Page Paradise: day to day actions towards utopia

Mark McCracken on Reproductive Rights

2008-10-27T21:47:00.001-05:00

Some of you have been coming to my site looking for information on Mark McCracken's position on reproductive rights. I know this because the SiteMeter is just that good.

To help serve your curiosity before the election, I wrote Mark to ask him to write a few words on the subject.

Here is what he said:

I am Catholic and my personal / individual beliefs are pro-life. However, I take the strong stance that I will not impose my personal beliefs on anyone else. As I believe in personal rights and responsibility, I will always respect that another person has the right to make their own choices.

I hope this statement helps people understand where Mark McCracken is on the subject of reproductive rights and how he might vote on a bill addressing the various related issues, such as abortion rights, birth control and abstinence education.

I wrote Mark a while ago when the PA Department of Health was deciding to accept Title V abstinence-only funds for the first time since 2003. He wrote back to let me know that he also believes that we need to offer young people the information they need to keep them safe and healthy.

If Mark's response on reproductive rights does not answer your question, than please write your question as a comment on this blog.

McCain Fights to Keep Crucial Blue State in Play - NYTimes.com

2008-10-21T23:18:00.001-05:00

I have been moving around a bit. For the last 2 years, I was in rural, western PA. It felt good to be there during the primary. I saw new people discovering the democratic networks that had become isolated from new members. The democratic party in PA is much larger now, thanks to the voter registration during the primary and on non-stop until the deadline to register on Oct. 8.

"[T]his year there are 1.2 million more registered Democrats than Republicans in the state," says a NYTimes article on McCain in PA. Read McCain Fights to Keep Crucial Blue State in Play

McCain's strategists think he can make a play for PA, which has gone blue in the last four elections.... McCain's ad's of blatant lies about Obama raising our taxes have been on the radio for weeks.

Volunteers have really made the campaign strong in rural PA as well as in the somewhat urban area where I now reside. Here, we are fortunate to get volunteers from New Jersey and New York as well as Connecticut!

Having McCain target the pro-gun, working class people of PA will intensify the efforts of volunteers in the Keystone state. Also, I believe in the old-school mentality of the blue-collar Pennsylvanian who understands that regulations exist to help employees and consumers. They understand that by helping each other, we help ourselves!

My friend flew in to PA this last weekend from AZ. She got a taste of knocking on doors and entering data. Now, she is advocating the ease of involvement in the campaign to people in AZ! Her husband is an economist, and he now supports Obama mainly on the basis of who he solicits for economic advice. She sent me a link to the NYTimes article about McCain trying to move in on PA, and now she wants to come back!

Come to PA and help to make the Obama victory in this state a landslide!

Voter Registration Status

2008-10-19T13:12:00.001-05:00

Not sure where to vote? As you may have guessed there is one easy way to find out. You can go to PA voter services and look up your Voter Registration Status.

Make sure you know where to vote!
Make sure the people you know are certain of where they should vote!

If you are not sure what to take with you to the polls, you can find out at VotesPA.
You do need ID, but if someone lacks any form of photo ID, they can also use a utility bill!

Vote!

Oral Contraceptives and the Struggle for Reproductive Freedom and Women's Rights

2008-07-23T14:33:00.009-05:00

There is a sad and simple truth that more women need to realize. The fight for women's rights is NOT over! If you value your ability to plan the size of your family, then you must take a stand and protect women's ability to access oral contraception.

Women's liberation was made possible by, among other things, the invention of the oral contraceptive pill (OCP). As a reliable form of birth control, one that could largely be controlled by the woman, became available, more women were free to pursue an education and enter the work force. Unfortunately, there are those who believe that OCP is an abortifacient, that it aborts an unborn child and want to prevent women from gaining access to OCP. On July 15, Robert Pear of the New York Times reported that Secretary Leavitt of the Health and Human Services Agency and President Bush are planning to

require all recipients of aid under federal health programs to certify that they will not refuse to hire nurses and other providers who object to abortion and even certain types of birth control.

According to NARAL: Pro-Choice America:

In her blog on Reality Check, Christina notes that this legislation is "a spectacular act of complicity with the religious right."

We have already seen changes to policies in 2004 at the Center for Disease Control, where condoms are no longer advocated as the best defense against sexually transmitted disease. We have also recently witnessed various attempts to remove access to late term abortions on the state level in South Dakota, which resulted in a law requiring doctors to tell women seeking an abortion that they are terminating the "the life of a whole, separate, unique, living human being."

We can not continue to allow policy to be shaped by ideological beliefs over scientific fact as well as the pressing reality of overpopulation and the global benefits of women's ability to control reproduction.

Oral contraceptives suppress ovulation; increase the accumulation of mucus in the cervical tubes, which make it difficult for sperm to reach an egg; and impede the thickening of the endometrium, which is where a fertilized egg, or blastocyst, typically is implanted for development into an embryo.

In a recent issue of Ethics and Medicine Dr. J. Goodnough critiques a argument made by Dr. R. Alcorn that OCP is an abortifacient because, at times, ovulation does occur, eggs can be fertilized, and, therefore, embryos may die.

According to Dr. Alcorn, OCP is an abortifacent because some breakthrough ovulation can occur. If this happens, then there is the chance an egg will be fertilized but unable to implant due to the thinning of the endometrium. Dr. Goodnough argues that OCP has a .1% pregnancy rate, which means about 3% of users will become pregnant even while taking OCP. However, he believes this rate is mainly accounted for by missed pills. One should not assume that breakthrough ovulation is a common occurrence.

Dr. Goodnough also argues that there is no actual proof that the endometrium is made so hostile as to cause death for an embryo. Goodnough states:

he could just as easily assume that the embryo always implants and survives despite seemingly hostile changes in the endometrium. Or, more accurately stated, he could say that the embryo implants and survives as frequently in those on the OCP as happens in those not on the OCP, since embryo loss occurs in an estimated 70 % of fertilizations in women not taking the OCP. Fifteen percent of these embryos die immediately after fertilization, 15 % fail to implant, and 41 % are lost after implantation.

In other words, a sexually active woman using OCP is just as likely to experience the loss of an embryo as a sexually active woman not using OCP.

Oral contraception pills prevent ovulation and impede fertilization. It is not clear the extent that they inhibit implantation of a fertilized egg.

Do not be lured by ideological slants on research. OCP is not an abortifacient.

But, for arguments sake, let's say that OCP is an abortifacient, would that reality give health practitioners the right to refuse to prescribe or fill prescriptions for OCP? Do we really want to empower health practitioners with the right to make choices based on their religious values when they serve the public health? What if we were to allow teachers in public schools the same right? Would you be partial to allowing an educator to refuse to teach students who did not share his/her religious values? Perhaps an educator might refuse to teach a segment of history that did not meet his or her belief system? Maybe educators who do not believe the holocaust existed should not have to teach about it. Perhaps educators who believe democrat values are really a psychological illness can fail students who do not demonstrate republican beliefs and refer them to the nurse?

Those who serve the public do not get to make choices based on religious or partisan values. They must make choices that serve the common good and reflect the will of the people as demonstrated through democratic processes, and they must be conscious and respectful of reason and scientific evidence.

Thankfully, many members of Congress are speaking out on behalf of OCP and family planning. According to Matthew Jaffe of ABC news,

More than 100 members of Congress wrote President Bush today, urging him to "halt all action" on a proposal they argue would change the definition of abortion, and drastically limit women's access to birth control.

We should not take this proposed legislation lightly. Write your Senators and Congressmen to tell them where you stand on this issue.

Write Sec. Leavitt at secretary@hhs.gov and explain to him why you support a woman's right to control her fertility and to plan her family.

Uniquely Obama

2008-06-08T21:38:00.007-05:00

Please watch this video and experience what it is that makes Obama unique.
He is unique because he envisions a new way of managing governance. For Obama, governance is about what we can do together and not what others can do for us.

As he said on the March 4th Primary Night, San Antonio, TX,

"...[T]he real work of democracy begins far from the closed doors and marbled halls of Washington. It begins on street corners and front porches; in living rooms and meeting halls with ordinary Americans who see the world as it is and realize that we have it within our power to remake the world as it should be."

In the following video, you glimpse another example of the empowering manner that is uniquely Obama. In the video, you can witness the pep talk he gives to his staff and volunteers in the campaign headquarters in Chicago and across the country by conference call on June 7:

Unify the Democratic Party!

2008-06-04T11:56:00.004-05:00

Right now, Jim Dean is asking members of the Democratic Party to take the UNITY PLEDGE to reach out to 5 people who you know supported a different candidate for the nomination RIGHT NOW and bring them into our campaign.

Jim Dean wants us to listen, empathize, and try to help them move past the pain and think of the good of the country. This is bigger than an alliance to one candidate...

He encourages us to convince them that if they are thinking of voting for McCain, then they are not choosing the same values and goals of their original candidate. McCain is for the same things as Clinton or Edwards or Richards, and definitely not Biden or Kucinich!

I had a fellow democrat email me last week to tell me that while she and her family have been staunch democrats [she] can not support Obama. While curious if this means that she merely won't be publicly promoting Obama or if she really will not vote for our presumptive democratic nominee, I can't yet bring myself to ask.

People need time to heal. Our fellow democrats have been going through the stages of grief. We can reach out and let them know that we are here. However, until they embrace acceptance, we should not rain upon them neither reason nor rhetoric.

I will reach out and say to the Clinton supporters I know,

The democratic values you believe in have not been lost.
They are embodied in Obama.

The major difference between Obama and Clinton was not policy or democratic values, but rather the way they went about living those values. Clinton wants to restore jobs and rebuild the middle class. She wants to help make health care and education rights and not privileges....

But when Clinton talked about making change, it was about what SHE would do for US.
When Obama talks about making change, it is about what WE can do TOGETHER.

Keep your not-yet-Obama-supporters away from the strange delusion that McCain is a better choice because of his experience...Clinton really did not help herself or the party by pursuing that line of reasoning.

McCain is to Hillary as Bush is to Bill.
Let's try to keep that thought in mind.

Obama is to Hillary as Richardson is to Edwards...

Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have been stressing party unity through the month of May. At the Jefferson-Jackson dinner this year, Clinton even said,

If [Obama] is the nominee, I'll work my heart out for him."

If Clinton is offering to promote Obama as the candidate as well as hold the Vice President position, then why should her supporters do anything besides vote for Obama?

Take the UNITY PLEDGE and reach out to your fellow democrats to unify our party, but please use caution. They may need time to heal.

Pundits liked to spin a drawn out primary as bad for the party, but more people have been fired up by it across our nation than have been in 30 years! More people are interested and engaged!!! This primary has helped us to see the real stakes of the election.

To safeguard our future, democrats must stand together.

Involvement in Jefferson County PA: Summary of Democratic Committee Meeting

2008-06-03T18:44:00.006-05:00

If you are interested in being more involved with democratic action in Jefferson County, PA, then please consider attending a meeting of the Jefferson County Democrats!

At these meetings, you will get to meet candidates and elected officials, hear from representatives of the state democratic committee, participate in voter outreach, and hear about the policies that are shaping your lives! You will also have time to socialize with people who share your values.

At their most recent meeting on May 28, the Jefferson County Democrats finalized their decision to have booths for outreach and voter registration, discussed the importance of unifying behind the democratic Presidential nominee, and heard updates from regional candidates such as Mark McCracken (5th Congressional) and Don Hilliard (66th PA state legislative). The campaigns are reaching out to voters in all parties. This is a republican dominant county. We will need cross party votes to get our candidates into office!

They also received an update on the Obama campaign from me: the campaign is back in town and gearing up for the next phase! Please let me know if you are interested in helping with the campaign. We will be working with the Jefferson Democrats to get more people registered to vote!

Finally, the Jefferson Democrats were visited by Brigid Sullivan from the DNC who came to discuss the Neighborhood Leader program. The Neighborhood Leader program asks that you speak with at least 25 voters about our democratic candidates three times from now until November. No problem!

The outreach and voter registration booths will be held at the Jefferson County Fair and the Sykesville Ag & Youth Fair. They will also look into having booths at the Laurel Festival, the Brockway Festival, and the Reynoldsville Homecoming. They will not have a booth at the Punxsy Festival due to the numerous rules.

Chairman Lu Inzana asked that everyone attend each festival and fair wearing buttons, etc. to show support for the party and for democratic candidates.

He also asked that all democrats come together to support our likely presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama

Lu Inzana said that we in NW Pennsylvania have a chance to make a real showing in this race.

PA is quite often a swing state in elections. By coming out in record numbers, we have a chance to impact this election.

All democrats must support the democratic candidate if we are to get a democrat back into the oval office!

I hope you will consider getting involved by helping at at voter registration booth, showing your support for all of the democratic candidates, and by participating in the Neighborhood Leader program.

Voting Makes a Comeback: On the Importance of Registering Voters and Getting them to the Polls

2008-05-17T14:26:00.008-05:00

Winning an election is not a mystery. You want more people who support your candidates and issues going to the polls than people who support other candidates and issues. Americans didn't seem to vote much in the last 40 years...but that is starting to change.

In the 2004 Presidential election, we returned to levels of voter participation not seen since the 1968 election between Nixon and Humphrey, where just over 60% of the eligible population turned out to vote.

According to federal records, only 70% of the eligible population is actually registered to vote, which means we need to reach out to that 30% of unregistered voters!

According to Dr. Michael McDonald of George Mason University, voter turnout in the United States has been largely misrepresented due to comparisons of votes to people of voting age; however, comparisons using numbers of eligible voters still demonstrate, in my opinion, that not enough Americans vote. One of the lowest voter turn outs in his records was 52% in the 1996 election between then President Clinton and Bob Dole.

Perhaps voter participation has not changed radically since 1972; we seem to hover around the 55% mark, as seen in McDonald's study of participation in presidential elections since 1948. Since 1948, the only time we hit 65% participation was in 1960 in the presidential race between Kennedy and Nixon! Between 1952 and 1968, voter participation remained above 60%.

An interest in changing the world did not retire with the baby boomers who broke through to a counter culture! Once again, people are getting involved in governance because they recognize that their voices matter, and they don't want to risk not casting a vote.

Your vote is your voice!

If we are to show the world just how much Americans care about democracy, we need to bring those 30% of unregistered voters into the fold!

In 2004, 62% of Pennsylvania's eligible voters participated in the election. In 2008, 32% of Pennsylvania's eligible voters participated in the April 22 Primary.

We need to make sure active voters get out and vote!

More people are interested in politics than have been since 1960! We have a great chance to show people that collectively they can and will make a difference.

Not sure where to start? In Pennsylvania, we can increase voter registrations by targeting women!!

A study of women in Pennsylvania in 1998 to 2000 indicated that only 62.3% of women are registered to vote. Of those, it seems that only 47.3% voted!

It was a stratgey in the 2004 election, and it is again in 2008, no matter who is the democratic nominee. If candidates want to win, they should make sure women are registered and getting out to vote.

More people are getting involved because they see how politics affect their day to day lives with gas prices, the cost of food, health care, joblessness, home financing, and, of course, the threat of losing more soldiers....

Declare yourself! Vote!

Involvement through County Committes and Campaigns (a summary of the Clearfiled County Meeting)

2008-05-16T21:06:00.006-05:00

You can get more involved in democracy by joining your local democratic committee! There was a meeting of the Clearfield County Democrats on Tuesday, May 13th. If you live in Clearfield, PA, please consider joining them at their next meeting on June 10th.

At their latest meeting, the Clearfield County Democrats discussed several outlets for involvement including joining sub-committees to plan fund raising and voter registration events, attending the Pennsylvania Democrats Committee Meeting, taking the DNC Neighborhood Leader pledge, and hosting a house party for 5th Congressional District Democratic Candidate Mark McCracken.

The committee is currently forming a sub-committee to plan a voter registration both at the Clearfield County Fair the last week of July in partnership with the City of DuBois Democratic Committee.

A sub-committee will also be formed to plan a fund raiser later this summer. They are also in the process of developing a web page to help reach out to interested democratic voters.

Various other means of involvement and strategies were discussed that evening.
They were joined by Missy Stehr-Wood, the DNC Regional Field Organizer for Central PA as well as Clearfield County's Commissioner and 5th Congressional District Democratic Candidate Mark McCracken.

Missy Stehr-Wood invited everyone to observe the Pennsylvania Democratic Committee Meeting on June 6th and 7th. On Friday June 6th, there will be a fund raising diner at the Radisson Penn Harrisburg. On Saturday, June 7th, there will be VAN (aka vote builder) training as well as election protection training. Saturday is also when the state committee and caucus meetings are held, general members are welcome to observe. After the committee meeting, she meets with democrats from Central PA for a informal session of idea exchange. You can contact Missy at stehrwood(at)dnc.org.

Visit the PA Democratic Committee Site for more information about the State Committee Meeting on June 6 & 7.

Missy also joined the meeting to promote the DNC Neighborhood Leader Program. They ask that we each pledge to talk to at least 25 people about candidates at least three times before November! I know you can do it! If you are interested in taking the pledge and learning more about the program, then go to their site.

Clearfield County Commissioner and 5th Congressional District Democratic Candidate Mark McCracken shared stories of his success on April 22. He received 80% of the democratic votes from Clearfield County. If you are interested in helping to make sure Mark gets to represent us in Congress, then consider hosting a house party!

House parties are en excellent way for people to get to know Mark McCracken and to judge for themselves that he is the best person to represent the 5th Congressional District. Invite your Democratic friends as well as Independents and Republicans. To help Mark win, we need bi-partisan support!

