It's once again time to mark the anniversary of the Treaty of Paris 1783, signed on September 3 of that year, by which Great Britain officially recognized the independence of the United States and the outcome of the American Revolution and the Declaration of Independence of seven years prior was finalized.
On this occasion, I become aware of how much there is to take stock of about this country considering its great breadth. A country that started as a collection of 13 colonies on the Atlantic coast of North America then successfully broke free of the superpower of Britain has come to encompass so much in the course of its history. So many people have come to the United States to make it their home, adding such a wealth of cultures and traditions to the fabric of our land. Many of the people have achieved great accomplishments. Others have sought to enhance their lives, and taken up various causes that have been woven into the fabric of our American experience.
And then there's the geographic sense of the United States, containing so many different types of land from sea to shining sea, from low-lying bayous to great mountain heights, and places that freeze over in frigid winters to deserts that bake in summer heat. Furthermore, there are so many natural wonders in our land, as well as notable man-made places, in major cities and small rural towns.
It's pretty amazing to think that all of this is part of the United States. We are truly blessed that all of us share this wealth of people, cultures, and places. May we consider how to continue upholding these blessings of our country, that with everything we have, we may continue to flourish.
Sunday, September 3, 2017
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Brilliant Perspectives for the Transgender Debate
Recent times have brought transgenderism to the forefront. Conversation has been sparked when President Obama issued his "Dear Colleagues" letter, and when that was rescinded by the Trump administration, which also recently banned transgender individuals from serving in the US military.
With all the talk, I'm pleased that Family Policy Alliance has been offering its perspective to the discussion with its Ask Me First campaign. Part of its effort is sharing the stories of how women are being affected by the push to allow males who identify as females to have access to women's facilities.
The website has a few videos sharing these perspectives, and there are two I find particularly brilliant. They are short videos, about 2-3 minutes long, and you can access them in links I've provided in the following paragraphs, or view the embedded videos in this post.
One video features Kara Dansky, the board chair of Women's Liberation Front (WoLF).
This self-described radical feminist group, extraordinarily, partnered with Family Policy Alliance in the campaign to push back against allowing biological men to use women's facilities. Her organization filed a lawsuit against the Obama administration because of the "Dear Colleagues" letter. Their argument is that the reinterpretation of Title IX's provision about gender to include "gender identity" renders those protections meaningless because identity is too fluid to have any real value in protecting the rights of women and girls that so many struggled for so greatly.
Another video features Tanner, who at the time the video was made, was a high school athlete in Alaska.
Her story tells about the time during her senior year when she competed in an Alaska State Championship for high school female runners. One of those competing was a teen male who identifies as a female, and so was allowed to participate. Tanner describes it as being unfair from a scientific perspective because males and females are biologically different, and that's why there are separate competitions for both genders, to ensure they are kept untainted by individuals who have a different body type. I think her perspective offers a crucial understanding of what's at stake in the debate about transgender individuals. It's true that a person claiming he/she is a person of the opposite gender, and can even go so far as to try to alter the body to reflect that perception, not to mention engage in practices of the other gender. Ultimately, though, the body is going to still carry with it the gender the person was born with, especially with the arrangement of X and Y chromosomes. A person could go through physical alterations and still be left with the same gender body, especially considering the questionable effectiveness, and even the harmfulness, of such medical procedures. So in the case of athletic competitions, competitors would find themselves competing against people with different body types who could potentially have an advantage.
By allowing individuals who perceive themselves to be of the opposite gender to continue acting so is tampering with scientific reality, especially when a person undergoes surgery and hormone treatments to alter him/herself physically. We definitely need to support those who are experiencing gender dysphoria, but I find it too questionable to think that a person could be born with the "wrong body". To address this situation, we need to show these individuals a measure of compassion that helps them deal with their perceptions, without unfairly causing an imbalance in the proper distinctions that are in place between female and male.
With all the talk, I'm pleased that Family Policy Alliance has been offering its perspective to the discussion with its Ask Me First campaign. Part of its effort is sharing the stories of how women are being affected by the push to allow males who identify as females to have access to women's facilities.
The website has a few videos sharing these perspectives, and there are two I find particularly brilliant. They are short videos, about 2-3 minutes long, and you can access them in links I've provided in the following paragraphs, or view the embedded videos in this post.
One video features Kara Dansky, the board chair of Women's Liberation Front (WoLF).
This self-described radical feminist group, extraordinarily, partnered with Family Policy Alliance in the campaign to push back against allowing biological men to use women's facilities. Her organization filed a lawsuit against the Obama administration because of the "Dear Colleagues" letter. Their argument is that the reinterpretation of Title IX's provision about gender to include "gender identity" renders those protections meaningless because identity is too fluid to have any real value in protecting the rights of women and girls that so many struggled for so greatly.
Another video features Tanner, who at the time the video was made, was a high school athlete in Alaska.
Her story tells about the time during her senior year when she competed in an Alaska State Championship for high school female runners. One of those competing was a teen male who identifies as a female, and so was allowed to participate. Tanner describes it as being unfair from a scientific perspective because males and females are biologically different, and that's why there are separate competitions for both genders, to ensure they are kept untainted by individuals who have a different body type. I think her perspective offers a crucial understanding of what's at stake in the debate about transgender individuals. It's true that a person claiming he/she is a person of the opposite gender, and can even go so far as to try to alter the body to reflect that perception, not to mention engage in practices of the other gender. Ultimately, though, the body is going to still carry with it the gender the person was born with, especially with the arrangement of X and Y chromosomes. A person could go through physical alterations and still be left with the same gender body, especially considering the questionable effectiveness, and even the harmfulness, of such medical procedures. So in the case of athletic competitions, competitors would find themselves competing against people with different body types who could potentially have an advantage.
