I have decided to change platforms for Along the Graybeard Trail.
http://graybeardtrail.wordpress.com/ will be the new URL.
I hope you will follow me - make any change in your bookmarks - set up a new feed - subscribe.
See you along the Trail.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Georgia O'Keefe's mountain
As so often happens when I looked through my pictures this evening,
I came across pictures of Ghost Ranch.
A picture of "Georgia O'Keefe's mountain" spoke to me.
The colors and the time of year, I think.
This was taken in October of 2009.
For some reason, I played with the picture using iPhoto.
I suspect that with a better program I could have preserved some of the texture in the foreground.
Still, it is an intriguing view.
See you along the Trail.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Not only Southern trees
As I type, I understand that the execution of Troy Anthony Davis is proceeding. If it is not, it will soon. He was convicted for the murder of Mark MacPhail.
Earlier today, Lawrence Russell Brewer was executed for the brutal murder of James Byrd, Jr. He remained unrepentant; some of James Byrd Jr.'s family has expressed forgiveness.
Human Rights Watch reports that half a world away, 17-year old Alireza Mollasoltani was publicly executed in Iran. He was convicted for the murder of Ruholla Dadashi.
My heart aches for the family and all who love Mark MacPhail.
My heart aches for the family and all who love James Byrd, Jr.
My heart aches for the family and all who love Ruhollah Dadashi.
My heart aches for those who made these decisions and for those who had to carry them out.
My heart aches for the family and all who love Troy Anthony Davis.
My heart aches for the family and all who love Lawrence Russell Brewer.
My heart aches for the family and all who love Alireza Mollasoltani.
My heart aches.
In the midst of the sorrow, I give thanks for the glimpses of grace shown by family members, friends, and advocates.
Democracy Now played a clip of Strange Fruit sung by Billie Holiday, written by Abel Meeropol. "Southern trees bear a strange fruit," it begins.
Not only Southern trees.
The struggle continues.
See you along the Trail.
Earlier today, Lawrence Russell Brewer was executed for the brutal murder of James Byrd, Jr. He remained unrepentant; some of James Byrd Jr.'s family has expressed forgiveness.
Human Rights Watch reports that half a world away, 17-year old Alireza Mollasoltani was publicly executed in Iran. He was convicted for the murder of Ruholla Dadashi.
My heart aches for the family and all who love Mark MacPhail.
My heart aches for the family and all who love James Byrd, Jr.
My heart aches for the family and all who love Ruhollah Dadashi.
My heart aches for those who made these decisions and for those who had to carry them out.
My heart aches for the family and all who love Troy Anthony Davis.
My heart aches for the family and all who love Lawrence Russell Brewer.
My heart aches for the family and all who love Alireza Mollasoltani.
My heart aches.
In the midst of the sorrow, I give thanks for the glimpses of grace shown by family members, friends, and advocates.
Democracy Now played a clip of Strange Fruit sung by Billie Holiday, written by Abel Meeropol. "Southern trees bear a strange fruit," it begins.
Not only Southern trees.
The struggle continues.
See you along the Trail.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Is this how we want to mark the International Day of Peace?
Without an intervention of some sort, Troy Davis will be executed by the State of Georgia tomorrow - September 21 on the International Day of Peace at 7:00 p.m.
I do not believe in the death penalty. I do not think it makes us safer. It does not bring anyone back. It rips the fabric of society - causing more wounds rather than working healing and restoration. It is rooted in vengeance - a lethal concoction of drugs injected into one's veins in exchange for murder or rape or other capital crime. Such crimes are heinous. Monstrous. Evil. Unspeakably so. But there has to be another way, other ways, to respond than execution. As my friend Shannon points out, are the countries that use the death penalty really the company I want my country to keep?
All that aside, there is also the question of doubt in the case of Troy Davis. He was convicted, but since then: seven of the nine original witnesses have recanted or changed their testimony; many of these witnesses have stated in sworn affidavits that they were pressured or coerced by police into testifying or signing statements. Courts have ruled that Troy Davis' innocence cannot be proved. But when does doubt reach the level of being "reasonable?" Does that level change after a person is convicted? Should the fact that the punishment is death affect what constitutes "reasonable doubt?" Does proving innocence trump reasonable doubt after conviction?
