Comments for J. Ruth Kelly

Comment on Sweetness by Yousei Hime

Yousei Hime — Wed, 30 May 2012 00:15:31 +0000

Yes I do. My mother likes them too, but they won’t grow reliably as far south as she is. Apparently they need some cold weather.

Comment on Sweetness by jruthkelly

jruthkelly — Tue, 29 May 2012 19:19:30 +0000

Ah…don’tcha just love peonies? :0)

Comment on Sweetness by Yousei Hime

Yousei Hime — Tue, 29 May 2012 18:10:57 +0000

Mine are blooming this week too.

Comment on Own Your Life by Katrina

Katrina — Tue, 29 May 2012 12:58:33 +0000

You are so right, and I think you have expressed it very eloquently. Have a great week.

Comment on Own Your Life by jruthkelly

jruthkelly — Tue, 29 May 2012 12:56:28 +0000

I think you hit on it with fear. It’s scary going into the big crazy world when coming out of the umbrella of our parents care. Or, for some, it’s seemingly the only sane option when leaving a painful or wild childhood. And still, for others, it’s the only reasonable-looking financial opportunity. I know it doesn’t always mean going to war. There can be some major benefits. But when it boils down to what many are called on to do, it’s tragic. I can see military action as defensively necessary when a nation is under attack so I don’t despise it. It’s the whole romanticized notion of “service” that turns my stomach when young people are going into warfare in countries we have no business asserting our agendas. It’s the whole “hero” mindset that ignores the horror of killing. A friend quoted a former soldier recently as saying this: “One cannot take another human life without killing a part of his own soul.” So, let’s tread carefully into fields of “heroism” claiming destruction as an acceptable means of aid.

Comment on Own Your Life by Katrina

Katrina — Tue, 29 May 2012 12:16:17 +0000

I love all these questions, and I bet the answer to every one of the them has something to do with fear, fear of other people and their beliefs, fear of other religions, fear of the unknown, and probably just fearing fear. All governments thrive on it, elections are won with and taxes are paid because of it. And you’re right, we’re no better than the government officials with their corrupt agendas when we support the wars. I truly agree with you.

Comment on Own Your Life by jruthkelly

jruthkelly — Mon, 28 May 2012 18:12:09 +0000

Questions I long to ask those who want to enlist… 1) Why do you want to do this? 2) Do you realize you’re submitting your will to corrupt and destructive agendas and, by doing so, you are agreeing with corruption and destruction? 3) Why do you believe it makes you a hero to fight a corrupt war? 4) Why do you need to be heroic? 5) What makes you think it’s healthy to seek heroism on foreign soil when far too many fail in the basics of being there for their loved ones? 6) What gives our nation and therefore our people the special status to justify killing others to further our agendas? 7) Do you realize this “special status” makes us elitist and runs the risk of being ranked with people we revile, people guilty of genocide? 8) How does this fit into “thou shalt not kill?” 9) Can you not trust that you can make a way for yourself without selling out on what matters? 10) Do you realize that your hopeful motives will not purify the agendas you’re loaning your body and mind to? 11) Do you really want to kill someone? Just for starters. Suffice to say, my sons have heard aplenty. And only one of them has had notions. He now feels the Coast Guard is the only branch of service that truly seeks honorable service and gives unique opportunities.

Comment on Own Your Life by Katrina

Katrina — Mon, 28 May 2012 17:48:45 +0000

I struggle as you do with the concept, I saw a bumper sticker once that said “I don’t support our government and its wars, but I do support our troops” its still a corrupt world with subversive agendas but this saying helped me see the individual soldiers apart from the wars I’m so against.

Comment on Night of Power by Pierre

Pierre — Sun, 13 May 2012 06:09:51 +0000

You are very kind J. Ruth. Thank you

Comment on Night of Power by jruthkelly

jruthkelly — Sat, 12 May 2012 23:25:45 +0000

It’s so hard to keep track, isn’t it? I’m long overdue for what will, no doubt, amount to hours of visiting blogs I’m glad to follow.