Tonight was the first rehearsal for our (almost) annual Christmas musical; "Sarah Wesley's Christmas Tree". I wrote this show several years ago and performed a leading role in it at its premier. Since then, the very talented Todd Stuart had the role. He took a powder to Philly last year and isn't available to do the part anymore. So we held a moment of silent prayer in memory of Todd... and on I go...
Pleasant Hills United Methodist Church
13200 E. Bagley Road
Middleburg Heights, Ohio
In cooperation with Mark Foster Music Company and Shawnee Press
Presents
Sarah Wesley’s Christmas Tree
A Christmas Musical in Three Acts
With Dinner!
Book by James F Szakacs and Ann Montz
Musical Arrangements by Herbert Bielawa, Ginger Cover-Colla, Bradley Ellingboe, Z. Randall Stroope, Rene’ Clausen,Richard Donohue, James McKelvy, and Jerome Wright
Directed by James F Szakacs
Musical Direction by Bruce R. Giles
Friday, December 2, 2005 - 7:00pm
Saturday, December 3, 2005 - 7:00pm
Sunday, December 4, 2005 - 6:00pm
Thursday, December 8, 2005 - 7:00pm
Friday, December 9, 2005 - 7:00pm
Saturday, December 10, 2005 - 7:00pm
Sunday, December 11, 2005 - 6:00pm
Reserved Seating $28.00 includes dinner
roast pork with dressing, potatoes, vegetables, salad, rolls, dessert and beverages
Call: 440-234-5229 for tickets
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
More monday morning quarterbacking
Recently a 15 year old male was shot and killed by Cleveland Police Officers conducting a search of his home. It seems he was suspected of multiple cases of robbing pizza deliverymen at knifepoint. The officers went to his home with a search warrant and while conducting their search, were "allegedly" attacked by the young man wielding a knife.
Of course the community is outraged that these two officers found it necessary to protect themeselves by shooting this fine upstanding citizen.
This morning, Cleveland Plain Dealer Reporter Regina Brett raised several issues surrounding this incident. Following is a copy of an email I sent her. Since it will never make it to the paper, I publish it here...
Regina...
You really disapointed me today. You are usually level headed, fair, and right on point. Today however I think you are WAY out...
Near the end of your article you asked the question; "Did it take 10 shots to stop him? Couldn't armed police wearing bulletproof vests disarm a boy with a knife?"
Please Regina consider the following...
1) Bulletproof vests are NO protection from knives. This is primarily due to the fact that they do not cover arms, hands, faces, necks, legs, groins, etc.
2) This "boy" is 15 years old. a man by physical standards.
3) "armed police"; these are key words. Police are armed to protect themselves and society from "clear and present dangers". When an officer draws his/her weapon it is because either they, their partner, or another individual is in grave danger. These decisions must be made in split seconds. I believe that even the most liberal of liberals would have to admit that a knife wielding man lunging at you would be considered a clear and present danger.
4) Consider "split seconds"; How large was Brandon's bedroom? Let's assume it is a larger than normal bedroom, say...15'x15'. Do this experiment; either at home or in the comfort of your office have someone lunge at you from 15' away. How long does it take them to cover that ground and be on top of you? Now have your "attacker" pick up a knife ( how long of a knife? Use something the length of the one Brandon was caught with previously. Oh wait, that's not fair we don't know if it was that large. Let's make it only 3" instead of 8".) Now, have your "attacker" lunge at you brandishing that knife. Still not convinced? Replace your "attacker" with someone you don't know. Replace him with someone who is known to have used a knife on multiple occassions to rob other people. Is the scenario getting more intense?
5) Consider that even with 1 or 2 fatal shots in a lunging body, death does not come fast enough to protect you from attack in the final few "split seconds" before life ends. The attacker will continue to move toward you and most likely still be in attack mode. ( Shooting to wound would not be an option either now would it?)
In those few "split seconds" you consider the safety of yourself, your partner, anyone else in the vacinity. You consider your loved ones who you might be leaving behind... You don't have a taser because they have not been approved yet by your department because somewhere someone on crack-cocaine with a pre-existing heart condition might die if they are tasered... ( sorry this is another topic all together.)
Now ask yourself Regina... How many times would you pull the trigger?
Of course the community is outraged that these two officers found it necessary to protect themeselves by shooting this fine upstanding citizen.
This morning, Cleveland Plain Dealer Reporter Regina Brett raised several issues surrounding this incident. Following is a copy of an email I sent her. Since it will never make it to the paper, I publish it here...
Regina...
You really disapointed me today. You are usually level headed, fair, and right on point. Today however I think you are WAY out...
Near the end of your article you asked the question; "Did it take 10 shots to stop him? Couldn't armed police wearing bulletproof vests disarm a boy with a knife?"
Please Regina consider the following...
1) Bulletproof vests are NO protection from knives. This is primarily due to the fact that they do not cover arms, hands, faces, necks, legs, groins, etc.
