tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15124506698994846942023-06-20T06:46:11.273-06:00Synergy: A Resource for Pastoral Care GiversFrank Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069907867738599566noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512450669899484694.post-15070049088780731472013-06-12T09:04:00.002-06:002013-06-12T09:04:39.787-06:00REALLY? 2013?
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Several days ago CNN showed a piece re: the reuniting of a
woman seriously injured in the Boston Marathon bombing and the woman who had
befriended her [used her scarf as a tourniquet on the ‘amputated’ leg and held
her hand until the EMTs arrived].<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obviously
“connected”, yet neither woman had the other’s name.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thanks to the many “social media” of 2013, CNN was able to
locate the good samaritan and arranged to fly her to Boston for a very
emotional reunion!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Certainly one of the
advantages of such mass media is the possibility of enabling us to function as
a larger community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A “stranger” in
Boston is located in California – and is a woman whose spontaneous reaction
after the bombing was to “be come a friend” to one in need.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Towards the close of the CNN segment it was revealed that
there was to be a fund-raiser” for the Boston woman’s medical expenses!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had lost her lower left leg; had her
right leg severely broken; and was now needing extensive rehab – <u>and she
needed a fund-raiser to cover her medical expenses!</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Really?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 2013?<o:p></o:p></span></strong></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Is there any other nation in the civilized [?} industrial
world that would place the burden for medical payment on a victim of an act of
terrorism?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Really?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 2013?<o:p></o:p></span></strong></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Free health care ought to be the norm for us. Not just
because it is more in line with the teachings of Jesus. Not because it is more
in line with the practice of early Judaism. Not because it is more in line with
the teachings of Muhammad.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Free health care ought to be the norm for us because it is
the right thing to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the
economically smart thing to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ever since we accepted insurance for medical payment we have
accepted an “other” between us and our physician or other care provider. In
these past 50+ years the powers of those “others” have grown almost absolute in
their controls over doctors, nurses and other care providers. And we can’t “elect”
them!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Really?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 2013?<o:p></o:p></span></strong></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is time for all of us to initiate the needed
conversations so that “affordable” health care is freely available.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then we might move even closer to being “one community” with
liberty and justice for all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Frank Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069907867738599566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512450669899484694.post-17137095961925410132013-02-25T06:06:00.001-06:002013-02-25T06:06:16.501-06:0021st Century Life is Challenging
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“There is no security on this earth –
only opportunity!”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">
[General Douglas MacArthur]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Today is life – the only life we’re
sure of. Live it. Make the most of today.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">
[Character on CSI-New York]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“The journey of life is always forward.
It’s OK to look back – but it is impossible to return to yesterday.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>[FSM]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Recently
I have been in a Book Club discussing Michio Kaku’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Physics of the Future</i> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9pt;">(Anchor Books 2011)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> – dealing with “how science will
shape human destiny and our daily lives by the year 2100”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alternatively it is fascinating, irritating,
frustrating and un-settling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without any
doubt, advances in computers, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology,
medicine, energy, space travel and wealth [subjects covered in his book] will
be radically different.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">At times
it is tempting to “ease” my angst about life as Kaku predicts by simply taking
comfort that at 82 years of age those challenges will not be mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More frequently, however, the angst drives me
to wrestle with how one might discern ways to maintain the significant values
of civilization while adapting to those challenges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The changes he identifies will challenge
human-kind in every sphere of living: How we value life. How we value work. How
we value differences in human potential. How we posit truth and compassion and
love as essential for the good life.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Simultaneously
with reading Kaku’s book I’m reading <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Eloquence of Grace – Joseph Sittler and the Preaching Life</i> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9pt;">[Cascade Books]</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> by James M. Childs Jr &
Richard Lischer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a collection of
transcribed sermons and speeches from the life of Joseph A. Sittler [1904-87] –
“one of the most influential theologians of the 20<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> century” as
well as the professor under whom I was privileged to study while in seminary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sittler would have loved Kaku’s book!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He welcomed the challenges brought by
advances in every sphere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Welcomed them
– and wrestled with them as he sought ways to involve them in the truths of
faith.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In one
of Sittler’s presentations on “Christology” – in 1954! – he talks of how
quantum physics impacts our creeds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>1954!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Quantum theories were
still relatively new. Albert Einstein in 1921 and Werner Heisenberg in 1932 had
been awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work on quantum fields – but
many were wrestling with how such discoveries would challenge even basic laws
such as gravity!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Into that mix comes
Sittler, wrestling with how one might ascertain what changes Quantum physics
might require in the basic Creeds [Nicene, et al]. And this quote jumped out:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">..when we in our day, inheritors
not only of the theology of the Reformation but also continuing inheritors of
critical biblical-historical studies, seek to administer the understanding of
the Reformers, we are compelled to see the Nicene Christology in a way they did
not and perhaps could not….Sixteenth-century veneration for Nicea has descended
to us as a twentieth-century frustration; the fourth-century settlement of
Christology so massively overlays the sixteenth as to make the sixteenth
stutter as it addresses the twentieth. <u>It is not too much to say that our
theological tradition, whereby we gather up and contain in the theology of our
day both the fourth and the sixteenth centuries, constitutes as invitation to
theological hernia</u>.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9pt;">[Underlining mine] </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Confronted
with/by these challenges, many succumb to the temptation of wanting to deny
what is new. They would rather return to the “comfort” [false comfort to be
sure] of yesterday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some will put forth “The
Bible says . . .” as if it could “un-do” what is new.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As if one might still fancy a world that is
flat with “heaven” up there and “hell” down there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As if we didn’t know what we do about
gravity; about molecules; about carbon emissions; about human psych-sexual
development.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">But
- we do know!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And – we cannot go back!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">God
– as identified and preached and taught – by almost every religion is the
Absolute, the Mighty One, the Supreme Being.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While the 21<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup> century advances will challenge many of the
human-made statements or positions about that God – they do not challenge God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Scriptures
– Holy Writings – of all religions have always been a living dynamic story
rather than a dead static construct.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
that were not true there would not be so many factions within the religions of
the world – factions which want to keep certain beliefs or standards or values
which other factions believe have changed.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">None
of the challenges deny the value and importance of <u>love</u> in human
relationships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of the challenges
deny or dis-prove the value of <u>honesty</u> and <u>trust</u> as essentials
for humans to live in community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While some
challenges do call into question some of the arguments that religious folks
have used to “prove” God – none of those challenges prohibit anyone from still
believing that her/his God is real!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s why it’s called <u>faith</u>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I
remember times in raising our children [and I had the privilege of 22 years of
raising teen-agers!] when they would challenge certain rules.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hardest rules of maintain were often the
ones which came from my childhood experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The temptation in the face of numerous “why’s” was to simply state –
“because I said so”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as every parent
knows, such a parental approach can only be sustained for a very limited
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Harder – yet, subsequently more
satisfying – was to engage the teen-ager in dialogue so as to mutually discern <u>what</u>
was the value and <u>which</u> was the external that had borne the value.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">We
need to willingly engage in those dialogues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At times it will be scary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At
times we will make mistakes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At times we
will need to move ahead on trust and faith in each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s what it means to be human. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
Frank Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069907867738599566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512450669899484694.post-17779298727642372492013-02-19T07:04:00.003-06:002013-02-19T07:04:43.406-06:00STUDY OR OFFICE/
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I remember, as if it were only yesterday, a visit made to a
Lutheran pastor’s home just outside of Red Oak, Iowa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was in the fall of 1957 and it was still
in my first year as an ordained clergy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His home and the parish were on several acres – sort of carved out of a
large farm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition to a garage
[attached to make it easier in stormy winters], a good size garden and an
enclosure so as to keep a hog, he had a good sized room in the house that he
specifically called his <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">study</b>!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 1957 many clergy had begun the process of re-locating the
parsonage away from the parish buildings – and, a few, had even begun the
process of buying a home on their own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And, in 1957, at least among Lutheran clergy, the majority still called
the place where they prepared sermons a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">study</b>.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">How different from today!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now they are called “offices”!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
recollection is that the switch began in the 1960’s – at least in Lutheran
circles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our leaders were called
Presidents; mergers were being consummated; and the “program” church was gaining
dominance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clergy salaries were beginning
to rise towards levels more in line with “top management” – and an “office”
appeared to offer more in return than a “study”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That “appearance” may even be justified if we look at how
those words are defined!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Random
House Dictionary [Unabridged Edition] offers this definition for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">study</b> – a room, in a house or other
building, set aside for private study, reading, writing or the like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Office</b>,
on the other hand, is defined as – a room, set of rooms or building where the
business of a commercial or industrial organization or of a professional person
is transacted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ecclesiastic Office</b> is – the prescribed order or form for a service
prescribed; the services so prescribed; the prayers, readings from scripture,
and psalms that must be recited every day by all who are in major orders; a
ceremony or rite for the dead!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>None
of these words are listed as synonyms for each other.</u><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">How might this switch have impacted the work/role of
clergy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A study published in the 1960’s [I
believe it was in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Minister’s Own
Mental </i>Health by Wayne Oates] did some rankings vis a vis the “functions”
of ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These were identified as:
Preacher, Pastor, Priest, Teacher and Administrator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The roles were defined thus:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Preacher – the efforts directed towards the full
proclamation of the Word, including the prophetic and evangelical.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pastor – time spent visiting the sick and in
pastoral counseling [both areas in the 1960s were gaining importance]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Priest – time spent leading the varied services
[weekly worship, sacramental, funerals, weddings]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Teacher – time to prepare and lead opportunities
for laity to grow in their understanding of how their beliefs related to and/or
were impacted by modernity<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Administrator – either the CEO or COO of a
business increasingly needing to meet the same demands of any other small
business<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Clergy were asked to rank them by Importance and by Personal
Preference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Protestant clergy tended to rank the Importance
and Personal Preference re: these functions as such: Preacher-Pastor-Teacher-Priest-Administrator.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roman Catholic and other more
sacramental clergy had this ranking: Priest-Pastor-Preacher-Teacher-Administrator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They then participated in a time study in
which all their activities were categorized into one of those functions!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In both groups the rankings were inverted to:
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Administrator-Pastor-Priest-Preacher-Teacher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Functions seen as less important and less
enjoyable consumed most of their time!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">At the very least this inversion placed/places significant
stress/pressure upon clergy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, “administration”
is probably the topic least discussed in theological education – a real
handicap if the pastor is to be the CEO of a small to mid-size business!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Second, “administration” will usually be the
arena in which most conflicts arise [many congregations have real
administrators from the business world as members] – since the pastor knows
this is where s/he is least prepared!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Third, “administration” usually gives her/him the least satisfaction
because few went into ministry to be an administrator!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The 21<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup> century has brought with it many changes
to the Church and her ministries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Administratively we see declining membership and income.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such have stark pressures on a program-church
as well as maintenance of an aging physical plant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The almost exponential advances in science/technology
challenge many of the creedal statements that have been used for centuries in
support of core beliefs. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cultural
changes challenge many of the major moral teachings developed over
centuries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If we hope to address these changes then more time needs to
be directed towards our roles as Preacher-Teacher-Priest leaving less time for
Pastor-Administrator.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I believe it would be easier to make those directional
