All I can add is that this Superhero has said it best!!!

Charlottesville VA on a typical evening. People enjoying safety.

Charlottesville when hate comes to town.

Like many of you I have seen images on TV and heard a lot of news reports on the violence last Saturday in Charlottesville. The conversation that has been sparked is marked by:

• Strong contrasts in opinion.
  
• A mixture of fact and fiction mixed together.
  
• Discussion of loss of life and loss of a feeling of safety.
  

Charlottesville is only 3 hours from my home. I could easily drive there for a day trip or a relaxing weekend. The first image would entice me to make the journey. Second image I posted would be a deterrent to wanting to visit the city.

I feel for Charlottesville because the events of the past week will share people’s opinions of the town for years to come. I feel for the residents who prefer tranquility over violence. And most importantly, I pray for them!

Today is Independence Day when we celebrate the founding of our nation. While we enjoy parades, picnics, and fireworks there are many people being denied entrance to our nation on the grounds of “national security”.

Does this immigration ban make sense?

Consider these facts and then come to your own conclusion.

FACTS:

2017 US CITIZENS HAVE COMMITTED:

• Killings -299
  
• Injuries -789
  
• Shootings -1088
  

2017 REFUGEES ADMITTED TO THE US HAVE COMMITTED:

• Killings -0
  
• Injuries -0
  
• Shootings -0

On this day, I 1863 one of most important battles of the Civil War was fought in a small town in south-eastern Pennsylvania. I was schedule to return to the sight of the battle this weekend with friends from out of state. Health issues kept them from making the trip. Our planned visit to the sight has kept the today’s tourist site and yesterday’s conclusion to the Civil War on my mind.

We would be wise to remember the high cost of human lives who died for both the Union and Confederacy. Our nation needs to work for our betterment and cease acting in such divisive ways. Unfortunately, we can’t expect Congress to set a good example for us, as their dysfunction over the last 16 years has shown the worst that can happen when partisanship rules and bipartisanship is reduced to an election year promise that is quickly forgotten.

Cory Anthony Booker (born April 27, 1969) is an American politician and the junior United States Senator from New Jersey, in office since 2013. Previously he served as mayor of Newark from 2006 to 2013.

He attended Stanford University, where he played college football and received a Bachelor of Arts in political science and a Master of Arts in sociology, before earning a Rhodes Scholarship to attend the University of Oxford. Upon returning home, he earned his Juris Doctor from Yale Law School.

The quote in the box is how I try to practice my faith. I am glad to see that a politician like Corey Booker agrees with me. I posted a short biography of his political career underneath the quote.

In the national conversation regarding health care reform I have been pleased to see religious organizations advocate for those who would hurt by the proposed changes. The 10 Commandments posted above were written by a group affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church. The word “catholic” in the Greek language means “universal”. The points they are encouraging benefit everyone no matter what faith group they claim or even if they do not claim any faith group. I hope the leaders in the House of Representatives and Senate are impacted and do not take us backward as they consider revisions to the health care laws.

Many of us thought of the Bat Cave when we learned the news that Adam West died on June 9, 2017. A friend of mine was driving and saw this sign on the Interstate. Wikipedia describes the location in this way:

Bat Cave is an unincorporated community in Henderson County, North Carolina, in the United States. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The community is located along Lake Lure Highway (US 64/US 74A/NC 9), 14.6 miles (23.5 km) northeast of Hendersonville, along the banks of the Broad River.

The community was named after the nearby cave which is inhabited by several species of bats, on Bluerock Mountain (sometimes referred to as Bat Cave Mountain). It is the largest known granite fissure cave in North America and is a protected area, not open to the public. It has frequently been noted on lists of unusual place names.

The community is served by an all-volunteer fire department and has a bimonthly community paper called “The Bat Biz.”

Who knows I may try to include this on one of my journeys as the Batman TV series was one of the happiest activities I enjoyed as a child.

As a chaplain, I deal with many patients who are hard of hearing. It takes so much effort to communicate with them and they get so frustrated by not understanding what is being said the first time. Hearing often is not fully appreciated until it is lost. I encourage everyone to protect their hearing now while it is not impaired.

NATIONAL SAVE YOUR HEARING DAY

Each May 31st, National Save Your Hearing Day is observed.  It is important to take some time to learn ways to protect your hearing and that of your family. Our hearing is vital, and there are ways that hearing loss can be avoidable.

There are various reasons from which hearing loss can be the result, some of which include:

• Age
  
• Noise
  
• Genetic
  
• Illness
  
• Neurological Disorders
  
• Medications
  
• Chemicals
  
• Physical Trauma
  
• Neurobiological Factors
  

It is estimated half of the cases of hearing impairment and deafness are preventable.  There are many effective, preventative strategies including immunization against rubella to reduce congenital infections, immunization against H. influenza and S. pneumonia to reduce cases of middle ear infections, and avoiding or protecting against excessive noise exposure.

“We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people.” -John F. Kennedy, 35th US president 

Today is Memorial Day.

• It is more than a day to be off from work.
  
• It is more than a day for a picnic.
  
• It is more than a day for special sales at many stores.
  

Memorial Day is a day to honor and remember those who have served in the Armed Forces to protect and defend our nation. I have freedom today because many were willing to serve. I thank all Veterans, those who returned from their deployment and those who sacrificed their life and returned to families who loved them and were grieving as they prepared to honor the life of those that they loved and who served.

National Hamburger Day is a favorite food holiday in the United States. Top it with lettuce, tomato, pickle, and onion-or toss on a slice of cheese with some ketchup and mustard. Whether you go gourmet or just plain bread and beef, you’re sure to end up with a full stomach! Like Hot Dog Day and Cheeseburger Day, this celebration usually occurs during sunny weather when people can get outside to grill their own beef. Of course, burger restaurants across the nation also chip in to make it a belt-busting day, with plenty of special deals.

Upon further research, I discovered the following facts about hamburgers:

• Americans approximately consume roughly 50 billion burgers a year.
  
• The hamburger business is 73-billion-dollar business
  
• There are over 50,000 burger restaurants located across the country.
  
• Approximately 7.5% of all US restaurants are burger restaurants.
  
• California has the highest number of burger restaurants, second is Texas, third is Florida, forth is Ohio, and fifth is Illinois.
  
• 71 Percent of all beef consumed in restaurants is in the form of a burger.
  
• McDonald’s buys over 1 billion pounds of hamburger meat per year.
  
• Burgers account for roughly 60 percent of all sandwiches sold.
  The biggest burger ever on a restaurant menu was 185.8 pounds and cost almost $500.