tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36373253038949440342024-03-05T07:48:00.371-08:00Abby Foster, WriterWriter, Reader, Beer Enthusiast
writerabbyfosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064436622363705167noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637325303894944034.post-243350692809478142018-03-12T06:09:00.003-07:002018-03-12T06:09:22.519-07:00Movie Review: The PostThe Post seems like a straightforward movie. It recounts a time in US history when a whistleblower bordered on treason to expose government secrets about an unpopular war. I saw right through the facade. What I saw was a movie about historical events, that had significant relevance for the present time.<br />
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When Liz Hannah and Josh Singer wrote the screenplay focusing on the role of Washington Post Matriarch Katherine Graham, I don't know if they had in mind the recent power surge by women. But the story of Katherine Graham and the role of the press, and the cover-up by the government all captured the current zeitgeist.<br />
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On the surface, The Post is about freedom of the press. Beneath the surface, The Post reminds us that our government can be mired in subterfuge, that people in power can have questionable motives based on greed and ego, and most poignantly it shows how a woman found her voice. <br />
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Succinctly and eloquently put by a woman who herself was behind the scenes tending to the comfort of others. It was brave for a woman when her voice is rarely ever heard, having been passed over, overlooked and dismissed. It was a brave choice for a woman to risk the future of a company her father started, and her late husband managed. Yet, when the time came, she met the challenge and said what she had to say. <br />
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This is more than a movie explaining the events in our recent past. The Post reflects much of what we are facing today. A time of 'fake news', and propaganda instigated by foreign countries, influencing the trajectory of our own. A time when, like then, it would be wise for news agencies to put aside their competitive differences and focus on their responsibility of informing the public in a truthful, objective and ethical manner. Our press can either join a united fight to steam the divisiveness and focus on the truth. Or the press can continue to divide our country into Team Blue and Team Red, with polarizing rhetoric on the events of the day. The truth is always the truth. Our interpretation of that truth can have two sides, we can debate the consequences of the truth, but the truth - what happened, and what studies project will happen (as was the case with the Pentagon Papers) - will always be the truth. And this little move that could, demonstrates this in a powerful way. If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend The Post. writerabbyfosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064436622363705167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637325303894944034.post-2972190645012138812018-03-06T08:17:00.001-08:002018-03-06T08:17:52.761-08:00Time to ActMarch is women's history month. A time to look back at the history of women in our society. A time to reflect on the contributions women have made to society. For many, this means looking back at historical figures such as Susan B. Anthony, Alice Paul, Shirley Chisholm, Sally Ride and others who have changed our expectations of women. This year, I am reflective of the more recent past. In the United States, it seems, that January 20, 2017, marked the beginning of the era of The Woman.<br />
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For the past year and two months, women have insisted on being heard. With marches and social media movements, we have said to the world, we refuse to be silenced any longer. Years of being passed over, dismissed, harassed, assaulted and humiliated culminated when the first women elected by a major political party as the candidate for President of the United States was defeated. The women's march in response to the 2016 presidential election morphed into the #metoo movement.<br />
While, a reaction to specific acts of workplace sexual harassment, the #metoo movement was an extension of the need to be heard. A focus on one of many issues facing women - and men - that issue being sexual assault and harassment. From the many #metoo's, it is obvious that workplace sexual harassment and assault, the sexual assaults of children, and sexual assaults which are often known as "date rape" are prevalent in our society.<br />
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It is time we do something about this epidemic. We are #FedUp.<br />
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Women are feeling ignored, devalued and set back by a new administration. Lewd, public remarks by members of the administration, legislation making access to reproductive health care harder, if not illegal, and access to health care itself is being threatened.<br />
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Abortion is often viewed as a "moral" issue. Some anti-abortionist goes to great lengths to protect fetuses, with little regard for the life of the mother - isn't her life worth protecting? And the life of the doctors who perform this procedure. What many of these anti-abortionists don't realize is that doctors performed abortions before they were legal. In instances where the mother's life was at stake, a procedure known as a DNC would be performed - safely. By being upfront and honest about the realities of life. We can prevent a families shame, pain and the anguish of medical professionals by acknowledging that doctors and patients are the best individuals to make medical decisions.<br />
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Legislators enact laws, not morals. Parents and religious leaders teach morals. We would have more morals in our communities if individuals each had the information and the tools to decide if and when they become parents. By providing factual information in our schools on sexual health, and reproductive options, we can prevent unintended pregnancies. Sex education in our schools does not promote sexual activity Hormones and natural curiosity promotes sexual activity. If, as a society, we choose to ignore this fact, we only have ourselves to blame for the consequences. Those consequences include, absent, neglectful parents which lead to angry, undisciplined children who grow into angry disillusioned teenagers and adults. This anger spills over into our society, increasing our crime rates, including the high domestic violence rate in this country, accounting for 15% of all crime, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.<br />
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According to the US Sentencing Commission, quarterly drug offenses account for the highest percentage of penalized crime in our country. Social scientists have shown that lack of familial or other support, can lead to criminal activity and violence in later life.<br />
Solidifying the family, by allowing individuals access to information and tools necessary to make informed decisions about when and if they start families can reduce drug crimes and violence in our society. Less crime and less violence is something we all can agree on. So, let's start there. Let's find ways to work together to make our society stronger, not weakened by drugs and imprisonment. To include all members of our population working together, being heard, in the past two weeks we have seen what driven teenagers can do in a positive way. If we would only listen to them. Women are raising their voices louder than ever, let's listen, learn and act.writerabbyfosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064436622363705167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637325303894944034.post-64331157899705183042017-01-11T06:08:00.000-08:002017-01-11T06:08:25.299-08:00I Stand With MerylIn the court of public opinion, you are damned if you do and damned if you don't. I am reminded of this adage as the annual Hollywood award season is now underway. Critics harp that these awards are nothing more than self-aggrandizing by an already spoiled Hollywood community. Yet, this year, when multi-award winning actress Meryl Streep gave a thank you speech for her Cecil B DeMille award at the Golden Globes, she put the spotlight on someone other than herself, yet still received criticism. Well, I applaud her. As befitting someone in a free society, she used the podium she was given to say what was on her mind. While I am not a decorated artist of any sort, I feel compelled to do the same. I have the capacity, the platform and the freedom to speak my mind. So I will use those privileges.<br />
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I agree with Ms. Streep's comments, I believe "violence does incite violence" and we should all work to stem violence to create the world that many of us would like to live in. I suspect that whatever way you voted last November, you would like to live free from constant threats of violence. I believe, despite this great feeling of a divide in the United States today, that we are more alike than we are different. We enjoy our freedoms, you can see countless expressions of freedom of speech on social media sites every hour. We also want to be safe, we want to be valued and we want the liberty to the pursuit of happiness in our own way. We have these rights up until the second those rights trample on someone else's rights. That is the agreement.<br />
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I also think most people would like to feel respected. Ms. Streep began the heart of her remarks by recounting that often replayed and sickening performance of the United States President-elect, imitating a person of differing mental and physical ability. As she pointed out, the campaigner, "outranked in power, privilege and capacity to fight back" the individual he was disrespecting. Yet he thought it was appropriate to do so anyway. Isn't this the very definition of bullying? According to the government website on bullying (stopbullying.gov), "bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose." Our now President-elect did almost all of those things in his opening campaign speech. It is curious to me that a nation which spent so much time, effort and resources to anti-bullying over the last decade has now elected the biggest bully to its highest office.<br />
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Supporters of this man, according to political polls and pundits, come from the conservative right. From the fraction of America that professes to be highly religious - specifically, Christian. I was raised, Christian. As I recall, Christianity promotes love; "love thy neighbor as they self", Mark 12:31. "Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back." Luke 6:35. And, "Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of law," Romans13:10. So, I am mystified as to how so many so-called Christians could fervently support someone who shows so much disregard, such disrespect, such acts that are the opposite of love, toward others. Don't they want a leader who exemplifies traits they instill in their own children? I do.<br />
