Israel claims that civilian casualties are unavoidable during war, particularly when the Hamas uses them as human shields. Hamas has been hidden in tunnels underneath public buildings, which are bombed by the Israelis. They have restricted the delivery of humanitarian supplies because they claim the Hamas is stealing them.

In the International arena, the vote is 2:1 upholding the claim. The International Court of Justice, which hears claims against states, waffles on the claim. The court has issued emergency orders on bringing in more aid.

The Day of the Dead

The commercial development of Halloween has caused it to dominate the Christian holidays. The three days - October 31 (All Hallows’ Eve, Halloween), November 1 (All Saints’ Day), and November 2 (All Souls’ Day) were special Holy Days in the Roman Catholic Church.

The Day of the Dead is a further complication of these holidays. It traces its origins back to Pre-Columbian Times, and it has been adopted in Latin American Countries as a blended holiday. In these countries, the emphasis is on symbols of death, such as skulls, skeletons, etc.

The Catholic Church may take a very long time to designate a person as a saint. I say that Helen Ryde already has achieved that. As a circuit rider / regional organizer for the Reconciling Methodist Network for 13 years, they traveled many miles across the southeastern states and more. They carried a plastic toy of John Wesley to accompany them on their travels. They attended conferences, churches, and RMN groups with ever-lasting endurance. What I remember most, is their joy in living. They were a lot of fun in a serious business.