Philadelphia City Hall, Author Toniklemm, (CC BY-SA 4.0 International)
“For He will deliver the needy when he cries, The poor also, and him who has no helper” (Ps. 72: 12).
I never expected to fall in love with a city, let alone one not my own.
A Proud New Yorker
I was born and raised in New York City, proud to be the daughter of an immigrant family from Eastern Europe, proud of the hustle and bustle of the city.
I grew up in an Irish/Italian neighborhood in the Bronx, but covered the courts in all seven of New York City’s boroughs and bedroom suburbs.
I loved the cultural aspects of the city — theater, ballet, opera — as well as its diversity. I knew its nooks, crannies, and subway routes, could find my way along its pot-holed streets and traffic clogged highways, more importantly, could locate the municipal parking lots near every courthouse.
I loved the Manhattan skyline, the East River Drive, Central Park. I loved the Palisades Parkway, Rockefeller Center, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, Jones Beach. I loved Fifth Avenue at Christmas, the glitz, the crowds, the pretzel vendors.
Tolerance – New York Style
New Yorkers do not all love one another. For the most part, however, they tolerate one another. Elbow to elbow during a sale at Macy’s or shoulder to shoulder at Ground Zero, they share the crowded island — Hasidic jewelers, Indian cabbies, Greek restaurant owners, Cuban bus boys, and Southampton matrons alike.
A Race Run Everyday
Whatever their race, ethnicity, or point of origin, the vast majority of New Yorkers do not consider the city glamorous. For them, New York is driven, a race run everyday. Taxi horns, ambulance sirens, and gun shots are merely counterpoint in the cacophonous song of a great city.
New York’s Darker Side
The city does have a darker side, make no mistake.
New York has its share of poverty, racial tension, drugs, mob activity, and gang-related violence. Though crime rates have been down in the last few years, rapes and murders are not unusual. New York crowds afford the newcomer anonymity, but anonymity can all too quickly lead to alienation.
By the ‘90s the pace, the congestion, the filth, the crime, most of all the homelessness — the sharp contrast between “haves” and “have nots” — had me longing for a different life. Read more…
Autumn leaves, Author W.carter, (CC BY-SA 4.0 International)
When I let Aretha (not her real name) know that I wanted to do a book on poverty and asked for permission to include aspects of her life in the book, she was enthusiastic. “People are livin’ without heat. Somebody’s gotta do somethin’,” she said.
This is narrative non-fiction. Names have been changed in the interest of privacy. But events like these are playing out daily in cities across America. They reflect tragic statistical realities.
The conclusions reached and solutions proposed constitute my best efforts to understand and respond to heart wrenching situations, many of which I have observed firsthand. Admittedly, those conclusions may be in error; the solutions, inadequate. I implore greater minds to do better.
Despite all this, I have tried to remain faithful to Aretha’s own story. I’ve had no need to exaggerate or embellish that story. Aretha’s valor speaks for itself.
But Aretha’s is just one story of poverty in America. There are, literally, millions. My hope in telling her story is that by personalizing the problem, I may in some small way give voice to those millions.
And that somebody will do something.
“That our daughters may be as pillars, Sculptured in palace style” (Ps. 144: 12).
It was to be a temporary thing, a trial run, really. I had no desire to mentor a teenager – let alone a streetwise girl, from the inner city. Childless, myself, I was not trained or equipped for the challenge.
After all, what could we possibly have in common? And teenagers were notoriously uncommunicative. Family and friends cautioned me not to expect too much from the relationship.
As a lawyer, enamored of books all my life, surely I would bore her to death. Then there was the question of race. My shortcomings – real and imagined – loomed large.
Still, Ruth had convinced me to meet the girl. An experienced social worker, Ruth Hammond headed the volunteer program at a respected children’s relief organization. Grey haired, witness to much suffering and sadness over the years, Ruth said she had a “feeling” the girl and I might click. Read more…
Khirbet Qeiyafa, recognized by the Council for Conservation of Heritage Sites in Israel, Author Abraham Greitzer אברהם גרייצר
(CC BY-SA 4.0 International)
Originating late in the 11th Century BC, the archaeological site known as Khirbet Qeiyafa controls the entrance to Israel’s Elah Valley, and is thought to be the biblical city of Shaarim (“Two Gates”) [1][2].
