Lifelong Learning: at 6 Years

The circle of life returns me to partying like it's 2016 all over again, and specifically back to Sunday, May 8, 2016, when I graduated with my MLIS degree from Dominican University.

As I mark this milestone, on the same day of the week as 6 years ago, I think back to another day 25 years ago when I had an incredibly important experience.

My Kindergarten class, with Ms. Gullo as the teacher, went on a field trip from Irving School to the Maze Branch of the Oak Park Public Library, our fine library on the south side of Oak Park.  During that field trip, I got my very first library card, which opened up whole new worlds to me, not to mention all the fun, like they sing on Arthur.

While I'm sure I had been to the library before, as Carolyn remembers it when I was a shy child sticking close to Mom, getting that library card connected me to an important institution that contributed so much to my growth.  Indeed, the Maze Branch in particular is one of those special places in Oak Park that defined me.  It is a place that I was drawn to visit often, and means so much to me.

That first field trip there helped me see the library as a wonderful place, and laid a foundation for me to enjoy reading, and embrace library visits to seek materials there.

I enjoyed going to Maze, as it was a generally easy walk from where I grew up, and continues to be close to home.  It was a wonderful time going there to pick out books to read, and even videos to watch, too.  Summertime was especially fun when I participated in the children's summer reading program.  I would go there once a week to track my progress, and see the minutes I read accumulate, as I presented a sheet to the teen volunteers with additional marks noting how much more I had read during the past week.  After getting my progress checked in, and then getting more books, I'd walk out the door with my face in a book, and read while walking home.  Upon arriving home, I would remove my shoes and head to a chair in the living room, with my face still in the book all the while.

When I aged out of the program as a participant, I went a step further and volunteered for the program, starting after 6th grade, which was one of the most enjoyable summer involvements I had during my teen years.  For the final summer I did it, in 2008, I took it even further by assisting with both the children's summer reading program and working with a group of teens to tend to the space in Maze, like organizing bookshelves and creating displays.  Before that summer started, I attended an orientation for teen volunteers that helped acquaint me further with what it means to be part of a library, and it gave me great insights that made me more excited to participate.

Years later, after I discerned attending graduate school for my MLIS, I had the great opportunity to work at the main Oak Park Public Library, building upon all my past experiences to enhance service to my community.  I reconnected with Sharon Grimm, who helped facilitate that volunteer orientation back when I was in high school.  On one memorable day, she introduced me to a teen volunteer and noted how I started as a volunteer like him and was now employed.  I remain grateful for the time I spent at the Oak Park Public Library, which deeply shaped me in my profession.

It's amazing to think of the incredible journey that started on that field trip to Maze Library 25 years ago.  I've maintained a lifelong appreciation for libraries, fully aware of how they have shaped me, and the communities at large.

And my appreciation for libraries connects with one of the ALA core principles of librarianship: lifelong learning.

Indeed, on my way out of the graduation ceremony 6 years ago today, someone on the side assisting with the flow cheered for us saying, "Hooray! No more school!"  But then I turned to him and said, "But the learning continues!"

So I tell my students at the end of the RE year, just as I did a couple of weeks ago while wearing the same gown and MLIS hood from that ceremony:  There is so much out there to learn, plenty to fill a lifetime.  And ultimately, we learn that we may use knowledge for higher purposes.  

Indeed, I built upon the wonderful experience of that field trip 25 years ago to eventually have a career in which I do my part to help libraries serve communities.

I also think about the final verses in the Gospel according to St. John chapter 20, in which it says that what is written is meant to help the audience believe that Jesus is the Messiah, and to have life through His Name.

As I told my students a couple of weeks ago when we concluded our time together, my hope is that they will keep learning about faith, guided by the Holy Spirit, so that they will grow in relationship with God, and so be a blessing in the world.  And that is the power of learning, to put into action we gain to extend the impact.

Intersections on April 28

It's time for me to party like it's 1991 all over again.  On April 28, about 6 weeks following my birth, I was baptized at St. Cornelius Parish on the Northwest Side of Chicago, dying and rising to new Life with Christ in the waters.

