I’ve been meaning to write a blog for a few days now, but I keep starting and then stopping.  There seems so much to say, about many things:  the US election, my ‘magical uterus’, hurricanes, what constitutes rape, gun ownership and now this — the mob of Israeli Jewish teenagers who beat an Arab teenager unconscious this month while hundreds watched and did nothing to help. That one left me speechless, especially when I read one of the young men, when arrested, told reporters outside court, “For my part he can die; he’s an Arab.”

Sigh.

Troy Davis

Unless there is a last minute reprieve, Troy Davis will be executed today in Georgia, for a crime he probably didn’t commit.  You can read about his case by clicking here.

Although I generally fight to be optimistic about these things, I feel little optimism today, and although I have signed petitions and made phone calls and written letters, I suspect there is little left to do now except pray for all parties to be granted peace and comfort and grace.

A medieval hospital. Patients are given food and cared for by monks and nuns.

Last night I watched a snippet of the Republican debate — that startling moment when moderator Wolf Blitzer asked candidate Ron Paul if he thought a hypothetical 30-year-old uninsured man who needed health care should be left to die, and several people in the audience called out, “Yeah!”  “Let him die!”

Watch it by clicking on the following link.

Ron Paul at the Republican Debate

Is this how you feel?

“JUSTICE has been done.” In this way, President Obama began his speech announcing the death of Osama bin Laden. Navy Seals led a raid on a compound in a small, affluent Pakistani town and killed the “mastermind” behind Al-Queda and the unspeakable events of 9/11.

The world, or at least those who aren’t bin Laden admirers, celebrate. People wave flags and chant the pledge of allegiance in Times Square and in front of The White House in Washington.  Fireworks light up the sky. People dance in the streets.  Horns honk.  Candles flicker.  Medals gleam.  Polished buttons glint.