Military Service & Mormons

While honoring those who do, I never served in the military. I was born in that three-year window (1957-1960) that I didn't even have to file with Selective Service. I was happy about that too. And I kind of understand where Mitt Romney is coming from that neither he nor his sons have served. Regardless of the obvious challenges of war and death, the military can also be a challenge to young men in keeping up their standards of religious practice.

This is reflected in a Letter of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Concerning Military Training. I found this while looking for something else (such is serendipity) in an old college file from Ray C. Hillam's BYU Poli-Sci class on War (1980). This is not the current policy of the Church with regard to military service - nor mine [but there's a lot of good in it]. It merely reflects an interesting historical insight into the time, place and people. George Albert Smith, the subject of our Priesthood and Relief Society lessons this year, was President of the church:

Live-Blogging Dems (Thurs.)

I've been watching the grandsons, the youngest takes some significant hands-on feeding, burping, holding. So I've been a bit distracted but here we go. Sorry for my last post where I got a little intemperate about stupidity and religious grand-standing.

I did see Gabby Giffords lead the pledge of allegiance. That was a tear jerker.

And then Caroline Kennedy came on. She and I are about the same age. While from vastly different backgrounds, there's still a connection there. I think it comes from 1963.

Party Platforms: "But our 'God' Goes up to Eleven!"

Facebook is already lighting up with all the indignant Republicans disgusted with the Dems for taking "God" out of their platform then putting the word back in amid "boos" from the delegates. It will likely be a political ad by tonight if it isn't already. (And I don't think they were booing 'God' as much as the process and the stupidity of the whole thing.)

I'm not going to defend stupid Dems. I'm just going to say that it's bad enough to pray on street corners to be seen of men. Over the edge is when you criticize others for not praying enough on the street corner. It's as if the conservative critics are jamming with Blue Oyster Cult, "We need more 'God!' Er, cowbell!" Sounding brass, tinkling cymbals.

Live-Blogging Dems (Wed.)

Well, I wish both parties would stop praying on street corners. That's one thing that is actually more appropriate for closets. I just heard the voice vote to restore "God" and "Israel" to the Dem platform. The voice vote seemed pretty even to me. But the chair declared "God" restored. The commentators say that the President told them to put "Him" ("Her?") back in.

And Bill Clinton is speaking tonight. W. Bush was a no-show at the Republican Convention except for a brief video appearance. And the Dems bring in the only President to be impeached since Andrew Johnson! - neither one removed from office, though. I won't go into the Clinton impeachment here as I could easily slip into diatribe. Let me just say, I did NOT vote for him in 1996 (protest vote for Nader). I did vote for Bill in 1992. Hillary seemed very sincere in standing by her man and I thought he deserved a chance. But in 1996, I had soured on his apparent personal deficiencies although he was a very good President otherwise - and that was before we ever heard of Monica. Right now Paul Ryan is praising Bill Clinton to Piers Morgan. So, I guess it's OK for the Dems to bring him in. Bill is wily enough and Obama astute enough that I think another trap is being set.

Keep checking back. I'll try to keep updating.

Live-Blogging Dems (Tues.)

Let me make this perfectly clear. I am not impartial.

Finally back from Reno, I started listening on the radio to the Dem Convention as I was driving home from the airport. I heard some of the President's sister and Michelle's brother. I heard Lilly Ledbetter. These are my people.

And just in this opening night I see the brilliance of the President's campaign slogan, "Forward." It's the answer to "I want my country back."  Forward, not back. I like that.

Keep checking in as I'm on to live-blogging. And Michelle is coming up.

People-Watching Jackpot

There is nothing more interesting to sit in a busy place out of the ordinary routine and watch the people go by. Tonight it was very out of the ordinary.

My presence is required (by my boss) at a hearing in federal court tomorrow morning in Reno. So, I had to cut my basement painting project short to fly out here and meet with our witness for tomorrow. I'm staying at a run-of-the-mill Marriott Courtyard. Our witness is staying at the Sierra Grand Resort. I went there to meet with him and connect up with our Assistant U.S. Attorney to prep.

As I was trying to fine a parking place in the lot crowded with Winnebagos, I noticed many of them were covered in gray dust or mud. And some were not your ordinary Winnebagos. One looked like a big fish with jaws wide open to chomp smaller cars, maybe Volkswagen Beetles. There were also a lot of bicycles - also covered in gray dust. I wondered if there had been some sort of bike rally over the holiday weekend. It couldn't have been a serious race as some of the bikes were oddly decorated with fuzzy wings or My Pretty Pony figures.

The Magic of Flax

Flax in the field with happy bee.

Yes, we are avoiding politics for a few days until the Democratic National Convention. Joe Biden and Bill Clinton, at least, are bound to provide entertainment in likely gaffes or other more intentional performances. I'm afraid they will be beating Eastwood's empty chair to death as much as the Republicans claimed they built everything. But the magical beauty of flax has legitimately captured my attention recently in a family history sense.