homosexual persons are children of God who have a full and equal claim with all other persons upon the love, acceptance, and pastoral concern and care of the church.” The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, with approximately 3.8 million members, has passed repeated resolutions to welcome LGBTQ people since 1991.

Even the Roman Catholic Church does not consider “homosexual orientation” sinful in and of itself, although it does have a very negative attitude toward it. A 1986 letter states, “Although the particular inclination of the homosexual person is not a sin, it is a more or less strong tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil; and thus the inclination itself must be seen as an objective disorder.”

There is neither the time nor the space to go deeply into this matter, but let me respond to the woman's question. She said "If you still believe in Christian values, please speak up." Well I do! I believe that all people are equal before God, and are equal in their home, at church, and everywhere society. I believe that race, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, and class are not barriers to Christ. I believe that Christian love in action is treating each person with dignity.

It's NOT a preference

    “I have no agenda and I do want to be clear that I have never discriminated on the 

  basis of sexual preference and I would not discriminate on the basis of sexual preference.” 

-U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett, 

responding on October 13, 2020 to a question from 

Ranking Member Senator Dianne Feinstein at 

Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing

                        

There have been several times where I have addressed the matter of "preference." Let me give you an example of preference. Some people eat vanilla ice cream. Some like chocolate better. My favorite happens to be strawberry. Of course I will eat any of those flavors. I love ice cream. What we are talking about here though is a preference. I prefer strawberry. It is my personal preference.

Now when it comes to dating men or dating women, this is NOT a preference matter. I do not simply like one better than the other. Oh no! I am ONLY attracted in a sexual and in a romantic way to men. I am gay. It is my orientation, NOT my preference. It's also not a lifestyle choice. You don't wake up one morning and say "I'm going to wear the gay outfit today."

In 2012, Mrs Feinstein said “Same-sex couples live their lives like all married couples. They raise children, share finances, care for each other and love each other in good times and bad, so it was no surprise to me that she would ask about same-sex marriage. What surprised me is that she didn't correct the judge.  I know that Feinstein gets it.  She has said so time and time again.

When Judge Amy Coney Barrett refusing to commit if same-sex marriage rights are protected, Feinstein said "Well that’s really too bad because it’s really a fundamental point for large numbers of people in this country.  I understand you don’t want to answer these questions directly but you identify yourself with a Justice that you, like him, would be a consistent vote to roll back hard fought freedoms and protections for the LGBT community. And what I was hoping that you would say is that this would be a point of difference where those freedoms would be respected and you haven’t said that."

I should point out that later in the day, Democratic Senator Mazie Hirono chastised Barrett pointing out that the term is considered offensive and outdated. Thank you Senator, but the term has never been correct.

AP

One of the most amazing people on this planet, is Arnel Pineda. You may have heard of him. He's the lead singer of Journey. He's been singing pretty much all his life and what an incredible voice he has!

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of folks are staying away from other people and that cuts down on our entertainment possibilities. Arnel has kept busy though. He has recorded a number of songs via the internet and posted them on his youtube channel. Hearing him and his rich enthusiasm is enough to bring happiness to anyone.

There is much more reason though for me to write here this morning about AP. Sleeping on the street and having little to eat in his early years, might make a person bitter but not in this case. Arnel Pineda is one of the most humble and caring people in the world. Listen to him in interviews saying how he loves his fans and how grateful he is for all the opportunities he has had.

When Typhoon Haiyan made landfall in the Philippines in November 2013, Journey donated to relief efforts and Arnel did additional fundraising.  He gave so freely to assist with the rebuilding in his homeland.

There is also the Arnel Pineda Foundation, a non-profit independent Philippine foundation that provides underprivileged children quality education, health services and medical attention. Find out all about the organization he founded at https://arnelpineda.org/

When I see people like Arnel Pineda, I have great hope for our future.  The world could sure use more people like this!