Middle Ground

In counseling conflict, I try to find middle ground. Usually there is something about which both sides can agree. It may take a little time to find this real estate, but that is the aim.

If the middle ground is not discovered, the conflict goes on. In the case of marriage, the result is divorce.

If by some means both sides can find agreement, though not getting everything they want, the conflict, for the time is resolved.

Since 9/11 America has been put on notice that there is no middle ground. There are only demands and wishes for our nation's death and destruction.

To make matters worse, the western media and many of our politicians support a double standard.

Look at how scandalous the Abu-Grabe events were portrayed. There were calls for hearings, trials, and all sorts of pronouncements. In contrast, video taped beheadings were out of the news in a day or two. If a Martian were to look at the news coverage for both events, he/she/it would conclude that it is a higher crime to point at a naked guy’s weenie and laugh than it is to cut off someone’s head with a knife.

When a national news magazine author falsely wrote about the Koran being put in toilets, the Muslim world erupted and people died in the rioting. The author basically retracted the claim and said something to the effect of, "My bad."

Now the latest incident, a Danish newspaper publishes a cartoon which is considered offensive. The response is rioting, embassy assaulting, and killing.

What does the world press do in response? They lecture people about sensitivity and tell them to be more careful. Now if someone calls for the destruction of Israel or refers to President Bush as a Nazi, war criminal, and a terrorist beyond that of Osama Bin Laden; then that is an exercise of free speech.

How do the Muslim leaders respond to the cartoons and Abu-Grabe? They tell us Westerners how we should be more sensitive. I am not hearing these same leaders telling their people to protest peacefully or to stop the senseless killing.

We can either stand up for our rights or lose them to those who see no middle ground. This is not about Republicans and Democrats. This is about fundamental beliefs.

Do you believe in the right to free speech?
Do you believe in freedom?
Are you willing to fight to keep it?

President Bush should back Denmark. Whether one agrees or not with the cartoonist is not the point. The cartoonist has the right to exercise his opinion. Those who try to suppress him through violence are the ones in the wrong.

Let’s say Jesse Jackson made a cartoon about NASCAR and the Klan got upset and started burning crosses in the yards of black people. Would the press lecture Jesse on sensitivity? Would 3rd grade teachers make little black kids wear capes and hoods so they could understand the Klan culture. I don’t think so.

Right now there is no middle ground. If you think there is, you are standing alone in an open field awaiting a bullet from someone who thinks God wants him to kill you and your way of life.

Think about this issue from your beliefs point of view and try not to insinuate politics into it. This is bigger than politics, because it threatens all of us in the west.

Until the next time
John Strain

Justice

I had jury duty yesterday and Wednesday I go back to serve as an alternate on a trial. I had a lot of time to think. I spent most of the day sitting around, getting up, ambling around nowhere in particular, and then sitting in another location. Here are a few of my observations.

• Here in St. Tammany Parish, we have a first rate justice system: Our court house justice center is brand new and state of the art. The people I contacted were polite, competent, and professional.

• Our country has a pretty good justice system: OJ and Robert Blake not withstanding, we have a pretty good system in this country to decide justice.

It is one of those things I have not given a lot of thought to, because I have not had any dealings with court except to have a few drinks with a friend who is an attorney.

The US justice system comes right out of the constitution. Participating in jury duty is as patriotic as saying the pledge of allegiance or voting. I felt that sense of pride in my chest when I was sworn and I was keenly aware of being a part of something that was started by our founding fathers.

It is fashionable to ridicule our court system and it is not without flaws, but I will take it over the alternatives. "Innocent until proven guilty" and "guilty beyond a reasonable doubt," are concepts not enjoyed by many in the world.

• Justice costs a lot of money: I was in a jury pool with more than 300 potential jurors for the week's criminal trial docket for four judges.

Each juror is paid $25 per day. In my particular trial, they pulled 36 of us. Although only 7 were selected, all of us will spend probably 2 days as jurors.

I need to be vague here, but the trial involves an alleged damage of about $500. The jurors for the trial will cost the parish $1,800. Then there is the public defender, bailiffs, two people in court from the DA's office, and witnesses.

A judge hears the case, a courtroom is used, and a lot of people rearrange their week because of a $500 incident.

This is just one little trial. In the course of a year, it must really add up. This justice machine is clicking and whirring all over the country in little towns and in big cities.

Is it worth it? All of the money being spent on justice, is it worth it? I think that it is.

Elected representation, freedom of the press, free speech, and innocent until proven guilty are some pretty nice concepts. These concepts came to be through the shedding of blood and it is blood and money that will sustain them.

I am glad I get to do my small part.

Until the next time
John Strain

Mardi Gras Marathon 2006

Photos from the Times-Picayune

Mardi Gras Marathon 2006 Photos

Net time: 3:34:01 (32 second offset, that is how long it took me to get to the starting line.)
Finished 83rd of 698

Chills. That's what I had this morning just before the start of the 2006 Mardi Gras Marathon. Announcements on the loudspeaker were typical for the start of a marathon, and then the speaker said there were runners from all 50 states and 18 countries. He talked about the Katrina rebuilding efforts and thanked everyone for participating in the event. All proceeds from the marathon will go to the hurricane relief efforts.