Shaarim
Shaarim was one of three anchor cities during the early reign of King David, the other two being Jerusalem and Hebron.
The layout of Khirbet Qeiyafa is similar to that of Beersheba, Beth Shemesh, Tell en-Nasbeh, and Tell Beit Mirsim (all in the Kingdom of Judah) [3][4][5][6]. Two defensive walls surround the city, with houses incorporated into these walls.
The age of Khirbet Qeiyafa was established through radiocarbon dating of olive pits found there.
The artifacts uncovered include carved animal bones, pottery, a bronze ax and arrowheads, iron daggers and swords, scarabs, beads, and seals.
Centralized Administration
The scale of construction at Khirbet Qeiyafa suggests conscription of manpower for public works by a central authority.
Numerous storage jars with finger impressions may have been used as a tax collection system, with a certain percentage of agricultural products due the government. While King David is not referenced by name, this, too, suggests a centralized administration. Read more…
Author Man vyi (PD)
There are currently 25 million non-citizens residing in the United States, 11 million of whom are here illegally [1A].
While voting by non-citizens is prohibited in federal elections, only 7 states (AL, AZ, CO, FL, LA, ND, and OH) expressly prohibit non-citizens from voting in state and local elections [1B][2].
DC and certain municipalities in VT, MD, and CA now allow non-citizens to vote in local elections [3]. Only a few distinguish between legal and illegal aliens, for voting purposes.
Political Posturing
By and large, Democrats and Republicans hold opposing views on this topic.
Democrats accuse Republicans of creating a bogeyman to inflame their base. Republicans accuse Democrats of favoring open borders and an expanded electorate in the hope of currying favor with new voters, regardless of consequences.
Arguments in Favor
A. Taxation
“…the United States was founded on the promise of ‘no taxation without representation’ — yet there are some…who are unable to participate in the elections that affect their lives and livelihoods. And yes, most of them pay taxes.”
–Nicholas Goldberg, Assoc. Ed, Los Angeles Times [4A]
Many assume that non-citizens do not pay taxes. However, resident aliens, i.e. those with green cards, are subject to the same tax laws as US citizens [5].
According to the American Immigration Council, even undocumented immigrants pay billions in taxes (including sales, property and income taxes) [6][7].
B. Assimilation
Proponents of non-citizen voting — on the local level, at any rate — argue that it might be viewed as part of the process of becoming assimilated, and ultimately attaining citizen status [4B].
C. Equity
Proponents of non-citizen voting argue that prohibiting non-citizens from voting is discriminatory public policy, since there are substantial barriers to naturalization [8A]. Meanwhile, allowing non-citizens to vote promotes the good of society as a whole [8B]. Read more…
“Saint Basil (The Prayer)” by Sergei Kirillov (1994), Source/Author Sergei Kirillov, (CC BY-SA 3.0 Unported)
There has historically been a strand of asceticism in Christianity [1]. This is perhaps best exemplified by the Desert Fathers who practiced severe self-discipline, the avoidance of any sensual indulgence, and the abandonment of possessions in pursuit of holiness [2A].
Desert Fathers
The Desert Fathers were early Christian hermits living principally in the Scetes desert of Egypt during the 3rd Century. The first of these was Paul of Thebes [3]. But the best known is Anthony the Great, considered the founder of desert monasticism [4].
Anthony viewed the isolation, starkness, and self-sacrifice of the desert environment as an alternative to martyrdom [2B]. Time was spent on “interior silence” and continual prayer — augmented by fasting, psalms, manual labor, and care for the poor — the goal being to exemplify love in the name of Christ in all actions [2C][5].
