Happy Independence Day 2020

Happy Independence Day 2020!

Our early American colonies leaders met on July 4, 1776, to sign a Declaration of Independence from Britain, and few years later to ratify an inspired Constitution to guarantee freedoms, rights, ideals and hopes. But unfortunately our selfishness, pride, ignorance, and foolishness have often stood in the way of the justice and mercy that all human beings of whatever race, color, creed and circumstance deserve. Our hope is that the qualities expressed on this shirt will over-ride the shameful acts that continue to plague our nation. I am grateful to live in America...it is still "America the beautiful," and  I am confident that most of our people want to work for fairness and peace for all. It can and must be "land of the free and home of the brave."

Last week I wrote a longer, more thoughtful blog post, but just as I was about to send, it all disappeared. I don't have the heart to re-find and collect all my photos and quotes, but want to mention that I have watched many videos, read articles and books on Black Lives Matter and other topics, and believe our first step in solving some of our current problems is education and awareness. I learned more about Juneteenth, sometimes called Freedom Day, when Texas finally freed all slaves 2 1/2 years after the official end of slavery, January 1, 1863 with the Emancipation Proclamation. Statistics have hit home, and must change:

Incarceration rates for black men are about twice as high as those of Hispanic men, five times higher than those of white men and at least 25 times higher than those of black women, Hispanic women or white women. We must be inclusive, united. No one should be invisible!

I am always chagrined as I am made more aware of the huge movement of refugees, migrants, and homeless throughout the world. By the end of 2019, 79.5 million people, nearly as many people as the entire population of Germany, were forcibly displaced worldwide as a result of persecution, conflict, violence or human rights violations, according to The UN Refugee Agency.
 It is hard to know what to do, other than making monetary donations and to pray for opportunities to help.

Meanwhile during this seemingly endless Pandemic, we are to live our lives at home, reaching out through social media, mail, phone calls, and in-person (social distancing) to teach, encourage, to help lighten and lift each others' burdens, to celebrate weddings, births, and to mourn with those who mourn. We can also enjoy nature, to laugh, to inspire. And hope that schools can resume soon. Our future leaders need to learn academic and social skills!



Our French book group gathered to bid "au revoir" to our friend Mijo (left) moving to France this week. Our cake was "Covid-safe." We removed masks just for the photo.

Unlike last July Fourth, having just returned from my 18 months in Chile, at our wonderful family reunion near McCall, Idaho, I plan to stay home foregoing picnics, parades, fireworks, patriotic celebrations. Sad, but necessary, as the Pandemic seems to go on and on! Memories and hopes for better times sustain me.

I can still enjoy walking, gardening, reading, learning, praying, and feeling gratitude. I hope for the best for all of us, everywhere.

I hope you will visit me when life returns to normal. 
Mi casa es su casa!
Happy Summer!
Happy Fourth of July!
Be safe and well!

Incarceration rates for black men are about twice as high as those of Hispanic men, five times higher than those of white men and at least 25 times higher than those of black women, Hispanic women or white women.

We must be inclusive, united. No one should be invisible!