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Welcome to the May 2012 Edition of the Transformation Inn
I hope your "May Flowers" are abundant and new life within and without fills your life.
Speaking of abundance, I think we have an abundance and variety of thoughts and ideas this month. Bruce Gill starts us off with "A Serendipitous Discovery." As you know there is no gift or experience more enjoyable than one that is unexpected. Check Bruce's take on this concept. Jennifer Moore ought to bring a lot of our memories to light in "Thank You, Mom." I know it did for me. I had two of them, my adoptive mom and my birth mother. My adopted mom was all one could have asked for, a nurturing loving, caring person. I had the opportunity to meet my birth mother who also was a great person. I was a lucky guy; an embarrassment of riches one might say. Happily, Ron Steelman rose from the ranks of the recuperating and delivered an unexpected gift in the form of, "My Apostasy." Yes, it's the unexpected gifts we appreciate the best. On the heels of Bruce Gill's thought piece on the Trayvon Martin case, I made a few comments on the growing mania for new "Stand Your Ground" laws. I hope you will find some unexpected gifts in what we have to offer you this month.
Please send us a comment in the area at the end of each article. we'd like your feedback.
See you next month,
Blair Steelman
Blair Steelman
Stand Your Ground Laws, Be Careful What You Ask For
There has been a big push across the country to pass so-called “Stand Your Ground Laws.” Now there have been “Stand Your Ground” laws in place in most states for many years. These laws relate to defending one’s self with deadly force if another person tries to do you harm on your property or in your home.
However, thanks to the push by the National Rifle Association (NRA) led by Wayne La Pierre, its Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, a new version of stand your ground laws are in place in Florida (authored by State representative Dennis Baxley with much help from the NRA, and signed into law by then Governor Jeb Bush in 2005) and another two dozen states besides. In fact, the supreme court had already ruled in 1895 in *Beard v. U.S. that a man who was "on his premises" when he came under attack and "...did not provoke the assault, and had at the time reasonable grounds to believe, and in good faith believed, that the deceased intended to take his life, or do him great bodily harm...was not obliged to retreat, nor to consider whether he could safely retreat, but was entitled to stand his ground."
Bruce Gill
A Serendipitous Discovery
Monday night, April 16, I was listening to the news. The lead story was the relocating of the space shuttle, Discovery, from the Kennedy Space Center to its new home at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum at the Stephen F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.
During the newscast, several locations were given in DC from which to watch the passing of the shuttle as it got piggybacked to its new home by a Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier. I was intrigued and considered how to shape my Tuesday so that I could get a view of history. In this case, the historical hype was that this would be the last flight of this famous space workhorse. After a brief musing, it occurred to me that the historical value was not worth the effort. Truth is, I was looking forward to chilling out at home with Donna; and dragging myself into DC for the dubious distinction of having been there when the shuttle flew off into the sunset just didn't seem worth the bother.
Ron Steelman
My Apostasy
PART I - MY BAPTISM
Until now I really didn’t feel it was necessary to personally sign a “DeBaptismal” certificate. I thought that was a little over the top for me. I wasn’t motivated to give that act so much credibility, even though the possibility of doing so struck me as deliciously post-theological. Some of my friends purchased special forms from secular humanist and atheist organizations and have even participated in public ceremonies which were officiated and certified by various high-ranking un-religious wiseacres. But times they are a-changin’. The shrill voices of religious fundamentalists grow louder, accusing non-believers of causing all the evils in the world. I have no choice. I must reevaluate the passive status of my apostasy.
Jennifer Moore
Thank You Mom
The month of May is named for Maia, the Greek goddess of spring representing fertility, warmth and increase. Therefore, it is fitting each year on the second Sunday in May, to celebrate Mother’s Day to thank all mothers for their gift of life to their children, and to all.
Lately, I have been reflecting on my mother’s life from what I know, what I have experienced and the stories that she has shared from her youth.
Last month we went through a picture album she assembled with photographs of me as a baby, child and an adult. We laughed and reminisced about the clothing, hair styles and our experiences growing up together. Memories flooded my mind, and I was overwhelmed with gratitude for all she has done for me and how she has helped to guide my life.