Politics and religion: surefire controversy

Senior Moments
Terri Andersen
Why is it so upsetting for some people to hear the word “God” mentioned? Everyone in this world has a belief system of one form or another. Usually we associate belief with a supernatural being who has our best interests at heart and we worship that being as we see fit. Atheists deny there is any such being and fight against it as much as they can, although fighting against anything actually admits that it exists. Normally this is not a subject I would write about, because I believe everyone has a right to their own belief. But when it comes to politics and our country being so engrossed in that right now, it surprises me that so much attention is paid to whatever is said by one party or another that might relate to religion of any kind. (In all the years I’ve been alive I never saw so much campaigning) Earlier in this exceptionally long campaign year there was a worry in some people’s minds that Senator Obama might be a Muslim, but the Senator clearly proclaimed that he’s been a Christian for over twenty years and that he believes in Jesus Christ. Fine. If he believes in Jesus as the son of God, most likely it would follow that he believes in God the Father. Yet when Republican Vice President nominee Sarah Palin stated in one of her appearances that she hoped to follow God’s plan for our country, she was criticized by Obama, and probably many others, who were afraid that she would let religion have an impact on her decisions. Would that be so terrible? Would a God who loves us dearly steer us in the wrong direction? Incidentally, to learn something about Muslims I looked the word up in my encyclopedia and found that Muslim means “one who submits to God,” which only goes to show that the religion itself is not the reason some people become terrorists. It’s the people who don’t follow their religion who become terrorists. This reminds me of the time when John F. Kennedy was running for President of the United States. Because he was a Catholic, many people thought electing him would result in the Pope ruling our country, which was an unnecessary worry because that never happened. Today, Kennedy is rated as one of our best Presidents and many people wish his term wouldn’t have been cut so short by assassination. Another one of the big concerns these days is the Ten Commandments. Even thought this country was founded on those principles, and even though those commandments are engraved on doors and walls in many of our nation’s capital buildings, and the Senate starts its day with prayer, there are all kinds of protests that the commandments should be removed to honor the “separation of church and state” that many citizens see as something the First Amendment to our Constitution calls for. Actually, those people got that wrong. The Constitution does not use the words “separation of church and state” per se. What it actually calls for is not forcing any particular religion on the people, but to allow its citizens freedom to choose whichever religion gives them the spiritual rejuvenation they seek. “Separation of church and state” is traced to a letter written by Thomas Jefferson in 1802 paraphrasing the First Amendment.
To digress from politics and the religion conflict, I’d like to quote some of the information I’ve read, stating that a big factor in health and longevity is a person’s religion and/or spirituality. Scientific research has actually shown religion to be good for the body and soul. A book I have that “unleashes your body’s healing power” (by the editors of FC&A Medical Publishing) states that faith “helps you thrive after surgery, heals your heart, overcomes high blood pressure” and much more. Be aware that “faith is a benefit to your health” and “more things are wrought by prayer than men dream of.”
I’m sure the 2008 November election will be a close one and my prayer is “may the team that is best for our country win”. Amen.

What the sound of music does for me

Senior Moments
Terri Andersen
Music has always been an important part of my life. For the first 18 years of my existence my father owned  a small music store in Brooklyn, N.Y. By the time I was 11 or 12 years old most of my after school hours were spent there, often as the sales clerk but, being surrounded by a piano and lots of piano music, when business was slow I used whatever I was taught in music class to teach myself how to play the piano. The first thing they taught us about music in school was that there are seven notes (A,B,C,D,E,F,G), and where each note is on the staff: EGBDF (Every Good Boy Does Fine) on the five ascending lines and FACE in the ascending spaces between the lines. The next thing to learn was where those notes were on the  piano, using the seven-key sequence from one end of the keyboard to the other. By the time I was 14 or 15 years old I managed to read enough music to actually play a melody that someone else wrote (a thrilling accomplishment to me). What has always amazed me, though, is that with only seven notes in a scale, So many different combinations of those notes can be used to create thousands of different melodies. Even more amazing is that one composition can be harmoniously arranged for all the varied instruments in an Orchestra. When I think of all the music composed by Mozart and Chopin, two of my favorites, I can't help but be impressed by the variety they came up with and, more importantly, the way their music can elevate my Soul. Until just recently I saw music mainly as enjoyable entertainment. Then I saw an article in Prevention magazine that called music "a sonic health boost", crediting music with easing pain, fighting disease, reducing stress, lowering blood pressure and more. It also said there are certified music therapists who treat different health conditions with positive results. Years ago, the popular quote was “Music soothes the savage breast" (some people used the word “beast” rather than “breast"). From my own experience I do know that music has an effect on our moods. No matter how low I might be feeling, let me hear a polka and my feet can't sit still. The Frankie Yankovic Polka Band that played in Cary's Page-Walker Memorial Garden in May made me want to get up and dance on the lawn in front of a bunch of strangers, but at my age I felt I'd be making a fool of myself. I have to remind myself I'm not in my 20s anymore, when I could polka for hours and love every minute, without aching thighs or running out of breath. The first time I heard the Yankovic band was when it was scheduled for a St. Patrick's Day celebration at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Cary. Polkas for St. Patrick's Day? I had to see what that was all about and was pleasantly surprised to hear the band play Irish songs we could all sing, in addition to polkas and slow music for anyone who wanted to dance. I also loved hearing the Raleigh Concert Band that played in Raleigh's Fred Fletcher Park in July. They played old favorites, marches, even some opera music, and they were wonderful to listen to. Part of the first concert I attended was rained out during the last part of their performance, but their next concert was a Leroy Anderson tribute and it brought back so many memories of the music I loved in the 1950s and '60s. Since I don't drive, I'm tickled pink that my neighbor across the street, who plays the French horn in the Raleigh Concert Band, manages to find room in her car for me. In the last concert I attended I was sitting right in front of the trombone section and was surprised to hear such pleasant sounds of melody and harmony coming from trombones. When I was in high school I played the trombone in the school orchestra and never got past the two or three bass notes I played. I never mastered the piano enough to play it in the school orchestra and there were plenty of girls who did, but nobody played trombone so they gave me a few lessons and that was my instrument until graduation. The piano my husband bought me almost 40 years ago is my favorite possession even though I’m still an amateur. Having music in the house is something I'll always love — three of our five children taught themselves to play, too.