financial aid and rants and raves

I've been examining my old posts, and it seems that aide from the Terri Schiavo and Pope entries, all I've really done is bitch about the weather. Some of this is by design, as there are things rattling around my brain that I'm either afraid or unwilling to post. Few people ( if any) actually read this blog, and that should mean I'm more likely to post off the wall stuff, but I'm not ready yet. Anyway, to all who have read this slice of self-indulgence, I thank you. Anyway, back to weather: this week was glorious in some stretches, and the area is finally drying out. Westchester was spared any damage, but upstate (Binghamton was trashed) and Jersey were flooded out and some people still can't get into their homes. People don't realize their homes are in a flood plain 'till after the fact; they then kick themselves when they find out they don't have flood insurance. The entire state of Florida is a flood plain, with ratings from 1 to 3. 1 is minimal (by comparison) risk while 3 will flood out when a sun shower hits. I've lived in all three, and when a flood happens, the water can stick around for weeks. Moreover, the water will cause septic tanks to expell their contents. I've thought about this when I see kids playing in the water. On that happy note, I'm outta here.

With the death of Pope John Paul II, we have the need to examine his life. Some will perform this simply as a rote exercise, much in the way one would note the passing of some small anniversary or holiday, while others will silently seethe at the thought of so much attention given to a man who so enthusiastically followed a path opposite their own. I've been bracing for this, but silly fools who would attempt such talk have been quiet. I'm unsure if this is due to the near universal condemnation they would receive or more out of politeness, but either way I'm enjoying it. Finally, there are those who would examine the Pope's life with the true gravity needed for such an influential figure, regardless of the observer's own faith or lack thereof. I would hope to be included in the latter grouping.

From a secular standpoint, the Pope will always be remebered as one of the three who destroyed communism. His support of Solidarity is well documented, and I could not hope to add anything more to the study of this subject. What made the Pope such an effective enemy of Communism was the response of the Soviets and their Iron Curtain lapdogs. Only now is the world getting confirmation of what many already assumed: the Stasi (East German secret police) and the Romanian equivalent plotted the Pope's demise at the KGB's behest using a Turk to carry out the deed. All these layers were to insure plausible deniabililty for all involved. The main mistake made was using the Stasi, who were meticulous record keepers. Their communications are the reason we have confirmation of the plot today. Why did the communists want the Pope dead? The call to Catholics under communist's rule had its greatest effect on the Soviet bloc rather than Russia itself, as Russia was Orthodox. Iron cutain nations such as Poland, ('natch) Hungary, Slovenia, and Romania were almost entirely Catholic. It was these countries that most wished to worship with Pope John Paul II and the Soviets feared this increased religiosity would spread to Orthodox Russia. They were correct. 10 years after the Pope threw his weight to Solidarity, the Soviet empire collapsed. This is a bit of an oversimplification, but I will try to expand later.

Relgiously, Pope John Paul II will be rembered in many ways, but perhaps the largest will be his efforts to reach out to other faiths, both Christian and otherwise. Here in NY much has been made about the Pope's statement that anti-semitismis a sin against God, but that is hardly the Holy Father's only contribution to religious understanding. Anyway, since I'm running out of time and this is a long post, I'll sign off for now. God bless you Karol Wojlyta. May the gates of heaven open and the angels sing; yours was a faithful and well-lived life.