By allowing individuals who perceive themselves to be of the opposite gender to continue acting so is tampering with scientific reality, especially when a person undergoes surgery and hormone treatments to alter him/herself physically. We definitely need to support those who are experiencing gender dysphoria, but I find it too questionable to think that a person could be born with the "wrong body". To address this situation, we need to show these individuals a measure of compassion that helps them deal with their perceptions, without unfairly causing an imbalance in the proper distinctions that are in place between female and male.
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
Intellectual Freedom and Opposing Values
In my experience of working in a public library, and studying about libraries in graduate school, I know that they have great power to transform their communities. This is in large part due to a strong commitment to values of intellectual freedom, a major part of what the American Library Association's (ALA's) Library Bill of Rights is all about. It's all about providing people access to information, and eliminating any barriers.
Intellectual freedom was the focus of a presentation at the staff engagement day at the Oak Park Public Library back in early December 2016, given by James LaRue, the director of the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom. The one thing that struck me about Mr. LaRue was how polished he was in his presentation, and how well he knew his material.
There were times in his talk when he addressed the transformative power of libraries in communities. He touched on a theme from the staff day in December 2015, that we should demonstrate the library's importance to the community through stories that appeal to the heart, rather than using facts to appeal to the brain, since the toxic sociopolitical environment that has taken hold recently lessens the power of facts. He encouraged this kind of storytelling advocacy as a way to maintain the place of the library in the community when faced with potential budget cuts from those who consider libraries an unnecessary expenditure.
He started out by saying that values drive what libraries do, and that led to the creation of the Library Bill of Rights, which is something that has been continually re-interpreted as needed throughout the years since, rather than constantly changed.
He started out by saying that values drive what libraries do, and that led to the creation of the Library Bill of Rights, which is something that has been continually re-interpreted as needed throughout the years since, rather than constantly changed.
In his talk, he shared that intellectual freedom entails not only allowing access to a variety of library materials, but also allowing people to use library spaces to hold a variety of public events. He talked about controversies surrounding presentations on Islam and the current situation in Israel, with people opposed to what they considered politically-charged events.
In further expounding upon the theme of intellectual freedom, he shared a story about the controversy over a children's book about George Washington's slave who served as his chef. There were some people who no longer wanted the book to be printed because it made slavery look appealing. Others felt that the book's presence was an opportunity to diversify the pool of authors, since its author was African-American. Mr. LaRue talked about disagreements he encountered with people he worked with closely on matters of librarianship.
I feel the issue of conflicting values also applies to accessing of obscene materials in libraries, especially on the Internet. Because the ALA is such a staunch advocate for freedom of access to information, it strongly opposes and furthermore resists any efforts to censor materials at libraries, which includes opposition to Internet filters. That means that people are supposed to have the unfettered ability to access obscene materials at the library.
The ALA's strong stance against filters that block obscenities on public library internet service has earned it a place on the 2017 Dirty Dozen List issued by the National Center on Sexual Exploitation. This project entails an annual list of organizations that profit from or facilitate sexual exploitation, with the first annual list issued in 2013. In every year since then, the ALA has been included.
In the face of the public health crisis that is pornography, the ALA refuses to do anything to prevent access to obscene materials on public library Internet service, like installing filters, claiming that it would erode intellectual freedom, and violate the 1st Amendment. However, the 1st Amendment doesn't protect all forms of speech, because not all forms of speech are created equal. Courts have ruled that obscene materials should not receive 1st Amendment protections, which is important to acknowledge given the damaging effect they have on people's minds and society as a whole.
And then there's the major concern raised by parents that children are exposed to obscene material, not only Internet pornography, but in the content of books, too: This issue is at the heart of a campaign of citizens to remove a book called This Day in June from the collections at the West Chicago Public Library. The book features scenes of a gay pride parade, which includes explicit sexual acts. Kurt Jaros raised concerns about this book with the West Chicago Library Board when his 3-year-old daughter found it at the library, and it stood out to her with its colorful cover.
The campaign calls for the removal of the book from the library's collection, an act that typically makes intellectual freedom advocates cry foul. I can understand this argument because it's a slippery slope: if one book like this one is removed, it then becomes more difficult to prevent the removal of other books. And I recognize that in fulfilling intellectual freedom, library collections should provide materials representing a variety of viewpoints. But in the case of this book, parents are having to face a dilemma that no parent should have to face, in having to discuss sexuality with children when a child finds a book like this with obscene material, when sexuality is really something over the heads of children. That's why libraries should not simply be putting books like This Day in June out on the shelves for children to easily access, without doing anything to help parents who do not agree with normalizing the homosexual lifestyle. I feel it makes sense, at the very least, for the library should put this material in a section with educational materials intended for parents. While including such a book in the collection may give voice to homosexuals and help them feel comfortable with who they are, having it there without representation of differing viewpoints on the LGBTQ movement creates an imbalance favoring the sociopolitical left, and leaves unsupported those not in agreement with that movement, and just passes the discomfort from homosexuals to those who affirm heterosexual marriage, without actually removing it.
