This is who we are
John Adams had it right
My first spring back home
Cambodia only has two seasons, hot and wet and hot and dry. Different trees have fruits and flowers at different times but everything is always green, leaves don’t fall off trees like in parts of the U.S.
It’s my first spring time in the U.S. in 40 years and I’m really enjoying it! The cold weather seems to have finally (almost) disappeared and everything is in bloom!
Good article on migration
UCAN (Union of Catholic Asian News) has an excellent article on migration and how it affects migrants and us.
It’s up to us…
Old Union Station
I have been amazed at the architecture I have rediscovered in Louisville since my return here, partly because it’s common place and I just took it for granted before, and partly because I’m now riding everywhere on a bicycle and see things more closely and from different angles.
Yesterday I went to get a city bus pass and the TARC offices are in the old Union Station where the L&N Railroad was based. It is a beautiful, distinctive building in downtown Louisville.
Trump’s threats–War Crimes
President Donald Trump threatens that “a whole civilization will die tonight” unless Iran strikes a deal with the United States by 8 p.m. Eastern on April 7.
The National Catholic Reporter quotes Leo XIV as calling the threats “truly unacceptable” and said that such attacks would violate international law. In some of his strongest comments yet against the war, Leo urged Americans and others to demand that political leaders reject war and work for peace.
“Today as we all know there was this threat against all the people of Iran. This is truly unacceptable,” Leo said.
NCR reported further that “theologians, priests, academics, authors, media personalities, bishops and others took to social media platforms April 7 to warn that military strikes on civilian targets and infrastructure in Iran would constitute grave evils and violate the Catholic Church’s just war tradition.”
This is not primarily a matter of politics but of morality, of right and wrong, of sin and evil.
FASCISM
Fascism is marked by hate, nationalism, and repression of dissent.
ELEMENTS THAT DEFINE FASCISM
1. The rejection of democracy in favor of a strongman
2. Stoking rage against cultural elites
3. Nationalism based on superior race and historic bloodlines
4. Extolling brute strength and heroic warriors
5. Disdain of women and LGBTQ people
Chrism Mass
Every year in Holy Week the church celebrates a mass where the chrism, or holy oils, used in sacraments are blessed. It is also the occasion for the renewal of the priests’ promises to serve faithfully and obediently.
No Kings Day Demonstration
Two of the best signs at the demonstration
No Kings Day Demonstration
Many of the signs carried by protestors in the No Kings Day demonstration were quite creative. Walking around and reading all the signs was interesting. I’m sorry I couldn’t get all the wording into view for some of these, like “Honk if you are not in the Epstein files.”
