Magpie Tales-Common Good

Lost my job
Hedging my money
My kids have to eat
Tax someone else
National deficit
Socialism
The end
The start
Rich versus poor
Voices from
The left
And
The right
Zero sum game
Unless someone blinks
Let's just focus
On the future
Our children
Our earth
Reach out
Honor the past
Make it happen
Now

C.M. Jackson 2011


This is a Magpie Tale  and so much more...

A Sputnik Moment

President Obama, in his State of the Union Speech, spoke about a sputnik moment --our generation's time to rise to the challenge in an ever changing and competitive world. The call to innovate and educate while not new, was needed. There was a concern from the pundits as to whether everyone would 'get' the reference to sputnik. Hello--there's google and yes,'young people' will look it up if they don't understand the reference.

I also found the opening moments inspiring "each of us is a part of something greater - something more consequential than party or political preference."

It is up to all of us, regardless of age and politics, to do something to institute change, peacefully, thinking of Gabrielle Giffords and in memory of Christina Taylor Green.

Let's each of us do what ever we can to acknowledge the joy Congresswoman Giffords feels in working for her constituents and Christina's excitement in meeting Giffords so that their efforts are not in vain.

Flash 55-A New Day

A new reality
Nothing to do with
The economy
More about my
Psychology
Work for the man
Anything’s possible
But make a plan
Find a way
Dream
Amidst the day to day
Scheme
Take time to play
Let go of the past
For this much I know
Time moves fast
So many places to go

C.M. Jackson 2010

According to a recent study, the recession ended in June 2009....if you can say it 55 words--you know what to do, go talk to the g-man. Happy Friday and here's to the next upturn !

Magpie Tales-The House

When his Majesty was forced to choose love over the throne, my grandfather, Daniel, was one of four hundred carpenters who readied the house, Buckingham Palace and the city, London for the coronation of his Majesty's brother, Albert soon to be George VI.

My grandmother, Mary and father, Frances lived on the grounds of the house but rarely saw him as he worked 18 to 20 hours a day. Mary, would wake as Daniel returned each evening to serve him some dinner before he fell into bed. On May 12, 1937, with Mary at his side, Daniel held Frances on his shoulders, his toolbelt still round his waist, as the new King and Queen's procession left Buckingham Palace for Westminister Abbey, the roar of the crowd vibrating in his ears. Long live the King! Long live the King!

I try to imagine the sound and the time as I sit at my drawing board in DC, designing the living quarters for the new president, his wife and girls,my dad, Frances watching from heaven his words of encouragement, "That's it Beth" making my heart pound as I draw.

This moment in time is courtesy of Magpie Tales--enjoy and create the magic here!

Theme Thursday-Draft

with the draft...



without the draft...





The draft was discontinued in 1973. Currently, selective service requires men ages 18-25 to register in the event a draft needs to be resumed. To our veterans and soldiers overseas, thank you for your sacrifice, your dedication and a daily reminder that freedom is not free.

It is Theme Thursday and today's theme is Draft. For more thoughts on the theme visit here.

Monday Morning Wake Up Call--It's a New Day

This is a video that was submitted in a contest by a 20-year old. The contest was titled "u @ 50" by AARP. This video won second place. When they showed it, everyone in the room was awe-struck and broke into spontaneous applause. So simple and yet so brilliant.

A dear friend of mine sent this to me this weekend. It is from 2007, so I apologize if you have seen it, but I felt it was relevant given all of the discourse regarding the future of our country. Here's the thing, if one 20 year old thought this, then I am willing to wager there's a few more, along with some thirty, forty, fifty and yes, even some 60 or more year olds thinking, concerned, but thinking about the direction we are headed and the possibilities for the future. When I began this blog a year or so ago, I did it with the resolve it was outside of my work and that will not change. However, when I received this video, I listened to the 20 year old voice and realized some things about how I approach my work and most importantly, the people I connect with in my work day now. Everyone has been impacted by the economic crisis. What I realized is this recession in some way has been a blessing --I have more time to connect and listen. We all are just trying to find a way to pay our bills, put a roof over our heads, feed our families, put our kids through college and protect our retirement --A reminder ...the future awaits and it is bright if we choose to see it as so and work together, regardless of generation...each generation can add to the vision so long as there is a dialogue... now get busy and make it happen!

Monday Morning Wake Up Call- Remember..Yes We Can!

Now more than ever we need to put aside our differences and work together---cross the room and grab a hand--yes, we can...

A Dream

How has Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.inspired me? Two words-courage and vision.

For more information and inspiration go here.

Washington Tea Party 2009

Warning---This post breaks a rule I set up long ago when a number of my friends were going into teaching and law school...."never discuss tenure or politics." There will be no photos or quotes that can make one think I may mean something else.The following is my response from an email from a friend that discussed his participation in the above noted event.

"Very cool. A great example for your daughters regarding our ability as Americans to speak freely and express our opinions.
However, I must first make certain you understand I voted for Obama and second, I believe healthcare rather than global warming or China’s surging economy, is something we must pay attention to now. The reality is that it won’t matter if we don’t have water to drink (southwest) or are drowning because of flooding (east coast)because the vast majority of us will not be able to pay for healthcare when we need it. Given our recent financial downfall and the amount of boomers getting ready to go into retirement—how is it that the current system can pay and not effect the younger population? The insurance industry has been one of the strongest lobbyists in our great DC—it is based on greed and not about treatment—Obama has not proposed a plan and that is largely due to the fact, call me crazy, but he has things like the financial system and the economy to figure out. That is not to say he should propose a plan and that is why so many people are up in arms.
We are an ageing economy. The real issue is if we don’t start thinking about what we can do and provide for the rest of the world we are &**^! What makes us as Americans believe that the rest of the world should provide the money necessary to feed our lifestyles? Healthcare certainly will not be part of the whole economic package –I am fairly certain that foreign countries, given the last eight years, will be very hesitant when it comes to funding our healthcare needs. So let’s just say I will join the march when it is about solidarity—not socialism---but rather about the best brains and the best ideas to move this very amazing country forward. Send ideas as opposed to the signs and the rhetoric—let’s get going before we live in a country that is not ours. Hugs -c "

Enough said. Hope and peace to you and yours wherever they are.

One good thing

“We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.” Buddha



I came of age in the late seventies ---learning to drive and getting gas on odd days. Coming from a working class family, I knew if I crashed the car, one of my parents would be unable to get to work and consequently, there would be some very unhappy days not moments in my life. College was a given based upon my academic performance and ability but not a guarantee. Thankfully, student loans were available. Interest rates for home buyers were at unprecedented levels, inflation and CPI really meant something, there were no jobs and an overwhelming sense of negativity. Yet, with luck and hard work, I was able to achieve and live a life that was far beyond my initial dreams.

So as I review this current economic condition, listening to the reviews of President Obama’s first 100 days, I wonder how we can rise above it all. This is an economic event that is being compared to the great depression and has touched everyone in some way. Distrust and negativity is the current dialogue but not a solution to what ails us.

I can’t help but wonder what would happen if we all just started to voice one good thing?