Small Things Count

Permission to wear my cross? Or my friend to wear her Star of David? Never needed it.  Yet, AB1964, if passed, will give Californians permission to wear religious attire, like head scarves and turbans. I can’t believe that we need a law to enforce common respect.  Apparently, though, some employers were keeping people in such attire out of public view, thus limiting their jobs and opportunities for advancement.  This law will prohibit such a practice.

Why should wearable symbols of some religions cause not even a second glance while others are to be hidden?  Wouldn’t this be a better world if more people exhibited the peaceful tenants of their faith in symbol, word, action, and deed?

“There is only one God and He is God to all; therefore it is important that everyone is seen as equal before God. I’ve always said we should help a Hindu become a better Hindu, a Muslim become a better Muslim, a Buddhist become a better Buddhist and a Christian become a better Christian.” — Mother Teresa of Calcutta

[I was reminded of this quote by a very wise woman as I watched the news about the devastating, hate-filled results of one group making a film attacking a religion, supposedly in an effort to defend their own religion.  I can’t help thinking that God is not pleased.]

“You’ve come a long way, Baby!”  But not far enough.  Unlike in the past, men and women today are doing the same full-time, year-round jobs.  Yet, for the last ten years women have still been paid less than men—77 cents as opposed to a dollar.  If you’re a black or Hispanic woman, that number falls to 64 cents and 55 cents respectively.

Gone are the days when a female got a job to find a husband or have a little extra money to play with while a man supported her. So are the days when only women were servers, child-care workers, or teachers—or when only men were lawyers, architects, and construction workers.

The Paycheck Fairness Act  (HR1519), currently in the House, would level the workbench in our country by letting workers talk about their salaries if they want to (now they can be fired or penalized for doing so).  That means that people can actually know when they’re being discriminated against.  Yes, it boils down to strengthening our anti-discrimination laws.

I just sent off an email to my Rep., Mike Honda, in support of this Act, and I hope you’ll send a similar email or letter or phone call to your own Rep.

Who knows?  Maybe someday women will have garnered enough respect that strangers will no longer call us “Baby.”

 Eating fresh can help the earth.  Choose foods from local sources rather than ones spending  a long time on the road coming from thousands of miles away.  Fresh food is tastier and healthier, and carbon emissions caused by transportation are lessened.

[For more easy, Eco-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Go to www.Smashwords.com/books/ view/7000, choose a format, and download to your computer or e-book device. Or download a free copy from your favorite e-tailer.]

And I’m glad they did.  As I tried to negotiate Santa Teresa Blvd. in my scooter and with my dog on her leash, I hit construction cones and barriers at every corner, making me hunt up a driveway so I could access the bike lane until the next block.  When I looked at the painted markings, I saw that curb-cuts were being put in.   I realize this isn’t out of the goodness of their hearts—when major work is being done to a road, as currently with Santa Teresa, they’re required to put in curb-cuts and repair old ones–but it’s happening.  I didn’t like cars zipping within inches of me, and my dog couldn’t understand why I kept yanking her as close to me as possible.  Eventually, the results will be marvelous.  It will be nice not to have to go a block out of my way to get around inaccessible curbs on corners.

Here’s another thing that makes me feel good.  Poor old Santa Teresa Blvd., like so many city streets, have been crumbling along with the economy.  The City can now afford to make repairs.  That’s a sign of an economy that may be struggling but is inching its way up.

It’s worth it to me to hold off on walks awhile.  Now, if I can only explain it to my walk-deprived dog….

There is a destiny that makes us brothers

No one goes his way alone;

All that we send into the lives of others

Comes back into our own.

—-Dorothy Day

I just read an article about another prison running a program in which neglected, abandoned, or abused dogs are assigned to the care of prisoners rather than being housed in shelters.  These people foster the animals, caring for them, training them, and teaching them to trust humans again. Eventually the dogs are ready to move on, into loving adoptive families.

There is a corollary to the successful rehabilitation of the dogs.  The prisoners, many of whom are felons due, in great part, to the fact that they, too, grew up neglected, abandoned, or abused, have a revival of their compassion and sense of responsibility.  In that way, they are being rehabilitated, just like their waggly wards.  Isn’t that what the prison system is supposed to do?  Many of these individuals, once released, find jobs in dog grooming, training, and care.  Others have refreshed their work ethic and determination to find and do well at a job.

The Pups on Parole programs at any prison is small (maybe 20 pup/prisoner teams) but effective.  Unlike others, I don’t consider this being soft on crime.  Rather, I think it’s taking what is good in a person who has done bad and putting it to a use that is beneficial to our animal friends while giving him or her a fighting chance to reintegrate into society rather than reoffending.  I, for one, think that’s a good thing.

For more information on Pups on Parole, go to http://www.hcws.org/programs/pupsonparole.

Enjoy the last unofficial day of summer.  BBQ with friends and family.  Rest and relax.  Be a couch potato or get in some energetic activity. Whatever you do, remember that it took many people to arrange your day: grocer, bag-person, butcher, farmer,  farm-worker, baker, brewer, grape-harvester, and many others for your food alone. Then there are those who worked the lines in the factory that produced your BBQer, swim suits, and cars to bring your guests together…and the lawn chairs and sports equipment you’re enjoying. Still working today to keep you safe are the police, fire, EMTs, and their support–nurses, doctors, hospital orderlies and housekeeping.

Look at any object in front of you and think for a minute how many people it took to make this restful day possible for you.  It’s a crowd.

This group of people–laborers from all aspects of our lives–deserve to be thanked and honored.  Not just today, though, but each and every day.

This week, acknowledge a worker you wouldn’t have thought to thank before.

The debate continues–“off or on?”  Consider this: by turning off your computer completely at night it will eat up bout 75% fewer kilowatts.  This makes a big difference in an office, where computers use more electricity than all other equipment put together, but it also helps at home, where many of us leave our computers running constantly, trusting the energy-gobbling “sleep mode” and screen saver.

[For more easy, Eco-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Go to www.Smashwords.com/books/ view/7000, choose a format, and download to your computer or e-book device. Or download a free copy from your favorite e-tailer.]