April 28 is not only a special date for me, but also for Father Edwin Pacocha, who baptized me, because that is the anniversary date of his priestly ordination.  This year is an especially fitting time to party like it's 1962, since he marks his 60th anniversary.

While I haven't had much close contact with him during my life, there's no doubt that he played an important role by baptizing me.  And he has had quite a wonderful priestly ministry, especially at St. Cornelius, where served for at least 20 years before his retirement.  One time I remember seeing him again when I was older was the summer of 2005, between middle school and high school, when he offered a post-Mass blessing for my grandparents on the occasion of their Golden Wedding Anniversary, and then offered a prayer at the banquet dinner that followed the Mass.

A few weeks ago, I thought about how he marked his 50th anniversary back in 2012, and I wondered if there were any plans for celebrating his 60th.  So I inquired at St. Eugene Parish on the Northwest Side of Chicago, where I last heard he was serving as a retired weekend Mass assistant celebrant.  I then learned that there was a special Mass and reception planned for April 23 and I set my sights on attending.  (Notably, April 23 is the Feast of St. George, my confirmation saint.)

So on that summerlike day, I left work and drove 30 miles to the Northwest Side, where I picked up my Abuela, and then we went to St. Eugene for the 5:30 Mass.  My timing was tight, but we walked in just as the opening hymn was announced.

It was a lovely Mass, fitting for the Easter Season, which is when many priests are ordained.  Father Pacocha shared some good insights about Divine Mercy Sunday in his homily, and then reflected on his time as a priest:  He talked about the changes that have happened in the liturgy, the priests he's collaborated with, and the faithful laypeople who have been involved in church.

Following Mass, Abuela and I went to greet him.  I introduced myself as someone he baptized 31 years ago.  Once he heard my last name, he instantly remembered my Dad.

There was quite a spread of food at the reception that followed, with sandwiches, veggie trays, fruit trays, dessert tarts, and then fine cake.  It was also interesting to look at the displays celebrating his anniversary, including photos from back around the time of his ordination.

Right before Abuela and I departed the reception, I approached Father Pacocha again and thanked him for baptizing me, acknowledging that it started me on a journey that's led me to some amazing experiences.  Forefront on my mind was my experience teaching Religious Education.  He told me he was glad to hear of where I'm at in life, as he often wonders whatever happens to the babies he baptized.  Indeed, he made an impact on my life by being part of handing on the faith to me, and my journey has led me to take up the work of handing it on to others, especially my students.

It's wonderful that our respective anniversaries intersect as we celebrate the gift of faith and how we put it into action.  Two days ago, I concluded another great RE year with another awesome group of students, during which I shepherded them in their walk of faith, which is why it was fitting that my class aide Kim Tanner gave me a gift of Christ the Good Shepherd socks to compliment my Holy Spirit socks.  Deep within me, I rejoice at the ways I gave of myself to them and how we together encountered God.

Father Pacocha offers his homily at Mass.

Abuela took this photo as Father Pacocha and I talked following Mass.

Today, on April 28, I wore the Good Shepherd socks I got at the last RE class earlier this week. It was fitting to wear them to recognize Father Pacocha's ministry of shepherding others to God, just as I have lived out my baptism doing so for my RE students. Thank you, Mom, for the photo.

Photo from my baptism: Father Pachoa is to the left and my Dad, at the center, is holding me

Ulysses S. Grant at 200

It was 200 years ago on April 27, 1822, that Hiram Ulysses Grant was born in Point Pleasant, OH.

His life story is filled with quite a number of interesting twists and turns, especially considering that he's recognized as one of the US presidents with an Illinois connection, one of many states where he resided.

Many years ago, I visited his home in Galena, which was given as a gift to him following his triumphant service in the US army, especially as an officer, during the Sectional War.  Like with other homes of presidents, it offered a special perspective on who he was as a person.  I remember that as my tour group went through the home, a Ulysses Grant impersonator was leading the other tour group, and giving a first-person narrative.

