Category: Uncategorized
Goodbye, Theresa. Rest in Peace
My aunt and Godmother, Theresa Anna Singleton, died last week. She was the last member of my mother’s family of eight to pass on. She was a kind and generous person who lived with my immediate family her entire life. Here’s the eulogy I gave at her funeral this past Thursday.
Remembrance of Theresa
May 2, 2013
Theresa was a mystery. She lived the life of a single person, a singleton, as it were, but was surrounded by family. We all felt very connected to Theresa, but there was always a distance. She was generous in every way, except in sharing her deepest feelings. She was the youngest of eight whose siblings produced brood after brood of children. Yet, she remained, in some ways, alone. Continue Reading
I am impressed
Given my somewhat critical post below, it is only fair to give credit where credit is due.
Pope Francis washed and kissed the feet of prisoners in honor of Holy Thursday. I have to say that I am immensely impressed. I can’t imagine any world leader doing such a thing and I’m proud it is the leader of my Church that did.
One of the prisoners was a Muslim woman. Think about it, a woman, a Muslim and a convicted criminal and the Pope is kissing her feet. Now, if only she were a lesbian…
In Beijing
- View from the J.W. Marriott in Beijing
Just arrived in Beijing to participate in the U.S. Ambassador’s Investment Forum, designed to educate Chinese companies on the challenges and opportunities of investing in the United States. I will be on a panel with other service providers, including lawyers, accountants and investment advisors.
Kathleen Turner
Kathleen Turner
Last night, I attended a Smithsonian event, a conversation with Kathleen Turner. It was associated with her current one woman show where she portrays Texas journalist, Molly Ivins. Turner was her usually gravely voiced, irreverent self. She was candid and occasionally profane. And she gave a taste from her show.
The questions, both from the interviewer and the audience were fairly predictable. Her favorite character was Martha in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolff. She talked about the fun she had doing Romancing the Stone with Michael Douglas and Danny DeVito. Described a chance meeting, which turned into an afternoon of hilarity, with Ann Richards and Molly Ivins. Oh to be a fly on the wall for that session. It was a very entertaining evening.
The reason I went was to reconnect with Ms. Turner. In late 1999, I worked with her on a Middle East Peace project that was as ill-fated as all such projects are. But it involved multiple phone conversations with her every day for about three weeks, culminating in her calling my house and telling my wife “Your husband is driving my fucking crazy!” It’s a long story that I’ll post about some day.
I caught up with her briefly after the “show” to say hello. She remembered the project, which was nice.
Lost in Translation in Beijing
Jintaixizhao Subway Station
Beijing is a difficult city to navigate, made more so by the fact that even the natives don’t know where anything is. I spent about a third of my day yesterday lost in the city and nobody could help me.
In the morning, I set out for breakfast with some colleagues at the Park Hyatt Hotel, a seventy story high rise near the China World Trade Center. I was told it was close by my hotel, the Grand Millennium. When I asked the concierge for directions, he suggested I take the subway. It was only one stop away and he wrote the name of the hotel in Chinese on a card. Feeling adventurous, I took his advice. Big mistake. Continue Reading
The Catholic Church, Heading for a Schism?
The institutional Catholic Church is testing me like never before. I’m frankly disgusted by the lawsuit against the Obama Administration on the contraceptive rule, the “Fortnight of Freedom,” and the attack on the nuns. I have ceased my contributions to the “Bishop’s Appeal,” although I maintain my donations to my local parish. It is galling to me that these bishops think they have the moral standing to lecture the rest of the world on issues of sexuality. They actually should be humbly begging forgiveness for their crimes and focusing on the true message of Christ, to serve the poor and needy. It beggars belief that they have chosen to make a stand on a Church mandate that is rejected by 90% of Catholic women.
In times like this, I tell myself that the institutional Church is a human institution separate from the real body of belief. History is replete with scandals and corruption at the highest levels of the Catholic Church. In my mind, the true Church is found in Catholic social teaching. And I am heartened that there are voices within the Church who are rejecting the Vatican and the American bishops.
