MLK Day

Peace Everyone.

Love,
Kate West Read more!

MLK

Happy Martin Luther King Day
a kate west recommendation



The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. Read more!

Faith In Our Time

St. Robert's Jubilee
a kate west reflection

In this day and age, Catholicism seems so archaic and medieval; however, it often provides comforting ritual ceremony. Certain traditions like incense, the repetitive prayers that we all know and all that genuflecting are so richly engrained in many of us. It is truly an audience participatory rite. You can reach a divine meditational state just as easily recting the rosary as you can chanting in a yoga pose. Plus the music is great. And often more passionate than less traditional pop Christian faiths. Speaking of which, prominent local Burbank church, St. Robert Bellarmine, celebrated its one-hundredth year this September, with a recorded cd to prove it.

Combining several choirs (Children’s, Filipino, Contemporary and Adult Choirs), St. Robert's Music Ministry recently recorded their greatest hits, including well-known spirituals like "Wade in the Water" and "Precious Lord, Take My Hand". There is also a lovely Latin chant version of the "Ave Maria" and some pieces the choirs play during Good Friday, when they musically reenact the Passion of the Christ. There are a few nods to their annual Christmas Concert as well ("Sing Noel") and to good will toward man ("Peace") as well as many other favorites. If you like choral music, it's a nice local cd and, if you live in Burbank, California, a nice way to support your community.

And by the way, contrary to certain opinion, it is possible to be a Liberal Catholic, with some doubts here and there. In fact, that's probably even healthy. Life is contradictory, not black and white. As with everything else, you get out of it what you put into it. Besides, religion is very personal and private (and should always be separated from state).

The Music:
Faith In Our Time - 100 Years of Music
St. Robert Bellarmine Music Ministry
Leo Marchildon - Music Director
Father Lawrence Signey - Beloved Pastor
(April 4, 1961 - March 10, 2007)

To learn more (or order the cd) check out www.srbburbank.org. Read more!

Ralph Nader

Ralph Nader
a kate west reflection









He ran for President four times, as a Democrat in 1992 and then in 1996 and famously in 2000 for the Green Party and also in 2004 for the Reform Party. That is what Ralph Nader is most remembered for, currently, although his real life's work is in protecting consumers and fighting tirelessly for your civil rights. Born in 1934, this attorney (a graduate from Princeton University and Harvard Law) and civil rights activist led many to take on evil corporate power, earning them the name "Nader's Raiders". He's the one responsible for our seat belts, air bags and free tickets when the airline bumps you, to name but a few of the thousands of positive reforms he's accomplished. We need men like him to remain stubborn and tenacious, even when we don't want to hear it anymore.

A hit at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, the documentary "An Unreasonable Man" features all aspects of Ralph, to the point of illuminating, (for those of us who don't already know), the sordid details of the 1966 smear campaign by General Motors in an attempt to discredit him. The dangerous idealist Nader started a slew of activist organizations, including helping to found the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and has worked his entire life to save us from corporate greed.

Why then, is he ridiculed and even reviled today? For campaigning in 2004 against Al Gore and George W. Bush, supposedly taking away votes from Gore, helping Bush gain the election. Completey absurd allegations. Gore fought briefly and half-heartedly for a recount when everyone knew the Florida votes were invalid, so he lost that election all on his own. Besides, it's still a free country, and everyone should be entitled to run for President if he/she is able and it's high time the two-party monopoly system was challenged anyway. There are bound to be more than two points of view in this country. So why not try Nader's? He's always looking out for ours. He's still a hero in my book.

Directed by	Henriette Mantel Steve Skrovan
Produced by	Kevin O'Donnell
Starring	Ralph Nader Pat Buchanan Howard Zinn
Cinematography	Mark Raker
Editing by	Beth Gallagher Alexis Provost
Distributed by	IFC Films
Release date(s)	January 24, 2006 (Sundance Film Festival) January 31, 2007

www.nader.org &
www.votenader.org


Read More:
The Ralph Nader Reader

Civic Arousal

Unsafe at Any Speed: The Designed-in Dangers of the American Automobile

Read more!

Life and Online Dating

a kate west reflection

You never know who's going to end up together. It's not something you have any business sorting out, either. Chemistry and timing play a part, as well as a general outlook on life, love and dating. Life is unexpected. And love can change. Who knew?

The year 2001 changed my entire life, in so many ways. September 11 happened and then the whole world changed, so what did my small life have to do with anything? Well, I still had to live it, when all was said and done. After our national shock, we all had to get back to living our lives. Comedians started being funny again and Hollywood celebrities came out of hiding. And I started online dating. And perceptions and perspectives got small again.

On to major trivialities. Can I work out my own insecurities, while still caring about the state of the planet? Like I said, I had to start living my life again and if the whole country could do it, so could I. It all ties in - for me, at least. O.K. so forgive me. Please. Moment of self-indulgence. But who knows, maybe we'll all learn something together.

Here's the thing about online dating. Profiles don't match. Guys, it's not your fault - I don't match my profile either. Everything on there is true, but you're right this moment building a fantasy in your head, which I just can't live up to - no one can. And I'm doing the same to you. Cyber reality isn't reality at all - it's what we want to have happen and then we're disappointed when it doesn't come true. So I've given up online dating. I know, I know, a lot of you married people you met online, but it's pretty unusual to meet someone perfect from a photo gallery of strangers. What are the odds? And if you've been out of circulation, for oh, say decades, the rules may have changed and it's kind of like starting out all over again. But straight from high school. And who wants to do that? Ugh. Better for real friendships to develop into something else. But who has the time for that in this day and age?

There must be a better way. So we join fun organizations and fitness clubs and try to stick with people we have something in common with. Maybe. The old fashioned way. It may take a longer, but it's a lot less stressful. And all of those how-to dating books don't really help either. It either happens or it doesn't. When we try to force nature, it backfires. Hence, global warming. And bad dates.

So back to the drawing board! And better perceptions and perspectives. And a more serious version of life. Like joining the Peace Corps. Anything to help others and get out of your own head at the same time. Because without a peaceful world, how can we find happiness with each other?

p.s. Firemen are still the best superheroes, in my book (and totally datable). We haven't forgotten you. Believe me. Peace.

www.peacecorps.gov/

MORE Magazine: www.more.com Read more!