In some ways, that home represents quite a turn-around in status for him.  He got into West Point through connections, where his name got changed to Ulysses Simpson Grant.  He served gallantly in the US Army during the Mexican-American War, and then his life became miserable while serving at a post in the Pacific Northwest, away from his family and beloved wife.  He eventually left the army, and struggled to make a living in Galena.  The Sectional War gave him a boost in a sense of purpose in life.  He accomplished major Union victories that elevated him to the highest rank of general that has only been attained by a handful of individuals.  His popularity as a general swept him into the presidency, although he's regarded as a mediocre president.

I learned even more about him when I attended a presentation at the June 2017 Annual ALA Meeting by Ron Chernow, as he promoted his new biography about General Grant, which was released in October of that year.  You can count on Ron Chernow to do extensive research of the subjects of his book, which added lots more depth to my understanding of General Grant.  I learned about the strained relations in his family because his Missouri-based in-laws were sympathetic to the Confederate cause.  It's a thick book, and years later, I'm still making my way through it.

As we mark 200 years since his birth, we see in Ulysses S. Grant a reflection of the complexities of US history, yet also the extraordinary achievements we can attain as we do our part to upholding the USA.

Retreat in the Place Beyond Words

10 years ago this week, I participated on a Wilderness Retreat with a group from St. Teresa's, during my 3rd year at Valparaiso University.

I wrote the following reflection in an e-mail I sent to family and friends 10 years ago right after the retreat.  I share it here again, with a couple of minor edits.

We went to Shades State Park in Montgomery County, Indiana, near Crawfordsville, between Indianapolis and Terre Haute.  We set up camp in the campgrounds in the park, and stayed there from Friday night upon our dark-enshrouded arrival until Sunday early afternoon. 

The theme for the weekend was laid out as we gathered around a fire on Friday night.  John Dewyze, our main leader, told us that the Hebrew word for wilderness translates into English as "without words".  He espoused the idea that the wilderness is a place beyond words where we can experience authentic existence.  He connected this idea to what God told Moses at the burning bush--"I AM Who I AM", this idea that God exists beyond words.

So we came into a physical wilderness to ponder being in a spiritual wilderness where we could embrace more authentically our existence, and that of God.  We spent our time there hiking on the trails in the park, which led into deep ravines, along and through streambeds, along the Sugar Creek, and through tall-treed woodlands.  (In fact, the trees in the park are so tall that they create a canopy that constantly keeps the park in shade--hence the name.)

During our times hiking around, we would stop, and our two leaders, John and Kristen, would share experiences of being in spiritual wilderness.  John also shared passages of Scripture, and then invited us to reflect more fully on certain ideas pertaining to the wilderness: God calling us, temptations, and struggles, through the symbols of the traditional four elements: fire, water, earth, and sky.  We were given times after our leaders spoke to wander around in solitude in the scenic beauty of the park's landscape.

We also shared lots of time of fellowship, particularly over meals, especially those over our campfire: potatoes/carrots and s'mores.

At the end of the retreat, John talked about how as we encounter God in the wilderness, He gives us a new identity by giving us a new name, as the two are very connected in the Scriptures.  In that spirit, John and Kristen gave each of us a new name, emblazoned in decorations on a cloth, based on how they viewed who we are.

When I first heard of this retreat, I thought it sounded really neat, and when a date was set, I made a point to block out this weekend on my calendar so I could go.

After I signed up, I had one of those "what on earth am I getting myself into?" feelings.  It dawned on me that I haven't really ever gone camping before, and wondered if I could handle being out in such a setting.  I also wondered about the ever-present reality of having lots of classwork to do, and pondered if it would be better to just stay on campus to do all this work, like a "responsible student".

Yet, on Tuesday, after I finished doing some work, I started thinking about all the things I would have to be getting to over the next couple of weeks or so.  I felt myself getting sucked into a vacuum in which I started thinking more and more about the work I have to do, and I started thinking about it so much I felt horribly overwhelmed.

I got myself out of that, and knew that an opportunity like this retreat would be just the thing I would need at a time like this:  Something to just get away from schoolwork, refocus on what really counts in life, and then go back refreshed to tackling all the work ahead of me.