changes if we renamed our “office” to be a “study”?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We really could reduce the amount of time in our
“Pastoral” role.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Visiting sick members
in today’s hospitals can seldom be more than symbolic – and laity [such as
Stephen ministers] are often able to do those visits as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Counseling has also become so much more
complicated that clergy are best advised to identify counselors in their
community to whom referrals can be made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are usually such resources available to serve all income levels.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The “programs” of the parish need review!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How much time is directed towards “social”
ministries such as food pantries or group meetings for this or that group struggling
with this or that problem? How much time is given to “entertainment” ministries
– trivia nites, date nites, youth activities?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We need to assign at least 50% of our time
weekly to study!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Time for reading. Time
for contemplation. Time for serious writing.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We need to be vocal in helping our denominations
focus more on the deep theological issues of our age and less time on the
pelvic issues?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Modern physics are
challenging our world views as well as the way we live and relate daily to/with
each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps denominations would
spend more time at meetings on the those theological challenges.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Much of the “Administrative” tasks can be
referred to the talented laity.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Perhaps we might re-claim our roles as the most
theologically education persons in parish and Synods!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>[Of course that would mean the 50% mentioned
above in # 3 should be 60-75%].<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if
we were seen as the Rebbe or Rabbi?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Welcome to my study – and I look forward to engaging you in
yours!.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Frank Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069907867738599566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512450669899484694.post-62308605841239599512013-02-08T16:39:00.002-06:002013-02-08T16:39:28.842-06:00Good Intentions
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Much of my early “moral” or “values” education came from my
maternal Grandmother. One of those lessons was that the “road to hell was paved
with good intentions”!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was usually
voiced when one [or more] of my behaviors had resulted poorly and, in order to
re-gain solid footing I resorted to the “…but I meant well!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was when Grandmother would remind me
about the ambivalence of ‘paving’ materials on the path to “goodness”.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A slightly different approach to this “value” or “moral”
came my senior year in college.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A noted
Lutheran scholar, Dr. George Forell, was lecturing in a class on History of
Economics –and stated that there was no such thing as “pure altruism”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Confident, as any 21 year old is, I
challenged Dr. Forell – and his response was to give me enough time to hang
myself!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each person that I mentioned as
being “purely altruistic” [i.e. Mother Teresa, Albert Schweitzer], he clearly
pointed out the personal benefit each example gained. Dr. Forell did that
without being judgmental of the person nor did he deny the good that each had
achieved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather, he simply taught me
that my Grandmother was even more right than even she probably knew!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I would like to report that the <u>lessons</u> taught by
Grandmother and Dr. Forell were successfully employed throughout my life –
personally and professionally!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However,
such a ‘report’ would be false!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
temptations to <u>act</u> or <u>perform</u> in certain situations are great –
and, coupled with the ease by which one can identify the “good intention” or
the “altruistic” result – well, too often my actions shared in “paving the way
to hell”!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, I never tried to solve any
economic problems such as Hitler did with the “Jewish solution”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nor did I attempt to improve my financial
circumstances through the development of Ponzi schemes and/or other gimmicks
which could “look good” to the unsuspecting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many of the top stories of our time highlight the difficulty
all of us face in the discernment of “good intentions” and “altruism.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Obtaining the oil reserves in the land of North
Dakota has many “good intentions”: it can help us be less dependent on foreign
oil reserves; it can bring needed employment to a state that has always
struggled to offer sufficient opportunities to its youth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, as we are learning daily, the
process employed in accessing these oil reserves – fracking – is having
significant negative consequences: pollution of land and water already make
some areas inhabitable; the constant movement of the oil by trucking
contributes to air and space pollution; the number of employees brought in from
other states is causing a burden in many communities; and, the major share of
the “profits” are not going to the citizens of North Dakota – but to venture
capitalists and hedge fund managers [most often residing on/near Wall Street].<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The employment of drones to do certain dangerous
tasks allows us greater protection of our men and women in the military – while
presenting us challenges to some of our basic values!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>War always involves a degree of evil – even
the so-called “justified” wars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet,
over centuries the conduct of wars developed a significant code for the conduct
of those wars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enemy combatants still
maintained certain “rights” – and violations of those rights brought
consequences to those who violated them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our “War of Terror” however has operated – and continues to operate – in
murky gray areas vis a vis those rights.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The issue of providing adequate treatment for
our brothers and sisters with a mental illness has also been made more difficult
with our “good intentions” and “altruisms”. Aware of the terrible situation in
many 1950s psychiatric hospitals and aware that new medications were rapidly
being developed to offer greater hope to the mentally ill our nation passed the
Comprehensive Community Mental Health Act of 1960.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The intention? – allow the mentally ill to be
discharged from the ‘snake pits’ and to seek living possibilities closer to
their families in our communities!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
too often the focus shifted to the $$$ saved by closing the hospitals and
failing to develop treatment resources in those communities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This resulted in many patients being “dumped”
from bad situation to worse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And probably no issue has been more taxed with
the struggles on “good intentions” than that of “rights”!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Few could/would argue with many of the
benefits inherent in the Civil Rights movement, Feminine Rights, Rights for our
LGTB brothers and sisters, Rights of the 2<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">nd</span></sup> Amendment vis a vis
owning weapons, Rights of Labor, Rights of Capitalism, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Entire blogs could be written about the
“goods” achieved and associated with each of those struggles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Similarly, entire blogs could be written
about the negative consequences that have also resulted in/from those
struggles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, what ought we do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Individually and collectively we are
obligated to try to make the world better; to do our best for family and
friends; to develop proper laws and seek to obey them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are a few steps or lessons I believe
might be helpful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Recognize
that even my best intention will have negative consequences!</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t like admitting that when I was young
– and still don’t enjoy it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would
rather see my actions as “more” good than “any” bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But such honest admission is vital to living
in relationships with spouse, children, co-workers, community, state, nation
and world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not saying one has to go
to the other extreme [we are <u>by nature sinful</u>] but to honestly recognize
that more of behavior is “gray” rather than “black or white”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Engage
the ‘other’ in open dialogue whenever you act “to help” the ‘other’.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I recall a cartoon showing a Boy Scout
helping an older person across the street – and the older person beating on the
Scout because she hadn’t wanted to cross the street!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I recall a time when my father bought my
mother a mangle iron to help her with the ironing even tho she had made it
clear she didn’t want one – <u>and never even took the ribbon off it for almost
10 years!</u><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That dialogue with the
other has to identify whose needs are being served?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What might be the negative consequences?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, are there other ways to achieve the end?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Spend
honest time/effort in exploring the negative consequences [which will always be
present] so as to develop plans for minimizing/alleviating those
consequences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>It’s “good” to lessen
our dependence on foreign oil and “fracking” has terrible consequences – surely
a people who could send humans to the moon could develop ways of mitigating
those negatives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s good to enable
more citizens to live outside psychiatric facilities but not without available/affordable
services of assistance!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s good to
provide assistance to the poor, the hungry, the homeless, the ill – but not by
over-looking the values of self-reliance!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We can both give a person a fish AND teach that person how to fish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can give unemployment relief AND provide
education/training for a job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s good
that more and more of the dangerous jobs in our society can be done with robots
– and it is evil if we do so without discerning ways to develop new jobs for
those replaced!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Discern
the spiritual factors involved in all of our actions and seek meaningful ways
to discuss and ‘treat’ those.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each
week we are confronted with news re: the terrible consequences that our “wars”
are having on the men and women involved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Most of us know that PTSD stands for even though we might not understand
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we strive to improve the
psychological services to help our troops, <u>let’s not forget the spiritual
components</u>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our men and women go to
combat with the values we have taught them from birth: life is sacred, killing
is wrong, do not falsely accuse, everyone should have her/his day in court,
etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then, in this “War on Terror”
we turn their ‘values” upside down!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why
wouldn’t that be traumatic?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, why do
we think it only impinges on the men and women in the Armed Services?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They went on our behalf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do we, too, seek assistance for our
spiritual darkness?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just some thoughts – and “thanks” to Grandma and Dr. Forell!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Frank Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069907867738599566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512450669899484694.post-28781550145381509922012-09-08T14:30:00.005-06:002012-09-08T14:32:10.079-06:00Finally - politics without religion [well almost]<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> In the home of my childhood there
were always two topics not discussed at the dinner table – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">politics</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">religion</i>. My
parents believed that those issues were of such a nature that honest discussion
was impossible unless the speakers spoke with triteness or disrespect!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Religion</b> was very important in my parent’s personal lives. They
were active members of their Lutheran parish – serving as teachers, ushers,
trustees, guild members as well as hosting bible studies in our home. They made
certain that my sister and I attended regularly <u>so that as adults we could
make informed decisions as to our future involvement</u>!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Politics</b> was certainly important as to make voting mandatory! But
my sister and I had to look for clues as to how they thought about specific
issues. An occasional joke voiced when one would ask how they voted [my memory
says it came more from my Mother] was that more often than not “Our votes
cancelled each other out!” But to this day I really couldn’t state who the
Democrat was and who the Republican! I could make a reasoned argument giving
such a label to each of them over varied issues.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since the 1980s, however, religion
has increasingly been inserted into politics. The efforts of Pat Robertson, Jerry
Falwell, Ralph Reed and others to organize the “Religious Right” into a solid
voting bloc for the Republican Party have truly been game changing!
Increasingly such efforts have identified in great detail the position that
should be supported if voting as a “religious Person”!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The negative consequences are well
documented. Even the ancients knew there was danger in saying out loud the name
of god. Our theologies have become poorer; our understanding of scripture has
deteriorated; cooperation among varied clergy and parish groups is less; and,
an increasing number of young adults have opted for what Bishop Spong has
referred to as “The Christian Alumni Association”.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was a pleasant surprise for me
to read/hear that for the first time in decades the Democratic Party would: a]
Not mention god in their platform; and, b] Not indicate that Jerusalem should
be accepted as the capital of Israel!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wow.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Unfortunately, by late Wednesday
the party platform had re-inserted both of those items.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wow – wow!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We appear to forget – our ancestors
fled to these shores to escape governments significantly entangled with
religions.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We seem eager to forget that at
times “religion” was used to support the denial of freedom to persons of color
and persons of the female gender – and even to impose the death penalty on
persons deemed to be witches!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We appear unwilling to accept that
we live in a pluralistic society in which there is no universal agreement re:
god.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And we especially strive to forget
that the holy, sacred writings of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">all</b>
religions place a strong burden upon those who “have” to care for those who
“have not”!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oh well – maybe by 2016?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Frank Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069907867738599566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512450669899484694.post-23267156354351075492012-08-20T09:33:00.002-06:002012-08-20T09:33:58.472-06:00Cars and Creeds become dated . . .
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">R.E. Olds
actually began building cars before Henry Ford – and for many decades the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Oldsmobile</i> brand was an industry leader.
In 1988 sales were poor – and the company introduced its new model with the tag
line – “This is not your grandfather’s Oldsmobile”. That didn’t work and the
final Oldsmobile rolled off the factory lot in April 2004. Nostalgia for what
once was doesn’t work in today’s automotive world.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Apostles
Creed is certainly one of the oldest in Christendom, developed between the 2<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">nd</span></sup>
and 9<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> centuries. Pre-dating the Apostles Creed is, of course, the
Nicene Creed, developed in 325 to battle the teachings of Arius. It experienced
many re-workings over the centuries. The version most frequently in use today
dates back to 1549!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">While some
may think reviewing the use/acceptance of cars and creeds odd – [even
ludicrous?], factors in both have similarities:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Egos</u>! The history of creeds and
Christianity has clearly been impacted when egos clashed over interpretations,
control issues, political battles, etc. Such is also true in the automotive
history. Think Paul vs Peter, Athanasius vs Arius, Martin vs Leo; think Olds vs
Ford, GM vs Toyota.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>New knowledge</u>!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Autos<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span>§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Initially used heavy metals in manufacturing.