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I am also stumped as to how intelligent people can consider someone who routinely uses adjectives like "stupid" and "dumb" or "crazy" toward his opposition. As we say in education, "use your words." Use language laced with evidence, facts, data, to convince the public that you are in the right and your opposition is in the wrong. This type of healthy debate shows intelligence, wisdom, erudition, and respect. Our current elected leader has not shown any of these traits. I find that scary.<br />
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Fear, I believe, is driving the great divide in America today. Christians fear they are being singled out, simply because we now acknowledge that freedom of religion, in order to be truly free, must extend to all religions. This is not a threat to Christianity, it is a defense of the freedom to worship when, and how you chose.<br />
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Fear of people different from ourselves is fueling hate in this country. Hate is dangerous. Hate incites hate. "Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers all wrongs." Proverbs, 10:12. It is time for our leaders to rise above the "instinct to humiliate" and, like Ms. Streep, demonstrate to us that love trumps hate.writerabbyfosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064436622363705167noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637325303894944034.post-69534234763465207012016-09-29T06:27:00.002-07:002016-09-29T06:27:47.886-07:00Day Dreamin'It is a gorgeous fall day outside. The sun-drenched trees are showing the slightest sign that those leaves are ready to turn from green to vibrant shades of yellow, red and orange. Meanwhile, I am stuck inside. Stuck behind an old wooden desk, on top of which sits a - possibly - even older computer. I would rather be out in the world.<br />
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Today is one of those days when I wish I were a full-time writer. Instead of sitting here in this ergonomically incorrect chair, behind this hard, cold wooden desk in this former dorm room, turned office, I wish I were sitting in my own leather desk chair typing on my laptop. Or maybe I would be in a cafe somewhere. I could be at a park reading a book that informs and inspires my current writing project. Then I would go home, get comfortable and write for three hours straight.<br />
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This freedom of being a full-time writer would allow me to create. No other obligations to distract me. No meetings to attend. No last minute changes to my To Do list. Instead, my mind would be in that joyous state of "flow". Ideas would stream out effortlessly. Words would form into delicious sentences, rich with meaning and all grammatically correct.<br />
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At least, that is how I envision my life as a full-time writer. In reality, I go home after a day at the office sit down at the computer and try to get back into the mindset of my characters. I try to sink into the feel of their settings And I try to type out a few paragraphs. If I'm lucky, I might eke out a few pages.<br />
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Ah, if only...writerabbyfosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064436622363705167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637325303894944034.post-17388465831027377242016-09-22T06:23:00.002-07:002016-09-22T06:23:47.337-07:00A Few Things I'm Working OnI haven't written a blog for a few weeks. I have been a bit preoccupied. Here a few things that are taking up most of my time.<br />
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<b>Bent, Not Broken</b></h2>
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A screenplay that follows three women as they navigate the end of relationships. Clara Diaz begins her post-college "adult" life with enthusiasm, and why not? She has everything, a great first job, a boyfriend away at law school. Her life is full of promise. Until her roommate moves out to live with a guy she barely knows, and her boyfriend doesn't seem to have any time for her. Is it really law school he is preoccupied with? Lisa Simmons realizes her long distance relationship has run its course and puts it to bed. So now what? She has been at her current job over five years, the longest she has stayed in one place in her adult life. Is it time to move on? Does the end of a relationship always have to mean reinventing your life? Sloan Heidelberg has recently reconnected with a former crush and things are going well. Until they aren't. He isn't returning her calls or texts. He seems to have disappeared. But why? </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>My Secret Life</b></span><br />
Reality TV star Dakota Whitt's real life is nothing like what the viewers see on TV each week. The show, the lifestyle, even the family, is all a sham. In fact, not even her name is real. It has all been cobbled together by her hot mess of a mother and an opportunist TV producer. But Dakota has only one year left before she can leave the family and go off to college. So, while she wishes her life were different, she's stuck for now. Letting the secret out would do more harm than good, especially for her younger sister and brother who deserve a chance at a better life. So for now, she will go along with the charade. But how long can this cast of misfit characters keep the secret?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Survivor</b></span><br />
Jo Clark struggles to cope with the loss of her best friend and partner. A struggle that led to the loss of her beloved job with the FBI - at least temporarily. She takes a temporary position teaching Criminal Profiling at a small, quiet campus. The perfect place to get away from it all for a while. Or so she thought. Antioch State College might be a little too close to home for Jo. Triggering past traumas that Jo thought she had long since buried. Through her therapist, friends, family and interesting new people, Jo learns not only to cope but to survive.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Comeback</b></span><br />
Joselyn Streeter was the sweetheart of Major League Baseball coverage for a popular all-sports network. At least until she got into a social media spat with baseball star Clay Pierson. Now she finds herself unemployed and either a hero or a heel depending on who you ask. She uses her vast array of contacts to claw her way back out of this mess and resurrect her once promising career. The most frustrating thing for Joselyn is that being a sports reporter wasn't even what she wanted. The coveted job with the sports network just landed in her lap - how could she turn them down? But now faced with starting over again, Joselyn realizes the power of getting back to basics. Maybe she can have the career she always dreamed of after all.<br />
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writerabbyfosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064436622363705167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637325303894944034.post-78027764749336557652016-09-07T06:08:00.000-07:002016-09-08T13:28:33.309-07:00Being Part of 'Husker Nation'Growing up in Nebraska, I learned about football early in life. Nebraska Cornhusker football is an honored tradition. It is a community builder in a state that outsiders often forgot about. It is a rallying point for everyone from Omaha to Scottsbluff. Even though I don't live in Nebraska anymore, I never miss a game. It just wouldn't seem right.<br />
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In Nebraska, we have only one team. Our loyalty to the Huskers, as they are affectionately known, is solid. It doesn't matter if you were an alum of the University of Nebraska or if you never went to college anywhere. If you grew up in Nebraska, the Huskers are your team, you are a part of Husker Nation. Occasionally outsiders will ask "What is a Husker?" We don't really know, but we do know what it means to be a part of Husker Nation. It makes strangers, become like family. People simply ask, "Did you catch the game?" or they'd proudly say, "I got tickets to the game Saturday." Everyone knew The Game, was the Huskers' game. It was the only one that mattered.<br />
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During my childhood, the football season always culminated in the big showdown between Nebraska and Oklahoma. It was a classic match-up of good versus evil. The tall, stoic, Tom Osborne looking and acting more like a Presbyterian minister than a football coach, versus the not so tall, not so quiet, Barry Switzer, whose language was as colorful as the wild stories he liked to tell. My dad hated Barry Switzer. My dad is a kind, civil, man, but bumper stickers that read Bury Barry, amused him.<br />
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This annual showdown, televised on ABC - often with the deep booming voice of Keith Jackson - was so intense that as a child, I couldn't watch. Back in the days before all-sports television networks, the Nebraska-Oklahoma game was sometimes the only game the Husker's played on TV, all year. It was the one day out of the fall harvest season that my dad, and other farmers around the state, would stop work and sit down in front of the TV. Turns out, Dad had some colorful language of his own. Clearly, this game was important. Was it possibly 'end of the world' important?<br />
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In the next room, away from the TV but within earshot of every groan and curse that signaled a fumble, or penalty on 'our side', I wondered what would happen should Nebraska lose? Surely they hadn't. I had seen the signs proclaiming Nebraska Number 1! I had visions of a bawdy crowd of crimson-clad fans storming over the Kansas prairie, led by a little white wagon pulled by two white horses. Fans were waving crimson flags with the ominous letters OU in the middle. They were all signing this awful, repetitive song - something about Boomer Sooner - while a marching band followed behind. It was a horrible image. It wasn't until years later that I learned the Huskers did actually lose some of those games. Yet the nightmare never happened. Each year, both teams went home and got ready for next year when they would do it all over again.<br />
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Those big showdowns with Oklahoma are long since gone. But every year, the Huskers still lace up their sneakers, tape up their ankles and take on whatever appointment is on the schedule. And win or lose, Nebraska is still number 1 in Husker Nation.<br />
