Haven't felt too bright lately but think I am on the mend. Mary rang yesterday and suggested lunch today which was nice. We were going to a dainty tea room with pretty bone china, a place Mark won't have anything to do with, but unfortunately they were closed for their vacation. So we went to the Cracker Barrel and Old Country Store. The restaurant serves quite good "wholesome" food, and there is - as the name suggests - an old country store attached, with souvenirs and things for people travelling on the adjoining interstate, and have just pulled off.
Afterwards we went back to my house for some ice cream and chat. It was good to catch up with each other.
A big news story here has been a major law suit, and controversy involving Supreme Court rulings everyone was waiting for with bated breath (except me).
It is a bit complicated to explain, but my understanding is that companies here provide health care for their employees, and for some reason - which totally escapes me - this health care also includes contraception. And a family owned, major business corporation, with religious scruples, objected to providing contraception for its employees. Specifically, the "morning after" pill, because that is abortion, don't you know, (honestly, you couldn't make this stuff up) hence the legal actions, the Supreme Court judgements, the demonstrations, all the coverage on prime time news, Republicans (I think it is the Republicans, but it might be Democrats, I can't keep up) railing about the 'War on Women' (they have never heard of the Taliban).
I wondered why the employees can't pay for their own contraception, because by definition they are employed, they are working (and at twice the minimum wage) But no one enlightened me.
I told Fr Clark I was thinking of writing a Bill Bryson type book on all the things in the United States that confuse me, and this will be chapter one. He said he will be in the queue for a signed copy.
The other news item - which has held my attention - has been the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers by the Palestinian terrorist group, Hamas. In the ensuing violence a young Hamas teenager was killed, and his mother said that she has six more sons who will fight, and she hopes they will teach their children to fight as well.
Golda Meir, the first Prime Minister of Israel, said many years ago that there will never be peace in the Middle East until Arabs love their children more than they hate them.
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