And being out camping wasn't really all that bad.  I ended up having a small-size tent all to myself, and I was comfortable and warm enough inside of it.  Walking around on the trails provided many scenic vistas, the opportunity to be in a place with simply the sounds of nature, and get some exercise.

Most of all, this retreat gave me spiritual refreshment.  I find myself in struggles from time to time.  And on Saturday night, while we were sharing our thoughts on our spiritual reflections during the day, I noticed that many people talked openly about internal struggles.  At first, it seemed kind of depressing, especially since it didn't seem like people had these struggles outwardly.  But when I thought about it, I realized that it would be worse not to acknowledge these struggles.  They're just a part of life.  What's of the utmost is being able to respond to these struggles in a way that refocuses me toward what really matters in life, especially in how I live out my relationship with God.

Having spent this time in the place beyond words, I have renewed focus in the important matters of life.  As I go back to my common life, and all the schoolwork that fills it, I recognize that the God who is in an existence beyond words pervades my existence, and He is there to empower me to live fully anew in a new identity in life, the Life He grants through the Risen Christ.

Upon my return, I washed myself, my clothes, and my linens, certainly for the purpose of the need for physical cleaning, but furthermore as a symbolic gesture in concordance with my new identity.  And then I went to St. Teresa's for 9 PM Mass to continue my celebration.  Father Kevin told us he had been at a church in Indianapolis earlier in the day, and the priest barely got a quarter of the people wet during the sprinkling rite, so he set out with the full intention to douse us gathered there at St. Teresa's.  And he did just that:  He made such a spectacle of the rite, causing so much giggling, that it almost distracted us from the sacredness of it.  In the Collect (opening prayer), there was language asking God to renew us in youthfulness in this season celebrating Christ's life.  I couldn't help but think of how appropriate the rite and the Collect were liturgically and in light of the retreat.  I was renewed in the spirit of baptism, and in the spirit of new life, feeling a sense of youth in my new identity.

With this, I go forth, knowing I have a lot before me to tackle, yet with excitement for the new possibilities in all this newness.

I rejoice!

Thanks be to God!

The Journey of Life and the Abundant Life

I once again arrive at that day that is totally unlike the other days of the calendar year for me.

The amount of well-wishes and gifts tangible and otherwise that I receive in celebration of my birthday is plenty of reason for me to consider how much of a gift that life is, and how I come to that realization because of all the people who have been part of it.

From the start, many people have given of themselves to me.  And my life has taken on a whole new dimension because of the ways I've given to others, especially in recent years.  The relationships I have built with my 225 current and former Religious Education students, and their families, speak to the power of how I've discovered who I truly am through giving of myself to invest in them.

I have written often about the impact that teaching RE has had on me, and for good reason.  The experience brings together the most significant parts of my life.  As I spend time with these middle schoolers, I'm reminded of how my middle school years truly defined me, especially in forming my understanding of faith for myself.  This aspect of personal growth and development poised me to be truly impacted by the experience of my own Confirmation, even as it happened at the beginning of my time in high school.

Every Confirmation liturgy I've attended in my time as a RE catechist stirs something inside of me, and so, in some respects, makes it an emotional experience.  Over the past month, I attended Confirmation Masses on two different Saturdays for my students.  Most were confirmed at my home parish at Ascension on February 19, and some others at nearby St. Giles Parish on the north side of Oak Park on March 12.  Both days were cold, but I could feel the fire of the Holy Spirit at work.  It was similar to the cold day of February 6 for Confirmation last year.  This year, we were back to having a Mass with a Bishop present.

In fact, on February 19, I intended to get up around 7 AM, but my body aroused me at what felt like 5 AM from the sheer excitement of what was coming that day.

As typical with other Confirmation liturgies, I really felt a sense of celebration at the Mass at 10 AM on the morning of February 19, fully aware of how much I had invested in these students to accompany them to this Kairos moment in their lives.  And it was special to join them in company with family, and also family friends, some of whom were their parents' friends from years back, now serving as Confirmation sponsors.

