But those values fly in the face of the recent news story about a JetBlue flight attendant who quit on the job, literally, by sliding down the chute of the airplane after spouting profanity at a passenger he was fed up with.

Now, pop culture America is calling him a hero? For representing the working class? That is not a hero in my books.

It goes back to our general trend in society where people have to always be right and their pride gets in the way. This flight attendant has to realize that he is in a customer service field, and dealing with passengers who are grumpy is part of the job. Sure, it cannot be easy, but neither are hundreds of other jobs out there.

 Other people are not sliding down an escape chute to get away from their work situations. Instead, they work day in and day out to support their families. They are the real heros.  

In ouI am not sure what is worse. His actions, or that he is being called a hero for what he did.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20100810/bs_yblog_upshot/rogue-jetblue-flight-attendant-being-hailed-as-a-modern-american-working-class-hero

How about Huckleberry Milkshakes to start off the Week 3 Adventure at Trout Lake, Washington. By the rushing creek. With the breathtaking view of Mt. Adams in the background.Before going off to Missions Camp at Jonah Ministries, where the focus is on the ultimate adventure of life.http://www.campjonah.com/ 

I had heard about Jonah Ministries from the Reavely family. Lauren and Leslie attended the Missions Camp a few years ago and were inspired to form a non-profit organization, H20, http://www.h2obags.com/ after attending the camp. I had written about them in an Oregonian story.

Something about Jonah Ministries seems so simple, so back to basics.  Worship, for example, features no large performing band. Just an acoustic guitar and a singer.

A family run ministry, Jonah Ministries started from the seed of an idea by a Grandmother. Her entire family gave up the lives they formerly lived to help run the year round Christian ministry center, which features theme camps each week, one of which is the Missions camp my twins and their friend Jonas attended. During the 4-day camp, the kids experienced what it is like to be a missionary in a simulated situation. Going through customs and security checks. And getting their bibles taken away from them.

My twins really enjoyed the camp, and already want to return next year. And possibly attend the High Adventure camp held there in two weeks. The drive up there along the Columbia Gorge is amazing and the little town of Trout Lake is quaint. I missed my sunshine boys and I am not sure about the next camp. I want to do adventures with them separate from these camps, and only  getting to drive them to camp, and perhaps put our feet in rushing creeks while sipping hand-dipped milkshakes.

My seven-year old and I drove my twins and my husband to Boy Scout Camp this week at Camp

My husband is an assistant scout master and the twins are First Class rank. They spent a week there on an adventure of hiking, shooting bows and arrows, earning merit badges, swimming, walking along the beach, and camping. The merit badges they earned were environmental science, life saving, and first aid.

Yesterday, Augustin and I drove back to Camp Meriwether http://www.cpcbsa.org/camping/summer-program/boy-scout-camps/meriwether  to attend the family evening of dinner in the lodge with the Scouts as well as the Camp Fire Program on the water. The boys were a little more tired and a little more dirty than when I dropped them off a week ago, but still filled with energy while singing and chanting and clapping and enjoying the camp fire program.

By Cornelia Seigneur

During a good-bye party at Pastor Dale and Linda Ebel’s for a Bible study member who is leaving for Germany with her family, I met a gentleman who said he had been reading my story of the Police/Red and Black situation, and told me that it inspired him to a particular action: When he was at a Subway getting lunch, a police officer walked in to also order a sandwich; and, as a small token of gratitude for the work that police do, this gentleman decided to purchase the police officer his lunch.

When I later told my husband about what this gentleman shared with me, my husband suggested I begin collecting these tales of acts of gratitude and kindness toward police as part of the Blue Ribbon Campaign that we launched on Facebook http://www.corneliaseigneur.com/blue-ribbon-campaign-police-deserve-a-cup-of-coffee-facebook-page/ 

Since my original blog post story “Where’s a Police Officer to Get a Cup of Coffee?” http://www.corneliaseigneur.com/where%e2%80%99s-a-portland-police-officer-to-get-a-cup-of-coffee/ appeared, people have e-mailed me their stories of how they have thanked police officers, many by purchasing a cup of coffee for an officer. And police officers have shared with me that random people have come up to them and handed them Starbucks gift cards to get that cup of coffee. They have also received thank you notes.