Now & other lighter materials</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Computers now handle timing, maintenance, cruise
control, global positioning and a myriad of other aspects involved in driving
an auto.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Environmental impact of burning fossil fuels [as
well as cost increase] has led to newer means of propelling an automobile.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Safety and comfort factors became more
mandatory.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Foreign manufacturers were able to compete
successfully in all aspects of the auto<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Creeds<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Galileo and Copernicus revealed the earth is not
the center of the universe. No longer can we postulate a “tiered” universe in
which heaven is “up”, hell is “down”.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Newton forced us to recognize that this universe
operates on certain laws which even God cannot suspend without dire results.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The discovery of ancient manuscripts reveal many
other texts with significant claims to being considered as important as the
Bible.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span>§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Darwin’s work on the evolution of humanity
reveals that creation is not “done” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but
is still evolving; that while the Psalmist saw us as little lower than the
angels, we are really only a little higher than animals; that it is even
possible we could become extinct!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Freud’s work on the human psyche opened up the
way humanity reacts when the reality of mortality confronts us: we create gods
and myths, experience fear and anger, and come to feel guilt.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sputnik – and all the other works involving
outer space – make us aware that our galaxy is only one of many; that the
distances involved are trillions of miles; and creation is very, very old –
long before Genesis 1!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our involvement with persons from other
creeds/religions forces us to re-consider whether or not we can insist on the
supremacy of Christianity.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All these aspects need to be worked into our
theologies [just as our ancestors had to do in their time].<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The world of
2012 is much more than what our grandmothers and grandfathers knew. <u>It’s time
to up-grade our creeds!<o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
Frank Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069907867738599566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512450669899484694.post-59588650778014965872012-08-13T15:07:00.005-06:002012-08-13T15:07:54.116-06:00WORDS . . . . .
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Grocery-store-aisle
conversations are frequently informative! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such was the situation recently when I met a
fellow member of my congregation. A professional man, he had been very active
in the days I served as an Interim Pastor. He began our conversation – “I know
you haven’t seen me very often recently…” Since my attendance has also been
very infrequent, we quickly moved to grant our mutual words of assurance that
we – personally – were still o.k. We are probably members of what Bishop John
Shelby Spong calls the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Church Alumni
Association</i> [<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Into The Whirlwind,</i>
p22, 1983; St. Johann Press].<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">My
friend mentioned that a daughter had just graduated from a prestigious mid-western
University with a major in linguistics. He further related that she now
considered herself an atheist! Altho both of us felt some sadness, we also
affirmed our understanding of her current stance. Within our family of 7 children
[6 married] and 17 grand-children, the situation would not be greatly
different. [While they might not claim to be atheist, many would be members of
that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Church Alumni Association</i>!]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">My
sadness at the loss of my friend’s daughter to the church was also amplified as
I reflected on her field of study – linguistics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A noun, linguistics is “</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The study of the nature, structure, and variation of
language, including phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics,
sociolinguistics, and pragmatics.” How critical such a person might be to an
organization founded upon the “word become flesh”. We are an organization whose
history is richly characterized by those who sought life’s meanings and answers
through such studies. And, we are an organization critically in need of such
persons willing to provide leadership in 2012 as we seek to relate that “Word”
to modernity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Think of the words used weekly in
worship – words whose meanings in 2012 carry vastly different pictures than
when they were first written:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and
earth.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Is an anthropomorphic God,
especially singularly identified as masculine, appropriate for the 21<sup>st</sup>
century?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Is it helpful to continue describing
our God as “Almighty”, when we more often see God as unable to change powers of
destruction?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Is it wise to continue to speak of a
“heaven” and an “earth” [and, later, a “hell”] as if we believed in a tri-level
universe? Now that we know there are multiple galaxies beyond ours, such
language [at the least] is a major stumbling block for our youth.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There are similar challenges in the
2<sup>nd</sup> and 3<sup>rd</sup> articles of the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene
Creed, the stories of miracles, the theological dicta predicated upon
thoughts/beliefs/ideas we know are no longer valid, and much of our hymnody!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is not to denigrate the
value[s] of such. Think of how our ancestors – male and female – argued fervently
to advance “words” that conveyed the Good News. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They knew that words were important!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus also knew that how such words
were understood was equally important – and open to change!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span><em>Matthew 5:22-24: “<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Ye have heard that it was said of them
of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger
of the judgment:</span></em><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><em><sup>22 </sup>But
I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall
be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca,
shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be
in danger of hell fire</em></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><em>.</em></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is not an easy challenge to
engage in such study, debate, and dialogue. Indeed, it is scary because to do
so asks one be willing to move forward trusting beyond what s/he can capture in
their own minds, their own intellects, their own rationalities. It takes what
Tillich referred to as a “leap of faith” – from a place we feel is secure [even
though our minds inform us it is not] to an unknown place [one that our minds
may not fathom, but which our belief can affirm is still with God!]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">May we all be linguists – and let’s
convene the </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Church Alumni Association!</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Frank Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069907867738599566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512450669899484694.post-56514818422435701482012-08-09T15:47:00.004-06:002012-08-09T15:47:22.713-06:00THE VALUE OF HERESY<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In 1955 the United Lutheran
Church in America brought three young clergy before a Tribunal on charges of several
heresies! The charges included denial of the virginity of Mary [they believed
that it was not necessary for the divinity of Jesus]; the creedal statements
suggesting a three-tiered universe [they argued that the church needed to move
beyond the pre-Galileo/Copernicus struggles]; the physical ascension of Jesus
[they argued that even Paul speaks more of a spiritual ascension]; and the
efficacy of prayer [is prayer an attempt to change the mind of God or, in the
act of praying, is the prayer changed?].<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Seminaries convened their seniors
to make certain that they would give correct answers when being examined for
ordination. From today’s vantage point [57 years] I think few of us were even
aware of the questions raised in/through these concerns.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We
knew that “heaven” was not “up” and we knew that “hell” was not “down”. But
being “out” in the universe was still moving from the comic strips – and
“sputnik” was still a year or so away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We
knew that Paul talked much about “in-the-body” or “out-of-the-body” and that
his Damascus road experience with Jesus was not a “physical” meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We
knew that the advances being made in psychology were radically altering our
understanding of the “self” – and that in the act of praying one was affirming
the “self” as dependent upon and lesser to the “Other”. Still, in 1955 [and for
many subsequent decades] many of us believed that prayer was <u>both</u> an
attempt to alter/change the mind of God and a practice that changed my “self”!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The clergy were George Crist Jr.
(31), Victor Wrigley (36) and John Gerberding (33). Crist and Wrigley were
adjudged as guilty. Gerberding was acquitted – but within a year he resigned
from the roster. My attempts to learn more of their subsequent lives have been
at fraught. Googling their names have been unsuccessful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Such “anonymity” is unfortunate.
Theological progress always comes out of the intense dialogues with those who
raise questions about the status quo. Those discussions almost always identify
“truths” which need to be altered due to advances of knowledge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Unfortunately [albeit
understandably] the victors would declare the losers as heretics.
Excommunication, banishment from the community, even death were the usual
punishments for the losers – and, most likely the arguments they proposed were
also eradicated. (The Heresy Tribunal records are sealed in the ELCA archives
until all parties are deceased.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The term heresy is from Greek αἵρεσις
originally meaning "choice". It also referred to that process whereby
a person could examine various philosophies to determine how to live one's
life. In light of the phenomenal knowledge changes experienced between 1955 and
2012 such a process ought to be mandatory:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Evolution
is only a controversy within certain religious groups. For many today, life is
involved in a continual creative process. History is replete with organisms
that came into existence and then moved into non-existence. Our belief(s) in a
Creator must move beyond an anthropomorphic tribal leader.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Prayer
whose goal/aim is to thwart laws of nature [suspense of the law of gravity so
the vase won’t break!] or to gain while another loses [my team or my army or my
political party] or to seek healing as if an angry or vengeful god must be
assuaged so as to grant mercy – such prayers challenge all that my 21<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup>
century rational mind believes! I do believe there is a power in/with prayer –
but such exists only through hard, focused effort.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Truths”
are <u>all</u> relative! That’s scary. There is not any field of life that has
not been impacted by having its “truth” declared invalid. All have experienced
it. We need to live in that paradox. Live in it – and help our people know that
life can still have love and hope.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">It would be exciting to visit with
Crist, Wrigley and Gerberding and to continue their quest. Life in 2012 has
moved light years beyond 1955. We need to capture the original sense of the
word “heresy” so as to consider choices more reflective of what is known today!<o:p></o:p></span></div>Frank Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069907867738599566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512450669899484694.post-51566817787364041812012-05-01T10:57:00.001-06:002012-05-01T10:57:53.803-06:00MUST WE USE THE WAR METAPHOR?<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Washington Post
Editorial writer Charles Lane wrote in the March 12<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> issue: </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I don’t know
about you, but I’m sick and tired of war.</span></u></i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lane’s article chronicled many of the
many ways in which our Nation uses the words – “War on…”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
* <span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We have a War on Cancer [begun in 1971
under President Nixon [he also gave us the War on Drugs];<o:p></o:p></span><br />
* <span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We have the War on Heart Disease, the
War on Breast Cancer, the War on Alzheimer’s, and the War on Childhood Obesity.
President Johnson gave us the War on Poverty and we have added the War on
Hunger.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The real biggie is the War on Terror
begun about a month after 9/11. Increasingly the “War on...” metaphor is used
to describe almost every political disagreement. Democrats accuse Republicans
of waging War on Women and on Science and on Working Families or Seniors.
