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Tuesday, July 31, 2007
I Can't Blog
I just want to read my book. I'm reading Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time, and when I read it, I am no longer in suburban Colorado. I am beamed into the craggy, majestic, harsh mountains of Pakistan. It is quite a jolt when I am interrupted during my reading and find myself sitting in the air-conditioned waiting room of my car mechanic, the television blasting something about the most creative gift one can bring to a wedding shower.
I will blog again when I am done reading this book. It is much more interesting than this computer!
I will blog again when I am done reading this book. It is much more interesting than this computer!
Labels: Three Cups of Tea
posted by Carol at 1:16 PM
0 comments
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Work is love made visible. And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy. - Kahlil Gibran
In summer, the song sings itself. - William Carlos Williams
Labels: flowers, photography
posted by Carol at 9:24 AM
2 comments
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Would YOU Pass the Juror Test?
Some of the most interesting parts of yesterday's trial had to do with the selection of the jury. Quite a few of the questions that were asked of the potential jurors had to do with finding out their political persuasions. Now, this may sound obvious to you, since this was a trial about a woman who blocked a representatives office in opposition to the war, but in the 2006 No Blood For Oil 12 trial, politics were really kept out of the equation. In that trial, the D.A. and the judge were emphatic that the Iraq war would barely be mentioned. In yesterday's trial, the war was up close and personal, not only during the questioning of the jurors, but Carolyn was allowed to speak for 15 or 20 minutes about U.S. deaths, Iraqi deaths, and the destruction to the country that we now occupy.
Some of the city attorney's questions to the 12 potential jurors (six jurors would be chosen out of this group):
Does your car have any bumper stickers on it? NOT ONE DID
Have you contacted any of your legislators about the war? ONE WOMAN HAS (and she didn't make the cut.)
Do you read websites about the war or about Bush? Only the woman above does. One woman said that she doesn't think about the war OR read the news about it!
Did you vote in the last presidential election? Thank God that all had. Er wait, maybe I wish they hadn't...
Are you familiar with Cindy Sheehan? If so, what do you think of her? This question was asked of only a couple of people. One man emphatically said that he doesn't like her beliefs or how she expresses them. GONE!
Only 3 out of the 12 KNEW THAT THEIR REPRESENTATIVE HAS AN OFFICE IN THEIR TOWN!
I was blown away by the fact that a few of these people don't really even think about the war. Mostly, it appeared that the people in that juror's box fell into the category of good Americans who vote and go about their lives while we devastate Iraq, ruin our standing in the world and bankrupt our country. The few on either end of the spectrum were dismissed by the attorneys. So the final jury was mostly made up of people who didn't express strong feelings either way.
Some of the city attorney's questions to the 12 potential jurors (six jurors would be chosen out of this group):
Does your car have any bumper stickers on it? NOT ONE DID
Have you contacted any of your legislators about the war? ONE WOMAN HAS (and she didn't make the cut.)
Do you read websites about the war or about Bush? Only the woman above does. One woman said that she doesn't think about the war OR read the news about it!
Did you vote in the last presidential election? Thank God that all had. Er wait, maybe I wish they hadn't...
Are you familiar with Cindy Sheehan? If so, what do you think of her? This question was asked of only a couple of people. One man emphatically said that he doesn't like her beliefs or how she expresses them. GONE!
Only 3 out of the 12 KNEW THAT THEIR REPRESENTATIVE HAS AN OFFICE IN THEIR TOWN!
I was blown away by the fact that a few of these people don't really even think about the war. Mostly, it appeared that the people in that juror's box fell into the category of good Americans who vote and go about their lives while we devastate Iraq, ruin our standing in the world and bankrupt our country. The few on either end of the spectrum were dismissed by the attorneys. So the final jury was mostly made up of people who didn't express strong feelings either way.
I would not have been selected for that jury.
Still, with the way the laws are written and the evidence that the jurors had, I would've handed down the same decision they did.
But the sentence was harsh and a waste of taxpayer money.
Some of Carolyn's words from the Rocky Mountain Peace & Justice website:
In September Congress will vote on whether to fund the wars on Iraq and Afghanistan for another $145 billion. Please call your Congress people (202-224-3121 ) every week with your grievances about the war and tell them - vote no on the funding - and ask everyone you know to do the same. Ask your Congress people to prevent Bush from attacking Iran. Write letters to the editor. Visit your Congressperson's office. ...We owe our efforts to the Iraqi people because our government has made their lives a living hell.
But the sentence was harsh and a waste of taxpayer money.
Some of Carolyn's words from the Rocky Mountain Peace & Justice website:
In September Congress will vote on whether to fund the wars on Iraq and Afghanistan for another $145 billion. Please call your Congress people (202-224-3121 ) every week with your grievances about the war and tell them - vote no on the funding - and ask everyone you know to do the same. Ask your Congress people to prevent Bush from attacking Iran. Write letters to the editor. Visit your Congressperson's office. ...We owe our efforts to the Iraqi people because our government has made their lives a living hell.
posted by Carol at 3:15 PM
3 comments
Don't Forget Robert!
Don't forget to visit Robert at Left of Centrist!
From 9:00 a.m today until 9:00 a.m. tomorrow (Sunday), Robert will be participating in a blogathon where he will be blogging once every half hour in order to raise funds for The Alliance for Climate Protection.
Visit Robert, donate, send him comments and questions to help keep him going.
I guarantee that you will find Robert's blog entertaining and meaningful.
From 9:00 a.m today until 9:00 a.m. tomorrow (Sunday), Robert will be participating in a blogathon where he will be blogging once every half hour in order to raise funds for The Alliance for Climate Protection.
Visit Robert, donate, send him comments and questions to help keep him going.
I guarantee that you will find Robert's blog entertaining and meaningful.
Labels: blogathon
posted by Carol at 9:16 AM
0 comments
The Verdict is in
Yesterday, I attended Carolyn's trial at the Westminster City court. It lasted eleven hours.
Denver Post article here.
Carolyn was charged with trespass and illegal assembly for sitting in Representative Udall's office in March. She, along with four others, were reading the names of Coloradoans who have died in Iraq, along with the names of many Iraqis who have died. After ten minutes of doing that action, she and the others were asked to leave. They refused, so the police were called. I need to say that activists had been sitting in the office for two days before that and that about 60 people had been coming in and out of the office, on this March day, in order to deliver their letters of concern regarding the war.
To save you the suspense, I'll let you know the verdict first. This was a verdict delivered by a six-member jury.
I'll write some of my observations and thoughts about the trial later. It is time to go to the Farmer's Market to buy my first big box of organic peaches this season.
Denver Post article here.