With today’s sad news of the Monday shooting death in North Portland of  17-year-old Billy Moore  (who was not involved in a gang) http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2010/06/billy_moores_family_absorbs_do.html  where police have in custody the alleged perpetrator of the crime, we are once again reminded of how police are such a vital part of our  society. Though it is still under investivation whether the shooting of Billy Moore was gang related, it is clear that gang-related crime has increased in Portland, which makes the job of the Portland Police Force that much more difficult. It is their job, and they put their lives on the line daily as they investigate crime and work to keep our communities safe; perhaps we can once in a while make it our job to thank them for that hard work. 

So, that is what I am offering in this space. A place to collect words, to gather stories, to hear tales of how people have appreciated the work that police do. I have tried to turn the focus of my original post in a positive direction, which is what the Blue Ribbon Facebook page was about. Along the same lines, the idea behind this post is to gather  what I would like to call Blue Ribbon Stories, of how the police (who wear blue uniforms) have made a difference in your community. And perhaps what you have done to show gratitude to them in the past few weeks. Sent a card? Purchased a coffee? Thanked an officer personally? We’d like to hear your stories.

The Red & Black Cafe in Middletown, Connecticut makes it clear that they

Red and Black Cafe in Connecticut

The Red & Black Cafe in Middletown, Connecticut notes on its website that: 

“We pride ourselves for being a cafe that is open to everyone.  To act differently is not simply bad business, it’s just mean. We obviously have a special respect and gratitude for our local officers who helped us through a tragic event.  To be on the receiving end of many angry misguided emails is a bitter irony.”

And, to show their support of the work that police do, they will offer a free cup of coffee to local police officers who stop by. So, here’s another place for police officers to get a cup of coffee.

http://www.corneliaseigneur.com/red-and-black-and-blue-in-need-of-dialogue-on-police-relations-guest-column-in-todays-oregonian/

http://www.redblackcafe.com/

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/06/red_and_black_and_blue_in_need.html

By Cornelia Seigneur

There have been so many interesting developments and comments and ideas over the past 10 days  that my original post, “Where’s a police officer to get a cup of coffee?” went viral. It is amazing the power of the pen in sharing a story. And people are running with it.

Officer Crooker and I spoke today for the first time since we met May 18, and said the support has been amazing, from both Portlanders and beyond. People have donated coffee cards to him and fellow policemen, and he is grateful for the encouragement. He is getting calls from the East Coast to speak of his experience. Everyday folks are striking up conversations with police which they might not have happened in the past. The dialogue. The conversation. That is what I am liking to hear. People have asked me for links to national coverage and other media outlets which have covered the story so I am writing this blog post as a quick reflection. Here are some highlights and links as well as featured comments on my original blog and follow up worth talking about:

 ** An independent film maker made a documentary of his experience dressing as a Police officer and walking into the Red and Black to get coffee. They did not serve him.  It will be featured this Saturday.  You have got to see this clip – I am hoping to do a story on him. SUNDAY June 13 UPDATE – A segment of his experience was on YouTube as you may have seen on this blog post,  but was removed by the creator, so I removed the link.  I am looking to find out why. 

** CNN covered the story.http://www.cnn.com/search/?query=red+and+black+cafe+kicks+out+cop&primaryType=mixed&x=27&y=6 

** Fox news covered  http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/06/04/police-officer-asked-leave-portland-coffee-shop/

** The Oregonian has covered various developments of the story,  including this week’s press conference with the red and black trying to explain its anarchist views. http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2010/06/red_black_cafe_shows_portland.html

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/06/red_and_black_and_blue_in_need.htmlnnels

** All the major news channels in Portland have covered it and came out to interview me for the story.

** The Red and Black had a news conference to explain what they believe:

http://southeastportland.katu.com/content/cafe-owner-explains-why-he-booted-cop

http://www.kgw.com/home/Restaurant-that-kicked-out-cop-claims-it-boosted-business-

http://www.koinlocal6.com/mostpopular/story/Cafe-Owners-Support-Anarchists-Deplore-Police/PxSFB2UbW0GzW-yLknbXWQ.cspx

 ** Other local news outlets have written about the incident and/or posted links to the story. 

** Radio programs have made the topic a part of their shows, including national ones. The local ones I was interviewed for include: Paul Linnman, Bob Miller, Mark and Dave, and Victoria Taft.