The reality of conflicting values makes dialogue even more important, especially when it comes to hot button issues of sexuality that are becoming ever more prevalent in recent years because the LGBTQ movement does so much to put topics of sexuality out in the open without acknowledging that small children are just not in a position to intellectually process any of it. While public libraries are supposed to facilitate meaningful dialogue about issues, they do a poor job of dialoguing with those who express concerns, because the ALA just won't budge from its strong stance on issues of intellectual freedom. It's time for the ALA and similarly-minded intellectual freedom advocates to acknowledge the conflicting values that exist regarding obscene materials and start up the conversations in earnest with those who are concerned about issues related to sexuality, whether it be the health crisis of pornography, or children being exposed to sexuality at too young of an age. It's through honest conversation, based on an awareness of the conflicting values, that will put us in the right direction toward addressing the interests of all parties involved.
The campaign calls for the removal of the book from the library's collection, an act that typically makes intellectual freedom advocates cry foul. I can understand this argument because it's a slippery slope: if one book like this one is removed, it then becomes more difficult to prevent the removal of other books. And I recognize that in fulfilling intellectual freedom, library collections should provide materials representing a variety of viewpoints. But in the case of this book, parents are having to face a dilemma that no parent should have to face, in having to discuss sexuality with children when a child finds a book like this with obscene material, when sexuality is really something over the heads of children. That's why libraries should not simply be putting books like This Day in June out on the shelves for children to easily access, without doing anything to help parents who do not agree with normalizing the homosexual lifestyle. I feel it makes sense, at the very least, for the library should put this material in a section with educational materials intended for parents. While including such a book in the collection may give voice to homosexuals and help them feel comfortable with who they are, having it there without representation of differing viewpoints on the LGBTQ movement creates an imbalance favoring the sociopolitical left, and leaves unsupported those not in agreement with that movement, and just passes the discomfort from homosexuals to those who affirm heterosexual marriage, without actually removing it.
The reality of conflicting values makes dialogue even more important, especially when it comes to hot button issues of sexuality that are becoming ever more prevalent in recent years because the LGBTQ movement does so much to put topics of sexuality out in the open without acknowledging that small children are just not in a position to intellectually process any of it. While public libraries are supposed to facilitate meaningful dialogue about issues, they do a poor job of dialoguing with those who express concerns, because the ALA just won't budge from its strong stance on issues of intellectual freedom. It's time for the ALA and similarly-minded intellectual freedom advocates to acknowledge the conflicting values that exist regarding obscene materials and start up the conversations in earnest with those who are concerned about issues related to sexuality, whether it be the health crisis of pornography, or children being exposed to sexuality at too young of an age. It's through honest conversation, based on an awareness of the conflicting values, that will put us in the right direction toward addressing the interests of all parties involved.
Monday, August 28, 2017
The Wonderful World with Libraries
With school starting in Oak Park this week, the library's summer reading program is concluding. It has been another wonderful summer to engage the youth in Oak Park to read and have fun. Encouragement to participate in the program was the crux of a piece in the Summer 2017 edition of The Storyline, the Oak Park Public Library's quarterly newsletter, written by three now-6th graders who, last school year as 5th graders, won the fall 2016 Reading Olympics competition. They spoke very well about how reading helps maintain brain power over the summer, and is a great way to engage the imagination and a fantastic means of recreation. (If you want to read the piece, go to this link, and use the arrows to go to page 12.)
Earlier this summer, Chicago was a focus point of the library world with the Annual Conference of the American Library Association, which was held at McCormick Place and nearby venues in late June. One of the sessions I made a point of attending featured teens from Chicago area libraries sharing their opinions about books nominated for an award for young adult fiction. I was very pleased to see teens from a group at the Oak Park Public Library share their feedback on the books so thoughtfully at that session. They were part of the Teen Summer Volunteer program, which engaged teens in a variety of different projects.
One person with a prominent presence at the conference was Dr. Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress. She even received the 2017 Melvil Dewey Medal award, one of many announced at the awards ceremony--and I was pleased to see her in person when I attended it.
After the awards, another notable name came to the stage: Ron Chernow, author of the biography Hamilton that served as the basis for the Hamilton musical.
He talked about his new biography on Ulysses S. Grant, which is scheduled for release in October. He started by discussing the notion posed by the question, "Who wrote Mr. Grant's memoirs?" He learned it started as some kind of witty statement in a Groucho Marx routine. As part of his research, Mr. Chernow went to look at the actual handwritten manuscripts of Mr. Grant's memoirs--I think he mentioned they were at the Library of Congress. He then remarked that we need librarians as the arbitrators of truth, especially with the rise of the concept of "fake news". And he definitely relied on libraries in completing his very large Grant biography, which is hundreds of pages long. Following his presentation, I had the chance, after waiting nearly an hour in line, to have the pleasure of having him autograph two of his books, including my copy of Hamilton, the first Nativity Day gift jointly given to me by my brother and sister-in-law.
Another prominent figure who spoke at the conference was Hillary Clinton, the featured speaker of the closing session. I watched her speech later in the week after she gave it. You can watch the speech on YouTube--it's about 26 minutes long. Or, you can read the transcript.
