"you are now free to move about the country..."

dear friendly passengers,

i hope you will join me in visiting (or in many cases, revisiting) the year that was--two thousand and nine. in order to do so, you will need a PASSPORT (if yours has expired, which it may have if you haven't renewed yours recently or if your most "updated" passport was issued before you were 16 years old, then please click here). without it, you will be lost. with it, you will gain insights and exposure to some of the most EXTROOORRRDDDINARY moments of Thomas Patrick Kerrigan's past twelve months. In the meantime, grab a window seat, pull your arm separator UP, and be thankful if someone you LOVE surprises you on your next flight out of Houston ;)

[1st Stop:] CLEVELAND, OH
       O-H-I-O...it's where I lived (cut the Hey There Deliah music) and began my year back in January. at that time, i was still pretty terrified of flying, so i decided to book an Amtrak ride from Springfield, MA (if my train wasn't running late, i would have missed it! i have decided to write a book someday about my domestic travel experiences...just wait for my Columbus greyhound story!) to Cleveland. unfortunately, Amtrak pulls through downtown Cleveland at some of the worst hours of the day (it usually departs @ 5:25am & arrives @ 3:30am). thankfully, i have good friends like John Mon (i still owe you) out in cleveland who woke up and picked me up at that very meaningful hour!
      Some other early '09 happenings in Cleveland included: my first 8-day silent retreat (i had attended a 3.5 day "silent" retreat during my JVC volunteer year, but it was nothing like this tremendous one through JCU); visited Gisella in Detroit over MLK weekend; witnessed President Barack Obama's inauguration; enrolled in 3 more graduate-level courses at JCU; continued my ministry as a resident minister in Murphy Hall; attended the winter retreat for the JVC communities; began my training as a WJCU radio personality.

"Cleveland is a brutal place to live during the winter. For those of you who have not experienced a Cleveland winter, you will probably find yourself not prepared when winter finally hits."
~ Winter Survival Guide (Case Wiki)

[2nd Stop:] COLUMBUS, OH
         Then, of course, there's February. The best month of the year, in my opinion! Which other month hosts the Superbowl (which i happened to miss this year), Ground hog day, St. Valentine's Day, the most birthdays (including my own) on either side of the Kerrigan/Cashman families, and, more recently, concludes with spring break? I think I rest my case. The jury is still out, however, on how I handled another interesting travel experience (see previous entry for story...it's worth the scroll....)

        Some additional highlights of that month included: my annual trip to Burlington, Vermont to visit my sister (Meghan) who is finishing up her college career this year (2010) at St. Michael's College (my other sister, Kaitlyn, also joined me and we attended the Magic Hat Mardi Gras parade in downtown Burlington--see pictures in margins); additional subbing opps @ St. Martin de Porres HS; beginning preparations for Lent.

[3rd Stop:] HATFIELD, MA 
       This was my most difficult stop all year. It was preceded by daily updates on the status of our great Aunt Pat. I was soon on a flight back to Providence, as she died on March 12, 2009. We are all still mourning her loss in our lives. She, like my paternal grandmother (Nanny K), was a living saint. She modeled humility, compassion, and faithfulness beautifully. She wanted to take care of everybody--regardless of her health--and eventually, God said it's someone else's turn to fill your shoes. We've all learned so much from Aunt Pat and I only hope the memories of her life and home will remain in our hearts forever.

[4th Stop:] TUSCON, AZ
        Meet Mr. & Mrs. Mendizabal and Alvaro (brother). I was blessed with this opportunity the week after finals were complete. Gisella and I booked our flights (she surprised me by booking her second flight out of Houston--where I would be making the last leg of my trip to meet her family) and spent a week or so, in the scorching dry heat of Arizona, attending her brother's graduation ceremonies and enjoying the company of her immediate & extended family. There will be some struggles linguistically (English-Spanish and vice versa); however, I've got one of the best translators helping me out! 123

(first transfer to): DURAN (ECUADOR)
          Upon my return from Tucson, I was back at JCU and preparing for another voyage. This time I would be leaving the US for the first time in eight years. I had been selected to travel with a sociology professor and eight other JCU undergrads to the little town of Duran just outside of Guayaquil, Ecuador. We linked up with a volunteer program in Duran known as Rostro de Cristo, and we took lodging in their guest house. For seven days, we met some wonderfully hospitable and spiritually rich Ecuadorians who made think, laugh and cry all at the same time. I am still processing this experience and will forever hold the men, women & children of Arbolito and Duran in my heart.

