Autumn 2021

Last February, I had no idea the dramatic changes of direction my life would take. My life has been so thronged and crazy, I have not blogged in over six months.

I can't make any promises, even to myself, but I hope to correct that soon.

WE GOT TROUBLE: YELLOW JOURNALISM

Just watched "The Music Man" on TCM.  Remember the scene when Robert Preston as Professor Harold Hill decides to use a new pool table to rile up the people of  River City, Iowa? (link below*) Here are the lyrics (Compliments Musixmatch)

Ya Got Trouble

Friend, either you're closing your eyes
To a situation you do not wish to acknowledge
Or you are not aware of the caliber of disaster indicated
By the presence of a pool table in your community

Well, Ya got trouble, my friend, right here
I say, trouble right here in River City
Why sure I'm a billiard player
Certainly mighty proud I say
I'm always mighty proud to say it
I consider that the hours I spend
With a cue in my hand are golden
Help you cultivate horse sense
And a cool head and a keen eye
Jever' take and try to find
An iron-clad leave for yourself
From a three-rail billiard shot?

But just as I say
It takes judgment, brains, and maturity to score
In a balkline game
I say that any boob can take
And shove a ball in a pocket
And I call that sloth
The first big step on the road
To the depths of deg-ra-Day--
I say, first, medicinal wine from a teaspoon
Then beer from a bottle
An' the next thing ya know
Your son is playin' for money
In a pinch-back suit
And list'nin to some big out-a-town jasper
Hearin' him tell about horse-race gamblin'
Not a wholesome trottin' race, no!
But a race where they set down right on the horse!
Like to see some stuck-up jockey'boy

Settin' on Dan Patch? Make your blood boil?
Well, I should say
Now, Friends, lemme tell you what I mean
Ya got one, two, three, four, five, six pockets in a table
Pockets that mark the diff'rence
Between a gentlemen and a bum
With a capital "B"
And that rhymes with "P" and that stands for pool!
And all week long your River City
Youth'll be fritterin' away
I say your young men'll be fritterin'!

Fritterin' away their noontime, suppertime, choretime too!
Get the ball in the pocket
Never mind gettin' dandelions pulled
Or the screen door patched or the beefsteak pounded
Never mind pumpin' any water
'Til your parents are caught with the cistern empty
On a Saturday night and that's trouble
Yes you got lots and lots of trouble
I'm thinkin' of the kids in the knickerbockers
Shirt-tail young ones, peekin' in the pool
Hall window after school, ya got trouble, folks!
Right here in River City
Trouble with a capital "T"
And that rhymes with "P" and that stands for pool!

Now, I know all you folks are the right kind of parents
I'm gonna be perfectly frank
Would ya like to know what kinda conversation goes
On while they're loafin' around that Hall?
They be tryin' out Bevo, tryin' out cubebs
Tryin' out Tailor Mades like cigarette fiends!
And braggin' all about
How they're gonna cover up a tell-tale breath with Sen-Sen
One fine night, they leave the pool hall
Headin' for the dance at the Arm'ry!
Libertine men and Scarlet women!
And Rag-time, shameless music
That'll grab your son, your daughter
With the arms of a jungle animal instinct!
Mass-staria!
Friends, the idle brain is the devil's playground!

Trouble, oh we got trouble
Right here in River City!
With a capital "T"
That rhymes with "P"
And that stands for Pool
That stands for pool
We've surely got trouble!
Right here in River City
Right here!
Gotta figure out a way
To keep the young ones moral after school!
Trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble

Mothers of River City!
Heed the warning before it's too late!
Watch for the tell-tale signs of corruption!
The moment your son leaves the house
Does he rebuckle his knickerbockers below the knee?
Is there a nicotine stain on his index finger?
A dime novel hidden in the corn crib?
Is he starting to memorize jokes from?
Are certain words creeping into his conversation?
Words like 'swell?"
And 'so's your old man?"
Well, if so my friends
Ya got trouble
Right here in River City!
With a capital "T"
And that rhymes with "P"
And that stands for Pool
We've surely got trouble!
Right here in River City!
Remember the Maine, Plymouth Rock and the Golden Rule!
Oh, we've got trouble
We're in terrible, terrible trouble
That game with the fifteen numbered balls is a devil's tool!
Oh yes we got trouble, trouble, trouble!
With a "T"! Gotta rhyme it with "P"!
And that stands for Pool

Songwriters: Willson Meredith

I couldn't help thinking that politics and fast-talking never change.  First your create a problem (either non-existent or blown out of proportion), then you offer a "solution" which, by the way, gains you wealth and/or power. 

Listen below and see if you can't see anti-propaganda from both sides of the fence. BTW, look up the difference between Billiards (gentleman) and Pool (bum) just for fun.  You may also want to know that Dan Patch was a trotting horse who wasn't trained to accept a rider. Most of the issues Professor Hill raises are really non-issues.

