What’s going on in the U.S.? That’s what I want to see from the news

The main news networks and publications are very focused these days on the players: Donald Trump, AOC, Pelosi and all those who love/hate them and whatever he said/she said is buzzing about them.

That’s just my observation–it’s not a study. TIME Magazine did devote nearly an entire recent issue just to the new democratic party hopefuls. The news cycle seems stuck in reporting what this crew says, who is offends, who likes it and what it all means.

But I think that’s a problem. Focusing just on the celebrities makes news disconnected from reality and events and experiences actually happening across the US and the world. Those are the things I wanna hear about.

And to boot: “Local news is dying,” reported the Atlantic, declining rapidly in readership and funds, and we don’t even realize it because none of us read it anyway (I am guilty here too).

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2019/03/local-news-is-dying-and-americans-have-no-idea/585772/

The loss of local news means that the average reader has fewer and fewer avenues to learn about what exactly is going on cities and towns across the country. I feel that lack. I want to hear about storms that cancel hundreds of flights; I want to hear about protests, strikes, fires, education successes and failures, just the general pulse of America.

And those types of stories are less and less available. The only taste we seem to get these days is the occasional best-selling book from an outsider. I’m thinking here of JD Vance’s Hillbilly Elegy.

So–from my perfectly comfortable computer chair–I issue this recommendation to newsrooms:

1. Send correspondents out–pay for their expenses–have them tell the day to day stories of life in America. Where are doing well? Where are average people hurting? Why?
2. At least hire some freelancers.
   1. Can’t expense 50 correspondents? Okay fine. Call for freelance articles and submissions on different topics; on daily life.

Please, please, let’s get beyond the gossip of the elite, political in-crowd. Let’s talk to each other, learn about each other, and maybe try to understand the issue instead of conveniently labeling and name-calling them.

*soapbox exited*

Question: Where do you get the news? Do you think it’s balanced and insightful? What are your favorite outlets/sources?

Local Book Places: Nature Centers have Specialized Collections

I’ve been featuring local bookstores because finding just the right book can be a treasure hunt. And blazing a trail to the buried treasure chest can lead to many different locations.

For instance, if you take a sudden interest in the flora and fauna of your backyard, as I have recently, it can be hard to find places to learn to identity the trees by leaf or the birds by name. (Note that I tried googling “blackbirds in Virginia.” Somewhat helpful but nowhere near as comprehensive as a locally sourced print guide.)

Enter Hidden Oaks Nature Center

, one of the many nature centers in Fairfax and Arlington Co. They, and other centers, have small collections, open to the public, of precisely this sort of thing: classification guides to the plants and animals, geology, stars, etc.

Lovely! Now I can learn the names of the mushrooms sprouting from my aging mulch.

But the point here is that there are often specialized collections available outside of stores and public libraries, which can be especially useful if you have localized or highly targeted interests. They must be hunted however.

Colleges, local governmental resources like towns and counties are good starting places.

Here are some photos of the charming little collection at Hidden Oaks. It’s as quirky and sincere as it looks.

Local Bookstore #3: One More Page in Falls Church, VA

Last weekend, I visited One More Page with my two kids and I was immeasurably delighted by the welcoming kids section, the hand chosen and recommended adult books and the wine and chocolate selection. One More Page is a store that hosts author events, book club meetings and lots of fun ways to get involved with people who like reading.

Here are some pictures of books there and the store’s offerings. Had so much fun, and I will be going back!

Question: What do you look for in a bookstore? Got any recommendations for me either here in the DC area or if I happen to be in a different area?

My DC Pilgrimage for Pope Francis’s Year of Mercy

The National Basilica in Washington DC

In September 2015, Pope Francis announced that 2016 would be a Jubilee Year of Mercy. This is a special year because the next scheduled Jubilee Year is 2025 so it is very early. This is essentially the Pope’s theme for a year and wherein he also offers a jubilee indulgence. I am excited because there is an opportunity for pilgrimage, details at the end of this post.

Pope Francis said:

“I entrust the organization of this Jubilee to the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization, in order that it may come to life as a new step on the Church’s journey in her mission to bring the Gospel of mercy to each person.
I am confident that the whole Church, which is in such need of mercy for we are sinners, will be able to find in this Jubilee the joy of rediscovering and rendering fruitful God’s mercy, with which we are all called to give comfort to every man and every woman of our time. Do not forget that God forgives all, and God forgives always. Let us never tire of asking forgiveness. Let us henceforth entrust this Year to the Mother of Mercy, that she turn her gaze upon us and watch over our journey: our penitential journey, our year-long journey with an open heart, to receive the indulgence of God, to receive the mercy of God.” (Announcement by Pope Francis, Vigil of the Fourth Sunday of Lent, 14 March, 2015)

I am excited about this because I have recently come to see some things about myself in a new, most honest light. The timing of this Year of Mercy couldn’t be better.

I think it’s very easy for the Church to seem scary, like a house full of rules, judging eyes and hypocrisy. But that’s not the point at all! If it is, we are no better than the pharisees whom Jesus criticized in his own time.

Pope Francis said the Church is a field-hospital for sinners; Jesus said, “It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance (Luke 5:31-32).” And truly, if our vision is clear, we are all sinners.

The rules of the Church are meant to guide us in a healthy, happy life. They are not meant to condemn us for imperfection. Thisdifference is the entire message of Jesus in the Gospels.

Pope Francis’s Year of Mercy is helping to make that clear, in case it had perhaps become shadowed. He is making opportunities for we the faithful and also, for non-Catholics, so that hopefully the Church will be revealed as less intimidating and as more profoundly merciful and loving, and therefore more approachable. We believe that the Gospel is for everyone, that it is good news for all people. Let us show that it is truly good news by showing what He has done for us!

Here are some ways to celebrate!

1. Go to Confession; receive God’s forgiveness.
2. Check out the Year of Mercy events in your local parish or diocese.
3. Perform the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy
   1. Corporal Works: Feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger, comfort the sick, visit the imprisoned, bury the dead.
   2. Spiritual works: counsel the doubtful, instruct the ignorant, admonish the sinner, comfort the afflicted, forgive offenses, bear patiently those who do us ill, pray for the living and the dead
4. Make a pilgrimage to a Door of Mercy!
   1. This is a unique and cool opportunity; there are Doors of Mercy this year at most cathedrals and major churches. All you have to do is visit a Door of Mercy and pass through it. (Confession and Mass recommended beforehand).
   2.  Pope Francis said, “The practice of pilgrimage has a special place in the Holy Year, because it represents the journey each of us makes in this life. Life itself is a pilgrimage, and the human being is a viator, a pilgrim traveling along the road, making his way to the desired destination. “
   3. The image of pilgrimage is especially meaningful to me because of how inspiring I found the stories of Christian pilgrims through out the years and because of my own efforts at making a modern pilgrimage and experiences thereon. Nothing quite captures my view of the faith and my love of the Middle Ages in one neat swoop.

So I’ll be making a pilgrimage to the National Basilica in Washington DC when the weather warms up. Date to be decided, but all friends are invited.