Are debts to be forgiven?

"Debt is debt." — Diocese of Cleveland

The Old Testament tells us debts are forgiven at seven years. This is called the 'sabbatical year'. The fifth, and final, Book of Moses is Deuteronomy. The body of it is three discourses given by Moses in the eleventh month, of the fortieth year, in the desert. The first line of chapter fifteen says:

Septimo anno facies remissionem — Vulgate
In the seventh year thou shalt make a remission, — Douay Rheims Challoner
At the end of every seven years you must grant a remission.— Jerusalem Bible
At the end of every seven-year period you shall have a relaxation of debts, — New American Bible
At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts.— New International Version

Now, we do not have the prophet Moses (or his brother, the priest Aaron) speaking from Ninth Street. The current management is exceptionally keen in collection of debt.

They are making a distinction with 1 January 1995 as a demarcation date. Uncollected debts prior the date are 'assessment arrearages', those after are 'past due assessments'. "However, the parishes are directed to accrue the assessments each year on their individual financial statements, and unpaid amounts are carried as parish liabilities."

What is a parish assessment? It is the cathedraticum. Canon Law allows for a cathedraticum, which is the bishop's tax on churches. Now, conventual churches are exempt. A conventual church is one associated with a monastery or convent. St. Louis, Missouri has a 3% tax. Perhaps, 5-6% is average. Cleveland has the highest on the continent at 11½% (with school), 16½% (without school).

Now, the French Revolution came about by several reasons. One long, involved one was taxes were paid (almost entirely) by peasants. There were royal taxes, such as the 'taille' which was an exceptional war levy, in 1439 it was permanent. There were, also, the banal taxes. Local lords had lawyers find ancient debts including the bans, the banal taxes of the manor or fief. Many had long, long been forgotten, because their rationale was gone. Some were to pay for the common use of a mill or something, some were of labor to be done. But the hired, learned, modern lawyer found some manuscript, somewhere, mentioning forgotten banal taxes. He did not look for their mitigation, or expiration.

Mother's Day 2012

Joseph Turkaly (Josip Turkalj). Immigrant Mother [copy]. 1985. Cleveland.

Many of us, or our ancestors, entered America as poor émigrés with not much more than our clothed bodies. This statue has a young woman carrying a baby, and holding a child by the other arm. Friday it was installed on MLK Jr. Dr. (Liberty Blvd.). On 3 June there will be a Mass at St. Paul (Croat) and later a dedication ceremony. It will be the first portion of the Croat Cultural Garden. But, to-day is Mother's Day. And to-day it was available for a visit.

Turkalj came from the old country to work with Ivan Meštrović at Notre Dame. Later he came to Cleveland. Turkaly, 2007†, told a local reporter in 2001 the sculpture "embodies the sacrifice and hardship so many immigrants experienced when they first came to the New World. They were often penniless, not understanding the English language, and initially fearful that immigration officials might send them back home." This sculpture has homes in Toronto, Buenos Aires, Zagreb, and Cleveland Heights. Meštrović sculpted a similar Immigrant Mother for Milwaukee. [see another Croat immigrant mother presentation]
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from a window at the Slovenian National Home on E. 80th, the campanile of their lost church of Saint Lawrence can be seen

To-day, Mother's Day, is a civic commemoration proclaimed for the second Monday in May by Congress and Woodrow Wilson in 1914. For many it has a religious like quality. Few Sunday services to-day did not make a mention of it.
It is much like an homecoming. Many people, who do not often come for church, come to church this day. Saint Lawrence Parish Cleveland, Ohio had a Mass to-day with a priest, Edward Pevec, who came to their parish in 1952. He is now a retired bishop. Many of the parishioners have not gathered together for some time. They had been evicted, and their property confiscated by Richard Lennon. They have had an handful of Masses at the 'Nash' (Slovenian National Home). The auditorium is painted in rose hues, and co-incidently the religious antecedent to Mother's day is Laetare Sunday (4th Sunday of Lent) in which the liturgical color is rose. Previously, servants returned to their home parishes on that day.
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May Crowning. Saint Casimir Cleveland.

Now, they had a May Crowning of a Marian statue at Saint Lawrence. The parish of St. Patrick West Park held a May crowning earlier in the week, 10 May. Patrick's, like Casimir's, has been meeting as a parish exiled from their sanctuary. Casimir's Parish held their weekly service outside, as they have been since 15 November 2009. It was a very Marian observance.

galls and bracts

Eriophyes tiliae tiliae is a mite that sucks on the undersides of the lower leaves of the linden tree. The mites release chemicals that form narrow, conical, spires on the top side of the leaves. These structures are called 'galls', the name of these particular ones are 'lime (linden) nail galls'. The galls are the spring, and summer homes of the mites. In late summer they retreat to the bark, and buds, and wait for the next year. Here is an English paper on Czech eriophyes tiliae.

