Last week, the lovely Tessa, at An Aerial Armadillo, awarded her blog friends this fabulous prize she created in honor of Dr. Maethri's work in Africa on behalf of children afflicted with HIV/AIDS. Dr. Maethri was having a birthday, and Tessa wanted all of us to know the work this young man is doing for humanity.
The award is a beautiful representation of one world, one voice for the good of mankind.
Thank you Tessa for the work you do in promoting goodwill and understanding across cultures.
During this week, while Korea was testing its nuclear might and the astronauts were repairing the Hubble Telescope, the State of Oregon was sending out final budget figures. Our city budget and our school budget have never been leaner.
The stimulus package that the Obama administration has allocated will help our elementary school fix its heating system, repair the gym, upgrade a building that is as old as I am. Three local contractors and their vendors will be working this summer; three businesses that would not have been able to stay open much longer.
We closed one school and had to lay off some teachers and support staff. Other school districts are facing even bigger consequences. In the meantime, gas prices have risen, electrical rates are going up by 20%, and our ancient water system continues to leak.
In Washington, a new voice might be selected for the Supreme Court, a woman, a Latina. The chatter is not about her qualifications, but about her very essence. Is she going to be too provincial in her rulings? Funny, we never asked those questions when white men came up for approval.