I was impressed by the words she spoke in commending the importance of libraries, with her three main points all resonating with my understanding of the role of libraries. By providing books, libraries encourage people to read. She notes how wonderful it was to read to Chelsea as a girl, and now to her granddaughters. Reading also helps develop the brains of children.
But besides being places with books, libraries also bring people together to engage in a variety of activities, like discussions, forums, classes to learn essential skills, and even business people doing entrepreneurial work. In fact, in this day and age, I see that aspect of libraries becoming increasingly more prevalent. Libraries are one of those institutions in communities that provide spaces for people from the public to come together. (The recent solar eclipse viewing event at the Oak Park Public Library underscores how versatile libraries have become in how they use space and in the kinds of programs they can offer in those spaces, not to mention how they even partner with other organizations to serve their communities. And it certainly brought many people together and got large number of them using the library.) Indeed, spaces in libraries are resources as important as print and digital materials. And providing these resources is important to the community, especially to underserved areas where residents would not be able to access them otherwise, which is a major concern in the library world because the Trump administration's budget proposes cuts to funds that go to libraries.
All the resources libraries provide help people be critical thinkers, which Mrs. Clinton noted are more important now than ever, echoing what Mr. Chernow said. Providing access to resources helps people become more informed, which enhances their ability to engage in the important conversations that take place in a democratic society in the United States. And from my experience, part of becoming informed is knowing how to evaluate information, especially with the profusion of information available in this day and age. We can think in terms of just how the internet had deluged us in information, and librarians are the ones who give people floaties to navigate all of it. Indeed, libraries have so much going for them, and it makes me all the more eager to keep proclaiming the significant contribution they make to society and, in the spirit of the 2017 summer reading program theme, in making a better world.
Earlier this summer, Chicago was a focus point of the library world with the Annual Conference of the American Library Association, which was held at McCormick Place and nearby venues in late June. One of the sessions I made a point of attending featured teens from Chicago area libraries sharing their opinions about books nominated for an award for young adult fiction. I was very pleased to see teens from a group at the Oak Park Public Library share their feedback on the books so thoughtfully at that session. They were part of the Teen Summer Volunteer program, which engaged teens in a variety of different projects.
One person with a prominent presence at the conference was Dr. Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress. She even received the 2017 Melvil Dewey Medal award, one of many announced at the awards ceremony--and I was pleased to see her in person when I attended it.
 |
| Dr. Hayden appears in the center of the picture, and on the left in the black outfit is Dr. Julie Todaro, who recently finished her 2016-2017 term as President of the ALA. The photos above and below were taken by me. |
After the awards, another notable name came to the stage: Ron Chernow, author of the biography Hamilton that served as the basis for the Hamilton musical.
 |
| Ron Chernow appears at the podium, just right of center. |
Another prominent figure who spoke at the conference was Hillary Clinton, the featured speaker of the closing session. I watched her speech later in the week after she gave it. You can watch the speech on YouTube--it's about 26 minutes long. Or, you can read the transcript.
I was impressed by the words she spoke in commending the importance of libraries, with her three main points all resonating with my understanding of the role of libraries. By providing books, libraries encourage people to read. She notes how wonderful it was to read to Chelsea as a girl, and now to her granddaughters. Reading also helps develop the brains of children.
But besides being places with books, libraries also bring people together to engage in a variety of activities, like discussions, forums, classes to learn essential skills, and even business people doing entrepreneurial work. In fact, in this day and age, I see that aspect of libraries becoming increasingly more prevalent. Libraries are one of those institutions in communities that provide spaces for people from the public to come together. (The recent solar eclipse viewing event at the Oak Park Public Library underscores how versatile libraries have become in how they use space and in the kinds of programs they can offer in those spaces, not to mention how they even partner with other organizations to serve their communities. And it certainly brought many people together and got large number of them using the library.) Indeed, spaces in libraries are resources as important as print and digital materials. And providing these resources is important to the community, especially to underserved areas where residents would not be able to access them otherwise, which is a major concern in the library world because the Trump administration's budget proposes cuts to funds that go to libraries.
All the resources libraries provide help people be critical thinkers, which Mrs. Clinton noted are more important now than ever, echoing what Mr. Chernow said. Providing access to resources helps people become more informed, which enhances their ability to engage in the important conversations that take place in a democratic society in the United States. And from my experience, part of becoming informed is knowing how to evaluate information, especially with the profusion of information available in this day and age. We can think in terms of just how the internet had deluged us in information, and librarians are the ones who give people floaties to navigate all of it. Indeed, libraries have so much going for them, and it makes me all the more eager to keep proclaiming the significant contribution they make to society and, in the spirit of the 2017 summer reading program theme, in making a better world.
Sunday, August 27, 2017
A Tribute in Vignettes to Deacon Lendell
Earlier this summer, Ascension Parish bid farewell to Deacon Lendell Richardson and his family as he transitions to a new diaconal assignment at another parish. Throughout his ministry at Ascension, he has shown himself to be a person of strong faith and a devoted servant of God. These qualities shined forth most in the homilies he gave, and as I reflect on his service to this parish, there are three homilies that stand out to me.
