It's Memorial day and we get a three day weekend to commemorate the somber and serious service of men and women under the illusion that killing people is going to solve political problems. I have never found this to be true. Killing people just leads to more war and violence and anyone that tells you different is lying.
We go back on this memorial day to the first anti war poem ever written by a woman name Enheduana in 2000 BC.
You hack everything down in battle
God of War, with your fierce wings
you slave away the land and charge
disguised as a raging storm
growl as a roaring hurricane
yell like a tempest yells
thunder rage roar and drum
expel evil winds
You are blood rushing down a mountain
spirit of hate greed and anger
you decide all fate
You triumph over all our rites
Who can explain why you go on so?
She is already tired of war 4000 years ago lamenting it's eternal reach and habitual presence in her everyday life. So, Is it really possible for us to remember the all the dead soldiers who willingly go to war? Whether it is to make a living, gain money for education, see the world, save civilians, settle an age old gripe or secure an imaginary border.
Every one who has ever taken up arms had a reason to go to war, even if it was as mundane as boredom. Do we remember only their bravery or the war crimes they committed, the lives they ruined? Or do we simply honor their memory and service to their country. It's confusing because, A soldier fighting in Afghanistan is supposedly defending our nation, but for the life of me, I cannot deduce how that serves us. Is it international security? No. Is it financial security? No. Is it defending our spiritually? No. Is there any logical reason ? No. But somehow we all agree on some level that this is acceptable.
Parents allow their kids to go. I know they are 18 and supposedly can make adult choices, but I disagree. I think they are still children and need guidance especially from people who love them.
I would make an exception however, if in fact there was a foreign, or domestic army coming down Albion Ridge Road, where I live. I do see the benefit of taking up arms and defending one's house, just like they are doing in the countries that we have invaded.
How does that make our Military righteous? Some felt righteous as in the case of the Kaiser or Hitler, it gave them a sense of pride, patriotism, and purpose going after these really bad guys. Innocent people in villages , animals and trees were just casualties along the way. Nobody planned it that way. Battles don't really take place on the battle field anymore.
And it could happen anywhere anytime a stray bullet may find its way to your door and not even have the courtesy to knock. When I even start to consider all the dead soldiers from all the wars I just want to cry my eyes out. Here are some statistics. According to the Washington Post 6,013 soldiers have died in the Iraq/Afghan wars. 500 hundred soldiers in the Gulf war, Vietnam, over 58,168. WWII 41,000. I'll stop there. ouch.
So today we are charged with the duty of remembering. the root of that word meaning to put back together as opposed to dismembering, which is what war does. It's a big job to remember just one person let alone hundreds, thousands. Let's put Sgt. Jesus Rodriguez back together after he was blown to bits by an IED.
Everybody called him Chewy. Last November, He was just walking on patrol with a buddy, they had been looking out for each other for the last 9 months since they were reassigned to Anbar Province. They had a Rat scouting in the field but the rat got distracted. Just that morning Chewt was skyeping with his kids sending them ridiculous stretchy faces on the I-photo. They were all laughing and making promises of a bright future. We remember him 8 years ago, falling in love with his wife, Rachel in High School Biology class and before that, going to school, not doing getting the best grades, but exiling in Chorus with his clear soprano. We remember him well, the youngest of three. Lil brother. The day he was born his father planted a olive tree. His mother almost died after a hard labor, but just having Jose in her arms would revive her. She loved him and kept him in her bed. She was the light in his life.
If we do this for each solider we've lost over only the last two or three wars. Remember each one, put them back into their lives. We will have a whole let of remembering to do, we just may forget about making war and remember why we were born.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Close But No Cigar
We’ll here we are again. Luckily, this time, we avoided the Terrible rapture predicted by The Oh so righteous fundamentalist Fred Camping on Family radio.com. There are some who did experience Rapture like consequences in the guise of a 200 mph tornado in Joplin Mo and to them we must say farewell. This was followed by the dramatic volcanic eruption in Iceland, again. I would say the end is near but it’s not about weird winged creatures coming from the sky. It’s mother nature cleaning house. It’s going to be a wild ride.
