February 20, 2020

A Proposal

If we do take the government trifecta this year I propose a constitutional amendment in response to the blatant abuse of the power by Trump:

The power to issue pardons and commutations will be vested in a commission of six lawyers, chaired by the Chief Justice.

Three lawyers are chosen by the president's party and 3 are chosen by the opposition.

Not perfect but it might put the brakes on future pardon mills.

February 14, 2020

Thank you to the kind souls who gifted me hearts!

You ROCK!

February 2, 2020

Yilal Andebete (My Mouth Shall Proclaim)

A beautiful Ethiopian Orthodox mezmur (hymn) for this fine Sunday.

Yilal andebete egziabher qidus new/ My mouth shall proclaim the Holiness of God
Ayetewegnim ena welaj endelelew/ for He shall not abandon me like an orphan
Tinant yetebeqegne yenegem tesefaye/ He is the one who protected me yesterday and my hope for tomorrow
Tilehalech nefese fiqir neh getaye/ my soul shall say to you, you are Love my Lord!


Yetinant hiwoten zor biye sayew/ when I looked back at my past
Mamelecha yelelew atrium eshoh new/ it was barred with walls of thorns no one can escape from
Wede erefte wetahu yidres misganaye/ to you I offer thanksgiving because I escaped to a place of rest
Dejoch bizegubegne ber honogne getaye/even though the doors were barred, my Lord became The Gate for me.


Yilal andebete egziabher qidus new/ My mouth proclaims the Holiness of God
Ayetewegnim ena welaj endelelew/ for He shall not abandon me like an orphan
Tinant yetebeqegne yenegem tesefaye/ He is the one who protected me yesterday and my hope for tomorrow
Tilehalech nefese fiqir neh getaye/ my soul shall say to you, you are Love my Lord!


Betilequ bereha migib metet honogne/ in the depth of the desert he became my food and my drink
Mengeden aqenaw ejen beafe aschanegne/ he straightened my way and I stood in awe
Be esat ena weha mekakel alefe/ having passed through water and fire
Temesegen elalehu qine moltot afe/ I give thanks to you with mouth filled with your odes of your praise

Yilal andebete egziabher qidus new/ My mouth proclaims the Holiness of God
Ayetewegnim ena welaj endelelew/ for He shall not abandon me like an orphan
Tinant yetebeqegne yenegem tesefaye/ He is the one who protected me yesterday and my hope for tomorrow
Tilehalech nefese fiqir neh getaye/ my soul shall say to you, you are Love my Lord!

Yebechegneneten maebel getsesuwal/ He has rebuked the storm of my loneliness
Lene birehan hono lekesash chelemuwal./ the Light has shined for me, while the accuser is cast away in darkness
Qestun eyatefe tadegegne keseqaye/ he broke the arrows of the enemy and rescued me from my suffering.
Yegetaye hasab fiqr new bene laye/ My Lord’s banner over me is Love

Yilal andebete egziabher qidus new/ My mouth proclaims the Holiness of God
Ayetewegnim ena welaj endelelew/ for He shall not abandon me like an orphan
Tinant yetebeqegne yenegem tesefaye/ He is the one who protected me yesterday and my hope for tomorrow
Tilehalech nefese fiqir neh getaye/ my soul shall say to you, you are Love my Lord!


Tinant zare nege zelalem tebaqi/ yesterday today, tomorrow and forever he is my protector
Yeliben filagot salenegerew awaqi/ he knows what is in my heart even before I tell him
Bebaheriw qidus yelelew amsaya/ Holy by His Nature, and no one is like Him
Simu wedebe new meleheqen metaya/ His name is my shore where I will be anchored


Yilal andebete egziabher qidus new/ My mouth proclaims the Holiness of God
Ayetewegnim ena welaj endelelew/ for He shall not abandon me like an orphan
Tinant yetebeqegne yenegem tesefaye/ He is the one who protected me yesterday and my hope for tomorrow
Tilehalech nefese fiqir neh getaye/ my soul shall say to you, you are Love my Lord!