The bract is a specialised leaf, usually at the base of a flower. Supra, the bracts are the narrow, lighter colored leaves. Now, in the linden, they are metatopic (not in the the usual place). In the linden they are also recaulescent (attached to the stem holding the flower). When the linden flowers, the flowers form in clusters; this is inflorescence.

Now, the linden is one plant. The linden is diverse in structure, and is an organism of beauty, and wonder in nature.

linden at dusk

ecumenism: Vatican II, now

This is a bottom of the Transfiguration window at First Presbyterian (Old Stone) on Cleveland, Ohio's, Public Square. This was the established church at the beginning of the city. Its present building had a service for the assassinated President Lincoln, whose cortege was on that square. To-day the next church in proximity is the Catholic Cathedral on East Ninth.

One must understand how virulently anti-Catholic Scottish Calvinism (Presbyterianism) had been. Ian Paisley is still living that heritage. Conversely, the Catholic Church had no toleration for heretics, and by definition Protestants are heretics. Locally, Catholicism was the church of immigrants, mostly non-English speaking, and therefore looked down upon.

The spirit of Vatican II was enjoyed, and saluted by much of the world. Pope John XXIII was beloved by much of the non-Catholic world, certainly those of good will. It was more than détente (relaxation of tension), it was an expansion of brotherhood. There was hope for a better everything.

This window, on the left has Old Stone Church Cleveland, and the hand of its pastor, Lewis Raymond; and on the right, St. Peter's Basilica Rome, and the hand of the pope (and bishop of Rome) Paul VI, the successor of John XXIII. The date they met was February 24, 1968.

The same day the Tet offensive was stopped at Hue. The news from that led to the American people wanting an end to that war. 1968 was a tumultuous year for the world, not just the US and Viet Nam. In June, Bobby Kennedy would be assassinated. The United States has not recovered, Catholicism in America—likewise.

And locally, this window is a silent Zola. That window would not be made to-day. In the Catholic Church, especially in the US, and locally, there has been a mean spirited reactionary animus that is in power. No person of good will is welcoming of it.

price of gasoline

noon hour 9 May 2012, West 14th, Cleveland, Ohio.

Politicians, and politically motivated interest groups are not paragons of truth. There are distinctions to be made for frequency, and degree of falsity. To say they are all the same is not true. To be a Republican is faith based for many, for if one thought and looked at reality, one could only be a Republican for unscrupulous reasons.

One campaign series of political advertisements was attacking President Obama for higher gasoline prices ($5+). The creators of Republican thoughts, and lies [Norquist, Armey, Gingrich, Rove; and their bankrolls: Koch Bros., oil companies, Chamber of Commerce] trot out inventions and see if they stick.

When Obama ran for president, last time, price exceeded $4. in many places. I photographed a sign at the time of shysters' four dollars -- $3.99 9/10 (i can't find that foto now). What was interesting, the oil man, gwbjr was asked at a press conference, in early 2008, what of $4. a gallon gasoline. He was astonished. I might say 'dumbfounded', but with him that is doubly redundant.

Now, there has been report, after report that the US has its largest oil supply in over twenty years, and the price has been driven up by speculation (greed). Oil companies, including British Petroleum (the one with the environmental disastrous oil spills), have banner surplus of profits, quarter after quarter, and year after year.

Now, the price has stopped rising, and has dropped a bit. Those commercials are not running. No problem, another campaign of black propaganda, and mendacity is always ready.

Early this week [Monday 7 May], Mittens Romney was in Euclid, Ohio. He went to a stamping plant of automobile parts to 'campaign'. The owner of the plant (Stamco Industries) complained of the anti-business tenor of the President. Yes, his candidate [Romney] wrote an editorial for the New York Times, entitled Let Detroit Go Bankrupt. The faith based [duplicitous, and double standard hypocrite] Republican owner does not want to admit, that if it were not for Obama's policies, he would be out of business. The faith based Republican owner does not want to admit that if his candidate [Romney] was listened to, he would be out of business.

the Schaff peacock

A peacock stands on Roman arches investigates a fig tree is one of five ornaments on a wall facing Redfern, of what was Henry J Schaff School, in Parma, Ohio. The school was built 1927?, and served as a junior high, and then as Schaaf Community Center. It is now a scab charter school. The original brick work is perfect after seventy-five years. Additions, and changes to the exterior are of lesser beauty, and quality.