I was actually down at Rapture Central on May 21st to see if the devoted flock would be standing ready at the gates of the Oakland airport, because that’s where the radio station is on Hegenberger Ave. All I found in the parking lot around noon was a crazy right wing spoof group excited for the arrival of Jesus, a reporter from the SF Chronicle and a Minister of a nearby church who had his car smothered in bumper stickers from hood to hatchback.
One stood out in particular. Gay = Pervert. I asked him if he had a sticker that said Priest = pervert. He began to rattle off the strangest statistics I’ve ever heard. The first that proportionately because there are only %2 gay people in the US and 98% hetero that the small amount of pedophiles in the gay population are greater that the large amount in the straight population because of the size of the group. Go figure.
He also told me that most violence against gay people is gay on gay. Butches against dykes. I had to laugh. I told him, being of the Lesbian persuasion myself that I assured him that this was misinformation because in Gay linguistics, Butch’s are dykes. He said, “No, they’re not.” He also told me the origin of the word Gay was “Going after youth”. I said, “No, Gay means Happy.”
He clenched his fist to tell me how public school and the left wing media are crushing the souls of our children by legitimizing homosexuality and while he disagreed with the whole rapture prediction and was there to protest, he did feel like our society was going to hell in a hand basket because of the liberal homo agenda.
He also was absolutely positive that Global warming was a hoax. He believed that we are about to be enslaved controlled by some power mad corporate elite. That is the one thing that we agreed on. The corporations are taking over the world. I took that as a good sign. We had something in common. I pointed that out and we shook hands. I wished him luck and hoped he would find love in his Christian heart for all people one day.
With no rapture in sight nor anyone from Family Radio, I had the option to run over to Oakland for the Atheists’ convention or go to Berkeley and see the New Tom Shadyiak film I AM. I opted for the later, feeling like, if we are going to Rapture this evening at 6PM as predicted, I want to enjoy my own religious experience aligned with my divine belief system that underneath it all, everything is beautiful. I also thought if I ran into Jesus anywhere in the Bay Area it would be in Berkeley. In fact, I thought I saw him on Telegraph Ave, but he denied it. I thought everyone would be looking for Jesus. But they were busy shopping and dining.
Tom Shadyac is the Director of the Bruce Almighty and the Ace Ventura movies starring the putty faced Jim Carrey. Funny comedies, on the disgusting side, but I laughed a lot when Jim Carrey in Ace Ventura 2 looked like he was being birthed by a Rhino. Hilarious!
After a terrible bike accident that resulted in severe brain trauma that nearly killed him, Shadyac reexamined his purpose and was reborn with a mission to contribute something really productive, healthy and important to the cultural table. The film I AM is his offering. The documentary asks the questions; "What is wrong with the world and How can we fix it?" He poses this dilemma to a variety of scientists, historians, philosophers and the like including, Desmond Tutu, Howard Zinn, Lynn Mctaggert, author of the Intention experiment and a vast array of other movers and dreamers. It is not hard to express that the most threatening issues we face or a result of profit and greed, just like the preacher man said.
The interview subjects begin by questioning the premise that Human beings are competitive. We are born under that pretense and we are thrust into the classroom, the marketplace, stadium, and warzone with that paradigm as a given. After deeper investigation it becomes apparent that while we may have the competition genome we are also gifted with the cooperative gene and if we are reared with that intention supported by a society that thrives on cooperation we could and will change the world and make it a safer, better, richer, more beautiful place. Because in lieu of the rapture and the forecasting of end times, we find ourselves at a cross roads my friends. We now have glorious opportunity to recast ourselves as companions, allies and friends. We always see that especially when disaster strikes, our innate response is to safe lives even of strangers and enemies. To me this speaks of basic human nature if given the pertinent information and opportunity.