Carolyn was charged with trespass and illegal assembly for sitting in Representative Udall's office in March. She, along with four others, were reading the names of Coloradoans who have died in Iraq, along with the names of many Iraqis who have died. After ten minutes of doing that action, she and the others were asked to leave. They refused, so the police were called. I need to say that activists had been sitting in the office for two days before that and that about 60 people had been coming in and out of the office, on this March day, in order to deliver their letters of concern regarding the war.
To save you the suspense, I'll let you know the verdict first. This was a verdict delivered by a six-member jury.
Trespass charge: Guilty
Illegal Assembly charge: Not Guilty
Sentence (ordered by the judge):
365 days in jail and a $1000 fine.
Illegal Assembly charge: Not Guilty
Sentence (ordered by the judge):
365 days in jail and a $1000 fine.
But he waived all but 30 days of the jail sentence and 1/2 the fine.
I'll write some of my observations and thoughts about the trial later. It is time to go to the Farmer's Market to buy my first big box of organic peaches this season.
posted by Carol at 8:49 AM
0 comments
Thursday, July 26, 2007
The Call of Your Heart
Last night I went to a class held by my friend's Rabbi. The plan was that a local Imam would join the Rabbi in leading the class in learning about the similarities and differences between Islam and Judaism. Unfortunately, the Imam was called away to something else and couldn't make it, so the Rabbi did his best at looking at the story of Abraham in the Quran and comparing it to the same story in the Torah.
I was disappointed, because without the Imam, we, of course, got a lop-sided view of the comparison between the Quran and the Torah. Still, THE RABBI IS READING THE QURAN! That's big.
In 2003, I was leading the social justice group at the local Unitarian church. We had been very invested in doing what we could do to stop the imminent war. After the war began, I figured that one helpful thing we could do would be to get to know the local Muslim community - to make a bridge by learning not only about the religion of Islam, but also about the cultures of the people who had come here from the Middle East. These people were being demonized; the government was detaining them and warring with them for no reason that I could figure out. I knew nothing about Islam and wanted to learn.
And I wanted to connect at the place where we are all the same.
So some of us visited the local Islamic Center. That is where I met the Imam who was supposed to be at the class last night. We attended prayers at the Center a number of times. We invited the members of the Islamic Center to the Unitarian Church for lunch, and we asked the Imam to speak to us so that we could learn about Islam. Since that time, the Imam, who was born and raised in Iraq, has become a bridge between Muslims and non-Muslims.
Over time, Michael and I became friends with some of the Center's members and spent time with them, sharing long talks of spirituality. Once, we hosted a dinner that brought together devout couples of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity specifically to share what their religion meant to them. I would sometimes find myself in tears at the beauty of it all. I loved those times, but unfortunately, most of my Muslim friends have moved away now.
I am not a Muslim or a Christian or any other name. I cannot call myself by any religion, yet I honor and learn from all religions. I am afflicted with an an ailment that only allows me to see beyond the doctrines, rituals, and beliefs of religions - or lack of religion - to where there is only one thing. It doesn't matter to me if you worship Jesus or Mohammed or anyone else or nothing else. We all came from one place and you can call that place whatever you want. All that matters to me is what you bring to this life.
From what I hear, the Rabbi of last night's class and the Imam have become friends. That makes me smile. I hope that their friendship and respect will be contagious and will spread around the world.
I was disappointed, because without the Imam, we, of course, got a lop-sided view of the comparison between the Quran and the Torah. Still, THE RABBI IS READING THE QURAN! That's big.
In 2003, I was leading the social justice group at the local Unitarian church. We had been very invested in doing what we could do to stop the imminent war. After the war began, I figured that one helpful thing we could do would be to get to know the local Muslim community - to make a bridge by learning not only about the religion of Islam, but also about the cultures of the people who had come here from the Middle East. These people were being demonized; the government was detaining them and warring with them for no reason that I could figure out. I knew nothing about Islam and wanted to learn.
And I wanted to connect at the place where we are all the same.
So some of us visited the local Islamic Center. That is where I met the Imam who was supposed to be at the class last night. We attended prayers at the Center a number of times. We invited the members of the Islamic Center to the Unitarian Church for lunch, and we asked the Imam to speak to us so that we could learn about Islam. Since that time, the Imam, who was born and raised in Iraq, has become a bridge between Muslims and non-Muslims.
Over time, Michael and I became friends with some of the Center's members and spent time with them, sharing long talks of spirituality. Once, we hosted a dinner that brought together devout couples of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity specifically to share what their religion meant to them. I would sometimes find myself in tears at the beauty of it all. I loved those times, but unfortunately, most of my Muslim friends have moved away now.
I am not a Muslim or a Christian or any other name. I cannot call myself by any religion, yet I honor and learn from all religions. I am afflicted with an an ailment that only allows me to see beyond the doctrines, rituals, and beliefs of religions - or lack of religion - to where there is only one thing. It doesn't matter to me if you worship Jesus or Mohammed or anyone else or nothing else. We all came from one place and you can call that place whatever you want. All that matters to me is what you bring to this life.
From what I hear, the Rabbi of last night's class and the Imam have become friends. That makes me smile. I hope that their friendship and respect will be contagious and will spread around the world.
The wise man said just walk this way
To the dawn of the light
The wind will blow into your face
As the years pass you by
Hear this voice from deep inside
Its the call of your heart
Close your eyes and you will find
The passage out of the dark
- klaus meine
To the dawn of the light
The wind will blow into your face
As the years pass you by
Hear this voice from deep inside
Its the call of your heart
Close your eyes and you will find
The passage out of the dark
- klaus meine
posted by Carol at 10:58 AM
2 comments
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Libby Gets Pardoned and Carolyn Gets 60 Days
This Friday, a local activist will go to trial for sitting in the office of Colorado Congressman, Mark Udall, and reading the names of those who have died in Iraq. No, she didn't leave when asked (this is a public office, correct?). No, she didn't harm anyone and she didn't damage or take any property. For her dastardly deeds, though, we was offered a plea bargain of TWO MONTHS IN JAIL.
If you find this punishment to be an outlandish way to dissuade citizens from practicing their right to free speech; if you find the idea of jailing this woman for two months to be a huge and unnecessary waste of taxpayer's money, please call Mark Udall and tell him so at (303) 650-7820.
Oh, and in this wonderful land of the free that we call Colorado, the Colorado University Board of Regents voted to fire Ward Churchill today, thus silencing a professor whose voice didn't echo the sentiments of the majority in our country. And you thought that universities were places to encourage free thought...
Back to Carolyn:
Denver Post article
From the Colorado Daily:
WESTMINSTER - About 50 people protested in front of Congressman Mark Udall's office on Monday to support a local peace activist facing two months of jail time.
