Hallelujah

I've been listening to Christmas music the past few mornings during my first-cup-of-coffee Internet surfing.  

Unfortunately, the CD runs out about halfway through that early-morning time at the computer, so I play it again. 

The last song on the CD is the "Hallelujah" chorus from Handel's Messiah.

For some reason this morning, each time I heard the chorus, I wanted to get up and start belting out the words even if I can't carry a tune.

I was very happy, knowing that on this day after an election, I wasn't gonna have to take my friend to lunch to assuage her deep grief and that I wouldn't need to send my daughter flowers for the same reason.

Not that I don't enjoy either gesture, but today "Hallelujah" seems to take care of my own needs as well as those of my friend and my daughter. 

This feeling of supreme elation comes from last night's election results in Alabama, which inspired me to state in a Facebook post, "Hope and decency still live on." 

I don't care what party politicians represent, the two words above should be staples for how they conduct themselves as representatives of their constituencies and as human beings in general.  

If they cannot live up to expected standards, they should not run for office or they should resign. 

Granted, we are all flawed, but over the past few months, the insidious level and widespread examples of disgusting behavior and total disregard toward what should be honorable positions of leadership has been nauseating. 

My concern focuses more on this country and its future than on whether Democrats or Republicans win elections.  I'm also very concerned about how long this sorry state of affairs (no pun) continues. 

That concern emanates from my experience as an educator, knowing that young people need and seek good examples to observe and to respect in modeling and molding their own behavior. 

I'm hardly a pollyanna, suggesting that we should expect perfection on all counts.  

Perfection is not possible because we are human, but we certainly should expect to see better behavior at the highest levels in the land than what we have been witnessing almost daily.  

We should see leaders who take their positions seriously, not only in what they hope to accomplish but also with the means they employ to achieve their goals. 

This is not too much to ask, and I believe it is imperative that those who would wield power both in politics and in the work place should see a wake-up call from yesterday's Alabama election. 

It's past time to restore honor, respect, hope and decency back into our institutions of power.  

I personally hope it's not too late.  

The world is watching America, and so are its citizens who truly love the principles and values on which this country was founded. 

Hallelujah!  We've seen a start with yesterday's election in Alabama. 

Let's continue on course to restore our country back to the truly inspiring nation which has made us the envy of the world and proud Americans throughout most of our lives. 


I could say, "on a lighter note," but this is serious also. . . 

 

I'm not an certified horse show judge, but I have taught a little youth horse judging during my lifetime.  

If young horse judges had to place the usual four entries in a class of equitation---including the entry above---this pair would not receive a placing IF he wasn't already excused from the arena for abusing his horse, that is. 

In the interest of horses and their well being, I'm especially glad the guy didn't win his Senate seat from Alabama last night. 

Imagine having to watch more animal cruelty as the pair came bucking up to the Capitol steps with the rider trying to rip horse's mouth off. 

Hallelujah for the horse!

Happy Wednesday.