Among the voices rejecting the Bishops’ political activities are a group of “lay leaders” from my own parish of Blessed Sacrament in Washington, DC. Andrew Sullivan called attention to their open letter that is a very powerful statement warning the bishops that they are treading on dangerous ground. You can read the letter here.
In addition, the Franciscans have issued a letter supporting the nuns against the Vatican attack. That can be read here.
There is a huge split in the Church that is driven by the conservatives who think that regulating sexuality is Job One for the Catholic Church. I really believe this split could grow into a schism. I, for one, would be open to attaching myself to a religious movement/institution either within or outside the Church that reflects more closely the values that I truly believe reflect more closely Christ’s teaching. I’m not there yet, but if they keep pushing these divisive policies, who knows?
Disney in DC
Baby Deer Among Azaleas
I felt like I entered a Disney movie this weekend. While working in our garden, my wife, Rita, discovered a baby deer curled up and nestled in the Azaleas right in front of our house beneath our front steps. The deer was tiny, about the size of our beagle, Maggie. It was about 2 o’clock in the afternoon and we had no idea how she got there or how long she’d been hiding. After a few tweets, Facebook and social cam posts, we began to wonder what, if anything we should do about the situation.
Should we just leave her alone and hope the mother returns? Do deer mothers return when separated from a baby? Might she be ill and was left to die? Could she find her own way back to nearby Rock Creek Park? We finally decided to give her water and some veggies, both of which she ignored, and wait. I decided that, if she was still there the next morning, we’d call animal control. We then went about our business.
My son, Danny, however, began to get very concerned. He determined that her breathing was labored and he worried about her health. So he called animal control and they promised to send someone. Of course, this is the District of Columbia, so no one ever came, but that’s another story for another blog post.
Their Hatred
Newt Gingrich
I found President Obama’s reaction to the killing of Trayvon killing to be among the kindest and most touching words I have heard uttered by a president. I almost literally teared up when he said, “If I had a son, he would look like Trayvon.” How could anybody find fault with that? It was sensitive and compassionate. Even if you believe that the Trayvon of that fateful night was different from the Trayvon his family describes and he did, in fact, attack poor Mr. Zimmerman, you cannot dispute the pain that his parents must feel. Obama was channeling that feeling and it seemed very authentic. Surely, Obama’s critics would be at least mildly touched by the comment. Right? Continue Reading
Downton Abbey and the Superbowl
I have just discovered the BBC program, Downton Abbey and I’m totally hooked…and I’ve only seen 4 episodes. I will blog about the show sometime in the future. But for now, I must share this very funny video. I share it even though I’m still grieving about the outcome of the game.
Kevin White, “Boats in the Hahbah”
Bill Black and Kevin White at the 2004 Democratic Convention in Boston
Kevin White has died. He was a political colossus in Boston in my formative years. He had a legendary career, running the gamut from liberal reformer to political boss over the course of his four terms.
Looking back on his time in office, the drama is remarkable. He was Mayor when Martin Luther King was killed and kept the city from exploding. In 1972, he was privately selected by George McGovern to be his running mate, only to have Teddy Kennedy put the kibosh on the idea. There would be only one national Democrat from Massachusetts and wouldn’t be somebody not named Kennedy. And then the tragedy of bussing, that ripped the city apart and tainted the final years of his career.
The one story I have that will probably not make the papers has to do with the assassination of Martin Luther King. At the time, White’s top assistant was Barney Frank, my old boss. At the time, Barney was in his 20’s. That night, the soul music mega star, James Brown, was scheduled to appear at the Boston Garden. It was a volatile situation. In Barney’s recollection, he said that, in confronting that extraordinarily scary night, all he could think in his 25 year old mind, “So, when are the adults going to show up to fix this?” Continue Reading
