Thursday

Thursday. And it’s early…Very dark outside. Time for a cup of coffee and a glance at the news. OK, more than a glance; I will check it all out and then decide if I need more coffee to wake me. Lately, just reading the Google news alerts for Iran has been enough to keep me wide-eyed. Saves money on coffee…

I have been reading the latest issue of Sojourners magazine and found some interesting articles…and some odd bits of data. I can share the data, but you will have to read the magazine yourself. For instance; Chances that a woman will die from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth: Sub-Saharan Africa – 1 in 16. Developed Countries – 1 in 2,800. And this; in 2004, one in every 31 adults was under correctional supervision (prison, jail, parole, probation) compared to one in 88 in 1980. And, the United States has the highest imprisonment rate in the world. (686 per 100,000)  Wow! It sounds like we’re more dangerous than the rest of the world. Why are we afraid of terrorists? We should fear our neighbors more…

There was also a short article about Shanti Seliz and Daniel Straus, both of whom are being charged with transport of illegal aliens and conspiracy. They “conspired” to take 3 migrants to a hospital in Tucson, AZ. They belong to a group, No More Deaths, which advocates for immigration reform and provides food, water, and medical care for migrants crossing the desert. Note; they didn’t help anyone to cross the border. They simply provided basic human compassion…maximum fine for “compassion” these days is 15 years in prison and $500,000. So if you’re driving through the desert and come across someone who needs help, better check your calendar and your bank account before stopping.