The other four ornaments do not hint at any allegory, and are purely decorative. A larger ornament stone is above entrance doors, and below the carved titled stone. It is of a stylised fig tree and has the initials HJSS, and is of better material (sandstone vs. cement?).

Now, we are in Ohio, the eastern edge of the American middle West. Why a peacock on a school? It is in India, not Indiana, where the peacock is associated with the goddess Saraswati. She is the goddess of learning, science, arts, knowledge, music and stuff. The fig tree is the national tree of India, and it was under such a tree the Buddha was enlightened.

I have almost convinced myself. Roman arches and Indian symbolism in 1920s Ohio? English as other European languages of instruction use much Greek, Roman, and Biblical references as classical referents. The peacock biblically, was peace and plenty; later Christianity it suggested Resurrection and Heaven; for the Egyptians a sign of royalty, for the Romans it was effeminate; and for the Greeks, the watchfulness of Argos for Hera. In some churches a peacock, or a pair are drinking from a fountain. There the birds are immortal souls drinking from the Fountain of Life.

There is always interesting things to find if one looks and co-ordinates thought.

Virgin and Unicorn

There are a few clerestory bays at Conversion of St. Paul, Cleveland, O.. Each of these has three small windows. It looks to be in a late English mediæval style. Now, the original stained glass, in the church, was late XIXth century painted American glass. This had been an Anglican church. In 1931 the church was 'converted' to Catholicism. The new windows, at least some, came from F.X. Zettler of Munich. In 1939 the company merged back with Franz Mayer; the two had split c. 1873.

These three are Marian windows. The lower left has superimposed letters, 'M', 'A','R'. Perhaps Ave Maria Regina, and/or the first three letters of Maria/Mary. Top window is a dove carrying a lily, which could be the Annunciation. All the windows have stars, suggesting heaven (Mary is Queen of Heaven).

The bottom right is a maiden (the Virgin) and an unicorn. The allegory is quite involved. One ancient story is that the unicorn is the most ferocious of beasts, and only a virgin could tame him. A unicorn is also a symbol of Jesus Christ.
Now, there are several interesting, and beautiful windows in this church; but not contextually consistent, nor coherent. Several are not readily apparent, and many people would not fathom a guess. I would wager, few windows have this subject.

My camera only has a 10x telephoto, most clerestory windows need more. Perhaps a tripod on this one, especially if you want a longer exposure. It is very hard to get a a 'point and shoot' of any quality on this one. The color is a little washed out. This was a digital photograph with a camera that came without explanation of its options. I can only set one parameter, it then chooses the rest. Sometimes the results are fair.

Stone Ornaments

At the Conversion of St. Paul, Cleveland, Ohio, the convent addition has carved cherubs on the sandstone. If one looks carefully he can spy the sedimentary layers. The buff sandstone was quarried a few miles west south of Amherst, in Lorain County, Ohio. Here, on top rests a sparrow.
This stone ornament is on the original church building in 1875. The weathering of a century, and a third, and more has dissolved a nut eating squirrel. He could pass for a bear drinking a jug of honey.

Sketching the truth

This polite, matter of fact verbal exchange was broadcast on CNN March 21, 2012:

John Fugelsang: Is there a concern that Santorum and Gingrich might force the governor to tack so far to the right it would hurt him with moderate voters in the general election.

Eric Fehrnstrom: Well, I think you hit a reset button for the fall campaign. Everything changes. It’s almost like an Etch A Sketch. You can kind of shake it up and restart all of over again.

Well, Santorum and Gingrich are gone: if we are lucky, they will enter the dustbin of history. Willard Mitt Romney only has Ron Paul in the way to a Republican coronation. Paul has been remarkably steady, he has his percentage of loyal supporters of tenacity. He has a group of libertarians, and anti-government electorate, and pulls in some people whom are disgusted with virtually all politicians. Paul is a favorite amongst many whom would not vote otherwise, or would gulp some air, hold their breath, and pinch their noses tightly while voting for the Repuke de jour. It is strange none of the professional blatherers have suggested Paul for vice-President.

Mittens has been running for President since (at least) the Utah Olympics. He may be another man, who feels entitled to the office Daddy ran for. We know how disastrous that was last time. Now, Mittens is dull, loves money, and will say anything; in this he is not unlike ghwb. The only difference is even the rank and file of his own party admit it.