Republicans accuse Democrats/Obama of waging War on Energy, Freedom of Religion
– Article I of the Bill of Rights, Capitalism and/or Free Market system – and
the real biggie, War on our Culture!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The war metaphor is also no stranger to
religion. Historically, as we know, the various religions didn’t just wage war
as a metaphor – but as<u> real</u> wars. In recent decades there are the
“worship wars” and the “battle for the Bible”. There are accusations of a War
on Christmas or other religious festivals.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">James F. Childress </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">[Prof. of
Religious Studies at Univ. of Virginia & was appointed to National Bioethics
Advisory Commission]</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> made this
observation: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In debating social policy
through the language of war. We often forget the moral reality of war. Among
other lapses, we forget important moral limits in real war—both limited
objectives and limit means. In short, we forget the just-war tradition, with
its moral conditions for resorting to and waging war. We are tempted by seedy
realism, with its doctrine that might makes right, or we are tempted by an
equally dangerous mentality of crusade or holy war, with its doctrine that
right makes might of any kind acceptable. In either case, we neglect such
constraints as right intention, discrimination, and proportionality, which
protect the humanity of all parties in war.</i> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">[The Leader’s Imperative: Ethics,
Integrity and Responsibility; ed. Carl Ficarrotta; Purdue Univ. Press; 2002] </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George Lakoff and Mark Johnson wrote a
book, </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Metaphors We Live By</span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, [1980]. They
carefully explain that “metaphors” are not just derivative “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">of the poetic imagination and the rhetorical
flourish</i>” and that they are “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pervasive
in everyday life, not just in language but in thought and action</i>.” They go
on to explain that “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the concepts that
govern our<u> </u>though are not just matters of the intellect. They also
govern our everyday functioning, down to the most mundane details. Our
conceptual system thus plays a central role in defining our everyday
realities…then the way we think is what we experience, and what we do every day
is very much a matter of metaphor.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jonathan Haidt’s book, </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Righteous
Mind – Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion - </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">2012</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, powerfully
supports Lakoff and Johnson as to how we make moral judgments! I have always
been a strong supporter of Rousseau – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cogito,
Ergo Sum</i> [I think, therefore I am] – and that rational people would realize
the “war on…” was <u>just</u> a metaphor!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Haidt, in his book, details how I
should believe in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sensei, Ergo Sum</i> [I
feel, therefor I am]. In those various “War on…” both sides enter
conversation/dialogue/argument buttressed with solid/good data – and painfully
fail to change each other!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And, if these were just casual issues
there might be no consequence other than disagreement about which team is
better or what color is sand!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But, in the quote above these metaphors
play <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">a central role in defining our
everyday realities… <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How else can we
explain how a man, active in his religious life, could feel justified in
killing a doctor who performed abortions?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How else
explain how an entire State legislature could even consider, let alone pass, a
law making it legal if you kill anyone performing an abortion?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How could some,
including an elected Federal official, reject Global Climate Change because In
the Old Testament God said he would never destroy the earth again as with the
flood!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br />
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Doug Pinkham, President of the Public Affairs Council put
it very nicely:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">It’s time for
rhetorical disarmament. No more metaphoric wars, battles, fights or clashes. We
can still have lively debates, heated discussions and arguments, but let’s stop
demonizing one another. When it comes to language, this country needs an
anti-war movement — and I already have a bumper sticker in mind, courtesy of
John Lennon:<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">All we are saying is give peace a chance.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>Frank Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069907867738599566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512450669899484694.post-23282315215602179962012-04-26T12:43:00.002-06:002012-04-26T12:43:27.218-06:00Rights, Religion and Corporations – Part 2<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The first posting on this subject indicated that
allocating “rights” to corporations has been a struggle since our nation’s
founding! While many came to these shores seeking escape from control by large corporations
[large government, large religious bodies, large businesses], there have always
been temptations to cede certain ‘rights’ – especially in times of crisis.</span><span style="font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lincoln, in
need of assistance transporting war supplies during the Civil War, gave railroads
rights of land ownership et al. This forced our government subsequently to sue
the railroads to take some of those cessions back!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Similar grants
were made when we wished railroads to open the west; when we needed
manufacturing to move fast as we entered World War II; when we took on the
challenge to send a man to the moon.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cessions were
also made when we allowed Congress to relax the rules which protected us from
the avarice of large corporations or when the Court allowed corporations to
dominate the electoral process.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%; margin: 1.6pt 13.2pt 0pt 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What, though, are the issues that arise when we grant
“corporate status” to denominations, parishes,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>synagogues or mosques? Are those issues compounded when those religious
institutions seek to assume rights normally reserved for individuals?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">A.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Since
“corporate status” is granted by the government [usually the state], might this
open the door to state control?</span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would that concern be eliminated by the first
Right – the freedom from any legislation that would impact religious belief or
practice?<u><o:p></o:p></u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While most voices proclaim such to be true, history is
less affirmative! When the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints [now
‘Mormon’] settled in the Utah Territory they had hoped to escape from political
persecutions for their beliefs. However, when the Federal government outlawed
polygamy they faced serious consequences. Until they complied, their lands and
temples were at risk of seizure and their citizens at risk of trial for bigamy.
Finally, a “revelation from God’ enabled them to change their belief system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>[Interestingly, Congress privately assured
the Roman Catholic Church that nothing similar would be done to them!]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Society’s efforts to “level” disparities in gender
situations [equal pay for equal work], employment and adoption situations
[limiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation], education
[seeking to mandate a basic level of required education], etc. have frequently
encountered opposition from certain religious groups claiming there was “no
compelling interest’ of the part of government to force certain behaviors upon
them.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">B.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What criteria
should be employed to determine an organization’s not-for-profit status? </span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A recent case in
Illinois determined that a religious-affiliated hospital did <u>not</u> provide
sufficient charity for exemption<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>from
property taxes! Does every “house of worship” contribute sufficiently to the
public good so as to warrant similar property tax relief?<u><o:p></o:p></u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">C.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How might
society protect herself from a very large religious corporation imposing
beliefs upon non-members as well?</span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Various religious organizations with
considerable wealth have attempted to force such impositions - seeking exemptions
for gender bias, sexual preference bias. Permission is also sought to exert
such pressures as needed to force legislation that would make certain practices
illegal [abortion is but one of these] or would curtail others [teaching the
validity about evolution, climate control, etc.].<u><o:p></o:p></u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Few [certainly not I] wish to allow government to
disregard the first amendment. Yet, one must admit that life in the 21<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup>
century is radically different from the 18<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> century:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 114%; margin: 1.6pt 13.2pt 0pt 42pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We know much more regarding space, creation processes,
human growth & development.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 114%; margin: 1.6pt 13.2pt 0pt 42pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We have become a much more diverse population –
religiously, economically, culturaly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 114%; margin: 1.6pt 13.2pt 0pt 42pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We live in a much larger global “society” and are
impacted by what others believe and do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 114%; margin: 1.6pt 13.2pt 0pt 42pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Denominationalism has grown to where it is no longer
possible [if it ever truly was] to claim that this or that behavior is “the
Christian” or “the Jewish” or “the Muslim” thing to do!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%; margin: 1.6pt 13.2pt 0pt 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Might we not seek more avenues for discussion so that we
are not only free from any Government impositions on our practice of religion –
but also from any religion’s impositions on our freedom from those religious
practices about which we differ?<o:p></o:p></span></div>Frank Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069907867738599566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512450669899484694.post-55651414908140531962012-04-24T09:53:00.001-06:002012-04-24T09:53:31.240-06:00RIGHTS, CORPORATIONS and RELIGION<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">N</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">a<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ti</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>al<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span>and<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>oc<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span>l<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">d</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">c</span>us<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span>ons<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> i</span>n<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">e</span>:<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">r</span>eq<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">u</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ir</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>ent<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>by<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">h</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">H</span>ea<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">l</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>h
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span>nd <span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">H</span>u<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>an Se<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">v</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">c</span>es<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>ency<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span>t<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><u style="text-underline: black;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>l</u>
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">h</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">lth i</span>ns<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">u</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>an<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">c</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">p</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>ans<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>p<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">v</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>de<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>b<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span>h con<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span>l,
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">r</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>c<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">h</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">l</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>en<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>ng<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>ques<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>s.<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.1pt;">T</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span>se<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>q<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">u</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ti</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>and
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span>ssu<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">w</span>ou<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">l</span>d
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>c<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">u</span>de:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 1.45pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">D</span>oes<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">h</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Bi</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>l<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span>f<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">R</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>p<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>n<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>o c<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>p<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>as<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">w</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">l</span>l<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span>as<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>d<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">v</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>du<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span>?<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">I</span>f<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">y</span>es, <span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>p<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">li</span>ca<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>on<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">s</span>?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 1.45pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>What<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">
</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">r</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span>ssu<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span>f<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">w</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>de<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">f</span>y<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">C</span>hu<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>ch
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">
</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">c</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>p<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">a</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ti</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: -0.2pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">n<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">iti</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">l</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>y I<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>hou<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>ht<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>one<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>p<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">ti</span>ng<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">S<span style="letter-spacing: 0.1pt;">Y</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">N</span>ER<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">G</span>Y<span style="letter-spacing: 0.1pt;"> </span></i><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">w</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">u</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>d
be<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> s</span>u<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">f</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">f</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>c<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span>ent<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">fl</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span>ct<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span>on
b<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"> </span>ques<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">/</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span>ues. <span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">H</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">w</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">v</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>,<span style="letter-spacing: -0.25pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">it </span>beca<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>app<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>t<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">h</span>at<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span>such<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">w</span>ou<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>d
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1 <span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">D</span>oes<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>he <span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">B</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">l</span>l<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span>f<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">R</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>s
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as <span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">w</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">l</span>l<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>as<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>n<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">d</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">v</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>du<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>s?</span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">l</span>ea<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">v</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>ng<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>Eu<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>ope<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>and<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>n
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">se</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">k</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>ng<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>ndepen<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">d</span>ence<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">f</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">r</span>om<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">Gr</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span>t<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">B</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">it</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>n
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">w</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>o <span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span>ss<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>t<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> t</span>he<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>“<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span>na<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">l</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>ab<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">l</span>e”<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ri</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">h</span>e <span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>nd<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">v</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>d<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">u</span>al<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">p</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">r</span>son a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>st<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>po<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">w</span>er<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>oups<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>– <span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">.</span>e. c<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">hu</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>ch, <span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">v</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>n<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>en<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>,
bu<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>ne<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span>s.<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"> </span>“<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">I</span>na<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">li</span>ena<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">b</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>e”<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>eans<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span>t such <span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">“</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ri</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span>s”<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">“</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>n<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">c</span>apa<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">b</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">l</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">b</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>ng<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>an<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">f</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">rr</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span>d
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">
</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>”<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>[</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">R<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">a</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">n</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">d</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">o</span>m<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"> </span>H<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ou</span>se Di<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">c</span>ti<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">o</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">na</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">r</span>y<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">o</span>f<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>t<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">h</span>e E<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">n</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">g</span>lish<span style="letter-spacing: 0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">L</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">a</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">n</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">g</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">u</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">age</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: 0.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">]</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">T</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">hom<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">H</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">rt</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>ann, a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">u</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span>r<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">U</span>nequal<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">P</span>ro<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">c</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ti</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>:<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>The<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>R<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span>se<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">C</span>orpo<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">r</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">D</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">m</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>na<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>ce<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>and
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">h</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>Th<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">f</span>t<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">H</span>u<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">m</span>an R<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>gh<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span>s</i>, <span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>d<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span>t<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">“</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>he<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>ex<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>d<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>y<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>exp<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ri</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>ent<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span>t<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">w</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>he<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>ba<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span>f<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">A</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ri</span>c<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span>n d<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>oc<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>acy<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>n
a<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>co<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">it</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">u</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span>on<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">l</span>y
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">li</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">it</span>ed<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>ep<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">u</span>b<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">l</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>c<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">w</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> t</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">f</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">l</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">p</span>”<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> t</span>he<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>h<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span>c<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>anner<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span>c<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span>n<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">tr</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span>l<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>u<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">p</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">d</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>do<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">w</span>n!<span style="letter-spacing: -0.25pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.1pt;">T</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span>t<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> i</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"> </span>– <span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> i</span>n<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>u<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>had
“<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ri</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span>”;<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>he<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>co<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">m</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>on peop<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">l</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>on<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>y<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>had<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>“p<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">v</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">il</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>es<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">w</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">h</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">c</span>h
cou<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">l</span>d “be<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">v</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">k</span>ed
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">re</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">-</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">-</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>ess<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span>t<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">w</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">l</span>l<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>by<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>he<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>ho<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">l</span>de<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">r</span>s
of<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>he<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ri</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span>”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">T</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">h<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">’</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">w</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span>t<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">h</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">C</span>on<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">u</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ti</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span>n
and <span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span>he<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Bi</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>l<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">R</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">d</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>d.<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">O</span>n<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>y<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>hu<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>ans cou<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>d
h<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>d<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>–
a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">l</span>l<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">[</span>e.<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>.
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>n<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>u<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>on<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span>]<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>y<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>had
p<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">v</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">l</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>es.
Fu<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span>he<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>,<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>n<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>he<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">f</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span>t<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>1<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">0</span>0
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">y</span>ea<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span>f<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>our<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span>n<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ti</span>on<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>co<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">r</span>po<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">r</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span>ons<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">c</span>ou<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>d<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>on<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>y<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">x</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>st<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">f</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span>r<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">40 <span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">y</span>ea<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span>o as<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>o <span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">p</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">v</span>ent<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">c</span>cu<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>u<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ti</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span>n
of<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span>such <span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">w</span>ea<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">l</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>as<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> t</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>ena<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">b</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>hem<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>o
c<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span>n<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>ol<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span>pe<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span>ons.
