South Bend, Indiana; Feb. 1, 2008

Local

“Underground Railroad” Taking Shape: The CFH “Underground Railroad” play is taking shape under the enthusiastic and dedicated leadership of writer/director David Evans (no relation to actor Gene Evans of the 1950’s “My Friend Flicka” TV show or Dale Evans, Queen of the West). David is a member of Creative Word Ministries which uses drama.
David’s script is based on actual historical incidents.
The cast is rehearsing three times a week for their performance at the February 18 Monday night meeting.
No more actors are needed.

Election 2008

Uncle Ron’s Ramblings

Michigan, Florida, Hoosier Voters Still Disenfranchised in Nomination Process: This is another Civics lesson from Uncle Ron. Actually it’s the same one.
Florida, Michigan, Indiana, Iowa, and New Hampshire rank fourth, eighth, 15th, 30th, and 41st respectively among the 50 states.
Their delegate counts to the presidential nominating conventions are: Florida (185 Demo, 114 GOP), Michigan (128 Demo, 60 GOP), Indiana (66 Demo, 57 GOP), Iowa (45 Demo, 40 GOP), New Hampshire (22 Demo, 24 GOP).
There are 4,049 total Democratic delegates with 2,025 needed to win the nomination. For the GOP, 1,191 out of 2,380 delegates are needed to be the standard-bearer.
In addition (or in subtraction), Florida and Michigan have been penalized all the Democratic delegates and half the GOP slate for moving their primaries up closer to the date of the New Hampshire primary and Iowa caucuses. Hilary Clinton was the only Democratic candidate to campaign in those states although Barack Obama won 30% of the Florida votes without campaigning.
Indiana’s political leaders, God bless them, are not making waves. The Hoosier primary will still be May 6, long after the presidential nominations should be sewn up.

Announcements

Car Registration: CFH Guests: If you own a motor vehicle, you need to register it with your coach or it could be towed.
“One Step At a Time” Running Group: Three days a week (times and days TBA). Will meet at CFH. Open to Center guests and anyone else who is interested in learning to run. All runners will receive the necessary running gear (i.e. running shoes, shorts, warm-ups, shirts, hats, etc.).
Artistic Newsletter: Are you an artist, poet or writer? Place submissions for the new Artistic Newsletter in Emily Pickerill’s box. Express your talents and ideas by participating. Start submitting as soon as possible.
Art Group: Interested in exercising your creative spirit? Want to see some of your original art work on display in the hallways?
Please see Meg about details for joining a new art group at CFH
.
ABE

▪Dead Poets Society: Thursdays, 3-4 p.m., ABE Room. All are welcome.
We will discuss short stories and poems.
▪Writing: Wednesdays, 3-4 p.m., ABE. Improve your basic writing skills under the guidance of a trained instructor.
▪Creative Writing: Thursdays, 8-9 p.m. Develop your creative writing skills. You don’t have to sign up, just show up. Volunteers from Notre Dame will be there.
▪Fractions and Decimals Refresher Courses: Tuesdays, fractions, and Thursdays, decimals, in the second floor conference room. Everyone is welcome. For more information, contact ABE.
All of the above activities count toward ABE hours.

