Needed: More Good Karma

We listened to Germans, French and one from the Netherlands. While in Iceland we heard their tales of the refugee crisis. There are no easy answers. Human beings need sanctuary. The homeless have fled the carnage and ravages of war and have come to the richest of the European countries. Most bring a desire for work, education for their children, a home and safety. They also bring their faith, a sharp contrast to those long settled in Europe. This difference, together with the monetary cost and temporary upheaval have unsettled and disturbed the Europeans. They are struggling in their governments and in the consciences of each individual, causing some divisions among families and friends.

These stories we heard are not new. In fact, they are all too familiar to those of us who have lived through the migrations of the displaced in World War II, Vietnam and more recent conflicts. To be sure, we have all have seen conflicts about differences closer to home.....in our own families, neighborhoods and local governments.

While immersing ourselves in the culture of Iceland, there was a city council meeting back here in our home town of Hot Springs, SD. On return we heard that the council and citizens in attendance were deeply divided over some issues regarding the finances of our local tourist attraction/health club called Evans Plunge. This Plunge is the oldest tourist attraction in the Black Hills and has been a year-round destination for local residents seeking to improve their health and well being. It offers all types of exercise, including the healing mineral waters for swimming and the hot tubs, sauna and steam room that are conducive to relief of aching muscles, as well as a social oasis during the darkest days of winter.

We returned from our "Viking" adventure to the furor of residents who wanted the city to carry all debt to those who wanted some cuts to assist the health of the city finances. Each person had an opinion. Each one wanted it resolved in their way. Each wanted what they felt was best for the city.

There was another meeting by the Plunge Advisory Committee that oversees the Plunge and its finances. They listened to all sides, from "close the golf course, to keep the Plunge open all days, some days, shorten hours, raise rates, lower rates, market more", and on and on.

This committee had yet another meeting. They made compromises in an attempt to appease all sides. They presented their findings at the next city council meeting. Wonder of wonders, each and every council member voted for their compromise! Each council member seemed to appreciate the hard work and decisions made by the advisory group.

I sat in quiet awe. I felt a feeling such as a wave of good karma had filled the chamber. Anger had dissipated and an overwhelming calm was left in its wake. I observed first hand how a small group of determined volunteers had done their extensive research, dismissed their egos and tweaked their initial proposal for the general good.

It can be done. It was done in our small community of Hot Springs, SD. Long may it continue, both here and, just maybe, fingers crossed, it can happen "out there!"

Hello and Goodbye to Iceland

We recently returned from the land of the geysirs, waterfalls, glaciers, volcanoes and geothermal used in heating homes, businesses and greenhouses. There are numerous hot springs that are also used by the locals throughout the country for their recreational soaks and social gatherings. Many have been made into outdoor pools, used through out all seasons because of their temperatures averaging 100 degrees. The American and Eurasian tectonic plates which are pulling apart at the rate of a few centimeters a year, can be seen right through the middle of the country.

I was confused. It is also the land of the Vikings. The Vikings were known as explorers, conquerors and pillagers. They could travel miles by water, on oceans and up rivers. It is known that they explored America long before Columbus. And yet, today, the people of this country appeared friendly, kind and extremely polite. You never heard the angry tooting of a car horn or saw the police. Crime is almost non-existent. We saw no beggars, homeless or indigent. The streets were clean and bike/hiking paths were numerous and well-used.

Parliament began here, long before any other country. They settled their disputes by law. When there was an issue over legal issues by two sides - pagans and Christians, it was settled by one man. He mulled it over during one night and made his decision: Christianity would be the official religion but paganism would be allowed in private. There was no bloodshed over this decision. All accepted it and went back to their homes and lives.

In present day Iceland there is no army. Tax money is used on health care and education. Where is the Viking spirit? Perhaps it is channeled into their environmental exploration and their conquering of world visitors through their extensive and convenient tourism spirit using all of their natural resources that appeal to both the adventuresome seeking adventure on the glaciers and river rafting and those who simply want to observe the natural wonders or soak in the warm healing natural mineral waters.

I left Iceland with appreciation for all they have achieved in our world of today, but, as always when I return from another country, with gratitude for my country, with all it flaws and struggles. We can learn from visiting other cultures, hopefully taking the best of what they have to offer and merging it gradually into our own.

Grandma may have had the best recipe for her marvelous bread or chocolate cake, but that does not eliminate some amount of improvement with a dash of a spice from some foreign land. Mixing, blending, while retaining the essence of a way of life, just might bring some enrichment in an unexpected way.

