REFLECTIONS ON LIFE   JULY 2019

ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED

For Liz’ most recent program on Howard Community Colleges Dragon Radio, go to the end of this issue of Reflections

REFLECTIONS ON HOME IN COLUMBIA

Due to travel plans, my June Reflections were sent out on the 28^th of the month. On the 29^th I attended a large LGBT event at Centennial Park.  I rarely seek to speak at community events these days, though for this occasion I requested of our County Executive, Calvin Ball, whether I could join him in giving opening comments.  The words below of Jim Rouse, founder of the new town of Columbia were so appropriate that I deeply wanted to share them. Although his words in this letter specifically refer to race, they can apply to any form of discrimination among us human beings. Calvin graciously not only agreed, but also introduced me to speak first before his opening words for this celebration. Many in attendance requested a copy.

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On the evening of July 12, I attended a “Lights for Liberty Vigil” at the Wilde Lake Interfaith Center.  The largest worship space in the Center was filled with every seat taken and many standing.  I later learned that all of the smaller rooms in the center were also completely filled. Amidst many inspiring speakers, a young man from Central America gave the most love filled words of the evening. After more than an hour of songs of love and peace, we all proceeded outside in the dark of night, and, each holding a lit candle, encircled the brick plaza outside.  As hundreds of us simultaneously snuffed out our candles, I was aware of the presence of the spirit of Jim Rouse in this “garden for growing people.”

For what may well have been the 50^th time, Lloyd and I attended the 4^th of July parade in the Longfellow neighborhood of Columbia’s Harper’s Choice Village.  As always, it was a very “home grown” event replete with kids riding their red, white, and blue decorated bikes and tricycles.  We have so many clear and warm memories of these parades.  This year we were so deeply moved by the entry of a vehicle decorated in memory of former Longfellow resident, John Lea, the owner of JK’s PUB, for many year a fixture in the Wilde Lake Village Center.  We have countless warm recollections of sharing a meal and a glass of beer with friends in that establishment. 

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This month we savored our first corn and tomatoes from Clark’s vegetable stand on Route 108 just east of the intersection with Eliot’s Oak Road.  I can still see Senator Jim Clark himself at the vegetable stand conversing with his constituents when he was President of the Maryland Senate.  In addition to growing the best corn and tomatoes, he did so much to advance good environmental practices in farming, among them “no-tilling” of the land, which dramatically decreased environmentally detrimental run-off. When I served as Howard County Executive back in the 80’s, I was deeply privileged to work with him on establishing one of the most effective farmland preservation programs in the country right here in Howard County.  His daughter now carries on his love of and dedication to good farming practices.  Thank you, Martha.

REFLECTIONS ON ZACH

In my June Reflections, I wrote of Zach’s so often serving as an inspiration to me, particularly in not giving in to despair at all of the pain and suffering in our world.  In the month intervening, I have never had a greater need of Zach’s inspiration.  To observe the TV coverage of the conditions under which our nation, the United States of America, is holding immigrants, many of them children, near our southern border, I sometimes feel as though my heart will break.  I have heard from many of you that you are undergoing the same hopelessness.  Then I remember to summon up my still so vivid memories of Zach and the way he truly LIVED with cancer.  Yes, he taught me, and I can now redouble my efforts to truly LIVE and work for change.

As I wrote last month, I now say again “Thank you, Zach.”

REFLECTIONS ON BALTIMORE, MY HOME TOWN

THE BALTIMORE SUN                                                    JULY 1, 201

“THE ‘SECRET’ BENEATH’

Federal Hill’s tunnels continue to fascinate Baltimoreans, visitors”

                                                                                               By Colin Campbell

Federal Hill was one of my Mom’s favorite places.  Born at home on Barry Street in 1904, she grew up not far from this “hill”.  Later in her life she worked as a legal secretary in the Matheson Building, also not far from “the hill”.  When I was attending a Catholic girls high school near the Baltimore Museum of Art (where I admittedly slipped out of class occasionally and crossed over Wyman’s Park to expand my educational experience). I would change to another public bus line near her office on my way home to Edmondson Village.  Occasionally when travelling on the bus with a girl friend from school, we would stop in my mom’s office for a visit after running up the 17 floors to her office.  Yes, I really did that.

All of that to say, before reading this article in the Baltimore Sun, I was unaware of the subject “tunnels” in this news article.  Lloyd and I will take a drive to Baltimore soon and check them out.

REFLECTIONS ON PUBLIC POLICY

U.S.A.

The Baltimore Sun                                                            July 4, 2019

“Keeping ‘foreign intrusion’ from polls"                          by John Sarbanes and

                                                                                                   Brian Frosh

Now that we have experienced the TV coverage of the congressional questioning of Bob Mueller, this strong caution by two of the most courageous and intelligent elected people in our nation calls us strongly to pay very close attention. We are so fortunate to have both of them serving in our State of Maryland.  Add to that the major role played by our Congressman Elijah Cummings, and we are blessed beyond words.

The Washington Post                                                        July 19, 2019

“Harriet Tubman is no wedge issue"

Mr. Mnuchin miscalculated with his shoddy excuse for postponing a $20 bill honoring the American hero”

This American hero is also a has deep roots not only in our nation, but also in our state of Maryland

The Baltimore Sun                                                               July 25, 2019

“As the nation’s opioid crisis grew, the pills got stronger”  by Riin Aljas

In my wildest imagination I cannot conceive of an explanation sufficient to pardon this exploitation of the poor people of Appalachia by the drug companies.

           

REFLECTIONS ON OUR PLANET BEYOND THE UNITED STATES

The Washington Post                                                    July 9, 2019

“Ancient life awakens amid thawing ice caps”           by Daniel Ackerman

“Climate change stories often highlight the teetering fragility of Earth’s ecological system…but for a few exceptional species, thawing ice caps and permafrost are starting to reveal another narrative – one of astonishing biological resilience.”

REFLECTIONS ON OUR UNIVERSE

“The Universe in a Single Atom”                                   by the Dalai Lama XIV

“If scientific analysis were conclusively to demonstrate certain claims in Buddhism to be false, then we must accept the finding of science and abandon those claims.”

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Across the Universe

“Pools of sorrow, waves of joy

Are drifting through my open mind

Possessing and caressing me

Across the Universe

~Lennon and McCartney

Be well and love life.

~ Liz

PS - My monthly Reflections episodes, the Dragon radio show I record at HCC, can be found at http://dragondigitalradio.podbean.com/category/reflections-on-life/.