** AP has picked up the story as has Roseburg news.

As I have been stating all along, my hope in writing my original blog post and consecutive ones is to keep the dialogue open on all sides. I want to move the conversation forward, to educating the public on what the police do as well as to listening to the public’s concerns about misuse of police power. There are obvious strong opinions on both sides, and we need to listen to one another and quit name calling. That is a problem on a blog which allows anonymous comments. I should have asked people to give me their names and cities. I bet they would be more careful as I know I am if people know me.

Since we are getting close to 300 comments from across the country on just the first blog post, it is hard to sift through them for readers. So, I thought I would highlight a few of them, people who have written very interesting notes, and that are moving the dialogue to actual open minded discussion.

One note: Not all vegans hate police. In fact, someone pointed out that the red and black is first and foremost anarchist, second vegan.

Here is a sampling of a few comments that I appreciated:

POLICE OFFICER IN SAN ANTONIO:“…As a vegan of 12 years, I find the story particularly interesting. I live in San Antonio, where there is only one vegetarian restaurant. If they asked me to leave where would I eat?? Fortunately, the staff there is very friendly and I can’t imagine being asked to leave! I go there on duty and off duty and they all know what I do. On particularly busy days, they’ll even pack a lunch for me =)  It’s called Green. If you or your daughter ever find yourselves in San Antonio, the food there is pretty good and they are officer friendly. Of course, the sad truth is that there are officers who are mirror images of this business owner. Officer Crooker was right in that education is the only way to solve the problem. A lot of officer comments have been defensive (“let’s see what happens if they should ever need our services”…) but the only way to start bridging the gap is to educate ourselves also. We should go out of our way to provide everyone with exceptional customer service – especially those who have a negative opinion of us.”

ATS COMMENT: “Both sides have valid points, and I know that this can be a heated discussion. Simple fact is that the guy did have the right to throw the officer out. I disagree with his opinion, and I think that he grossly generalized a group of people, but he does have the right. I also agree that it promotes an atmosphere of misunderstanding to lump this officer in with the bad occurrences that have happened recently and that many people today do not understand just what these officers go through. Also I find many of the comments written here to be very ignorant of the human condition. Corruption and abuse of power is something that this country was built to fight against. It is our duty to be vigilant against power-happy public officials. But to take the shootings and simply cry “we need anarchy” is school-yard mentality. History shows that any time there was anarchy; it wasn’t long before the people BEGGED for a dictatorship. That’s how bad it gets when people realize that they have no security. To think that we don’t need the police is idealistic nonsense and has no place in the universal truths of cause and effect. Get your nose out of the books and see what real life is like. Also, you’re too hateful with some of your comments. If you can’t filter your prejudice, than your point is moot and you should shut up and sit down so the grownups can talk.”

 FROM S. WELLS:  “The conversation here for Portlanders is what do you stand for?  Do you stand for  acceptance, diversity,  justice, kindness, and all the other phrases that come to mind when thinking about a progressive, modern city which is known as being “different”…or  better yet “weird”?  Do we want to be weird because we discriminate, are mean spirited,  hateful, and do not embrace all peoples, or do we want to be different because we epitomize acceptance…no matter who or what you are?    
My personal opinion of most policeman…and I have lived in many large and small cities, have traveled extensively, is that most are your friends.  Of course that is the way I approach everyone,  no matter how they are dressed, what color they are, what profession they have, or what nationality.  I don’t just talk the talk of non-discrimination, I actually live it.    That’s what I loved about Portland…we are committed to the practice of what we preach in the area of diversity.  Hopefully, this will instill in everyone a new perspective on that commitment.