Bishop Birmingham celebrated the Mass that day, and he spoke eloquently in his homily about how Confirmation is meant to equip us to go out to be more fully aware of the needs of the world around us and to do our part to meet them.

It was a touching moment when I approached each student after her/his turn with Bishop Birmingham for the sacrament and acknowledged them with words of blessing.

Once Mass concluded, I felt so energized as I made the rounds to visit with the students and literally cheer them on with pom-poms.  I lingered for a long time after Mass ended until the Church was empty.  Then I stayed to pray quietly.

I was truly filled with the energy of the Holy Spirit, all the way down to my Holy Spirit socks.  

I bought them at the gift shop of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on my way back from Florida in March 2021, and this day was the first time I wore them for a Confirmation Mass.  

I also wore the same suit and tie that my grandma gave me that I wore for the first time at my Valparaiso University graduation on Pentecost Sunday, May 19, 2013.  It's fitting for me to wear that suit because teaching RE is an important part of how I've lived out my faith experiences from college, which were crowned on that Pentecost Sunday.

I wore it again, along with the Holy Spirit socks, 3 weeks later for the Confirmation Mass at 10:30 AM at St. Giles, with 13 students from Ascension, and 5 of mine among them.  All of those who were mentors in the Confirmation preparation process at St. Giles announced the names of their students at Mass, and I was granted the honor of announcing the names of the group from Ascension.  It reminded me of how humbling it was last year when I announced the names of the students in the 2021 group.

This day was a nice opportunity to connect with the students in the Sunday 8th grade RE class, in addition to mine.  And it was great to connect with the families of the students and their family friends, too, especially those families who have older children that are former students of mine.

There was a great opening hymn for the Mass, speaking about how we're a pilgrim people and the role of the Holy Spirit in our journey.

It was a special moment when I stood before the assembly and announced the names of the Ascension group.  I was fully aware of how much I have invested in them, and the tremendous blessing they have been in my life these past few months.  I also recognized that through other parts of the Confirmation process, I was able to be present to even the Sunday students.  Different from the Mass at Ascension, as I announced each student, I included her/his saint name, which was a special touch recognizing the new stage of life they enter as confirmed Roman Catholics.

Here I am, announcing the names of the Ascension students at the first St. Giles Confirmation Mass on March 12.  This photo is courtesy of the St. Giles YouTube channel.

The celebrant was Bishop Turley, the Bishop Emeritus of Chulucanas, Peru.  He spoke so insightfully about how the Holy Spirit truly transforms us to make God known in the world as His witnesses.

As the students came to Bishop Turley one by one, I had a great view from my seat up front.  Once the Ascension students had their turn, I made the rounds to acknowledge them with words of blessing.

And once again, when Mass was over, I reveled in the atmosphere as I went around to visit with the families.  Alex, the St. Giles sacraments coordinator, invited me to lunch at the rectory, served to staff and volunteers participating in the Masses, along with Bishop Turley, Bishop Casey (the celebrant for the next Mass in the afternoon), St. Giles pastor Father Carl, and Ascension resident priest Father Rex.  It was a merry atmosphere.

When it was time for me to leave, I bade farewell to Father Rex, who remarked that he was arranging an Uber ride.  I immediately offered to drive him back to Ascension, which was on my way.  As I drove, I continued to revel in the grand experience we just had.  I reflected on how impactful my own Confirmation was in my life.  As I drove past Percy Julian Middle School, I pointed to the building shared with Father Rex about how my years as a student there defined me, directing my journey of faith to where it has led me now.

I told Father Rex I wanted to get a selfie to remember our memorable car ride back from St. Giles, and he agreed to join in a pose.

In some respects, the car ride home was as amazing as attending the Confirmation Mass itself, and provided a wonderful way to cap off the experience by reflecting on what I felt the meaning was of what we had just experienced, which was stirring in my heart, reminding me of the marvelous work God has done in my life, adding one amazing thing on top of another.

