A Virtual Walk

On Friiday I signed up to participate for the 33rd time in AIDS Walk San Francisco. I wish it didn't have to be so of course. I wish a cure had been found long ago. That isn't the case though. Now were are faced with the COVID-19 pandemic too and so we can't go walking in the park as usual. That happened last year too. Ugh!

They have also moved the date from the usual July day to one in mid May. This means two months less of fundraising. This means a much tougher job.

Of course AIDS Walk isn't just about raising money, although the event benefits participating HIV/AIDS service organizations in all seven Bay Area counties. It is also about information, educaton, and erasing the stigma.

Can you help?  Since this is a virtual walk in 2021, you don't have to be in San Francisco.  You can actually participate from anywhere in the world.  How good are you at fundraising?  Sign up and give it a go.  You can also sponsor me, for which I will be most grateful, by going to https://sf.aidswalk.net/MichaelFullam 

Gaga for cookies

They are flying off grocery shelves. Lady Gaga partnered with the Oreo foks for a special "Chromatica" cookie inspired by her dance album. They are vanilla-flavored, bright pink in color with green crème filling. Oh and they are only around for a limited time. We can all create "Oreograms," by recording a personal message on the "Sing It With Oreo" website.

This isn't something I made up!  There are doubters out there though and people have actually been checking with snopes to see if this is real.  It is.

So why am I starting my Saturday morning telling you about cookies? How does that even fit with the theme of this blog? Well music makes you happy and so do cookies. Our world can never have too much happiness! Lady Gaga has also brought a lot of good to this world in others ways too, such as her Born This Way Foundation and her LGBTQ advocacy.  I'd say more, but right now I am craving some cookies.

Grateful for their lives

Saying goodbye is never an easy task.  I much prefer saying hello.  This week though has seen the lives end of an excptional number of famous people.  Among the many who have died are Bruce Kirby, Cicely Tyson, Tom Stevens, Carmen Vázquez, Cloris Leachman, Tseng Chang, and Corky Lee.  

Any of these people could easily be written about separately as each one of them gave back so much to society and made a differenct in our world.  For Kirby, Tyson, Leachman, and Chang, it was through acting, but more than just their performances.  They each were firsts at something.  Long Ryders bassist Tom Stevens gave us the gift of music.  Corky Lee and Carmen Vázquez were activists and Corky documented so much with his ever-present camera.

A lot of their work you already know about, but some things might not have gotten as much attention. Cloris Leachman was a Grand Marshal at the 2009 LGBTQ Pride Parde in San Francisco. Her dedication to animal-rights issues is was another one of her passions. Ms. Vázquez was the founding director of the Women's Building in San Francisco and also helped found the Lavender Youth Recreation and Information Center in San Francisco, and the LGBT Health & Human Services Network in New York City. Mr Lee's photos are legendary and even he called himself the "Self-appointed undisputed, unofficial Asian American photographer laureate."

Someone said to me that these people led full lives and we shouldn't be sad.  Full lives indeed and so many contributions to our world.  Still, while I am grateful for their lives, I am sad that we will not be seeing them again.

The day of the Challenger tragedy

Seven lives were lost on this date in 1986 when the space shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after takeoff. I will never forget that morning and the terrible sadness. The crew of seven were Francis Scobee, Michael Smith, Ellison Onizuka, Judith Resnik, Ronald McNair, Gregory Jarvis, and Christa McAuliffe.  They all perished.

All eyes were on televisions screens that day.  The story was tod over and over.  We watched in disbelief.  We also watched in great sorrow.  Ronald Reagan was President of the United States at the time, and regardless of your political leanings or what you think of the Reagan Presidency, I think you will agree with his actions that day.  Quite simply he did what a President should do.  He was presidential.

The State of the Union Address was schedued for that night, but instead of that, we heard another speech. It was televised from the White House. Reagan described the tragedy "On the day of the disaster, our nation held a vigil by our television sets. In one cruel moment, our exhilaration turned to horror; we waited and watched and tried to make sense of what we had seen."

President Regan's speech was only four minute long, but it was soothing, comforting, and just what America needed. Quoting from the poem High Flight by John Gillespie Magee Jr Regan closed saying "We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and 'slipped the surly bonds of earth' to 'touch the face of God.'"

Are we better off

Are we better off today than we were last Saturday?  Am I asking for a judgement on Joe Biden't performance with just a few days in office?  Well no.  I want to be fair.  Let me also take a few moments to point out some things.