By Cornelia Seigneur

During an interview this past week regarding my blog post, “Where’s a Police Officer to get a cup of Coffee?” I was asked whether I knew what the red and black stood for before going there for lunch Tuesday May 18 with my daughter. I had briefly gone to their website which said it is “safe and welcoming to all.” Yes, I knew it was a bit radical, but my daughter and I like adventure and we were open to what we thought would simply be an interesting indie vegan eating experience with  my vegetarian daughter.   

My daughter at the red and black

 I initially heard about the red and  black because I was working on a story for The Oregonian on Matt Mikalatos, the author of Imaginary Jesus, a fast paced hilarious story examining pre-conceived notions of Jesus Christ, which begins at none other than the vegan red and black café (in my published final edition published June 6, I just note that the story is set in a local café ). http://www.oregonlive.com/O/index.ssf/2010/06/vancouver-based_christian_auth.html

 Interestingly, Mikalatos sets his story http://imaginaryjesus.blogspot.com/ at the red and black  to show how a certain segment of Portland is, and my experience there, having an officer kicked out while I was I was quietly speaking with him May 18, kind of legitimizes Mikalatos’ opening setting of his book.  Mikalatos is a missionary with Campus Crusade for Christ and has spoken to people in an open and honest way about Jesus for 10 plus years. He listens to people and hopes his book will be a vehicle to an open dialogue about Jesus, with believers and atheists, and anyone who would like to talk.

Since this week of craziness regarding my May 22 blog post on my experience, which went viral only after I posted it on Facebook May 29, I have been asked if I will go back to the red and black. Honestly, I would be afraid. I really do not think I would be welcome. And I too would be asked to leave. And I hate rejection. I really would not go back either, to be honest, as the food was, as I noted, not very tasteful,which I have not focused on. I was just trying to bring light to the dishonoring of a human being. 

I will note that someone created a “Ban the red and black café” Facebook page started, which people at church today told me has  thousands of followers, and while I appreciate their efforts to support police, I really just to remain positive. To say thank you. To raise awareness of how hard it must be to not be respected by some of the very citizens you are trying to protect. I would like to keep this positive. On the morning of my interview with Paul Linnman on 1190, http://www.1190kex.com/pages/morning_update.html my husband said to think about a way to support the police in a positive way. So, that is why we for now ceated the “Blue Ribbon Campaign-Police Deserve a Cup of Coffee” Facebook page  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Blue-Ribbon-Campaign-Police-Deserve-a-Cup-of-Coffee/109371342442292#!/pages/Blue-Ribbon-Campaign-Police-Deserve-a-Cup-of-Coffee/109371342442292?ref=ts . And, I am meeting with police public relations to see what we can do as a whole to show the overwhelming support.

Most importantly, as I have said over and over, I really just want to continue this  dialogue and conversation. Just as Matt Mikalatos is trying to do with his book, Imaginary Jesus, the very reason I even set foot at the red and black in the first place.

By Cornelia Seigneur

When I blogged about the experience I had at a local café in Portland where my daughter and I were having a quiet conversation with a Portland Police officer before we were interrupted by the café owner, who asked the police officer to leave, I never dreamed that the response would be so passionate or so numerous — to be honest, I don’t receive a lot of comments on my blog. I suppose I have not written about such an emotional issue before. I surely did not intend any controversy or to bash an establishment. I merely wanted to share my story. (I had actually gone to the Red and Black out of curiosity as I was working on a story for The Oregonian about Matt Mikalatos, the author of the book Imaginary Jesus,   http://imaginaryjesus.com/   whose story is set at the Red and Black.)

I just had to write about it.

I write because that is how I process life. I write because I have to put my heart on paper. I write because I like to share stories. I write to bring light to the world. I write to share good things people are doing. And, as a believer, I write for justice.

I write because I have to write. It is what I do. It is who I am.

As I read through the comments, I am amazed at the amount of support that the Police enjoys in this city. I am intrigued with the many articulate thought provoking comments people made about the good that the police do. I was moved by the comments from the families of Police, Fire or EMT who serve tirelessly without a lot of fanfare or recognition.