In fact, just yesterday, I gathered with the students in my class at the Lenten weekly Tuesday evening Mass held at Ascension.  It was a great follow-up to the amazing day on Saturday, seeing my students participate in the worship life of the Church.  To cap it off, my class aide got a birthday card for me, and passed it around for the students to sign.  After Mass, a group of them handed it me.  I was truly touched by the gesture, because they are a significant reason why I am celebrating with great joy today.  And I was so glad to celebrate the eve of my birthday by being with them.

Certainly, we don't have mountaintop experiences all the time in life.  Yet, I acknowledge that I can draw from these mountaintops that God is truly at work all the time in life by the power of His Holy Spirit, and how He invites me to become aware of it every day.

Truly, in the spirit of what St. Catherine of Siena said, the journey to Heaven is Heaven itself.

So on this day, as I celebrate the gift of life, I rejoice in the Abundant Life to which God has invited me to enter more deeply day by day, and how I truly experienced it, and the joy of these foretastes of Heaven I had at these Confirmation Masses.

And I give thanks that I have encountered an important part of my identity by taking from the gifts I have been given and handing them in Religious Education class on to the awesome students who are a huge blessing in my life.

The Quarter Century of Arthur

I got quite nostalgic as the PBS show Arthur came to its final episode on February 21, 2022.

I watched it for years as a kid.  The episodes had wonderful content, and were so down-to-earth in portraying real life, at home with families, at school, and out in the community, like at the fine establishment of the Sugar Bowl.  Indeed, I learned lots, like the concept of a half-birthday.  That's what kept me constantly watching it.

And I'm sure that great quality is what kept it going on TV for so long.  To think that the characters stayed the same age through the entire run gave it, in what I read in one article, a sort of eternal quality.  It's almost surprising that it reached its end.  Nevertheless, it had a great run, a show with a high number of episodes because of high quality.

In fact, I think about the episode when the Mary Moo Cow Show reaches its end as I ponder the reality that Arthur has now reached its end.

And I have so many wonderful memories of show.  Here are 25:

1. I really enjoyed the song "Having Fun isn't Hard when you've got Library Card", in "Arthur's Almost Live Not Real Music Festival", and that whole episode was really cool.

2. It was fun watching "Arthur's Family Vacation", and connecting it with some of my own vacation experiences, like a family trip to the Outer Banks.

3. There was something quaint about the episode "Grandpa Dave's Old Country Farm".

4. I enjoyed jamming with the Backstreet Boys on the hourlong episode of the same title.

5. I enjoyed "Arthur's Perfect Christmas", not only seeing Arthur's observance of Christmas, but also how his friends observed Christmas, and other holidays.

6. There was something wonderful about the appearance of Mr. Rogers on the show and his interactions with Arthur, his family, and his class.

7. It was exciting to see Arthur's family travel to Washington, D.C.

8. I'll avoid spoilers of specifics, but the episode "The Return of the King" had an exciting conclusion.

9. "The Blizzard" had a heartwarming conclusion, and an exciting build-up to when the weather situation got intense.

10. When I watched "My Music Rules", I liked seeing Yo-Yo Ma, who helped the characters appreciate music.

11. I enjoyed "The Shore Thing" and all the ways the characters attempted to reach the Ocean Zone, and what they enjoyed in the process.

12. It was amazing to see the efforts of the characters to set a World Record, and how they decided to engage in teamwork to do a world record together.

13. I like the explorations they had in "The Cave".

14. I liked the conclusion of "Brother, Can You Spare a Clarinet?" and the circumstances that led to it as Binky struggled to express his musical desires.

15. There was excitement in "Muffy Goes Metropolitan" when she traveled to Crown City.

16. It was exciting to see Arthur and his classmates stage a play for "Elwood City Turns 100!", and to get a feel for Elwood City history.  That episode also featured an appearance of Larry King in his studio.

17. It was heartwarming to see Buster's enthusiasm to embrace the Amish way of life, and how he found a great way to channel it at the end.

18. Given my geographical interests, I enjoyed the story of "Dear Adil", when Arthur corresponded with Adil in Turkey as a pen pal.