Carrying signs that read "Free Carolyn" and "Mr. Udall, Jail Bush, Not Carolyn," the protestors voiced support for Carolyn Bninski, 57, a coordinator at the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center (RMPJC), who was among five people arrested March 8 after refusing to leave the reception area of Udall's office, where they were reading the names of people who have died in Iraq.
Bninski was charged with trespassing and unlawful assembly, which carries a maximum of one year of jail time. She was released on $250 bail and has been offered a plea bargain of two months' jail time. Her trial is set for Friday morning.
The other four arrestees, none of whom had prior arrests, were offered plea bargains of $100 or 15-20 hours of community service.
This is Bninski's fifth civil disobedience arrest in five years. She has been convicted of trespassing on three occasions - protesting at Sen. Wayne Allard's office in 2002, at the Denver offices of Halliburton in 2003 and in front of a military recruiting station in Lakewood in 2005. Last July she served 10 days of jail time in Jefferson County for the Lakewood conviction.
She also paid a $75 fine for demonstrating without a permit in Washington D.C. in 2006.
Udall's Chief of Staff, Alan Salazar, said he's met with RMPJC representatives many times - including participating in a two-hour meeting with them after the March arrests.
"No one has a deeper respect for the right of free speech and civil dissent than my boss," Salazar said. "He doesn't agree with this group's views on the best way to end the Iraq war, but he will always stand up for the rights of people to speak out." [Don't tell me; show me]
Monday's protest focused on the issue of free speech, which activists say is being tested with Bninski's case.
"Scooter Libby gets pardoned and Carolyn gets 60 days," said Bruce Robinson, 67, of Boulder.
If you find this punishment to be an outlandish way to dissuade citizens from practicing their right to free speech; if you find the idea of jailing this woman for two months to be a huge and unnecessary waste of taxpayer's money, please call Mark Udall and tell him so at (303) 650-7820.
Oh, and in this wonderful land of the free that we call Colorado, the Colorado University Board of Regents voted to fire Ward Churchill today, thus silencing a professor whose voice didn't echo the sentiments of the majority in our country. And you thought that universities were places to encourage free thought...
Back to Carolyn:
Denver Post article
From the Colorado Daily:
WESTMINSTER - About 50 people protested in front of Congressman Mark Udall's office on Monday to support a local peace activist facing two months of jail time.
Carrying signs that read "Free Carolyn" and "Mr. Udall, Jail Bush, Not Carolyn," the protestors voiced support for Carolyn Bninski, 57, a coordinator at the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center (RMPJC), who was among five people arrested March 8 after refusing to leave the reception area of Udall's office, where they were reading the names of people who have died in Iraq.
Bninski was charged with trespassing and unlawful assembly, which carries a maximum of one year of jail time. She was released on $250 bail and has been offered a plea bargain of two months' jail time. Her trial is set for Friday morning.
The other four arrestees, none of whom had prior arrests, were offered plea bargains of $100 or 15-20 hours of community service.
This is Bninski's fifth civil disobedience arrest in five years. She has been convicted of trespassing on three occasions - protesting at Sen. Wayne Allard's office in 2002, at the Denver offices of Halliburton in 2003 and in front of a military recruiting station in Lakewood in 2005. Last July she served 10 days of jail time in Jefferson County for the Lakewood conviction.
She also paid a $75 fine for demonstrating without a permit in Washington D.C. in 2006.
Udall's Chief of Staff, Alan Salazar, said he's met with RMPJC representatives many times - including participating in a two-hour meeting with them after the March arrests.
"No one has a deeper respect for the right of free speech and civil dissent than my boss," Salazar said. "He doesn't agree with this group's views on the best way to end the Iraq war, but he will always stand up for the rights of people to speak out." [Don't tell me; show me]
Monday's protest focused on the issue of free speech, which activists say is being tested with Bninski's case.
"Scooter Libby gets pardoned and Carolyn gets 60 days," said Bruce Robinson, 67, of Boulder.
Labels: Carolyn, Udall, Ward Churchill
posted by Carol at 8:57 PM
8 comments
Monday, July 23, 2007
It's Monday Morning
Maybe you have already seen this video. It has been viewed more than 6 million times. Maybe I'm just a little slow, because I just found it the other day. It is a prescription for people like you and me who see the problems of this world. Like most medications, it won't make the problems go away, but it will, hopefully, bring a moment of relief.
According to the person who posted this video. The man in the middle is his father and yes, that is his real laugh.
According to the person who posted this video. The man in the middle is his father and yes, that is his real laugh.
posted by Carol at 8:00 PM
2 comments
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Once Again
the kindness of people rains down.
I wish that I could draw you a picture and show you what someone has to do in order to visit us Women in Black vigilers.
Sure, there are a few bus-riders that pass us unintentionally (and, it appears, unhappily) as they catch or leave the bus, but if you were to drive by us and decide that you wanted to perform some act of kindness for us, you would have to drive into the mall area and buy your wonderful gift, then drive back out our way, park in front of Chipotle or some other you-see-um-everywhere business, and WALK - hmmmmm - maybe a half a block to get to where we stand. A long way in this day and age just to do something NICE for complete strangers.
There have been a couple of people who risked their lives by stopping their car in the turn lane and getting out to deliver something to us, but anyone else has to make an EFFORT to arrive at our vigil spot. Such is the way of the pedestrian-unfriendly 'burbs.
Yesterday, we were delivered another batch of COLD bottles containing the most refreshing, life-sustaining, thirst-quenching, kindness-delivering, exhilarating
from complete strangers
who went through all of the above in order to do it
Acts of Kindness: 1
Applauds, Thumbs-ups, Peace-signs: too many to count
Flip-offs: 1
I am living in a world that saddens me in too many ways. What we are doing to this beautiful place and to the wonderful inhabitants weighs on me at all times, making it that much more important to pay attention to every moment of grace.
I wish that I could draw you a picture and show you what someone has to do in order to visit us Women in Black vigilers.
Sure, there are a few bus-riders that pass us unintentionally (and, it appears, unhappily) as they catch or leave the bus, but if you were to drive by us and decide that you wanted to perform some act of kindness for us, you would have to drive into the mall area and buy your wonderful gift, then drive back out our way, park in front of Chipotle or some other you-see-um-everywhere business, and WALK - hmmmmm - maybe a half a block to get to where we stand. A long way in this day and age just to do something NICE for complete strangers.
There have been a couple of people who risked their lives by stopping their car in the turn lane and getting out to deliver something to us, but anyone else has to make an EFFORT to arrive at our vigil spot. Such is the way of the pedestrian-unfriendly 'burbs.
