BARBARA'S TCHATZKAHS

by Joseph A. Rehyansky I write as someone who regularly got shot at, rocketed, and mortared by people I didn’t even know who wanted to kill me. I mention this matter only to establish my bona fides to hold forth on such a weighty matter. My guess is that we have eleven too many “memorial days” of one sort or another, some of which you’ve never heard of and two of which are mercifully defunct, although I know from personal experience among the inhabitants of the holiday catacombs who dedicate way too much time to such things, that the officially defunct ones live on, at some debilitated level. April 6 Army Day: The date was chosen because on that date in 1917 the United States entered World War I. Last officially observed in 1949. Last Monday in May, our official Memorial Day: Its history is murky. Confederate veterans and the survivors of those who fell in battle seem to have come up with the idea first. They called it “Decoration Day.” Why? Recall the scene in G...

SOMETHING FOR US TO WATCH AND REFLECT ON THIS MEMORIAL DAY CLICK HERE (for my Uncle, of blessed memory - decorated WWII U.S. Navy Veteran, for my father-in-law, of blessed memory - WWII Canadian Army Veteran and my father, of blessed memory - WWII U.S. Army Veteran) Poem to the Soldier Author Unknown It is the Soldier, not the reporter who has given us freedom of press It is the Soldier, not the poet who has given us freedom of speech It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer who gives us freedom to demonstrate It is the Soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag. QUOTES TO PONDER: "Never in the face of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few." - Winston Churchill "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance." - Thomas Jefferson "....If you leave here with the word DUTY implanted in your mind; if you leave here with the ...

By Mary Phyllis Horn, Med, CMHt How we view ourselves and how we treat others is directly connected to how we view Spirit. For the sake of clarification, here are my definitions of Spirit: God, the Universe, Divine Source, or any other term you may use for the Highest Power of creation. "Spirit" includes the High Self as well--the highest, purest part of self that is always one with God. It also involves angels (spirit guides), who are as real, individual and sentient as you and I; they devote their entire beings to the service of the highest within Spirit and humanity. If we treat Spirit with respect and high ethics, any ethical change we implement will occur with ease. Spiritual ethics involve humility, forgiveness, recognizing our source of abundance, gratitude, and surrendering to Divine Will. Humility Humility is a combination of awe, wonder, recognition of our true strengths and weaknesses, and the deep knowledge that "I by myself can do nothing." That is, it ...

Scotland has to be the most beautiful country I have ever visited (so far). Cold, unforgiving terrain marked with lush green and purple hills, deep prehistoric lakes and crisp sun. My ex's grandparents were from Scotland and I hope to go there again soon. I could live there very easily... (but don't get your hopes up - I love NYC too much!) Even Scotland's minorities are adopting Scotland's trademark - the tartan plaid. If only all assimilation could be this great. When Nessie has a bris... let me know! ~~~~~~~~ Scotland's minorities adopt the kilt Jewish, Sikh citizens show patriotism by creating their own tartans, which they use for skullcaps and turbans by Golnar Motevalli Scotland's kilt shops are making room for tartan skullcaps (kippahs) and turbans as the country's minority groups create their own patterns to go alongside traditional clan tartans. Tartans, the plaid patterns traditionally designed and woven in Scotland, have been used for centurie...