For some reason there are folks who expected Jor Biden to take the Presidential oath and then everything would be okay.  All of our trouble would disappear.  It doesn't work that way.  He is our President, not our wizzard.  He has already accomplished a lot though.

Mr Biden stopped our withdrawal from the World Health Organization.  That alone is big, especially during a pandemic.  He asked us all to unite toward a common goal.  He extended the nationwide moratorium on evictions and foreclosures to March 31.  He also ended construction of that ridiculous border wall.  Oh and he canceled the Muslim ban too.  Biden has held frequent press briefings too and has a very competent press secretary,  We have rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement.  Students can breathe a little easier after President Biden extended the pause on student loan repayment and interest to September 30.  Yup, September.  Eight months from now.  Biden has put in place COVID-19 proticals aimed and bringing this pandemic to an end.  He issued an order too prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

This is just a tiny bit of what President Joe Biden has done in less than three days.  Yes, we are better off, at least in my opinion.  More good things are coming too.  We need to help him though.  We need to show our support and to make positive comments.  I think down the road we are going to find ourselves MUCH better off!

Honesty and Unity

The United States has a new President. I'm sure many of you were watching yesterday when Joe Biden took the oath of office. The cermonial moments, the speeches, the bands and the marches - I find it all very moving. Oh and that stirring speech! It was a sort of call to action; a call to unite. On FOX, anchor Chris Wallace said “I thought it was a great speech. I thought this was the best inaugural address I ever heard.” High praise.

“Recent weeks and months have taught us a painful lesson,” President Biden told us yesterday in that Inaugural Address. “There is truth and there are lies, lies told for power and for profit. And each of us has a duty and responsibility, as citizens, as Americans, and especially as leaders, leaders who have pledged to honor our Constitution and protect our nation, to defend the truth and defeat the lies.” 

Mr Biden spoke of another enemy too - divisiveness. "But the American story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us." That was really the central theme of his speech. He outlined the many things that need fixing within our country and then said "To overcome these challenges - to restore the soul and to secure the future of America - requires more than words. It requires that most elusive of things in a democracy: Unity."

Will we all unite? Will we be honest? Of course I don't have the answers, but thinking of the last part of President Biden's address, I do have hope. In closing he said "So, with purpose and resolve we turn to the tasks of our time. Sustained by faith. Driven by conviction. And, devoted to one another and to this country we love with all our hearts.

A very big day

Today is a big day, a very big day.  Health and safety concerns have caused a lot of changes in what we might normally expect, but today is still a big day!  The inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th president of the United States in just a few hours, marks the beginning of the four-year term of Joe Biden as president and Kamala Harris as vice president.  Today is a new beginning.  Today is a big day.

The oath will be administered to the vice president first. Immediately afterward, the United States Marine Band will play four Ruffles and Flourishes, followed by Hail, Columbia. Joe Biden soon afterward recites the constitutionally mandated oath of office for President:  "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Some of the details for today's event keep changing.  There really is a lot to take into consideration.  Usually there are huge crowds, but people are being urged to stay away and to instead watch on tv or the internet.  More details about the Inauguration are available at bideninaugural.org and you can also watch at youtube.com/bideninaugural  Most of the networks will also be covering everything live.  

It is a big day America, a very big day!

Let's Make A Difference

In the words of Helen Keller, "Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence."  On this day before the inaguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, are you optimistic?  Do you have hope and confidence?

Yes, there has been a certain patriotic theme here the past few days, and it might continue on for a bit, because I think it is important.  I hear from two separate groups.  One thinks a sort of magic will happen tomorrow and all kinds of marvelous things will happen. There is also a "woe is me" group who are filled with dread about our country's future.

Actor Will Smith has said "I wake up every morning believing today is going to be better than yesterday." I'm with him. I think that is the most productive way to live.

Since I seem to be quoting a lot of people this week, here is another, from the 26th president of the United States. "Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official, save exactly to the degree in which he himself stands by the country." Wise words, and an important distinction. President Theodore Roosevelt went on to say "It is patriotic to support him insofar as he efficiently serves the country. It is unpatriotic not to oppose him to the exact extent that by inefficiency or otherwise he fails in his duty to stand by the country.  In either event, it is unpatriotic not to tell the truth, whether about the president or anyone else."

