Remembering Katrina

This morning at Christ Methodist Church a small service commemorated the tenth anniversary of the Hurricane Katrina.  I was reminded of the work church members did over a period of years, making repairs and assisting in other ways.

People from other states and nations donated money, clothes and  other items.  I especially remember how Terrall and Evelyn Lowe opened   the Methodist camp  on Caney to feed and house refugees from the hurricane.

Most of the damage, including deaths,  was done  by flooding  which could have been less, if not avoided,  if the levees had been improved as was  supposed to be.

More from Jessica soon _ count on it

At church this morning several people told me they missed the letters Jessica has been sending from Israel, that they have enjoyed them very much.  I don't know  when she will write but I assured them they will hear soon.

Not only has Jessica been busy, but she has been ill with stomach problems twice. Whether it is the food or the water, she will adjust.  I am anxious to hear how the two sermons she preached last Sunday were received.

It's that time again

Yes, school is starting, but I was not talking about that; I am referring to teachers turning their pupils into salesmen.  My first sales call of this season was by a middle school boy selling cookies.   Usuallly, the sales call includes a colorful pamphlet with pictures of the product.  I asked the price of the cookies; he said it was 17 dollars a tub "but  the tub is real big."

The 17 brought to mind  the time years ago I received a call from the school that my son was in trouble. I discovered the band director was angry that my son had refused to taske orders for 17 dollar baskets of candy because, my son said, the product was overpriced and he would not take advantage of friends.  I solved the problem by making a cash donation.

I wish schools were not allowed to utilize students as salesmen.  If there is a need the school cannot provide, let the parents donate the money rather than give it to some company.  I know some people, including my wife, disagree.
  

Buildig a better wall

Trump wants to solve emigration problems by building a better wall, even though illegal aliens will climb and go over it or dig a tunnel and go  under it.  No matter, I am sure the Great wall of Trump will carry his name  and rank with Great Wall of China, although the wall in China is 8850 kilometers long.

The world has many large walls and several famous ones like Hadrians wall, built by the Romans to keep  the Scots out, and infamous ones like the Berlin Wall,  built to deny freedom, and silly ones like the chewing one in Seattle.

The way to keep the Mexicans out is provide jobs in Mexico that pay five dollars an hour.

Great wall of Trump is no answer

It happens at every national election.  The  news media selects one candidate to glorify and another to denigrate   There's probably never been such a love affair as exists between Fox and Trump.  I would like to see  how much air time Trump has been given compared to that for all other Republicans seeking nomination for president.

Trump has picked on sores that have bothered most voters for years, but  even where he has proposed ways to address these concerns, most of his solutions are flawed. Our immigration problems are well known, but Trump offers nothing  but a wall.  No one presses him on costs, which some estimate at close to 200 billion dollars.   Mexicans can go under and over a wall and  most enter the United States in cars and trucks.

If  the news media was honest  Trump would be forced  to answer  questions on all his so-called solutions.

Bad way to choose a president

Some voters seem to be more interested  in the height and age of candidates than their polices.  Past presidents have been tall and most male candidates are six feet or better.  More are in their sixties than any other age  group.  Under those standards Rubio has a problem; he is the youngest by a year at 44 and under
six feet at 5-10.

Some voters lack interest in trying to  determine who will serve the nation best and the  country would be better served if they stayed home on election day.  Many may think that applies to me.

Happy birthday, Frank Cascio

We hope to see you and Carol this summer.