31Aug 2011 by CJ

The elderly deserve our attention and a sense of dignity

Love & Relationships
What do people have against the elderly? In many cultures, the more senior members of the group, the elderly, are revered and treated with the utmost respect and dignity. But not here in America. Once you hit a certain age and you're perceived to be a burden, people just forget about you all together. People whom without their existence we ourselves would not exist and yet we cast them aside like a snotty old tissue.There's an elderly woman on my block who has many grandchildren, and yet in the nine years that we've been neighbors, I can count on my hands how many times they've been around to visit her. A gentleman I'm acquainted with has his adult grandson living just a few towns away from him and yet it's…
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24Aug 2011 by CJ

Taxing the rich may not be the answer but something doesn’t add up

Life & Living
People have very strong opinions for or against taxing the rich more than your average ordinary citizen. I myself am not sure that taxing the rich is the answer to all of our fiscal problems, but from a logistical and mathematical standpoint it just doesn't make much sense to me. I mean how could you tell a family of four, with a combined income of under $50,000 a year, that they will pay the same tax rate as those earning $1,000,000 or more? Even if you’re fortunate enough to be a part of such an elite group, does that really mean it’s fair? And while Governor Christine of New Jersey and most of the Republicans in Washington continue to protect their wealthy friends and neighbors, one unexpected person recently made…
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22Aug 2011 by CJ

A compassionate society is able to rise above themselves for the good of others

Generosity & Kindness, Life & Living
Author Dorothy Allison was recently interviewed by "The Writer" magazine and had these very interesting words to say about a compassionate society. "I think the lack of honesty in the media in this country is killing the country. I think we are  living a culture of lies. And at this point, the winning voices are the loudest voices. I'm 60. I can look back at what has happened in this country, the fight for civil rights and justice and a genuinely compassionate culture we put in place, and now I look around and now I see a mean, desperate place. It is very frightening." Though Ms. Allison is 24 years my senior, I can relate to what she is saying. Lately I find myself wondering how things have gotten so out of…
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21Aug 2011 by CJ

I Love Lucy shows a much different household dynamic than today

Life & Living
The other day I was watching an episode of the always comical 1950’s sitcom I Love Lucy, and realized just how different the roles of men and women truly were. Lucy wasn’t speaking to Ricky because, as always, he wouldn’t let her be in the show. After realizing she hadn’t prepared his breakfast that morning, he stormed into the bedroom and demanded she get up and fix him something to eat like a drill sergeant in the military. I could only imagine what my wife would have to say if I barked such orders at her early in the morning. The days of the men being the dominant figure in a household are over for the most part. Today, women have their own careers outside the home – some working…
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17Aug 2011 by CJ

A dose of kindness can help dissolve all the negativity you woke up with

Generosity & Kindness
This morning started out like most mornings...me struggling to get up to exercise with an overwhelming desire to call out sick. While somehow I mustered up the energy for the physical activity, I never did call out sick. Good thing I suppose, because I was treated to an early morning dose of kindness I wouldn't have otherwise received had I stayed home. The previous afternoon, my wife had a very minor dermatological procedure done and was in need of a small, round, clear band aide to protect the surface of the wound. She was all ready to play arts and crafts with a much larger band aide – even though I assured her it would only draw more attention to the area she was now trying to hide.So with some…
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