The line "remember the Maine, Plymouth Rock, and the Golden Rule is telling. "Remember the Maine" was the battle cry flaunted by the media which led to the Spanish American War. The truth is, the Maine was sunk by an internal fire and not by Spain, but the huge media giants of the day wanted to see us go to war, so they falsely claimed that Spain sunk the ship in the harbor. Check it out. You'll find that I'm right.  Propaganda, Yellow Journalism, and War

In the 1890s the fierce competition between Joseph Pulitzer's New York World and William Randolph Hearst's New York Journal caused both to develop the techniques of yellow journalism, which won over readers with sensationalism, sex, crime and graphic horrors.** 

Pulitzer

Tell that to the approximately 3000 Americans who died in the war of injuries, influenza, and typhoid fever.

Hearst

Recent forensic studies of the wreck of the Maine show that the ship was never bombed.  History now shows us that Pulitzer and Hearst literally created a war because of their personal drives for wealth, power, and influence. 

 

As my dad would say, "The never let the truth get in the way of a good story."

By the way, both Pulitzer and Hearst were Democrats. 'Nuff said.

* Ya Got Trouble

** Wikipedia Pulitzer and Hearts

NEW BEGINNINGS: HOW TO TURN YOUR LIFE AROUND IN SEVERAL, NOT-SO-EASY STEPS; #5 CONFESSION IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL

 Confession

In the last step, you made a fearless self-evaluation of your life.  That is a painful process.  I know, because I have done it.  But if you just acknowledge your mistakes to yourself, it’s like noting that you have an infected wound, but doing nothing to clean out the infection.  In that case, it will continue to fester and may become even worse.  The way to clean out the infection is to confess to yourself, to God, and to one other person the exact nature of your wrongdoings.  You should choose a person who is both spiritually and emotionally mature, who can listen with love, and help you work through things.  Some sins may need to be confessed to the proper priesthood authority.  If you proceed with your repentance, you’ll want to do that.  In the meantime, start with God and one other person. Use great care in choosing someone to whom to disclose your wrongs.  Do not share such sensitive information with someone you suspect who might give improper guidance, provide misinformation, or fail to keep your confidences.

Many years ago, my brother-in-law Charlie worked with a man who had developed a small cancer in his mouth from using chewing tobacco.  His dentist found the small white spot and wanted to schedule oral surgery to remove it.  The man looked at the spot, saw how small it was, and refused the surgery.  “Why would I let you cut up my mouth?” he asked. “It doesn’t even hurt.  If it starts hurting, then I’ll talk to you about it.”  Weeks went by.  Eventually, the man’s mouth began to hurt and the white patches had spread.  He went back to the oral surgeon and said, “OK, I’m ready now.” The surgeon took one look and ran some tests of the man’s lymph nodes.  “I’m sorry,” the doctor said, “but all I can do is keep you comfortable while you die.” The cancer by then had spread throughout the man’s body through his lymphatic system. He didn’t live much longer as it had reached his brain.

This is a true story.  When we think of the word repent, we are often put off because we know there will be pain involved just as the man was afraid of the pain of surgery.  But consider the alternative.  Sin is a moral cancer.  When you become serious about ridding yourself of the burden, confession is the first step outside of the privacy of your own mind and heart.  It has the same effect of disinfecting a physical wound, removing sin from a splinter to a cancer, and applying a healing balm.  If it is sincere, you will ultimately feel God’s forgiveness.  Though your sins be as scarlet, they can be white as snow” wrote the Prophet Isaiah. Remember: your sins are what you did; they are not who you are!

Brigham Young cautioned Latter-day Saints not to confess sins unnecessarily.  Some people go over and over their mistakes like a person poking his tongue in a socket of a tooth that has been pulled.  That doesn’t heal the tooth; it only keeps it raw and bleeding so that it is slow to heal.  These people continually rehearse their faults, but never seem to find peace.  Peace in Christ is the ultimate goal. 

The Lord told the Prophet Joseph, I, the Lord, forgive sins unto those who confess their sins before me and ask forgiveness. (Doctrine and Covenants 64: 7) How can you have the courage to make such a confession?  Begin keeping a private journal and write in it regularly, at least once a week.  Take time to look into your own heart. Confess your sins as soon as you recognize them.  Don’t allow them to build and fester as you have done in the past. Don’t worry about where you stand with other people.  Be more concerned with where you stand with God.

To Do:

·       Continue to pray and read a scripture verse every day.

·       Continue to work on keeping the commandments, especially the one God revealed to you.

Write in your journal regularly

© Kathleen Rawlings Buntin Danielson January 2021                          

THINK BEFORE YOU ACT!

I had  phone call Thursday night of a sobbing grandson who lives with his wife and children in Salt Lake City.  He had just been to a training for a program he's hoping to be part of.  He was gone a short while.  When he came home, he found a 3-day eviction notice on the door of the home he has rented for over 3 years.  

As the story unfolded, apparently a neighbor called animal control about his 6 month old puppy.  The puppy, when he is let out to relieve himself, often refuses to come back in.  The family has gone through 3 leashes which the dog always manages to destroy.  

One of his neighbors who in the past has demonstrated a dislike for the dog, called the animal control and told them the dog was being abused and mistreated, being left out in the cold SLC weather (none of which is true, by the way.) 

Animal control called the rental agency (who also rents this neighbor's home to him).  The rental agency responded by giving an eviction order to my grandson and his family (dated that day and counting from that day, but delivered at 6:30 PM!)

