This coming week and my refugee friends...

A main reason for coming to Britain twice a year costly as it is, is to renew my friendship with refugees I met and lived with in previous visits while volunteerign at Catholic worker Houses.

Tomorrow we go to a lawyer that I've found to try to help a particularly wonderful friend get help with an asylum request. Imagine: Your father was in the wrong political party; you made the mistake of walking in as peaceful demonstration; you belong to the wrong ehtnic group in the former Soviet Union; you were of the wrong Christian faith in your homeland - for eahc of these, you have been beaten, imprisoned, lost all or most of your family.

Again terrible odds, you made oyur way throuygh various African or Middle Eastern countries eventually to the United Kingdom. Here like at home immigration is a hot issue. They should go home, where they belong.' God help us if we actually had to share the abundance that most of us have. I so easily lament a rise in prices when I so easily spend money almost without thinking. Money spent in one evening that would feed an entire family for a month.

Our visit to the lawyer will nto be easy as it is both promising and possibly hearthbreaking. Please pray for my friend and so many others.

Today, I travel into London to visit with and take out to eat a friend from Senegal, also seeking asssitance.

Tuesday, after the lawyer appointment, it is time to visit with my Ethiopian and Congolese friends who have been granted 'leave to stay.'

Afterwards, my dear British friend, Danny, and his wife are taking me out to dinner. Dany busy as head of company spends much of his 'free time' working directly with those in need. He always opens windows for me to see what is out there and how to frame it within a social justice and spiritual context. He often gives me wondeful books on which I can learn much.

Wednesday, I joiny my British friend who gave a promising career ib finance to work daily for the needy here in Britain. Steve is wonderful company and allows me to not lose sight of the bigger picture. an inspiring young man.

In the evening, I was accompany the soup run with the 'Simon community.' They always ask me if I can drive a van. Happy to, I demure, given it's night, central London and a van. AND as we say the wrong side of the street! I've driven in England twice, but a large van at night in London - I think not! The van will make about 5 stops around London where those ' sleeping rough' will come for soup and sandwiches plus coffee. Seeing a Yank is alway a curiosity and for some actually a 'treat.'

Thursday is a local day of rest in Basildon with my good friend Zelda. for dinner we will meet her friend Peggy who is always good company. Zelda keeps quite busy with many social jsutice activities: Trident Ploughshares, Dale Famr to name just two.

Friday and saturday will eb more visits and good-byes as my flight leave Heathrow Sunday.

Please pray daily for my dear friends and those so many we do not know, but who suffer so much - here, in the Americas, the middle East and the rest of the world.

In all this, I've managed to do my 45 minute exercise walk each day - a wonderul tonic!
Why did I avoid it for so long!

Thanks & Cheers!

Along the Embankment on a leisurely Saturday afternoon

After attending the Hiroshima Day Memorial, I made my way toward the Embankment, across the Thames to South Bank. People were in a festive spirit as they mingled & walked through exhibits & events: sand castle building, skateboard & biking in a special area, listening to live music, watching jugglers(curiously for me - taking bites out of apples as they juggled - quite a mess on the stage after many repeat performances!).

Festival Hall is quite interesting with many exhibits to remember the1951 Festival of Britain - a festival to invite British to renew positive feelings after a long and costly war and post-war period and to encourage tourists to celebrate Britain.

There was a used book display where I surprisingly found two most interesting books and was able to bargain a lower price. Ah capitalism!

After a brisk walk I was able to enjoy the Tate Modern Art Museum. Modern Art often leaves me feeling little and puzzled. Still there are pieces that were most interesting. I've placed several on my facebook album: copies of newspaper illustrations illustrating nonsense of Nazi era, several other works including an interesting thematically work from a dissident Chinese artist.

Another brisk 45 minute walk took me to Fenchruch Street Station for my return trip to Basildon, Essex - a very ncie day in a beautiful capitol city.

Hiroshima Day Memorial Service - Tavistock Square, London 8/6/11

Made my way to Tavistock Square in Camden London to attend the Hiroshima Day. A lovely square with a statue of Ghandi in the middle, a tree planted & a plaque at one end years ago to commemorate Hiroshima bomb dropping & conscientious objectors.

The ceremony features several speakers & quiet w/ Buddhist bell & silence. Now if world leaders as well as those seeking to instill terror & the powerful would look beyond self-interest, ego & blinding power to truly work for peace.

A group of us went for tea/coffee afterwards and discussed world events vis a vis war and weapons.

For me it was again a treat to sit & talk with people who truly care and are knowledgeable. They devote themselves to informing themselves & to speaking out against injustice. All very accepting. There is another ceremony at the Peace Pagoda and a silent procession Tuesday evening to commemorate the dropping of the bomb on Nagasaki.

You may see pics on my facebook page.

Greetings from Basildon, Essex, U.K.