Feel free to check out the pictures I have posted some pictures from my Ecuador experience in the margins of my blog.

(final transfer to): BOSTON, MA
        As I watched the rest of my immersion group head back to Cleveland, I boarded a private jet to Boston where I would reunite with my family and celebrate a friend's wedding that next morning in Swampscott. I had become quite the frequent flyer over the past two weeks/years and was ready to begin my summer in Mass.

[5th Stop:] OHIO CITY (W. CLEVELAND)
       I quickly found myself back in Cleveland at the beginning of June. I had made a promise, at the beginning of my JVC year, with a group of junior students at St. Martin de Porres HS that I would attend their high school graduation. Well, that had been in 2007, and now it was June and the class of '09 was graduating. I wanted to keep that promise, because I knew how important this occassion would be for many of them. I realized at that wonderful ceremony how involved I had become in the greater Cleveland community.
       A quick transition took place that second week of June, and I found myself once again spending my summer (June-July) as a camp counselor for urban youth (Arrupe Summer Program--ASP) and a grateful tenant in none-other-than Adam Musser's rear-front apartment on w.38th and lorain. Aside from dismal Arrupe idols contests, uninvited skunks at my July 3rd Fourth of July bash, and locking myself out of Musser's apartment on the second to last day I was in town, this past summer was glorious. I was able to frequently attend St. Pat's 5:30pm daily Mass, walk to the West Side Market once again, and led a group of young Spartans in a special  tribute to the late Michael Jackson (Thriller dance). Thanks to Ms. Veronica, Mr. Chris, Jake, Mr. Justin, Ms. Melanie, Ms. Mary, Mr. Sinh, Ms. Trang, Ms. Ellen and her JV housemates, John Gill, Laura McGowan, everyone who lent me crazy headgear, Mr. & Mrs. Pestak (landlords), the friendly Ohio City pasta dude, the mysterious cheap egg lady, and Tom (my next door neighbor whose brother lives in Norton...go figure) for a memorable Cleveland summer.

[6th Stop:] DETROIT, MI
      "At least, we're NOT DETROIT!" If you haven't watched the Cleveland Tourism YouTube video by now, DON'T, but that statement is one of the more settling comments made by the video's producers. Anywho, as many of you who by know, my amazing girlfriend, Gisella, continued living in Detroit until August. She had stayed on with her JVC placement, Alternatives for Girls (which was a transitional shelter for young women who were homeless), but too many stressors at that agency made work unbearable. That reality, in addition to crime, the Lions, the Greyhound bus company, and generally deplorable structural conditions, made visiting Detroit painful. Nevertheless, Gisella lived with a beautifully hospitable and generous couple/family (the Frey's--Eileen & Bill) and alont with Sarah & Jennifer (colleagues of hers at AFG) were her saving graces. Detroit has a special place in Gisella's heart to which I have only had glimpses.
       I, of course, traveled to Detroit (mainly via Greyhound bus) and visited Gisella about monthly (I had been doing so since the previous spring/summer). I think the best way to share with you my own experience of Detroit is simply to stream of consciousness my encounters and share the details later...

Gaelic League, Old Tigers' stadium, New Tigers' stadium (Comerica), Detroit Beer Co., Xochimilco's (our favorite Mexican restaurant), GABE, the Novices, Christ the King Church plus their pastor, Easter, Uncle Pat (especially walking with us through the Red Sea), Henry Ford and other FREE library pass museums, Happy Cream, Greektown, ONSTAR (aka TomSTAR), the dark Pickle restaurant, Elias' donuts, Campus Martius, Belle Isle, little D, and of course, Karl the Bear ;)


[7th Stop:] CHESTNUT HILL, MA
        I think it is now safe to share that I never got into Boston College! I applied regular decision, but I never actually wanted to go there (my mom was more interested in their decision). Little did I know that almost 6 years later, Gisella would apply and gain admission into BC's Pastoral Ministry program. For the sake of an extra-lengthy entry, I will forgo sharing with you the details of our cross-country exodus out of Detroit (another chapter of my future book)! She just finished up her first semester of grad school and is pleased with her two positions (1st year Peer Minister & part-time babysitter) and her course work. I will forever be a PC Friar, but since ever since I joined JVC, those incredible Jesuits are starting to wear on me...