Yesterday, we were delivered another batch of COLD bottles containing the most refreshing, life-sustaining, thirst-quenching, kindness-delivering, exhilarating
water
from complete strangers
who went through all of the above in order to do it
Tally for the day
(but who's counting?)
(but who's counting?)
Acts of Kindness: 1
Applauds, Thumbs-ups, Peace-signs: too many to count
Flip-offs: 1
I am living in a world that saddens me in too many ways. What we are doing to this beautiful place and to the wonderful inhabitants weighs on me at all times, making it that much more important to pay attention to every moment of grace.
posted by Carol at 11:16 AM
0 comments
Saturday, July 21, 2007
We All Would Be Different With Different Parenting, Community, Leadership
Cpl. Trent D. Thomas, a Marine Corporal who was convicted of kidnapping and conspiracy to commit murder in the execution of an unarmed Iraqi in Hamandiya last year faced 12 years in prison, but instead got only a bad conduct discharge.
He and his buddies killed a middle-aged Iraqi man, who was dragged from his home, marched 1,000 yards and shot 11 times. Prosecutors said the Marines tried to cover up the killing by planting a shovel and an AK-47 by the man's body to make it look like he was an insurgent planting a bomb.
"We failed him as a Marine Corps, because under good leadership, this Marine would not be here today," Maj. Haytham Faraj told the court. "Consider where the responsibility lies."
It may be true that, under good leadership, Thomas wouldn't have done what he did. So, is anyone going after the leadership where the responsibility lies? I haven't found out anything about that yet.
But what about anyone else who murders - or robs or rapes? Are they any different? Are they responsible for their actions or does the responsibility lie with leadership (from parents to the community to the prez)?
Just wonderin' what the difference is...
He and his buddies killed a middle-aged Iraqi man, who was dragged from his home, marched 1,000 yards and shot 11 times. Prosecutors said the Marines tried to cover up the killing by planting a shovel and an AK-47 by the man's body to make it look like he was an insurgent planting a bomb.
"We failed him as a Marine Corps, because under good leadership, this Marine would not be here today," Maj. Haytham Faraj told the court. "Consider where the responsibility lies."
It may be true that, under good leadership, Thomas wouldn't have done what he did. So, is anyone going after the leadership where the responsibility lies? I haven't found out anything about that yet.
But what about anyone else who murders - or robs or rapes? Are they any different? Are they responsible for their actions or does the responsibility lie with leadership (from parents to the community to the prez)?
Just wonderin' what the difference is...
posted by Carol at 11:00 AM
2 comments
Just Add Green Beans
We've been eating a LOT of kale lately. Why? Because it's there. And it's soooo good for the body.Tomatoes are an occasional luxury, so far, but I have high hopes.
And now it's time for the first green bean pickin'. My salivary glands are revving up, mostly for the taste of fresh, FRESH green beans. And partly for a momentary reprieve from kale (there is still plenty of that hanging around, though).
Labels: garden, photography
posted by Carol at 10:48 AM
2 comments
Friday, July 20, 2007
Huh?
I had to laugh when I saw the headline: Cheney to be in Charge During Bush Colonoscopy. I couldn't figure out the point of the article. What's the difference between C in charge now and C in charge during W's butt prodding? And then to read that W was going to be anesthetized ...
well, that put me over the edge. What do you call his mental process now???
And this article didn't even come from the Onion!
well, that put me over the edge. What do you call his mental process now???
And this article didn't even come from the Onion!
posted by Carol at 1:58 PM
4 comments
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Not One More Man
Robert from Left of Centrist has just posted the video of his latest and greatest - Not One More Man. This song delivers power to the people and a great big NO! to W.
Music is a powerful way to move people. Please, if you like the song, pass it on.
"What I am asking - if you like the video, please help me out by posting it anywhere you can. Personal blogs, group blogs, forums, web sites, email the link. I want this song to go viral. It is in memory of Casey Sheehan and all the other thousands of men and women who have lost their lives for this feeble excuse of a world leader. However, it is dedicated to everyone who has a deep abiding desire for the world to learn how to resolve conflicts with discussions instead of concussions." - Robert Rouse
Lyrics
NOT ONE MORE MAN
Written by Robert Rouse
Not one more man shall die for you, not one more mother's son
Not one more man shall go to war, not one to shoot your gun
We won't let you just take their lives to do with as you will
Not one more man shall die for you, not one more shall you kill
You started your own little war to make your daddy proud
It didn't matter if your pride made mothers wear a shroud
You tried to make the US think your holy war was good
But we saw through deception and we all understood
The attacks were linked to Baghdad is the story that you sold
But this holy war has holes throughout the story that you told
It's really very easy to right this wrong you tried
Just start by telling every one in America you lied
Not one more man shall die for you, not one more mother's son
Not one more man shall go to war, not one to shoot your gun
We won't let you just take their lives to do with as you will
Not one more man shall die for you, not one more shall you kill
You try to make the people think that what we say is wrong
You'll tell them only traitors would ever sing this song
You'll talk until your face is blue but lies won't change the facts
See we have truth upon our side and truth is what you lack
You tell us God appointed you to lead us into war
But people know that war is not what our great God stands for
You need to read the Bible and perhaps your eyes will see
That it is us, the peacemakers who God says "Blessed be."
Not one more man shall die for you, not one more mother's son
Not one more man shall go to war, not one to shoot your gun
We won't let you just take their lives to do with as you will
Not one more man shall die for you, not one more shall you kill
Not one more man will die for Bush, not one more mother's son
Not one more man shall make you rich, no one to buy your guns
We won't let you just sell their lives, your coffers there to fill
Not one more man shall die for Bush, not one more shall you kill
Let's stop the killing, tell the truth, not one more shall you kill
Please Mr. Bush, for your own soul, please no more shall you kill
Music is a powerful way to move people. Please, if you like the song, pass it on.
"What I am asking - if you like the video, please help me out by posting it anywhere you can. Personal blogs, group blogs, forums, web sites, email the link. I want this song to go viral. It is in memory of Casey Sheehan and all the other thousands of men and women who have lost their lives for this feeble excuse of a world leader. However, it is dedicated to everyone who has a deep abiding desire for the world to learn how to resolve conflicts with discussions instead of concussions." - Robert Rouse
Lyrics
NOT ONE MORE MAN
Written by Robert Rouse
Not one more man shall die for you, not one more mother's son
Not one more man shall go to war, not one to shoot your gun
We won't let you just take their lives to do with as you will
Not one more man shall die for you, not one more shall you kill
You started your own little war to make your daddy proud
It didn't matter if your pride made mothers wear a shroud
You tried to make the US think your holy war was good
But we saw through deception and we all understood
The attacks were linked to Baghdad is the story that you sold
But this holy war has holes throughout the story that you told
It's really very easy to right this wrong you tried
Just start by telling every one in America you lied
Not one more man shall die for you, not one more mother's son
Not one more man shall go to war, not one to shoot your gun
We won't let you just take their lives to do with as you will
Not one more man shall die for you, not one more shall you kill
You try to make the people think that what we say is wrong
You'll tell them only traitors would ever sing this song
You'll talk until your face is blue but lies won't change the facts
See we have truth upon our side and truth is what you lack
You tell us God appointed you to lead us into war
But people know that war is not what our great God stands for
You need to read the Bible and perhaps your eyes will see
That it is us, the peacemakers who God says "Blessed be."