Arrived a week ago & it has been non-stop! My friend met me at Victoria & after lunch took me to his friends from Ethiopia. Enjoyed wonderful hospitality and a nice Ethiopia meal.

Saturday, I went w/ Zelda & my friend Steve to Dale Farm - travellers site which they own but local govt. wants to evict them. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-14017865

Sunday I took him to the movies. He wanted to see 'Horrible Bosses.' It was horrible, but he enjoyed it! :-)

Yesterday I had a nice lunch w/ my friend, Danny. After, I stopped in St. Martins-in-the-Fields and got to hear a chamber group practicing. Brandenberg Concerto and others by Handel. Heavenly!

Then on to the National Portrait Gallery at Trafalgar Sq. and a simple sandwich meal in Kensington Gardens.

Monday and Tuesday I stayed in Cambridge- 1st time. Loved it. A young lady I met at Dale farm lives in Cambridge. She arranged for me to have a private tour of several college YARDS. Amazingly beautiful. Saw Kings, Queens, Clare, Trinity and St. Johns Colleges. After we 3 enjoyed tea!!

Today, I'm crashing! Take care all.

A Wedding in Trinidad California - a Reflection

This blog's purpose is to share people I meet & experiences I'm fortunate to have. It's not mean to be about me, per se.

So, with that in mind. simple actually, a wedding invitation. But not quite. This invitation is from a young man whom I met & taught at Loyola College 3 years ago. So you say?

The so is the kind of person he is. I knew he was impressive, grounded, kind and sensitive. For now I'll leave out handsome, athletic, smart though they too are true! He is also someone I came to call 'friend.' So off to Arcata/Eureka Airport - not on the beaten path! (For now I'll skip the little curious travel details including our being asked to move luggage from the hold up with us into the cabin to make more room for needed fuel. Fuel is liquid; luggage ain't. Hmm.I'll leave it at that.)

Not just a fun, enjoyable wedding - much more.

Ian and Anna designed a simple wedding; they composed their own vows including:

• a mutual invitation to allow each other to be who they are
• a shared commitment to both passion and compassion

Hold it, did you say compassion? How 'un-me!'

What do they say? You know a person for whom he/she hangs out with? - or something like that!

I was treated to 3 days of incredible friends of the couple. More, I saw just how much love they shared: in the banter, in the guys dancing & miming key lyrics - just for fun, in the ready acceptance of a stranger - even one close to 40 years older, in the unbridled joy in the persons getting married, in their complete comfort with diversity, in their respect for family.

Those young people did not just have a party. They celebrated life and relationship.

The setting

The northern California region is magnificently beautiful. The Pacific at our feet below rocks, trees, and green of resplendent beauty.

I cannot but say that Anna and Ian, their friends, and the magnificence of nature - all reminded me of my belief that there surely is a God & he/she demands that we love one another, treating all his creation with reverence and joy.

Thank you Ian and Anna and all present: friends and family. "Let all creation praise the Lord."

Puerto Vallarta with Laura & Jay

We are completing 6 days at the beach in Mexico. For me it has been a much different trip but most enjoyable.

Last year while studying Spanish in Tlaquepague, Jalisco. Mexico. I came here for 3 nights. My good fortune was to find a hostel that is now ranked by Lonely Planet # 1 in Vallarta. Part of the complex is a hotel with rooms & another building with suites.

Ricardo, Vallarta Sun, decided to upgrade us to two suites with no increase in rate. It has been great as we each have our own room with private, bath, kitchen and a balcony. The pool is below and the beach is 1 block away.

Puerto Vallarta is quite safe. Similar to my other Latin Americn trips, it is sunny every day & here temperatures ranging from 76 to 85 during the day.

Jay is quite skilled at finding great beach locations. Three chairs, table & umbrella right up front at the water for the day. You get your drinks & food from them & they treat you like kings. We stayed almost five hours today for $ 10 +- a piece.

Zip Lines aka Canopy Tour.

The high point (literally, well except the beach did beat all.) was our 10 zip line Canopy Tour (canopy because you glide above tropical vegetation, canyons & streams. It was an adventure as we hiked up lots of stairs & trails, well atop a nearby mountain.

You are harnessed with two safety leads. You step up & the Mexican guide hooks you up tells you to lie back with legs straights or knees bent depending on speed needed to complete the trip. Listo (ready?) and off you to. For me it was at first a bit daunting as you ate suspended by wire high above & you are going, going. Once acclimated some choose to go upside down backward or spinning. Not Laura & me!

The three Mexican guides were great providing water stops when needed. It was not just me who had to stop several times to catch his breath!

(pictures to follow on Fcebook.)

Dinner

We found the restaurants nearby offered great food at reasonable prices, given a beach resort. Several were right on the beach. Tonight, our last, will be a great Mexican restaurant two blocks away.