Herald Sports

ND Men 81, Providence 74: Harangody scored a career-high 31 points and the Irish (15-4, 5-2 Big East) used a 14-5 run in overtime to take control and beat Providence 81-74 on Thursday night to extend their home winning streak to 32 games.
Tory Jackson scored 14 points and handed out seven assists. Rob Kurz added 11 points and seven rebounds. Harangody pulled down 14 boards.
Local Wednesday College Basketball Scores Omitted from Thursday Edition: Olivet 80, Saint Mary’s 70; Notre Dame Women 85, Providence 54.
ND Hires New Defensive Grid Assistant: Notre Dame has hired Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta as assistant head coach for defense.
“Jon’s track record speaks for itself,” Irish head coach Charlie Weis said in a statement Thursday. “He is a coach with an immense amount of defensive knowledge and will undoubtedly help our program.”
Tenuta will replace Bill Lewis. The 66-year-old Lewis is retiring from coaching because he has to have both of his hips replaced.
“Two things attracted me to this job, Coach Weis and Notre Dame,” Tenuta said in the statement. “It’s an opportunity to coach at one of the greatest traditional powerhouse programs in college football and to work with one of the brightest minds in the game.”
Tenuta said he is looking forward to working with Irish defensive coordinator Corwin Brown, who is entering his second year with the team.
ND Men’s Tennis 7, Northwestern 0: Brett Helgeson teamed with Sheeva Parbhu to beat Mark Dwyer-Alex Sanborn, 8-5, for the Irish (3-1), number one doubles.
Helgeston also beat Dwyer, 6-3, 6-2, in number one singles.
Freshman Steven Havens and Andrew Roth beat Alexander Tams-Peter Raspoli, 8-3 in number two doubles while freshman Tyler Davis and junior Santiago Montoya beat Juan Gomez-David Seyferth, 8-6, in number three doubles.
Thursday NBA Scores: Spurs 84, Suns 81 (Tim Duncan lay-up with 30.9 left); Celtics 96, Mavericks 90 (Kevin Garnett still out); Pistons 90, Lakers 89 (Tayshaun Prince 3-point shot with 4.4 left; Kobe Bryant 39 points and 10 rebounds); Sonics 101, Cavaliers 95 (Lebron James out with right ankle sprain; Kevin Durant 24).
Thursday NHL Scores: Los Angeles 3, N.Y. Islanders 1; N.Y. Rangers 4, Philadelphia 0; Boston 4, Ottawa 1; Nashville 4, Columbus 2; Washington 5, Montreal 4 (OT); Carolina 3, Toronto 2 (OT); Tampa Bay 4, Vancouver 3.
Thursday NCAA Men’s Basketball Scores: (13) Wisconsin 62, (11) IU 49; IUPUI 88, Southern Utah 66; IPFW 73, South Dakota St. 63; Minnesota 77, Michigan 65; Detroit 72, Wisconsin-Milwaukee 61; (3) Duke 92, North Carolina St. 72; (4) North Carolina, Boston College 69; (5) UCLA 84, Arizona St. 51; California 69, (9) Washington St. 64.
Thursday NCAA Women’s Basketball Scores: IU 86, Wisconsin 62; Creighton 68, Indiana St. 60; Purdue 56, Minnesota 54; Cleveland St. 65, Butler 61; Youngstown St. 92, Valparaiso 79; Michigan St. 61, Michigan 58; (2) Tennessee 68, Mississippi 44; (3) North Carolina 76, Wake Forest 55; (5) Maryland 90, Miami, Fl. 50; (7) Stanford 77, USC 51; (8) LSU 67, South Carolina 37; (10) California 67, UCLA 53.

Uncle Ron’s Sports Ramblings

Don’t Believe Tony-Jessica Rumors: According to the Dallas Morning News, reports in such distinguished publications as the National Enquirer of Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and singer/actress Jessica Simpson breaking up are premature.
Brady Looking Healthy: Meanwhile in the New England Patriots training center, quarterback Tom Brady is apparently showing no ill effects from a high ankle sprain.
“Am I cured? I don’t think it’s a problem going into the game,” Brady said of the ankle before practice. “I think the right shoulder is probable. A little fatigued, so, going to be going out and trying to move around the best I can and make all the throws. I don’t think the ankle is truly a problem. If it was, I’m sure coach would have listed it.”
In a case of the rich getting richer, Brady did receive a marriage proposal on media day from a Mexican TV correspondent in a short wedding dress. Brady’s girl-friend, model Giselle Bundchen was not in attendance.
Giants quarterback Eli Manning’s love life was getting very little attention. Anyway, the Pats are 14-point favorites.

