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This is Halloween...
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Today is Halloween. It is one of my favorite “holidays” and it is by far during one of my favorite times of year--Autumn.

I have always loved Autumn. I have always felt it was a time of renewal. A time of new beginnings. A time a crisp Fall air and where change is proclaimed as the theme through leaves and weather.

I have learned that my feeling of this new beginning is hardwired in my DNA. For, my peeps have a holiday that turns out is what Halloween is based on. It is Samhuinn.

The highlights of this celtic holiday are a celebration of the end of the year where people stock up on food for the winter. It is the day before the first day of the celtic new year and because everything is dying, the border between this world and the Otherworld is thin and the dead are allowed to reach back though the veil between the dead and the living. People lit bonfires to ward away the evil spirits and wore costumes to better blend in with the evil spirits for the day. Samhag (turnips) were hollowed out and faces carved in them to make lanterns and ward off evil spirits from houses.

As you can see, most of how we celebrate Halloween today is based on Samhuinn. Just one of the many wonderful holidays brought to you by the Scottish!

You’re welcome.
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Is hate against the law?
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Yesterday President Obama signed into law the Hate Crime bill which “makes it a federal crime to assault an individual because of his or her sexual orientation or gender identity.” (click here to read full CNN story)

I am ambivalent about this. Wait! Don’t go crazy yet. Please let me explain. First and foremost, it is MOST important that I clearly state how I am glad that people finally have protection from abuse directly related to their sexual orientation or gender identity--it is LONG overdue. Cases like that of Matthew Shepard are too numerous, too disturbing and unacceptable.

I have read that certain conservative Christians are concerned that opinions spoken from the pulpit against homosexuality will become illegal. But, the bill that the president signed clearly states that it is only in the assault against an individual that this becomes illegal. So, why are certain Christians upset?

Part of this is probably due to seeing their hold on the culture in America slip away. Part of this is probably genuinely due to fear of loosing their right to free speech. Part of this is probably due to ignorance in not understanding the need for this law or the actual wording of the law itself. Whatever the reason, I firmly believe that this small faction of Christians who make anti-homosexuality their banner, have every right to believe as they wish and every freedom to speak what they feel about it.

My ambivalence centers around the big question that people fail to ask about this law, or any law: “What are the unintended consequences of this law?”

When a law is passed there are all too often unintended consequences that arise which create other legal issues that must be addressed. I could list many examples, but here is one: The 18th Amendment to the Constitution, or the “Prohibition Act.” This law prohibited the sale, manufacturing or transportation of alcohol. The unintended consequences were the rise of underground alcohol sales through bootleging and speakeasy clubs. The government did not have the resources to combat these or the desire to do so. Eventually, people realized that bringing an alcoholic beverage into a State was not unconstitutional and therefore needed repealing. (note: I’m not comparing these two laws on their merits, I’m speaking here of unintended consequences of laws.)

What will be the unintended consequences of this Hate Crime law? Will it be that uneducated people use their ignorant understanding of this law to say that thoughts and opinions are illegal? Will it be that people of faith will show their ignorance of the necessity of this law in such a way that it keeps people from entering in a relationship with God?

Regardless of where you stand on these issues, let’s make sure people are still free to speak their mind (especially those with whom we disagree) and let’s make sure people are no longer assaulted (verbally or physically) because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Is hate against the law? Only in a perfect world. Wow. I really hate hate.

related blog:
“Freedom From Speech”

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Georgia Boy Choir
Saturday, October 24, 2009
I am chaperoning the Georgia Boy Choir Fall retreat at Camp Hope in Dahlonega, GA. These pre-pubescent boys (usually called “tweeners” now) are being taught music history, music appreciation, music theory and musicianship as the young boys in the Intermediate and Concert Choirs rehears their Christmas concert music.

Mr. White also instills in the boys to “be the best boy you can be”. He does this by expecting a lot out of them and intentionally teaching them life lessons about manners and being gentlemen that they fail to get anywhere, barring home...and too many homes have forgone this teaching, as well. His philosophy is that boys do not do exceptional things because we do not expect exceptional things out of them.