I have been talking to Mark about his positions on climate change, touch screen voting machines, nuclear power, and other issues touched on by the WPSU 5th District Candidate Quiz. I know that some people find him to be less than progressive. However, Mark McCracken is someone who listens. I believe he is more concerned with promoting the interests of his constituents than he is with following his own policy agendas, and that is what makes him the best candidate for the 5th Congressional District.

If you are interested in helping Mark McCraken, visit his website for more information.

The Clearfield County Democrats are trying to make a comeback, and you can help. The committee's bi-laws were written in 1957, but the committee became inactive after the 1960s. We can help change the conservative, republican trend in rural PA by communicating with our friends, co-workers, and neighbors; hosting house parties and fund raisers for the democratic candidates in our region; and coordinating events to elevate the public profile of democrats in the area.

Please come to the meeting on June 10th at the Steelworkers Union Hall and get involved!

Tired of the Mainstream Media? There are alternatives!!

2008-05-14T10:22:00.007-05:00

I am exceeding tired of watching CNN, FOX, and even MSNBC (sorry Olberman). Are you? There are alternative media sources out there!!

If you are reading a blog, then I know you are interested in alternative media!

Blogs are cool because they offer us, the general public, a chance to add to the free exchange of ideas!! What is not so cool is that the free exchange of ideas has not been free, or even cheap for quite some time. It really has not even been an exchange, ever since television became the #1 media format, driving newspapers and magazines nearly underground and driving up the cost of programming! Far too often, media operates under an assumption of what is desired by the masses and acceptable to the mainstream in a manner that produces too many stories that enable the manufacturing of our consent (see Noam Chomsky for more on this concept). Any critically thinking viewer was painfully aware of this while watching America Strikes Back (my phrase) type of coverage after 9-11 and particularly the Shock and Awe coverage of the Iraq invasion in 2003.

I typically seek out alternative news sources to supplement my regular news cravings because I know there is more going on in the world than the election, Rev. Wright, and Brittney's custody hearings.

The pundits make their living sensationalizing our world. I think this is important to remember. I think you know it, but, perhaps, you feel compelled to stay informed.

Watching mainstream media outlets like CNN, MSNBC, and Fox has its place. After all, it is, still, what everyone else is watching. You want to know what they know. Also, there are some keen analysts out there who can interpret events and help us see the significance of events, which is what makes them worthy news casters, Keith Olderman is one example, and even though he is on a comedy show, Jon Stewart is another. On Comedy Central's the Daily Show, where quite a few people get a regular dose of news, Stewart does an excellent job of getting straight to the key issues of the day. He also nicely connects current events to what happened in the past. This makes things funny as well as essential for our for understanding of a big picture. Otherwise, someone like Cheney can claim he never said that Saddam Hussein was connected to the 9-11 attacks, or a bunch of other claims, and people who were not paying attention or who have a short-term memory could believe him.

If you are in the mood for some alternative media, something that touches on issues at a variety of levels of national and global significance, and it not as biased toward some corporate network owner's values, or, at the least, is not skewed by their perspective of what you want, then check out Democracy Now and the News Hour with Jim Lehrer. You do not need cable to watch either of these shows. The News Hour is on PBS and Democracy Now is available online. I typically watch the podcasts.

Depending on where you live, you may be able to hear Democracy Now on the radio, specifically Pacifica radio stations. The show is broadcast on 737 stations worldwide. I discovered Democracy Now while living in DC and listening to WPFW-DC live. After that, I was hooked! With her Edward R. Murrow-esque tone, it is easy to become absorbed in what she is talking about. Co-host Juan Gonzalez is also engaging and direct.

You can also catch Democracy Now on satellite television on the Link-TV: Television Without Boarders and Free Speech-TV channels. Both of these channels provide incredible documentaries and informative programing that offer insights into some key issues of our global economy such as deforestation in the rain forest, the life style of people in western china, the impact of medicine on people's development, and war in the Congo as well as AIDS concerts, film festivals, international music videos and so much more. I have also been trying to get into Al Gore's TV/Internet experiement: Current TV, which is an interactive media of user developed content. We can watch things online and then vote for things we like. Programs with the most votes go on the TV channel. Some of it is amazing, others not so great. But it is always interesting.

Go beyond what networks and sponsors want you to see and explore the alternatives.

Neither Democracy Now nor the News Hour have changed their format to mimic the visual spectacle to which you may have grown accustomed. Therefore, it may be hard for you to consider it "a real news show." For those of you who are more likely to watch Brian Williams or Katie Couric, you should also be expecting a bit of a change, but hold in there. These news shows will give you more detailed information on a variety of hard hitting issues.

I would consider The News Hour and Democracy Now essential viewing for staying up to date on important current events. If you watch these shows, you may even lose the feeling that you MUST stay tuned into the 24 hour news cycle.

Do yourself a favor, step away from the sensationalist media and try to stay focused on journalists with perspective and restraint and a desire to keep you informed on a variety of issues.

Okay, there are, of course, more sources of alternative media.
Here is a developing list (please post any sources you know and love):

Mother Jones
TruthOut
ZNet
Alternative News Network
Counter Punch
Buzz Flash
Behind the Home Front
AlterNet
Utne Reader
Independent Media Center
RINF: The Breaking News Alternative

Click for a list to more resources from Michael Moore

Summer Involvement: Voter Registration & Education in Western PA

2008-05-10T14:04:00.001-05:00

The real work of democracy is never done. The real work of democracy is involvement at every level of governance. We need to reach out to even more people and ask them to register to vote. We need to make sure more people, more democrats, vote in November.

There are several races in Western PA that need our help. If we are to have more democratic elected officials working to safeguard the future of PA and our democratic values, then we need to act.

The National Democratic Party is asking people to volunteer to be neighborhood leaders and talk to 25 people about voting and elections at least three times before November. But, we can do so much more!

We could have voter registration drives throughout the summer at fairs and carnivals or even yard sales and picnics!?

This is the first step in getting our democratic candidates, such as Mark McCraken for the 5th district Congressional Race, Don Hilliard for the 25 state senate district, and the presidential democratic nominee into office. (Please tell me about the other candidates running in our area who need our help!)

More people need to be ready to participate in elections! Since January, we have already registered 218,923 new voters! 70 % are democrats! Of those, 164,026 people changed their party from republican to democrat!

We can do voter registration outreach by setting up at the various town and county fairs in Jefferson, Clearfield, Clarion, Centre, and Elk Counties (forgive me if I left yours out). I think we should each suggest this kind of action to the people in our democratic committees as well as to our friends and family. Find out what you can about what it will cost to set up at your favorite fair.

Setting up at fairs and carnivals will cost money. To fund the table, I suggest getting donated baskets to raffle to try to fund the tables or, as one person suggested, we can set up a dunking pool--which would be great fun!

Please try to think of other forums were we can target unregistered citizens. Let's continue to get more people involved with democracy!

Even if you are just having yard sale, why not put out a few voter registration forms or ask for educational materials on our democratic candidates. We can set up in malls, outside of grocery stores, and a variety of places.

We just need people who are willing to make it happen. I truly believe more regular Americans would be democrats if they understood our values and did not believe the conservative hype.

My mom told me how her grandmother, a woman who knew what it meant to be denied the right to vote, used to gather with women in the area to discuss politics. We Americans have begun to take this right for granted.

We need to make politics something that every person cares about, and we need to help them see that being involved in politics is so much more than the cult of personality nonsense they see on FOX and CNN. Politics is very local, and it affects each of our lives.

If we are not telling our elected officials at every level of government what we need and expect, then we deserve what we get: nothing! We also need more efforts to educate voters.

I urge each of you to write about candidates in letters to the editor or on your blogs. Tell your friends and family why you are going to vote for candidates. We need more coverage of our local politics in our papers. You can do this through letters to the editor, and by contacting news editors about story ideas.

We need people who are willing to educate people about the decisions that are happening in their own towns and counties that affect how they can do business and go about their regular lives.

Please post your ideas on how or where to set up voter registration drives or coordinate efforts to educate voters about democratic candidates and local/regional politics.

All ideas are welcome.

Save Victims of Crime Act Funding

2008-04-14T20:20:00.003-05:00

In order for democracy to work, for our government to represent US and OUR interests, we must be ready to speak.

As I am sure many of you know, activist networks create handy online petitions and form e-mails for you to add your name to and click. This simple act sends a message to your representative.
While convenient for us, I am afraid sending e-mails is perhaps not as effective as CALLING or sending SNAIL MAIL or FAXES.

Also, we should not just sit back and wait for activist groups to draft letters. We must be willing to do this for ourselves and on our own....

But, if someone has taken the time to write something, why not use it. Draw from it. Develop it to make it your own. Then print it and put a stamp on it.

Here is a letter I developed to ask our Senators and House Representatives to Save the Victims of Crime Act Funding. Use Liberally:

I have recently learned that domestic violence and sexual assault agencies would lose funding under the proposed federal budget for FY2009-2009. The proposed budget cut would redirect Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) money to the general budget. This funding MUST be directed to state agencies, local programs, and state agencies that use it to provide services for victims of crime.

President Ronald Reagan and Congress created VOCA in 1984. No tax money is used to support VOCA; instead, money is taken from a range of federal criminal fines, assessments and penalties. Make the perpetrators of crime pay to support the safety and rehabilitation of survivors. Across the nation, agencies receive assistance from the $2 billion collected. If this funding in cut support agencies would lose all of their VOCA funding by 2010.

YOU have the power to protect funding for local agencies that offer support to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Victims of crime often have no one to turn to but these agencies. Such agencies rely on VOCA money to provide services for victims and pay their staff.

Protect these agencies. Protect their funding. Demand that VOCA money be directed to state agencies, local programs, and state agencies that use it to provide services for victims of crime.

Please use this text to craft your own letter.

Let your legislators know that you do not support a federal budget that takes funding away from agencies that support victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault.

Obama for America Office Grand Opening in DuBois, PA

2008-03-30T01:15:00.013-05:00

On March 28, 2008, over 50 people came out to show their support for Sen. Barack Obama at the Grand Opening of the DuBois Office!

Several statements were made by the field organizer, the regional coordinator, and a 5th District Delegate for Obama, as well as by several active volunteers and members of Democratic groups . They each shared information on how people can get involved as well as why they personally became active.

Jody G., a Clearfield resident and Obama volunteer, said that she supports Obama because she wants a better life for her grandkids. Mary V, a 5th District Delegate, said that she supports Obama because through him she found new hope for the future.

We were also joined by 5th district candidate Mark McCracken, a public supporter of Sen. Obama!

Getting out and seeing the people who share your values is always an positive experience.
This is a mainly Republican area, but the Democrats made a big show for Obama at our Grand Opening!

The campaign has come deep into the PA Wilds because Sen. Obama understands that rural PA has a voice. For the first time in nearly 30 years, the people of PA matter in the Democratic Presidential Primary. And, not just the people of urban PA, but the people in RURAL PA!!

It is a very exciting time.

If you live in Jefferson or Clearfield County, I hope you will consider volunteering.

Get out the Hope and Get out the Vote!

There are several ways to volunteer. And Obama's website has many bits of advice to get you started on your own grassroots campaign to put Obama in the White House!

First, you can sign up to be a neighborhood team leader.
Go to the PA home page for the Campaign.
and join the PA Neighborhood Teams

As a Neighborhood Team member, you will have access to lists of potential Obama Supports.
First we identify the Obama supporters, and then we make sure they get out to vote.

Secondly, you can come to where the action is! In the office and in the neighborhoods!
Join us in the office, where you can volunteer by helping out in the office, canvasing door-to-door, and by hosting out-of-state volunteers.

Finally, you can spread the word by being a public supporter.
If you are the social type, you may want to host a house party either to Fund Raise for Obama for America or to educate your undecided or leaning Obama friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, peers, gym buddies, etc. There is no reason not to do both at once!
Remind people they can help by spreading the word and telling the people they know why they support Obama for America!

If you are a member of a religious or social club, you may want to ask for time to talk to your group about Obama. Of course, people supporting other candidates should also be welcomed to speak. Just wear your pin and show your support and people will talk to you, hopefully with honest questions!

Many people want the yard signs, which can be hard to come by.
If you are interested, you can support the campaign by purchasing your own yard sign.

Contact the Obama for America DuBois, PA office for more details on opportunities to volunteer:

11 N. Brady Street
DuBois, PA
(across from Lugi's)

Email Mike, the field organizer: Mreynertson(AT)barackobama.com
or Ryan : sees.com(AT)gmail.com

Call Mike or Ryan: 320-293-5531

Enjoy Photos of the Grand Opening!

Summary: New Priorities Vigil in Dubois, PA

2008-03-25T10:57:00.006-05:00

Last Wednesday a group of six dedicated individuals stood in the rain beside Liberty Blvd. in Dubois, Pennsylvania, to acknowledge that it has been FIVE LONG YEARS since the United States entered Iraq.

We were met with honks of support!

A photographer from the local paper, the Courier Express said that we were newsworthy because we were standing in the rain. The photo from the paper is to the right ->

What a shame, to only be newsworthy because we stood in the rain.

Is it not newsworthy that people in this rural, republican area are coming out into the open to make their voices heard, to say that war is not something we should stay in just to save face? That there are lives at stake, the dear lives of our loved ones?

At the Vigil, we talked about the need to find people in our sparse area who think the way that we do. We know YOU are out there...we know that you might feel silenced by the voices around you who speak in a manner so differently from how you think and what you value. There are ways we can come together through MoveON.org and Democracy for America's PA for Democracy. Check them out. Please also respond to this blog!

In the days that followed, I was surprised how many co-workers and neighbors told me they shared my view. We are tired of this war.

We want to support our troops by bringing them home!
We want a candidate who will not rush us into war!

We will meet again, myself and the dedicated five who stood in the rain, on April 18th at the Penn State Dubois campus where the Eyes Wide Open Exhibit will be displayed from 10am-6pm.
The evening will close with a candlelight vigil from 6pm-8pm.
I hope you can join us.

The exhibit was created by the American Friends Service Committee. It visually portrays the human cost of war.

Will you join us?

New Priorities Candlelight Vigil in Dubois

2008-03-15T00:48:00.004-05:00

New Priorities Candlelight Vigil in Dubois

Please join us in a solemn and respectful vigil where we honor the soldiers and send a message to our leaders that we must bear in mind the human cost of war as well as its impact on our economy. It is time to set new priorities!

Liberty Blvd. & Parkway Drive
Memorial Park
Wednesday 19 March

We will stand vigil from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. in a public park. It is handicap accessible.
You can find metered parking off Parkway Drive.

Go Here to Register: http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/event.html?event_id=45611&id=-6699804-AVqf06

If you are planning to attend, please bring signs and/or candles.
If you bring candles, do something to help keep the wax from dripping.
You may want to bring votive candles with holders, use wax-based paper cups, or use tapered candles with a cupcake wrappers slid over them (just put a hole through the wrapper.

MoveOn.org has developed an array of signs you can either print out or use as inspiration as you develop your own.

"Keep 'Em Safe / Bring 'Em Home": Color and black and white signs to display at the vigil. Try printing out different sizes, and let people choose which ones to hold.
- One-page (8x11) black and white | color
- Two-page black and white | color
- Large (20x16) black and white | color
"Invest in America" signs - Big signs color and 16x20 inches
"Invest in America" Full Color signs 8.5x11 inches
"Invest in America" 2-color signs 8.5x11 inches (print these if you have a black and white printer)

2008 PA Primary – Obama, Governance, and Responsibility

2008-03-10T15:52:00.009-05:00

Vote on APRIL 22 in the Pennsylvania Primary for Senator Barack Obama.

If you are not interested in politics, you really should be.

If you are interested, you need to educate yourself about candidates and you need to vote!

As a citizen, you have a right to vote. Voting is the most basic as well as the most important way that we can participate in governance.

We live in a democratic republic. Each citizen has a voice in selecting a representative government. This government is keep in check by a separation of church and state, a system of checks and balances between governing bodies (Presidential, Congressional, Judicial), and the ability of the people to select leaders as well as our right to impeach people who are not doing their jobs!

And what is their job?
It is the job of all politicians to serve the will of the people.

We are many, and we are diverse. It is the burden of our elected officials to mediate the many needs and wants of the people against what is possible. In the end, they should do what will maximize the public good. What will serve the interests of the most people in the most efficient manner?

Unfortunately, we have seen the rise of government that serves the needs of the few, the corporations. Since the 1970s, out of our fear of a folding economy, our leaders removed restrictions from businesses. The invisible hand of the market was supposed to maximize profits as well as maximize the public good. What has trickled down? Nothing. Nothing but higher payments and less return for what we pay in taxes!

We need to see tax fairness. We need a business that is regulated to serve the common good. We need to rebuild our infrastructure, educate our children, and regain our image as a peace keeper.

You can help make it all happen by exercising your right.

You can make a change happen in America by fulfilling your responsibility to participate in government.

VOTE!!!

VOTE FOR OBAMA!

You must be a registered Democrat to vote for Senator Obama in the PA Primary on April 22.

Independents can not vote in the PA primary.

It is a shame, and perhaps an injustice...but it is a fact that we must deal with. If you are an INDEPENDENT please re-register to vote for Obama on April 22.

If you have never voted before, please register now and make a difference.

We have a chance to make history in Pennsylvania. A chance to show that the rural areas as well as the urban areas are ready for a change toward grassroots activism and progressive governance!

You must REGISTER as a Democrat 30 days before the primary in order to vote.

Register by MARCH 24!