F<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">u</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span>he<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>,<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>r<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">v</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>y <span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">fi</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">r</span>st<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span>pu<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">p</span>ose<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">f</span>or<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span>ex<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span>ence<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">w</span>as<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> t</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>se<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">v</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span>he p<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">u</span>b<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">l</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>c!<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span>T<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">h</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>se<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">c</span>ond
p<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>p<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>se
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">w</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> t</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">m</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">k</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>on<span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">e</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">y</span>.
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.1pt;">T</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>r<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>b<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">k</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">w</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>e <span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>o
be<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span>pen<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">f</span>or<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>n<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span>pe<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">c</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ti</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span>n
a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>d <span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>r<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span>de<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">r</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>co<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">u</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>d <span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">b</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>h<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">l</span>d <span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span>ab<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">l</span>e
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">f</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span>r<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">“</span>c<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>es<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>co<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">m</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">itt</span>ed by<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>he<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>c<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>po<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">r</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>on<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">”</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">T</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">h<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span>t<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>al<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>d<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span>c<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ri</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>h<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>d u<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>l<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>he<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>end <span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span>f<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">h</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>1<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">8</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-text-raise: 5.0pt; position: relative; top: -5pt;">th<span style="letter-spacing: 0.85pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">cen<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">ur</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">y</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span>second<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span>son<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>as<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span>o
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">w</span>hy<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>he<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">f</span>oun<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">d</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>ht<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>not<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span>ha<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">v</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>acc<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>d<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span>d <span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span>o c<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>po<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">ra</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ti</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">/</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> i</span>n<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>u<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>s <span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">w</span>as<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">h</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span>r<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>s<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">c</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">c</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">it</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">y</span>. <span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">A</span>t<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>he<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">I</span>ndependen<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">c</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span>he<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">r</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">w</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>y<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>se<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">v</span>en <span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">[</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">7</span>]<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>ch<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">r</span>ed
bu<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>n<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span>sses<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>–
and<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">h</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">f</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ir</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span>t<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: 0.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">‘</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">pu<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">r</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">y</span>’<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>“<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">A</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ri</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">c</span>an <span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>du<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span>al<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>c<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>p<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ti</span>on,<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">h</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">B</span>os<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span>on<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>Man<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">u</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">f</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">c</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>u<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>ng<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">C</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>pan<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">y</span>,<span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">w</span>as<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">b</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span>shed<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>n 1<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">8</span>13!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">H</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">w</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">v</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>,
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>he<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">d</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">f</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>n<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">r</span>end<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>n o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">u</span>r<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>n<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ti</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span>n
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">
t</span>o <span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>t<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">su</span>ch
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>s!<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">N</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">k</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>and S<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span>nc<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">l</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span>r<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> B</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>oad<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">c</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ti</span>ng<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>ha<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">v</span>e ass<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span>ed
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span>hey<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>ha<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">v</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>F<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ir</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span>t<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">A</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>end<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>ent<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> ri</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">f</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">r</span>ee<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span>pe<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span>ch;<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Do</span>w<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> C</span>he<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>c<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span>l<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span>se<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>ed<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>t<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">h</span>as<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>Fo<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">u</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span>h <span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">A</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>end<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>ent
p<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ri</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">v</span>acy<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ri</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>so <span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> t</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">f</span>u<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>pe<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>on<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">f</span>or<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>he<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>EPA<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>ha<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">v</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>su<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">p</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span>se<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span>nsp<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span>c<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>ons<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> r</span>e:<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>p<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ll</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">u</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>on;<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span>J.<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">C</span>.
Pe<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>ney ass<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span>ed Fo<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">u</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">rt</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span>en<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">t</span>h <span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">A</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>end<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>ent<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> ri</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>s;<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">b</span>ac<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">c</span>o &<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">
</span>as<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">b</span>es<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>co<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>pan<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>t<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">F</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">f</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span>h <span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">A</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>en<span style="letter-spacing: 0.1pt;">d</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>ent<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> ri</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>o
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">k</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span>p
sec<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">r</span>et<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span>asp<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span>c<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>r<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>p<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">d</span>uc<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">w</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">h</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>ch<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">r</span>e
h<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">f</span>u<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>. <span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">A</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>l<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span>but<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">N</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">k</span>e
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">w</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">r</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>s<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">u</span>cc<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span>ss<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">f</span>u<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%; margin: 0.05pt 12.95pt 0pt 6pt; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">T</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">d</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">y</span>, <span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">l</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">u</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>es<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>and<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>co<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">u</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">rt</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">u</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ti</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>y<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">f</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">f</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>m<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>hat<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">[t</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>bo<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">rr</span>ow<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>p<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">h</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>ase<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">f</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">r</span>om<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"> </span>M<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">it</span>t<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">R</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>n<span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">e</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">y</span>]<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>“co<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>p<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ti</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span>ns
a<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">p</span>eo<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">p</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>e”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.05pt 9.4pt 0pt 6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">T</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">h<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">u</span>s,
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</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span>ss<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>on
