lifeasdaddy

A fighter pilot repays his dept to the fuzzy-wuzzy angels.

I recall as a boy listening to radio broadcasts of Parliamentary debates, and hearing Tom Uren speaking passionately about Australia's debt to the Fuzzy wuzzy angels of New Guinea who saved the lives of many Australian soldiers during the gruelling World War II campaigns to our north.

It turns out it wasn't only Australian lives who were saved.  Fred Hargesheimer, a US Army pilot was shot down in 1943, and his life was saved by the New Guinea natives.

In the 1960's he returned to build a school for the remote villagers, and dedicated much of his life since then to the cause of education there.

This is his story.

[ tip from Steve Holden ]

Swing Low Sweet Chariot

I stumbled across a podcast on iTunes of Joe Carter singing Swing Low Sweet Chariot.  It's quite simply the best version of this spiritual I've heard.

Carter  sings a slightly shortened version, but I love the way he and his piano accompanist pick up a bit of strut/swing in the second verse.  Don't know the name of the accompanist but he or she does a great job.

To double check, I listened once again to the Paul Robeson version, and still think Carter beats him out.

Other notable covers of Swing Low Sweet Chariot are this one by Kathleen Battle, and this by UB40.

Christmas in Australia

[ Again, this is late due to technical problems ]

It's Christmas Day.   

Preparations began last night with setting out a libation and a gingerbread biscuit for Santa and some water, a carrot and some magic reindeer food for his team.  The pic shows Edward taking a photograph of his tableau.

Then off to bed for our boy, to try to overcome excitement and get to sleep.

On Christmas morning we opened some gifts, including this fishing game for Ed from his Uncle Damian and Aunt Sharon.  It comprises a tin containing magnetic fish.  The fish are caught by Edward using his fishing rod with a magnet on the end.  Loads of fun.

Ed's Grandpa Alan gave him a Hotwheels kit with a hand-held launcher and a few cars. Wow.

Gabrielle and I gave Edward a bicycle, and Grandpa Roger gave him a helmet to preserve his brain.  This bike is decorated with a Lightning McQueen motif, currently one of Ed's favourite movie characters.

We hosted family Christmas luncheon and of course children brought along their newest and best Christmas things.  Eloise was very proud of her new swimming goggles.

When things had calmed down and our guests had gone Edward did some construction work with the wheelbarrow which was gifted by Aunt Jayne.

Later when some quiet time was needed it turned out that the wheel barrow was also a good resting place.  You'll note the more than somewhat glazed look in Edward's eyes.

lifeasdaddy - Tracking the graves of Jews slaughtered in the Ukraine

A Catholic Priest, Patrick Desbois, has been tracking down the gravesites of some of the 1.5 million Jews murdered by the Nazis in the Ukraine.  It's a pretty big project.

Here's the NY Times story.  You may need to register to read the story.

lifeasdaddy - Blind Man's guide dog refused by Vancouver Taxi Driver.

There's this story about a blind man, Bruce Gilmour,  who met with refusal by a taxi driver on the grounds that he had a guide dog with him.

The taxi driver, Behzad Saidy,  claimed that his religion did not permit him to have contact with dogs, and hence he could not carry a guide dog in the car.

The case is being heard in the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal as Gilmour vs. North Shore Taxi and others.  Final hearing and decision is pending.

The Vancouver taxi company, North Shore Taxi, claims that about 50% of their drivers cannot carry guide dogs on either religious or medical grounds.

Both sides in the legal tussle have evidence of opposing views by Muslim clerics on the issue of a taxi driver conveying guide dogs.

I was going to write that this problem had not yet occurred in Australia, but I was wrong.

There's this report of 20 blind people being refused conveyance in Victoria (Australia) due to guide dogs.

In Australia it is illegal for a taxi driver to refuse to carry a guide dog required by a disabled person.

lifeasdaddy - Catholic blogs

Time magazine has an article about Postulants, Novitiates and Nuns including some who blog.  (tip from Rebecca ]

That led me to the very interesting blog by Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston.  Of course  significant components are religious and theological matters.  Apart from that I admired his stunning photographs of the Baltimore Basilica, including in the crypt museum letters from George Washington to the Roman Catholics of the United States, and from Thomas Jefferson to Archbishop Carroll.  I note that Washington's letter's salutation is "Gentlemen".  Leaving out the females perhaps?  A man and letter of his time. 

A comment about Maryland from the Cardinal's blog:

"In Maryland, which was the Catholic State…the King of England gave to Lord Baltimore…was the one of the few places in the New World where there was religious freedom because the Catholics allowed other people to come practice their faith there as well."

The Baltimore Basilica just reopened after a major restoration. 

Want more blogs by Catholic clergy?  Go to Lisa's blog and check out her blogroll. 

I like this one from Jesuit Joe. 

lifeasdaddy - Father Dave Smith: Christians and Moslems can be friends.

Father Dave Smith of the Holy Trinity Church in Dulwich Hill is a wonderful priest.  And an unusual one.  He's an experienced boxer, and here's a video about his fight club. 

Father Dave also Christened Edward a couple of years ago.

I receive the good Father's email newsletters, and today got one promoting his latest "fight".   He wants to heal rifts between Christians and Moslems here in Australia.  He wants us to pass on the word about his new website "Christians and Moslems can be friends".

Go and have a look there. 

Dave says, in regard to promoting this website:

Over the coming weeks I'm planning on really pushing the
envelope on this one - doing online and offline advertising,
and trying to get the word 'out there' as much as possible.

I could do with your help.

If you're willing to use the 'Tell a Friend' link that's on
the page, I'd be grateful if you'd help me spread the word.

I should warn you of course that this is not likely to make
you more popular. On the contrary, you are highly likely to
be misunderstood and draw criticism.

So why do it ...?  Because love demands it!
And therefore it's what the Lord Jesus requires of us!
So say a prayer, and ... jump in! :-)

Well, Father Dave, I can't refuse a challenge like that one.

lifeasdaddy - Easter kids craft. Maybe it will be Jesus bingo.

As I wrote, I'll be organising an Easter craft activity for the kids at playgroup this week.   Forget Easter bunnies and all that pagan stuff; I'm considering holding a Jesus Bingo session. 

What do you think?