Not one more man shall die for you, not one more mother's son
Not one more man shall go to war, not one to shoot your gun
We won't let you just take their lives to do with as you will
Not one more man shall die for you, not one more shall you kill
Not one more man will die for Bush, not one more mother's son
Not one more man shall make you rich, no one to buy your guns
We won't let you just sell their lives, your coffers there to fill
Not one more man shall die for Bush, not one more shall you kill
Let's stop the killing, tell the truth, not one more shall you kill
Please Mr. Bush, for your own soul, please no more shall you kill
Labels: Left of Centrist, Not One More Man
posted by Carol at 9:19 PM
2 comments
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
For J
This is for you
You know who you are
The one who has lost hope
and feels all alone in a world full of people
Don't forget to breathe in the beauty
that is all around you
It is always there
waiting
for you to turn your head away
from what pains you
See the gifts, however small
They're everywhere
but you can't hold on
to them
or the pain
It is all just
sand running through
our fingers
love
Labels: photography
posted by Carol at 9:13 PM
2 comments
What About a Buddha Doll or a Joseph Smith Doll?
Jesus, Samson Action Figures Hit Wal-Mart
Dolls Aimed At Christian Families
BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart said 425 of its stores will sell Biblical action figures aimed at Christian parents who prefer their children play with Samson, David or Noah rather than with a comic book character or Bratz doll.
Wal-Mart Stores spokeswoman Melissa O'Brien said the world's largest retailer believes there's demand for faith-based toys.
The toy line will be in some Wal-Mart shelves starting in August, mainly in the Midwest and South, but also in California and as far northeast as Pennsylvania.
The toys include a 3-inch figure of Daniel in the lion's den, a 12-inch talking Jesus doll and a 13-inch Samson action figure.
Dolls Aimed At Christian Families
BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart said 425 of its stores will sell Biblical action figures aimed at Christian parents who prefer their children play with Samson, David or Noah rather than with a comic book character or Bratz doll.
Wal-Mart Stores spokeswoman Melissa O'Brien said the world's largest retailer believes there's demand for faith-based toys.
The toy line will be in some Wal-Mart shelves starting in August, mainly in the Midwest and South, but also in California and as far northeast as Pennsylvania.
The toys include a 3-inch figure of Daniel in the lion's den, a 12-inch talking Jesus doll and a 13-inch Samson action figure.
Labels: Wal-Mart
posted by Carol at 5:39 PM
3 comments
False Flags
I grabbed this off of a list I'm on (thanks, Ward):
Impeach Now
Or Face the End of Constitutional Democracy
By PAUL CRAIG ROBERTS
07/17/07 "ICH ' -- -- Unless Congress immediately impeaches Bush and Cheney, a year from now the US could be a dictatorial police state at war with Iran.
Bush has put in place all the necessary measures for dictatorship in the form of "executive orders" that are triggered whenever Bush declares a national emergency. Recent statements by Homeland Security Chief Michael Chertoff, former Republican senator Rick Santorum and others suggest that Americans might expect a series of staged, or false flag, "terrorist" events
in the near future.
Many attentive people believe that the reason the Bush administration will not bow to expert advice and public opinion and begin withdrawing US troops from Iraq is that the administration intends to rescue its unpopular position with false flag operations that can be used to expand the war to Iran.
Too much is going wrong for the Bush administration: the failure of its Middle East wars, Republican senators jumping ship, Turkish troops massed on northern Iraq's border poised for an invasion to deal with Kurds, and a majority of Americans favoring the impeachment of Cheney and a near-majority favoring Bush's impeachment. The Bush administration desperately needs dramatic events to scare the American people and the Congress back in line with the militarist-police state that Bush and Cheney have fostered.
William Norman Grigg recently wrote that the GOP is "praying for a terrorist strike" to save the party from electoral wipeout in 2008. Chertoff, Cheney, the neocon nazis, and Mossad would have no qualms about saving the bacon for the Republicans, who have enabled Bush to start two unjustified wars, with Iran waiting in the wings to be attacked in a third war.
The Bush administration has tried unsuccessfully to resurrect the terrorist fear factor by infiltrating some blowhard groups and encouraging them to talk about staging "terrorist" events. The talk, encouraged by federal agents, resulted in "terrorist" arrests hyped by the media, but even the captive media was unable to scare people with such transparent sting operations.
If the Bush administration wants to continue its wars in the Middle East and to entrench the "unitary executive" at home, it will have to conduct some false flag operations that will both frighten and anger the American people and make them accept Bush's declaration of "national emergency" and the return of the draft. Alternatively, the administration could simply allow
any real terrorist plot to proceed without hindrance.
A series of staged or permitted attacks would be spun by the captive media as a vindication of the neoconsevatives' Islamophobic policy, the intention of which is to destroy all Middle Eastern governments that are not American puppet states. Success would give the US control over oil, but the main purpose is to eliminate any resistance to Israel's complete absorption of Palestine into Greater Israel.
Think about it. If another 9/11-type "security failure" were not in the works, why would Homeland Security czar Chertoff go to the trouble of convincing the Chicago Tribune that Americans have become complacent about terrorist threats and that he has "a gut feeling" that America will soon be hit hard?
Why would Republican warmonger Rick Santorum say on the Hugh Hewitt radio show that "between now and November, a lot of things are going to happen, and I believe that by this time next year, the American public's (sic) going to have a very different view of this war."
Throughout its existence the US government has staged incidents that the government then used in behalf of purposes that it could not otherwise have pursued. According to a number of writers, false flag operations have been routinely used by the Israeli state. During the Czarist era in Russia, the secret police would set off bombs in order to arrest those the secret police
regarded as troublesome. Hitler was a dramatic orchestrator of false flag operations. False flag operations are a commonplace tool of governments.
Ask yourself: Would a government that has lied us into two wars and is working to lie us into an attack on Iran shrink from staging "terrorist" attacks in order to remove opposition to its agenda?
Only a diehard minority believes in the honesty and integrity of the Bush-Cheney administration and in the truthfulness of the corporate media.