Thankfully there is a plan to deal with COVID-19 and in addition, there will be a memorial this afternoon for all who have died from it. At 5:30pm EST Americans across the country are invited to come together for a national moment of unity and remembrance.  In Washington, DC, President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will host a ceremony featuring the first-ever lighting of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to honor and remember those who have died. Church bells will be rung from coast to coast and we are all encouraged to join in lighting a candle in our windows for this nationwide moment of remembrance. 

Let us join in the remembrance observance today.  Let us go forth with hope and confidence. Let us be patriotic in the true sense, standing by our country. Let us be part of the solution. Let's make a difference!

A Call to Action

Does anyone think that former President Barack Obama is a soothsayer? I was just reading his words from his 2nd Inaugural Address in 2013, and the words (to me) seem to be imagining our country as it is today. 

Speaking of our unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, President Obama said "Today we continue a never-ending journey to bridge the meaning of those words with the realities of our time. For history tells us that while these truths may be self-evident, they’ve never been self-executing; that while freedom is a gift from God, it must be secured by His people here on Earth. The patriots of 1776 did not fight to replace the tyranny of a king with the privileges of a few or the rule of a mob." Mr Obama actually said that eight years ago! He continued "They gave to us a republic, a government of, and by, and for the people, entrusting each generation to keep safe our founding creed." I wonder how many of us were listening to his back then.

He closed his address with a call to action saying "Let us, each of us, now embrace with solemn duty and awesome joy what is our lasting birthright. With common effort and common purpose, with passion and dedication, let us answer the call of history and carry into an uncertain future that precious light of freedom."

Encouragement from Lincoln

Our nation's 16th president, Abraham Lincoln said "America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." Think about that for a moment as you look at what is going on around the country.

Now remember that during Lincoln's administration we had a civil war. He did not call for that war though. The war was caused by hate.

Mr Lincoln is a pretty good voice to listen to right now will all of our many concerns. He told us "We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution." 

One more thing. I find this very encouraging all these many year later. Lincoln said "I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts." 

Let's not let Abraham Lincoln down.  In just four days our country will have a brand new president and vice president.  Let's listen to them and work with them.  Better days can be just ahead if we the people help make it happen.

JFK On Separation of Church and State

Just days before Joe Biden takes the oath of office to become the next President of the United States, I want to share some words with the only other practicing Roman Catholic to have served in that office, John F Kennedy. During last fall's election, there were those who feared Biden would impose directives from the religion he practices. There were similar fears when Kennedy came into office.

At the Greater Houston Ministerial Association, Kennedy made these remarks on September 12, 1960. It was two months later that he was elected.

"I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute - where no Catholic prelate would tell the President (should he be Catholic) how to act, and no Protestant minister would tell his parishioners for whom to vote - where no church or church school is granted any public funds or political preference - and where no man is denied public office merely because his religion differs from the President who might appoint him or the people who might elect him.

"I believe in an America that is officially neither Catholic, Protestant nor Jewish - where no public official either requests or accepts instructions on public policy from the Pope, the National Council of Churches or any other ecclesiastical source - where no religious body seeks to impose its will directly or indirectly upon the general populace or the public acts of its officials - and where religious liberty is so indivisible that an act against one church is treated as an act against all."

(Not that you asked, but) I believe in the same America.

If it's cold to you

The temperature outside where I live, has been rather chilly lately, especially at night. I know there are parts of this country where snow and cold has come with a fury already - Western New York was especially hard it.  With all of my complaining, I just had to be glad I was able to come indoors and turn on the heat.  If it's cold to me though, imagine what it's like for those who cannot come indoors.

 

Some people have pets that stay outside all of the time.  There are also farm animals that generally stay outdoors of course too.  Think about these animals on cold nights.  Is your barn heated?  Does your horse have a blanket?  The dog can go outside briefly for his potty break, but inside he must come right afterward.  If it's cold to you, it's cold to your animals too!

 

The homeless people you encounter when you are out shopping or doing errands often don't have the warm clothing you might have.  Countless people die every winter due to the cold conditions.  I know you can't house everyone you come across, but those winter coats that you no longer wear because you have gotten new ones, give them away!  Trust me.  A warm coat can make a huge difference.  More shelters need to open up in cold weather.  Big cities do a fairly good job with this, but help spread the word on the importance of this.  If it's cold to you, it's cold to them too!

Remember them

So many lives have been lost due to COVID-19 - the number is changing by the minute.  Because of the virus and the risk in holding gatherings, the typical memorials and funerals are not happening.  Remember them though.  Remember that they were here.