A Voter Registration Form:

http://www.dos.state.pa.us/voting/lib/voting/02_voter_registration_applications/onlinevoterregformblank.pdf

PA Voting Information:

http://www.dos.state.pa.us/voting/

There are TWO STEPS to the ONLINE REGISTRATION:
1) Complete an online form.
2) Print it out, sign it, and mail it in before March 24th!

Registering online sends counties an electronic record of each registration, but it
doesn't register the application.

If you will not be in your voting precinct on April 22, you must apply for an ABSENTEE BALLOT by April 15.

Absentee Ballot Application:

http://www.dos.state.pa.us/voting/lib/voting/02_voter_registration_applications/absenteeballot/absentee_ballot_application_(08-13-04).pdf

The County Boards of Election must receive civilian absentee ballots by April 18!

Absentee Voting Information:

http://www.dos.state.pa.us/voting/cwp/view.asp?a=1193&q=442991

Vote on APRIL 22 in the Pennsylvania Primary for Senator Barack Obama.

Show the world that Pennsylvania is ready to turn the page and write a new chapter in the history of nation, one of involvement, one of patriotism, one where civil liberties are respected, and one where innovation and business serve the common, collective interests of the people!

Keeping in touch with Politics: 5th District Congressional Seat in PA

2008-03-10T00:01:00.006-05:00

I find it so hard to find information on our local elections. Why is that?
I will save that rant for another day.

If you don't already know, Rep. John Peterson (R) is retiring for personal reasons.

There are three democrats and five republicans looking to take his place.

For now, I would like to tell you about a site that is making is much easier to follow the race for the 5th District Congressional Seat.

The Centre Daily Times has a whole page dedicated to continuous articles about the race.
http://www.centredaily.com/congressional_race/

Please note that there is one story with brief details from each nominee (Republican and Democrat alike) on economic development in the region.
http://www.centredaily.com/482/story/442490.html

I also like to check for things on the Keystone Politics page, where several nominees have posted blogs.
http://www.keystonepolitics.com/delegation08

You can also access a variety of candidates web sites through ActBlue.com
http://actblue.com/directory?query_parameters=---%20%0Afilters%3A%20%5B%5D%0A%0A&add_filter_query=_facet-state%3A%22PA%22

We must go out of our ways to educate ourselves.
We must make ourselves informed voters.

I hope this information helps you make your decisions.

Home of the Free - We Hope

2007-05-24T19:57:00.000-05:00

I have recently stumbled across an article that struck me with both hope and sadness.

The people in Greensboro, NC have recently triumphed in the struggle to protect religious freedom. This happened on May 24 when the local chapter of the ACLU successfully argued for the right of people with religious convictions other than Christian to swear to tell the truth on their own Holy Scriptures.

The state Attorney General is reviewing the decision and weighing the option of appeal. Hopefully, they will not appeal this decision.

You can read an account of the case at the News Record.

This latest dispute over the predominance of Christian icons int he courtroom began when a Muslim woman asked to swear upon the Qu' ran when testifying. Unfortunately, the court did not have one. Later, she and fellow Muslims raised money to donate copies. The court refused the copies, and this led to the suit.

The suit was initially dismissed on the grounds that there was no controversy. This decision was later reversed.

In a country where the ten commandments have been found in a courthouse, I guess I should not be surprised that a judge would at first dismiss the case that people of faiths other than Christian be able to swear upon their own scriptures. Even though the ten commandments monument was moved, a poll reported that 77% of people surveyed disagreed with the decision to move it!

I find it shameful that judges need to be nudged to open their minds and consider that Holy Scriptures could refer to more than just the bible.

It is probably true that when the founding fathers wrote that all men have the right to religious freedom, they probably were not thinking about anything other than their own variations of Protestantism. However, our definition of the freedom of religion has evolved (I hope!).

May this Greensboro court ruling be an indication that soon more courthouses in the United States will acknowledge that law does not favor one religion over another!

Get Active! Presidential Elections 2008

2007-03-13T10:47:00.000-05:00

As you may have noticed, presidential candidates are starting to make a show. Some potential candidates have merely started their exploratory committees. Others have gone so far as to announce to a late night news audience that they were indeed running for office. Still others have set up the fan fare and announced with a large rally of supporters cheering them on!

Now is a good time to start chatting about the next President with your friends and neighbors.

Now is a good time to start letting people know where you stand on important issues and letting them know who you would support for President.

Before you start any conversation, you may want to prepare yourself with a few facts on candidates so you are ready to make the best case possible for your candidate. Luckily, there are many helpful resources to simplify your investigation!

You may want to check out a few websites to see how different candidates are doing in the polls or what is being said about them in the news. I am partial to major news networks like CNN, but I also check out Fox and MSNBC as well as the Washington Post to try to get multiple perspectives. You may also want to search for your candidate using technorati, a blog search engine.

If you would like to be able to get a line on the what people are thinking without having it cherry picked by reporters, then you can also look into web sites dedicated to showing you the latest in polling data, such as the Gallup Poll, Zogby, or the PollingReport.com. Please keep in mind that the results of surveys are greatly influenced by the questions that are asked. Surveys can still be biased because people are biased. How the data is presented has still been hand selected, to an extent. Even though the surveys feel more honest without the trappings of analysis, you should still check multiple sources to have a sense of what it 'true.'

I have found web sites such as Politics1 and Politico.com to make inquiry into the 2008 Presidential race easy because they not only have a current list of who is running, as well as who is planning to run or being pressured to run, but also they provide links to biographical information for each candidate, so you can immediately get the goods on any candidate or hopeful.

Being a part of a political campaign is like watching history happen while you are making it happen. If you are fascinated by the history of elections and are interested in comparing the current campaign to last elections, for the sake of even more engaging conversations if not your own curiosity, please check out HistoryCentral.com

The November 2006 election showed us that a few votes can make a difference! Webb (VA-D) won his seat by a slim margin, and changed the balance of power in the Senate! People calling and going door to door to bring out the voters made the difference. We can do that again!

If you are ready to make change happen in America, please know that you can help make the change you hope for possible. Little by little, day by day, you can help make America the utopia we all what it to be! Get active in the coming political race. It may seem far away for you as a voter, but as a supporter and as a citizen, it started long ago.

Research the candidates. Talk about the candidates. Show your support!

Race for Tibet!

2007-02-07T11:01:00.000-05:00

As we get closer to the realization of the 2008 Olympic games it become more apparent to observers that China is not getting any better at addressing the human rights issues, for which they have received much criticism from the international committee.

People with the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) and the Australian Tibet Council are worried that China will use its Olympic charter to legitimize their presence in Tibet, misrepresenting present conditions. They have developed an Olympic mascot using the Tibetan antelope, perhaps in an attempt to lighten the weight of the fact that they are invaders to Tibet and its people.

The Race for Tibet campaign, initiated by the International Campaign for Tibet, is asking people to sign a petition demanding that China improve its human right conditions and urging the Chairman of the International Olympic Council to maintain its integrity and hold nations accountable and dedicated to peace.

The ITC sees the Beijing 2008 Olympic games as a way to draw attention to the human rights issues in Tibet. Many people pay attention to the Olympics. 302 nations are expected to compete in 28 sports in the 2008 Olympics. In 2004 according to information on Wikipedia.This campaign has links that will guide you to the various ways you can help make important human rights policies become a reality in Tibet.

It is unfortunate that the campaign to Free Tibet has remained a fringe issue for so long. The Chinese invaded Tibet in 1949. 58 years later the government of Tibet and his Holiness the Dali Lama are still in exile.

If you are not familiar with this issue, the ITC offers many fact sheets and as well as a brief question and answer site. If you would like to use this platform to help educate friends, acquaintances, neighbors, or co-workers who are not well-informed about Tibet, but who love the Olympics, then this is your chance to work your liberal politics into the conversation! The Race for Tibet site has also created fliers you can post around town, in the coffee shop, in the mail room, or at the grocery store.

Millions of people follow the Olympics, but few are aware of the human rights issues in China and Tibet. Please use this campaign to help build awareness. You can offer your assistance from your desk! This campaign is an excellent example of how the Internet is making mass involvement possible.

Reflections on President Bush's State of the Union Address 2007

2007-01-23T23:03:00.000-05:00

The obvious hub of the Presidential State of the Union address was his desperate plea to support his plan to send a surge of troops to Iraq. Madame Speaker Pelosi remained firmly in her seat while V.P. Cheney rose to give his predictable support to Bush's plan.

Freshman Senator Webb gave an excellent response, one worth reading if you did not hear it...or reading again if you did get to see it live. Senator Webb very smoothly pointed out that Americans' have no reason to trust President Bush's new plan to "win" in Iraq as he said:

"this country has patiently endured a mismanaged war for nearly four years. Many, including myself, warned even before the war began that it was unnecessary, that it would take our energy and attention away from the larger war against terrorism, and that invading and occupying Iraq would leave us strategically vulnerable in the most violent and turbulent corner of the world."

When I heard the President address the nation from the library on January 10th, I felt that that there would be little resistance to his change in strategy, which can be summed up by his simple statement that:

"This will require increasing American force levels. So I've committed more than 20,000 additional American troops to Iraq."

His description of the dire consequences of leaving Iraq without first sending this surge were indeed frightening, and his recent change of commanders the week prior gave this address an air of confidence that it was all a done deal. That was how I felt even though the American public had seemed to vote overwhelmingly Democratic in the November election, a statement that also seemed to say that Americans wanted to see a big change in how Iraq was handled.

In his State of the Union Address, President Bush again emphasized that American would not want to leave Iraq without finishing the job. He said that the course of the war may not be the war that we planned, but it is the war that we have....and WHY is the war as it is?? From his poor planning, from his failure to take advice. Why did we not send in adequate troops and supplies earlier? Why did the war seem to be run on the cheap when it is so important?

Pres. Bush seems intent on increasing the military presence in Iraq. His concept of winning is military. I think that what it means to WIN and what it means to leave successfully should emphasize political and economic outcomes for Iraq and not military outcome.

After listening to Webb, I am more eager to hear plans of how we can begin to phase troops out of Iraq, while also stabilizing the safety of its citizens and its political economy.

I agree with Bush's assertion that America is a nation of great heroism and great people. We need to take seriously that we have been given much and so from us much is expected.

That members of Congress could come together to address educational issues in the first term of Bush's presidency was, hopefully, the beginning of a heroic effort to finally address educational inequalities. I hope that there will be serious revisions to No Child Left Behind. With the new Democratic leadership in the Senate and the House, I am certain there will continue to be bipartisan efforts to make each child's educational experience quality.

I am also hopeful that the United States will continue to make international aid a priority. President Bush has made many promises to meet the millennium goals by putting funds into the millennium challenge account, which he formed in 2002.

I was somewhat surprised that in his reference to PEPFAR and AIDS relief he did not also mention abstinence-only. Abstinence-only-until-marriage had been mentioned in every previous speech of his Presidency. Abstinence-only was also being included as a stipulation on how funds in African nations were being spent with the Global AIDS Funds. Abstinence-only was also a powerful rallying cry to his conservative supporters. I think people should all take note that it was missing from this Presidential address. Although the conservative war against sexual freedom and reproductive rights is far from over, it is very interesting that this key policy issues, which had been gaining momentum was absent.

There are many other topics from the address that are worth exploring. The issue of spending reform seemed to get solid, positive responses from the Republican side of the aisle. He has a very interesting tax proposal. I am intrigued the connection between lowering taxing to help more Americans' afford private health insurance. It is a powerful scheme that does everything Republicans like--privatize and cut taxes--and is destined to make them look good, if it works.

Everyone agrees we need to act wisely, spend wisely...develop alternative fuels and alternative plans to fight the war on terror. It is too bad that Bush promotes this ideas now, on his way out. This is probably why he has the worst approval rating for any president in the last 50 years, or so said Wolf Blitzer.

I am eager to see how well Congress responds to the President's call for troops. Let us all pray everyone begins to think wisely, and consider how the well being of America is connected to the well being of all the residents of this planet.

Blog for Choice

2007-01-22T11:27:00.000-05:00

I am pro-choice because I believe that each woman has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

The choice to have a child MUST be a personal, private, individual decision. Each woman, when pregnant, is alone with her body and the awareness of a growing and dependent life. For each woman to be free, she MUST be given the RIGHT to choose.

We should not legislate to strip women of the right to her freedom to choose. Instead, we should legislate to ensure that each pregnancy is wanted, if not planned.

Young girls and boys as well as adults should have access to medically accurate information on human reproduction, birth control, and disease prevention. Each person should be made aware of the right of each individual to choose what happens to their body and be taught to respect one another as unique individuals.

Family medical clinics should be available in every community to provide regular clinical services, educational sessions, and medicine. If people are assisted with the means to prevent unwanted pregnancies, there would be fewer abortions.

Plan B has only recently become available in the United States. Advertising and public outreach campaigns are still needed to help more women know Plan B is available. It should be available to any woman at any time and of any age. No one has the right to judge a woman for choosing to control her reproductive capacity.

I find it hard to believe that there is anyone who wants to have an abortion. That there are people who rely on abortion as a means to birth control. Abortion is the last option, it should be the last option any woman should have to make if she finds herself with an unwanted pregnancy.

We can help reduce unwanted pregnancies by making pregnancy prevention an easily accessible and affordable option. We can make more pregnancies wanted by providing affordable health care, child services, and educational opportunities for young mothers and their families.

Organizations like NARAL Pro-choice America , who planned and organized today as the national BLOG for CHOICE day, and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America promote women's reproductive rights, which are dwindling here in the United States.

Although elections in November 2006 proved that Americans' support a woman's right to choose, the attacks against Roe vs Wade will not stop. Abstinence-Only education supporters will continue to lobby for their belief-based curriculum to dominate over medically accurate curricula. While Plan B has been approved for use in the United States finally) We can not take reproductive rights for granted. Be attentive to your politicians and funding streams. See what resources are available in your community to help girls and young women secure their rights and access to clinical and educational services.

Women deserve their freedom, their dignity, their right to control their bodies. This is why I am pro-choice.

Taking Risks and Starting Over

2007-01-12T13:49:00.003-05:00

Sometimes in life we need to take risks, put forward extra strength to get the job done once and for all (like we apparently need to do in Iraq!).

I wish the best for all our men and women who are committed to danger to make the world safer. I pray that all our belief in freedom and stability becomes reality.

It seems we are ready as a nation to Go Back
Go Back
Go Back

To another time
Another place
Where the signs were in the right place
Back to the time where we were before people began to read the signs all wrong!

Rituals and Tradition

2006-12-30T23:29:00.000-05:00

Christmas can be a confusing time for many children who are recently discovering that their parents have been leaving presents for them and not Santa as they had been told.

I, personally, believe we need a new way to celebrate Christmas. I am very torn between the love of bright lights and seeing children open presents and a hatred of commercialism and lies.

This year, my nephew learned the terrible truth that there is--according to some--no Santa Claus. That is just how he said it, too. "I can't believe they lied to me all this time."

I can remember hearing of a tradition of the Kachina in Pueblo cultures where children are woken from sleep and taken to a mysterious place where men and women in masks are dancing. These men and women hit the children, yell, and berate them. After being abused, the children are taken outside where the adults remove their masks and reveal their identities as well-known aunts, uncles, cousins, mothers, fathers...

I am sure those Pueblo children feel the same way: "I can't believe they lied to me!"

I am very interested in knowing the cultural purpose of lying to children about Santa Clause, the Tooth Fairy, and the Sandman....

Compounding the outrage--although I have yet to hear my nephew's full reaction--he was also told that little elves would come throughout the year to take back his toys if he was bad.

Is there a way to share the beauty of faith and hope and giving without lying? Is there something in the experience of learning all the adults who cared about you lied to you that helps us survive as a culture? I am just not sure.

I would much rather that we tone down the commercialism, appreciate getting gifts, be content with knowing that much of what we get comes from out parents and family, but also being told that sometimes amazing things happen through the spirit of giving--embodied in the image of a fat man in a red suit.

I am sure that there is much comfort in knowing that if no one else in the world cares, there is Santa who knows as well as you do that you have been nice and who will repay you and shower you with what you deserve. I might have felt that way once.

I would like to believe we can evolve as a culture and find a way to celebrate in a sustainable way. I hope we can find a way to instill hope and joy and give without the sadness of being lied to.

World AIDS Day

2006-12-01T14:41:00.000-05:00

AIDS is an epidemic. AIDS is preventable.

To day is World AIDS Day, today is a day to increase awareness and speak on what we can do as a nation, as an international community to stop the epidemic, to stop the unnecessary suffering.

Of the 6,560,527,282 people who live on this planet, there are 39,500, 000 people living with HIV/AIDS.In 2005, there were 41,993 new AIDS cases among the 300,321,531 people who live in the United States.

These are the reported numbers. It is important to keep in mind that more people need to KNOW that they have AIDS, but few get tested. To stop the spread of HIV infection and AIDS there needs to be more testing! Click here to find an HIV testing clinic near you.

Maxine Waters (D) of California has sponsored a bill, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS treatment Modernization Act of 2006, that will force health insurance companies to pay for HIV testing. Testing for HIV needs to become as routine as testing for heart disease, cancer, and diabetes--actually more so because ANYONE can get HIV/AIDS, it is not predicted by genetics or diet. But, the likeliness of acquiring HIV/AIDS is increased by lifestyle choices, such as intravenous drug use, multiple sexual partners, anonymous sex, and anal sex.

Don't be shy, just ask your partner about his or her sexual history. It may be hard to pop that special question: "Have you been tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases?" but it is not as hard as living with HIV/AIDS.