Eventually, thousands of monks and nuns were drawn to the desert. Their communities became the model for the Christian monastic movement, influencing both the eastern tradition at Mount Athos and the western Rule of St. Benedict [6][7]. Their insights are collected in the Apophthegmata Patrum (Sayings of the Desert Fathers)[8]. Read more…
A conviction may be classified as wrongful if there were substantive or procedural errors which violated the convicted individual’s rights, or if the convicted individual was factually innocent of the charges [1].
There have been 3,489 exonerations since 1989 (over 31,700 years lost) [2][3]. According to the Innocence Project, of the 258 DNA exonerations that staff there have handled, 25% have involved false confessions [4][5]. Eyewitness misidentification is another cause of false convictions [6]. Post-conviction DNA testing is a major factor in exoneration.
Healing Justice is a non-profit which strives to heal the wounds both to exonerees and crime victims, themselves, caused by wrongful convictions. The organization, also, advocates for criminal justice reform [7].
“who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Cor. 1: 4).
—
[1] National Institute of Justice (NIJ), “Wrongful Convictions”, https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/justice-system-reform/wrongful-convictions.
[2] University of Michigan, National Registry of Exonerations, Glossary, “Exoneration”, https://www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/glossary.aspx.
[3] University of Michigan, National Registry of Exonerations, “News”, https://www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/about.aspx.
[4] Eisner Gorin LLP, “What Are False and Coerced Confessions?”, https://www.thefederalcriminalattorneys.com/false-and-coerced-confessions.
[5] False Confessions, “False Confessions Happen”, https://falseconfessions.org/false-confessions-happen/.
[6] Innocence Project, “Eyewitness Misidentification”, https://innocenceproject.org/eyewitness-misidentification/.
[7] Healing Justice, https://healingjusticeproject.org/.
God loves all of us — regardless of sexual orientation or perceived gender. Scripture does not, however, condone homosexual behavior.
Despite this, the United Methodist Church has voted to ordain LGBTQ+ clergy. Hundreds of American Catholic churches will again this year be holding so called “pride masses” to “celebrate queerness”, as Holy Trinity Church in Washington, DC puts it.
Please, pray for all those taking part in these events.
READERS CAN FIND MY VIEWS ON ABUSE AND ABUSE-RELATED ISSUES AT ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse
https://avoicereclaimed.com
Statue of Secretariat, widely considered the greatest racehorse of all time, Belmont Park, Author Jlvsclrk (CC BY-SA 4.0 International)
Few animals on earth are as extraordinary or beautiful as the horse. Few of mankind’s animal companions have proven as constant or significant.
Horses have been used for transportation, agriculture, hunting, herding, exploration, warfare, entertainment, sport, police work, and most recently therapy [1]. Apart from service, they have provided milk, meat, hide, hair, bone, and pharmaceuticals. Read more…
Hell as depicted in a medieval fresco at the Church of St. Nicolas, Bulgaria, Author Edan Anton Lefterov, (CC BY-SA 3.0 Unported)
“Spiritual abuse is the act of making people believe — whether by stating or merely implying — that they are going to be punished in this life and/or tormented in hell-fire forever for failure to live a life good enough to please God and thus earn admission to heaven…Spiritual terrorism is the most extreme form of spiritual abuse and may cause serious mental health problems.”
–“Spiritual terrorism” by Boyd C. Purcell, MA, PhD [1A]
Many Christians would be offended by the expression “spiritual abuse”, especially as defined above.
Unfortunately, there are those who distort Christian beliefs, utilizing them for self-gratification and self-aggrandizement.
Religious leaders have at times weaponized religion, focusing on the most vulnerable among their flock. The cult leader and mass murderer, Jim Jones of the People’s Temple, is just one example of this.
More often, church leaders have stood by and tolerated abuse (spiritual, physical, sexual, and financial) both by clergy and church members, damaging their Christian witness and repelling non-believers. The Catholic Church sex scandal is a case in point.
While complicity by the organized church with abusers may not technically qualify as spiritual abuse according to this definition, it is experienced by a significant number of believers as such.
Forms of Spiritual Abuse
Spiritual or religious abuse can take various forms. But all forms of abuse involve control [1B].