<br />writerabbyfosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064436622363705167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637325303894944034.post-82471555793392807852016-08-25T06:17:00.001-07:002016-08-25T06:17:46.874-07:00Good Night, NightlyI was sad to learn that the powers that be over at Comedy Central cancelled The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore. And not only because I enjoyed the show. I will go out on a limb here and shamelessly admit that at some point over the two-year run of the Nightly Show, I developed a huge crush on the host. Smart and funny are always sexy to me, but when you throw in a Social Conscious, well then, I turn to butter. So, yes, I miss Larry. It has been a week, and already I miss gazing nightly into his friendly eyes through my television screen and his thick black glasses. I miss his laugh - that infectious little chuckle. And, in all seriousness, I miss the message of the show.<br />
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I'm not the only one missing out here. America just lost an important voice in our conversation about social justice.<br />
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Obviously, Larry and his Nightly panel gave voice to black Americans. But they didn't stop there. Larry and his crew spoke up for Latino/as, for the LGBTQ community, for the poor and for women. There aren't many male voices speaking up for women - and Gawd do I love him for that.<br />
Not that women aren't perfectly capable of speaking up for ourselves. It's just nice to know that we aren't the only ones who realize the struggle. In fact, if more men would recognize the struggle, maybe they would wake up and help do something about it and then, guess what, there is no more struggle. Social justice issues are like that.<br />
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Socal issues are not problems that belong only to "them"- whoever they might be. They are issues that impact our entire society - that means me, you, us. Therefore, tackling these social issues is a collective effort. Larry Wilmore and the team at the Nightly Show demonstrated that collective effort and they are missed.<br />
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Larry was in my dream last night. I guess that is the only place I will see him for awhile. I'm sure soon, however, I will see him back in my living room, on a show making a statement - or, Larry if you're interested maybe for real in my living room you know, whatever.writerabbyfosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064436622363705167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637325303894944034.post-26700297018885641412016-08-18T05:55:00.002-07:002016-08-18T05:55:57.225-07:00Hacks for an Epic College Experience<br />
It is that time of year again. The time of year when college campuses across our nation, come alive with nervous newbies excited, yet terrified about what lies ahead. Are those movies depicting college life real? Are professors scary? Will I make any friends here?<br />
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If you are sending someone away to college for the first time this fall, here are few things I recommend they do to make the most of their college experience. These hacks are not only based on my personal experience as a student but on over fifteen years as a college student services professional. A fun job if you can get it!<br />
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College can be an epic experience. Unfortunately, only about half of the people who start college will earn a degree. Researchers who look into how and why students stick around have found that the students who get involved on their college campuses in some way are more likely to finish their college degrees. So here are some hacks to getting involved and sticking around long enough to finish college.<br />
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Student Activities and Organizations</h3>
Most campuses have an office called something like Student Involvement or Student Leadership or maybe Student Activities. These offices host student organizations and plan campus-wide student activities. Check them out.These days this office - along with many others - will have a presence on social media, if you Tweet, friend, tumble or Snap, look for them. Following their social media feeds is a great way to find out what is going on across campus.<br />
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Typically, the office will host some type of organizational fair early in the fall semester. Go to this fair. Every existing student clubs and organization will have a table, this is a good way to meet other students in that group. Ask them about the organization; How many members? What do they do? Are there opportunities for leadership positions? What does the group do for fun? Is this group on social media so you can check them out before deciding to join? If the campus doesn’t have a student organization of interests, starting an organization is often as easy as a filling out a form and getting a few other students to sign up.<br />
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<br />Campus Recreation Center</h3>
The campus rec center is another awesome place. If your student was an athlete in high school, or enjoys a good work-out, becoming a regular at the Rec is a good way to meet others and feel a part of the campus. In addition to work-out classes, and weight rooms, campus "Rec Centers" typically offer a variety of intramural team sports. Many of these teams are often looking for an extra player or a sub. Ask about signing up for a team.<br />
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For those students who are not athletic and not out-going, don't despair. There is something for everyone on a college campus. Here are a few other tips for getting involved and becoming part of the campus; Say hi to the people who sit next to you in class or who stand in the lunch line with you. If they look up from their phone long enough to say Hi back, introduce yourself. This strategy works in the dorm too. Get to know the other students on the floor – ask where they’re from, what they’re studying, what they like to do in their spare time. You might find you have many things in common.<br />
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<br />And That School Thing</h3>
Getting to know the professors can make campus less intimidating. I know, it sounds like a strange thing to do, I’m not suggesting that anyone ask them to go for coffee. But it's not a bad idea for students to introduce themselves to the professor after class. Ask questions about the class – How can I be successful in this class? This can make the classroom more personal. Professors are people too, they like to know that students are interested in doing. And, believe it or not, they were once college freshmen too! Form a study group with other members of the class. This is a social way to study and will help prepare students for exams.<br />
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College is a fabulous opportunity. Unfortunately, almost half of those who start college won’t finish. Don’t let that be you or your student. Making just one friend can be the difference between an epic college experience or an epic college fail.writerabbyfosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064436622363705167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637325303894944034.post-74862987514358980442016-08-09T06:44:00.002-07:002016-11-08T09:54:55.586-08:00It's About Damn Time<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX17498243" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX17498243" paraeid="{1ede0da5-3b6f-4d9b-9abf-1b34624703c4}{158}" paraid="161716171" style="-ms-word-wrap: break-word; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Today is election day and for the first time in my voting career, I just cast my ballot for a woman for President! In honor of this historic day, here's a little piece I wrote a few months back. </span><br />
<span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">This </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">summer </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Hillary </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Rodham </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Clinton accepted the Democratic party’s nomination for President of the United States. While anyone with access to a</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> newspaper, television or </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">a</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">ny </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">other type </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">of media saw this coming months ago, the day this announcement was made caused quite a stir</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">ring of emotions</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">among my feminist friends. Rightfully so, this is a huge accomplishment for women. </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">One f</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">riend </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">commented</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">on social media </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">that </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">any </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">feminist who cares about politics should </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">"</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">have tears in their eyes at this moment</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">"</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">. </span><span class="EOP SCX17498243" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="EOP SCX17498243" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCX17498243" paraeid="{1ede0da5-3b6f-4d9b-9abf-1b34624703c4}{163}" paraid="1677914407" style="-ms-word-wrap: break-word; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">I h</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">ad </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">to confess that I did not. </span><span class="EOP SCX17498243" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCX17498243" paraeid="{1ede0da5-3b6f-4d9b-9abf-1b34624703c4}{166}" paraid="1609195015" style="-ms-word-wrap: break-word; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX17498243" paraeid="{1ede0da5-3b6f-4d9b-9abf-1b34624703c4}{166}" paraid="1609195015" style="-ms-word-wrap: break-word; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">I have nothing against Hillary Clinton. Nothing against feminism. In fact, quite the contrary. </span><span class="EOP SCX17498243" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCX17498243" paraeid="{1ede0da5-3b6f-4d9b-9abf-1b34624703c4}{169}" paraid="1852215548" style="-ms-word-wrap: break-word; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX17498243" paraeid="{1ede0da5-3b6f-4d9b-9abf-1b34624703c4}{169}" paraid="1852215548" style="-ms-word-wrap: break-word; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">So why wasn't I moved to tears by this historic moment? </span><span class="EOP SCX17498243" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCX17498243" paraeid="{1ede0da5-3b6f-4d9b-9abf-1b34624703c4}{194}" paraid="529164956" style="-ms-word-wrap: break-word; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX17498243" paraeid="{1ede0da5-3b6f-4d9b-9abf-1b34624703c4}{194}" paraid="529164956" style="-ms-word-wrap: break-word; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">I think </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">the reason is simple. I</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> had every confidence </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">that this day </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">would happen</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> in my lifetime</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">. I</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">'m a Gen X'er. </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">I</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">was </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">fortunate to be born at a time when women have served as astronauts, policewomen, anchorwomen,</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> and </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">soldiers. </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">I watched in 1984 as Geraldine </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Ferraro</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> ran</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">as a Vice Presidential candidate on Walter Mondale's ill-fated ticket. </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">My first vote for governor in my home state was a choice between two competent women. </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">In my career, most of</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> my</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> bosses have been women. </span><span class="EOP SCX17498243" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX17498243" paraeid="{1ede0da5-3b6f-4d9b-9abf-1b34624703c4}{203}" paraid="639956060" style="-ms-word-wrap: break-word; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">I grew up watching The Bionic Woman, and Murphy Brown. I came of age at a time when I had a variety of </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">female role models who were defined not by husbands, but by their own choices. </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">I was there when we changed the meaning of “run like a girl”. </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">So</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">for me,</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> a woman running for president is a matter of course. </span><span class="EOP SCX17498243" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCX17498243" paraeid="{1ede0da5-3b6f-4d9b-9abf-1b34624703c4}{212}" paraid="1836071880" style="-ms-word-wrap: break-word; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Having said that, I do agree </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">with the sentiment – and slogan - </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">that it is </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">"</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">about damn time</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">"</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">. </span><span class="EOP SCX17498243" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Women have been </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">politically</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> active and interested since Abigail Adams implored her husband to "remember the women" (he didn't, for fear of being laughed out of the First Continental Congress). </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">But two hundred and forty years later, </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">is </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">about damn time. </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Realizing that I take for granted the achievements of women in politics, I think it </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">is also </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">high time to pay </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">hom</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">age</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> to some of the women who paved the way for Hillary Clinton's historic achievement</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">:</span><span class="EOP SCX17498243" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">To Elizabeth Cady </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Sta</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">n</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">ton</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">, Susan B. Anthony and their cohorts for starting an organized women's movement. </span><span class="EOP SCX17498243" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCX17498243" paraeid="{1ede0da5-3b6f-4d9b-9abf-1b34624703c4}{241}" paraid="1764836107" style="-ms-word-wrap: break-word; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">To Alice Paul and Lucy Burns </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">for b</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">rav</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">ing </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">tremendous </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">resistance</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> to fight for </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">women's </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">right to vote. </span><span class="EOP SCX17498243" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">To Shirley </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Chisolm</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">for running </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">for President back in 1972 and </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">for serving as the</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> first African-American woman elected to congress in 1968. </span><span class="EOP SCX17498243" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">To Bella Abzug, </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">for her activism in the </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">peace </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">and </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">anti</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">-nuclear </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">movements</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">of</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> the 1960's </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">which led to her </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">serv</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">ing </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">in the US House from 1971-1977. </span><span class="EOP SCX17498243" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">To </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Condoleezza</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Rice, </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Madeline</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Albright, Elizabeth Warren and all of the other women out there today fighting the good fight. We have come a long way. And, yes we still have a long way</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> to go before women are truly equal in today's society. A long way before an athletic coach who doesn't feel "ready" to coach an Olympic's </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">men's</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> team gladly accepts an opportunity to coach the women's team (</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">think about that for a minute</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">). We have a long way to go before equal pay is an accepted fact not a political issue. </span><span class="EOP SCX17498243" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX17498243" paraeid="{f8453360-a122-4268-9864-640ec7e2f2ae}{23}" paraid="384634913" style="-ms-word-wrap: break-word; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">We can savor Hillary's achievement for a moment. But then </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">it's</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> time to get back to work breaking through more walls, ceilings, and courts for equality. A wise </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">and accomplished </span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">woman once said, "Women's rights are human rights, and human rights are women's rights." Let's continu</span><span class="TextRun SCX17498243" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">e the fight for those rights.</span></div>
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writerabbyfosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064436622363705167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637325303894944034.post-10281982462272386942016-08-03T07:08:00.001-07:002016-09-29T08:04:53.789-07:00Not a Bad Movie<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Bad Moms’ is billed by its marketing team as a “hilarious new comedy”. Not one to easily fall prey to marketing hyperbole, I was skeptical, but anxious to see this light summer movie nonetheless. I expected it to be a nice break from the delta summer heat and thought it might be good for a few chuckles. I was delightfully surprised. </div>
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‘Bad Moms’ is a good movie with heart. It gives audiences more than cheap laughs and a contrite message about motherhood. Sprinkled in amidst the drinking, and lewd “un-mom” like behavior this movie packed some powerful messages. Messages about more than motherhood. This movie is a cinematic statement on what it means to “succeed” in our society. What it means to be a good mom, a good student, a good employee, a good person. It makes us take a second look at the ideal suburban, soccer mom with over-scheduled kids. It makes us think about our schools and what it is we want our kids to get out of them. Is it enough that they be able to ace a standardized test? It makes us think about the high pressure to perform, to be better than others. And ultimately the impossibility of perfection. </div>
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There were cheap laughs, but also some good ones, (“The history channel was right, you’re generation is the greatest generation”). There were also solid performances from its stars, Miley Kunis, Kristen Bell and Kathryn Hahn. But when you take in this summer treat, watch for Jada Pinkett Smith who always delivers, and savor the exploits of the nemesis to Kunis’ character, Christina Applegate, who is a solid comedic actress. </div>