And yes, In I AM, underneath it all they scientifically prove, at least in my mind, that we are all connected, we are all one. So that angry preacher man in the parking lot is me and the best way to convert him, so to speak, is to treat him with such love and appreciation that he is healed from the smile on my face and the warmth of my handshake. Close, but no cigar.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Go to Hell Shell
There are endless things for me to rave and rant about today, like the fact that a woman is raped every minute in the Congo, or a young girl is infibulated her organs of sexual pleasure are removed), or that Bin Laden is dead yet we are still waging war in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Then there's the ridiculous parade of republican clowns climbing out of the little red car and honking their annoying horns making obscene gestures like a some sick side show. Unions are being stripped of their rights for collective bargaining.
Did you get to see or hear about the Finance Committee hearings on May 12th for the Oilygarchs?
Get this:
The 5 largest oil companies Shell, Chevron, BP America, Conoco Phillips, and Exxon Mobile made 35 billion dollars profit in the first quarter of 2011. Democratic Chairman of the committee, Max Baucus presided over the Senate hearings on May 12th for these big boys to ask whether 2.1 billion dollars in subsides is appropriate under present circumstances. With those unprecedented Profits, admittedly not invested in research and development, but rather distributed as stock buybacks and dividends, it seems that it is...inappropriate. The CEO from Chevron was asked a simple yes or no question by Senator Schumer; "Are oil subsides more important than medicare for the elderly or education for our children?"
The very long answer did not contain either a yes or no.
Why does there have to be a hearing at all?. Why doesn't the Government say, "No more." and simply write a law that ends all government subsides for Oil Company's. The can have loans if they need it, but no free lunch. That's it.
They don't have hearings to ask seniors how they feel about having medicare cuts. They hear from no university students testifying to their right to have Pell grants, and access to education. But, these bleached and bloated white men have the favor of the highest authorities in the land. And still they lament that if they don't receive these vital subsides, well, they could go out of business.
Seven billion dollar profit for each company is not enough. The chairman of Conoco Phillips thinks it's downright un-american to even suggest that subsides be taken from them. These five rich white men sitting before the Senate Finance committee had not one grain of remorse for what they've wrought, compassion, or concern for anyone other then themselves.
I found it entirely astonishing that although the President of BP America was sitting on the Panel, that not one of our esteemed Senators thought to bring up the largest oil leak and disaster in the history of the world. No one mentioned that the Gulf of Mexico is one giant tar ball. No one mentioned the stillborn baby dolphins or dead sea turtles, or the still unknown effects of dispersant Corexit. People are still sick and dying from the negligence, arrogance and incompetence of the Oil companies, and their regulatory agencies.
This year BP had awesome profits and they expect to resume drilling in the Gulf, in fact the Government has already signed off on new drilling permits even though no changes have been made as far a new protections against blowouts and accidents. No one chimed in on the unpaid damages that Exxon still owes from the Valdez spill in Alaska in 1989.
No one mentioned the fact that Chevron has destroyed so many lives and ecosystems in Ecuador that a judge has ruled after 18 year long trial that Chevron has to pay 9 billion dollars in damages. Chevron is appealing that decision. A delegation from Ecuador will be protesting at Chevron Headquarters on May 25th to demand that Chevron pay the relief.
No one mentioned the Nigerian disaster war zone created by Shell.
No one addressed their responsibility for climate change. No one on the finance committee has the intelligence, courage, or information to address these bastards on the crimes against humanity and the planet and Tell them "not only will their subsides be revoked but they will also be ordered to pay for all the cleanup and compensate victims everywhere"
Subsides? How about jail? Evangelicals are telling us that Judgment day is on Saturday. the 21st of May. they say Jesus is coming. Good! I want him to pass judgment on mens deeds and we can finally get answers to these questions:
" Would Jesus condone obscene profits or humble prophets?"