Hitler, who never achieved majority support in a German election, used the Reichstag fire to fan hysteria and push through the Enabling Act, which made him dictator. Determined tyrants never require majority support in order to overthrow constitutional orders.
The American constitutional system is near to being overthrown. Are coming "terrorist" events of which Chertoff warns and Santorum promises the means for overthrowing our constitutional democracy?
Paul Craig Roberts was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury in the Reagan administration. He was Associate Editor of the Wall Street Journal editorial page and Contributing Editor of National Review. He is coauthor of The Tyranny of Good Intentions. He can be reached at PaulCraigRoberts@yahoo.com
Impeach Now
Or Face the End of Constitutional Democracy
By PAUL CRAIG ROBERTS
07/17/07 "ICH ' -- -- Unless Congress immediately impeaches Bush and Cheney, a year from now the US could be a dictatorial police state at war with Iran.
Bush has put in place all the necessary measures for dictatorship in the form of "executive orders" that are triggered whenever Bush declares a national emergency. Recent statements by Homeland Security Chief Michael Chertoff, former Republican senator Rick Santorum and others suggest that Americans might expect a series of staged, or false flag, "terrorist" events
in the near future.
Many attentive people believe that the reason the Bush administration will not bow to expert advice and public opinion and begin withdrawing US troops from Iraq is that the administration intends to rescue its unpopular position with false flag operations that can be used to expand the war to Iran.
Too much is going wrong for the Bush administration: the failure of its Middle East wars, Republican senators jumping ship, Turkish troops massed on northern Iraq's border poised for an invasion to deal with Kurds, and a majority of Americans favoring the impeachment of Cheney and a near-majority favoring Bush's impeachment. The Bush administration desperately needs dramatic events to scare the American people and the Congress back in line with the militarist-police state that Bush and Cheney have fostered.
William Norman Grigg recently wrote that the GOP is "praying for a terrorist strike" to save the party from electoral wipeout in 2008. Chertoff, Cheney, the neocon nazis, and Mossad would have no qualms about saving the bacon for the Republicans, who have enabled Bush to start two unjustified wars, with Iran waiting in the wings to be attacked in a third war.
The Bush administration has tried unsuccessfully to resurrect the terrorist fear factor by infiltrating some blowhard groups and encouraging them to talk about staging "terrorist" events. The talk, encouraged by federal agents, resulted in "terrorist" arrests hyped by the media, but even the captive media was unable to scare people with such transparent sting operations.
If the Bush administration wants to continue its wars in the Middle East and to entrench the "unitary executive" at home, it will have to conduct some false flag operations that will both frighten and anger the American people and make them accept Bush's declaration of "national emergency" and the return of the draft. Alternatively, the administration could simply allow
any real terrorist plot to proceed without hindrance.
A series of staged or permitted attacks would be spun by the captive media as a vindication of the neoconsevatives' Islamophobic policy, the intention of which is to destroy all Middle Eastern governments that are not American puppet states. Success would give the US control over oil, but the main purpose is to eliminate any resistance to Israel's complete absorption of Palestine into Greater Israel.
Think about it. If another 9/11-type "security failure" were not in the works, why would Homeland Security czar Chertoff go to the trouble of convincing the Chicago Tribune that Americans have become complacent about terrorist threats and that he has "a gut feeling" that America will soon be hit hard?
Why would Republican warmonger Rick Santorum say on the Hugh Hewitt radio show that "between now and November, a lot of things are going to happen, and I believe that by this time next year, the American public's (sic) going to have a very different view of this war."
Throughout its existence the US government has staged incidents that the government then used in behalf of purposes that it could not otherwise have pursued. According to a number of writers, false flag operations have been routinely used by the Israeli state. During the Czarist era in Russia, the secret police would set off bombs in order to arrest those the secret police
regarded as troublesome. Hitler was a dramatic orchestrator of false flag operations. False flag operations are a commonplace tool of governments.
Ask yourself: Would a government that has lied us into two wars and is working to lie us into an attack on Iran shrink from staging "terrorist" attacks in order to remove opposition to its agenda?
Only a diehard minority believes in the honesty and integrity of the Bush-Cheney administration and in the truthfulness of the corporate media.
Hitler, who never achieved majority support in a German election, used the Reichstag fire to fan hysteria and push through the Enabling Act, which made him dictator. Determined tyrants never require majority support in order to overthrow constitutional orders.
The American constitutional system is near to being overthrown. Are coming "terrorist" events of which Chertoff warns and Santorum promises the means for overthrowing our constitutional democracy?
Paul Craig Roberts was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury in the Reagan administration. He was Associate Editor of the Wall Street Journal editorial page and Contributing Editor of National Review. He is coauthor of The Tyranny of Good Intentions. He can be reached at PaulCraigRoberts@yahoo.com
posted by Carol at 7:42 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
When I Start to Lose My Way
I remember that I don't know how to make a tomato grow. I nurture it, but I don't create it.
It's difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato. - Lewis Grizzard
We forget how food is supposed to taste, its true texture, and where it comes from (not in a plastic container at the grocery store). When we plant it, love it, nurture it, pick it to eat, then allow what's left of it to go back to the soil so it can love and nurture more, THEN we get more from our food than just a full belly and happy taste buds. We get LIFE.
A garden is evidence of faith. It links us with all the misty figures of the past who also planted and were nourished by the fruits of their planting. - Gladys Taber
Labels: garden, photography
posted by Carol at 9:58 AM
2 comments
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Impeachment
If you didn't see it last night, watch Bill Moyers on Impeachment. Constitutional scholar, Bruce Fine, talks with Bill about the sad state of our government. Bruce is not some "left-wing nut-job". He wrote the first article of impeachment against Clinton. He believes that NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.
BRUCE FEIN: Well, this is an unusual affair of president/vice-president, where the vice-president is de facto president most of the time. And that's why most of people recognize that these decisions, especially when it comes to overreaching with executive power, are the product of Dick Cheney and his aide, David Addington, not George Bush and Alberto Gonzalez or Harriet Miers, who don't have the cerebral capacity to think of these devilish ideas. And for that reason, they equate the administration more with Dick Cheney than with George Bush.
BILL MOYERS: Bruce, you talk about overreaching. What, in practical terms, do you mean by that?
BRUCE FEIN: It means asserting powers and claiming that there are no other branches that have the authority to question it.
You've gotta watch that show! And if you haven't already done so, click here and sign the impeachment petition (and if you're a blogger, copy and paste my whole July 5th post into your blog and add your name).
