Yep, it’s one of my famous political rants. Hold on to your seats!

It is quite clear, and has been for some time, that the terrorists who planned the 11 Sept 2001 attacks have won. Most are long dead, but the United States is at war on two fronts with insufficient resources to fight either one well. The world is in chaos financially, I believe in part because the emphasis on combatting terrorism by the United States government (and others) pushed everything else (such as financial decision-making and good trade treaties) out of the way. Individuals within the United States have been encouraged to indulge themselves in fear-mongering based on prejudice, leading to completely stupid over-reactions in many cases.

Here is the news story that triggered this rant: Family Grounded (CNN)

Now, I grew up as a child with a parent who flew airplanes. We always talked about safety issues on planes! I knew how to open an emergency exit by the time I was seven. I talk about plane, bus, train and boat safety with my own children.

And on the trip back home (the one in bad weather in the middle of the night), I reviewed safety procedures and the merits of sitting where we did (forward, next to the “door”/hatch that was only a few feet from the lifeboat pod), as well as the safest places to sit on an airplane…

Good thing I wasn’t wearing a veil, speaking with an accent, or carrying a non-Christian religious text.

The long and the short of it is, the United States is no longer a free nation, we are a fear-filled nation. People willingly gave up individual liberties and rights for the elusive promise of greater “security” and we are a few short steps from again putting citizens and permanent residents in concentration camps based on their ancestral or religious affiliations.

Wake up! Today we are no more safer than we were on 10 Sept 2001 - we are simply more frightened, more easily controlled and less likely to live “the American dream.”

Don’t like the situation I have described? Then be aware of your words and actions. Consider what you teach your children — are they watching you be generous of spirit and brave, or stingy and fearful? Do you cross the street when you are shopping and you encounter a person who is not as well dressed as you? Do you know your neighbors? Really? Which ones? All of them, or only the ones who look like you or act like you or worship as you do?

What makes the United States great — what made so many “western” nations great in the last century — was the ability of people new to an area to make their mark. We rejected the notion that only old blood was respectable and focused instead on the merits of individuals. Imperfectly, perhaps, we stood by the “proposition that all men are created equal.” And so, many immigrants and children of immigrants have managed to make it to the top of their professions, gain personal wealth, and become leaders in their communities.

I can point proudly to my own mixed ancestry — some came to North America in the early 1600s, others in the 1800s. Over and over, people left their homes to seek a better life on this continent. Over and over, they became productive citizens. The most recent was a grandmother who arrived in Chicago in 1931, with a suitcase and dreams, who managed to finish her own education when she was in her fifties and realize at least one of those dreams. She became a teacher… and owned her own home.

She lived the American dream.

But I wonder: will my children? Will yours?

Took the elder stidkid with me this past weekend to give him a chance to visit friends and see the sights of Victoria, British Columbia, in the winter.

Unfortunately, the same snow that hit us hit them also. So we were unable to meet up with some of our friends. We did however get to see our dear friends Hetty and Alan, and we met many lovely people over the four days of our trip.

Here’s the basics (with a few pictures to be added as I edit them in tomorrow — in the new year!):

We left home EARLY Friday morning to catch the 8 am sailing of the Victoria Clipper from Seattle (I had taken advantage of a package deal in November to be able to afford this — usually too expensive for us).

A quick trip across the Strait of Juan de Fuca and we were in Victoria and at our favorite hotel, the James Bay Inn, by 11 am. Lunch at the inn, followed by a bit of walking around downtown, we eventually found ourselves on the tour bus to Butchart Gardens for the Winter Lights display.

The gardens were lovely. We loved the singing and the brass quartet (two trumpets, a trombone and a bass trombone) that alternated sets while we were there. We started with supper at The Blue Poppy, the cafeteria-style restaurant so we could enjoy the walk. The gardens were truly magical in the snow, though I found myself slowed down by the crutches. Slowed down enough in fact, that by the time I got through the checkout line in the gift shop we had missed our bus by (imagine Maxwell Smart saying this…) “THIS MUCH.” Fortunately, another tour bus was still there and offered to take us back to town. This man even drove everyone to their hotel!