- If inflicted by a romantic partner, family member, or friend, such abuse may involve ridicule of the victim’s religious beliefs, interference with the victim’s exercise of his/her religion, or misinterpretation of religious doctrine to justify mistreatment of the victim [2][3].
- If inflicted by clergy, it involves the misuse of religious authority to humiliate, harass, intimidate, exploit, or engage in sexual activity with the victim [4]. The sale of indulgences by the Catholic Church during the Middle Ages is one illustration. Forced conversion — whether by Islam or the Inquisition — is another.
Impact of Spiritual Abuse
In the short term, religious abuse can result in discouragement and demoralization. In the long term, it can result in lasting trauma (anxiety, depression, etc.) and the loss of faith.
The latter can manifest either as profound grief and a sense of abandonment by God, or profound anger and a rejection of God [5]. In either case, there is a spiritual wound created.
Read more…
Dessert – Cakes, Cookies, Pie, and Pastries, Source US Dept. of Agriculture/Agricultural Resource Service, Author Peggy Greb USDA/ARS, (PD)
“Now everyone, of course, is at war with himself in the sense that he feels dual, made up of body and soul.”
–Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen [1]
“Humans are amphibians…half spirit and half animal…as spirits they belong to the eternal world, but as animals they inhabit time.”
–CS Lewis, “The Screwtape Letters”
All of us struggle with inner conflict at times. We are filled with competing passions, desires, inclinations, hopes, and dreams. Not all of these are good or good for us.
Modern society tends to cater to these passions and desires. We are encouraged toward self-actualization; urged to pursue self-interest, develop self-confidence, and employ self-help strategies, when we encounter obstacles to the immediate fulfillment of our desires.
Socialism
Socialist government promises, on a larger scale, the satisfaction of our desires. There is little focus on the nourishment man’s soul derives from individual responsibility or disciplined effort against the odds.
Entree v. Dessert
In other words, we ignore the entree, in favor of dessert. But we ignore the entree at our peril.
The exclusive pursuit of pleasure and self-satisfaction is futile. It does not lead to inner peace. Quite the opposite. The constant focus on self only makes us more self-centered — unconcerned with the needs of others, while increasingly empty. Read more…
JK Rowling, Source https://www.flickr.com/photos/kingkongphoto/46147317015/, Author John Matthew Smith & http://www.celebrity-photos.com, Laurel, MD (CC BY-SA 2.0 Generic)
“Freedom of speech and belief are at an end in Scotland if the accurate description of biological sex is deemed criminal.”
–JK Rowling
Harry Potter author JK Rowling recently had the temerity to identify several transgender women as biological men.
Her comments on this topic ignited a social media firestorm, though Rowling maintains she is deeply sympathetic with those whom Christians recognize as suffering from sexual dysmorphia [1][2].
Transphobes and Gender-Critical Feminists
MSNC called Rowling a “transphobe” and described her statement as “attacking trans women” though among the biological men she mentioned was a rapist [3].
There was briefly an issue as to whether Rowling would be prosecuted under Scotland’s new Hate Crime and Public Order Act [4][5][6]. (See, below.) The ongoing dialogue on transgenderism actually garnered Rowling death threats.
The Diminished Value of Women
Clearly, any violation of political correctness trumps rape in the Woke hierarchy of punishable crimes (just as perceived racism trumps rape) [7][8].
Biological women, it would seem, have diminished value.
Indeed, the women (now typically termed people who menstruate) defending themselves against the Transgender Movement are today characterized as “gender-critical feminists” [9].
The Christian Viewpoint
The view of Rowling’s critics is that her refusal to acknowledge transgender women as women denies these biological men the dignity to which they are entitled as human beings.
Christians would say that ALL human beings have value in God’s eyes — regardless of their biological sex or gender identification — but that gender dysmorphia distorts perception, depriving its victims of the full lives God intended for them.
It is for this reason and NOT out of hatred that Christians oppose hormone replacement therapy (now known as gender-affirming therapy) and damaging sex-reassignment surgery (now known as gender-affirming surgery).
A Lawyer's Prayers 