There was one year on a Sunday during Lent, and I don't remember which one, nor what the readings were about, but I remember a kind of mindset for prayer he suggested, using a couple of different examples. As best I can recall the gist of it, he said, "Lord, help me to see that the elderly couple who is moving slowly in front of me in the grocery store aisle found out that one of them is terminally ill, and they're seeking to spend the most of the time they have left together." In another example, he said, "Lord, help me to understand that the woman who cut me off in traffic is a single mom who's working multiple jobs to provide for her family, and is in a rush to get home to care for her children." It was so inspiring for me to hear that, because that kind of mindset helps us not to make quick judgments, but to try to be compassionate and understanding of others' situations. I was indeed so moved, I approached him after Mass to commend him for what he shared.
More recently--on what I believe was Pentecost Sunday, or perhaps another Sunday in Easter--he talked about how the priest sexual abuse crisis has helped make us a more humble Church. It is indeed disheartening and crushing to think of the devastation this situation has caused, and I was encouraged to hear him try to make sense of it as part of framing it within a larger context in his homily. Again, I don't remember everything in that homily, but I remember that one insight.
And then there was the homily he gave at his last Mass at Ascension, on Sunday, June 25, 2017. The readings for that weekend's liturgy included Jeremiah's lament in Jeremiah 20:10-13 about those who seek to persecute him because as a prophet, he proclaims the word of God, which is Truth that often denounces the actions of people. In the Gospel reading for that weekend, from Matthew 10:26-33, Jesus tells His disciples not to be afraid of those who can harm them physically, but can't harm their souls. Deacon Lendell wove insights from the readings masterfully into a reflection on his own experiences, how he has learned throughout the years to trust in God and not be afraid, as he has grown in faith while serving God's people as a deacon. With that confidence, he would go forth to a new assignment, not being afraid, but continuing to trust and abide in God, Who promises to care for us always, just as he has experienced God's care throughout his time as a member of the Ascension Parish community, for which he expressed deep gratitude for the many ways it has supported him. As a further moving tribute, his three children all offered their musical talents in singing "Here I am Lord" during the preparation of the altar at Mass.
Truly, Deacon Lendell is a great man of faith, who sets a wonderful example for us the faithful in walking before God always. You remain in my prayers, Deacon Lendell, as you continue, day by day, to faithfully answer the call to serve God by loving others in His name. And thank you for the service you have given to Ascension--thanks be to God!
There was one year on a Sunday during Lent, and I don't remember which one, nor what the readings were about, but I remember a kind of mindset for prayer he suggested, using a couple of different examples. As best I can recall the gist of it, he said, "Lord, help me to see that the elderly couple who is moving slowly in front of me in the grocery store aisle found out that one of them is terminally ill, and they're seeking to spend the most of the time they have left together." In another example, he said, "Lord, help me to understand that the woman who cut me off in traffic is a single mom who's working multiple jobs to provide for her family, and is in a rush to get home to care for her children." It was so inspiring for me to hear that, because that kind of mindset helps us not to make quick judgments, but to try to be compassionate and understanding of others' situations. I was indeed so moved, I approached him after Mass to commend him for what he shared.
More recently--on what I believe was Pentecost Sunday, or perhaps another Sunday in Easter--he talked about how the priest sexual abuse crisis has helped make us a more humble Church. It is indeed disheartening and crushing to think of the devastation this situation has caused, and I was encouraged to hear him try to make sense of it as part of framing it within a larger context in his homily. Again, I don't remember everything in that homily, but I remember that one insight.
And then there was the homily he gave at his last Mass at Ascension, on Sunday, June 25, 2017. The readings for that weekend's liturgy included Jeremiah's lament in Jeremiah 20:10-13 about those who seek to persecute him because as a prophet, he proclaims the word of God, which is Truth that often denounces the actions of people. In the Gospel reading for that weekend, from Matthew 10:26-33, Jesus tells His disciples not to be afraid of those who can harm them physically, but can't harm their souls. Deacon Lendell wove insights from the readings masterfully into a reflection on his own experiences, how he has learned throughout the years to trust in God and not be afraid, as he has grown in faith while serving God's people as a deacon. With that confidence, he would go forth to a new assignment, not being afraid, but continuing to trust and abide in God, Who promises to care for us always, just as he has experienced God's care throughout his time as a member of the Ascension Parish community, for which he expressed deep gratitude for the many ways it has supported him. As a further moving tribute, his three children all offered their musical talents in singing "Here I am Lord" during the preparation of the altar at Mass.
Truly, Deacon Lendell is a great man of faith, who sets a wonderful example for us the faithful in walking before God always. You remain in my prayers, Deacon Lendell, as you continue, day by day, to faithfully answer the call to serve God by loving others in His name. And thank you for the service you have given to Ascension--thanks be to God!
 |
| Deacon Lendell giving the homily at his final Mass as a deacon at Ascension Parish |
Saturday, August 26, 2017
Beholding the Marvel of the Heavens
There's no doubt that the solar eclipse of August 21, 2017, was one of the most hyped events in the news, especially in more recent weeks, when I started to catch wind of how big a deal it was.
I had heard about it months ago, mostly in newspaper features, like the Travel section, but didn't give it much thought, even as others were making plans way ahead of time. But then, I encountered a webpage with FAQ's about the solar eclipse, and while I'm not entirely sure what led me to that page, it might have had something to do with my friend Roy mentioning he would be attending a viewing event with his boss, since he lives near where the path of totality started at the Pacific shore and started moving across the United States. I realized at that time that this eclipse was truly something spectacular, and not just a matter of overblown hype, and I felt bummed that I made no plans to be in the path of totality for it.