[8th Stop:] UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, OH  

         "You're listening to THE HEIGHTS on 88.7!" 
                                 ~ the intro to my live WJCU radio feeds every Tuesday from 1-3:30pm
          
          Yes, that's right...my Gmail address finally makes sense! I'm a DJ for our community radio station on campus and it's been a blast so far. So much so, that I'm considering a second career in radio broadcasting/programming. Aside from my weekly radio show (which can be accessed by going to www.wjcu.org and clicking on one of the three music icons in the upper right hand corner of our homepage), life on the east side of Cleveland has continued to be life-giving. I just finished my third semester of grad school (school counseling is a three year program @ JCU, for those of you keeping score at home) and I am excited to tackle three more courses this spring. I will begin a full year of internship in the fall of 2010 and will hopefully receive my master's degree in May 2011. I continue to serve as a Resident Minister in a first-year residence hall and have enjoyed the company of many of the upperclassmen who I've befriended, ever since I set foot on campus. I've concluded that being a grad student is a wonderful lifestyle, especially when you throw in my in-house position. Thanks to the Joes, G, Lauren Fraser, Mark, H.Paul, Chris Kerr, Carrie, Gail, Paula, John, Barb, and Murphy RA staffs for showing me the ropes and allowing me to mature and grow in the many ways that you have.

[9th Stop:] WARRENSVILLE HEIGHTS, OH
          Have you ever heard of a school without walls? It's called Randallwood Elementary, and that is where I served as a counseling intern for 5th-6th graders this past fall. Humility, patience and flexibility were just a few of the lessons I re-learned, as an 18th-grader @ RW. Soon-to-be Dr. Paylor and I had our share of classroom guidance lessons, peer mediation candidates as well as several character counts qualifiers. We hardly ever got on each others' nerves. It's comforting to know that I was born to be a school counselor!

[10th Stop:] FORT BENNING, GA

        "No mas, no more, we must stop this dirty war. Compañeras, compañeras. we cry out...No mas, NO MORE!" This was the rallying cry of students, parishioners, brothers & sisters in Christ gathered at the annual SOA (School of the Americas) protest in front of the gates of Ft. Benning and final Ignatian Family Teach-In in Columbus, GA this past November. I journeyed with a group of JCU students who continue to be a part of a larger group at Carroll entitled J.U.S.T.I.C.E. (Jesuit University Students Together In Concerned Empowerment). This weekend's events jerked on my heart strings as well as provided me with unintentional time to reflect upon the variable history of my political and moral activism.

Let us do what we can to SHUT DOWN THE SOA!

[11th Stop:] LOGAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (BOSTON)

         Print out boarding pass (check)
         Look up flight # and status (check)
         Empty water bottle (check)
         Remove shoes and belt (check)
         Charge cell phone (check)
         Keep arm guard up/down (check)
         Accept complimentary beverage, snack & XM satellite radio (check)
         Call loved ones to inform them of safe landing (123 checks)

        Over the past 12 months, I have visited 13 domestic/international airports, rode every colored-rail line imaginable and fallen out of love with one of the most dismal commercial bus companies in America (named after a really fast "hound"). I've done my share of carpooling (I hope I've reimbursed everyone) and kept my bicycle inflated (for the most part).  For anyone who has seen the film Up in the Air (starring George Clooney), I think I deserve my own No.11 platinum concierge card, no?
        I hope each one of you has also had an eventful journey through 2009. It's fascinating to me to reminisce about what has been and become excited for what is to come. Whether you are 53, 26 or 9 years old and reading this blog, I hope you will remain buckled, because your journey has only just begun...

