Month: October 2010

Celebrating Independence

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In July, my friend Tim Watkins from Renegade Productions called and said “We’re going to be filming another Americans for Life event in Chicago. Are you available to produce another video for us?” And I said “I’d love to!”

About a week later, I got an email that said the footage was available and that we should meet to discuss the project. It concluded with

“Illinois is disgusted and embarrassed with its tired corrupt political apparatus. The Daleys, Blagojevich, Obama. They have sold their soul. Using what we shot of small town/middle America we have a couple parades where people hope for a better future, one that does not threaten the life of our children and their future.”

“Well, that sounds easy enough,” I thought to myself.  And so it began.

I met Tim and got the footage and began the process of reviewing and cataloging the shots.  Good stuff.  This was the Lions Club annual Independence Day parade in Darien, IL and this year they were honoring those who serve — Police, Fire and Service personnel.  The “Americans For Life” were participating in the parade. Filming in Darien, ILRenegade had two cameras running.  There were some interviews with participants, some candidates running for various elected offices, and kids; happy kids.

So what about the whole political corruption thread?  Of course I had heard of Rod Blagojevich, but since I am not from the Chicago area, I knew very little about the history of the politics in Illinois.  It did not take much research to uncover a bunch of documentation about the political corruption in Cook County and the state of Illinois.  A report release in Feb 2010 by the University of Illinois at Chicago and the Better Government Association documented over 140 years of corruption!  Well, that wasn’t long after Abraham Lincoln served as President of the US!

Well, after a rather lengthy and intense on-the-job training session in Adobe After Effects, and some welcomed feedback and direction from Tim, I had an intro that set the scene for the parade footage.  When I found a clip of Ronald Reagan from the Republican National Convention in 1984 talking about celebrating Independence Day, I felt we were making good progress.  But what really galvanized the story for me was to find a clip from just this past July of the current US president talking about ‘rights‘ of Americans.

That’s about all I’ll say.   And although it proved to not be quite as easy as I first thought, I think it turned out pretty well.

Enjoy the video.  And exercise your right to Vote this November.

Honoring Justin Palmer Jackson

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We were informed on Monday, September 27, 2010, that our eldest son, Justin, was killed that morning in an automobile accident while traveling back to South Dakota from visiting friends in Wisconsin to be present as the Godfather at the Baptism of their son.  He was a graduate student in Computer Science at the University of SD nearing the completion of his Masters Degree.

Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis.

We are confident in our faith that Justin is truly in a better place and rest in God’s comfort and peace.

A few folks have asked that I post my thoughts from Justin’s funeral.

It is with both great sadness and joy that we gather.

Our Christian Faith would tell us “He’s in a better place; in the company of Saints and Angels; hopefully enjoying the beatific vision — resting in the presence of the Holy Trinity.”  But our hearts are overcome with great sadness; life as we know it racked; disrupted…

The loss of human life so close, so dear to us, so unexplainable, causes such grief.  Even our Lord, sharing fully in our humanity and yet fully divine, when told of the death of his friend, Lazarus, wept; cried.  So it is okay that we too can weep.

And yet we can turn to our faith to find help and consolation in our time of grief.  And we do that by going to the foot of the Cross.  For it is at the foot of the Cross, that we find St. John the beloved and Mary, Mother of Christ and our spiritual Mother.  For it was from the Cross that Jesus commands us to “Behold your Mother.”

“As the Savior’s dying gift to us, Jesus leads us back to Mary.  For we need the maternal closeness of the Sorrowful Mother to sustain us when overcome by the terrifying trials of life. Through Mary’s compassionate presence at the Cross, that event — as it recurs in our life — becomes more deeply human, filling us with the courage to face life’s sufferings, certain in the secure embrace of divine providence.” *

It is at the foot of the Cross where we find our examples and role models for courage, strength and love.

While we only had to endure a short meeting with a Maryland State Trooper who came to our door Monday afternoon to tell us of our dear son’s passing, She was at the foot of the Cross to witness her Son enduring the pain and suffering of our salvation.  She brought Jesus to us and lead us to Him.  At the Wedding Feast of Cana, she said “Do whatever He tells you.”

I think Justin had found his passion when he started teaching at the University of South Dakota as a Teaching Assistant.  Although he was stuck with a less-than-thrilling subject, “Using Microsoft Office,” he embraced the topic; writing and developing his own examples and labs — making it more interesting for the students. After much pleading, the humble teacher shared some of the students comments with us:

CSC 105 -u015 – Justin Jackson

Great Class! The pleasure was all ours

Excellent teacher! Very helpful & explained things well, took time to help students!

Thanks for a wonderful semester.

Great teacher. Enjoyed class. Learned new things with Microsoft office.

GREAT INSTRUCTOR! Thank you!

Great course! Learned a lot!

I enjoyed learning what Mr. Jackson had to teach and I hope to maybe have another class with him in the future.

Although he did not receive his doctorate degree here, I believe he’s been granted a degree from a higher institution of learning and continues to teach us today.

And what was class like on Monday, Sep 27?  Many of you are familiar with the publication that includes the daily scripture readings and meditations for the Church year entitled “Magnificat.”  These were from Monday, the memorial of St. Vincent de Paul.

While he was yet speaking, another came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother, when suddenly a great wind came across the desert and smote the four corners of the house. It fell upon the young people and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you.” Then Job began to tear his cloak and cut off his hair. He cast himself prostrate upon the ground, and said,

“Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I go back again. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD!” (Job 1:6-22 excerpt)

And this meditation:

“Our soul can never be at peace in these worldly things, because they are all less than we are” (St Catherine of Siena; Doctor of the Church ~1380)

And his assignment to us:

1. Love and serve God and His Church.

2. Read and study the scriptures.

3. Read the writings of the saints and Church fathers.

Like his other students — I, too, hope I get Professor Jackson, Ph.D. for class again.

* “Magnificat,” Reflection on “Our Lady of Sorrows” From Sept 15, 2010, pg 189

Justin Palmer Jackson, ora pro nobis