Pandora's Other Box

I have been called many things, including being an extremist of the right side … and a… (Gasp!!) Republican… And this is in my own house, mind you. Where my dear wife is a descendent of a long line of liberal democrats. I think by now more through tradition than conviction. Actually, I have been a registered independent for some 40 years who has actually voted on both sides of the aisle. Yes, I know this excludes me from primary voting, but it allows me to look and listen. To actually listen to what is being said and look at what has been done, or not. My swaying is encouraged by the latter, not the former. I am a conservative who is willing to talk, dialogue and to listen. As long as the other part is also willing to do the same. Now, I am not saying my mind will change easily, but if the arguments are coherent, I will listen. It is easy to lump me, along with many other Cubans into the “reactionary right” bag without giving any of the group a chance to be heard. ...

Yesterday morning I was almost late for my morning ESL class… It was a long night, one of those that refuses to allow sleep to come in and stay for any reasonable amount of time. Finally, at around 4:45 in the morning ( yep… one of those ) I gave up and being alone –seems like there has been a lot of this lately- turned on the television set. As in other occasions, I went down my usual channels – Discovery, History, American, Sports—and, finding out that at this time of the morning their primary interest lay in selling me pants, glasses, new hair( actually, this one I may take note of ) kitchen utensils, etc… it was time to go to the movie channels. Flipping furiously down the line, one offering caught my eye. I don’t really know why. Perhaps because it promised a light fare and perhaps because it promised to be boring enough to put me back to sleep. Julia Sweeney ( From SNL and “Pat” fame, among other accomplishments) talking about life. From her book “ God Said… HA!!” . Thi...