This week I learned that two more people I knew had passed away due to complications from COVID-19.  Two more added to an already long list.  In many cases these days, people are dying all alone, instead of being surrounded by family and friends.  The support of loved ones is a critical part of healthcare and healing.  It is also an important part of dying.

Earlier this week, I watched a CNN report that show people gathering outdoors for a funeral.  The kept space between each other and they also wore masks.  The daughter of the deceased said to the camera "Don't let this happen to your family.  Take this virus seriously.  Wear a mask.  Practice distancing.  Wash your hands."  She was weeping as she said this.

Remember our dead.  Help stop the growing number.  Care about these individuals and care about there families.  COVID-19 is real.

 

It's Us

There are times when I wonder if anyone reads this. I wonder too how many care anymore - care about each other, about our country, and about the earth. How many years have people been screaming "Save the Planet!" How many years have people been ignoring them.

Eight years ago I wrote in this blog about the guys pictured here and a song they had just released. The song, "It's Us" sends a powerful message (I think) and the incredible video produced by Sam Gouldthorpe features this Berkeley, CA band, some incredible graphics, and a special appearance by the "Pacific Boychoir," You can watch the video HERE. I hope you will. Listen to the words and watch the pictures. Think about what humans have done and continue to do. 

I don't know is my daily blog ever stirs anyone to action. I don't know if this video is doing that either. We have to keep trying though. We don't have a backup planet. We need to save the earth. Let's do it!

our health matters

Whether we think about it all the time or not, our health matters.  We might do annual checkups or take daily vitamins, but how much do we think about our health beyond that?  The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to think about health a lot more, and that's a good thing.

During the winter months so many of us wake up coughing or sneezing and then head out the door to work.  Once there we are greeted with others feeling equally bad, or worse, and we share each others germs and the illness of the day.  Before you know it we are so sick we cannot even get out of bed.  The solution?  Staying home from work occasionally when we are ill might be a good starting place.  Also, avoid contact with others who are ill.  The pandemic has reminded us of this, but it has always been good advice.  Wear a mask too.  They do a LOT of good.

What else can we do to stay well?  Exercise and a good diet go a long way.  Plenty of rest is also important.  We need to avoid unhealthy activities too such as smoking, recreational drugs, and excessive alcohol consumption.  Cleanliness too.  We need to wash our hands a lot.  Sanitizer is good to carry with us.

How can we change the world - how can we do good things and really make a difference if we are too sick to even walk across the street?  Our health matters in so many ways.  Regular checkups and following medical advice is so important.  Sometimes we might receive scary news, but knowing is so much better than not knowing.  We need to take all the information we have learned during this pandemic, and keep on using it!

Back To The Reason For This Blog

We Still Can Make A Difference

This has been a troubling week.  There may be more ahead.  We cannot give up though.  There still is good in the world and all of us can still make a difference for the better.  Yes, there has been a lot of discouraging events, but that should just make us commit all the more to the good out there.  Have you noticed how many people have changed their minds in the past few days?  Have you noticed how many have said how disgusted they are at the events that have happened in Washington?  That certainly is a good sign.

Perhaps people are finally waking up.  We can only hope.  There certainly is a lot of work to do.  Maybe education is a good place to begin.  In the midst of all the things that have angered us, I want to look at some of the thing that have made us happy.  What are the good hopeful signs we have seen this week?  Do you think there are any?  Look closely.

Whether you agree or disagree, being mean and hateful are never good.  Rude behavior doesn't advance us.  The hate needs to go.  Racism has no valid place.  The same is true of any kind of hate.  The reason I began this blog and the reason I continue it year after year, is to be encouraging and to share stories or inspiring people and events.  I want to tell you about good.  I want to tell you about the kind positive folks who make a difference.

I'm realistic.  I know there will still be bad days now and then, but we need to work together to see more of the positive days.  In just over a week, we will have a new President.  Whatever our beliefs, let's give him support.  Let's work with him.  Let's make a difference!

Riot Aftermath

What Happened at the US Capitol

On Wednesday night, once the US Capitol was secure and Congress returned to do their work, Vice President Mike Pence addressed the Senate saying "Today was a dark day in the United States Capitol. To those who wreaked havoc in our Capitol today, you did not win. Violence never wins. Freedom wins. And this is still the People's House." The job of certifying the election then continued. What else happened though?