Spanish school & Semana Santa

Two afternoons I left Laura & Jay at the beach to trudge 35 minutes to Solexico for two hours of Spanish class. It was great & I highly recommend the school to language students.

This week is Semana Santa (Holy Week) & a big holiday week in Mexico. The religious outdoor activities are bland at best here in comparison to Queretero last year.

Getting here! The only pain for Jay's sinus infection & our flight here. Due to storm in the U.S. Saturday, April 16th, our flight out of Baltimore was 80 minutes delayed - leaving us literally 7 minutes to race out the plane, down the ramp, into the terminal & down/around to the loading plane connection. Phew! Jay's infection along with flying interaction made for a rough 1st day & several days adjusting. But all in al we had a greatweek.

I highly recommend Puerto Vallarta & Vallarta Sun hotel & hostel to anyone looking f a wonderful foreign beach vacation. No sadly, its back to work full time! For me, 6 1/2 more weeks!

Presente! - A weekend with Witness for Peace

Taking a break from lesson planning & grades, I made my way to the YMCA South Mountain Camp just outside Wernersville, PA. this past weekend. The weekend revolved around Fr. Roy Bourgeois who started the SOA Watch: Close the School of the Americas which is a part of Ft. Benning, Georgia. Below is a summary of comments Fr. Roy made. I was truly touched by who he is & what he shared. I hope you will read on as I feel we all have a responsiblity to be informed. Of course do check out the SOA Watch site as well as other points of view. Fr. Roy from Louisana began his college work working in the field of geology. This was the time of the Vietnam War so being a patriotic American he signed up. In Vietnam, he earned a Purple Heart. Vietnam service was a turning point - While in Vietnam, he helped out at a local orphanage where the priest in charge lived what he taught. This experience and that of killing ("Killing a person changes you.") led him to re-evaluate his stance. Returning home, he decided to enter the Maryknoll order & study for the priesthood. Upon ordination, he was posted to Bolivia. As he said, the poor became his teachers. (Though I can in no way compare my experience to his, I can validate from persoanl experience that those who do not have & are suffering much teach us much about life. This is especially true when we have it so good.) These poor had no running water, no electricity, no health care, living life'on the edge.' Bolivia at the time was ruled by a brutal dictator. Standing up for one's rights was a fearsome propostion. Six years into his assignment, Fr. Roy & others were eventually arrested; he was deported. In Bolivia he learned that for the system to keep on going, it needs guns and we, the U.S. supply them. Systematically labor leaders were assasinated. People are forced to stop demanding any change. Imprisonment, torture, death are the order of the day. El Salvador - Around the time of his return to the states, Archbishop Oscar Romero (a real saint) was assasinated for demanding that the soldiers stop killing innocent men, women and children. Speak up & expect to die. Later 4 American nuns were rapped & killed by soldiers trained at SOA. Jesuits teaching at a University in El Salvador were warned to shut up or else. Soldiers came & took them outside - including their cook & their 15 year old daughter - all were shot dead. Their bodies desecrated. Many Congressmen at the time knew these Jesuits & were horrified at their fate. Traveling to El Salvador, they found what a later UN Report stated: 18 of the 29 soldiers responsible for the killlings were trained at SOA. Sadly this has turned out time & again not to be an exception. At home Fr. Roy learned that 500 Salvadoran soldiers had arrive at SOA for training. He had to act. He & several others went to Goergia, climbed the fence & a tree & outside the barracks. They played the famous Romero speech: "Stop the killing. Stop the repression. Lay down your weapons. Stop killing your fellow Salvadorans" To Fr. Roy this was truly a 'sacred moment.' The soldiers saw it differently! They poured out of their barracks M16s a ready & demanded they climb down or be shot - such terrorists! This was 20 years ago! Maximum Bob as he came to be called was the local judge. Having no patience with their reasons, he sentences them to 6 months in jail. As Fr. Roy pointed out this has never worked. Gandi, Dr. King, Dorothy Day among others would not be silenced. (I think it's accurate that soeaking out to authority is what got Christ crucified.) What began as a protest by a handful has grown - in some years - to 20,000 people. (I myself have been there. It is stunning. Power determined to dimiss any protest - PEACEFUL PROTEST! ) What would Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Henry, Franklin say? There is much more to the SOA Watch. Do check it out. It is not an issue about liberal vs. conservative, right vs. left. It is simply democracy & the question: Do we act as we say we are? And if no, then what is to be done? Fr. Roy is clearly a good man, humble yet determined. The phrase 'an inconvenient truth' came to mind as I listened. Dare we look, ask quesitons? Will we speak up? An email or letter to your Congressman can make quite a difference. Thanks for listening. Check them out: http://www.soaw.org/ AND - I did not mean to slight Witness for Peace. http://www.witnessforpace.org/