2008
Week 3
January 26, 2008

Hi

The interesting reaction this week from inside the capitol is related to Senator Chamber's bill to prohibit hunting, fishing and trapping. He became quite animated in opening the hearing on the bill, motioning to each side as he exclaimed “STOP that fishing, BAR that hunter .... PROTECT all our fish, birds and animals..... “ Big smiles. Fun.

It is all a ploy of course. He wants us to vote unanimously against this bill, to prove that there is absolutely no point to a constitutional amendment to protect fishing, hunting and trapping. I agree. There is no point to it. Hunting will never be prohibited in Nebraska. The amendment would add clutter to the constitution, diluting the noble purpose of such a document.

The interesting part is the emails we receive. Have had several, asking me to oppose his bill. The easy answer would be to agree and sign off. However, I say that a vote against the Chambers bill will prove his point that the amendment is not necessary. If advocates really want the amendment they should try to get at least a third of us to vote for the prohibition, so there is a threat to hunters.

At home, I could be a hunter, to provide food for our household just as our ancestors did. We have a wild turkey hen residing under our deck, close to food (bird seed) and water on warm days. I know I may not shoot her, so will keep my weapons in the drawer. But I do know how to make and use a chicken catcher. What would be wrong with that? We have fed and cared for her. She is our pet. She could be our winter nourishment. We could share with the homeless, to quiet the complainers. She is walking among squirrels, cardinals and junkos. The squirrels would be a bit harder to catch, but one of our presidential candidates has fried them in a corn popper. We have a corn popper.

Well, forgive me. I want to be an eager hunter in order to be a true blue American, independent, self-supporting, indignant about any restriction, honoring the entrepreneur spirit of my great grandparents.

My bill to help homeless alcoholics was stopped by that independent spirit. They have a right to slowly kill themselves and evidently that trumps our helpful interference. At present, police can hold intoxicated persons for up to 24 hours, for their own protection. This is not an arrest and does not go on a criminal record. The police first try to take the person home, then to find a friend who would care for him or her until a bit of recovery, third to find room in an overnight mission. Failing all that the person is kept warm and dry in a jail cell.

My bill would extend the time from 24 to up to 72 hours, provided that the person were taken to a treatment center, not to jail, and provided that (he) had been brought in drunk three times in the last month. A homeless person who drinks steadily has been on empty sugar calories, is in poor health, has a partially hardened liver, and cannot clear (his) body of alcohol in 24 hours. The Lincoln police have asked that we at least get them sober, with a bit of solid food, before we ask if they are willing to go into treatment. Get them to a point where they can think before asking what they think. But that is holding someone without (his) permission or a court's action. So, do civil rights trump waiting for a person to make a clear-headed decision about health care? No court has said so, but a few senators were so upset thinking about it we are probably stopped.

Last weekend I went to four MLK services. Martin and I were born the same winter, so we were both 39 when he was killed in April, 1968. He was a major force in rescuing our country from ourselves, was a fellow pastor with a degree from a Methodist seminary, and I was doing all I could to aid his cause. So grief was a tough go. However, the shock of dying at 39 was real trauma. Was my life complete? Not. Was his life complete? Evidently. Today, I have lived two of his lifetimes. Comparing what each one does in a lifetime is senseless, since we have our own settings. I continue to be amazed at what Dr. King accomplished. This is my clumsy way of expressing a deep sense of gratitude for what he helped initiate. In words from the Black National Anthem, which we sang many times last week:

“Lift every voice and sing .... Sing a song - full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song - full of the hope that the present has brought us.

“Stony the road we trod, bitter the chastening rod, Felt in the days when hope unborn had died; Yet with a steady beat, have not our weary feet Come to the place for which our (fathers and mothers) sighed? ....

“God of our weary years, God of our silent tears .... Keep us in the path, we pray, Lest our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee....

“Facing the rising sun of our new day begun Let us march on till victory is won.”

Cheers

Lowen