Some are still calling it a protest, but clearly it went way past that. They were protesters when they gathered for a "Save America" rally on the Ellipse, where President Trump, Rudy Giuliani, and some members of Congress addressed them. Trump encouraged his supporters to "fight like hell" to "take back our country" and to march towards the Capitol. If you listen, it sounds very much like the President is telling them to interrupt the Congressional proceedings. His lawyer Giuliani was even more chilling when he called for "trial by combat." They marched. Then, breaking windows and doors, hey entered and occupied the US Capitol. Improvised explosive devices were found. A cooler full of Molotov cocktails was also discovered.

There was a woman, part of the mob, who was shot by a member of law enforcement. She died from her injuries. A police officer also died as a result of injuries sustained on duty. Three other people died due to “medical emergencies” of some sort. There were 56 officers injured and an unknow number of the rioters injured.

I find all of this pretty scary. If you have ever worked at a place that was robbed at gunpoint or where some other kind of attack occurred, you may have a small sense of the fear, but then remember that this was the Capitol Building in Washington, DC.  If it can happen there, what other places might need to worry?  So now what?  How do we return to feeling safe and secure?  How do we stop people - our fellow Americans, from doing such horrible things.  What do YOU think?

A Dark Day

 Will Live Forever In Infamy

Yesterday, as you well know by now, was a day like now other in American history. It wasn't a foreign power or an outside terrorist organization. It was American citizens attempting to stop a peaceful transition of power after a democratic election in a country that many around the world have looked at as a model for democratic governance. It was frightening to see this mob storm the US Capital Building. It was frightening to see trespassers sitting at the desk of the Speaker of the House.

When the rioters were gone and safety was restored inside the Capital, Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Jan. 6, 2021 will "live forever in infamy.''  Indeed.  It certainly isn't a day I will ever forget. 

Senator Schumer said it so well.  "This temple to democracy was desecrated, its windows smashed, our offices vandalized.  The world saw Americans' elected officials hurriedly ushered out because they were in harm's way.  The House and Senate floors were places of shelter until the evacuation was ordered, leaving rioters to stalk these hallowed halls.  Lawmakers and our staffs, average citizens who love their country, serve it every day, feared for their lives."

Senator Schumer further said "This will be a stain on our country, not so easily washed away. The final, terrible indelible, legacy of the 45th president of the United States, undoubtedly our worst."

We can move forward.  I KNOW we can - it's the American way.  We need to follow the law though and we need to use courtesy and respect, even at times when we disagree.  The good news is that in the wee hours of the morning, Congress was finally able to do it's Constitutionally mandated job.  The lawful election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris has been certified.

Feedback

Thirteen years ago when I began writing this, I had no idea how long I would continue and of course I also didn't know if there would be anyone reading it.   This blog, about making a difference in our world, used to get an occasional comment, and I can see from the counter how many people click on here, but I really have no idea who is reading this, if anybody.  I since have begun a second blog (it's about kindness) and I do occasionally get some feedback on that.

I think in the case of that other blog, it actually benefits me even if it benefits nobody else.  By writing each morning about being king, I think it makes me more aware, and hopefully a kinder person.  This one though is different.  Before COVID-19 it was a bit easier to come up with something each morning.  Now, it's a bit more difficult, and I don't want to keep repeating myself.  Back in September I missed five days while I was in the hospital, and last month I missed several days due to computer problems.

Therefore, would you kindly give me some feedback?  Do you read this often?  Does it make a difference for you?  Do you think I would continue, or is it time to call it quits and spend my mornings some other way.  Please be honest.  I can take it.  Thanks so much!

FINALLY!

Celebrating the arrival of a new year is an annual custom all around the world, but I don't think anyone has looked forward to a New Year's Day more than this year.  I won't go in to all the negative details of 2020.  We are quite familiar with the year just ended.  I'd like to say some encouraging things though about this new year.

First of all, today is a holiday.  It's also still part of the Christmas season.  (It's the eighth day of Christmas).  Let us be joyful.  Let us celebrate.  Let us do something positive and fun.  Today we begin a brand new year.  We can make it better than last year.  It really is in our hands.  We need to listen to reason though.  We need to care about others.  We need to work as a team and do things that will make a positive difference.

Now, I'm not saying all the bad of 2020 was our fault and that it all could have been avoided, but it seems to me that a lot of folks spent too much time thinking about themselves and not enough about others.  Let's turn that around.  Let's put others first.  You'll be amazed at what a difference that will make.  We need to get rid of the hate.  Let's make 2021 the year of love.  Let's make this the year of new beginnings.