2) This "boy" is 15 years old. a man by physical standards.
3) "armed police"; these are key words. Police are armed to protect themselves and society from "clear and present dangers". When an officer draws his/her weapon it is because either they, their partner, or another individual is in grave danger. These decisions must be made in split seconds. I believe that even the most liberal of liberals would have to admit that a knife wielding man lunging at you would be considered a clear and present danger.
4) Consider "split seconds"; How large was Brandon's bedroom? Let's assume it is a larger than normal bedroom, say...15'x15'. Do this experiment; either at home or in the comfort of your office have someone lunge at you from 15' away. How long does it take them to cover that ground and be on top of you? Now have your "attacker" pick up a knife ( how long of a knife? Use something the length of the one Brandon was caught with previously. Oh wait, that's not fair we don't know if it was that large. Let's make it only 3" instead of 8".) Now, have your "attacker" lunge at you brandishing that knife. Still not convinced? Replace your "attacker" with someone you don't know. Replace him with someone who is known to have used a knife on multiple occassions to rob other people. Is the scenario getting more intense?
5) Consider that even with 1 or 2 fatal shots in a lunging body, death does not come fast enough to protect you from attack in the final few "split seconds" before life ends. The attacker will continue to move toward you and most likely still be in attack mode. ( Shooting to wound would not be an option either now would it?)
In those few "split seconds" you consider the safety of yourself, your partner, anyone else in the vacinity. You consider your loved ones who you might be leaving behind... You don't have a taser because they have not been approved yet by your department because somewhere someone on crack-cocaine with a pre-existing heart condition might die if they are tasered... ( sorry this is another topic all together.)
Now ask yourself Regina... How many times would you pull the trigger?
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
Who else can we blame?
Why do we find it necessary to find blame for everything that happens on this earth?
The Democrats are screaming that the current administration is doing a lousy job of responding to what we know is the worst natural disaster ever to occur in this country.
If the Democrats were in control, the Republicans would be doing the same thing.
Personally, it all makes me sick. To think that anyone could have responded any faster or better is preposterous. Wake up America!
Could the government possibly be better prepared? Of course they could. In fact, if we as a society were willing to increase our taxes to ridiculous levels, the government could fund research and preparation for virtually every conceivable and inconceivable tragedy that could occur. But that wouldn't be reasonable now would it?
Monday morning quarterbacking in this country has become an artform.
How about this... Democrats, Republicans, whites, blacks, hispanics, Christians, Jews, Muslims, MEDIA... let's start thinking like rational, caring human beings and band together to overcome this tragedy instead of spending energy and resource to point fingers and promote personal and political agendas.
The Democrats are screaming that the current administration is doing a lousy job of responding to what we know is the worst natural disaster ever to occur in this country.
If the Democrats were in control, the Republicans would be doing the same thing.
Personally, it all makes me sick. To think that anyone could have responded any faster or better is preposterous. Wake up America!
Could the government possibly be better prepared? Of course they could. In fact, if we as a society were willing to increase our taxes to ridiculous levels, the government could fund research and preparation for virtually every conceivable and inconceivable tragedy that could occur. But that wouldn't be reasonable now would it?
Monday morning quarterbacking in this country has become an artform.
How about this... Democrats, Republicans, whites, blacks, hispanics, Christians, Jews, Muslims, MEDIA... let's start thinking like rational, caring human beings and band together to overcome this tragedy instead of spending energy and resource to point fingers and promote personal and political agendas.
Friday, September 02, 2005
100% of your contribution will go to hurricane relief
UMCOR: Hurricane Relief
Hurricane Katrina carried heavy rains and high winds that wrought catastrophic damage to the Gulf Coast. UMCOR is there, responding to the needs of the thousands of people affected by this disaster. UMCOR will continue to provide assistance to the people left most vulnerable by this storm for years to come.
Donations to the United Methodist Committee on Relief's (UMCOR) Hurricanes Global (Advance #982523) response can be made online through UMC.org's secure server.
www.umc.org
Your tax-deductible gift may be placed in United Methodist church offering plates or sent directly to: UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068. Checks should be made out to: UMCOR. Please list in the memo area of your check "UMCOR Advance #982523, Hurricanes 2005 Global". Donations are also being taken by phone at 1-800-554-8583.
Hurricane Katrina carried heavy rains and high winds that wrought catastrophic damage to the Gulf Coast. UMCOR is there, responding to the needs of the thousands of people affected by this disaster. UMCOR will continue to provide assistance to the people left most vulnerable by this storm for years to come.
Donations to the United Methodist Committee on Relief's (UMCOR) Hurricanes Global (Advance #982523) response can be made online through UMC.org's secure server.
www.umc.org
Your tax-deductible gift may be placed in United Methodist church offering plates or sent directly to: UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068. Checks should be made out to: UMCOR. Please list in the memo area of your check "UMCOR Advance #982523, Hurricanes 2005 Global". Donations are also being taken by phone at 1-800-554-8583.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
