Free Press Not

On a globalization trip to China some years ago we had a meeting with a government official. Suddenly the translator was dismissed--thrown out. He was replaced by a translator to the official's liking. That experience came back to my mind this week when some news reporters were banned from the White House.  The ban has been lifted for 14 days, but will this stop this administration's efforts to control the media? Freedom of speech and freedom of the press are crucial to a democracy.

UN

I remember when the United Nations was founded in 1945. I remember Eleanor Roosevelt serving as chair of the UN Commission that drafted and adopted the Declaration on Human Rights. The UN has been so important in the world. I am thankful for all its work. I even dedicated one of my books to the United Nations for peacemaking, partnership and interdependence in the world. Even though the current U.S. President denigrates it, we must support and cherish the United Nations.

Autumn

 Today is the first day of Autumn, my favorite season. Blessings during this beautiful time. We thank the Creator for all the seasons and pledge to care for Creation.

Forty-nine years ago on September 18 I was ordained into public ministry of Word and Sacrament at Yale Divinity School's chapel. I was consecrated a deaconess on Pentecost 1960. I am thankful to Burton for his support all these years. I cherish the years I have been able to serve as a deaconess, a pastor and a professor. My first call after ordination was from ALC to teach at Yale Divinity School and work with Lutheran students there. 

Freedom of the press

Trump: You are a terrible reporter writing fake news, Piggy (especially to women reporters). First Amendment to the Constitution: "Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble..." 

Constitution Day 2026

 Today, September 17, is Constitution Day. This morning I taught a class at North Iowa Area Community College, on "The U.S. Constitution and Voting Rights." So many people came that we had to move to a large conference room. The Constitution with its 17 articles and 27 amendment is a small document. It is comprehensive enough that scholars and legislators have debated it all these years.  The attendees, through vigorous, respectful conversation, empowered each other to vote and how to encourage others to vote.

 

Mail-in voting

 The Supreme Court yesterday ruled against President Trump's executive order, thereby rejecting his efforts to enact new mail-in voting restrictions for the midterm election. The ruling means the U.S. Postal Service is expected to continue delivering ballots as usual. However, Trump may try other ways to stop people from voting. Therefore it is important for people who receive a mail-in ballot to fill it out and return is as quickly as possible.  People who want to vote in person should go to their Court House and vote early. For people in Iowa early voting starts October 14.

Children at Church

 All the little children gathered at the early service at Trinity Lutheran Church this morning before Sunday School.

9/11

 Where were you on 9/11? Burton called me in my seminary office, twice, to tell me when each of the Twin Towers were hit. Then, while team teaching a class a while later a student came in and said one had fallen.  Then in chapel we heard the second fell. I give thanks for the people of small Gander Newfoundland who welcomed 38 planes and 7,000 strangers, and took care of them all.

A U.S. president cannot rename a State, but that doesn't stop Trump from trying. I have good friends in New Mexico and respect the State. Deb Haaland is a member of Pueblo of Laguna and if elected as governor would become the first woman native American to become governor of a state.

Labor Day

 

Do we really understand the origin of Labor Day? The TV ads think it is the day we should all buy a new mattress. (Every holiday seems to be the time to buy a new mattress.) Nor is it "the end of summer" or "the beginning of school."

Labor Day became a U.S. federal holiday in 1894. President Grover Cleveland signed the legislation making the first Monday in September a legal national holiday following the turbulent Pullman Strike.

RFK

 

Oversight and control for special education programs across the country will now be under the  control of anti-vaccine fanatic Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. He wants to “reparent” a wide range of children on “wellness farms”: including kids with special needs, kids taking prescribed medication for anxiety or depression, and “Black kids” (in his own words) who are on drugs which he believes cause violence.

Gloria Steinem

I give thanks for the life and work of Gloria Steinem. I was part of the feminist/womanist movement of the 1970's. I was at Yale Divinity School then. Joan Forsberg, and Letty Russell led us as women students and faculty. Today I sent to Wartburg Seminary library a complete copy of 27 years of writing/editing "The Persistent Voice" which told the history of women in ministry and women in men in partnership. We wrote history as we made it. 

Final guess answer

 Answer to yesterday's guess:  Both!  I did become a refugee during the Detroit uprising and I did get stuck in a church tower, each when I was 8 1/2 months pregnant with Joel and Kirk.

Final guess

 The answer to yesterday's guess: A. I have never been to Guyana. Today's guess (A. B. or both) A. When I was 8 1/2 months pregnant with Joel in 1967 we had to escape to a refugee camp in Ann Arbor because fires were burning throughout Detroit in one of the bloodiest and most destructive urban uprisings in American history. B. In 1969 When I was 8 1/2 months pregnant with Kirk, we (including the staff) of Gethsemane Lutheran Church climbed to the top of the bell tower to watch the joint Canada/U.S. July 4th fireworks and the staff had a hard time getting me down.

Another guess

 Guess which one or both are true: A. I have been to Jamaica twice, once for a conference and once to teach at the theological school.  B. I have been to Guyana twice, going with Wartburg students to learn and serve there.

Jennaya Hope

 MUSICAL CELEBRATION OF HOPE  People from various local churches in Mason City, Iowa, organized the event “Notes of Hope.” Featured speaker and soloist this afternoon was Jennaya Everist, recent Wartburg College music therapy graduate, who shared the impact of music in her life as she lives with a severe case of Crohn's disease. 

Naming water lakes and gulfs

 Trump may sign an order to rename the Gulf of Mexico "The Gulf of America, but the rest of the world calls it the Gulf of Mexico. Trump may sign an order to name Lake Ontario "Lake America" but the rest of the world calls it Lake Ontario. And even "America" can't just be the United States, there is North America, Central America and South America. We are the "United States of America." Words matter. Names matter. 

sailor

 The young sailor who suffered so much on the aircraft carrier Lincoln that he jumped overboard in an attempt to end his life, is now facing punishment. He is charged with malingering, faking an illness and going AWOL. If this is not enough, the national news report after showing this compassionate story went for a "commercial break" trying to sell the viewers a "luxurious ocean cruise."

 "O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. God keep our land glorious and free! O Canada, we stand on guard for thee."  We love you, Canada. We have traveled through nine Canadian provinces. They are not and do not want to be the 51st state of the U.S. They deserve our respect so that we can again be good neighbors.