BRUCE FEIN: Well, this is an unusual affair of president/vice-president, where the vice-president is de facto president most of the time. And that's why most of people recognize that these decisions, especially when it comes to overreaching with executive power, are the product of Dick Cheney and his aide, David Addington, not George Bush and Alberto Gonzalez or Harriet Miers, who don't have the cerebral capacity to think of these devilish ideas. And for that reason, they equate the administration more with Dick Cheney than with George Bush.
BILL MOYERS: Bruce, you talk about overreaching. What, in practical terms, do you mean by that?
BRUCE FEIN: It means asserting powers and claiming that there are no other branches that have the authority to question it.
You've gotta watch that show! And if you haven't already done so, click here and sign the impeachment petition (and if you're a blogger, copy and paste my whole July 5th post into your blog and add your name).
Labels: Bill Moyers, impeachment
posted by Carol at 8:43 AM
2 comments
HOA Backs Down
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Beth Hammer's HOA did not back down because they realized that Beth has a constitutional freedom of speech. They didn't back down, because W signed a bill last year barring HOA's from restricting how a flag can be displayed. They say that they backed down, because the financial cost of pursuing this woman and her errant flag flying ways would cost more money than would be warranted by the impact of her actions. I think that's a good reason, but the HOA could've educated the public about our legal rights by citing the most important and real reasons for not pursuing this.
Way to go, Beth!
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Beth Hammer's HOA did not back down because they realized that Beth has a constitutional freedom of speech. They didn't back down, because W signed a bill last year barring HOA's from restricting how a flag can be displayed. They say that they backed down, because the financial cost of pursuing this woman and her errant flag flying ways would cost more money than would be warranted by the impact of her actions. I think that's a good reason, but the HOA could've educated the public about our legal rights by citing the most important and real reasons for not pursuing this.
Way to go, Beth!
Labels: 1st Amendment, flag
posted by Carol at 8:11 AM
0 comments
Friday, July 13, 2007
Update on Another Flag Story
W says this...
...is alright with him. Read below.
Update: Silent flag protest raises outcry
Beth Hammer's HOA delivered a letter on 4/24/07 ,threatening fines of $25 to $500 if she didn't right her upside down flag within a week. After meeting this past Tuesday, members of the HOA stated that they will decide within 10 days whether or not to fine this true patriot - and the fines could be retroactive to the date the flag was hung! Beth is willing to take her case to the Supreme Court, if necessary.
So, unless there is something I don't understand (which is highly likely), the HOA doesn't have a chance to win - but they do have the chance of making Beth's life miserable so she'll want to move.
(Babies in their nest at my neighbor's house)
W says this...
...is alright with him. Read below.
Update: Silent flag protest raises outcry
Beth Hammer's HOA delivered a letter on 4/24/07 ,threatening fines of $25 to $500 if she didn't right her upside down flag within a week. After meeting this past Tuesday, members of the HOA stated that they will decide within 10 days whether or not to fine this true patriot - and the fines could be retroactive to the date the flag was hung! Beth is willing to take her case to the Supreme Court, if necessary.
BUT according to the AP article, President signs bill freeing homeowners to fly U.S. flag, W must agree that we can fly our flag at our home in any fashion that we want. I kinda wonder what was behind THAT bill, but hey, he signed it.
So, unless there is something I don't understand (which is highly likely), the HOA doesn't have a chance to win - but they do have the chance of making Beth's life miserable so she'll want to move.
###
(Babies in their nest at my neighbor's house)Do it for the Birds
I've only met Robert of Left of Centrist fame in the blogosphere, but I'm 99% sure that he was at Camp Casey at the same time I was during the week of Easter. I rode from Camp Casey to Crawford with his friend one day, so it's one of those 6 degree things - or maybe just 2 degrees.
Anyway, please go visit this brave man who will be doing his SECOND 24 hour blogathon in a couple of weeks. You can find out all about it here. Send him questions or send him money (which will go to the Alliance for Climate Protection. It has a great website, btw.).
Anyway, please go visit this brave man who will be doing his SECOND 24 hour blogathon in a couple of weeks. You can find out all about it here. Send him questions or send him money (which will go to the Alliance for Climate Protection. It has a great website, btw.).
Labels: environment, flag, Left of Centrist, photography
posted by Carol at 10:30 AM
6 comments
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Do You Want to Die in Front of Your Son?
My video of Operation First Casualty - Denver is finally up on YouTube! Thank you to Lisa, who worked with me to get it uploaded.
I just sat and watched it, and for some reason, I heard words I had never heard during all of my work on the video. For the first time, I heard one of the soldiers yell, "Do you want to die in front of your son?".
And I sat and bawled.
Labels: 4th of July, IVAW, Operation First Casualty
posted by Carol at 9:48 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Another Flag Story
This story reminds me that I'd better check to see how my friend in Michigan is doing with her version of the flag.
A woman who lives in the burb next door will be facing a hearing tomorrow night because she is...
HANGING HER FLAG UPSIDE DOWN!!!
It doesn't get much worse than that!
The board of her homeowner's association is very distressed with her, saying the way the flag is being flown violates Cambridge Park's patriotic and political expression policy.
It's a pretty scary time when we have policies dictating how we express our political views at our own home.
A woman who lives in the burb next door will be facing a hearing tomorrow night because she is...
HANGING HER FLAG UPSIDE DOWN!!!
It doesn't get much worse than that!
The board of her homeowner's association is very distressed with her, saying the way the flag is being flown violates Cambridge Park's patriotic and political expression policy.
It's a pretty scary time when we have policies dictating how we express our political views at our own home.
Labels: flag
posted by Carol at 6:47 PM
4 comments
Otowi and Me
(If I could only erase my hair here! This photo was taken as I was on my way to get my hair cut. Now, post-new-do, I am a new woman! ha!)Today I got to meet Otowi for the first time. She is my #1 commenter on this blog. And, even though I had never met her, throughout the past few months, she has been a great emotional support for me as I've traveled through my interesting shoulder adventures.
Otowi lives a little over an hour away from here and happened to be in Denver for the day. You can visit her blogger digs at her Masooma blog.
Labels: Otowi
posted by Carol at 6:16 PM
4 comments
If you have been reading my blog for awhile, you may have read about my friend Jo's journey. She has been sick for a very long time, diagnosed with pancreatic cancer 2 1/2 years ago. She is now on her way out. I haven't heard yet this morning whether she left the planet last night or not.Yesterday evening, for five hours, about 17 of us sat bedside while Jo did what she needed to do to work free of her body. We partied some. Jo LOVES a party - and eats attention like I eat chocolate, savoring every moment. We also silently prayed, loved her, and supported her in her labor to give birth to who she was before she was born.
The room was filled with so much love that it healed us all in some way. For those few hours at least, family members let go of painful old stories, and held on to the hand of the person beside them instead.