After a Boy Scout Troop presented the colors an a capella female voice began to sing the National Anthem. The sound reverberated off of the buildings and surrounded us. Nearly 4,000 runners stood silently, some with tears in their eyes, others with hands and hats over their hearts. I always like this part of a race. In a few minutes we will be embarking on a 26.2-mile adventure, but at this moment we are united as Americans.

I took in what my senses gave me. The music, the smell of Ben-Gay, the high wispy clouds in the early morning sky, and the chilly breeze. After the music was over, the crowd came to life. We cheered and applauded the singer’s effort and we cheered because of what the song means. The singer was a local celebrity who was on American Idol last year - Lindsay Cardinale.

The weather was perfect for running, 45 degrees, sunny, and a light breeze. I felt good and ran well - for me. I was a bit slower than my last marathon in Mississippi, but anytime I am under 3:35:00, I'm happy.

Take a look at the photos by clicking on the link above. CNN and CBS had national news teams to cover the event. Almost anything in New Orleans is news these days.

Running along, I noticed water lines on houses. It is strange to be running and look over and realize the water would be over your head if you had been in that spot 5 months ago.

Next on the agenda is to take Bear out to play tennis ball and go for another walk. Later on we are going to a friend’s house for a Super Bowl party.

Next marathon for me is Pensacola in two weeks. February also happens to be my 23rd wedding anniversary. Barbara is a real sport.

Happy Super Sunday folks

Until the next time
John Strain

Packit pickup day

Today is packet pickup day for tomorrow's Mardi Gras Marathon. We will make a quick trip to the Big Easy to get it. Click the map for a larger version. The mile markers on the map also display the floodwater depth at that particular point. It will feel strange running where you are reminded water was once 8 feet deep.

I always like the packet pickup event. People are typically friendly and happy. There is excitement in the air and it is a festive environment.

This will be my fourth Mardi Gras Marathon. I ran across the Causeway in 1981. Then I ran in 1998, 2005, and tomorrow.

There are usually things to buy, but they also give you a nice goodie bag full of samples of everything from blister treatments to energy bars.

Weather tomorrow should be perfect. We start at 7:00 AM. Temps should be about 40 degrees with clear skies. The early start means I will have to be up by 4 AM to wake up and do my pre race ritual.

We should head to New Orleans about 5 AM. That will give me about one hour before the race to warm up, find a place to pee and line up at the start. I will have to wear extra clothes that I will shed just before the gun goes off.

Those items are placed in a bag and handed off to Barbara just before the start of the race. Running generates a lot of heat. The attire one needs for running is insufficient for standing around in the cold. On a normal day, I just walk out of the house and start running, but at a race one must prepare for 15 minutes of not running and enduring the elements.

It is always a relief to get on your way.

I hope your Super Bowl weekend is super.

Until the next time
John Strain

Bear Report: February 3, 2006

By Bear

Hi everyone, it's me Bear. Dad made me put this picture of myself on this post, but I don't like it. Dad says it is cute and he doesn't use the word cute a lot, because it doesn't sound manly - whatever that means.

I think it's like I would rather have people think I am tough, like a German Shepard or a Rottweiler. This picture doesn't do that. I hope my friends don't see it or they might tease me.

I do tough things. After I pee, I scratch the ground with all four paws. Dirt and grass fly all over the place. Mom and dad laugh, but I am being tough. One of my favorite times to scratch is when another dog is in a fence barking at me. I just saunter up to something in his territory, take a nice long pee with my leg high in the air, then I farm his yard with my scratching. He gets so mad, but all he can do is run in circles or jump up on top of his doghouse.

Maybe I shouldn't tease them, but it is so much fun.

I saw a cartoon once in one of my dog magazines. Some mutts were standing around a computer. The dog standing was telling the one sitting at the keyboard, "Tell her you're a Rottweiler and that you have a job as a guard dog . . ." I thought that was funny. He was really a shaggy, fat, mutt. Hehehe.

I guess we all wish for something else. More muscles, less fat, more hair, more walks, less mailmen. Sigh.

It is foggy here today. I guess that means daddy will take his camera on the walk. He likes taking pictures of everything. He says he is going to New Orleans to run in a marathon this weekend. I wish I could go like when I went to Baton Rouge.

He will be back later and then we are going to watch a Super Bowl. I don't know why humans want to look at a big bowl. Will it be full of food? Daddy says we will have lots of food to eat for the Super Bowl. Maybe that's it. It would take a super bowl to hold all of that food. Hmmm.

On Monday, daddy says he isn't going to work, because he has to go to jury duty. Daddy says that he has to help decide if someone was bad or not. I think it is for things worse than not sitting or staying. This sounds like the kind of bad like poo pooing in the house or chewing up the furniture.

It's time for my walk. I am going to see if the fenced barking dog is outside this morning. Hehehehe. I hope he is and I am going to take a big long drink before I leave the house.

Bye for now,
Bear