I think of the comments from supporters of the decision of the café to ask the police officer to leave its establishment. I was surprised at how volatile people were toward the Police in general, and not just Portland Police. One comment implied that I had not taken the time to find out what the café owner believed and why they felt “unsafe” with the officer there. I did speak at length with the café co-owner, and we just did not get very far as he spoke of this notion how, in the case of a robbery, he would call his friends rather than the police. What does that look like practically, I wondered?

One reader commented that I was simply a white, suburbanite who has no idea what it is like in North Portland. And I answer that the very point of what I was trying to talk to the police officer at the café about, was our Sudan refugee friends who lived in North Portland, one of whom – a 14 year old — the Police saved.

As I spoke with the café owner, I really never got a direct answer as to why he personally felt unsafe with a police officer in his establishment. 

Bottom line, I think especially of the policeman I met at the red and black, Officer James Crooker, a human being who should be treated with respect and honor, like all human beings. I think of how humiliating it must have been to be asked to leave a café for no other reason than your profession. It was pure and simple discrimination. Yet, he handled it with such class and dignity. I was sad for him. My point was not to start a dialogue of whether people felt Police was necessary in America, but instead to simply ask why was a police officer asked to leave a café?

I wanted the police officer to know that so many people support what they do to try to keep the rest of us safe. He kept talking about the importance of education. What the officer wants is to start a dialogue in this city, to talk reasonably about issues, to let them know he will always respond with kindness to people even if they are unkind. He is there to do his job.

What I did not want to happen in my original blog post was for it to become a place for meanness and finger pointing and name calling. I just wanted to share my story, to bring light to what happened. There were several blog comments that I just did not want to publish as they used profanity and speculation and labeling. From both sides of the issue.

My hope is the same as what the officer hopes for — open conversation, honest dialogue, without name calling. For justice on all sides.

Exactly the reason why I write.

http://www.corneliaseigneur.com/where%e2%80%99s-a-portland-police-officer-to-get-a-cup-of-coffee/

http://www.corneliaseigneur.com/blue-ribbon-campaign-police-deserve-a-cup-of-coffee-facebook-page/

http://www.koinlocal6.com/content/news/topstories/story/Cafe-Owners-Support-Anarchists-Deplore-Police/PxSFB2UbW0GzW-yLknbXWQ.cspx?rss=2442

By Cornelia Becker Seigneur

Noting  the importance of physical education classes at school and healthy school lunches and eating less fast food and encouraging less time in front of the computer and TV screens and more time outdoors are all good when it comes to the ongoing discussion of how to curb the childhood obesity issue in this country.

But, in the end, it is what we as families do at home that will make the difference.

Childhood obesity changes start at home.

And, yes, I believe that means unplugging the kids. And getting them outside into the fresh air. I know I need it. And so do our children, even when they do not know it.

Building natural exercise into a family’s life by walking together places is ideal. And cooking meals together from scratch and limiting junk food during the week and having more fresh fruits and vegetables available are all easy ideas.

It is the lifestyle at home that will make the difference.

I guess I get tired of the schools and the media and advertising getting blamed for kids being overweight. No PE classes, okay, that is too bad when they get cut, but as a family get your kids to walk more on your own. Or ride their bicycles. Walk to get a gallon of milk or a movie at the Red Box. Walk to pick up your kid at school. It’s amazing the conversations  that take place when you walk places with your children. Unhealthy school lunch choices? Pack your child’s lunch instead.

It is time to take responsibility for our own lives and teach our kids the same. 

And, for all of the environmentally conscious people out there. It’s also good for the environment.

Kids in general need to get outdoors more and play. I try to go on a walk outside every day, into the yard. Even if it is just for a minute. And our children need it as well. Again, it takes parenting to make it happen. We are here to guide our children and help create a lifestyle that will make the difference for a lifetime for them.

Growing up, my parents had us outdoors all the time. I remember bicycle rides to the park and the store and to friends’ houses. And playing in the yard with neighbors. We need to get back to basics on this with our families.

And, as all things parenting, begin with ourselves.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/pdxgreen/2010/05/kids_needs_to_unplug_commune_w.html