The lack of planning on my part became even more problematic for me as August 21 neared, and because I dragged my feet, I was unable to acquire the special viewing glasses so I could at least view the partial eclipse, and I couldn't figure out how to use one of those homemade viewers.
But I tried to make the best of my circumstances anyway, especially considering the Chicago area was close enough to the path of totality that about 87% of the sun would be covered.
On this past Monday, I was in downtown Chicago at the office where I recently started a new job in information science. Shortly after 1 PM, I decided to take my hourlong lunch break. The office administrative assistant had spent the morning making homemade viewers, and around the time I started my lunch break, he was setting up the live NASA TV feed in the large conference room. I went in there, and with the help of a couple of others, I managed to figure out how to project the partially-eclipsed Sun into the viewer, and it was quite interesting to see a little crescent of light.
I then decided to head outside just before the peak of the partial eclipse aroudn 1:19 PM CDT, and joined the flocks of other people assembling on the sidewalk and looking up. I asked a woman what she could see, and then, after responding to my question, she was kind enough to loan me her viewers for a moment so I could look at the Sun. And it was quite something to see the moon blocking the Sun and leaving a crescent. It was cloudy, which prevented me from noticing a distinct change in the amount of sunlight, but the clouds were thin enough to allow me to see the partial eclipse when using the viewers.
I then walked over to Daley Plaza where I heard Adler Planetarium staff were stationed. I passed flocks of others standing out on the sidewalks and looking up, though it wasn't too crowded wherever I went--unlike at Millenium Park, where a neighbor of mine went and said was packed. (A viewing event at Scoville Park drew a huge crowd as well, and because the Main Oak Park Public Library is right next door, it was busier than usual, as statistics gathered that day confirm. But what a great way to bring visibility to the library, even if it resulted in a large number of calls from people wanting to get solar eclipse viewers.)
As I walked around in the Loop, I couldn't help but think about how flora and fauna are supposed to engage in their nighttime behavior when a total solar eclipse happens. But in an urban area, the real sign of something happening was seeing people head outside and look up, just like clockwork, at the peak moment of the partial eclipse.
I arrived at Daley Plaza, where many others were gathered and looking up.
Then, I noticed it was getting brighter, and I asked a man looking up with viewers if he noticed the moon starting to move away from the Sun. He then was kind enough to let me use his viewers. It was quite a beautiful sight to see the partially-eclipsed Sun, though more of the Sun was uncovered than when I looked at it earlier. Shortly after this moment, people started to disperse, but many still lingered at Daley Plaza, even to pose for photos by giant solar eclipse viewers, which are in the photo below.
Later that day, I watched NOVA "Eclipse over America" on PBS, which included footage of the total solar eclipse from various places in the United States that had viewing events and where scientists were doing scientific work of observations and research. I was fascinated to learn what they could study about the sun during a total solar eclipse, especially the team that flew two different airplanes in its path to get nearly 7 minutes of viewing it. Amazingly, there's much we don't know about the Sun, like why it's hotter at the surface than further inside. And there have been studies done on the sun in solar eclipses going back decades, like the man who reflected the light through a prism and was able to get a sense of what elements the Sun contains. It was also nice to watch the program and have experts points out features of the total solar eclipse, like the "diamond ring" that appears once the Moon starts uncovering theSsun. I also gained a good sense of what happens during the period of totality, and see the darkness that occurs.
I was intrigued to see footage of people watching it at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem, as well as what looked to me like Willamette University, just across the street from the Oregon State Capitol, two places I went back in May when visiting Roy.
The concluding part of the program really highlighted how extraordinary of an event a total solar eclipse is. That was certainly amplified by how well the media covered it, like NASA TV as well as social media, which even Cardinal Cupich used to share a message about the eclipse. This particular event on August 21 was special in that it crossed the United States from Pacific to Atlantic, the reverse of the poetic "Sea to Shining Sea" that speaks of the breadth of this country. I could sense a bond that millions of people across the country experienced by sharing this great experience that gives us a sense of our place on Earth and our relationship with other celestial bodies, like the Sun and the Moon, and how important the role of the Sun is in our existence on Earth. Indeed, it brought people together as we paused to see the show nature put on for us and marvel at the wonders of our Universe. I couldn't help but think of the camaraderie that arose spontaneously, as evidenced for me in how people were kind enough to let me use their viewers so I could view it safely--I am indeed very appreciative of those two individuals. (And it was also nice that as I walked back to my office, I encountered a classmate of mine from Valparaiso University as she was headed back to her office in the Loop.)
My experience on Monday gave me a better sense of what to expect and how to plan for it. And so now, I'm ready to channel my eagerness into making all the appropriate arrangements to be in the path of totality for a subsequent solar eclipse.
But even now, day by day, I can appreciate the wonders of nature. Later that night after I got home, I saw the brightness of lightning flashes as a thunderstorm rolled by.
And when I got off the Blue Line, the clouds started to break and revealed a lovely sunset.
And then I noticed a halo around the Sun, which you can see in the photo below, if you look at the small rainbow-like glimmer of light that is to the far right.