Letter to the Editor

THE CENTER FOR THE HOMELESS, SOUTH BEND, INDIANA:
MONDAY NIGHT MEETING: JANUARY 28, 2008

I. KENYA PRESENTATION
Request by: Emily Pickerill; Executive Assistant

i. Introduction
Personal background and visits to the United States of America:
1). October 2004, 2). November 2007.
I came to the Center for the Homeless on Tuesday night, November 27, 2007.

ii. Appreciation
I am very grateful for my reception at the Center and for all the love and care that I
have received which is only comparable to that of a caring mother. It is therefore
only right for me to say that the Center has become my mother and my all! My
Coach, Andrew has been most real to me just as a bloody brother would be. I
reverence him and consider him as my Mentor as I seek relocation here.
Surprisingly, though, all the other Coaches have been treating me most dearly!
I hope that dear Steve, being the CEO of the Center; will accept my most sincere
gratitude and kindly pass this to all his members of staff.

Without any exceptions, all of you, my brothers and sisters have touched my heart
in one way or another and I remember all of you daily in my prayers.

iii. A Homily
Psalm 136 is a "Litany of Thanksgiving."
v. 1 says; "Give thanks to Yahweh for "He" is good' and the last v. 26 says; Give
thanks to the God of heaven, for "His" love endures for ever" (NJB).

It gives God great pleasure to reconcile us to Himself and to make us His children!
This was His message to the world 2000 yrs ago when, "with the angel there was a
great throng of the hosts of heaven, praising God with the words:

Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace for those "He" favours"
(Lk 2: 13, 14 NJB). God's favour was revealed to all humanity through the
incarnation. Being the "Emmanuel, which means God with us", God did not only
want to identify Himself with His self image but also in the discouragements in our
lives. He wanted to take care of the state of hopelessness in us brought by the sin of
common Ancestor Adam. He wanted to restore hope and become the source of
genuine change in our shattered and broken lives. However, there is a cost to this!
That is, the will to accept and commit oneself to genuine change. Someone wrote
that: "It is a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you
very often get it."

A young lady who came to serve meals here as a volunteer about a week ago learnt that I am from Kenya. She commented sympathetically; "It is crazy out there!" I responded politely: "Yes, but the world is crazy everywhere."

How many times have we seen brothers at the front lounge, their tongues on fire against each other! I thank God for placing me in a dorm named after a priest, the Rev. Edward "Monk" Malloy. Yet, I myself have been subjected to name calling by some of my brothers in the dorm for no particular good reason. According to African culture words related with sex are considered sacred to be mentioned in the bedrooms let alone in public. The craziness in the world is most probably the cause of our being guests here at the Center for the Homeless.


As I pray for love, peace, unity and change in my country, I also remember to pray the same for all of us. "Love, forgiveness and tolerance can heal the body. If the mind is dominated by negative emotions, then there is no possibility to develop compassion, kindness, forgiveness and tolerance and the resulting peace of mind that these virtues bring."

My message for Kenya today is therefore a message the world and for each one of us. A message of love, peace and goodwill!
A message of hope for everyone irrespective of our religious, denominational, ethnic, or cultural differences.
A message that is regardless of colour, race, social class and political affiliation.
A message of hope to the hopeless!
Hope for genuine change without feelings of prejudice for our life-styles.
For God's great pleasure is to reconcile us to Himself and to make us His children.
In the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. AMEN!

II. Political Background

Kenya lies across the equator in the east-central Africa, on the coast of the Indian Ocean. It is twice the size of Nevada. Kenya borders Somaria to the east, Ethiopia to the North, Tanzania to the south, Uganda to the west, and Sudan to the northwest.


More than 40 ethnic groups reside in Kenya. There are 25 different languages spoken by various ethnic groups. The largest of there groups are the Kikuyu (22 percent); they migrated to the region at the beginning of the 18th century. The other major groups are the Luhya (14 percent) and, the Luo (13 percent).

Kenya became a British protectorate in 1890 and a crown colony in 1920, when it went by the name British East Africa. The lush central Rift Valley Province, commonly known as the "white highlands" was the bee-hive of the influential white settler community who virtually ruled colonial Kenya from Nakuru town. In his memoirs: A Love – Affair with – Sunshine, Sir Michael Blundell – himself a settler at Solai in Nakuru – reckons that no governor would make a decision without having to travel to Nakuru to consult the settlers. "They were the tail that wagged the dog, he writes. Other pioneer settlers such as the Lord Delamere set camp in this significant, hilly and most agriculturally productive province in early 1930s. This was about the same time that my own parents migrated to the area from Kikuyu land in such of employment. I and others from many other different tribes were born and brought up here without ancestral attachments elsewhere. We knew each other as members of the same family, went to school together, attended church together, hunting together and sharing our food. This was without acrimony and tribalism was an animal unknown to us at the time, otherwise instead of hunting rabbits, we would have hunted this beast rather than take bows and arrows now to hunt, main and kill the same people with whom we shared life from childhood.