If you are an intravenous drug user, use clean needles. Many cities have needle exchange programs. If you know an IV drug user, help that person stop or support needle exchange programs.

What makes the spread of AIDS so tragic is that it is preventable and it disproportionately affects African-Americans, Sub-Saharan Africans, women, children, and people living in poverty.

According to the Center for Disease Prevention and the Kaiser Family Foundation's Capitol Hill Briefing, HIV/AIDS is disproportionally impacts Latinos and African-Americans. As of 2005, 73% of infants born with HIV were African American.

In the United States, incidents of HIV/AIDS are increasing most noteably in the District of Columbia, New York, California, and Florida.

On this Earth, Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Botswana (24.1), Zimbabwe (20.1), and South Africa (18.8), experiences the most cases of HIV/AIDS. What is most alarming is the number of children living with HIV/ AIDS, 240,000 just in South Africa. Many of these cases could have been prevented through antiretroviral therapy, formula feeding instead of breastfeeding, and safe-delivery methods (not Cesarean).

Until a vaccine is create, the best defense is prevention. People need access to testing facilities as well as access to vaccines, condoms, clean needles, and quality health care to help prevent disease and relieve the suffering of people with AIDS.

The suffering and death created by HIV/AIDS are preventable.

There are many organizations that research for a cure and provide outreach and advocacy services. Please make yourself more aware of this growing pandemic and do what you can to stop unnecarry suffering.

UNAIDS
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS

USAID and PEPFAR
the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Research

amFAR
AIDS Medical Foundation AIDS Research

AEGIS
AIDS edication Global Information System

AIDS ACTION

AIDS Organization
raising awareness and building communities

International AIDS Vaccine Initiative

HIV Vaccine Trials Network

Join Red
product campaign to raise money for HIV/AIDS research and treatment

For more in-depth informaiton on the history of HIV/AIDS go to the Global HIV/AIDS timeline made available by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

Hugs and Love

2006-11-19T20:17:00.000-05:00

Acts of kindness, support, sympathy are ways to cultivate joy in not only our own lives, but also in the lives of others.

A smile, a kind word, a tender pat on the shoulder, or a hug are some of the acts that can change some one's day by offering hope.

If a person believes that people are negative, sad, or unfeeling, and that belief is often reinforced by the people they meet...then that person needs to meet new people. Wouldn't it feel wonderful to be the person who helps dispel the belief and encourages someone to believe that people are, or at least can be, positive, happy, and thoughtfully warm.

I was very inspired to see this video on YouTube about a free hugs campaign started by Juan Mann in Australia. Please watch the video and see this incredible man standing in an open mall and holding up a sign, which reads, in big black letters, FREE HUGS.

What makes the videography so inspiring, to me, is the support Juan Mann garners. As you watch, you see how he invites people to take him up on his offer. First, you see people hug him and then later you see people take his sign and begin to offer free hugs to others. Eventually, you see people running up and falling into another person's arms.

Midway through the video you see a policeman come up to Juan; although there are no words and only a soundtrack, you get the idea that he is being asked to stop. Soon after you see him with a petition and then others with petitions and postings of how many signatures they get until they reach the goal.

I am not sure why public officials would have wanted to ban a free hugs campaign. The website www.freehugscampaign.org is currently not available, which I thought was surprising, considering the video on YouTube was posted on September 6, 2006.

An update from Juan Mann on YouTube encourages people to also check out the Free Help Campaign where people can post a message about their desire to offer help and also post their desire to receive help. This initiative was inspired by Oprah's Greatest Giveaway Ever.

I read through some of the the postings from those who would like to be help. The variety is amazing--a woman who needs help moving her entire house to a young girl who wants a friend to a man who wants help on getting a loan.
Many people offering help are offering a caring ear to listen. Some people are offering financial advice or help finding a job or applying to college. Another person was giving away free furniture and yet another was offering to help people in his community to clean gutters.
Local to global--these are people who want to nurture others or people who acknowledge that they need nurtured.

The Free Hugs campaign has expanded into a global movement. I have seen YouTube videos of people offering free hugs in Japan, Italy, and Korea.

I have found other sites dedicated to similar Free Hugs campaigns. One, Free-Hugs is a company whose mission is to spread kindness and uplift the human spirit. The founder, Jason Hunter of Atlanta, was apparently the inspiration for Juan Mann's Australian movement. I finally uncovered this relationship in a press clip on the Free-Hug website as originally posted byHartsvilleToday.com on Oct. 24, 2006.

The history of Free-Hugs is dedicated to the memory of Hunter's mother, who he described as a woman whose purpose was to be the person who always had a kind word, a smile, a hug.

Free-Hugs sells t-shirts and jerseys. A school curriculum in on the way for Spring 2007.

We can join in to the FreeHugs campaign by just offering smiles, warm words, and HUGS to friends, family, and coworkers....and so many more people who we believe need it and who can accept it. You can also check out these sites, watch the videos, and buy the shirts. It is a beautiful message to express-empathy! Acknowledge and recognize people as you pass them by...it can be exhausting in a city, but it is worth it when you have the energy to share it for it will enliven you and inspire you to share positive energy and warmth. Spread the message, people can be good and caring and helpful and you are one of those people.

America is Awake!

2006-11-12T21:24:00.000-05:00

I was almost surprised to see this. My neighbor's feed business posted this sign on November 8.

I guess he was not too happy with the outcome--Democrats are in control of both houses of congress.

A few friends emailed me, knowing how I tend to be involved in grassroots campaigns, and congratulated me on the recent gain.

As I have commented in past postings, I have noticed Democrats in meetups to have been suffering from the frustration of loss and a sense of helplessness.

As Democrats may be feeling waves of relief, hope, and determination Republicans may also be feeling--as the sign my neighbor posted indicates--waves of frustration, fear, and loathing. Good. I would like them to feel it for a least a short while. After they process a full range of grief, I hope they will begin to reach out to bi-partisan efforts with a bit more humility than our President.

I have not been able to find the quote yet, but I believe the President's first word on the subject of a change of power in the house was that he was a little disappointed. In his radio address on 11 November Bush said,

"The message of this week's elections is clear: the American people want their leaders in Washington to set aside partisan differences, conduct ourselves in an ethical manner, and work together to address the challenges facing our Nation. This is important work that will demand the hard effort and good faith of leaders from both sides of the aisle, and I pledge to do my part."

I hope my neighbor heard that!

In closing, I just want to say that I was pleased with the comments that came out of Pelosi and Bush's first meeting (click to read the transcript).
I am hoping this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship, it seems they are both going to be able to forget all the dirty talk during the election.

Americas are awake, and I hope this means none of us will be so stubborn to let differences get in the way of making progress in areas of health insurance, education, health care, an Iraq exit strategy, and the 9-11 commission recommendations.

Voting in PA? Vote for Freedom and Economic Growth!

2006-11-07T00:10:00.000-05:00

How am I voting in my PA district? Far too often, I think I am voting for people because I believe they must be better than the incumbents.

Mainly, I am voting for democrats, people who are fiscally responsible, interested in creating peace and who are pro-choice, or at least not firmly anti-choice.

I believe I am voting for freedom-- women's freedom and economic freedom.

For U.S. Senate I am voting for Bob Casey. Mainly, I am voting for him because he is not Rick Santorum, the incumbent republican.

Casey, I believe, is pro-life, I am trying not to hold this against him. I believe his promises to make our government accountable, reducing debt, supporting veterans, expanding insurance for low-income families.

Better health care, quality education, a clean environment, rural development, and the issues facing the many elderly are key issues not only for PA but for many states.

Santorum has supported Bush and many of the decisions I did not support, like war in Iraq.
Santorum is an anti-choice candidate, as confirmed by NARAL pro-choice voting guide for PA. Our current governor, Ed Rendell is a certified pro-choice candidate. Casey is not really saying a lot, or I have not heard enough, about what he would do to curtail a woman's choice to get an abortion or access birth control. Pennsylvania is very rural, and a woman's right to choose is already marginalized by issues of access. I am going to bet that Casey will not support legislation to reduce reproductive rights; unfortunately, I do not think he will be a champion either.

As I have already indicated, I will be voting for Ed Rendell (D), the incumbent.
Rendell was a vet and a mayor of Philadelphia. Under his leadership job growth has increased from 41st to the 15th in national ranking. There is also a very interesting gaming bill underway. Rendell has also been supporting ethanol production, which as potential for a fuel-additive and could help bring jobs to many people in Pennsylvania. The first plant will be coming to Clearfield County.

Swan, unfortunately, looks to be a bit of a Bush-man who will support party politics more so than what is actually needed.

I live in PA's 5th district and I will be voting for Donald Hiller (D). I am voting for him because he is pro-choice. He also wants to increase funding for education alternatives. This seems like a smart political trade. There is a lot of anti-choice support in Pennsylvania.

I think that anti-choice supporters can be appeased by offering a space for them to promote their perspective. They want people to choose not to have an abortion. I think many pro-choice supporters would also hope that people would not need to have an abortion. Working together, maybe we can help stop unplanned pregnancy. His support for pro-choice policies as well as increases in funding for abortion alternatives is a sign he would move in that direction: one that would actually work to find solutions rather than just legislate opinion.

Hiller is also for increased construction and development in rural areas, which is much needed and is probably an issue of reducing harm and higher costs later.
He also is for increasing minimum wage, but is sensible enough to also make the point that there will be a need to minimize the impact any raise will have on small business.

Unlike John Peterson (R), who is decidedly anti-choice. Hiller, like Rendell, is also actively supporting Ethanol fuel-additive reform. He opposes amnesty for illegal immigrants, which is probably smart politics but does not really offer a solution. Most interestingly is his wish to prevent abuse of government wiretapping.

In my state's General Assembly House of Representatives District 66, I will be voting for Samy Elmasry (D), mainly because he is not Sam Smith (R). Sam Smith is anti-choice, and he is against gay marriage. He also seemed very reluctant to help a local non profit called Save our Schools in its attempt to stop the closing of the Big Run Elementary school and other schools that will surely follow. There is no check on local school boards, who can people turn to if not their state representatives?

Elmasry has not made a lot of statements. I have has a hard time figuring out exactly where he stands, but in this case I am going with the devil I don't know rather than the devil I know.
Elmasry supports home-based medical care, he supports legislation that will supplement slot machines proceeds with income tax changes. Regressive taxes on home/landowners just does not work in a state like PA, especially for small farmers in rural and economically disadvantaged areas! He also supports a slight increase in sales taxes. Sam Smith says this type of legislation is a good first step It is obviously a complicated issue. We need people who are willing to try new things.

Rendell has not supported the slot machine legislation. He also vetoed the proposal to have the Lottery support the increases to services to the elderly population. I have not seen enough of the proposals at this point to make a firm statement about what would be best, and so I am going to be swayed by party lines and pro-choice freedoms.

Do your best to educate yourself: I know it is difficult and we all have busy lives.
Vote Today!!

GoodSearch: a Tool for Internet Advocacy

2006-10-30T23:32:00.000-05:00

Here is something relatively new in internet advocacy, the search engine fundraiser. I have come across a few similar cases where simply using a site's search engine would help generate money for a chairty or non-profit. I find this simply amazing and a fantastically simple way for people to help a cause. I think using a search engine site to generate funds is particularly great because it gives people an opportunity to help raise $$ even when they are strapped for cash.

Any registered non-profit can contact GOODSEARCH, this includes schools, charities, hospitals and clinics, political groups, professional associations, volunteer services and so many more...maybe yours!

If your organization is not already listed on the homepage as their Charity of the Day, you can type the cause or charity of your interest in and see if it is has set up an account. Once you discover the cause or charity you are interested in does have an account with GOODSEARCH, you can see how much money they have raised.

Right now, the charity of the day is the Children Affected by Aids Foundation. I discovered GOODSEARCH in a RESULTS Global Weekly Update.

RESULTS is an nonprofit advocacy group dedicated to ending poverty and hunger. An account has been set up on GOODSEARCH that will raise funds for the RESULTS Education Fund.

The following message was included in my Weekly Update, if you would like more information on how you can help get RESULTS in the war on poverty, sign up for the newsletter. I like this group because they give great tips on how to write effective letters to the editor or to political representatives. The new GOODSEARCH fundraiser is another good example of the simple, do-able ideas they have.

Use GoodSearch to Fund RESULTS!
"Now RESULTS can earn a penny every time you search the Internet! GoodSearch.com is a new search engine that donates half its revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. You use it just as you would any search engine, and it’s powered by Yahoo!, so you get great results.

Just go to http://www.goodsearch.com/ and enter RESULTS Educational Fund as the charity you want to support. You can also download the GoodSearch toolbar for your browser to make it even easier to use. Just 250 of us searching four times a day will raise about $3600 in a year without anyone spending a dime.

Please broadcast this message to your personal networks, asking them to use GoodSearch and raise money for our work. Just cut and paste this entire message and send it to your contacts — and we will all be taking one more step to make poverty history!"
--RESULTS Global Weekly Update — October 30, 2006

PA House District 66: Sam Smith and Samy Elmasry

2006-10-24T21:14:00.001-05:00

The election of Pennsylvania House District 66 is a very simple race. The general assembly

Over the past few month I have seen very little evidence that anyone was paying attention to this race. There were a few signs for Sam Smith and Elmasry sprinkled along heavy traffic areas in Punxsutawney.

If driving along 119, you wil mainly see signs for the gubenatorial race between Rendel and Swan.

Evidence of support for one side or the other in the big races has been scare, although slowly growing. I guess that was why it was so surprising to see the swelling of support for Sam Smith in the PA House of Representatives.

There was a row of houses, each with a sign.

About three years ago Sam Smith opened an office in Punxsy. I am really not sure how long it has been there, but it became very noticable about three years ago. The office is located in an old 1930s storefront. The balcony on the second floor is covered with a sign declaring his name, it is detailed in red and blue.

I think that my wish to have this representative replaced is grounded in my disappointment. My sister started a non-profit to advocate for the Big Run Elementary school which was allowed to fall into disrepair until it was slated for closure--the reason being that it was in disrepair. Many of the small schools in the more rural areas on the outskirts of the school district have been closing. But this one was historic.

Voting Myths and Encouragements

2006-10-16T23:24:00.000-05:00

We need to vote for democracy to work. We also probably need to be better informed and in meaningful ways. I would probably be helpful that citizens actually care and feel empowered/informed. It would be important that people leave the polls feeling like they made a good and informed decision.

It is a well propogated fact that citizens of the United States don't turn out to vote as often as citizens in other nations. If that is true, it is not very surprising to me. Based on the causal conversations I have has with people, even the people who go to political meetings/events, we are very poorly informed. Much searching is needed to find the voting histories of Congressmen and women...for state and local levels: I just don't have a clue! I care, and it is hard for me to keep track. But really, are there less people voting? Is the reason we are in this 8 year republican dominated trend because the religious and New right get out the vote better than other groups? Maybe only conservative people vote? Nah....

Another widely held belief is that voter turnout is declining, that the kids just don't get out to vote the same way their parents and grandparents did and still do.

According to research published by Dr. Michael McDonald at the Department of Public and International Public Policy at George Mason University, American voter turn out has not declined since 1972.

There is a very interesting entry on Wikipedia that explores the many factors that may explain variation in voter turnout between nations--cultural, socioeconomic, institutional.

Wikipedia cited that about 54% of Americans turn out to vote; which seems pretty sad for a developing nation and one of the earliest, modern democratic nations.
The Wiki article also cited a decrease in turnout for presidential elections, which may be very telling, if it is true.

According to McDonald's research the myth of a decline in voter turnout is a result of poor calculations. I am not sure the extent that his findings invalidate the claim that only 54 % of registered Americans have turned out to vote in the last nine presidential elections.

Whereas other nations, like Austrailia, manage to get 95%, we Americans look pretty disinterested and apparently have been consistenly disinterested in voting since 1972.

When was the last time you voted? Voted in something other than a presidential election. This may surprise you, but there are other elections. This year, in particular, it is very important that we get out to vote and put more new faces (hopefully democratic, independent, and green faces) into Congress!

Take inventory of your friends, family, and neighbors and encourage them to vote.

For more on Voter Turnout Check out International IDEA

Herding Cats

2006-10-02T22:23:00.000-05:00

Trent Lott was on the Daily Show
promoting his book Herding Cats.

It was a simple discussion, one that is getting more and more common...
and it got me thinking.

He and Jon Stewart discussed the sense that there is just no one in charge of Congress...and Lott pointed out that really, no one is: there is a series of committees.

I am almost sad about how much the Foley content took over their dialogue, but I guess something like that is the issue: how do immoral people end up in charge? Do Republicans really deserve to have the majority?

What makes it so alarming is that some news organizations knew about it before it happened and a member of Congress who were allegedly told about similar incidents, Hastert, denies all knowledge! Sure, some things raised a red flad...but no follow up, no questioning.

I expect my representatives to question each other, no matter what side of the political fence they are on.

Lott has it right, we need to have more of a vision of where we want to go in the future and how we can avoid the same mistakes!

It is certainly creepy that a man interested in sexual relations with minors was drafting legislation to address issues of missing and exploited children...but in the scheme of things maybe not that strange...and maybe no more alarming than men with interests in oil and industry spearheading a war that would secure both oil and large scale contracts for rebuilding and providing meals to military men.

I imagine that a man who wrestles with his own inner pervert really knows how much of an issue missing and exploited children can be...and I do believe there is reform for people like Foley, who when well and considerate of appropriate boundaries can work on the efforts to promote safety and well-being of children.