by<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">R</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">m</span>an <span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">C</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">h</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">l</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>c<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Bi</span>sho<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">p</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>and<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>c<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">rt</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>n E<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">v</span>an<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span>cal <span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">u</span>ps<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">h</span>at<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span>he<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>de<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>and <span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span>o
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">h</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>na<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 9.35pt 0pt 6pt; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">T</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">he<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">
</span>peo<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">p</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>e <span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">w</span>ho<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">f</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">l</span>ed E<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">u</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">p</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>sou<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>ht<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">r</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">l</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>ous<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">f</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">r</span>eedom<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">fr</span>om<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>he p<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">c</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">v</span>ed
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">y</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>ny<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">l</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">it</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">u</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span>ons.
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">A</span>nd, <span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>he<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">B</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span>n<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.1pt;">T</span>ea<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">P</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>y<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">w</span>as<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">c</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>u<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ll</span>y<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">r</span>eb<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">l</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>on
a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">ga</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>n<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span>t a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>ax <span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">b</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>eak<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">f</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span>r<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">h</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>E<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span>st<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">I</span>nd<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">C</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>pa<span style="letter-spacing: 0.1pt;">n</span>y<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.1pt;">T</span>hey<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">w</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>e
not<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">f</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ti</span>ng<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>st<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span>x “<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span>nc<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span>as<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span>”<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>–
b<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">u</span>t<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">
</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">“</span>de<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">c</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span>se”<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">w</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>ch <span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">v</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> i</span>t<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span>an ad<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">v</span>an<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">v</span>er<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>s<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ll</span>er<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span>sho<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">p</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>and
bus<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>es<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span>es!<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span>Thus,<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>t<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">w</span>as<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> r</span>ebe<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">l</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span>on a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>st<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>ng<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> g</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>er<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>co<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">tr</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span>l<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span>o
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">l</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>co<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">r</span>p<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>on<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">T</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">h<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span>t<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">“</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>enes<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span>”<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>or<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span>“<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">wt</span>h”<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>h<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">li</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>he<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>ost<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>da<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">ng</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>ous<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>p<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">li</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">c</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>on
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">w</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span>n
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">w</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>ant<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">‘</span>p<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>son<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">h</span>ood’<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>o
co<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>p<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ti</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">!</span>. The<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">D</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">c</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>on
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span>f<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">I</span>ndependen<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">c</span>e, <span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span>he<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">C</span>ons<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">it</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">u</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span>on a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>d
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">h</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Bi</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>l<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span>f<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> R</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">s</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">tr</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span>ss<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>he<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>po<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">rt</span>an<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">c</span>e
of<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>eq<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">u</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">l</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">it</span>y<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">f</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span>r<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">h</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">A</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ri</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">ca</span>n
exp<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ri</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>ent<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>o <span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">w</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">k</span>.
W<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">h</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">l</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>each<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">u</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><u style="text-underline: black;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>ust</u><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>de<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span>l<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">wi</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>h<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>our<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>hu<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>an<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">it</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">y</span>,
c<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>p<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>s can <span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">l</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">v</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> f</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span>r<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>ene<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">i</span>ons.<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.1pt;">T</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">h</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>r<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span>s<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">z</span>e – <span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>ow<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span>spa<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>n<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>ng<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">a</span>ny<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>na<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ti</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>–
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">k</span>es<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> i</span>t<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">x</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">re</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>y<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>d<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">iffi</span>c<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">u</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>t<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">f</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">o</span>r<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span>an <span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>nd<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">v</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>d<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">u</span>al<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>o
do<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>b<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>e. <span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">C</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">or</span>po<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">a</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">ti</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">c</span>an o<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">u</span>t<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">-</span>spend us<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>n ca<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>pa<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>n <span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">f</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>nan<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">c</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>ng<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>as<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">w</span>e<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>l<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span>as<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span>c<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span>on
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">c</span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>pa<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">i</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">g</span>ns;
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>hey<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">
</span>can e<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">m</span>p<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>oy<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>cou<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">n</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">tl</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span>ss<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">t</span>o<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span>ne<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">y</span>s<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">t</span>o
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">k</span>eep us<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>at<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span>ba<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">y</span>;<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span>and,
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</span>not<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">r</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">e</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">l</span>ax!</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>Frank Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069907867738599566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512450669899484694.post-2941661781406049092012-04-16T15:04:00.001-06:002012-04-16T15:04:12.326-06:00THEODICY<span xmlns=''><p><span style='font-family:Times New Roman'>Over 55 years ago one of the first patients I visited as a CPE student at the old Augustana Hospital in Chicago began our interview cursing out "your god"! A friend of his – a "good man" – had been killed when a piece of concrete dislodged from a building and fell on his head. "What sort of god allows such evil?"<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Times New Roman'>That same question – in multiple formats – was asked repeatedly throughout those years of ministry. It has also spawned numerous articles and books – including the oft referenced "Why do bad things happen to good people" by Rabbi Kushner.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Times New Roman'>Currently a one act play at the Mercury Theatre in Chicago focuses attention on that – as well as other issues concerning belief in god. <em>Freud's Last Session</em> focuses attention on a "supposed" dialogue between Sigmund Freud and C.S. Lewis, occurring just weeks before Freud's death by suicide. Freud was battling terminal oral cancer; C.S. Lewis has recently experienced a "Damascus-like" experience resulting in his conversion to Christianity; and the world was poised at the beginning of World War II. [The play runs until early June, is reasonably priced, and would be an excellent trip for any group to take!] The play is written by Mark St. Germain and is based on a book by Dr. Armand M. Nicholl Jr., <em>The Question of God: C.S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud Debate God, Love, Sex, and the Meaning of Life</em> [2002].<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Times New Roman'>Watching it recently reminded me of all the many ways I had wrestled with the same questions – both professionally while ministering to countless patients – and personally while wrestling with the many challenges that confront each of us throughout life: Many ways – all of which came to the same lack of acceptable finality as experienced by Freud, Lewis, Kushner and many others.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Times New Roman'>Certainly one might find some "comfort" behind in these words from Isaiah [as translated by Eugene Peterson in <em>The Message Bible</em>]: "<em>Who could ever have told God what to do or taught him his business? What expert would he have gone to for advice, what school would he attend to learn justice? What god do you suppose might have taught him what he knows, showed him how things work?</em>"[Isaiah 40:13-40]<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Times New Roman'>One might – but, also, one might not!<br /></span></p><ul style='margin-left: 54pt'><li><span style='font-family:Times New Roman'>First, it suggests a challenge to develop sufficient "smarts" so as to discover an answer.<br /></span></li><li><span style='font-family:Times New Roman'>Second, if one might be able to achieve that challenge, then one is really toying with the idea that a human can be at the same level as God.<br /></span></li><li><span style='font-family:Times New Roman'>Third, and no less easy to accept – Might it not be arrogant to demand that there be <strong>a</strong> specific answer to all and any of life experiences - answers that place responsibility beyond any human causality to some "divine" purpose.<br /></span></li></ul><p><span style='font-family:Times New Roman'>Answers to the questions of "Why?" are usually available!<br /></span></p><ul style='margin-left: 54pt'><li><span style='font-family:Times New Roman'>My first patient's friend was killed because either mortar crumbles with age or a stone mason did a crappy job!