The NAACP provides a petition to ask Chatham County District Attorney Larry Chisolm, who requested the death warrant against Troy Davis, to petition the judge to withdraw the death warrant against Troy Davis.
Amnesty International also provides an opportunity to contact the Georgia State Board of Pardon and Paroles.
I have taken both of those actions. In addition, I plan to fast tomorrow evening. And I will pray.
I will pray for Troy Davis and his family and friends.
I will pray for the family and friends of Savannah Police Officer Mark Allen MacPhail. Officer MacPhail's brutal murder was the crime of which Troy Davis was convicted.
I will pray for those who are in a position to stop this execution.
I will pray for those who are in the position of having to carry out this execution should it come to that.
I will pray for all people who have had a loved one murdered.
I will pray for all people who have had a loved one executed.
I will pray.
May God have mercy on us all.
See you along the Trail.
I do not believe in the death penalty. I do not think it makes us safer. It does not bring anyone back. It rips the fabric of society - causing more wounds rather than working healing and restoration. It is rooted in vengeance - a lethal concoction of drugs injected into one's veins in exchange for murder or rape or other capital crime. Such crimes are heinous. Monstrous. Evil. Unspeakably so. But there has to be another way, other ways, to respond than execution. As my friend Shannon points out, are the countries that use the death penalty really the company I want my country to keep?
All that aside, there is also the question of doubt in the case of Troy Davis. He was convicted, but since then: seven of the nine original witnesses have recanted or changed their testimony; many of these witnesses have stated in sworn affidavits that they were pressured or coerced by police into testifying or signing statements. Courts have ruled that Troy Davis' innocence cannot be proved. But when does doubt reach the level of being "reasonable?" Does that level change after a person is convicted? Should the fact that the punishment is death affect what constitutes "reasonable doubt?" Does proving innocence trump reasonable doubt after conviction?
The NAACP provides a petition to ask Chatham County District Attorney Larry Chisolm, who requested the death warrant against Troy Davis, to petition the judge to withdraw the death warrant against Troy Davis.
Amnesty International also provides an opportunity to contact the Georgia State Board of Pardon and Paroles.
I have taken both of those actions. In addition, I plan to fast tomorrow evening. And I will pray.
I will pray for Troy Davis and his family and friends.
I will pray for the family and friends of Savannah Police Officer Mark Allen MacPhail. Officer MacPhail's brutal murder was the crime of which Troy Davis was convicted.
I will pray for those who are in a position to stop this execution.
I will pray for those who are in the position of having to carry out this execution should it come to that.
I will pray for all people who have had a loved one murdered.
I will pray for all people who have had a loved one executed.
I will pray.
May God have mercy on us all.
See you along the Trail.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Not as good, but not as bad
Yesterday the Steeelers won - won easily.
A week ago the Steelers lost - lost badly.
There was a significant difference in the quality of the teams they played,
but there was also a significant difference in the way they played.
So the question is:
are they as good as this past Sunday
or as bad as the previous Sunday
or does reality lie somewhere in between?
19 September 2011
Shire on the Hudson
A week ago the Steelers lost - lost badly.
There was a significant difference in the quality of the teams they played,
but there was also a significant difference in the way they played.
So the question is:
are they as good as this past Sunday
or as bad as the previous Sunday
or does reality lie somewhere in between?
19 September 2011
Shire on the Hudson
Double rainbow
It is unclear why this has remained unposted for more than a year.
When it was taken, I was not in a posting groove.
At the end of 2010 summer,
a little over a year ago,
Tricia and I visited
the Great Plains.
Our adventure began in Denver, the starting point for this year's travels as well.
We drove north through Wyoming into Montana where we saw
the Little Bighorn National Battlefield Monument,
cut east to Mt. Rushmore and the Badlands
turned south through Nebraska,
and ended back to Denver.
We saw a number of national parks
and visited a couple of zoos.
We also checked out some state parks and historic sites
including Fort Phil Kearney State Historic Site
near Banner, Wyoming.
There we journeyed to the location
of the Fetterman Fight.
While we walked the grounds where battle once ranged
a small storm developed.
It brought enough rain to create
this double rainbow.
See you along the Trail.
19 September 2011
Shire on the Hudson
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