Scandalous behavior like Foley's will likely lengthen the shadow that has been falling across republicans. Hopefully, they will lose their dominance in Congress. Unfortunately, I would feel even better about the issue of who has dominance if I felt like democrats were more active across the board.

It may be that no matter what group holds dominance in Congress, the issue of herding cats will still be present.

As citizens and voters we can only hope that the people we vote into office will not turn a blind eye to any sort of inappropriate behavior or wrong doing! And, it is not just on the national level: we need all our representatives at any level to be up to the challenge of calling people to the floor when they are misbehaving or inappropriate.

I wonder what it is that makes any kind of social movement a lot like herding cats...a bunsh of people who are demanding to be heard are promoting their pet causes and who expect to be able to do what they want when they want it and to hell with all the people who are not willing to lick their fur.

I hope people vote, more people than usual...politics may be a lot like herding cats...committees can be slow machines, but this does not mean that nothing will happen.

There are ways to move past the feeling of a lack of leadership...part of it will come from the grassroots up.

Show your enthusiasm: vote, write representatives; go to community mettings; run for office; write letters to the editor; draft policy agendas; donate to politicans and causes; watch the news; read the paper; talk politics with your friends, family, and neighbors--and not just national politics"

And when you do talk politics and issues: actually try to come up with a solution.

Please try to do all of this and pick candidates that have a vision and who are willing to listen and question as well as lead.

Musharraf on the Daily Show

2006-09-27T00:18:00.000-05:00

I was settling down to take in some playful jokes about what is too tragic to be anything less than funny: the U.S. role in world politics.

Imagine my surprise that President Musharraf is the guest on the Daily Show!

And how sweet, Jon begins with the serving of tea....and twinkies...then it is straight to the hard questions, like where is bin Laden.

Is this the first interview of a foreign head of state on a comedy news show?

See how easy it is to stay in touch with world affairs?

The hard choices, being "in the line of fire" and deciding if they, he, Pakistan, should have cooperating with the U.S.
After all, we needed to go through there to get to bin Laden.....

Musharraf has an important point, we..and in this case, he and the government of Pakistan have to win people away from the Taliban.

I like how readily Musharraf agreed that he is much more calm about terrorists and terrorism than we, in the United States are, even though he is at the forefront.

Apparently Bush is endorsing Musharraf's books, will it reinforce Bush's version of the war on terror? Are we safer now? Are the Taliban contained??

Stewart mentioned that Musharraf does not discuss Iraq directly. Musharraf does not want to get into a debate on why we went, but he does state that Iraq has increased extremism and terrorism....so we are not safer--at least Musharraf does not think so. And I think this is a point that American's need to hear. Is this the only safe forum for him to say it.

Of course the funniest part of the interview was his assessment of who would win an election between Bush and bin Laden in Pakistan: both would lose miserably--good form.

Of course, the moment of Zen really put me in that twisted mood that only the Daily Show can: a clip of a FOX newscaster telling us that we have the next best thing to a national referendum for torture, America loves Jack Bauer of 24--they love seeing the tough torture type tactics against enemies of the state. It would not be too far fetched to think that television shows like 24 push up the torture element just to see how audiences react so Fox news can report on it, if it fits with the larger agenda of a tough no-holds-barred America.

As one person emailed Fox Dayside, and I paraphrase: how can people argue taking the moral high ground when those terrorists are cutting off people's hands and heads!

Sad isn't it? Foreign heads of state need to be on a comedy show to get opportunity to state dissent about how things are going in Iraq, and how scary it is that people liking violence on TV means we are okay with torture....are there really Americans who would support that? None of them are or were ever vets, I feel quite sure.

I hope that a diversity of ideas and perspectives continue to seep into mainstream media, although I am not too sure how mainstream the Daily Show really is...it may more be an instance of preaching to the choir....but the mainstream RIGHT does police it and loves to be outraged by it and therefore it is a portal and one that I hope continues to be exploited for the good of us all!

I just caught the late edition...
I am impressed with how quickly reviews of the show hit the news media.
I guess because this may be a first, and because we are getting the dirt straight from the man himself!

The Washington Post
International Herald Tribune
New York Times
NDTV.com

Good Fences? Good Neighbors?!

2006-09-25T22:27:00.000-05:00

I quote Robert Frost: "Something there is that does not love a wall?"

A wall with holes and low places...
A wall where people come and go as if there is no wall at all.
And so...
How high must a wall be to keep out the fear of poverty?
How high must a wall be to dissuade a hope that prevailed past oppressive heat and the aches of slow starvation.

How much are the fat, rich, and paranoid willing to spend to hide prosperity from poor neighbors?

I just got a MEGAVOTE update from Congress.org letting me know how my representatives have been voting. The update also let me know what they will be voting on next. Among the bills on the floor is the Secure Fence Act.

Soon, the House of Representatives will be voting on the Secure Fence Act - H.R.6061.

This week the Senate will continue to work on a bill to authorize the construction of 700 miles of fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Illegal or undocumented immigration is not a new issue. It has been growing as an issue as wholes in the system of accounting for illegals or undocumented immigrants has increased along with demands for increased national security.

Pat Buchanan was just on the Daily Show to promote his new book State of Emergency: The Third World Invasion and Conquest of America.

Stewart made many jokes to highlight the pertinent points, like how America already received wave upon wave of immigrants...how is this different.

Buchanan's point is that this wave is different because of their resistance to assimilation.

And really, is it not surprising--why should they assimilate to what rejects them. From reading the synopsis on his book and from hearing him speak on the Daily Show, it seems that Buchanan understands why people from Mexico and other developing nations are resisting the Apple-pie Americanization so many other immigrants swallowed whole two or three generations ago (or more).

Even those immigrants who do wait their turn in line, they may also be resistant to efforts of assimilation to "American" values--as if this was a constant, homogenous thing.

The second wave of immigrants to the U.S. were coming to a very different place. A country that was still idealistic and a place to remake identity and move past the oppression of kings and dictators...I guess people are still doing that...but America was not an EMPIRE. America was powerful, but not quite in the busy business of nation building and supporting regimes and manipulating economies.

America, to members of developing nations, is now the Empire, the exploiter...it is difficult to reconcile yourself with a curriculum of media messages and unspoken gestures in everyday life that tell you that you are not welcome, you are less, and you are different and will never be one with us....and so what is there to do? Reject it!

I just might actually have to read Buchanan's book to better make my points.

On the Daily Show, he said that there are more illegal immigrants here now than all the Italians, Irish, etc. who came before them. He would like us to slow the wave and take the time to assimilate the people who are here before we allow any more in.

We can not keep people out. And we can not continue to promote the Anglophone values that create the resistance.

Stewart suggests we stake a claim on Mexico with the spring break crews. But also makes the even more credible point that people are here and 'homesteading' to send $$ back....and of course suggests that we enforce laws that already exist (drug related, etc.) or to consider that breaking the line to illegally enter the U.S. is not a federal crime.

If only Buchanan did not make the comment that we need to think of the Indian's open immigration policy--oh dreaded thing to say. Such a twisted and warped thing to say...

Reactionaries like Buchanan may have to consider that the America they want to protect it is a nostalgic dream that will vanish like fog in the sun. America is evolving, has been evolving.

The question is how we can negotiate the waves of cultural change to retain what was good about the past with what is being offered by waves of recent immigrants.

I am not sure how...but it will begin by being open to change and embracing a hard truth: we live in an imagined community. America is not real: it is a dream, it is held together by beliefs and customs which are easily subject to change...and that is not a bad thing.

There is something that does not love a wall: change.

Do NOT Pardon President Bush

2006-09-19T00:36:00.000-05:00

I have been alerted to yet another political action where you can do something to make a difference. Within minutes, you can do something to help promote the values that are the basis of our current sense of freedom.

Apparently, according to an email from MoveOn.org, Republicans in Senate are planning to have a vote on a bill that would PARDON President Bush for his choice to pursue illegal wire-tapping.

We have laws in place that allow cops/FBI/CIA to wire tap phones without a warrent, with the condition that these same groups get a warrent within three days, otherwise the information gained would be inadmissable.

We can not let the President get away with his choice to overlook existing laws. He is not above the law.

The President must not be pardoned. No one is above the law. The President must be held accountable. The President should be a role model for lawfulness, he should be an advocate for indivual rights and due proces--the bedrock of our constitution!

If you agree that we must make a statement and stop such a vote, please sign the petition started by MoveOn.org.

Presidential Address

2006-09-11T22:35:00.000-05:00

So, I missed the rest of Path to 9/11
(at least most of it)...but I caught
G.W. Bush's Presidential Address.

In case you missed it, I have listed most of his main points and made a few comments to a few of them in this posting.

Here are his main points:

America is still in mourning
On 9/11 ordinary citizens made extraodinary acts of courage
We have learned alot about the enemy, that they are evil but do not kill without purpose
The enemy (extremist Islamic fundamentalists) hate freedom and have no room for negotiation
We are being tested by a war we did not choose
This war will define our generation
We have made progress and have some known terrorists in custody
Sadam Hussein's Iraq was a known threat and the world is safer with him gone
America's safety depends on the outcome in Iraq and we will stay until they have a stable democracy
American's continue to join the military and fight in Iraq and we will NEVER back down from the work they begun
We are going to do for the Middle East what our grandparents and parents did in Europe
Even people whose parents where killed in WTC are still joining the army and becoming firefighters
America needs brave young people and Good American's help their neighbors in need because:
The spirit of our people is the source of America's strength. And we go forward with trust in that spirit, confidence in our purpose, and faith in a loving God who made us to be free.

And here is my commentary:
The President claims that we are being tested: that Ordinary Americans have made Extraordinary Acts.
I am not surprised that the president has used the 9/11 memorial fervor to try to inspire people to join the army and other first responder type professions....and this is something I am torn about. On the one hand, we need these people and on the other hand I am not confident that those who join the military will only be sent to those areas where they will be fighting a just cause.

There is no doubt that there are many unsung heroes who have finally begun to receive the recognition they deserve. I only wish that singing their praise was not accompanied by a call to arms.

I also agree with the President that one of the defining issues of our age is the conflict between fundamentalists and the tolerant...

I hope people can see that we are experiencing this conflict on many fronts: not just internationally between Secular nations and Extreme Islam, but also within the United States between fundamentalist Christians who would like to dissolve the separate of church and state, which is the defining principle of the U.S.

We need to be able to practice what we preach...we need to have a working democracy here at home before we can export it to other nations.

The President still claims that Iraq was a clear threat.
I agree that the terrorists are people who do not have room for negotiation, but I do not agree that there was a the necessary evidence to warrent an attack on Iraq. Sadam Hussein was without a doubt someone worthy of being tried for his crimes against humanity, but he is not alone. There are other very, very bad world leaders out there with whom America still has diplomatic relations--no sanctions! Nothing! And so why is it that we have not addressed these other nations? Because they are not a threat to the United States? Perhaps. However, there are more issues that need to be addressed than the number of soldiers and first responders or the resources and laws needed to keep people secure, to stop terrorists from killing!

Is our safety tied to positive outcome in Iraq? I agree with the President that our future is tied to the near future of Iraq. The President is suggesting that if we leave Iraq we are walking out on our obligations and letting Iraq to be a safe hazen for terrorists.
I want troops out of harms way, and I have seen several documentaries that seem to suggest that the Iraqi citizens would like to see troops leave. However, from these same sources I have gathered that there is much work to be done to rebuild the infrastructure....troops from the Coalition of the Willing, as well as American and international nonprofits, nongovernmental organizations, and corporations will be needed in Iraq for several years to come...
Hopefully, troops will be phased out and Iraqi's will feel more and more like they control their own destiny.

We need to help our neighbors in time of crises, of this there can be no doubt.
But am I expected continue to help my neighbors if I think they are bad people? Do I have the right to ask my neighbors to at least try to be better people? What if my neighbor has asked me to stop helping him/her? Even if I think she/he need my support, should I not respect his/her wishes?
When he suggests that we stand by our neighbor, I wonder which nation he was thinking about: Iraq or Israel?

Americans are still in mourning!
Yes, many Americans are still mourning...and many Americans are not paying attention. They are hiding from what is depressing. Mini-series like The Path to 9/11 still have the potential to do good, even if part of their content is false) because they might lure more Americans into paying attention. Path to 9/11 can help viewers understand that 9/11 should NOT have been a huge surprise: people did see it coming!!! Not just people in the Clinton administration, but also people in the Bush administration. Without something like The Path to 9/11 people would have not have connected the various terorist attacks and attempted terrorist attacks that have occured over the last 20-plus years!! The terrorist related attacks that have occured might seem to the ordinary NEWS viewer to be a series of unrelated events, events like the 1983 bombing of a marines military base in Lebanon, the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, and the arrest of a man smuggling explosives across the Canadian border into Washington State, and the suicide bombing of the USS Cole, and 9/11!!!

While the President continues to make his point that the terrorists hate us and want to kill us because we love freedom is a tad too simplistic...but I will conceed that this issue is one that will continue to demand our resolve and dedication if we are to let freedom ring.

Path to 9/11

2006-09-10T22:21:00.000-05:00

The Path to 9/11 began airing on ABC on Sunday, September 10 @ 8/7c. The story is continued on Monday, September 11 @ 8/7c. There has been some controversy about the portrayal of fictional events.
Why is this an issue?

On September 7th, ABC issued a statement that the attacks against their film were premature, that no one has seen the final cut and changes were still being made. Yet, it seems to me that the scenes that were being attacked as misrepresenting the actions of real people were still a part of the film. ABC did not seem to change the film to make it more honest, but instead may have just added more reminders to be sure we knew that it was a docuDRAMA and not a documentary. I am very concerned that the purpose of this film is to convince American's that we need to suspend some of the chain of command and privacy issues that are inplace to maintain good relations between nations as well as protect our personal freedoms.

Knowing that some of the story is false is important. A message flashed on the screen during the middle and at the end of Sunday nights' airing that reminded the audience that the film was based on the 9/11 commission report, personal interviews and other sources. The message reminded us that what we were watching was not a documentary and some characters were composites, some events were fictional, and in some instances time was compressed.
I wonder if the message was added in because of the controversy.

If The Path is a docu-drama, what are the fictional events?

So far, these are all the instanes that I know to be either "composites" or not at all true:
1) There was no moment when CIA agents teamed up with the North Alliance in Afghanistan to capture and possible kill bin Laden.
2) Madeline Albright did not warn Pakistan that tomahawk missiles would be flying through Pakistani airspace on the way to destroy bin Laden.

After the movie, ABC Nightline came on and let us know that there is more information being uncovered that indicate that there were attempts to take down bin Laden that fell through.

Even with the parts that were not contested for being fictionalized, there was an overwhelming theme: bureaucracy, the red tape, makes it difficult for the FBI and CIA to fight terrorists.

John O'Neil, the character played by Harvey Keitel, has many great lines that help build the main message: how can we fight a war with terrorists through the channels of law and order!
It seems to me, thus far, that the purpose of the fictionalized scenes is to emphasize the main point. It is possible that liberals and conservatives alike are both at odds with the film because it means that politics are the main problem in the war on terror.....tonight, everything happened on Clinton's watch, tomorrow it will be the G.W. Bush's administration who may be cast as the enforcers of red tape....

I am looking forward to finding out how the Bush administration is portrayed.

The issue of some scenes is that they are fictional and these are an important historic events. The issue with some of the scenes being fictional is that they may be misrepresentations of the acts of real people, like Madeline Albright.

Composite scenes, like those where CIA agents are working to locate and plan are one thing...maybe it happened that way and maybe it did not...there are few references to public figures (other than Massoud, the leader of the Northern Alliance). If this film were to be viewed by kids at school that would be the kind of scene that could be discussed in terms of the various reports about its accuracies...however the depiction of Madeline Albright doing something she claims she did not do seems to be more of an issue for the courts.

The film is a docudrama, which is why it is important to seek out multiple sources if a person is interested in knowing what really happened on the Path to 9/11.....this is also why it is important that people come out and discuss what really happened.

If some of the scenes are FALSE, I really hope the issue continued to be argued and that the truth is known.

We need to know if the actions of politicians held up law enforcement. We need to know how we can make protocol more fluid so that justice can be served and loss of life prevented. BUT we can not be convinced to forgo our civil rights in the name of national security!

Getting Perspective Through the Places We Go

2006-08-07T14:20:00.000-05:00

It is hard to imagine other people and other ways of living. I really think that everyone should travel, near or far, to get a different perspective on living.

Going places was a relatively new thing for me, having had few trips that left my home state until after I was 17, and then I got on a plane and went to Brazil.

I did not really understand it or know that it would happen, but my perspective on the world has changed with each trip.

Not just the trips to places where people have an amazingly different life and I am struck dumb staring at something that is, to them, of course, amazingly common...oh no.
Even the trips I have made to the next town so I can visit the flea market or those I made across the country, camping at each stop...even these.

Is it just watching the pavement curve and the landscape fall and rise?

I would like to think I have seen a bit more of the U.S. than I have the rest of the world. I am not sure yet why this is important to me.

Maybe the significance of being familiar with my own nation comes from talking to far too many people who I label pretentious because they are more pleased to have traveled to other countries than to have visited their own nation. I am not sure if it is an issue of nationalistic patriotism, I think I would like people to have actaully seen a bit of the U.S. before they talk about it in huge sweeping gestures that seem to describe all those Americans who do not live in major cities as idiots...

Thankfully I have learned to limit my conversations with people who like to think most Americans are idiots and who also may have threatened to move to another country after Bush came into his second term...why go? I mean...we were needed more so than before! Of course, this talk died down and people went on with their lives and other were jolted into becoming much more politically active!