National stirrings began in 1940s, and in 1952 the Mau Mau movement, made up of Kikuyu militants, rebelled against the government. The fighting lasted until 1956. Seven (7) years later, on December 12, 1963, Kenya became fully independent. Jomo Kenyatta, a Kikuyu nationalist leader during the independence struggle who had been jailed by the British, became the country's first president. After the country acquired self-governance, some of the British settlers were in haste to leave the country though Kenyatta had given them the assurance of a peaceful co-existence and respect to their property. In his speech to the settlers at Nakuru municipal hall: Mr. Kenyatta told them; "We will have to build this country together." However, an agreement was entered that those who felt that they must leave were free to do so and to dispose of their property to the locals on a willing buyer willing seller basis. It was on these grounds that some of us acquired land in the Rift Valley Province though our parents had originated from the Central Province.

When Kenya was a British colony, until Mzee Kenyatta's death in August 1978, the tribes co-existed in harmony without experiencing the current madness. Exit Mzee Kenyatta and enter Mr. Daniel T. Arap Moi, the then vice president; in his own style. Mr. Moi was president of the country for 24 years.

From 1964, the country was ruled as a one-party state by the Kenya African National Union (KANU), first under Kenyatta and then under Moi. Demonstrations and riots organized by oppostion leaders and human rights activists pressured Moi for multiparty elections in 1992.


In August 7, 1998, the United States Embassy in Nairobi was bombed by terrorists, 243 people died and 1000 were injured.

III. Current Political Situation

On December 2002, Mwai Kibaki, the then opposition leader and a one time Moi's vice president, won the presidential elections. President Mwai Kibaki promised to put an end to the country's rampant corruption that had greatly affected the country during the reign of Mr. Moi. In his first few months, Kibaki did initiate a number of reforms – ordering a crackdown on corrupt judges and the police and instituting free primary school education – and international donors opened their coffers again. But by 2004, disappointment in Kibaki set in when little further progress was evident, and a long-awaited new constitution, meant to limit the president's power, still had not been delivered. This was the bone of contention between President Mwai Kibaki and Mr. Raila Odinga whose ambition was to be Kenya's prime minister under the new constitution. Rift Valley Province to bear the brunt of the madness that Kenya descended into following the disputed election results. Over 400 lives have been lost; over 7,000 children have no where to study and over 10,000 people have no place to call home. At night they huddle in the schools, chiefs' camps, and police stations, churches under police protection while others spend the night in the bush while their neighbours torched their houses, maize fields and livestock pens.


IV. Conclusion

Kenya is situated in one of Africa's most volatile and troubled regions, yet it has one of the continent's most attractions and stable democracies for the last 43 years of independence. I wish to quote Gwynne Dyer, a London-based independent journalist who rightly said in an article in the South Bend Tribune that; "Despite the ugly scenes of recent days, Kenya is not an ethnic tinderbox where people automatically back their own tribes and hate everyone else." The people have long moved from cultural, traditional and ethnic primitivism and developed a culture that is modern. For many years now, intermarriage has been in existence among different tribes in Kenya, a relationship that was not well accepted in the past. Marriage is generally accepted among the majority of African tribes as a lasting relationship that strongly bind two different families together as one family, whatever their cultural, tribal or ethnic background. The deeply grievious situation that is affecting my country is the result of individual ambition and greed for polical power and must be highly condemned. After being subjected to a shameful humiliation in a public arena by his boss, one of Kenya's vice president declared in resignation that; "there comes a time when a nation is more important than an individual." The Kenyan nation is more important than President Mwai Kibaki or Mr. Raila Odinga.

Religions: Protestants 45 percent; Roman Catholic 33 percent; Indigenous 10 percent; Islam 10 percent.

Isaac F. M. Githinji