<WWYD?
A person eating nearby at a fast-food restaurant gets up and leaves without cleaning up. When you're finished, you wonder if you ought to follow suit. What would you do?
Strictly speaking, it's not your ethical obligation. But it takes little effort to do so, and the next person to sit where you did will appreciate it. Besides, the clean table you enjoyed may very well have been the result of a previous customer's efforts.
– From “Life Principles” by Bruce Weinstein
<OUR WORLD
Monday is Memorial Day, a federal holiday set aside to honor U.S. men and women who died in military service for their country. It used to be called Decoration Day and first honored Union soldiers who died in the Civil War.
There's also a trend to use the day to honor any family members who have died. Some congregations will spend time during this weekend's services to name members and loved ones who have passed away in the last year. And at Beliefnet.com, you can create your own memorial to a loved one – person or pet.
All that is proof that life really is like driving a car. The large front windshield reminds us that much of our attention should be spent looking forward. The rearview mirror is there because we also should keep an eye on who is behind us – and where we've been.
<WORDS TO LIVE BY
“Decoration Day is the most beautiful of our national holidays. The grim cannon have turned into palm branches, and the shell and shrapnel into peach blossoms.”
– Thomas Bailey Aldrich, author (1836-1907)
<SURVEY SAYS
A study released by the American Jewish Committee in New York found that 16 percent of Jewish adults ages 18-29 are Orthodox, the strictest branch of Judaism. That's nearly double the percentage of Orthodox among Jews ages 35-39.
Look for more future Jewish leaders to be Orthodox, shifting the entire community in a more conservative direction, the American Jewish Committee said.
<TELL US ABOUT IT
NEW QUESTION: Should English be our national language? The U.S. Senate last week voted to make English our national language, though the measure would not negate existing laws that allow for bilingual education or multilingual ballots. What do you think? Please call (619) 293-2506 by midnight Sunday and press the number that best fits your response.
1. Yes, English should be our national language. How can we be united if we can't communicate?
2. No, this should not happen. It's a bigoted, symbolic measure that will further foster the us-against-them debate.
3. Undecided. There needs to be more discussion.
Compiled by Sandi Dolbee with input from news services, Web sites, books, magazines and you, our readers. We like letters! Write us at
re@uniontrib.com or Religion & Ethics, The San Diego Union-Tribune, P.O. Box 120191, San Diego, CA 92112.