<br /></span></li><li><span style='font-family:Times New Roman'>Kushner's child had a fatal genetic disease because human genes are imperfect and can develop in fatal manners!<br /></span></li><li><span style='font-family:Times New Roman'>Cancers develop because society has been irresponsible with carcinogens!<br /></span></li><li><span style='font-family:Times New Roman'>Sickness and handicaps and death are all integral to life – because human life as we know it is not immortal!<br /></span></li></ul><p><span style='font-family:Times New Roman'>"Bad" or "uncomfortable" or "painful" things are not de facto proofs that we have sinned; they are not signs that we lack the Creator's love. They occur because we are human and, as is true in all creation, perfection does not exist.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Times New Roman'>Someone once said – "Maturity is when we stop blaming our parents for what they did to us!"<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Times New Roman; text-decoration:underline'>It seems equally reasonable to suggest – "Maturity is when we stop blaming god for what happens in our life!"<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Times New Roman'>That strengthens the message of Jesus that WE are responsible to be incarnate servants to each other – to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to visit the sick, to comfort the dying, to minister to prisoners.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Times New Roman'>What a wonderful gift – God choses us to be her/his co-creators!</span></p></span>Frank Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069907867738599566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512450669899484694.post-17999719456765605422009-11-03T16:48:00.000-06:002009-11-03T16:49:34.861-06:00Reflections at an OrdinationOn All Saints Day 2009 an Ordination Service was celebrated by the Northern Illinois Synod, E.L.C.A. at First Lutheran Church in Rockford, Illinois. It was a joyous occasion as Ordinands, families and friends, members of the congregations being served by these new Pastors, and colleagues in ministry gathered to observe and affirm their responses to the Call!<br /><br />Sitting in that historic sanctuary there were many thoughts and feelings. One was to recall my own ordination back in 1957 – and to recall the admonition of our preacher that “one cannot be a good pastor and a poor father or a poor husband!” The only change needed in 2009 would be “or a poor mother or a poor wife”. One cannot use ministry as an excuse from the responsibilities that go with marriage and parenting.<br /><br />There were at least two other thoughts which drew me to reflecting.<br /><br />The First Lutheran Congregation and Edifice.<br />The First Lutheran Church confronts one with its awesomeness even from the parking lot. Twin bell towers stand at her entrance and the sanctuary, offices and parking lot occupy almost 2 city blocks! This sense of awe continues when you enter the Nave. Deep, dark wood, a surrounding balcony, and a center altar and pulpit help create an inner peace and a sense of security.<br /><br />The congregation dates back 155 years, while the sanctuary dates back 140 years! While reflecting on that history I became aware that these men and women did not come as immigrants to “do” church – they came to “be” the church. “Church“ is not something one does one day a week. The beliefs and values and priorities were lived seven days a week. Their hard work built a community in which manufacturing enabled families to grow and flourish. Their sense of “communion” started a bank so as to enable folks to buy homes, get through tough times, and finance creative inventiveness. Their sense of “call” kept them true to their values in the work place as well. Profits were important – but profit at the expense of one’s neighbors was wrong. Re-investing those profits in parks and other community ventures was the “value” – not greed!<br /><br />And one further thought on how they “are” church – they continue to minister even though the neighborhood and the community have vastly changed! At that Ordination Service a Children’s Choir sang and instrumentalists joined with the organ to lead the worshippers “lift up their voices”.<br /><br />The Presence of Colleagues in Ministry.<br />Approximately 30 brothers and sisters in ministry wore their robes and joined the occasion as witnesses. Lutherans, United Church in Christ, Episcopal, Clergy and Associates in Ministry led the procession into the Sanctuary! Together they represented more than 500 years of experience!<br /><br />The 17th verse of Luke 10 [the chosen Gospel] reminds us that after the 70 labored in the “towns and places where Jesus had intended to go” – they returned as a group!<br /><br />The Presence of so many “colleagues in ministry” testifies to an important lesson for all in ministry. We do not serve as Lone Rangers! We are there for each other - to study together, to share ideas, to support each other when the going gets rough, and, even, to correct each other when our ministries stray off track.<br /><br />I hope Carrie, Theresa and Sarah will keep these reflections in their memory banks as they begin ministry as “ordained” clergy. That they are part of a wonderful and mighty historic legacy – and that they are not sent as lonely warriors, but as disciples who are many and to whom they can turn.Frank Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069907867738599566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512450669899484694.post-6065369021051893392009-10-27T10:26:00.001-06:002009-10-27T10:29:17.362-06:00A Time for DitheringPerhaps the Philosopher, author of Ecclesiastes, would add a new dyad to the verses in chapter 3. He begins with the powerful observation: “Everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses.” What follows are the words familiar to many. Then, I suggest the addition of this verse:<br />“He sets the time for dithering and the time for impetuosity.”<br /><br />Former Vice President Cheney, and his supporters, accuse President Obama of “dithering” relative to a decision regarding the depth of our involvement in Afghanistan. “Send more troops” appears to be their desire! While entitled to their opinion, I am very pleased that President Obama is taking time about putting any more of our men and women in harm’s way.<br /><br />Regardless of the choice made, “dither” is hardly an appropriate word! The dictionary offers these definitions:<br />Ø As a noun “dither” means an excited state of agitation!<br />Ø As a verb “dither” means to be nervously irresolute re: acting or doing!<br /><br />The media reports suggest President Obama is being very resolute in his approach: talking with military advisors in the Pentagon, with Secretary of State, with elected members of Congress, and others who are knowledgeable about the issues in Afghanistan. There are no reports of his being “agitated”.<br /><br />On the other hand, it might be an appropriate word for Mr. Cheney et al!Frank Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069907867738599566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512450669899484694.post-12718190909692684862009-10-13T16:07:00.001-06:002009-10-13T16:10:31.006-06:00In Praise Of DoubtWomen and men in many significantly different denominations struggle to balance the “ancient Wisdom” passed down through generations and the “modern scientific knowledge” that is so much a part of our age.<br />* Intelligent Design or Evolution?<br />* Is homosexuality a sin or is it a sexual identity with its genesis in many aspects of life?<br />* Abortion – choice or killing?<br />* Living in harmony with neighbors of other faiths or still sending missionaries?<br /><br />The list could go on – and, it seems, the challenge inherent in the struggle gets harder. Friends who were present at the most recent E.L.C.A. Assembly report they felt almost torn apart as they listened to the discussions. Whether or not the speakers was at a Red microphone or a Green microphone, my friends sensed that these were people of integrity, but for whom there was no resolution.<br /><br />One friend in particular went home angry at the dilemma he felt. This is a devout person, well read, and active in the local parish. He is aware that our awareness of and about homosexuality in the 21st century is light years different from the time of Leviticus or the time of Paul. He is also aware of the important role of the Bible in our lives as Christians.<br /><br />He resents having to choose between Relativism or Absolutism. He believes [and, I think he is correct] that such a choice results in personal and communal loss regardless of the decision!<br /><br />Peter L. Berger [sociologist at Boston U.] and Anton C. Zijderveld [sociologist & philosopher at Erasmus University] have written a book which could be helpful to those bothered by such a stark choice. The title of their book is In Praise Of Doubt and the sub-title is “How to have convictions without becoming a fanatic”.<br /><br />I strongly recommend the book. It is especially written with a concern for the religious and political challenges of this 21st century. They also have a concern that society needs a strong and vibrant religious and political life for survival.<br /><br />Their descriptions of how “doubt” – not a “doubt” that keeps one from action because all is relative – reminded me of what Paul Tillich once wrote in a paper on Pastoral Care. Tillich believed that all pastoral care is directed towards acceptance of three important factors in life: mortality [we are all going to die], guilt [we can never pull off perfection] and doubt [our knowledge can only go so far and then faith has to step in].<br /><br />The book is only 166 pages in length and it is published by HarperOne. It lists for $23.99 – but Amazon will get it to you cheaper.Frank Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069907867738599566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512450669899484694.post-24644743569025950252009-10-11T15:04:00.001-06:002009-10-11T15:06:15.771-06:00What are we so busy doing?These thoughts are a follow up to the comment by Wendi Gordon (9/29/09) re: the comments titled “Where have all the clergy gone?” My thanks to Wendi Gordon for helping move this issue further along.<br />Ms Gordon adds another factor interfering with today’s clergy having time is this reality: “..most clergy today are consistently working at least 50 hours a week and simply don’t have the time to add another meeting….”<br />Her point about long hours appears to be true from my observations. Clergy do work many hours a week and, often, at times that significantly interfere with their obligations to families and selves!<br />However, it seems that has always been the case. Surveys from the 1960s and 1970s indicate clergy were putting in greater than 60 hours a week – and these figures were often cited as de facto evidence of their dedication to ministry.<br />That raises the question – What are we so busy doing?<br />That question reminded me of an article, I believe it was by Robert Leslie that addressed the mental health of clergy. [It was included in Wayne Oates’ book on The Minister’s Own Mental Health.] Leslie identified five roles that clergy must perform: Pastor, Priest, Counselor, Educator and Administrator. A survey of clergy asked for ranking by 3 questions:<br />Which roles are most important?<br />Which roles are most enjoyable for you?<br />How do these roles occupy your time?<br />The answers to the first: Pastor, Educator, Priest, Counselor, Administrator.<br />The answers to the second: Pastor, Counselor, Educator, Priest, Administrator.<br />The answers to the third: Administrator, Priest, Educator, Counselor, Pastor.<br />Is it any different in 2009?<br />What really drives our “busyness”. [An old joke tells of a young priest who, one day, sees Jesus at the window. He wants to know what to do and searches for help. His calls are passed along up the line: Monsignor, Bishop, Cardinal and then the Pope. The Pope answers – “Look busy.”]<br />Are we reading our members correctly as to how our time is prioritized?<br />And, if the answers to question # 3 are still so completely different than # 1 and # 2, might this be some clue as to the cause of so much depression amongst the clergy?<br />I look forward to your reactions.Frank Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069907867738599566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512450669899484694.post-59071121666445253982009-10-08T16:17:00.000-06:002009-10-08T16:18:39.459-06:00WHAT MUST I DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE?This could be an important lesson in these weeks following the 2009 E.L.C.A. Assembly. The young man’s questions – and Jesus’ answer – are strong reminders of the concerns at the beginnings of Christianity.<br />Being a follower of Jesus involved doing and not intellectual assent!<br />In this 21st century there are almost countless concerns at which our energies ought to be addressed.<br />Hunger is a national concern.<br />Many who are sick are unable to afford care, thereby suffering a higher rate of death.<br />Violence in our streets is killing our children.<br />Folks continue to lose homes as mortgages are foreclosed.<br /><br />“How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God.” [Mark 10:23]<br /><br />Jesus did not say “How hard it will be for those who don’t believe correctly to enter the kingdom of God.”<br /><br />Maybe we might all take time these next 6-10 months to:<br />Take deep breaths – often!<br />Tithe!<br />Identify the poor in our areas – and make a commitment to serve them!<br /><br />Just a thought.Frank Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069907867738599566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512450669899484694.post-77371199565950045842009-10-02T16:20:00.001-06:002009-10-02T16:21:15.545-06:00Random Thoughts re: Health Care Reform - 1As one who began working in hospitals 61 years ago, the current national debate about “health care re-form” greatly interests me. Indeed, the public debate often replicates the inner debate which has engaged me for years. Those of us who have spent years involved in the care of the sick have long recognized that there were/are problems.<br />Certainly the lack of insurance has been, and remains, an issue.<br />Certainly the amount of reimbursement for services, as well as its tardiness, is an issue.<br />Certainly the many agents that come between patient and physician – be that agent an insurer or a government bureaucrat, is an increasing issue.<br />Certainly the vast disparities of qualities of care across our nation are an embarrassment.<br />Certainly . . . . well, you can insert your own list of problems.<br /><br />One activity of my own inner debate would involve lengthy periods of time wrestling with the question:<br />If given unlimited power and money, what would I do to “fix” the system?<br />The time spent in that wrestling, over decades, has increased my understanding of (and sympathy for) those leaders who have, seemingly, been unable to develop their own fix! “Power” [such legislation, licensing, etc.] and “financing” will not solve our many problems involved in the care of the sick. Indeed, one is even able to make a strong argument that they are among the causes of the problems.<br /><br />However, the over six decades of involvement with the care of the sick plus the hundreds of hours spent in internal debate on ways to improve such care have given me ideas which often seem not to receive sufficient consideration. Those ideas will be the focus of this presentation [and, subsequent ones].<br /><br />A. What’s in a name?<br /><br />Whenever I was involved in purchasing a house in which to live my realtors almost always gave the same advice – “Location, location, location!” Everything else desired to make the home a more desirable residence could be added or re-modeled. But – you could do nothing about ‘location’.<br /><br />A similar mantra ought to be attached to attempts at “health care reform” – Diagnosis, diagnosis, diagnosis! Unless we properly diagnose the problem, no “cures” will work.<br /><br />The first concern for diagnosis in this process we have labeled “health care reform” is that very name!<br /><br />Up until the 1960s our major institutions for the care of the sick were known as hospitals. They were places of refuge to which the sick and infirm could retreat. They were places of hospitality, in which the sick could feel secure as s/he sought healing and restoration. They were places that had either been started by religious groups or by community governments in recognition of the moral imperative to care “for even the least among us”.<br /><br />Gradually throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s these institutions began shifting away from being “hospitals” to be Medical Centers. Certainly there were reasons for such a shift. Services other than caring for the sick were initiated! Many of these represented different “costing centers”. And, quite frankly, “Medical Center” sounded more prestigious than “Hospital”.<br /><br />Then, in the late 1970s and 1980s another shift in name occurred. “Medical Centers” became “Health Centers”. Proponents of a “wholistic” approach to the care of the sick [or is it “holistic”] often felt constrained by words such as “hospital” or “medical center”. But Health Center – now there is a theme around which we can all rally!<br /><br />Ahh, but wait a moment stated many of those who cared for the sick! We take care of the “sick” – and there are years of experience that help define shat “sick” means. What, though, do you mean by “health”? The nurses and doctors and therapists and technicians are trained in caring for the sick – trained, licensed; accredited and experienced.<br /><br />But there is almost no universal agreement on the definition for “health”! None. Nada.<br />One issue has to do with our understanding of what disease means.<br />- Is disease the result of forces external to the self? Bugs, Germs, Physical traumas.<br />- Is disease the response of the self to those external forces?<br />Another issue would involve problems of social or behavioral concerns:<br />- Are wrinkles in one’s skin a “health” issue?<br />- Are smaller breast sizes or erectile dysfunction “health” issues?<br />- Are arguments between spouses a “health” issue?<br />- Is depression a “health” issue or a natural response to loss?<br />Also, we have the issue of death!<br />- Is death the antithesis to health and to be fought at all cost?<br />- Is death the ultimate in the process of homeostasis – the “final” solution?<br />- Is the “naturalness” of death to be determined by age? I.Q.? Social status? Wealth?<br />- Is the “naturalness” of death to be determined by theologies? Is anything less than all-out treatment an abomination before God? Or, as an act of love for others should death be welcomed – even sought?<br /><br />There are studies which suggest the need for adequate diagnosis also exists in treatment approaches. The reliance on technologies has greatly hampered the process of diagnosis because it almost solely only looks at externals. Decades ago the act of diagnosis involved anamnesis – “out of the memory”. Patients were asked to tell/narrate the story of their sickness – and, almost always, that story revealed important criteria for treatment:<br />- Placement of a cardiac stent was complemented with help with stress, diet, etc.<br />- High blood pressure also involved styles of living.<br />- Obesity was not just a consequence of food additives.<br />- Etc.<br /><br />And, because my involvement in the care of the sick was as a response to my vocation, what of the religious factors in the care of the sick?<br />Factors that can be positive assets for health as well as factors that can mitigate against health?<br />Are there any “meanings” for sickness? [How often do religious folk exclaim that such and such is God’s will?]<br />Is the role of the religious institution limited to times when medicine cannot treat and/or death occurs?<br />How do the religious institutions foster “healthier” [or, less dangerous] activities?<br /><br />This is enough for the first installment. Hopefully the 2nd will come shortly.Frank Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069907867738599566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512450669899484694.post-25409401148734765412009-10-01T16:22:00.002-06:002009-10-01T16:22:51.727-06:00Random Thoughts re: Health Care Reform - 2In my childhood none of our friends – or my own family – had “health insurance”. Since those were the 1930s and 1940s there was no “shame” associated with being “uninsured”. The uninsured were the majority!<br /><br />Being “uninsured” did not mean, however, we had no care for when we got sick:<br />I broke both arms three times by the time I graduated from high school. Five [5] of those were diagnosed and treated in our living room without any diagnostic x-ray.<br />My father experienced a myocardial infarct [heart attack!] and was treated and recuperated at home! The doctor made routine visits and dad “rested”. It must have worked as he lived 18 full and productive years afterwards.<br />My sister was treated for bronchial asthma – all via home visits.