Winning Words 1/14/10
“In this difficult time for the United States, it’s perhaps well to ask what kind of a nation we are and what direction we want to move in.” (RFK) This was said by Bobby after the assassinations of his brother and Martin Luther King Jr, and 2 months before he himself was shot. We continually have to ask, “In what direction do we want our country to move?” ;-) Jack

FROM JH IN OHIO: timely and important to remember!

FROM DMF IN MINNESOTA: What happened to the nintendo guys? FROM JACK: Back tomorrow.

FROM RI IN BOSTON: The kind of nation we are is one which emphasizes individual freedom for living our lives, and I think we are so focused on our selves that we have lost sight of the nation's collective needs. We concentrate on personal aspirations, but how many of us dwell on national aspirations? It IS a difficult time for our country now, but future generations will look back and realize that these years were "the good life". FROM JACK: You got the gist of the message. MORE FROM RI: I get insight from Hiroko, who reminds me from time to time about Japan's populace, all of whom consider themselves a small part of a larger whole. They move together like a school of fish, no one individual expecting to stick out from the pack.

FROM SH IN MICHIGAN: Attended a talk and panel discussion led by Jim Wallis of Sojourners. He said people seem to be asking "when will our economy get back on track again, when will it go up?" But he thinks the problem is of need to change. We need to be digging deep, asking "what are our values and how do we need to change?" I'm 62 years old now--how many times do we have to ask ourselves what are our values anyway before we get it right what direction our country needs to be going in? Maybe we're only asking and not doing.

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY: Definitely not where we are headed! FROM JACK: That's what I thought in the 50s and the 60s, and then someone tried to make a difference. The way we're heading, individually or collectively, won't change until someone wants it to change. " If it's to be, it's up to me!" MORE FROM OJ: That's why I never miss a vote and support my candidates.....now the hard part begins....how to get the rest motivated. My family never misses a vote (unless illiness of course). My husband and I feel we vote or we shut up until the next election...you don't vote you don't get a say....that's how it works. MORE FROM JACK: I happen to
think that most of the change happens outside of politics...in the hearts and minds of individuals.

FROM GOOD DEBT JON: Good point; however presently no one is asking. FROM JACK: Since you are commenting, I suppose that's a way of asking. On MLK's birthday, I tried a subtle way to raise the question.

FROM MOLINER CF: "Ask not what direction your country should move, ask our country's directors to move." We're in limbo. FROM JACK: The Catholic Church says that "limbo" no longer exists. You must be thinking of the limbo dance. I'd like to see you do that.
We're in limbo.

FROM PRPH IN ARIZONA: right now we need to be moving in the direction of Haiti. what a disaster! FROM JACK: Disasters seem to unite people, sad to say.

FROM MO IN ILLINOIS: In this day and age, it is hard not to feel that OUR era has passed, and we can only pray that our Ship of State will eventually right itself. From all I read, it appears that the next big war will be between Muslims and Christians, although China looms large, doesn't it? Our poor old brains are often overwhelmed with the scope of all nations deal with these days. Yet we remain very interested in it all! FROM JACK: Don't let that negative thinking clutter your mind. This IS our era, as much as any other time in which we have lived. Relgious wars are nothing new. How about our country's Civil War and our race riots and the Great Depression,etc, etc. We sometimes look through the wrong end of the telescope. Enjoy your trip to the Sun Belt.

FROM PRJS IN MICHIGAN: Neither right nor left....the center is our best bet. All of our greatest leaders have been Centrists and very pragmatic. The idealists are a scary bunch. FROM JACK: ...and you've been accusing me of being a "mugwump."

FROM TB IN MICHIGAN: I think the efforts that the President has outlined for assisting the people of Haiti is an outstanding direction. Your thought? What do you think of the comments by Pat Robertson relative to Haitians pack with the Devil? FROM JACK: Does anyone listen to Robertson anymore? "My" God doesn't work in that way. As far as the president is concerned, we are thought to be a humanitarian country and should therefore support our leader in his humanitarian efforts on our behalf.