Best wishes

To Judge Sonia Sotomayor who is beginning her confirmation hearings today as Barack Obama's nominee to the vacant Supreme Court of the U.S. seat left by Judge Souter. She is an intelligent, fair-minded and rational woman who can judge cases on their individual facts, and has often done so, as witnessed in rulings for and against such hot-button issues as affirmative action, where and when appropriate. I respect greatly anyone who can come from poor background - be they male or female, black, white, Hispanicm or anything else - to get a great education and achieve what Ms. Sotomayor has achieved. A great choice by President Obama and I hope (am sure) the Senate will agree and confirm her nomination in due time.

Michael Jackson accuser admits lying?

Jordan Chandler, the then-13 year old who accused Michael Jackson of molesting him in 1993 and settled for $22 million, has, according to several small-change blogs, admitted to lying at the behest of his father at the time in order to extort money from Jackson.

Now I have not seen this yet reported on any reputable source such as CNN, the AP, the New York Times or even TMZ or Perez Hilton; so I don't quite believe it yet as I've got to assume at least the latter two would be all over the mere whiff of such a story. However - should it prove true, then I think we might need to start considering that we all (myself included) owe Michael Jackson, and/or those living on in his name, a big apology.

Now to clarify - I never, ever felt MJ victimized children IN A PREDATORY, GROWN UP, PEDOPHILE-esque way. He was the very definition, to me, of 'not a monster, but very, very sick'. And I still stand by it was not particularly bright of him, in the face of allegations which may or may not becoming to light as false, to continue with such close friendships with young boys. I believe his way of relating to them, when he is in fact if not in theory a grown man, was inappropriate. However I have always believed - whether it stopped at 'slumber party-esque' sharing of room and bed, or went further - that in his mind, as we see what he was accused of as evil, and as a 30-40-50 year old man preying on young boys, he saw it as playing with his friends, as he would have liked to have done at their age. But that is not to say it should have continued, and that's not to say the parents of children associated with MJ should have been so naive as to leave him alone with them.

And obviously in hindsight, they weren't; they were in fact quite calculating and unscrupulous, seeking to take advantage of a naive, childish boy-man who just happened to be ridiculously talented and ludicrously rich. Shame ... shame for using your children, and their friend Michael, in such a way. While I am not impressed whatsoever with Jordan Chandler's actions as a young man, if this story is true, I am impressed at his courage to come forward now, particularly at such a difficult time, and I simply hope that the other main victim - the accuser in Jackson's 2003-04 criminal trial, might now come forward to say the same, if true, and we can truly let this man rest, and find the peace in death that we so viciously denied him in life.

Shame on us all.

Sad and Disgusting

The following depresses me as a Christian greatly -



It sickens me that the name of my Saviour is being used to promote hate.
Even if you DO believe in the message espoused by this church
(which I do NOT, for the record,
lest they be perceived to speak for all Christians),
it is for God to sort out -
Jesus' charge to us mortals here on earth is to 'love thy neighbour'.
If this is somehow an expression of love
to show 'misguided' (in quotes) non believers
'the path to salvation',
there is a less incendiary way of doing so;
Is not
"I am the Way, the Truth and the Light. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)
the same message in a much less offensive
(and more canonical) language?

Sad. Not Christian. Not Christ-like. Nothing I would want to be a part of, and it depresses me because I see this and understand the skepticism that keeps people from believing; understand how church, when seen in this way, turns people off, when really (when done correctly) it is such a powerful medium for good in our lives and in the world ... and obviously, too, for ill. For hate is of the devil, and misunderstanding comes about from evil acts (see the Tower of Babel - Genesis).

As a Christian who believes one's faith is a very personal relationship with God, let me speak for me - This is not God's word. This is not my church. And may we all in time come to understand the message of love and healing God tried to communicate to us through Jesus Christ, and remember the true meaning of Peter Scholtes' hymn:

"And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yes they'll know we are Christians by our love."

Warm greetings

Hi guys,
Not the best day today -
Nothing specifically terribly wrong,
Just those grown-up 'life' frustrations that pop up.
Mainly waiting for some work stuff
To fall into place for me for the summer,
For Ari beyond,
We had some plans for a date
That kinda fell through
Due to laziness
And waiting on a phonecall.
Little Tyke
Does not seem to be
A fan of his crib today either.

But I didn't come on here just to whine -
Things have been too good to just be down.
So I came to share I've made some progress with writing
And with the job hunt,
I'm reading a good book,
Enjoying a nice snack,
And trying now to focus on those things,
And to ask if anyone else out there
Has had an awesome day they want to share?
Multiply joys, divide sorrows, right?

Been awhile

Sorry guys - I know I haven't updated since Canada Day but I've been out seeking summer work, had a couple interviews for teaching in the fall, and was away for the weekend - but now I want to wish my Amercan friends, family, readers a belated 4th of July - I spent mine with my Jewish-American husband in Toronto, at a British pub, with him eating Curry. Such a great world we live in! :) Hope Canada and Independence days were good for everyone, and everyone's geared up for a great week ahead. Cheers! :D

Happy Canada Day

Wishing my Canadian blogland friends a Happy Canada Day.
Enjoy the fireworks if that's your thing
(and the weather is holding out where you are),
Good family, good friends, and the birthday of our country.

Be well!
XO - Sarah