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In my estimation, ‘Bad Moms’ demonstrates of few of the absurdities of our current generation gaps. Such as, millennials telling their bosses about their night before exploits, or skateboarding around the office. Along with their fondness for trying to look interesting when they are not really interesting at all. But then we really can’t judge others by their looks, as the characters in this movie discovered. The person who appears perfect, who seems to have every aspect of their life in order, may be trying desperately hard to hold the very fragile pieces of their life together. Perhaps the biggest message of all from ‘Bad Moms’, is simply not to judge others period. </div>
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writerabbyfosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064436622363705167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637325303894944034.post-53861568631984679292016-07-27T07:14:00.000-07:002017-01-11T08:45:30.422-08:00For the Friends of Single Women<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX203624708" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
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<span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“We are complete with or without a mate, with or without a child.” Jennifer Aniston</span><span class="EOP SCX203624708" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">I couldn’t agree more. I am not an actress. I am not a model. I am not a celebrity of any kind. I am a single woman</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">. I have</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">no children</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">. </span><span class="EOP SCX203624708" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Like </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Aniston, I too want to participate in the larger conversation on how society views women. I particularly want to focus on the societal view of single women. </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">And like Aniston, </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">I too am fed up. F</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ed up with the </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">prevalent</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> societal </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">belief</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> that a woman is incomplete without a mate. </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">F</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ed up with friends, fami</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ly, co-workers, casual </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">a</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">cquainta</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">nces</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">insistent on </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“fixing” my single status. </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">This sends the message that </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">a woman should not be single. </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">That it is unnatural. </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Fo</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">r a variety of reasons, I am a woman in my forties who has never married</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> and is childfree</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">. </span><span class="EOP SCX203624708" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">My single, non-mom status is </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">shocking, contrary, even wrong, </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">according </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">to some people in our society.</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Yet by all accounts, I am a productive, model citizen. I</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> have been gainful</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ly</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> employed </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">my entire </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">adulthood. I </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">vote</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">– </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">knowledg</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">e</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ably</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">. I </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">am a </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">mentor. I have never been in jail, sued, or had any legal problems. </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">I own a home. I have a dog. I spoil my nieces and my </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">nephew. </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Still, for many</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">my life is incomplete. </span><span class="EOP SCX203624708" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><br />
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<span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Shouldn't I be the one to decide if my life is incomplete? </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Don't I, </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">as </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Aniston articulately stated, </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">get "</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">to determine </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">(my)</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> own ‘happily ever after’</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">? </span><span class="EOP SCX203624708" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">So, p</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">lease </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">stop </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">as</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">king, </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“how ‘bout that guy?” every time we are out to </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">lunch, </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">dinner</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> or drinks</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">. Please don’t make my love life the central topic of every conversation we have. </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Please t</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">alk to me about my work. Talk to me about my community involvement. Talk to me about my writing, or hiking, or golf or other interests. When you ask me what I have been up to and there is not one mention of a man in my response, please don’t continue digging for the reason behind</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">the </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">life sans </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">man </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">or mate</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> – if I want to discuss it with you, I will bring it up.</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> My love life is not a game. I can see how you might think so, </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">however, what will all the </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">recent reality TV shows and phone apps</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> on the subject</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">. </span><span class="EOP SCX203624708" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The lives of single women, celebrity or not, are our lives. Assuming that what makes you happy, that what makes your life complete i</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">s indicative of </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">what is lacking from m</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">y life </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">is what </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">is known as </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">p</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">rojecting. Projecting is ascribing </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">your feelings, thoughts, and attitudes onto others. By definition, these are your feelings, thoughts, and attitudes. They are not necessarily mine</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">. N</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">or </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">are those feelings, thoughts and attitudes </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">necessarily shared by </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">your other single or childfree friend</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">s</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, cousin</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">s</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, sister</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">s</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, niece</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">s</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">daughter</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">s</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> or co-worker</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">s</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">. </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">So, please, let us </span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">deter</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">mine</span><span class="TextRun SCX203624708" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> 'our own happily ever after'. </span><span class="EOP SCX203624708" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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writerabbyfosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064436622363705167noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637325303894944034.post-57000084060823639862016-07-19T12:13:00.001-07:002016-07-19T12:15:44.439-07:00Ghost Girls Rule<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">With my buttered popcorn and a Diet Coke I settled into the cushioned
theater seat, snuggling into my favorite cotton sweater and eagerly awaited the
opening of the Ghostbusters reboot. Summer movies are always filled with
promise. Action packed or comedy, their promos promise an exciting diversion
from the summer heat. Summer reboots often bring an extra special anticipation.