<br /><br />Were we wealthy? No. My father was laid off twice during the depression – and never had any “health insurance” until he was past 55 years of age! The same was true for most, if not all, of our friends. There was this expectation that life occasionally confronted you with illnesses or accidents – and treatments were usually paid from ordinary income. That was possible because:<br />Most families had a broad spectrum of home remedies. We put Vicks Ó on our chests; drank a milk-vanilla-sugar mixture with up-set stomachs; wrapped sprains; etc.<br />Physicians made house calls.<br />Physician fees were usually less than $5.00 per visit.<br /><br />Gradually, however, more and more citizens obtained “health insurance”. While there were many reasons for providing such coverage, the major factors were as ways for industry to grow wages during WW II when wages were frozen and later when they sought tax-free ways of increasing remuneration. This new “benefit” was not a response to the dictum in Matthew to care for the sick!<br /><br />However – little effort was directed towards understanding what “health” means. “Home” and “Auto” insurance policies operated quite differently as they became directed towards the “unexpected” and/or the “catastrophic”. One did not ‘expect” the ‘Home” insurance policy to cover a periodic paid job because the old paint peeled or one’s spouse wanted the house to look differently. Nor, did one expect the “Auto” insurance policy to cover a lube or oil change – even though such would add to the ‘well-being’ of the auto.<br /><br />Society has taken different approaches with their “Health” insurance policies. There was a gradual reliance upon them to finance such treatments and care that are, in any society, part of what is the norm! Instead, since we did not define “health” – then there is too often the assumption that “health” is the absence of disease. And, even more of a problem, “disease” too often comes to mean anything that causes a person to experience “dis-ease”!<br /><br />It is my belief that unless we focus time and energy towards redefining what it means to be “healthy” or just what is “sickness/disease”, no “Reform” was have a chance of resolving the problems. Such a new “focus” will not be easy. It will involve persons from every walk of life – care providers, educators, religious leaders, economists and politicians.<br /><br />We must also seek ways to contain, or even lower, the costs of such care! Those ways will, in most circumstances, be complex. There are, however, ways to lower costs that are not complex [or are at least less].<br />Is the value of a super-specialist 4 or 5 times greater than a primary care physician?<br />Does society truly need all the free-standing care facilities? The multiple, and expensive, diagnostic machines?<br />If computers were to initiate a paper-less business atmosphere, can’t we increase that function to avoid the time-consuming redundancies when seeking care?<br />If death is truly a “natural” event, is it necessary to make it a “medical” concern? If a person opts to die in her/his own home, the process becomes very complex. It takes physician to pronounce one dead. It takes a coroner to make certain your death did not result from foul play.<br />Just some thoughts!<br /><br />In the 3rd installment of these Random Thoughts, it will be my goal to explore how some of the resources of religion can also play a significant role in these efforts at Reform. Stay tuned!Frank Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069907867738599566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512450669899484694.post-61829313261255990792009-09-28T12:49:00.002-06:002009-09-28T12:51:35.339-06:00Where have all the clergy gone?In his Sunday [9/27/09] column [Rockford Register Star] Chuck Sweeny asked the question – “Where have the clergy gone?”. He commented that area clergy used to be active in most of the major issues of community life – education, housing, women’s rights, racism, and, the many well known problems associated with poverty. However, in his view, there has been almost silence in the most recent years.<br /><br />Chuck’s question arose out of a conversation he had with Jesse Jackson while the latter was in Rockford relative to the shooting death that occurred in a local church. Jackson had expressed a desire to have local clergy join in support for an investigation that would affirm justice for all involved – the police, the family of the man shot, the members of that parish, and the greater community.<br /><br />Others have voiced similar thoughts and impressions.<br />Just 40+ years ago the Rockford Minister’s Fellowship and the Rockford Clergy Association worked together to improve race issues that had arisen in regards to public housing.<br />Area clergy worked closely with varied women’s group so as to better insure women’s rights, especially related to reproductive rights. Concerned Clergy for Problem Pregnancies worked several years prior to Roe v Wade in assisting women as they sought counsel and help in seeking abortion services.<br />Clergy were involved in soliciting marchers when the Hispanic community sought to raise our consciousness about immigration.<br />Clergy were involved in seeking, and supporting, candidates for election to the Rockford School District Board – candidates who would begin the hard work in moving beyond the lawsuit that had placed us under Federal supervision because of racist practices towards our children.<br />The annual Crop Walk was such a big deal that law enforcement would get involved with the logistics.<br />Good Friday Services often involved up to seven clergy at numerous sites throughout the community. These mutual efforts were a loud reminder to all citizens that the religions had more in common rather than the few areas of disagreement.<br /><br />The important question might be to identify what factors might have brought about such change? Certainly there have been “hot potato” issues with clergy on multiple “sides”. Yet that, alone, can not be the causative factor.<br />Clergy were on opposing sides during the Vietnam War – yet were able to stay in dialogue.<br />Clergy were on opposing sides when it came to integrated housing – yet worked together to identify ways to achieve justice.<br />Clergy disagreed about abortion, yet a majority could remain in discussions on the development of greater access to birth control and the development of better women’s health services.<br /><br />Some say that today’s clergy are more inhibited by fear! As membership, attendance figures, and giving in many congregations have declined, some clergy often have greater concern that their behaviors might exacerbate those declines. Still others have reported “threats” of negative consequences, from ‘powerful’ members, if the pastor took a public position opposite from that held by the member. [And, in a time when many younger clergy carry a higher debt load from schooling and have an employed spouse who can not as easily move – the consequences of such threats may seem more real!]<br /><br />Another possible reason reflects a seeming lack of ability to engage in intense academic and emotional debate – and yet stay in relationship with those on “the other side”. This is an important challenge now for members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The recent action at the 2009 ELCA Assembly regarding acceptance of gay or lesbian persons in committed relationship affirms an approach that respects “bound conscience”. We may disagree – even up to 180’ – but, recognize that each other’s position comes from serious study of all available data from all fields of study, and comes after serious time spent in prayer and meditation.<br /><br />Others would, no doubt, suggest other factors that have served to keep clergy from cooperative dialogue about and involvement in major public issues in the community. Hopefully, those “others” will take the time to share their views.<br /><br />Because – unless the religious leaders work together in discussions about the many issues, the community will decide we are irrelevant! That would be a terrible price to pay!Frank Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069907867738599566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512450669899484694.post-41013751641522272842008-08-13T15:21:00.003-06:002008-09-15T21:58:14.856-06:00The Church Confessing? To what?The Diaspora is a “Journal of the Missions and Faith Communities that have evolved from the Church of the Savior” located in our nation’s capitol. A lead article in the Summer 2008 had this to say.<br /><br /><em>The famous German leader, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, came back to his homeland [from the US where he was safe] at the request of some in the German church who saw the awful rise to evil power of Hitler and his minions. He and they struggled to bring into being what he called the ‘confessing church’ to recall the biblical prophetic challenges to the wrongs they perceived in the state. Also to confess that the church had been quiet too long in coming to grips with this issue. “A time comes when silence is betrayal” is the way Dr. Martin Luther King put it.<br /></em> <em><br />In addressing this issue, Bonhoeffer asked “are we still of any use?” The same question must be asked of today’s churches. In his efforts to be faithful, Bonhoeffer was arrested, and died in prison before the end of WW II. If the institutional churches cannot speak out against torture and unnecessary war, what good is it to have pulpits? The elements of atrocity, manipulation, and indifference add up to a spiritual crisis.</em><br /><br />In his response to my previous blog, Hubbie shared the quote from Judaism: “…anger at the sight of wrong done is holy. If the anger kindles into passion, it will become conducive to strife.” He later adds: “perhaps what that quote means is that anger can be a good thing, but that you need to wait to act upon that anger <strong>until it has matured into reasoned action rather than raw passion</strong>.” [Emphasis is mine.]<br /><br />One of our tasks as preachers is to assist in the maturation of anger into reasoned action. We lead our people in prayer, often highlighting the evils in our world. We will be guiding our people in the ELCA initiative Book of Faith, a five year process with the goal of heightening the awareness of Lutherans regards Scriptures.<br /><br />Each of the above are ways for the maturation of anger. However – the pulpit is a vital element that we must not waste! The maturation of anger requires that our anger be identified, made relevant, and defined as our response to wrongs.<br /><ul><li>It was/is wrong to manufacture evidence to support a war against the sovereign people of Iraq.</li><li> It was/is wrong to torture.</li><li> It was/is wrong to direct so much of our budget towards that war, while allowing our neighbors to go hungry.</li></ul> “Are we still of any use?”, to ask the question of Bonhoeffer. Is our silence “betrayal” ala MLK?<br /> Speaking out from the pulpit can be a scary action for any preacher. That fear, however, can be assuaged when we know we are not alone. When our sisters and brothers in other pulpits are also speaking out.<br /><br />Seems to me a fairly strong rationale for joining colleagues in the weekly scripture studies!Frank Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069907867738599566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512450669899484694.post-44660225049595093312008-08-09T13:07:00.003-06:002008-09-15T21:57:35.660-06:00ANGER RevisitedA colleague/friend [thanks, Hub] commented that my previous Blog about anger might well leave folks the thought that I was saying/implying that anger is either bad or wrong. To whatever degree his observations are correct, I apologize.<br /><br />ANGER is a gift with which we are created! Placing any moral judgment on it is extremely inappropiate - as it would be to so judge breathing or hunger or any other natural aspect of our created selves.<br /><br />ANGER's purpose is very basic - protection. Watch a newborn baby. If hungry or suffering from wet diaper or being hurt - the baby's anger is automatically activated. As a newborn this gets commuicated with a lusty howl, a red face, and extreme action. No one claims that such reaction is "wrong". [Uncomfortable, perhaps, for the care-giver - but not wrong!]<br /><br />ANGER, however, that is NOT acted upon - and as I said in the Blog is "nurtured" - opens the door to becoming a victim.<br /><br />And VICTIMHOOD is a deadly state of being.<br /><br />Vicktor Frankl, in his book "<em>From Death Camp to Existentialism</em>", told the story of a Jew incarcerated in one of the death camps of WW II. As he was being marched towards the gas house the prisoner said to the guard: "You're not taking my life. I'm giving it to you!"<br />This made the guard furious. One of those "No you're not!" / "Yes I am!" type exchanges took place.<br /><br />Finally, the guard pulled the prisoner out of line and sent him back to the camp!<br />Frankl pointed out the man's refusal to being a victim. He was able to utilize his anger to claim, even in the face of being killed, that he was a human being with the ability to decide how he would die.<br /><br />(Frankl's book, incidentally, might be a good place to begin our dialogues with out Jewish friends as we seek answers to the conflicts with the Palestinians. Has the Holocaust become more a source of maintaining "victimhood" rather than a call to action?)<br /><br />The changes that need to occur in our nation these next months, regardless of whom is elected, will provoke many feelings - fear and anger amongst the most dominate. We in the churches, synagogues and mosques need to remind our people that "feelings" are not sinful. The issues are always what we do with them. Let us help them explore ways to use their feelings as "calls to action" rather than invitations to being victims.Frank Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069907867738599566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512450669899484694.post-10694538083081136412008-03-18T10:40:00.001-06:002008-03-18T10:41:52.225-06:00Preachers, Prophets and PolemicsThroughout history prophets and preachers have made direct references to requests for The Divine to cause ruin and destruction on peoples deemed to be living and/or acting in ways contrary to the Commandments of The Divine. There are even instances of The Divine making such pronouncements.<br />“God saw that human evil was out of control…God was sorry that he had made the human race in the first place; it broke his heart. God said, “I’ll get rid of my ruined creation, make a clean sweep.” [Genesis 6:5-7]<br />“Here’s what will happen if you don’t obediently listen to the commandments and guidelines that I am commanding you today. All these curses will come down hard on you:<br />- God’s curse in the city.<br />- God’s curse in the country<br />- God’s curse on your basket and bread bowl<br />- God’s curse on your children, the crops of your land, the young of your livestock, the calves of your herds, the lambs of your flocks.<br />- God’s curse in your coming in,<br />- God’s curse in your going out.” [Deuteronomy 28:13-19]<br />“This is a Message that the God of Israel gave me; “Take this cup filled with wine of my wrath that I’m handing to you. Make all the nations where I send you drink it down. They’ll drink it and get drunk, staggering in delirium because of the killing that I’m going to unleash among them.” [Jeremiah 25:15-16]<br />“You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You’re like manicured grave plots, grass clipped and the flowers bright, but six feet down it’s all rotting bones and worm-eaten flesh. People look at you and think you’re saints, but beneath the skin you’re total frauds.” [Matthew 23:27-28]<br />There are similar examples from most of the great religious leaders of history. That is what<br />Prophets and preachers do. Sometimes they are on target. Often they are not. But they serve a<br />passionate God – and passion has to be part of their assets.<br /> Why then are so many seemingly scandalized by Barack Obama’s pastor, The Rev. Jeremiah Wright? He is a black man who served his country as a Marine. He is a servant of God, ministering to thousands of women and men, adults and children, who daily experience the consequences of centuries of racial segregation, bias and opprobrium.<br />In that context, it is not a challenge to understand Pastor Weight’s rhetoric. How dare we ask our black brothers and sisters to serve their country, endure the many ways of racial bias that rule in our society - and then join in saying “God bless America!” Does it not make greater sense to hear him, as a modern Jeremiah, proclaim “God damn America”?<br /> We can use his remarks as an excuse to reject Barack Obama. But such use, at the least, suggests we are hypocrites- and, at the worst, racists.Frank Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069907867738599566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512450669899484694.post-11625055459819398372008-03-13T10:36:00.002-06:002008-03-13T10:47:26.448-06:00Palm/Passion Sunday and Eliot SpitzerThis week's Pericope study focused on the Palm Sunday-Passion dichotomy - and the usual comments on the fickleness of the "crowd". On Sunday they welcomed Jesus and wanted healing & life - and, by Friday they wanted his life.<br />On my way home, listening to NPR, the discussions were on the radical "fall from grace" of Eliot Spitzer. Hailed as the "Sheriff of Wall Street" and now vilified as a "john" - a user of high priced prostitutes.<br />One of the NPR discussants talked about the trouble humans have with heroes who are not perfect. As soon as any crack in the persona is identified the crowd shouts "crucify him".<br />This is not to suggest that Jesus fell from grace because he used a Call Girl business! But, the crowd turned on him because he failed to fulfill "their" agenda.<br />As Lutheran Christians we affirm that, by nature, we are sinful; we agree with Paul when he claims that he too often does the bad he wants to avoid.<br />An affirmation and an agreement easily forgotten when judging others.<br />Perhaps some reference to the Spitzer saga will aid some folks in attendance this Sunday see that our observance is not just a "nice" trip down memory lane!<br />We're really not any different than the crowds in Jerusalem during that fateful Passover.Frank Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069907867738599566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512450669899484694.post-76890462008839625912007-05-03T17:45:00.000-06:002007-05-03T17:46:32.294-06:00Love as Jesus?“You must love each other, just as I have loved you.” (John 13:34)<br />We know about “loving with all our heart, soul and body”. We know about loving “as we love ourselves”. What does it mean, however, to “love each other, just as I have loved you.”?<br />o We really can’t say his love was ‘non-judgmental’. “White-coated sepulchers”, “generation of vipers” and other descriptive terms he used would certainly have been experienced as a judgment!<br />o We really can’t argue that his love was without boundaries. At times he pulled away from the crowds to be alone. At times his response was not as asap as wished (remember the sisters of Lazarus?). His response to his mother at Cana re: the wine shortage claimed a boundary (“my time is not yet come” John 2:4).<br />o We really can’t argue that his love was selfless. As a leader he wanted total commitment. “Follow me.” “Stay awake with me.” “Feed my sheep.”<br />§ We can say his love always reached out to those that society wanted to reject. The woman in adultery. The tax collector. The leper.<br />§ We can say that his love believed in its power! “Take up your bed and walk!” “Lazarus, rise.” “Your sins are forgiven.”<br />§ We can say that his love drew strength from knowing that G-d had a purpose for his life! Things may not seem clear or desirable to Jesus at the time – but his trust in God added power to his love.<br /><br />Too often our love seems to be diffused and/or diminished because there seems to be rules that say our love as a Christian must be “nice”.<br />Ø When we speak out against political actions, such as pre-emptive war, there is a message to “speak with honey” so folks will join us.<br />Ø When we speak for justice for our sisters and brothers who are gay, lesbian or transgender, there is a message to remember that their behavior is a sin! [As if there is any behavior that is not a sin!]<br />Ø When we demand that G-d loves all peoples – Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Shintos, - we’re told that only Christians are invited to heaven [even though Jesus said “In my father’s house are many mansions.”] – and Jesus’ love never had a theological proof text as a requirement.<br /><br />A United Church of Christ pastor once told me his definition of sin. “Any time I say, ‘this is it!’ I am sinning because I am claiming to be G-d.” (The Rev. Jerry Jud)<br /><br />That is what keeps me from loving as Jesus loved. My struggle at not assuming responsibility for G-d – assuming that unless I make certain all the laws are kept, G-d is in danger.<br /><br />If we were to so love, would the world go to hell more quickly? Would people really live with a licentiousness that disregards the other? Perhaps – although some could argue we are moving in that direction even as we strive to “keep the rules”.<br /><br />Or would that love be so awesome, that others would be drawn to it?<br /><br />Might be an experiment worth trying!Frank Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069907867738599566noreply@blogger.com