Blood Boiling

I attended a program recently coordinated by a staff person regarding the recent protests and violence that erupted as a result of a video about the prophet Mohammed.  The conversation was well thought out, deliberate, constructive and interesting.  As one participant remarked it provided him some hope that all was not lost. 

What struck me later was that in our fast food, internet, social media, quick to respond culture we don’t take the time to be reflective, considerate or even think about how something might affect someone else.  There have been many incidents lately and some recent political revolutions that developed as a result of the internet and social media networks.  While some of this may have happened anyhow, what is apparent in many cases is that things were not always thought out.  People were quickly pushed or compelled to take action due to emotion in many cases.  There is certainly nothing wrong with emotion and in many cases justified. 

I think of a friend of mine who lives in the United States in Nashville, TN.  He is an individual who one could describe as someone who typifies the saying “when cooler heads prevail.”  He is pretty calm, cool and collected, but also passionate about issues that matter.  Anyone that knows him would admit that they know where he stands on a topic and could probably name how he might respond on an issue.  However, he carefully considers his responses.  It’s a good example that being considerate and coming up with a plan before firing off a response and in the case of recent incidents, the unfortunate deaths of 13 bystanders is a rule that all of us should take into consideration in moments that can cause our blood to boil.

In short, we all have the opportunity to consider what we are saying before we say it.  We need to be mindful that we are working towards dialogue and not just attacking.  Hopefully that we are working towards a resolution without mindless action.

Garden Seeking

For those that know me well, you know that I have a knack for working in a garden.  I enjoy getting things to grow, planting veggies, flowers, love it all...the work, the movement, the therapy really it provides me.  I really have liked it all along.  When I was growing up I was the one making sure we had flowers planted outside the house, I recall a photo of when I was around 18 putting things in the ground.

In my adult life when I was in Nashville I tried to share my love of gardening with a few plant exchanges--which worked out very well mind you!  People got loads of new plants to share plus a glass or two of lemonade.  Then in Kansas my garden truly was my therapy.  In late 2008 and early 2009 I was going through a difficult time.  When I got the opportunity to have a garden plot in the community garden, I jumped at it and was excited to begin digging in the dirt, even if it was a bit late in the season to start. It gave me the outlet to put my emotions into something positive instead of drowning myself in sorrow.

The following spring and summer my new larger plot flourished.  Lots of veggies and lots of meeting and sharing with folks in the community garden.  It was a great way to grow my own food, work off some calories and spend some quality time outside.  Plus I shared my harvest with friends and neighbors and supplied myself and others with food well up till Thanksgiving.

Living here in the dessert in Qatar has made it difficult to fully enjoy this and I am truly craving it now.  I was excited to find in my own building this week a book on extreme gardening.  I understood then why the pepper plants I had inherited from a colleague are struggling in this heat (which was not a surprise) and provided me a bunch of ideas to try out in the coming months.  Coming across this book reminded me of something I haven't felt I had the opportunity to do but now maybe I can figure out a few ideas to keep my therapy and sense of community and sharing going.

(The photo is actually from my garden plot in KS from the summer of 2010.  Flowers enjoying the KS sun and heat.)

Newspaper: Paper or Digital?

Newspaper: Paper or Digital?



I recently pondered the benefits of a newspaper in paper form or in the ever increasing on line version.


As an owner of a smart phone I find the benefits of easy access wonderful. I am able to get headlines from the NY Times, read my local home newspaper of the Detroit Free Press and pull up articles of various issues at ease. This technology helps me remain connected to my local community and if there is something of particular interest I can quickly twitter or facebook it and share it with my 700 or so acquaintances and friends with the push of a button. My friends have the option to then in turn responding with a comment or sharing it with someone else. The ability to learn about something quickly is a great benefit and getting an idea passed on to others can happen quite quickly.


The newspaper as we traditionally know it, gives you the ability to read the paper from front to back, perhaps glance through articles that you have an interest in, or perchance even read them in full. You can write on the paper, highlight the paper, rip out an article from the paper, post an article in your office, your room, your refrigerator, or send an article to a loved one. You can also take a newspaper and hand-deliver it to someone else. You can share it with a co-worker, a colleague, your neighbor, your loved one or even a hated one. Also a newspaper has a life after its use benefit, a historical reference, paper writing, and even practical uses such as wrapping paper and even for use in gardens to prevent weed growth (it will disintegrate in the ground), compost (your own recycling) or even as packing material. Additionally you get to hold a newspaper in your hands, rustle it, move it.


Technology buffs would argue that quick and accessibility is far better. I can get the “paper” from the comfort of my school, my work, my gym, my airport, my home or even in my own bathroom. Now I have the ability to read an article from the across the world with the touch of a button, read about it, share and develop an idea from it. I don’t need anyone else to interact with, I can just click a button and get what I want. Greater access and quick ease makes it better!


Sustainability advocates would also argue the benefits of a paperless model. Less waste, fewer trees cut, no harmful ink or printing presses. Fewer cars driving to pick up the paper, deliver the paper or pick up old copies of papers. Less need to recycle all of those newspapers that collect in homes, with fewer trips to the recycling center. Less trash in city streets, universities, work offices and at home.


I grabbed a paper newspaper today that had been read by others, read some articles and brought it to my husband today. He read it in full. We discussed some highlights from the paper, had a conversation and DISCUSSED IT. DISCUSSED IT!


Think back to old movies where you hear a newsboy yelling out, “Newpaper, Newspaper, Read all about it.” People would scurry for the paper, grab it en masse. There would be a flurry in the community. Or consider significant headlines back in time…World Championships, World Wars, JFK Shot Dead. People would gather these newspapers, talk about them. I recall times where a newspaper was brought into an office or school and people would gather to read the paper at the same time…more than 1 person reading 1 single paper. Or even better yet a family trying to read a paper at the same time, huddling around to try to catch a glimpse of a story. It would be a gathering point, or even a community point.


The biggest difficulty with an on line newspaper is the lack of discussion we have. Oh sure we can throw up a briefly considered comment up but are we thinking and discussing. Are we considering other people opinions or only wanting to get our own opinion out there?


Some may say I am just being short sighted, not liking the change, wanting to have a physical piece in my hand. However I see daily repercussions as the slowing of the paper newspaper industry. In addition to the loss of jobs, I see individuals on their laptops, smart-phones side by side not saying a word. People are more connected to the world but less connected to each other. More connected to a statistic about another country but less connected to someone in their own city or even someone in their own home. While being connected to the world has some significant benefits so does being connected to our communities, discussing our issues, solving our problems. While I know we cannot change the tide of the newspapers via the internet maybe it’s time for the newspaper industry to not give up, but to consider the writing of more thoughtful and engaging articles, encouraging community, not succumbing to papers full of ads but things that will encourage more engagement, more discussion. Let’s change the model around a bit, but not change the sharing of ideas.


After all what will you do with your smart-phone when it dies? Your paper newspaper can help give back to the earth and not just in the ground.


Now just to get this in print…