Like a summer festival or family reunion. There is the promise of seeing old
friends or distant, sometimes eccentric relatives. And like any family reunion,
it sounds like a good idea, but in reality it can go either way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I took in the Ghostbusters reboot with high expectations. After
seeing the original no less than fifty times (I spent 1988 babysitting a four
year old) I was anxious to see how the new heroines would fair against those
slimy spirits. </span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">In the original, it was Bill Murray’s dry deliveries that got
me through repeated viewings. If I had to do it over again with the reboot, it
would likely by Kate McKinnon in her role as the mostly silent, but always
moving, quirky and mad tech savvy scientist, Jillian Holzmann, who would get me
through endless rewinds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">All in all, the cast delivered. Melissa McCarthy, an
established powerhouse, didn’t disappoint, despite the lack of story line for
her character, Abby Yates. Overall, the storyline lacked depth. The writers spent
much of the screen time explaining the gizmos created by McKinnon’s Holtzmann, instead
of working them into a story. This had the effect of dragging down the action
and momentum. The less than stellar script was somewhat compensated by a solid
cast. Kristin Wiig looked every bit the super hero flying through the vortex to
save her friend and colleague Abby. And Leslie Jones turned in a solid performance
in her first major film role as the positive believer turned Ghostbuster, Patty
Tolan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The fun of a reboot, is always the cameo appearances by
original cast members. The performances by Murray, Potts, Aykroyd and Hudson
didn’t disappoint. In particular, the drive-by showing of Aykroyd, “I ain’t
afraid a no ghost.” In fact, I was left wanting to see more of the original
team. The post-closing cameos are also worth sticking around to see.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Personally, I always enjoy a little subtle humor in my
movies and while this script lacked much of that, the beginning tour guide does
get it in a few jabs, including, “This is where P.T. Barnum came up with the
idea to enslave elephants.” For the most part, the Ghostbusters reboot is a fun
summer diversion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
writerabbyfosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064436622363705167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637325303894944034.post-28121766677586590482016-07-11T10:11:00.001-07:002016-07-11T10:11:54.459-07:00Be Kind<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX140847478" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX140847478" paraeid="{5bf1f345-1641-4be8-8337-e58735eb6d64}{134}" paraid="1906521994" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX140847478" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX140847478" paraeid="{5bf1f345-1641-4be8-8337-e58735eb6d64}{142}" paraid="1520946512" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Last week I sat down to write my blo</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">g</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> which was going to be about my latest dilemma: </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Hulu or Netflix – which one stays and which one goes? </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">But then, all hell broke loose. Two more black men gunned down by police officers. Police officers overseeing a peaceful demonstration in Dallas gunned down by a sniper. </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">My original blog topic was now rendered</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> beyond trivial. </span><span class="EOP SCX140847478" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX140847478" paraeid="{5bf1f345-1641-4be8-8337-e58735eb6d64}{142}" paraid="1520946512" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCX140847478" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br />
</span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX140847478" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{f5f8137e-ba2f-4933-923a-8dd129980b9a}{43}" paraid="643133145" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;" xml:lang="EN-US">
<span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">What was going on in this country </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">was big. </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Important. </span><span class="EOP SCX140847478" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX140847478" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX140847478" paraeid="{5bf1f345-1641-4be8-8337-e58735eb6d64}{151}" paraid="932733652" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX140847478" paraeid="{5bf1f345-1641-4be8-8337-e58735eb6d64}{151}" paraid="932733652" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Like many Americans I’m tired of the sadness. Tired of the </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">anger</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">. </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Tired of the same debates over and over again with no change. </span><span class="EOP SCX140847478" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX140847478" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX140847478" paraeid="{5bf1f345-1641-4be8-8337-e58735eb6d64}{194}" paraid="432774140" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX140847478" paraeid="{5bf1f345-1641-4be8-8337-e58735eb6d64}{194}" paraid="432774140" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Inevitably, like driving past a car accident, I can’t help but glance at the posts and comments on social media. </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">I know I shouldn't. I know it will haunt me for the rest of the day, but I can't help myself. The c</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">omments </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">demonstrate just how much we view, perceive and understand the events in our society based on our </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">own </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">experience with society</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> without ever t</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">r</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">ying </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">to look at the events from another person's point of view. Take this </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">the response to a </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCX140847478" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif; background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">GiF</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> advocating </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">dia</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">log</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">ue</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> about the racism </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">in our society. </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">One commenter didn’t believe racism exists, if </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">it did, </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">s</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">he questioned, how did Oprah and the hundreds of other </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">"</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">celebrities</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">, </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">pilots, </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">d</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">i</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">r</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">ectors</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> and other elite minority” (not sure what that means)</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> achieve success</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">?</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> I</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">n h</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">er (white) </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">view </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">it seems that </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">those w</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">ho complained about racism “felt entitled and did </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">nit</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> (sic) want to work</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">". </span><span class="EOP SCX140847478" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX140847478" paraeid="{5bf1f345-1641-4be8-8337-e58735eb6d64}{215}" paraid="366529309" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">I don't know what all Oprah Winfrey, or other African American </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">"</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">celebrities</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">,</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">pilots, directors and other 'elite minority'" people experience on their way to become who they are. </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">But I am convinced that their experience in our society is vastly different from my own. </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">I </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">also </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">don't know what any of the students in my classrooms, or my </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">n</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">eighbors</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">, or the woman who rang up my items at Target have gone through</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> in their lifetime</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">. </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">I don't know </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">the