[Final '09- destination:] HOME

NIL AON TINTEAN MAR DO THINTEAN FEIN (translat. There is no place like home)

trust inspired

so i'm having trouble trusting God and young adult men right now. as i was composing some emails and getting ready for Gisella to visit, one of my favorite Lincoln Brewster songs "Everlasting God' came streaming through one of my Pandora stations. it set the mood for today, so i'd like to share it with you (margins).

one love

as i am sitting at my desk in my murphy hall apartment, i realize how wonderful all of you are. i have been blessed to meet such beautiful, gifted individuals in my life, and i have decided to start thanking you now, before the good Lord invites me HOME. please be good to your friends and family and know that you are deeply loved.

His peace and promise.

the Shack revisited

so i just recently finished reading The Shack by W.P. Young, and i must say that this book is fabulous! so much so that i don't even know where to begin when it comes to discussing it? here are some of my initial thoughts after reading The Shack:

(1) Young's depiction of our Triune God excited me (once again, i don't want to spoil it, if you were considering reading this novel)

(2) Only through the grace of God can forgiveness take place (don't try to do this on your own)

(3) I am finally starting to develop a human relationship with Jesus


your thoughts are more than welcome...

very concerned

upon reading the first few chapters of The Shack, i had to put the book down. not because it was a poor or boring read, rather because i could not handle the events surrounding the Great Sadness (i don't want to give too many details in case you read it someday!). i had a very difficult time keeping myself together on my train ride home this evening. i cannot understand why/how one human being can be so heartless to another (as is the case in this fictional novel, but it still happens)? i'd love to have a much deeper discussion about the conflicts in this book after you read it. (i pray for all those who feel hopeless and cry out to no one).

first person to...

comment on this blog entry will win a prize!

please stop texting me!!!

it seems that in this new age of technology, where you know what your friends & enemies are doing based on their away message (i.e. "Tom is outside riding his bike") or what Twitter (i still don't know what that is!?!) says about them, something has to give. unfortunately, something has--namely traditional, person-to-person conversation. long gone are the days when we are walking in the neighborhood and we see our neighbor. we wave and he/she invites us over for a cool class of ice tea and homemade cookies, and we talk about everything from school to work to love. no, instead, we whip out our cell phone with its shiny case & its many "hidden" features and communicate with another human by punching at little buttons (which strain our eyes) on the smallest keypads known to mankind. (if you really think about this, it seems utterly ridiculous). what's even more ridiculous is that we wait impatiently for the next text to vibrate or beep or play a little tune for us. because we clearly need these digital to be sent to us in order for us to know that 1) we have friends, 2) what our friends are doing, and 3) this is the best means of communication. unbelievable, how it has come to this. (oh, by the way, i text/email/gchat too! so you can't call me out on being a hypocrite. i'm just contributing to easiest form of satire around these days!)

...a bird sings because it has a song!

someone once shared with me that the closest thing to heaven is SUMMER CAMP. after working & volunteering at numerous camps (bible school/feehan bball/fatima/maplewood & asp) throughout the summers of my teenage & young adult years, and again these past two months, i have realized how true that statement is (and how wicked awesome it is to spend your summer acting like a 7 year-old all over again :p ). without further adieu, i would like to update you on what's been going on in this 7-year old's life over the past few months. i've decided to do that using an agenda that is neither perfect, nor indicative of how many children experienced true JOY this summer, but one that undoubtedly demonstrates how God's grace is at work :)

morning reflection (5:30-10am, depending on on your boss)

1. wake up, rub your allergies away & say "YES! to the morning" ~ M.Maynard
   
2. turn off your alarm, "call" the love of your life to wake her/him up & make one big yawn
   
3. freshen up (whatever that means for you), EAT something for breakfast & spend a few moments to gather your thoughts before you tackle your world
   

advisory (50 min-1 hour; short & sweet, but to the point!)

1. spiritual direction with fr. robert welsh, s.j. & fr. joseph guido, o.p. (these men know their stuff and their wisdom & insights are FREE!)
   
2. ketching up with new & old friends whether at a BBQ, through gchat or simply over the phone (it's always nice to hear a familiar voice and pick up right where you left off!)
3. liturgy of the Word & Eucharist (daily & Sunday) -- thank you Elise for your advice. it has permanently changed my post-grad life!
   

healthy habits (10am-12:30pm, snack break included)

1. "water, water everywhere, not a drop to drink" ~ anonymous i've only recently taken up to drinking more and more water each day. not surprisingly, i've been feeling much better about myself. i attribute that change in habit to our imperative water fasts in duran, ecuador (may 2009).
   