###
What can be done in the micro can be done in the macro.
Does war stop with more war, whether it's a war of bombs or a war in our mind and heart? Could we sit bedside with someone we don't like, say a "prez" or a "terrorist" or an "illegal immigrant" as they let go of their body and not send them off with this much love? I never want to be so callous. Giving love to a person does not mean condoning their actions. It just means letting go of OUR ignorance, judgment and hatred, emptying our hands, so that we can take the hand of another. That's where the war stops.
(And it's cheating if we think we'll just wait until someone is on their deathbed before we'll do this!)
###
It's funny how much we live in denial about death, thinking that we, and the people we love, will be around forever. Jo denied she could die from this through her entire illness. Anyone that brought up the "d" word around her was fired. Gone. Dead to her. Ooops!
It all could be gone in a moment.
Love
posted by Carol at 7:37 AM
6 comments
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Take the Quiz
I stole quiz off of Robert's Left of Centrist blog. He and I are both Peace Patrollers. What are you?
My Liberal Identity:
You are a Peace Patroller, also known as an anti-war liberal or hippie. You believe in putting an end to American imperial conquest, stopping wars that have already been lost, and supporting our troops by bringing them home.
Take the quiz at www.FightConservatives.com
posted by Carol at 8:25 PM
7 comments
Sheehan Considers Challenge to Pelosi
From the AP:
CRAWFORD, Texas - Cindy Sheehan, the soldier's mother who galvanized the anti-war movement, said Sunday that she plans to seek House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's congressional seat unless she introduces articles of impeachment against President Bush in the next two weeks.
...Sheehan said she will run against the San Francisco Democrat in 2008 as an independent if Pelosi does not seek by July 23 to impeach Bush.
"I'm doing it to encourage other people to run against Congress members who aren't doing their jobs, who are beholden to special interests," Sheehan said. "She (Pelosi) let the people down who worked hard to put Democrats back in power, who we thought were our hope for change."
CRAWFORD, Texas - Cindy Sheehan, the soldier's mother who galvanized the anti-war movement, said Sunday that she plans to seek House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's congressional seat unless she introduces articles of impeachment against President Bush in the next two weeks.
...Sheehan said she will run against the San Francisco Democrat in 2008 as an independent if Pelosi does not seek by July 23 to impeach Bush.
"I'm doing it to encourage other people to run against Congress members who aren't doing their jobs, who are beholden to special interests," Sheehan said. "She (Pelosi) let the people down who worked hard to put Democrats back in power, who we thought were our hope for change."
Labels: Cindy Sheehan
posted by Carol at 8:12 PM
2 comments
Addendum to the U.S. Flag
My friend just sent me the photo of the flag that she and her boyfriend put up at their home.I told her that she needs to move to a home by a highway so more people could view her patriotism.
Nice job, though, eh?
And speaking of impeachment, if you just scroll on down to my July 5th post, you'll find an impeachment petition to sign. You'll also find links to all kinds of bloggers who support impeachment. Go visit their sites. It's way better than watching t.v. You'll find humor, info, drama, and more. You'll learn a lot and connect with what REAL Americans are thinking.
Labels: Impeach
posted by Carol at 9:01 AM
6 comments
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Maybe Denmark?
After seeing Michael Moore's Sicko, I thought I might just move to France where everyone has health-care, a minimum of five weeks vacation, and not only free daycare for their kids, but also free college. But as Otowi reminded me, the French aren't hijab-friendly. I'm not Muslim and I don't wear hijab (but you can see me in one, by clicking here). Since I have a problem with a country that has a problem with hijabs, I decided to check out the Scandinavian countries by emailing my friend who has been there for the last month. I haven't yet heard of any issues with scarves in that part of the world. Here are some of my friend's observations:
All of Scandinavia is very expensive as the dollar is not worth much. The taxes are very high in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. I know the most about Denmark where taxes are 40 to 50% and with all the other taxes is about 83%. However people are taking care of from cradle to grave - health care, education, 5 weeks vacation, both parents get generous time off when a child is born - 48 weeks for an adoption and day care is paid for beginning at 6 months. However if people have money they pay for maybe better health care. It's hard to make much money but very few fall thru the cracks. There is just no homelessness in Denmark - as they say no reason for it. Very clean country. These countries belong to the EU but have their own currency and it is different in each country. In Denmark one sees many people all ages esp. females riding their bikes as they have great bike paths everywhere. Gas is about $5 a gallon - there are cars, all small, but not lots of traffic. In Norway and Sweden any liquor is very highly taxed - so much is bought in Denmark and brought over. Drunk driving is NOT tolerated .
The first night in Sweden we each had a hamburger and fries - $25 apiece. A beer in a small glass is $10.
In Stockholm most of the elderly are taken care of in their own homes - not nursing homes- food, cleaning, dressing them etc is provided - sounds good - don't know how it works in reality. Gays are very accepted and Denmark was the first country to recognize same sex marriages.
What do you think? Time to form a hamburger/french fry-free hippy commune in Denmark???
All of Scandinavia is very expensive as the dollar is not worth much. The taxes are very high in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. I know the most about Denmark where taxes are 40 to 50% and with all the other taxes is about 83%. However people are taking care of from cradle to grave - health care, education, 5 weeks vacation, both parents get generous time off when a child is born - 48 weeks for an adoption and day care is paid for beginning at 6 months. However if people have money they pay for maybe better health care. It's hard to make much money but very few fall thru the cracks. There is just no homelessness in Denmark - as they say no reason for it. Very clean country. These countries belong to the EU but have their own currency and it is different in each country. In Denmark one sees many people all ages esp. females riding their bikes as they have great bike paths everywhere. Gas is about $5 a gallon - there are cars, all small, but not lots of traffic. In Norway and Sweden any liquor is very highly taxed - so much is bought in Denmark and brought over. Drunk driving is NOT tolerated .
The first night in Sweden we each had a hamburger and fries - $25 apiece. A beer in a small glass is $10.
In Stockholm most of the elderly are taken care of in their own homes - not nursing homes- food, cleaning, dressing them etc is provided - sounds good - don't know how it works in reality. Gays are very accepted and Denmark was the first country to recognize same sex marriages.
What do you think? Time to form a hamburger/french fry-free hippy commune in Denmark???
posted by Carol at 3:21 PM
5 comments
95 Degrees
A young man carrying a couple of Target bags walked over to us today while we were standing vigil (Women in Black). Saying that he felt hot just looking at us, he handed us the bags - filled with cold bottles of water.
That was the best water I've ever tasted!
That was the best water I've ever tasted!
Life's most urgent question is: what are you doing for others?
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Labels: Women in Black
posted by Carol at 2:48 PM
2 comments