experiences </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">of all those million Americans who struggle to make ends meet, who worry about where their next meal is coming from, or t</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">he experiences of </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">t</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">hose who don't have housing. </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">I don’t try to guess. I</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> don’t make assumptions about people who drive up to social service offices in new shiny cars – maybe they work there, maybe they are there for services and borrowed a car, or maybe they are there for service and do happen to own a new shiny car. What difference does that make in my life? </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">I</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">t does me no good to make assumptions. </span><span class="EOP SCX140847478" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX140847478" paraeid="{5bf1f345-1641-4be8-8337-e58735eb6d64}{220}" paraid="1931174306" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">I </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">really </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">don't </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">know a person’s will. </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">I </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">don’t know another person’s experiences. </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">I </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">can’t know what any other person, black, white, brown or red, has gone through on any given day or in their lifetime. </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">It is pointless for me to try and make assumptions about these things. To what end? </span><span class="EOP SCX140847478" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX140847478" paraeid="{5bf1f345-1641-4be8-8337-e58735eb6d64}{235}" paraid="2088600090" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">W</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">hat </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">I do know is </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">this. T</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">hat when I am patient and kind with those I encounter on any given day – whether it be in traffic, in an elevator, </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">in my work or in my home. When I don’t make assumptions about their motives, or how they are out to get me, or how they must feel </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">entitled</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> and how dare they? I know that </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">when I approach people </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">with </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">kindness and patience I often get </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">kindness and </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">patience </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">in return. </span><span class="EOP SCX140847478" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><br />
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<div class="Paragraph SCX140847478" paraeid="{5bf1f345-1641-4be8-8337-e58735eb6d64}{253}" paraid="300755209" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">I challenge anyone reading this </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">to give this a try. Just </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">for </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">one </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">week</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">, wh</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">en you get your morning coffee – or if you’re switching back to soda due to the price increase – </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">be kind to the barista or </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">conven</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">ience</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> store clerk</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">, don't judge the </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Taurus</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> driver who cut you off in traffic, or the co-worker who </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">has been in bad mood for the last twenty-five years</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">. B</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">e kind to everyone you meet. You don’t know what kind of day they are having, you don’t know what happened to them the night before, the day before, the year before. </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Do you want them judging you? </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Making assumptions about how you came to be the way you are? </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">I don't. </span><span class="EOP SCX140847478" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">I challenge you, don't judge, </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">b</span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">e kind, be patience </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">and </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">just </span><span class="TextRun SCX140847478" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">see how others react to you. </span><span class="EOP SCX140847478" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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writerabbyfosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064436622363705167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637325303894944034.post-60634616956424416312016-07-05T09:22:00.000-07:002016-07-07T06:31:58.345-07:00Super Tuesday left me Super AfraidAuthor's Note: (This was written in the early morning hours the day after Super Tuesday primaries.)<br />
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I couldn’t sleep. Trump victories on Super Tuesday kept me awake worrying about the future of our country. Did that really just happen? People actually think someone who has called himself "The Donald" will make a good leader of the free world? It left many with many questions.<br />
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First, how will he maintain diplomatic affairs? Part of being a super power is maintaining positive relationships with other countries. He seems to alienate (and offend) everyone. He insults anyone who disagrees with him, or challenges him. This is not diplomacy. This is bullying.<br />
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Second, are we (Americans) so swayed by sound bites and hyperbole that we use our one voice to vote for someone who has not explained how he will address any of our problems? Again, I’m not talking about sound bites “we will make America great again” “build a wall”, I’m talking about HOW. How will these things be done. What tactics, what strategies will be used? Who will you get to help you in this endeavor? These are things I need to know before I cast my vote. That once voice, that one lone act that allows me to participate in the leadership – and future direction – of my country is too precious to waste on mere sound bites and fear mongering.<br />
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I believe in listening to each candidate before I make up my mind. I read news articles – many, not just from one source – I read commentary from those who spend their days immersed in the world of politics – surely, they have picked up a few insights – and then I go to the candidate’s website to read how they describe the issues. This tells me which issues they view as important. I visited Presidential Candidate Donald Trump’s website recently. Under his Issues tab, he lists four categories. I visited Hillary Clinton’s website, she lists 28 issues and describes how she will address them. Marco Rubio breaks issues down into around 30 categories – he lists Russia and China as issues instead of lumping foreign relations under a nice tight umbrella (nothing wrong with that, I guess). He also lists “immigration” as an issue and has a separate category for “Sanctuary Cities” which could easily fall under immigration. But whatev. These are the types of nuances that, to me as a voter, I find worth looking into. I look at what candidates have to say under these headings. What is the substance? Do they convince me that they have studied this issue, that they understand how to solve the problem? Or are they just strewing key words together like “discouraging corporate inversions, adding a huge number of new jobs, and making America globally competitive again (donaldtrump.org). What does this mean, exactly? What jobs? What number is "huge" exactly? Give me something meaningful.writerabbyfosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064436622363705167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637325303894944034.post-52411632430551609792016-06-14T09:43:00.000-07:002016-06-14T09:45:20.295-07:00Not a Day for Politics<div class="MsoNormal">
I've struggled with words to express my outrage and disappointment over the tragic events in Orlando this past weekend. Then a Facebook friend shared a speech Robert F. Kennedy gave on April 5,
1968 in Cleveland Ohio (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhANTymDIYk&noredirect=1). I found these words as relevant today as they were 48 years ago and since there is no possible way I could express the same sentiment any more eloquently than Senator Bobby Kennedy, I share his powerful words here with you; </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">"This is a time of shame and sorrow. It is not a day for
politics. I have saved this one opportunity, my only event of today, to speak
briefly to you about the mindless menace of violence in America which again
stains our land and every one of our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 17.15pt; margin: 4.3pt 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">It is not the concern of any one race. The victims of the
violence are black and white, rich and poor, young and old, famous and unknown.