"Who Would Jesus Bomb?"
" Who would Jesus Foreclose upon?"
What would Jesus say about the Poor, The Rich. I can't wait to here it straight from the Savior's mouth. I tell you as far as I know Jesus. He just allright with me.
If the end is near I say it's because these oligarchs delivered us .They are evil and If anyone's should go to hell Next Saturday it should be them.
Then there's the ridiculous parade of republican clowns climbing out of the little red car and honking their annoying horns making obscene gestures like a some sick side show. Unions are being stripped of their rights for collective bargaining.
Did you get to see or hear about the Finance Committee hearings on May 12th for the Oilygarchs?
Get this:
The 5 largest oil companies Shell, Chevron, BP America, Conoco Phillips, and Exxon Mobile made 35 billion dollars profit in the first quarter of 2011. Democratic Chairman of the committee, Max Baucus presided over the Senate hearings on May 12th for these big boys to ask whether 2.1 billion dollars in subsides is appropriate under present circumstances. With those unprecedented Profits, admittedly not invested in research and development, but rather distributed as stock buybacks and dividends, it seems that it is...inappropriate. The CEO from Chevron was asked a simple yes or no question by Senator Schumer; "Are oil subsides more important than medicare for the elderly or education for our children?"
The very long answer did not contain either a yes or no.
Why does there have to be a hearing at all?. Why doesn't the Government say, "No more." and simply write a law that ends all government subsides for Oil Company's. The can have loans if they need it, but no free lunch. That's it.
They don't have hearings to ask seniors how they feel about having medicare cuts. They hear from no university students testifying to their right to have Pell grants, and access to education. But, these bleached and bloated white men have the favor of the highest authorities in the land. And still they lament that if they don't receive these vital subsides, well, they could go out of business.
Seven billion dollar profit for each company is not enough. The chairman of Conoco Phillips thinks it's downright un-american to even suggest that subsides be taken from them. These five rich white men sitting before the Senate Finance committee had not one grain of remorse for what they've wrought, compassion, or concern for anyone other then themselves.
I found it entirely astonishing that although the President of BP America was sitting on the Panel, that not one of our esteemed Senators thought to bring up the largest oil leak and disaster in the history of the world. No one mentioned that the Gulf of Mexico is one giant tar ball. No one mentioned the stillborn baby dolphins or dead sea turtles, or the still unknown effects of dispersant Corexit. People are still sick and dying from the negligence, arrogance and incompetence of the Oil companies, and their regulatory agencies.
This year BP had awesome profits and they expect to resume drilling in the Gulf, in fact the Government has already signed off on new drilling permits even though no changes have been made as far a new protections against blowouts and accidents. No one chimed in on the unpaid damages that Exxon still owes from the Valdez spill in Alaska in 1989.
No one mentioned the fact that Chevron has destroyed so many lives and ecosystems in Ecuador that a judge has ruled after 18 year long trial that Chevron has to pay 9 billion dollars in damages. Chevron is appealing that decision. A delegation from Ecuador will be protesting at Chevron Headquarters on May 25th to demand that Chevron pay the relief.
No one mentioned the Nigerian disaster war zone created by Shell.
No one addressed their responsibility for climate change. No one on the finance committee has the intelligence, courage, or information to address these bastards on the crimes against humanity and the planet and Tell them "not only will their subsides be revoked but they will also be ordered to pay for all the cleanup and compensate victims everywhere"
Subsides? How about jail? Evangelicals are telling us that Judgment day is on Saturday. the 21st of May. they say Jesus is coming. Good! I want him to pass judgment on mens deeds and we can finally get answers to these questions:
" Would Jesus condone obscene profits or humble prophets?"
"Who Would Jesus Bomb?"
" Who would Jesus Foreclose upon?"