It is amazing to see these boys learn music that I didn’t sing until college and hear them perform it perfectly. Thank you Mr. White for the level of integrity you have and for establishing a legacy of excellence with these boys. Thank you, Georgia Boy Choir, for helping my son to be the best boy he can be!
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My own personal Jihad
Friday, October 23, 2009
My depression is sneaky, cunning, cleaver, and pure evil. It has laid out an IED and I have inadvertently set it off. But, just like the terrorists it is, it hasn’t stopped with this attack. It is sending in a faithful disciple with a dirty bomb strapped to his chest today to try to do me in and if that doesn’t do the job, it has a sniper on a mountain top that is taking pop shots at me as I try to move along my journey and on to higher ground.

I have my own counter insurgency plan and team. It involves all the regular soldiers you might see in any RPG. I have a scout who goes out before me to see if there may be any obvious signs of trouble. I have the big guy who is responsible for hand-to-hand combat. I have the smart girl who is responsible for communications and vehicles. I have the the crazy guy who is the weapons specialist with a penchant for explosives.

Even with my special ops team, the enemy can get through with a successful strike because the enemy is successful at laying traps that are hard to find. The enemy is good at finding a weakness and exploiting it. Sometimes I feel as though I am nothing but weakness for I’ve had my share of casualties. My soldiers have spent time getting patched up from horrible wounds.

However, I have found the source of healing. I have found the source of amazing battle armor. This has insured my success thus far at combating this enemy. It is my hope, The Source will enable my team to continue to find the enemy out and be successful at helping me win this battle, for I read in a Book that the battle has already been won.
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Anniversary #14
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
14 years ago today, I made one of, if not THE, best decision I have ever made in my life. I married my wife, Susan. Our story is amazing (as I’m sure yours is). If you have the time I would love to tell you about it.

But, today, I remember that day, 14 yrs ago when I began the most amazing journey of my life...It was a beautiful Fall day. She was (and still is) a beautiful bride. We had a perfect ceremony where we shared communion with everyone in a packed church. Great music. The support of loving friends and family...if I knew then what I know now, I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.

Susan is my greatest soul mate, closest friend, smokin’ hot lover, most trusted confidant, greatest encourager, spark of inspiration and my healthiest obsession. There is not a day that goes by that I am not thinking about and amazed by her beauty.

Susan, I love you, only you, only forever.

(The words “only you” are engraved inside Susan’s wedding ring. The words “only forever” are engraved inside my wedding ring.)

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The boy who cried racism -- a post modern parable
Monday, October 19, 2009
There once was a boy, little Timmy, who lived in a town where he heard the town crier tell everyone about the perils of racism. Racism lurked about the edges of the town during the day and night finding those who it thought were inferior to devour, thereby proclaiming it’s own superiority and insuring it’s own power over everyone.

Little Timmy was instructed that if he saw racism rear its ugly head, he was to yell to the top of his lungs, “Racism! Racism!” so that everyone in the town would come out to the aid of one who was being brutally attacked by it.

Racism was something that little Timmy began keeping a watchful eye out for. One day, he heard racism growling from behind a bush and before he knew it racism pounced on him. With great fear but resolve he yelled to the top of his lungs, “Racism! Racism!” as it began its attack. Everyone stopped what they were doing and ran out to aid little Timmy in fighting racism. As the towns people gathered they found racism cowardly running away. Little Timmy had all the signs of being attacked by racism. He was belittled. He was hurt. He was angry. He was forever scarred by this attack. The towns people rallied around little Timmy and tried to encourage him and instill hope in him.

Not long after, little Timmy felt racism breathing down his neck and knew that it was about to pounce on him again. He yelled, to the top of his lungs, “Racism! Racism!” and again, everyone in the town stopped what they were doing to come to little Timmy’s aid. This time as the people gathered, they began looking around for racism but they couldn’t find it. Racism had become a little more cunning and was able to hide more quickly from the crowd. Little Timmy assured everyone that racism was there and that even though racism had not attacked him as before, it wasn’t for its lack of trying. Everyone told little Timmy that he was lucky and to keep vigilant in his watch.

