Life, death, religion and politics in America

The media and congressional circus surrounding the Michael and Terri Schiavo situation in Florida has weighed heavily on me the last two weeks. Maybe it's because we just celebrated Easter or because of the book I've been reading, God's Politics by Sojourners founder Jim Wallis. Both Mr. Wallis and Jesuit Priest Robert Drinan, author of Can God and Caesar Coexist? were on Meet the Press on Easter Sunday. Read the transcript, it was a fascination discussion.

The Schiavo's public tragedy has taught me two things.

1. Republicans are hypocrites.
   
   • They say marriage is sacred: except where Congress disagrees with the decisions that you and your spouse make about your own life.
     
   • They say all life is sacred: except when doctors in Texas disagree with your wishes, except when it involves your own family, except if you're a Native American victim of gun violence, except if you're Arab, except if you're on death row.
   
   
2. Everyone needs a will and a living will. Cathy and I have just started thinking about ours. If you don't make a living will, at least make sure all of your family is aware of your wishes concerning your life and death.
   

Happy Birthday to ........................

Rosie O'Donnell, Matthew Broderick, Gary Oldman, Timothy Dalton, Howard Cosell, Florenz Ziegfeld, Johann S. Bach, Ananda Lewis and my beautiful wife Catharine! I'm no longer married to a younger woman.

People Get Ready

At church yesterday we sang the classic Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions song "People Get Ready." I came to know the song from U2 concert bootlegs. It was written in 1965 and inspired by the March on Washington and King's "I have a dream" speech. The lyrics seem especially poignant this Easter week.

People get ready, there's a train comin'
You don't need no baggage, you just get on board
All you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin'
You don't need no ticket you just thank the lord

People get ready, there's a train to Jordan
Picking up passengers coast to coast
Faith is the key, open the doors and board them
There's hope for all among those loved the most

There ain't no room for the hopeless sinner whom would hurt all mankind
Just to save his own
Have pity on those whose chances grow thinner
For there is no hiding place against the kingdoms throne

People get ready there's a train comin'
You don't need no baggage, just get on board
All you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin'
You don't need no ticket, just thank the lord

Beannachtam na Femle Padraig! (Happy St. Patrick's Day)

It's a day that Irish-Americans and Drunken-Americans alike celebrate the Patron Saint of Ireland and all things Irish. 34 million U.S. residents claim Irish ancestry, making it the second most frequently reported ancestry, behind only German. The Roaches only have to go back 3 generations to John Roach who was born in County Cork and immigrated to the U.S. as a young child with his parents.

"May you live all the days of your life." - Jonathan Swift

So raise a pint to the emerald isle! Sláinte! Éireann go Brách!

U2 inducted into Rock Hall

Last night U2 was inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame by Bruce Springsteen. I was rather disappointed to hear that The Boss was going to induct the band. I would have rather seen someone who was influenced by the music of U2 than someone with an established career when they burst onto the scene. I'm sure Bruce did a good job though. Bono has given some memorable induction speeches himself, having inducted Bob Marley into the Hall in 1994 and Bruce Springsteen in 1999 and introduced Frank Sinatra at the 1994 Grammys when he received a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Also inducted into the Hall were The Pretenders, soul veterans Percy Sledge and The O'Jays and blues guitarist Buddy Guy. The ceremony will air Saturday, March 19th at 9:00 on VH1. The banded played four songs, Until the End of the World, Pride (In the Name of Love), I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (During which Bruce joined them on stage) and Vertigo.

In related news, Bono and his wife Ali have announced a line of clothing called Edun. The line will be produced in 3rd World countries. It's not meant as charity but as a start of sustainable commerce and trade. "Teach a man to fish." It will be available at Saks Fifth Avenue stores.

News from a galaxy far far away...............

Ok, so I'm totally geeked up about the third Star Wars movie. "Revenge of the Sith" which opens Memorial Day weekend, Thursday, May 19th. I remember seeing "Return of the Jedi" at the old Starlight Drive-in in Lebanon as a kid. I remember seeing the re-release back in 1997 while at DePauw. It was during fraternity initiation week my senior year. We left the half of the pledges that hadn't been initiated yet waiting in a darkened room and all the actives and newly initiated members went to a midnight showing! Good times.

This movie should tie all the story lines together. How do all the Jedis die? What pushes Anakin to the Dark Side? How does Darth Vader come to need to wear his helmet and life support suit? Why are Luke and Leai separated at birth? How does Amidala die? How does Yoda end up on Dagobah? And what has always confused me, why does Obi-Wan disappear when he dies in "A New Hope" but Qui-Gon Jinn doesn't disappear when he dies in "A Phantom Menace"?

Check out the trailer on starwars.com or any of a thousand fan sites and see if you don't get as geeked up as me.

The first Roach Family Blog poll

Check out the sidebar to the right! -------->

Try to guess the gender of our baby. If you're right you'll win.......well, you'll win the satisfaction of knowing you were right! Currently it's a dead heat with 2 votes counted.

Congratulations to the Lumbleys

Pat and Courtney Lumbley were proud to announce yesterday that they are the new parents of a baby girl. Quin Carter Lumbley was born Monday in Columbus, Indiana. She is 21" long and weighed in at 10 lb 3 oz. Mom and daughter are both doing well. Courtney says that her big sister Aden adores her and can't wait to play dress up and teach her about sting rays!

Send mom and daughter as e-mail at corkylumbley AT yahoo DOT com

Classic Mint Julep

Classic Mint Julep recipe. I might have to make some of these this weekend.

3 oz Bourbon
6 Fresh mint leaves
1 tsp. superfine sugar
Crushed ice

Muddle mint leaves with superfine sugar and a little water in a mint julep cup. Fill the cup with ice. Pour bourbon and garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

Weekend trip to the Bluegrass State

Cathy surprised me for my birthday with a weekend trip to Louisville. It was great to get away. We stayed at the historic 1905 Seelbach Hilton Hotel, in the heart of downtown. We were a block off of the 4th Street Live! entertainment complex. The hotel has enjoyed guest the likes of Al Capone, F. Scott Fitzgerald and nine U.S. presidents and the Oak Room was featured in the Paul Newman movie "The Hustler."

While in Louisville, we toured the Kentucky Derby Museum at Churchhill Downs, shopped along quirky Bardstown Road and ate at the Bluegrass Brewing Company and Wick's Pizza Parlor. (The Wick needs in on that action. They're using his name!) We did not however get to enjoy any mint juleps. Maybe next time.....or maybe next weekend!

Congratulations to Gretchen and Jeremy

When we returned from our weekend trip, more on that later, we had an exciting message from Gretchen Giddings. She and Jeremy Stark are engaged! He proposed to her on the steps of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in downtown Indy. Not very original, I must say. I think I know a certain Blogger that proposed to his wife there too!

Cathy and I have only met Jeremy a couple of time, but we can tell he's a great guy and that the two of them are very much in love. Our most sincere congratulations to Gretchen and Jeremy.

Happy Birthday to.......

............ Dr. Seuss, Jon Bon Jovi, Desi Arnaz, Laraine Newman, Pope Pius XII, Mel Ott, Karen Carpenter, Tom Wolfe, Lou Reed, Mikhail Gorba­chev and me! The big 3-0. Cathy's turn will come very soon too. But I'm ready for 30. It seems right to me.