What would Jesus say about the Poor, The Rich. I can't wait to here it straight from the Savior's mouth. I tell you as far as I know Jesus. He just allright with me.
If the end is near I say it's because these oligarchs delivered us .They are evil and If anyone's should go to hell Next Saturday it should be them.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Mother's Pay
We had the most marvelous Mother's Day. Our daughters joined forces and created a magnificent eggs Benedict brunch, complete with spinach, local salmon, fresh brewed organic decaf lattes, and chocolate croissants. They showered us with lily , fuchsia, and lavender plants and of course sweet cards with personal sentiments that always makes a mother cry.
The pride and love I feel in my daughters' presence is unparalleled. The fact that they came from my body makes it ever more poignant and miraculous. I with a little help from their father created these brilliant beautiful creatures and they are a true representation of my purpose here on earth. Though I try to teach them all I know about the world and it's severity and wonders, they are in fact, my teachers.
With casual ease they dismantle my ego and highlight the lessons in life that I still have to master/ or should I say mother. Patience and trust being uppermost on that list.
My mother, may she rest in peace, told me that once you give birth to children, they are on their own path, even if they die. Wow. That's a big one. But it's helped me through a lot of serious situations. I realize They have come for to learn particular lessons here and they are given choices to advance into their lives, or stagnate and repeat the karma they were born with.
Tomorrow is Vesak day which celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha. So it seems auspicious to recognize this truth.
My mother also told me that having a child is like having your heart running around outside your body. I find that to be ultimately true and there are often times when I want to stick them back in there so I am guaranteed their safety and well being, but alas, they are on the loose. When I am afraid, or somehow threatened by their circumstances or behavior I have choices too.
One, I can freak out. Or two; I can trust them and the universe and now ask for the help of my mother is is a certified angel. Once I take this position which I call, surrender, I can function and assist my daughters in a way that is comfortable for them, not just a fulfillment of my agenda. I'm after master's degree, or should I say, Mothers' degree.
Nonetheless, it's full time job. A volunteer position at that. I was fantasizing yesterday about a world where a mother's work is compensated, or a matriarchal economy if you will. Doesn't that just flip your mind out.? Actually getting paid, or at least taken care of for our entire child rearing careers. That's 18 or 20 years depending on the kid.
Let me enlighten you with that vision for a moment. Instead of subsides for Oil and coal industries, financial investments would be made in our children in the form of housing, health and education. Mothers would be responsible for discovering their offspring's' natural talents, skills and abilities and providing, through the subsides, the proper tools and training for it.
Breast milk would be regarded as the most important medicine in a woman's pharmacy and she would be subsidized to share her bounty with the very sick to assist in their healing. Menstrual blood would be the best amendment to any one's garden. Menstrual blood has been used through the ages as an Earth fertilizer par excellence. During planting season, women would plant the seeds and then fertilize the ground with their menstrual blood. And if it were a Matriconomy, you wouldn't say eewww to that. But, hear me out.
There would be a vegetable garden in every yard and at the end of each meal a mother would receive compensation for extra ingredients and the time it took to prepare, serve and clean up.
Payment for Household chores would be allotted on a perdiem basis. And though there would be some form of currency, it would not dominate our existence. There would be no jobs or unemployment, we'd all just make a living
Oh, what a world it would be.
Furthermore, Dreams and oracles like tarot and astrology would have significant influence over decision making processes. All children would learn to sing and dance before they learned to read and write. Beauty would be a different standard. This is A place where teachers are rich and midwives are revered and ritual is as popular as baseball and football. And because of our uncompromised investment in our children they would grow up and be citizens of the world creating art and services that make the planet a better place. And war would cease because no mother would sacrifice her greatest investment for any reason.