This continued to happen; little Timmy seeing racism somewhere, yelling out “Racism! Racism!” to the top of his lungs and all the towns people coming out to his aid. But, each time racism was harder to find. Sometimes the attacks of racism would seem visible. Other times, the towns people would leave wondering why little Timmy cried out for everyone’s aid. As little Timmy continued to cry out “Racism!” fewer and fewer towns people came out to help little Timmy. Eventually, the towns people grew deaf to the drones of “Racism!” by little Timmy and just lazily labeled anyone Timmy pointed to as a racist.

Racism still existed. But, it no longer had to lurk around the edges of the town seeking whom it would devour. It walked freely about the town because it no longer feared the undiscerning cries of little Timmy or anyone else in the town. Real racism was no longer distinguishable from discrimination, prejudice or any other racial injustice that ran rampant about the town. As people all over town were wrongly accused of racism, real racism stood close by, laughing at the ignorance of the people and licking its lips for its next victim.

The end.

What can we learn from this parable?
(the obvious) Racism is real. Racism seeks to wound and disparage. Racism seeks power. Its lasting effects are anger and scarring.
(the not-so-obvious) We also learn that uneducated, non-discerning cries of “racism” do nothing but undermine the need to address real racism.

What other problems does post-modern racism bring?
1) The idea that one can only understand, comment on or address racism only if one is non-anglo. If we are all to evolve, if we are all to bring to fruition the “dream” of a better place, we must reach a better place together.
2) The idea that any statement or action by someone anglo that someone non-anglo doesn’t agree with is racist. If we are all to evolve, if we are to bring to fruition the “dream” of a better place, we must be able to have honest, respectful discourse and open disagreements on ideas.
3) The idea that racism is no longer an issue since “I’m not racist.” If we are all to evolve, if we are all to bring to fruition the “dream” of a better place, we must be vigilant in our search for racism and right the wrongs innate in racism. If racism is an issue for one, it is an issue for all.

The post script to this parable is that there are not enough people of power seeking to right the wrongs of racial injustice. If more people of power were doing this, those like “little Timmy” would not feel as they were the lone voice in town trying to draw everyone’s attention to this important issue.

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It’s a Kilt laddie...
Sunday, October 18, 2009
I’m hanging out with my kilted brethren at the 2009 Scottish Highland Games held at Stone Mountain today. It’s always a fun time to be with people who share the same heritage and culture from Scotland.

At the Highland Games there is always a focus back to a time when we Scots were a fighting people. Lots of swords, knives and shields. The games usually involve enormous men in kilts throwing something high, far, or end over end. There are demonstrations of falconry, trained dog sheep herding, etc. And, there is a big focus on the arts: piping, drumming, fiddling, dancing and celtic art. Oh, and as if cliche, there is usually lots of beer and scotch sold and shared.

However, the main focus is clear: family. Every man there, whether kilted or not, is your brother. Every woman there is your sister. There are clan tents, clan celebrations and even a parade of tartans to proclaim we are all one--even though our clan really is the best.

I love attending this event (and a few other Scottish events throughout the year.) I love sporting my clan’s tartan. If you don’t know your genealogy, I encourage you get started. It will never be any easier to obtain names and memories from family members than it is right now...so get started!

Click here to begin a free and easy genealogy at Geni.com.

So here are a few answers to the famous kilt question:
“My mum always told me, ‘A lady never asks and a gentlemen never tells.’”
“My Scottish pride.”
“Well, how warm are yer hands?”
(and I know a few others that are not so family friendly...)

One more:
“You know why we call it a kilt? Because that’s what we did to the last guy who called it a skirt!”

...Slainte!
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Peregrinate Plaid blog
...is a place to openly share ideas, questions and discoveries from our own journey.
It is only in each of us sharing from our own life experience that we get a clearer understanding of truth and real faith.

(go to Peregrinate Plaid begins in blog Archive.)