Perhaps when jet lag has evaporated I may return to some adventures in Iceland, but for now I will leave this journey and get some much needed rest.

Soaking in the mineral waters of the Blue Lagoon

Through the Eyes of a Child

When do things change? When do we lose taking the normal breathes from our stomach as a baby does? When do we lose our daring to hope? When do we lose the dreams?

Somewhere between childhood and maturity we discard the sense of wonder at the beauty around us, long taken for granted. We become jaded, afraid to love and be hurt.

We become wise and cautious. We learn to be careful. We have been hurt too many times to count. We choose safety, but somewhere in the tangle of our lives we lose the marvel surrounding us in each sunset, flower, bird, butterfly and crawling insect. When I was a child I studied everything around me.....rocks, turtles, chipmunks, salamanders, night crawlers, trees. I watched them closely, at times touched them, held them and admired them.

Children observe and listen to all around them. As we mature we tend to listen less and spout our views. There is much to be said for acquiring wisdom, but in the process, let us never lose our sense of amazement in the world around us. Let us listen, behold, and age with grace and a dogged belief in miracles.

And They Still Want to Close Our VA!

SEPTEMBER IS SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH_

(From the Military Order of the Purple Heart)

According to a recent article in The Huffington Post, "A tragic milestone was reached last year, when 185 active-duty Army soldiers died by suicide, surpassing the 176 soldiers killed in battle in Afghanistan that year. The Army's annual death toll from suicide has more than tripled since 2001, when 52 active-duty soldiers took their own lives."

This tragic epidemic reflects severe strains on military personnel burdened with more than a decade of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, complicated by anxiety over the current prospect of being forced out of a shrinking force.

 This news comes at a time when the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs have mounted an aggressive series of suicide prevention campaigns and offer a wide range of resources to help active duty military, veterans, and their families cope with the pressures of military service. Despite these efforts, the Defense Department's own Suicide Prevention Office predicts "increasing suicide rates, despite over _900_ prevention programs."

 In June 2015, thanks in part to intense lobbying by a coalition of Veteran Service Organizations that included the MOPH, the US Congress passed landmark legislation to address military and veteran related suicides. The $22 Million, "_Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act_" calls for independent evaluations of all mental health-care and suicide-prevention programs in the VA and Department of Defense. A part of this Act requires an annual evaluation to determine the effectiveness of VA suicide prevention programs and the establishment of new veteran peer support programs. It also called for the creation of a new website, now available at:

www.mentalhealth.va.gov, [2] to better explain what mental health resources are available to veterans.

 The Suicide Prevention Act was named for Marine Cpl. Clay Hunt, a 28 year old, combat wounded Iraq and Afghanistan veteran who committed suicide in 2011. After leaving the Marine Corps, he struggled with depression, panic attacks and post-traumatic stress, despite dedicating himself to veterans' advocacy and humanitarian work. After his death, family and friends said he had been battling the Department of Veterans Affairs to get his disability rating upgraded from 30 percent, as well as struggling with unemployment and a marriage that was unraveling.

Cpl. Hunt's case is often cited as an example of the problems within the VA.

He told his Mother in March 2011 that he would not go back to the VA because dealing with them was just too stressful. Two weeks later, he locked himself in his apartment, and committed suicide.

 Military leaders say that some programs appear to be working, but it's too soon to declare success in the battle against suicides. Most importantly, the cultural mindset has changed -- it's now OK for a sailor, a soldier, an airman, or a Marine to come forward and ask for help, thus giving hope that prevention programs and increased efforts to identify troops at risk may be taking hold after several years of escalating suicides. At the same time, the suicide rates of female military veterans have been called "staggering." According to a recent Los Angeles Times article, "Research shows that female military veterans commit suicide at nearly six times the rate of other women. Though suicide has become a major issue for the military over the last decade, most of the research has focused on men and little is known about female veteran suicides." According to VA research data collected over the past

11 years, it is the younger female veterans, aged 18 to 29, that kill themselves at nearly 12 times the rate of non-veterans.

 In sum, these are our brothers and sisters in arms, and we need to care, reach out and give assistance. If you see, or know of someone in crisis, "step-up and step-in!" Learn to recognize the signs of depression and helplessness and know where to look for the resources needed to help.

There is no reason why a service member or a veteran should ever feel that they are alone, or worse-that there is no reason to go on living.

 _You Can Make A Difference._

Bloggers note:
I am publishing this article in today's blog and wonder each time I read statistics such as these why the government is still trying to close down our VA which has one of the best programs in its Domiciliary for PTSD, substance abuse, brain trauma and other emotional issues common to veterans.