This all might be true if the cultures 10,000 years ago had not been destroyed by the rise of war and domination. If this matreconomy were global we would have no child soldiers, no sex slavery, and the mothers in Syria, Yemen, Libya, Afghanistan, Iraq, Egypt, the Congo, etc, etc. Would have had a beautiful brunch on mother's day instead of hiding under the bed or running for their lives. Alas, back in the real world, as we sat down to eat yesterday we sent our prayers and strength to these and all mother's who volunteer their entire adult lives for this very worthy cause.
The pride and love I feel in my daughters' presence is unparalleled. The fact that they came from my body makes it ever more poignant and miraculous. I with a little help from their father created these brilliant beautiful creatures and they are a true representation of my purpose here on earth. Though I try to teach them all I know about the world and it's severity and wonders, they are in fact, my teachers.
With casual ease they dismantle my ego and highlight the lessons in life that I still have to master/ or should I say mother. Patience and trust being uppermost on that list.
My mother, may she rest in peace, told me that once you give birth to children, they are on their own path, even if they die. Wow. That's a big one. But it's helped me through a lot of serious situations. I realize They have come for to learn particular lessons here and they are given choices to advance into their lives, or stagnate and repeat the karma they were born with.
Tomorrow is Vesak day which celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha. So it seems auspicious to recognize this truth.
My mother also told me that having a child is like having your heart running around outside your body. I find that to be ultimately true and there are often times when I want to stick them back in there so I am guaranteed their safety and well being, but alas, they are on the loose. When I am afraid, or somehow threatened by their circumstances or behavior I have choices too.
One, I can freak out. Or two; I can trust them and the universe and now ask for the help of my mother is is a certified angel. Once I take this position which I call, surrender, I can function and assist my daughters in a way that is comfortable for them, not just a fulfillment of my agenda. I'm after master's degree, or should I say, Mothers' degree.
Nonetheless, it's full time job. A volunteer position at that. I was fantasizing yesterday about a world where a mother's work is compensated, or a matriarchal economy if you will. Doesn't that just flip your mind out.? Actually getting paid, or at least taken care of for our entire child rearing careers. That's 18 or 20 years depending on the kid.
Let me enlighten you with that vision for a moment. Instead of subsides for Oil and coal industries, financial investments would be made in our children in the form of housing, health and education. Mothers would be responsible for discovering their offspring's' natural talents, skills and abilities and providing, through the subsides, the proper tools and training for it.
Breast milk would be regarded as the most important medicine in a woman's pharmacy and she would be subsidized to share her bounty with the very sick to assist in their healing. Menstrual blood would be the best amendment to any one's garden. Menstrual blood has been used through the ages as an Earth fertilizer par excellence. During planting season, women would plant the seeds and then fertilize the ground with their menstrual blood. And if it were a Matriconomy, you wouldn't say eewww to that. But, hear me out.
There would be a vegetable garden in every yard and at the end of each meal a mother would receive compensation for extra ingredients and the time it took to prepare, serve and clean up.
Payment for Household chores would be allotted on a perdiem basis. And though there would be some form of currency, it would not dominate our existence. There would be no jobs or unemployment, we'd all just make a living
Oh, what a world it would be.
Furthermore, Dreams and oracles like tarot and astrology would have significant influence over decision making processes. All children would learn to sing and dance before they learned to read and write. Beauty would be a different standard. This is A place where teachers are rich and midwives are revered and ritual is as popular as baseball and football. And because of our uncompromised investment in our children they would grow up and be citizens of the world creating art and services that make the planet a better place. And war would cease because no mother would sacrifice her greatest investment for any reason.
This all might be true if the cultures 10,000 years ago had not been destroyed by the rise of war and domination. If this matreconomy were global we would have no child soldiers, no sex slavery, and the mothers in Syria, Yemen, Libya, Afghanistan, Iraq, Egypt, the Congo, etc, etc. Would have had a beautiful brunch on mother's day instead of hiding under the bed or running for their lives. Alas, back in the real world, as we sat down to eat yesterday we sent our prayers and strength to these and all mother's who volunteer their entire adult lives for this very worthy cause.
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