2. "first you take a drink, then the drink takes a drink, then the drink takes you." ~ francis scott key many of you already know that i strive to drink moderately in all social settings. this commitment is, in part, due to the fact that my maternal grandfather suffers from alcoholism and has experienced several maladaptive life events due to his abuse. i refuse to follow him down that lonesome & self-depreciating path. this has been a burden that has hit close to home as of late.
3. "bike it, you'll like it!" ~ veronica favela (JVC housemate & friend) many of you are probably already aware of the 25k/12 mi bike ride that i completed in mid-June to benefit the American Diabetes Association (my team raised over $300 for research, which was double my personal goal!). if so, then it goes without saying that i love to ride my bike! anytime. anyplace. carrying anything. in this age of eco-friendly practices and living green, i am proud to say that my 10 spd bicycle is my way around town. (please do yourself a favor by purchasing an un-expired helmet & checking the pressure in both tires before hitting the road pedaling...)
   

lunch (DO NOT SKIP!)

1. [meat group] FREE box lunches with "mystery meat" (from your state's department of health)
2. [grains, oils] italian bread & olive oil (for dipping purposes; makes a great lunch...SIDE!)
3. [dairy, fruits, grains] grilled cheese & tomato on wheat (my mother's staple)
4. [sweets, fruits, dairy, grains] fresh, local yogurt sprinkled with Nature Valley granola bits
5. LEFTOVERS from last night/week, esp that browning salad! [vegetables]
   

(you may want to try/experiment with one of the concoctions above, before you thank me for the idea or recipe)

golf (1-2:55pm, if the fields aren't wet enough & valleyview is closer)

1. Safety first & always. self-care (i.e. eating, sleeping, relaxing)/expect the unexpected (lower some expectations, they may be too high)/did i mention that we need to slow down?
   
2. Use the appropriate club & grip. simplify/we too easily forget that our friends are only a click or call away/our first vocation is to holiness; everything after that is secondary
   
3. Keep your head down. budgeting & funding/summer reading (check out Enrique's Journey by Sonia Nazario)/where are your feet pointing & more importantly, where are you? ("i'm on the right road, but i'm going the wrong way!" ~ Hal Roach (Irish comedian))
   

[inside joke, but the 3rd semester's grey jackets & Djort Cup go to...(scroll to the bottom to see m/f winners)]

announcements

• my second year of grad school & resident ministry at john carroll begins mid-august!
• gisella is moving from detroit to boston (boston college) to begin working towards her master's degree in pastoral ministry (please pray for her & our relationship!)
• a social gathering for recent PC alumni (classes 2005-2009) is in the works (keep the weekend of January 2nd open...more details to follow)
  
• in case you were wondering, i will be back in the boston/taunton/new england area from july 28th until august 10th. my girlfriend, Gisella, will be in town as well so please give me a ring or shoot me an email, if you are going to be around. i'd love for you to meet her!

[cleveland campers of the week:]
Week 1 -- Miss Laura McGowan (taking over for Tim wasn't easy at all!)
Week 2 -- Fr. Jim Lewis, S.J. (he called my girlfriend, "GODZILLA!")
Week 3 -- TimTom (his bro is from Norton, MA...carazycool!)
Week 4 -- Erinn "Ain't Falling" Bridges


female grey jacket recipient = miss veronica
male grey jacket recipient = mr. "remix" justin
& the SuperRaptors (esp. OMAR)

seven ate nine

oh yes! not only am i back to blogging this summer, but i am also returning on the date of another one of my favorite numerical sequences--namely the back-to-back-to back series. today is july 8th 2009 and because the month of july is often designated with the number 7, today is 07.08.09.
(just in case you were curious, this mathematical phenomenon will only happen 5 more times in yours & my lifetime!). that's all i have to say. hope you enjoyed the day in cleveland, new england, los angeles, peru or wherever your summer travels have taken you....

home sweet home

at last, i've finally returned to apartment 218 on john carroll's soil. my, oh my, what a past couple of weeks i've had traveling as far south as the close-knit communities of duran, ecuador to as far north as the mountain scapes and chilly air of burlington, vermont. all that being said, i think it is official that CLEVELAND has become my new home. it usually takes about 18-20 months of living in a new neighborhood and lifestyle to become completely acclimated. it's happened for me. CLEVELAND is HOME. i've been doing a lot of thinking lately (not just about my travels & experiences in foreign lands, but about my past, present & future). i have gained many insights that i hope to share with my small, but faithful fan club in the coming days & months. please stay tuned and remember that everyone deserves a HOME.