Fehrnstrom is so blasé, so nonchalant, he says it on national television and invents a colorful metaphor befitting a satirist. Previous individuals who had his post, and still speak now: Gillespie, Mehlman, Castellanos—never relent, in continuous, aggressive, ridiculous lies. Fehrnstrom was considered very competent in the campaign, yet not as visible as the aforementioned had been. Fehrnstrom told the truth. His candidate lies often, easily, even with fervor; but the conviction is missing. Do Fehrnstrom, and Mittens so rely on the collective amnesia of Americans that they have no worry in speaking the words they said?

Click here, http://www.etchasketchmittromney.com/, and keep clicking on the screen when you get there.
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A Frenchman presented his device at International Toy Show in 1959 at Nuremberg. He called it "L'Ecran Magique" (the magic screen), the next year it was made in Bryan, Ohio; in 2001 China. It is no accident that it looks like a television.

The Right to Strike

First, one history lesson: Ralph Hosea Chaplin *1887, 1961† was an artist and labor unionist. He wrote the song, Solidarity Forever. His drawing of a black cat, with arched back, became the symbol of strikes, especially wild cat strikes. Now, Chaplin was a wobblie (member of the I.W.W.). They formed in 1905 from various socialist, anarchist, and radical labor activists. They were targeted at the end of the Wilson Administration in the 1919-20 Palmer Raids. By the middle '20s they had become inconsequential, and a few years later, a small fraction of what they had been.

Now, under the current fiction that comes from Fox, and the rest of the Republican Party, this is changed. The moderate and weak unionists of to-day are described with words that are beyond those that describe the Wobblies. Wilson's [anti-labor] progressiveness they have equated with Leninist-stalinist socialism (communism). What is true, is that the Wobblies did not consolidate their victories, and were eventually crushed by not the police, and thugs, that cracked their heads opened, but by federal government.

The A.F.of L. and the C.I.O. trade and general unions, at their most brave and militant past, were far milder towards capitalism than the Wobblies. John L. Lewis would puke to-day at the condition of Labor.

Wild cat strikes [here is the operative point, when there is a labor-management CONTRACT] are considered illegal. They are spontaneous, and local, and not officially announced, nor sanctioned. Many contracts specifically prohibit their exercise. The courts, and executive government (and the police, and other 'security forces') extend this concept.

Second, another history lesson: The first strike in English speaking America occurred in Jamestown Virginia in 1619. Now, the English wanted a profit making colony, and many of the English thought labor beneath them. John Smith recruited a few Polish artisans to make glass, and other products. The average Englishman, not being able to differentiate, called these people 'Deutsch >> Dutchmen (Germans)'. The Virginia House of Burgess' was elected in 1619, but Catholics and other foreigners were not allowed to vote. The Poles went on strike. The English understood the economics involved. The Poles achieved the suffrage franchise.

Argument: Slaves are not allowed to strike, that is an insurrection. Freemen can strike, and it is not always seen as an insurrection. Laws forbidding strikes transgress freedom. Free labor disappears, it is replaced by serfdom, peonage, slavery or something similar.

"Qu'est-ce qu'un homme révolté ? Un homme qui dit non. Mais s'il refuse, il ne renonce pas : c'est aussi un homme qui dit oui, dès son premier mouvement. Un esclave, qui a reçu des ordres toute sa vie, juge soudain inacceptable un nouveau commandement."
"What is a rebel? A man who says no, but whose refusal does not imply a renunciation. He is also a man who says yes, from the moment he makes his first gesture of rebellion. A slave who has taken orders all his life suddenly decides that he can not obey some new command." — Albert Camus. L'Homme Révolté (The Rebel) 1951.

Most of the world has May Day as Labor Day. In the past, general strikes were called for this day. I read, that some in the Occupy Movement have called for one. There is not much intersection between them and the Labor; beyond that, strikes are very rare in the United States. People have to be cognisant of history. Since Ronnie Reagan began the evisceration of Labor, and laissez-faire capitalism has evolved into locust capitalism, and oligarchic, fascist plutocracy; the working class have become increasingly impotent.

Now, there were exceptions to these sort of Republicans in the past:

I am glad to see that a system of labor prevails in New England under which laborers can strike when they want to where they are not obliged to work under all circumstances, and are not tied down and obliged to labor whether you pay them or not! — New Haven, Connecticut. 6 March 1860. Abraham Lincoln.

For Lincoln, this was not an isolated statement. Here he is suggesting the difference between free, and unfree labor (it was not just slavery). Later, speaking to Congress 3 December 1861, Lincoln explains the difference between labor and capital:

Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.

Which Republican, to-day, would say that? Which apologist of theirs would admit that the words were spoken?, and mean what they mean in a dictionary?