19. I was intrigued that "Big Horns George" featured Koko Taylor as a guest star, and I got jamming to that music a bit.

20. I liked the episode "Postcards from Buster", seeing the travels of Buster, his dad, and the Read family in New York City, mixed with live footage.  This episode led to a spin-off show by the same title, and I enjoyed seeing the places Buster traveled.

21. "Arthur's Birthday" was an episode that had a great, celebratory ending.

22. I liked seeing all the effort that Arthur and D.W. spearheaded to throw an appreciation party for Grandma Thora, even ending up in a crazy situation of making cake late at night.

23. I liked hearing "A Word from Holly Holland", who won a contest with an idea for an Arthur episode.  In the span of just a couple of minutes or so, we viewers got to see glimpses of her life in Canadian, OK.

24. It was amazing to see "Arthur Bounces Back" with his cool moon boots and how he put them to good use.

25. Arthur and his friends discussed ideas to create a holiday to alleviate the dreariness of winter, and I found some of them to be rather humorous.

So there are plenty of memories that will stay with me and other fans for a long time beyond its conclusion on February 21, 2022, because of so many wonderful days in Elwood City.

Annual Government Speeches Round-up for 2022

Eyes turned their attention to the US House Chamber on March 1, 2022, for President Biden's first official State of the Union Address.  The first major topic of the speech was the current situation in Ukraine, and making a clear statement of solidarity with a country that Russia unjustly attacked.  Other major topics included the response to the ongoing pandemic and the economy.  Tied into the economy was infrastructure.  He also discussed addressing the providing of quality, affordable healthcare.

I see some validity to many of his proposals to enhance the quality of life in America.  I'm pleased that he proposes funding the police, which would help address some of the problems with crime that communities face.  I also see plenty of room for debate on the best ways to address his concerns and implement the proposals.

One thing that struck me about his discussion on the response to the pandemic was that it's time to get students back in school full-time and end the temporary closure of businesses.  I feel like there were suitable ways to do so a long time ago.  His statement that it should happen now doesn't seem to carry much weight.

I was greatly displeased to hear his insistence on protecting women's right to abortion.  I think it's very questionable to say it's a constitutionally-affirmed right.  I'm also concerned about his remark that there's an onslaught of laws against transgender individuals, because those laws are intended to bring us back from going off a cliff that will cause greater harm by allowing harmful procedures on those with gender dysphoria.

He ended his speech with an optimistic tone, declaring that we're strong as a people.  I would agree with that, and I hope that going forward, we take the right steps to tap into our strength as a people.

I enjoyed listening to Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds's Republican Response to the State of the Union Address.  She indicated that the Biden administration has taken ineffective steps in implementing its foreign policy agenda that has exacerbated conflicts throughout the world.  I felt that her speech had a very down-to-earth touch to it when she addressed the problems people experienced with inflation decades ago.  She also discussed that people in the USA are getting frustrated with the level of control that the Biden administration is trying to exert on the people, and citing examples of how Republican governors are taking steps to allow people to flourish.

As an aside, I have to say, I liked the backdrop of the Iowa State Capitol as she gave her remarks.  It reminded me of how earnestly I wanted to visit the capitol there when I was a kid, and how excited I was when it happened on a family road trip to Colorado.

Back on a snowy February 2, Governor Pritzker delivered the 2022 Illinois State of the State Address.  I was intrigued by the metaphor he used at the start of his speech, saying that the first sign of civilization was caring for health needs.  His remarks focused on how he intends to direct state resources and balance the budget to ensure people's needs are met, especially with healthcare and other resources like childcare.  He also proposed helping people by slashing taxes on groceries that would help mitigate the effects of inflation.  Many of his proposals have merit, and again, I think there is room for debate on how to implement them.  I was pretty displeased when he insisted on upholding abortion rights as a way of empowering women, because I firmly believe abortion doesn't empower women, and all the bills he's signed into law expanding abortion access will do more harm than good, flying in the face of the metaphor he used to start his speech.

Here's to hoping that the talking leads to good action in service to the people of Illinois and the USA as we all do our part in response to these proposals and determine the best course of action.