I am willing to consider that I am jealous that I have not traveled more....maybe with more cash and time, etc. etc.....I am basically suggesting that it is important to be open to learning from each travel experience, any travel experience....any experience actually.... and to not belittle places that are close simply because they are close and not foreign.

So I have been around the U.S. a bit, and here is a cool site I found that helps me show it.

create your own visited states map
or check out these Google Hacks.

I have also made it a point to try to visit the America's before I moved into the the Eastern Hemisphere. Again, I am not sure why exactly...but now you can judge me for the nations as well as the states I have visited...

create your own visited countries map
or vertaling Duits Nederlands

It is, no doubt, important that Americans travel. Americans of all ages and classes need to see how other people live, not just in their own country but in others. Seeing how life happens for other people helps us develop. It hits us in a strange place that takes weeks, months, maybe years for the full processing and integration to occur and the effects to be felt in our waking life where we can then have compassion and imagination for others.

Just a few miles down the road or a 24 hour flight around the globe, its worth it.

My Opinion Matters?? Tips on how to fill a Bucket

2006-07-21T10:51:00.000-05:00

I would very much like to think my opinion matters. However, I do not think it wise to take this too much to heart, to think that it is me, myself, and I whose voice matters.....I am a drop in the bucket, literally.

Now that I am in Pennsylvania, I signed up to get email alerts on Bob Casey's campaign for Senate. Yesterday, I received an email from Casey's campaign manager to let me know that in "just 18 seconds" I "can make a huge difference in beating Rick Santorum."
Pretty exciting, right. It is.

Apparently, Senator Barbara Boxer has a Political Action Committee for a Change. All I had to do was click on a link and I was sent to an online poll where I could vote for the Democrat I think Boxer's PAC should do some fundraising for next.

Luckily, Casey was tied for first place....all those little droplets that hit the bucket before me were making a differnce. This is where just a few droplets more could really help. I voted and promptly emailed the message I received to a few family members (I do not have many friends in PA, mainly family...I guess I could have sent the message to people who do not live in PA, but that would feel like cheating to me).

I did not use the system in place on Boxer's PAC for a Change to send the emails that would alert my family (and any potential friends) because I did not want them to be unwillingly added to any potential list. I was also careful to uncheck the box that was of course checked by default, this checked box would have made sure I was put on Boxer's PAC for a Change email list and who knows what else.

While I may be interested (and I am), I have been made aware of it and can now return to the website to examine it at my pleasure. I imagine that if I realize there is a lot going on that I am missing because I am not getting the notices or alerts, then I can sign up and write all my family (and friends) and tell them about all the interesting, do good for the world things we are missing.

I neglected to mention in my email to my family that there was a deadline for the vote, that is something that I should remember for next time. What I am most pleased with is that I let told them about a simple way to make their opinion, as well as my own opinion, matter without putting their emails into a database. I would hate for people to ignore or opportunities to get involved simply because they find the alerts too bothersome.

And there is such a thing as too bothersome in a campaign, like the door flyers that reappear everyday like a restaurant menu...or the recorded phone messages, which are indeed worse than the people doing the opinion calls.

So, if the people I contacted voted, along with a few hundred others (likely) we may have filled that bucket and helped Casey raise more money, which is indeed very important considering Santorum has apparently already raised $20 million!

As of 6pm July 20th, Bob Casey has 20% of the votes. The polling continues until 11:59 July 21st.T You can make a difference, give the online poll a try!

Patriotic?

2006-07-04T18:48:00.000-05:00

It's the fourth of July, but I am not feeling very patriotic.

It's raining in Pennsylvania, for one thing. There will be fireworks somewhere nearby, but I do not feel like going.

I am sure that wherever people have gathered today they are waving flags and have ribbons with patriotic slogans on their cars...they may have a waterproof patriotic wristband like the girl in the photo.

I have heard the booms and blasts of neighbors setting off what are very likely illegal fireworks, the characteristic fall of pretty colors-a person can't buy that in a store, can they? I don't even feel like standing outside to watch this illegal display, despite my adoration for piracy.
Maybe it's the rain...

and maybe I am wondering where the money has gone....there are trillions missing from the treasury, many departments are alledgedly adjusting their budgets not balancing them, which you can learn more about at whereisthemoney.org.

or maybe somewhere in the back of my mind I am still wondering about those many unanswered questions about what our government knew about WMD, or a variety of other scandals. You can learn more about this by going to the hotseat.

It does seem to be encouraging to see people are going to jail for Enron, but there are so many more people who were involved who will never be brought to justice. But we still have articles like this one written about our president,Bush to abuse power more than any president in history, which is a tad depressing.

And yet, what is there to be done?

There are some people who hold on and keep reminding us of the score...of what needs to be answered and who needs to be brought to justice....these resources help people like me to write my letters to my representatives to remind them of what I think needs to happen. The trouble of course is that these resources are so hidden. The last two I listed were found while stumbling through the internet via StumbleUpon, which is a terrific compendium of websites with reviews and tags to help make for more theme-focused stumbling.

But the news should not be so buried.
So I will post some of these sites here....and hopefully more people will find them and be inspired to talk to people about what they know, how they feel, and maybe they (YOU) will also act by writing your representives or writing a letter to the editor.

We have to speak... we have to remember...we have to keep score!
This is our patriotism, and someday we may be able to make a bang louder than the illegal fireworks my neighbors set off.

Not Listening

2006-06-18T14:35:00.000-05:00

There are too many things that no one discusses with an intent to change or even accept on a level where change can occur to really even begin to feel like I can create a comprehensive list.

class wars
rugged individualism
dependence on foreign oil
isolationism
tendency to invade other nations

Indeed, it is that culture it so prevelant and perpetuated without being acknowledged that makes it so sneaky...and the parts we do acknowledge, we still do not articulate the mechnanisms in which they work.

WHY is it, exactly, that...as G.W. Bush would put it, we are a nation of abundance and accustomed to abundance? He could probably say this with a back drop of the Dorthea Lange photos of the dustbowl mother in the background and people would still nod their heads and say, "Yes, abundance...it's who we are, we waste resources...damn right I drive an SUV and demand less taxes and don't get involved in politics."

So there it is...I am not listening.

Liberty, thats all

2006-06-04T13:58:00.000-05:00

To change a life, one life, is all that any of us can ask for. To change a life, one life...our own...and to touch the lives of many, of all who we know by offering them support, love, faith, goodness. These are not easy things to share. We must give them to ourselves before we can give them away to others. There are people who want more than we can afford people who will drain us...but does that mean we should no longer give?

I am a daughter of the American Revolution, I keep thinking I should join DAR...but I am too transitory to participate in an organized group right now.....but I am a child of the victory of the United States. My families have been here since the before the beginning. Liberty is the grace of this nation, we believe in her and we used to believe in the right of each person to live free.

How can we be free when Congress meets to discuss how to take away the freedom of homosexuals?? How can we honestly sit by and do nothing as Congress is considering an amendment to the constitution that would formally institutionalize discrimination!

PLEASE GO NOW to Congress.org (see box in the right column) and write your representatives and ask them to oppose H.R 39 the Federal Marriage Amendment. Write your Senator and tell him or her to oppose S.J. Res. 1, the Federal Marriage Amendment.
Ask your congress to support the seperation of church and state, ask them to support LIBERTY!

And how can we be free when our lifestyle is at the expense of so many others?

When our identity rests on the disempowerment of others??

The world suffers so that American's can live in luxury. I am second generation off the farm, although my home was on the farm property. We had a burn barrel and compost. We lived in a different way than I have experienced in the city--way different.
I have watched this farm way of life all change as we now just throw it all away...no thought of how to minimize...how to waste not so that we will want not. Part of my change in my mind of how to do things came from living in the city and understanding that my time is valuable enough I can pay people to do things for me, at that by paying them I will help support people...gosh, am I selfish for not hiring a maid...yeah right, like I could afford that! But we have to change. We in America have to spend more on the little items as well as the big one if we want more jobs in the U.S.--although if we take jobs out of other countries what will sustain their economies...and what, btw sustains ours?

Americans are not free, they are enslaved by advertising. I was such a lucky kid to have barely watched T.V., not out of any mandate from my folks...its just that we live in a valley and got a poor signal and are also too far out for cable. We still are actually and only have programming because of the dish. To day T.V. is helping to inform, yes..and even to normalize...as more and more images of homosexuality cross the airwaves some people become more comfortable and at ease with the Other...but there are some people who cling to traditional gender roles and who are very, very disturbed and vocal...so vocal that the issue of a Federal Marriage Ammendment is again on the floor of both the Senate and the House!

Americans need to take back their lives. We are nuts because we are unhappy and maybe we are unhappy because we see too many adds telling us that something is missing, something we need to go out and buy...something we should blame other people for taking away. Those people in developing nations, homosexuals...Iraqi's and Iranians...are we supposed to keep scapegoating until we hate everyone...just like we hate ourselves or should??

Liberty, that’s all.
The Right to think and feel and live as you want but without infringing on the RIGHTS of others....that is the hard part, isn't it?

To change a life, one life...Your OWN. I am going to try to live differently...to think globally and to act locally...(how cliche) but its a good cliche... and one I think Lady Liberty would understand, with her sword at her side, a swagger in her step, her feathered tiara and her foxskin wrap...she was a frontier's woman and she knew that to be free we must free ourselves and abide others well to let them do the same, to work with them and together we could all rise above in a circle of friendship....

S.B. 1955 HIMMAA defeated

2006-05-26T19:59:00.000-05:00

What is it that I do..? I guess I really do not do much, not much that makes a difference to anyone...or maybe I just do not see it?

The S.B. 1955 Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act was defeated!!

I would like to think that writing letters to my representatives made a difference, but they were likely not too influential...maybe a drop in the hat. Really, there is no way to tell, is there...unles maybe I were to make appointments with my Senators and ask them if mail from constituents made a difference or at least was a variable in their decision making process.

There are many organizations out there that exist to help inform votes, to serve as a gateway to make voters and link them into the system. In past blogs I discussed like Moveon.org and other political action committees like Democracy for America.

Then there are organizations like Congress.org that serve as a portal to link people into bills in the House and Senate and that also help people to immediately discover who their representatives are by entering a zip code.

But what are these things, what is the point of them if no one is using them? I wonder who uses them....you can use them...I use them...I hope this is a habit I can keep.

Picking Up and Taking Off

2006-05-26T14:47:00.000-05:00

Perhaps Americans are politically depressed? Am I?

How can we make change if we do not feel we have a voice.

What we need is a sense of agency, a sense of being able to run with a candidate and watching that candidate take office. We need a sense that not only will our voice be heard, should we speak up but also that if we take action we will see a difference.

I guess after watching so many things happen and none of them being what you want or what it in your interest it is easy to let go and give up....

so what can we do?

Take a nap, get rested and then PICK yourself UP and TAKE OFF!
Find a cause to get behind and keep at it.
A little at a time, and eventually...if nothing else, you might feel better, feel the self-righteous satisfaction of knowing that you tried.

Making Change, Managing Overwhelming Circumstances

2006-05-19T21:51:00.000-05:00

Change is hard, not just the kind that takes you by surprise, but the kind that you propel yourself toward. Here are some tops on how to propel toward a difference through incremental change and the sense of being overwhelmed. I offer this advice as someone who as lived it as well as someone who has often advised others.

Tips:

1. Clearly define goals, not just the big things…operationalize, come up with the signposts so you know you are close to your goals as well as the steps (the pathways) for getting to them.

2. Identify pitfalls, barriers, hardships, and potential holdups, put this list in your journal

3. Make a timeline and consider not only the signposts but also places where you should sit down and reassess your strategies, make a couple…

a. best case scenario with no hold ups
b. okay and delayed scenarios
c. and then the scenario that you are hoping will never ever come true…

4. Because having clear goals is not easy, keep a journal where you write about

a. what you want
b. if it is still what you want
c. if your strategies for getting there are feasible and enjoyable

5. Much like goals, strategies need to be clearly stated…and also much like goals sometimes they need to be reworked. As you set your timeline, include in the schedule moments to assess if the strategies are working and sometimes it just takes a little bit longer before you should stop and try something else.

6. Post your accomplishments

7. Keep a list of what you have yet to achieve

Its Health Week in DC: Tell your Representatives What you want and Why you might Vote for them

2006-05-09T16:01:00.000-05:00

This week Congress is addressing the complex issue of health insurance.

I wish I had more to say, more ideas to share to help devise a way to give all Americans health insurance, which at least seems to be a goal shared by Democrats, Republicans, and Independents in Congress.

All I can do is vote and remind people in government that I vote, its what I do, I vote for them and it puts them in office, but I do not just vote for the hell of it, I vote for people who serve my interests.

I vote for people who I believe will do what is best for America and especially for people who are economically disadvantaged.

What I have done, all I can do is to tell my representatives in the Senate that they should be working to not only help more if not all American to have health insurance but also to ensure that health insurance providers be regulated and required to provide preventative care screenings in addition to a myriad of services that are necessary to promote productive, healthy, and happy lives for all regardless of age, gender, religion (and hopefully soon economic standing).

In addition to blocking two other bills that would limit patients' financial gains from malpractice suits, Democrats in the Senate have also committed themselves to finding a way to make health insurance affordable.

Democrats have a limited time to address the cost of health insurance, although the Washington Post article by Kevin Freking states that the democrats have not ruled out a filibuster, as of 10:00 am today the Senate voted 96-2 to invoke Cloture on the Motion to proceed to S. 1955; Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act of 2005.

Apparently the democrats are putting together an alternative bill that would help small businesses to insure their workers, the new bill is expected to mimic the health insurance for federal workers.

However, the question is if hey will be able to maintain state regulations on benefits. According to the article, some small business plans are already exempt from State regulations. This is perhaps the biggest issue of all, how to keep health care affordable while maintaining a commitment to fight preventable diseases through early screenings, immunizations, and treatments.

Following issues is an important part of involvement. I was lucky enough to be alerted to S. 1955, I investigated it, and I have followed its progress. I wish I had more ideas of how to keep insurance premiums down while also promoting preventative care!

The sense of not being informed and able to offer constructive criticism is probably the most defeating feeling of citizenship.

I am not an expert, I barely have a clue on how to resolve this issue, and I certainly do not have enough information, but I do have an opinion about what is best for me and for fellow citizens. All I can do, the least that I can do...or is it the most that I can do??? Is to tell my representatives what I want and to remind them that my next vote in their favor is dependent on their actions, is dependent on how well they represent my interests!

Be Vigilant and Protect States Rights to Regulate your Health Care Coverage

2006-05-04T15:15:00.000-05:00

Everyone deserves health care coverage, but what is the coverage worth if you still cannot afford necessary tests?

I don’t want the government to have to be involved in the choices I make, but I also want people to have access to affordable health insurance and health care!

Apparently, we need regulation to ensure that all Americans get the health care they deserve. Because different areas have different needs as well as different values, regulation of individual choices are probably best kept at the State level...It is a complicated issue, one further complecated by the particular needs of women.

I first heard about this issue after I receiving a Take Action Alert from Planned Parenthood. Without this message, I would not have known that there was legislation regulating my health insurance. After reading the Action Alert, I immediately took the two minutes they said it would take to slightly edit their form letter and email it to my representatives.

But not wanting to be a complete chump, I checked around to see the bill and try to understand why other people supported it.

Ultimately, I am glad I wrote my resentatives to tell them that I opposed the Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act of 2005 bill S. 1955 .

According to Tom Stevens an Op-Ed in The Hill on May 2, 2006, S. 1955 is a reason to thank the government for looking out for our health care needs, for making health insurance affordable for SMALL BUSINESSES.

Ethan Heitner at TomPaine.com points out what I would expect more Repulicans to take note of, that S. 1955 is looking to flatten State's Rights and impose a "one size fits all" policy that would ultimately benefit health insurance companies more so than small business or clients.

Opponents to S. 1955 include the American Health Association, the American Diabetes Association, the American Chiropractic Association and on and on....

For a more personal look at why we should oppose S. 1955 visit the blogspot Six Until Me

Health Insurance is way too expensive! If S. 1955 passes, women are not the only one's whose health care will be effected, but they will be the hardest hit.

According to Planned Parenthood women will lose many services that advocates have fought for 10 years to get legislation passed in 23 states! The legislation ensures coverage for expensive and necessary screenings and procedures for quality care as well as preventative measures against potentially fatal (as well as terribly expensive) diseases!!

I am not sure if it is the job of government to regulate any market, but without these regulations I imagine that many, many women would not have received mammograms, cervical cancer or osteoporosis screenings, or would being pay full price for contraceptives. Families would not have received well-child care or a myriad of other services including diabetes medicines and other cancer screenings.

If this government regulation goes away, I really do not think health insurance companies would lower premiums. I think the premiums would stay the same while clients, and women in particular, would be paying high prices for important preventative care as well as basic quality services like:

maternity care
the ability to go straight to your OB/GYN when you have aproblem
the ability to stay with the same doctor throughout apregnancy

Although I have my doubts about some services being necessary, when I consider how many children in the world need good parents, I am not certain I would want to take away a woman’s access to something like infertility treatment.

If you are wondering what services you could lose in your home state, you can find out at Planned Parenthood http://www.ppaction.org/network/himmaa.html.