Yes, there are so many chances we have to glory in natural spectacles all around as we take the time to stop and appreciate them. Then we can join in praise to God, like in the spirit of Psalm 19:1 NIV: "The Heavens declare the Glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands."
I had heard about it months ago, mostly in newspaper features, like the Travel section, but didn't give it much thought, even as others were making plans way ahead of time. But then, I encountered a webpage with FAQ's about the solar eclipse, and while I'm not entirely sure what led me to that page, it might have had something to do with my friend Roy mentioning he would be attending a viewing event with his boss, since he lives near where the path of totality started at the Pacific shore and started moving across the United States. I realized at that time that this eclipse was truly something spectacular, and not just a matter of overblown hype, and I felt bummed that I made no plans to be in the path of totality for it.
The lack of planning on my part became even more problematic for me as August 21 neared, and because I dragged my feet, I was unable to acquire the special viewing glasses so I could at least view the partial eclipse, and I couldn't figure out how to use one of those homemade viewers.
But I tried to make the best of my circumstances anyway, especially considering the Chicago area was close enough to the path of totality that about 87% of the sun would be covered.
On this past Monday, I was in downtown Chicago at the office where I recently started a new job in information science. Shortly after 1 PM, I decided to take my hourlong lunch break. The office administrative assistant had spent the morning making homemade viewers, and around the time I started my lunch break, he was setting up the live NASA TV feed in the large conference room. I went in there, and with the help of a couple of others, I managed to figure out how to project the partially-eclipsed Sun into the viewer, and it was quite interesting to see a little crescent of light.
I then decided to head outside just before the peak of the partial eclipse aroudn 1:19 PM CDT, and joined the flocks of other people assembling on the sidewalk and looking up. I asked a woman what she could see, and then, after responding to my question, she was kind enough to loan me her viewers for a moment so I could look at the Sun. And it was quite something to see the moon blocking the Sun and leaving a crescent. It was cloudy, which prevented me from noticing a distinct change in the amount of sunlight, but the clouds were thin enough to allow me to see the partial eclipse when using the viewers.
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| Here's a photo I got of the eclipse. I can sense from looking at the photo that part of the Sun is blocked, but it's hard to say if that's due to cloud cover. I took all the photos that appear in this blog post. |
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| Here is a scene of the flock of people gathered outside the building where my office is located, at 155 N. Wacker, to view the peak of the eclipse. |
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| Here's another view from downtown Chicago of the sun around the peak of the eclipse, with the Sears Tower appearing toward the background. |
I then walked over to Daley Plaza where I heard Adler Planetarium staff were stationed. I passed flocks of others standing out on the sidewalks and looking up, though it wasn't too crowded wherever I went--unlike at Millenium Park, where a neighbor of mine went and said was packed. (A viewing event at Scoville Park drew a huge crowd as well, and because the Main Oak Park Public Library is right next door, it was busier than usual, as statistics gathered that day confirm. But what a great way to bring visibility to the library, even if it resulted in a large number of calls from people wanting to get solar eclipse viewers.)
As I walked around in the Loop, I couldn't help but think about how flora and fauna are supposed to engage in their nighttime behavior when a total solar eclipse happens. But in an urban area, the real sign of something happening was seeing people head outside and look up, just like clockwork, at the peak moment of the partial eclipse.
I arrived at Daley Plaza, where many others were gathered and looking up.
 |
| Above and below are views from Daley Plaza. Again, I'm not sure if the cloud cover has something to do with why the Sun appears partially obscured. |
Then, I noticed it was getting brighter, and I asked a man looking up with viewers if he noticed the moon starting to move away from the Sun. He then was kind enough to let me use his viewers. It was quite a beautiful sight to see the partially-eclipsed Sun, though more of the Sun was uncovered than when I looked at it earlier. Shortly after this moment, people started to disperse, but many still lingered at Daley Plaza, even to pose for photos by giant solar eclipse viewers, which are in the photo below.
Later that day, I watched NOVA "Eclipse over America" on PBS, which included footage of the total solar eclipse from various places in the United States that had viewing events and where scientists were doing scientific work of observations and research. I was fascinated to learn what they could study about the sun during a total solar eclipse, especially the team that flew two different airplanes in its path to get nearly 7 minutes of viewing it. Amazingly, there's much we don't know about the Sun, like why it's hotter at the surface than further inside. And there have been studies done on the sun in solar eclipses going back decades, like the man who reflected the light through a prism and was able to get a sense of what elements the Sun contains. It was also nice to watch the program and have experts points out features of the total solar eclipse, like the "diamond ring" that appears once the Moon starts uncovering theSsun. I also gained a good sense of what happens during the period of totality, and see the darkness that occurs.
I was intrigued to see footage of people watching it at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem, as well as what looked to me like Willamette University, just across the street from the Oregon State Capitol, two places I went back in May when visiting Roy.