Saturday… we slept in.

A late lazy breakfast, followed by a short stroll to Miniature World. Well worth the admission if you go to Victoria, especially on a cold, windy or wet day. A couple of hours looking at very fine detail work, with some historical pieces and some whimsical. It was a good activity for us.

Lunch at “The Noodle Box” close by, each item can actually be two meals for most people! If you are noise (and loud music) averse, take out is a good choice. And it was close to the next tour bus — the one for the Victoria tour. A narrated run through the city’s commercial and historical districts, a good way to see where things are and get some background. Goes in a circuit from the Empress Hotel through the “posh” district to Oak Bay (brief stop for coffee/seal watching) and then back downtown.

Then we did a little bit of shopping before returning to the Inn for a nap and supper.

Sunday: all day at the Royal British Columbia Museum. The temporary exhibit called “Free Spirit” was lovely — if you read this in time, it was a great intro to the people who made British Columbia — from earliest times to the present. We also saw two IMAX movies, “Alps” and “Extreme” — very interesting. I am definitely in no danger of becoming a rock climber, skier, snowboarder, surfer…. but the scenery and cinematography were excellent. Spent nearly an hour in the gift shop as well — got some nice trinkets for a few people. The permanent exhibit on the First Nations people who have inhabited British Columbia is always a big deal for us — we nosed around that for nearly two hours! We didn’t go to the Natural History section this time (ran out of time) but I remember it from a couple years ago, and recommend it highly as well.

Monday: leisurely breakfast and packing, taxi to take the bags to the Victoria Clipper and then a short walk to the Parliament Building. Caught the tail end of a tour as well, so got a little more information about the government. Very pretty — not quite what I expected. Of course, we are from Washington state, which has a very large dome, open concept in the center of the capitol building, while the B.C. Parliament is housed in something that resembles the California capitol a bit more. I suppose I could complete the West Coast capitol experience by visiting the Oregon state capitol sometime. Then lunch at the Noodle Box again — keeping half for our supper later; and a taxi ride to our friends home.

After a couple hours’ great conversation and tea (and a shortbread Hetty made that I am told was stellar), we took the taxi back to the terminal to wait for the preboarding for the trip home.

Interesting people to talk to made the hour fly by. The Border/Customs officer was efficient, but not mean, and answered a question of the kid’s very well. Then, while we are sitting in the waiting area to get on the boat we are informed that there is a weather delay. We have the choice to go aboard and wait (can’t get off again because of immigration things), or leave the waiting area and get a hotel room until the next day.

Argh. We got on the boat. FOUR HOURS LATER… we leave the dock. I am glad I called my parents collect (before I got on the boat) to have them call Tom and let him know he needed to contact the Victoria Clipper terminal in Seattle — otherwise he and the younger stidkid might not have been able to ice skate and see an IMAX movie at the Seattle Center! They also saw our dear friend (riemann of babble fame) at supper — we missed him of course, but will catch him next time he is in town. Because we only pulled in about midnight, and being toward the front of the boat (with the exit in the rear) we got off nearly last.

At 2:30 when we pulled into the driveway, we were pretty exhausted. But happy to be home and pleased with our fine adventure.

It was a fine trip, but it is SO GOOD to be home!

Every year holds joy and sorrow,
peace and hope.
Leave fear, and borrow
only the best for tomorrow.

Leave fear, and borrow
only the best for tomorrow;
bring to this day your gifts
and share your dreams.

Bring to this day your gifts
and share your dreams.
Burdens shared
are lighter far than held tight.

Burdens shared
are lighter far than held tight.
All the good is magnified
when seen in the light.

All the good is magnified
when seen in the light.
We hold the power
to remake the world.

We hold the power
to remake the world.
To shape and mold
and develop as we will.

To shape and mold
and develop as we will:
Every year holds joy and sorrow,
peace and hope.

This piece of doggerel is written just for you! As is my tradition, I give you this blessing wish: May the new year hold many opportunities, and just enough challenges to be interesting.