(the pictures are on their way...i promise)

heaven's circles

recently, i've been thinking about what heaven will be like. i'm not sure if this is because i'm going home soon or what, but i've had this image of tables and tables full of people. These people are people who I have encountered in at some point over the course of my short life. the only catch is that there are only 8 chairs per table and you have to start at the front set of tables before you can move to the back (kind of like what a bride and her groom do before they leave their wedding). i'd comment more on this later, but i thought i'd share since it has been awhile since i last blogged...

tk's stimulus package

i don't know about you, but i'm having a hard time understanding some of the terms and conditions in Obama's stimulus package; in fact, i'm not sure that i've met someone who does understand his complete action plan? nevertheless, i am offering you a new, personal package which is overall more informative than lucrative:

I. PROVIDE AN IMMEDIATE SMILE FOR THE WORKERS & THEIR ANXIETY

- did you hear the one about the guy who forgot to wish his girlfriend happy 10 month anniversary after she called and emailed him all day asking him if he's forgetting something? (yeah, that was me....but i'm not alone. the husband in the Nicholas Sparks' book, The Wedding-- that i am currently reading--committed a similar crime!)

- have you ever had someone ask you in the men's room at 8:30am on st. patrick's day whether you are alright, because you're audibly dry heaving and because he thinks you've had too much to drink? (this guy did on 03.17.09, and i honestly hadn't had a drop of anything)

- have you ever been given 8 minutes to come up with an advertisement for SPAM? (my ecuador group and i successfully did last sunday)

Stimulus: Plenty of smiles & laughs
Additional Reserve: There's more where those came from...

II. PROVIDE AN IMMEDIATE SUPPLEMENT TO WHATEVER YOU ARE CURRENTLY PREOCCUPIED WITH, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WITH LOW-ATTENTION SPANS

- let's switch 'em up. go to this site now and check out what i've been working on for one of my education classes (http://lifenotes-tk.blogspot.com/). feel free to share your comments.

- in case any of you were looking to be a little GREENer, i would recommend checking out this site/movement (http://www.earthhour.org/home/)

-if any of you were/are curious as to what i actually do as a resident minister at john carroll university, i invite you to check out this website (http://www.jcu.edu/campuslife/campusministry/resident_ministry.htm)

Stimulus: Openness to learn about other cultures & communities as well as live more simply

III. ESTABLISH A SECURE BOND THAT WILL HELP FRIENDS AVOID NEGLIGENCE & STAY CONNECTED

- reasons why i haven't done a superb job keeping in touch: FULL calendar of STUFF; been traveling a lot lately; still grieving my great aunt pat's passing; been glued to the television set whenever college basketball games are being aired; i've been SICK; keeping my 11 month relationship with Gisella going strong

- i've been praying for you all...and meeting some of you in the Eucharist at Mass

- i want to hear about ALL that you've been up to, so please do not forget to include that if you decide to comment or reply back! (Mose, Beth, Ericc & Katie Walsh, i look forward to reading your mass emails from afar...do keep sending them!)