The concluding part of the program really highlighted how extraordinary of an event a total solar eclipse is. That was certainly amplified by how well the media covered it, like NASA TV as well as social media, which even Cardinal Cupich used to share a message about the eclipse. This particular event on August 21 was special in that it crossed the United States from Pacific to Atlantic, the reverse of the poetic "Sea to Shining Sea" that speaks of the breadth of this country. I could sense a bond that millions of people across the country experienced by sharing this great experience that gives us a sense of our place on Earth and our relationship with other celestial bodies, like the Sun and the Moon, and how important the role of the Sun is in our existence on Earth. Indeed, it brought people together as we paused to see the show nature put on for us and marvel at the wonders of our Universe. I couldn't help but think of the camaraderie that arose spontaneously, as evidenced for me in how people were kind enough to let me use their viewers so I could view it safely--I am indeed very appreciative of those two individuals. (And it was also nice that as I walked back to my office, I encountered a classmate of mine from Valparaiso University as she was headed back to her office in the Loop.)
My experience on Monday gave me a better sense of what to expect and how to plan for it. And so now, I'm ready to channel my eagerness into making all the appropriate arrangements to be in the path of totality for a subsequent solar eclipse.
But even now, day by day, I can appreciate the wonders of nature. Later that night after I got home, I saw the brightness of lightning flashes as a thunderstorm rolled by.
And when I got off the Blue Line, the clouds started to break and revealed a lovely sunset.
Yes, there are so many chances we have to glory in natural spectacles all around as we take the time to stop and appreciate them. Then we can join in praise to God, like in the spirit of Psalm 19:1 NIV: "The Heavens declare the Glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands."
 |
| The view of the Sun appearing over the top of the First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple, and its Sky Chapel, in the Loop, shortly after the peak of eclipse |
Friday, August 25, 2017
My NPS Experiences in Photos
It was 101 years ago that the National Park Service was established.
Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Springfield, IL, sometime in the summer of 1998, with this picture from July 29, 2005, when we walked by it:
On the summit of Cadillac Mountain, Acadia National Park, late July 2000:
Our family foursome posing in a photo taken by a fellow visitor at the stone marker of the end of the first, 12 second-long flight made on December 17, 1903, at Wright Brothers National Memorial, Kill Devil Hills, NC, July 28, 2003:
By Bodie Island Light Station at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, July 28, 2003:
At the Memorial Building housing a replica of the cabin where Abraham Lincoln was born, Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, near Hodgenville, KY, July 31, 2006:
Donning a coonskin cap and wading around in the Oconaluftee River in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, near the entrance by the Cherokee Reservation, NC, May 27, 2010:
At Porter Beach, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Indiana, October 30, 2012:
Outside Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial, the smallest NPS site, Philadelphia, PA, June 12, 2016, taken by a passerby:
Castillo San Marcos National Monument, St. Augustine, FL, January 16, 2017:
Frederick Douglass's home at Cedar Hill, Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, Anacostia neighborhood, Washington, D.C., May 7, 2017:
Fort Sumter National Monument, Charleston, SC, May 11, 2017, taken by a fellow tourist:
To celebrate the anniversary of that occasion, and to follow up on my blog post on the NPS Centennial a year ago, I present in this post a photo essay of pictures I have from visits to national parks and various other NPS sites, with the date of the visit and links to the NPS site's webpage. Most photos were taken by Mom or Dad and were from family photo albums, and then beginning with the M.L. King birth home are photos from my own digital camera collections. I start with Glacier National Park, where I visited with my family on our "train-cation" 20 years ago this month.
Glacier National Park, at one of its many lakes, sometime around August 4-10, 1997:
Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Springfield, IL, sometime in the summer of 1998, with this picture from July 29, 2005, when we walked by it:
On the summit of Cadillac Mountain, Acadia National Park, late July 2000:
From my personal collection of photos, here I am standing in the outline of the birth house of George Washington, George Washington Birthplace National Monument, Colonial Beach, VA, July 26, 2003:
Our family foursome posing in a photo taken by a fellow visitor at the stone marker of the end of the first, 12 second-long flight made on December 17, 1903, at Wright Brothers National Memorial, Kill Devil Hills, NC, July 28, 2003:
By Bodie Island Light Station at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, July 28, 2003:
At the Memorial Building housing a replica of the cabin where Abraham Lincoln was born, Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, near Hodgenville, KY, July 31, 2006:
In the vicinity of Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, July 3, 2007:
Sitting on a log after wading across the width of the Colorado River in Rocky Mountain National Park, August 12, 2008--on one of three trips that have taken me to that park:
At the Jamestown Fort in Colonial National Historical Park, July 19, 2009:
Donning a coonskin cap and wading around in the Oconaluftee River in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, near the entrance by the Cherokee Reservation, NC, May 27, 2010:
On the National Mall, an urban park, Washington, D.C., July 26, 2011:
At Porter Beach, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Indiana, October 30, 2012:
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| This photo was taken by my colleague-in-meteorology Collette. A group of us meteorology students went to the Lake Michigan shore to feel the strong winds caused by the sprawling Sandy weather system, blowing as fast as 40 mph. |
The home where Martin Luther King, Jr., was born, at Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site, Atlanta, GA, February 3, 2014:
Near the north entrance of Independence Hall, Independence National Historical Park, Philadelphia, PA, June 11, 2016, taken by a fellow visitor:
Outside Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial, the smallest NPS site, Philadelphia, PA, June 12, 2016, taken by a passerby:
Castillo San Marcos National Monument, St. Augustine, FL, January 16, 2017:
Frederick Douglass's home at Cedar Hill, Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, Anacostia neighborhood, Washington, D.C., May 7, 2017:
Fort Sumter National Monument, Charleston, SC, May 11, 2017, taken by a fellow tourist:
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