The news shows yesterday were full of the wife of New Jersey Governor James McGreevey. Governor McGreevey “came out” (http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/12/mcgreevey.nj/) after his partner went to the press.

The question: would you vote for a homosexual candidate for governor or another significant office? Could be. It is not a property I would vote for, more likely to vote against. Other plank issues probably would be more significant. It stands up there with would I vote against a candidate who publically spits tobacco juice and who packs heat in the Senate Office Building. I voted for him (Senator Webb).

The real reason I voted against Allen (as opposed to voting for Webb, see my 1 November, 2006, 11 October, 2006, 12 September, 2006, 13 and 14 June, 2006 entries) was his honesty. Well, relative honesty. Do you know how to tell when a politician is lying? His lips move. And one of my favorite Will Rogers quotes: Congress' biggest contribution is that they collect the five hundred biggest liars in the country and put them all in one place.

That is the biggest problem with McGreevey. His honor. I went to a college and taught in schools that actively and vigorously uphold an honor code. “I will not lie nor cheat nor steal nor tolerate those that do” (3 October, 2006, entry). This is important stuff. I strongly believe in it. The measure of a man. Those who do not live by this code are less than a man. McGreevey definitely lied and cheated and without remorse. The kind of creature you find under a rock. And he is teaching ethics! Is he trying to justify his lack of honor? And he is going to become an Episcopal priest! (http://www.newsday.com/search/dispatcher.front?Query=McGreevey&target=article&x=9&y=9) What does all of this have to say about the state of morality and honor in our politics, colleges, churches?

The issue of Scientific American, April 2007, that currently sits on top of the pile beside my toilet (pile of magazines) has an article on the genetic basis behind alcoholism, “Alcoholism and Our Genes”. As usual with Scientific American, a great article, and it prompted some deep thinking about addictions.

I am very thankful for my genes. Never wanted to smoke or drink. Smoking is suicidal, smelly but most of all, expensive. Alcohol upsets my stomach and I hate losing control and it has a lot of calories I do not need and it is also expensive. We keep some wine and beer in the fridge, Schlitz and Carlo Rossi, choices we really like. But they sit in there taking up room for weeks. Schlitz is a good thirst quencher and carb jolt after cutting the grass. In other words, I don't understand. An interview on a news show a while ago had a man who was a drug addict, an alcoholic, and a smoker. He said he could kick the drugs and alcohol, but could never kick the nicotine (even though the tobacco companies say there is no evidence that it is addicitve). I really admire someone who can kick it, like when the Surgeon General's report came out.

Most of all, I refuse to have some stupid chemical controlling my life. True, we need sugar and water and protein and they control what we do all day. I have a little bit of a problem with hypoglycemia and sometimes feel the effect sugar has. But that is different. Like in Invictus (see my 20 February, 2007, and 16 June, 2006 entries), “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” Alcohol and drugs and tobacco are for wimps who can not run their lives without a crutch. But then, I am sure I do not understand.

Thanks, Mom and Dad, for what you have given me and mine.

I was blog surfing the other day and ran across this on http://butterfly52.blogstream.com/. It is a prayer attributed to Thomas Merton (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Merton), a fascinating man. Some books I probably need to read sometime.

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot see for certain where it will end. Nor, do I really know myself and the fact that I think I am following You does not mean that I am actually doing so. But, I believe that the desire to please You, does in fact please You. And I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this, You will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may be lost and in the shadows of death. I will not fear for You are ever with me, and You will never leave me to face my perils alone

A couple of others that I particulary like are the Prayer of St. Francis (http://www.st-francis.org.htm)(see my 19 June, 2006 entry) and the birthday prayer from the Book of Common Prayer (http://www.bcponline.org – Prayers and Thanksgivings #51).