If you are ready to take action, and show your oppostition to S. 1955 go here: http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/benefits2

Please also go this site to learn more about how to get your insurance in your state to COVER YOUR PILLS!!!
http://www.covermypills.org/

Harris Miller visit to Arlington/Alexandria for Democracy

2006-04-26T13:59:00.000-05:00

On April 17, 2006 Harris Miller visited a small group of progressive minded citizens from Arlington and Alexandria at Atilla's cafe in Courthouse. Miller was late, having gone to the Atilla's on Columbia Pike. The thirteen people in were attendence, which in comparison to the near fifty who came to see James Webb may be reflective of NOVA's excitement for Miller.

Harris Miller wore a dark suit and red tie. He was accompanied by his wife Deborah and an aide. He began his talk by going over the basics of why he was poised to beat George Allen. He emphasized Allen as a Bush - man who voted with Bush 96% of the time. Miller let us know that he would refocus priorities in Washington and do some original thinking to fix tough problems.

Miller was very happy to answer questions and probably stayed later than he had intended. He received several tough questions on immigration and offshore outsourcing of American jobs. I do not think Miller said anything that can not be found on his website: http://www.miller2006.org/

What is even more interesting, to me, than Miller speech, was the conversation among the 13 attendees. After Miller left we gathered together to compare Webb and Miller and to consider who we should endorse. At the end of the discussion, we concluded that we had not heard enough to be able to fully endorse either man. We left with the resolve that we would make efforts to demand more information and educate our fellow citizens about both candidate as well as when and where they should vote.

The discussion on candidates was centered on two main questions:

Is electability important?
What are the key issues for the campaign?

While many of us agreed that electability is important, we did not want to make the same mistakes over again. We all agreed that we want a candidate who is passionate and will stand up for progressive issues. We also agreed that there is just nmot enough information on either candidate, at this point, to say who is electable. The question of electability is further complicated by the diversity of the state of Virginia.

As a group, we created a list of issues that we not only believed would be important in the campaigns but also would like to know more on candidates positions:

Second amemndment policy differences
Infastructure development
Transportation
Immigration
Iraq
Terrorism - what is the strategy
Gays in the Military
A full position Statement on Education

We all agreed that it would indeed be very bad for Virginia if George Allen were to win. We lamented that we had not yet received a clear or complete position on how education issues, in particular No Child Left Behind, will be addressed.

We concluded the meeting by deciding to emphasize the need for candidates to show unity and to not defame each other. We believe that it is up to us to demand a good race. We are concerned that democratic condidates are not very disciplined and have, in the past, hurt chances of replacing Republican seats because of the damage done during primary campaigns. We can not let infighting split the vote. We want candidates to answer more questions and have good, clean, family discussions.

We, the members of Arlington/Alexandira for Democracy want to get Allen out of office. We also want to support candidats who will support our progressive views. We do not yet have enough information of what issues will be central to the campagn, but we are very aware of the ignorance of our friends, family, and coworkers to the fact that a campaign is even underway! We are resolved to tell people about the race and perhaps more importantly when to vote.

the Primary is June 13th

ARLINGTONIANS!

if you are not sure where to vote or if you are not registered, please visit this site: http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/VoterRegistration/

ALEXANDIRIANS

if you are not sure where to vote or if you are not registed, please visit this site: http://www.alexandriavoter.org/

Write to Power through Take Action Alerts

2006-04-21T13:10:00.000-05:00

I have felt a renewed sense of commitment to Writing to Power in the past week. Writing a letter to my local, state, and federal representatives is a historic tradition! It is a time-tested way of making contact with key decision makers as well as agency appointees. You can write a letter and send it by post, you can fax it, or you can email. What ever method you choose you will be making your voice heard.

My first letter to power was in the 5th grade. I, along with my entire 5th grade class, wrote a letter to President Ronald Reagan. I can not remember what I wrote, not in the slightest. But, I still have the 8x10 glossy and short response send by his office.

In this last week I have written three letters to congress. Two were asking members of House and Senate to increase funding for the Head Start program: H.R. 2123 and S. 1107. I sent these letters because I saw an alert to TAKE ACTION at congress.org.

The internet has really allowed a new level of ease for concerned citizens. Whereas before....I am not even sure HOW people ever followed policy BEFORE the internet....I am just too young and green for that. Before I found congress.org., I would frequent Thomas.gov, which is the online legislative library, to try to figure out what bills were coming up before the House and Senate.

Now, I can check congress.org, which will very often give me links to Thomas.gov, if I want to learn more about who is sponsoring the policy, how many times it has been reviewed, where it is in legislative process, and if it has been voted on and, even more importantly, WHO voted for it.

If you are interested in knowing more about what issues are on the table for when Congress comes back into session, go to Congress.org, on the left side of the page you will see a link to Take Action on Issues link under the heading "by the people" or you can just click here: http://www.congress.org/congressorg/issuesaction/orgs/

At the time of my visit, there was a link to a Take Action Alert posted on April 14, 2006 by RESULTS telling me that 2 Minutes Can Protect and Expand the Head Start Program!

The Take Action Alert let me know The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will soon be looking at the Head Start reauthorization legislation (S. 1107) and that it will go to the Senate floor soon. They invited me to write my Senators and Representatives.

Sure, there was already text in a box and I could have just entered my name, email, and address and sent the letter off; but, I have a personal story about why Head Start is important to me. I have been engaged in educational policy for 6 years and have read various research studies about the program, some of which seem less than hopefull. However, I understand Head Start as necessary element to school readiness! Children must learn the culture of schooling in order to succeed and that may very well be what Head Start does best. I also have a little cousin who attended Head Start. Not only did his teacher visit him at home when he was sick, but she also helped tutor his mother so she could earn her GED!

I strongly believe that it is important to enter a bit of what is personal into letters to power. Stories stick in peoples' minds. Stories can change perspectives. And, that little bit of personal lets POWER know that I am engaged in this policy, it is real to me and I am not just sending on the voice they have already heard again and again and again.

I did, however, maintain some of the key action points that the pre-scripted letter to power from RESULTS has crafted. I believe that when we write our letters we need to be clear not only WHY we are interested in a policy change but we also need to be clear in telling power what we expect them to do!!

Through the ease of internet activism I have been able to send letters to five members of Congress in under 10 minutes. I sent letters to Senator Warner, Senator Allen, and Representative Moran of Virginia, where I presently live. I also sent letters to Senator Specter and Senator Santorum of Pennsylvania, the state where I was born and raised. I will probably also send letters to Senator McCaine and Senator Kyl just because I also lived in Arizona for a spell.

Witness the magic of internet activism.

Since acting on their Take Action Letter Writing Campaign I have explored RESULTS and am very impressed with the many ways they help make activism easy, I will return to next week to discuss RESULTS and how they may help you to GET HEARD!!

Ease of Internet Activism

2006-04-12T14:25:00.000-05:00

For the next few blogs, I intend to explore the ease of internet activism.

It has occurred to me that not everyone is familiar with the opportunities for involvement that are only a mouse-click away. The speed and ease of internet technologies has enabled Americans on the plus, plus side of the digital divide to have more opportunities to have their voices heard and participate in our representative democracy.

MoveOn!

My explorations into internet activism moved began three years ago when I began to get emails forwarded to me by people who belonged to MoveOn.org http://moveon.org/

By February 2003 it was getting more and more difficult to stay immersed in graduate studies. In a few of my seminars we discussed the pending war more than our dissertations. I remember joining a Yahoo group for my hometown where the pro's and con's Iraq war was the main topic. A few of my fellow students had forwarded emails from MoveOn.org that had access to petitions, video, and ad's asking that Bush not go to war.

You can read an excellent history of MoveOn.org at Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MoveOn

My familiarity with MoveOn.org and related internet activist portals grew in the time leading up to November 2004. MoveOn.org had stepped up emails to show support for John Kerry, to re-address the SwiftBoat campaign, and to just get out the vote in general.

As you can see from the image in this blog, internet activism easily moves back and forth between cyberspace and the real world. Internet activist organizations inform more people, build coalitions, and give options for not only getting your voice heard but also for hands on involvement.

One issue with the various internet activism portals is keeping poltical action committees straight, they seem to endlessly overlap. For example, I recall finding a link to the Americans for Change through MoveOn.org. Americans for Change is apparently assciated with America Votes http://americavotes.org/, which according to Wikipedia is non-partisan political organization formed in July 2003 and made up of a coalition of 527 grassroots political groups to coordinate their work in the swing states during the 2004 presidential election.

Not Much of a Joiner

I had never been to protest marches and vigils before. When I lived in Phoenix I saw the people who protested against homosexuality or people who protested the film "Rules of Engagement." I had friends who traveled to Florida to protest the WTO, but I was never involved in any of the rallies or protests.

My entrance into internet political activism increased as a skill in sorting through emails, responding to surveys, petitions, and submitting letters to representatives.

I remember watching the speeches for the anniversary of Roe VS. Wade in 2004 and wanting to participate in MARCH FOR WOMEN'S LIVES. Unfortunately, I had a conference and was out of town. It hurt to be so close to the action, but not really being the type of person who is compelled to join large groups of people for any reason (not even a rock concert). I wanted to get more involved in the action and was lucky to have found another outlet: http://www.meetup.com/

In 2005, I began to actually attend a Meet Up. This was my first adventure into what felt like an actual activist community, which I found via the web and my participation in internet activist outlets. I had joined two democratic Meet Ups and visited a few others in the DC metro area. The people who organized the Arlingtonians/Alexandrians for Virginia, began the group after the Howard Dean campaign fizzled.

The organizers have stayed affiliated with Democracy for America, the grassroots campaign initiated by Dean. They also became involved with the state-wide organization Democracy for Virginia. Hosting a Meet Up site was once free, when a charge was instituted; the organizers moved the group to a serviced hosted by Democracy for America Link Ups. http://www.dfalink.com/

Being new to the Metro and wanting to participate in the political process, I think it was a big help for me to feel connected to online community. I also think it was very therapeutic to believe that there were other people interested in democratic processes. Many will agree that these three years of war have contributed to a growing sense that what citizens want might not matter. People protest against war and it does not influence decisions. I actually got the feeling that Pres. Bush and his supporters found it a point of pride to be able to dismiss any voices of dissent.

Do More than Vote: Be Heard

But what did I do, what have I done to help put progressive grassroots politicians into office? What have I done to tell my representatives what I think is in my best interest? Aside from voting...before I joined internet activist communities: nothing! I believed myself to be too swamped in my studies and work to take the time to write a few letters, attend vigils, or go to protests.

Now, I probably send one letter to my representatives or sign a petition every other month. I tend to use Congress. org at http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/to get the contact information for my representatives. I use this site to look over a bill or to read letters other people are sending.

I also go to sites like NARAL Pro-Choice America at http://www.naral.org/ or Planned Parenthood at http://www.plannedparenthood.org/ to sign petitions and find drafts to letters that are particular to my pet causes.

If you are busy, or you feel too busy, and you do not identify with the masses attending vigils or protests YOU CAN STILL GET YOUR VOICE HEARD!!

Write a Letter
Sign a Petition
Talk to your Friends and Neighbors about your Letters and Petitions

PROS and CONS of Internet Activism

These are three easy ways to begin. Three ways made easy by internet activism sites.Below, I have outlined a few Pro's and Con's of internet activism.

Pro's

stay in you home/office/library
no need to interact with other people, unless so desired
if you desire interaction you can comment on BLOGs or attend local event
become a local leader by hosting events related to your cause of choice
find form letters with key points ready for you to tailor to your liking and send to your representative
sign up for TAKE ACTION alerts, this is particularly helpful when you have a busy life. This way when a bill is about to pass or for some reason people need to make an effort to get their voices heard to impact the situation you will be on call!
quick access to petitions
quick access to read legislation and find out where a bill is on its way to becoming law
because there are so many initiatives with action alerts and form letters, etc.
track several issues at once.

Con's

may need to submit name and address
more emails for your INBOX
might lose interest in reading a bill or research issue on your own and begin to take someone else's word on the issue (how bizarre, what an idea!)

(Re)Claiming Focus-Perhaps

2006-04-04T16:08:00.000-05:00

Focus is a key issue for any individual, group, or organization.
However, to have focus, an individual, group, or organization must first take time to reflect on what has already occured and what is desired for the future.

I am often amazed at my own lack of focus. In reflection, it seems that the pieces can all fit together as if there has been just one path all along.
But while planning it often seems there are many issues, many needs....I am not sure where I should put my energy next.

From time to time I get a call from a fellow do-gooder and we talk about various projects. This one would do better if they had a space, another would do better if they had books, another would do better if they had a regular membership, and yet another would do better if they had a coherent vision.

Ah, that vision. That focus. How to get it?

For an individual, it seems easy: "What do you want to do?"
But I have found it is really perhaps more a question of "What are you able to find a space to do?"

I would like to blame any lack of focus on the many messages in the news. There are too many things that needs fixing. From what I can tell from attending political meetings and non-profit board meetings, as well as from talks with students and friends, the things in this world that need fixing are just too big to tackle all at once...so why try.....OR even worse, in my opinion, are the people who have latched on to a philosophical or perspective-based point in a complex argument and have decided to leave it there. I blame the news for keeping us feeling like we have enough information to engage in a debate on HOW things should be or HOW we can "fix" our social problems.

Focus, I now think, can be reclaimed by finding a small patch of community and staying there to explore the many faceted dimensions of what it will take to make a difference right there where you are.

I am not suggesting that you stop watching or reading the news, I am only suggesting that you start getting more involved in the news that should be reported on what is happening in your own "back yard"--your own local politics and area do-gooders.

Juggling Life and Activism

2006-03-31T17:08:00.000-05:00

People are not always on the ball.

Sometimes the ball rolls right over us.

In times when the ball slips away, or crushes you,
just think of Happy Bunny... Every now and then, its okay to say that it is all about YOU, and your loved ones. Be it work or grassroots activism, you just got to claim the time you need to be successful in your life.

Through life, that multifascited construct of shared reality, many of us will drop the ball or be crushed by it ;-)

I have dropped the ball. It happens.
Actually, I think I have dropped the ball more than a few times--this is part of what prompted me to focus on the topic of how to manage involvement with a busy working and personal life!

Births, deaths, business ventures, going the extra effort for work, needing a day to lay about the house.....these are just a few of the reasons I have heard from people on why they are not able to keep up with what they WANT to do, what they TRY to do, to promote Democracy in America.

Actually, I probably spent more time doing things that I hope will promote democracy than I probably should. This time spent going to vigils, to hear condidates, to documentaries, and managing Link-ups/Meet-ups may be all be in vain, and actually more a form of procrastination from other tasks (you know the tasks people pay me for...).

Somewhere in the Federalist Papers, Andrew Jackson said that America needed a representative government so that the majority of citizens could go about their daily lives participating in business and commerce.
The problem is that we, the majority of citizens, still need to be informed enough to tell our representatives what is best for our interests!
It generally takes massive numbers of voices to get representatives to listen (or, apparently, a good lobbist and a bunch of cash).
And so, people have come together in grassroots activism to get their voices heard and to support progressive, financially responsible candidates who they trust.
The issue, of course, is the time involved and all the bouncing balls life throws us.

From all the times that I have been the one who dropped the ball, and from all the times I have seen others drop the ball, I feel I can say this with some certainty:

TELL SOMEONE YOU HAVE DROPPED THE BALL.
This is what makes being part of a team really worth it.

Candidate Forum: Planning and Anticipating

2006-03-27T11:19:00.000-05:00

Being involved in grassroots activism does not always meaning taking the lead, sometimes it means offering support.

The DFA meet-up in Falls Church is sponsoring a candidate forum on April 1st.

Attending the event are Congressional Candidates:

Shawn O'Donnell http://www.virginiadem.com/ for the 1st district

Judy Feyder http://www.judyfeder.org/ for the 10th district

Andrew Hursthttp://www.hurstforcongress.com/ for the 11th district

Ken Longmyer http://www.kenlongmyerforcongress.com/ for the 11th district

and the 8th congressional district incumbent Jim Moran http://www.jimmoran.org/

Democracy for America & Democracy for Virginia
Proudly Present

THE 2006 CANDIDATE'S FORUM

APRIL 1, 2006

2:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

George C Marshall High School

2231 Leesburg Pike

Falls Church, Virginia

Featuring
Democratic Candidates
for
The Senate Congressional Candidates from
House Districts 1, 8, 10, 11

Being interested in what other link ups, AKA meetups, are doing in Virginia, I attended the Falls Church meeting in February. There were 8 people in attendance at the meeting. I think four were regular attendees to the Falls Church link up. The other four attendees were people I recogized from Democract for Virginia meetings. There is an overlap between the Democracy for America link up members and Democracy for Virginia (not all DFV are DFA). It seems that most of the people I have meet are also involved with other orgnizations, like the Virginia Grassroots Coalition, the Arlington County Democratic Committee (ACDC), and so on.

I have not heard much from the Falls Church Linkup organizers of this event, so I have written to check in and offered a list of things that I thought of that may be pertinent to ensuring a great candidate forum for all.

Staying in touch and reaching out when you need help, or when you have an idea, are essential to successful planning.

Social Change, Collective Action, Individual Reflection

2006-03-20T15:31:00.000-05:00

Working toward social change, or any change that would benefit a collective, should be consider not just on the level of the group but also on an individual level. I would be interested to hear from people about how they have felt, seen witnessed a consciousness-change.

What are the steps?

What activities may occur concurrently?
What phenomenon tends to co-occur?
How can we assess progress?
How can we coordinate with others so that the change we work toward becomes a part of the system of day-today life?

The changes we make in how we see our world may benefit us immensely, not just in terms of our peace of mind and physical health, which are indeed fabulous and amazing things, but also in terms of our financial security!