They are, most important of all, human beings whom other human beings loved and
needed. No one - no matter where he lives or what he does - can be certain who
will suffer from some senseless act of bloodshed. And yet it goes on and on and
on in this country of ours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 17.15pt; margin: 4.3pt 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Why? What has violence ever accomplished? What has it ever
created? No martyr's cause has ever been stilled by an assassin's bullet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 17.15pt; margin: 4.3pt 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">No wrongs have ever been righted by riots and civil disorders. A
sniper is only a coward, not a hero; and an uncontrolled, uncontrollable mob is
only the voice of madness, not the voice of reason.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 17.15pt; margin: 4.3pt 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Whenever any American's life is taken by another American
unnecessarily - whether it is done in the name of the law or in the defiance of
the law, by one man or a gang, in cold blood or in passion, in an attack of
violence or in response to violence - whenever we tear at the fabric of the
life which another man has painfully and clumsily woven for himself and his
children, the whole nation is degraded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 17.15pt; margin: 4.3pt 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">"Among free men," said Abraham Lincoln, "there
can be no successful appeal from the ballot to the bullet; and those who take
such appeal are sure to lose their cause and pay the costs."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Yet we seemingly tolerate a rising level of violence that
ignores our common humanity and our claims to civilization alike. We calmly
accept newspaper reports of civilian slaughter in far-off lands. We glorify
killing on movie and television screens and call it entertainment. We make it
easy for men of all shades of sanity to acquire whatever weapons and ammunition
they desire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Too often we honor swagger and bluster and wielders of force;
too often we excuse those who are willing to build their own lives on the
shattered dreams of others. Some Americans who preach non-violence abroad fail
to practice it here at home. Some who accuse others of inciting riots have by
their own conduct invited them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Some look for scapegoats, others look for conspiracies, but this
much is clear: violence breeds violence, repression brings retaliation, and
only a cleansing of our whole society can remove this sickness from our soul.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 17.15pt; margin: 4.3pt 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">For there is another kind of violence, slower but just as deadly
destructive as the shot or the bomb in the night. This is the violence of
institutions; indifference and inaction and slow decay. This is the violence
that afflicts the poor, that poisons relations between men because their skin
has different colors. This is the slow destruction of a child by hunger, and
schools without books and homes without heat in the winter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 17.15pt; margin: 4.3pt 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">This is the breaking of a man's spirit by denying him the chance
to stand as a father and as a man among other men. And this too afflicts us
all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 17.15pt; margin: 4.3pt 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">I have not come here to propose a set of specific remedies nor
is there a single set. For a broad and adequate outline we know what must be
done. When you teach a man to hate and fear his brother, when you teach that he
is a lesser man because of his color or his beliefs or the policies he pursues,
when you teach that those who differ from you threaten your freedom or your job
or your family, then you also learn to confront others not as fellow citizens
but as enemies, to be met not with cooperation but with conquest; to be
subjugated and mastered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 17.15pt; margin: 4.3pt 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">We learn, at the last, to look at our brothers as aliens, men
with whom we share a city, but not a community; men bound to us in common
dwelling, but not in common effort. We learn to share only a common fear, only
a common desire to retreat from each other, only a common impulse to meet
disagreement with force. For all this, there are no final answers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 17.15pt; margin: 4.3pt 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Yet we know what we must do. It is to achieve true justice among
our fellow citizens. The question is not what programs we should seek to enact.
The question is whether we can find in our own midst and in our own hearts that
leadership of humane purpose that will recognize the terrible truths of our
existence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 17.15pt; margin: 4.3pt 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">We must admit the vanity of our false distinctions among men and
learn to find our own advancement in the search for the advancement of others.
We must admit in ourselves that our own children's future cannot be built on
the misfortunes of others. We must recognize that this short life can neither be
ennobled or enriched by hatred or revenge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 17.15pt; margin: 4.3pt 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Our lives on this planet are too short and the work to be done
too great to let this spirit flourish any longer in our land. Of course we
cannot vanquish it with a program, nor with a resolution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 17.15pt; margin: 4.3pt 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">But we can perhaps remember, if only for a time, that those who
live with us are our brothers, that they share with us the same short moment of
life; that they seek, as do we, nothing but the chance to live out their lives
in purpose and in happiness, winning what satisfaction and fulfillment they
can.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 17.15pt; margin: 4.3pt 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Surely,
this bond of common faith, this bond of common goal, can begin to teach us
something. Surely, we can learn, at least, to look at those around us as fellow
men, and surely we can begin to work a little harder to bind up the wounds
among us and to become in our own hearts brothers and countrymen once again." ~RFK<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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writerabbyfosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064436622363705167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637325303894944034.post-4343092480280531592016-06-10T17:22:00.003-07:002016-09-01T06:08:26.630-07:00The Greatest Inspiration<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">~Abby Foster</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">This afternoon as I sat down for a break after returning from my real job and before beginning my dream job as a writer, I stumbled across the televised broadcast of Muhammad Ali’s memorial service. Soon, my plan to relax for a few minutes before turning my attention to my latest writing project was derailed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">I couldn’t turn away. I was mesmerized by one inspiring speaker after another. Speakers like young Natasha Mundkur who passionately spoke about how Ali changed her life. Remember that name. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">I, of course, knew about Muhammed Ali. I knew he was a boxer. I knew he was born Cassius Clay. I knew he had a penchant for speaking in rhyme. I knew he was kind and I knew he had a good sense of humor. If only I had known how so much more he was. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">If you missed the service, search your social media sites. If you value social justice, you will not be disappointed. In fact, if you are human, you will not be disappointed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Tributes and memories of this former athlete revealed a life not only well lived but almost carefully crafted to culminate at this moment at this time. His insistence on a Muslim funeral at a time when many Americans fear Muslims was masterful. In this final act, he demonstrated peace, love, and unity at its best. Speakers and religious leaders representing a variety of ethnicities and religions were united in their respect and admiration for this peaceful man. Each speaker shared their first-hand accounts of the generosity of this man known as The Greatest. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">His elegant, articulate widow, Lonnie, shared the story of this African-American future boxer, born in segregated Louisville Kentucky who encountered a white police officer at a young age. This encounter was not the hostile, violent encounter we hear about all too often in recent times. Young Casius Clay’s encounter with the white police officer ended in a spectacularly different way. This white officer listened to the angry twelve-year-old who wanted to beat up the thief who stole his bike. The officer listened to the youth and then introduced him to the sport of boxing. Lonnie Ali said, “When a cop and an inner city kid talk, miracles can happen.”</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">This celebration of a unique and inspiring life provided so many lessons for those who were lucky enough to catch it; lessons in loving each other, being kind to each other, and believing in ourselves. Casius Clay, who chose his name, Muhammed Ali after his conversion to Islam, lived his life on his own terms. As an athlete, he inspired kids of all ages, other boxers, aspiring journalists, and at least one future president. As a man he challenged mainstream Americans by expanding our views on religion, war, and poverty here and abroad. In life and in death Ali had much to say and he said it well. Rest in peace.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
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writerabbyfosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064436622363705167noreply@blogger.com0