So this neighbor who claimed to be worried about a dog being out in the winter cold set into motion a process that would end up with my 3 great-granddaughters being homeless outside in the winter snow!

Lots of prayers later, it looks like they can keep their home if they get rid of the dog.  This dog is an emotional support animal that helps my grandson deal with his severe clinical depression (for which he has been getting help for years.) He and his children are devastated, but if the only alternative is that or being homeless, the dog will go. What a traumatic event that need not have happened!

Sometimes, we rationalize that we are doing "the right thing" for the "right reason." In this case, the right thing would have been for the neighbor to talk to my grandson, express his concerns, and come up with a solution.  This neighbor who claimed to be "worried" about the dog was, in my opinion, just using that as an excuse for punishing a family whose dog he dislikes.  He obviously didn't stop and think of the end result of his action. 

Years ago on Sesame Street, they did a bit for children that went "If I stick this pin in this balloon and it pops . . . " and then it explored a series of possible consequences.  We adults need to do that! We don't think.  We lash out, sometimes on social media and sometimes in person, and create havoc and hatred with every word we spew.

THINK BEFORE YOU ACT! THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK! SPEAK BEFORE YOU VENT YOUR SPLEEN ON YOUR PHONE OR KEYBOARD.  THINK! ! ! Then read Matthew 22:39

PRAYING FOR A MIRACLE

 

NEW BEGINNINGS: HOW TO TURN YOUR LIFE AROUND IN SEVERAL, NOT-SO-EASY STEPS; #4 TRUE TO YOUSELF

TRUTH

One of the things I had to do when I was a principal was to evaluate each member of my staff.  I would begin by visiting them in their classrooms and observing the things they did.  I had one “planned” visit and several little “just dropping by for a minute” visits.  Afterward, I met with each person privately.  I began by telling them, in very specific and honest language, the good things I noticed. My tone was consistently encouraging. I’d then ask them to look at themselves and let me know what things they felt they wanted to work on to become and even more effective teacher.  Without exception, they each chose to work on something I had noticed, too.  Because the idea came from them and not me, it was not criticism.  It was a plan for improvement. I’d restate their plan to them, emphasizing those things I felt most important and wise.  I’d then ask how I could help them achieve their goals. During the semester, I’d watch, encourage, and support their efforts. Most teachers hate having a principal evaluation; mine staff loved it because it was positive and productive.

Shakespeare gave one of his characters this line: To thine own self be true and it must follow as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man. Wise advice.

Before you begin your own self-evaluation, spend some time writing down on a separate piece of paper what you consider to be your values and principles that are important to you.  Then write the word VALUES vertically like a wall

V

A

L

U

E

S

 

 

 

 

 

                     When we confront our own VALUES, we have  choices.

1.      We can come up against the VALUES and, because they are there, refuse to violate them. (Picture an arrow going up to the line and stopping.)

2.      We can violate them, then turn around, repent, and go back to them because we feel awful about it. (Picture an arrow going past the line, then turning around.)

We can violate them and just keep on going, trying to bury our feelings alive and continuing to violate the VALUES over and over again. (Picture an arrow going past the values and just keep on going!)   

It is when we try to go every direction at once (having one foot in Babylon and one foot is Zion) that we find our lives completely out-of-focus.  It just doesn't work!

When we violate our core value system,  it creates the mental discomfort we call guilt and shame.  Guilt is productive because it says, “I did something wrong. I can repent and make a different choice next time.” Shame, on the other hand, is toxic.  It says, “I am wrong.  I am inherently flawed. I cannot change who I am.” The poison inherent in shame is that it is so uncomfortable, that the person often keeps doing what he is doing, pushing the shame deep inside. This is the exact opposite of what God wants us to do. It is no wonder that this person’s life becomes a mess!  People who violate their own core values (even if they no longer practice the value) must deal with the cognitive dissonance created by such action.  They can do so by repenting and bringing their behavior back in harmony with the value system.  If they don't do that, they will be in the untenable position of having to devalue the value system.  This is why Latter-day Saints and other Christians who leave the faith find that they can't leave the Church alone.

This challenge is for you to do a truthful and fearless self-inventory. What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? What have you done that is productive and good? What have you done that you feel you should not have done or what have you failed to do that you feel you should have done? You’ll want to look at your entire life: your personal life and relationships, your spiritual life, your financial life, your work life, your leisure life, your physical life and health.  I like to use a plus/delta like they do in business with plus indicating a strength and delta indicating an area that needs improvement.  Remember, God gives us our weaknesses and will make weak things strong in us when we acknowledge them and repent.

Grade yourself on how well you are doing in each area, with a 0 at the center of the circle for “not doing well at all” to a 10 at the edge of the circle for “I’m doing great.  I’m like Mary Poppins: practically perfect in every way.”

In addition to the above, keep doing what you have been doing. To do:

• ·       Continue to pray daily
• ·       Continue to read at least 1 verse of scripture every day
• ·       Continue to work on the one commandment revealed to you in step 3.

Godspeed!

© Kathleen Rawlings Buntin Danielson January 2021