Stimulus: GMAIL & Facebook (i know they can get the best of you, but they are great resources for keeping in touch!)
Additional reserve: Letter-writing & long-distance phone calls (it'll be my dime :)


IV. PROVIDE RELIEF FOR COLLEAGUES, FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS HARDEST-HIT BY CLEVELAND WEATHER PATTERNS, FRIARTOWN WOES, AND THE PEACEFUL DEPARTURE OF GREAT AUNT PAT

- i'm sure you've heard the expression that "a picture is worth a thousand words." well, i do believe that, but i also believe that a video is worth even a little bit more and certainly a few good laughs. so i would like to present some of my latest cinematographic work:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTl9qxC11O4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3st6EwmGfs

Stimulus: Aspirations of becoming a part-time filmmaker

V. EXTEND & EXPAND THE WAYS IN WHICH I SHARE MY LATEST NEWS WITH THE FOLKS I CALL MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS

- i hope you have enjoyed this blog entry & my personal stimulus plan
- know that i am thinking and praying for you and your current situation(s)

Continued Lenten Peace,
tk

p.s. when the "collection basket" for putting this stimulus package together comes around, please deposit at least $0.25 to support JCU immersion trips (i'm serious...i gotta pay for this trip somehow!)

the [iM)perfect president

i guess it's about time (on one of, if not, the most historic inaugural addresses in American history) that i address this issue. ever since i have decided that sen. barack obama was my choice for US president, i have withstood several confrontations from friends and colleagues with regards to being explicitly Catholic (and pro-life) and a supporter of obama. a few examples of what i have been "called out" on include: "how can you vote for someone who is a murderer and wants to kill innocent babies?" or "don't you know that the first thing barack obama wants to do when he is elected is pass the Freedom of Choice Act [which, if passed, would abolish all legal restrictions on a woman's choice to have an abortion anywhere in the US] and supports the continued holocaust of the next generation through abortion?" i am certainly grateful that a handful of friends with whom i have the deepest admiration and respect for have challenged me on this all-important issue of life. however, while i mostly agree with what they say with regards to the sanctity of life at all developmental stages, i also did not vote solely on end-of-life issues, but rather on all platforms that directly affect the common good of all man-and woman-kind (esp. the poor and vulnerable). with that out in the open, my response...

first and foremost, i think in responding to my critics/concerned friends, i need to direct them to the major resource (http://www.faithfulcitizenship.org/) that i employed after realizing where barack obama stood on end-of-life issues that matter to me. i do not want any of you to think that i just waived or disregarded the stance that obama took on issues like the death penalty or roe v. wade decision or embryonic stem-cell research. that would be irresponsible and imprudent. for me, barack's positions on these issues were both startling and painful to read/comprehend. needless to say, i do not agree with him on several of these end-of-life issues and seemingly never will. at this juncture, one may say, "there you have it. barack obama's opinions/beliefs do not coincide with your own. the decision is easy now. john mccain is your man!" not so fast. hold your horses. this is where i want you to pay close attention.

I ARRIVED AT THE CONCLUSION THAT BARACK OBAMA IS A BETTER CHOICE FOR PRESIDENT DUE TO THE FOLLOWING REASONS:

1) Barack Obama pledges to address and reform serious educational issues (i.e. student dropout crisis, affordable access to higher-education, improvements in early childhood education)

2) Barack Obama plans to expand the job market (including a sizable increase in minimum wage), tackle affordable housing issues with appropriate grants/funds, and transform rural & urban neighborhoods by reducing poverty/crime

3) Barack Obama not only believes that the US should responsibly end the war in Iraq (and immediately remove US troops) but he also believes that there should be a concentrated effort on the part of his administration to support Iraqi refugees (bring them safely home) and prevent further war crimes and genocidal-type violence

4) Barack Obama is committed to defending the elderly through assuring medicare relief and solidifying fair social security standards

5) Barack Obama's is committed to working with women (and men) in preventive measures against HIV/AIDS, unintended pregnancies, cancer & other healthy risks, domestic & gender violence, pay equity (establishment of), women veterans (honor & care of), and title IX (protection of)

6) the Obama family (Barack, Michelle, Sasha, and Malia Ann) and their values

7) Barack Obama loves basketball (this is really just a bonus and has nothing to do with why I voted for him)

please rest assured that i am and will always be pro-life, and i am still committed to standing up for some of the basic human goods (i.e. life) that Obama's proposed policies are destined to impact immediately. i hope you will join me in continued discussion, reflection and prayer as we welcome the 44th president of the United States of America, Barack H. Obama (and his family), into the White House. May God continue to bless their minds, hearts and souls as well as the entire human race...and "stand beside her and guide her through the night with a light from above." ("God Bless America,"Irving Berlin, 1918)