To be productive for one's job or at school it helps if you have head a good night’s sleep, if your belly is full....to obtain these things it is best if you are paid a wage that promotes your ability to have a life where you can ensure your own productivity through your own well-being.

To work without sight of how to benefit yourself, to purchase without sight of how you benefit yourself is to stay locked into the dissatisfaction of the consumer society lifestyle: we do not know what we want, but we are sure that we do not have it. If we have a job and can keep our heads about total bankruptcy, then we are fine. If we have a little something stashed away, excellent. BUT, how does this cycle help us to advocate for change in our society that will help us move into a place where we are not just maintaining a sense of security for ourselves and our small family unit, but where we are building security for our neighborhood, our community, our nation, and our globe?

There are many issues in politics that get people worked up.

Those that make the most sense at this time are voting procedures and campaign reform. We want candidates who will not be owned by special interests and who will feel supported by the large constituency that is (possibly) best represented by a grassroots base.

But how to develop that grassroots base, get decent, fiscally responsible, progressive, pragmatic, and honest politicians and appointed officials in place? How to get an active group of voters who will PARTICIPATE in issues like a living wage, safe and cost efficient transportation and infrastructure, as well as affordable health care and coverage?

Good politicians in place is half of what we need in America; we also need active constituents who will offer ideas for solutions to social problems, people who will tell their stories that will influence policies that will ensure each citizen the means to be emotionally, physically, and financially secure!

For me, the question of how to get people to work together to help work on SOLUTIONS to social problems is a constant: mainly because of how my work as an instructor of education overlaps with the potential I see with Democracy for Virginia and the Democracy for America linkup meetings. I think that there needs to be a constant maintenance of relationships to build social networks and turn a group into a team, so that eventually each team can implement an action plan and assess their own progress as well as the progress of the network.

The issue many others may see with this part of the plan is that it is very time consuming. Instead of team building, you may be more likely to see are a few motivated individuals who are leading a group of loosely connected people rather than a strong collective of shared, interconnected actions and responsibilities. Unfortunately, when those few individuals are burned out there may be no one to take their place and the learning curve is so high that those who do take over can not pick up where things were left off.In addition to team building, there also needs to be personal reflection. While assessing how teams are doing while making coordinated actions for change, each team member needs to also be reflecting on:

Motives
Individual actions (what did they actually DO...this might differ from what others believed this person has contributed)
Attitudes, and responses to how other people have behaved during group actions

Reflecting on your individual role may help soothe differences that have arisen over ego and help keep a person in sight of how what he/she wants and believes is best may or may not be in line with the team or the network of teams' mission may be.

Keeping track of what you want and why you want it as well as how you act and why you acted that way may help keep people involved as they reaffirm their presence in a group and as they develop working relationships that are based on participating and being connected to others!

I wonder how people improve their teaming relationships in other forums besides teaching or public activism. I wonder how we improve our teaming in our lives as family members as well as in the work world.

Do people want to change?

Do people want to improve conditions, or are they only interested in promoting their vision of the world?

I think that is the main question that needs to be addressed is HOW to help improve individuals' capacity to team together and work toward any collective goal.

James Webb visits Arlington Meet Up: a report

2006-03-14T14:49:00.000-05:00

James Webb paid a visit to the Arlingtonians/Alexandria for Democracy Meet Up on Monday March 12, 2006.

The event was held at Attila’s near the Courthouse metro. James Webb spoke to the crowd of almost 60 people from 7:30 to 8:00, or slightly after, being very open to further questions and discussion on topics. As I have stated in an earlier blog, I will say again that I was impressed with Webb's position on health care as a right for every citizen. The audience asked questions regarding health care, education, the war in Iraq, the development of U.S. infrastructure, and anti-discrimination acts to protect gays and lesbians.

Webb is a very open and friendly speaker, he listened to each comment and often gave brief personal examples to illustrate his points. Webb began the discussion by talking about himself as being "born fighting" and having been raised from his childhood breakfast table with instructions on how to motivate people--how to be a leader.

The nuances of providing each citizen with health care, developing infrastructure, and for helping local schools to improve education--because he sees it as a local issue--will hopefully continue to be teased out as his campaign progresses. It seems clear that he supports individual rights, personal choice, equal economic opportunity, and diplomacy. We look forward to hearing his ideas on these and more in the future.

Go to the following sites for more on James Webb:
http://www.oursenate.com/

http://www.webbforsenate.com/

For a much more indepth report and analysis of James Webb at the Arlington Meetup please read this entry at Daily Kos:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/3/13/22362/0256

According to a poll on this site 57% or 15 pollsers DO NOT find Webb to be progressive, but believe he is good enough for Virginia.
With more effort in developing his message, I believe Webb can refine his progressive image and activate a grassroots campaign.

TIPS: the Meeting Hall

2006-03-14T13:58:00.000-05:00

When entering into a public meeting, we must monitor one another to ensure civil discussion. We be there to think of solutions and not to just poke holes in the honest attempts made by others. I arrived at the following tips after reflecting on the DFA meet-up I co-hosted last night:

1. LISTEN, then SPEAK
It can be so hard to listen when we can not stand what the other person is saying, but without listening we will never REALLY know what that other person believes, wants, and will do!

2. BE REFLECTIVE!
Sometimes, just sometimes, its YOU. You are the key to your own frustration. To be frustrated, to recognize that and to hold on to it, while yet being able to understand that you are the one allowing yourself to be FRUSTRATED may motivate you enough to understand that it is not the other person's believes or behavior. Once you embrace the belief that you control your emotions you may become productive in taking action that may channel your frustration into more positive directions--don't just bitch about the way things are, start coming up with a list on the steps needs to CHANGE things!

3. BE HELPFUL!
Criticizing without offering suggestions is not only negative, it is regressive. We need to move toward action, we can not blame one another endlessly and take personal insult with each new idea that is different and perhaps even better than our own suggestion.

4. REALIZE THERE IS A PROCESS
Democratic process, while annoying at time, is there so that we the people do not exist at the whims of our leaders. Telling our leaders to make a change is not enough to make it happen. Laws will need to be reformed. What will it take to make a law reformed? Find out and help, don't just keep complaining.These are just a few tips for constructive conversation to change.

****
Last night I helped to organize a meeting for Arlington/Alexandria Democracy, a Democracy for America Meet-up.
At last night's meeting we had James Webb who is running for the honor to be a Senator for Virginia.
We also invited Linda Lindberg, Arlington County General Registrar of Voters, and Annie Connole, a voting machine technician.

I was expecting people to be passionate on the topics, but I was not expecting people to be hostile towards Linda and Annie. (I will write about my impression of James Webb in another entry. For now I will say that I was very impressed with his firm stand on Health care and his belief that it should be a right for every American to receive health care no matter their economic standing. The nuances of what this means in terms of quality and access as well as HEALTH INSSURANCE will be flushed out in the coming months.)

Voting reform will not change overnight. When it changes it will probably be through a long and time-consuming process of meetings and trouble-shooting!
Even if our guests were able to convince Linda and Annie that the machines were not trustworthiness, the process of putting that change into place would take time and effort. Linda and Annie would need allies and supporters to help get them materials, to make arguments, and, most importantly to file paperwork. A few people began the segment on voting machines by telling Linda that she had been "blathering away and not saying anything." I felt like she was instantly put on the offensive.

I was really hoping we would be able to ask Linda questions on how to address those worrisome glitches with the machines as well as the questionable processes-like not printing out each image of the vote during a recount.

I worry that in such public meetings people feel that the best way to make their point is to assert their dominance. While this might leave them feeling powerful, it does not lend itself to constructive dialogue for change.

We need to be critical FRIENDS, to work together, and to itemize the steps we need to take in order to convince officials like Linda that changes need to be made and the we need to HANG IN THERE with her to make sure the hard questions of HOW to make the change are addressed! According to the League of Women Voters in Arlington, one of the best strategies for quality assurance is to be certain that Voter Officials are trained and that there is sufficient oversight of maintain procedures!

When looking for solutions the League believes that: "Many of the risks inherent in the use of any system can be substantially reduced by improving management practices such as personnel training and by instituting rigorous administrative procedures." (Safeguarding Your Vote, K. L. Ceballos, The National Voter, October 2004.) http://www.capaccess.org/league/

While many people believe that there are too many places for things to go wrong and for crackers to mess up the voting machines, there is STILL the valid point that Linda and Annie made, which is that VOTERS NEED TO BE EDUCATED! People need to know WHERE the TO GO TO VOTE! People need to know WHEN TO VOTE! People also need to know more about CANDIDATES AND ISSUES so that when they do vote, they MAKE INFORMED VOTES!

There are no easy answers, there are no quick fixes. We need to be respectful of one another! We need to work together!

How Do We Change the World? Chalk4Peace

2006-03-10T13:01:00.000-05:00

How do we change the world we see everyday?

Do we change it by drawing onto it the vision that pleases us most?

I watched a little girl and her father draw this sidewalk masterpiece at John Aaron's Chalk for Peace Center during Clarendon Days Oct. 2005.You may not be able to see it here, but the little girl drew the planet earth with people standing all along the outer circle of it, and people standing inside, people all around.

I wondered if this was a vision of the connected-ness of all people. We are one. What I do influences others.While we may be encouraged to believe that we are alone and that we must live to serve our own interests, this way of being will eventually be impeded by an awareness that what others do impacts me and therefore what I do impacts others. While caught in a perception of self as isolated and alone we may long for the connections we can make with friends, family, animals, plants.....chalk on pavement....we make a mark on the world and feel confident we can make change and that it will be harmonious to others as well.

If we are to be happy, we need to begin with out perception of connectedness. If we are to expect our society to serve the PUBLIC GOOD and maintain an equilibrium between the actions of people so that no one infringes on the another person's right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness then each of us has a responsibility to engage in democratic processes. To vote, to be attentive to policy, to encourage DEBATE and DIALOGUE, to pick up the chalk and express out own will and to encourage others to do the same: this is how we change the world!?
This, and a little more....

TIPS: Personal Change and Political Activism

2006-02-21T15:14:00.000-05:00

Could it be that we are what we do consistently.

And what is it that we do consistently? As a tool for transformation, I suggest consistent reflection of self and society. What have you been bitching about? When people are gathering at the bar, in the grocery line, or at a political meeting: what issues are they talking about? What headlines really grab you to where you sit up and say: someone should really do something about that.

After a week or a month or whenever you get a chance, review your journal of observations and reflectoions on issues of concern. Map out a sphere of influence and ask yourself what about this issue impacts my day to day life. What impacts my long term survivial.

Consdier who you might talk to about this concern: who shares your concern and who does not. Who out there in the world could help you.

Isolate a plan of action for those issues of concern.
What can be done.
What will I need to do it.

TO READ/THINK MORE:
Activism: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_activist

Exploring Concepts of Personal Change and Political Activism: http://arts.anu.edu.au/sss/west/mc.html

Blog on Spiritual Activism: http://whispy.com/community/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=287

Note: What is the self, who are we, and why should we be good to one another? It is difficult to make laws without justification, but that means we need more listening and more dialogue and more SYNTHESIS of ideas, not the legislation of religion. Spirituality is a term I use to address the sense of connectedness and a way of cultivating myself (and others) into a way of compassion.

It is difficult to tease out issues of self, meaning, and to do so in a way that is thoughtful or at least thought-provoking and not one that shuts people down and closes them off or demands that they convert!

For more on the topic please see this web page and discussion board made by my dear friends at ASU, the SECULAR FREETHOUGHT SOCIETY : http://www.asu.edu/clubs/secular/

Monuments

2006-02-08T04:26:00.000-05:00

I've been to two kinds of funerals. Some were for those who brought us stability.

Such a funeral is a stately progression of somber faces, each person contemplative of the world the survivors have found themselves in. Sometimes this contemplation is personal, sometimes it is political, but it is always private. It is a hallowed, neutral ground, on which a gathering convenes in the spirit of "there, but for the grace of God, go I." It is a time for understanding and embracing continuity and balance, of considering the moments spent with the deceased, and the memories of them we carry forward. It is a celebration of tradition, of family, and of the culture in which we live. A quiet celebration, but one dedicated to continuity, and the hope that when our time comes, the voices that speak of us in remembrance are kind. It is fundamentally political; it is a monument to the status quo.

Then there are the funerals for those whose lives brought us change.

It is also a celebration of continuity, but on a much more personal scale. It is an expression of grief, but also of hope. Hope that the strength and power of the fallen may be borne with honor by the living. It is a time of reckoning; a time we ask what works have been accomplished, and what remains to be done. A time where we ask ourselves "what should we do," and realize that she will not be there to help answer for us; we must now answer this question for ourselves. A time where we look back to the life of the one who has passed for our answers. Even as we mourn the stillness that once was her living voice, we raise our own, and find our own strength in the expression of the passion that she raised in us. It is a funeral not to honor the continuity in which she lived, but the vision of hope that she moved us towards, despite tragedy and horrible loss. It is where we renew our faith in what the departed taught us. It is fundamentally personal; it is a monument to the human being.

Think about Coretta Scott King; think about her acts, her beliefs, and her legacy. Put aside all else, save her.

Now tell me, which monument did she deserve?

Are you waiting for the filibuster?

2006-01-26T21:40:00.000-05:00

I'm very much looking forward to it.

Just be ready, one way or another. No matter whether the filibuster succeeds or fails, November 2006 is going to have the turnout of a hotly-contested Presidential election. If you don't regularly vote in your Congressional or local elections, then WHY NOT? ARE YOU INSANE??? Do you have ANY IDEA how much of the ascension in presidential power is due to simple congressional deference?? Have you no...

*pauses*

Pardon me.

If you don't regularly vote in your Congressional or local elections, then please do so this November.

Thank you.

As a Citizen

2006-01-20T16:18:00.000-05:00

As a citizen, I have responsibilities to my country. The most basic responsibility is to vote. If the United States is a “government of laws and not men” it is best if I am well informed and able to think critically: otherwise I may act based on the suggestions of others and not from my own thinking. The founding fathers of my government, in particular Thomas Jefferson, recognized the importance of having an EDUCATED citizenry and understood that it was not reasonable to entrust the education of citizens to parents and families. Public schools were formed to ensure an educated citizenry.

What else exists to educate us of our government? Newspapers, televised news broadcasts, blogs….each exists with a different story of what is happening in the world. Few of these sources address the bills before committees in the Senate or the House. When a bill is signed into law by the President, does it make front page news?
In a speech at Constitution Hall on January 16th, 2006, Former Vice-President Al Gore reminded his audience that we live in a country of “laws and not men.” He said that is it time for us to “disenthrall ourselves” from the many voices of television. We need more sources of information; we need a better check and balance on all segments of our national government.

As a citizen, it is my responsibility to gather information on issues and candidates and vote according to my own will and conscious, not according to party lines or a cult of personality. It is difficult to gather information on the bills being proposed on the Hill or even in my local government. Meetings are held last minute. Committee votes are not made public record…..there are many web sites that are watchdogs and help provide access, yet they are also a maze of information—information that maybe meaningless to many who are not trained in the nuances of the language and norms of government process.

I ask: how are we educated as a citizenry to participate? Do you as a citizen feel that there are adequate government forums for discussion or channels to information and transparency into proceedings? What is there to do? But to speak out and ask that those who we have voted for to do their jobs and to remain vigilant to remind them that their constituency is US the people and the laws we believe and trust to protect our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

to read Al Gore's inspiring speak on civil rights and government responsibility, go to:http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Text_of_Gore_speech_0116.html

lets remember to Arm Freedom!

Democracy for Virginia

2005-12-20T11:26:00.000-05:00

I began to test my own will for involvement 10 months ago by attending an Arlingtonian's for Democracy meetup.

Being an outspoken person filled with more opinion than may be prudent for me to share, I wrote an email to the meetup organizer's telling them in exacting detail how I thought they could improve the meeting. I was actually suprised to get a nice note in response saying, "you seem to know alot about this, maybe you would like to come and help us plan."
Being an academic interested in how adults come together in groups to address common causes believed it would be a good way to get involved and pursue my research interests.

Eight months later, after attending a few more meetings, Matt, the organizer for Arlingtonians for Democracy invited me to moderate a meeting for Democracy for Virginia. Okay I said.
It was a great meeting. I spoke with the organizations executive director, Jennifer Boysko, and we established some guidelines for helping one another keep the meeting running according to a set agenda.

When the agenda item for setting organizational goals come on the table, Jennifer gave me the floor and I moderated the discussion. I would offer an item for discussion and then take an order of speakers to address the issue, offer comments, make questions, or to make a motion for action items. It went well and within an hour the group of 22 people had an outline for action in the coming year.

At the end of the meeting there was a call for volunteers to take on duties to help make the plan come to life. I volunteered to be the social outreach coordinator. I know I have a limited amount of time, and I having done outreach work as the Vice President of the Graduate and Professional Association at ASU, I was sure I could handle the responsiblity and that perhaps more importantly I WOULD ENJOY IT!

Each of us has a limited amount of time in this world. We work, we sleep, we enjoy our friends and family, we enjoy our time alone to rest and recenter....but to make democracy work mean we have to donate our time. We need to follow the issues and have an informed opinion., but we also have to be willing to put ourselves out there if we are going to make things happen.
My first contribution as social coordinator was to organize a Holiday Party as suggested by board member Lee Diamond. After two conferenece calls and several flurries of emails we made it happen.

Parallels

2005-12-07T05:39:00.000-05:00

Tonight is another vigil at the park near Clarendon Metro station, the same place the vigil mentioned in the first post on this blog took place. The Society of Friends is again one of the sponsors for this vigil. Again, it's to bring a group of people home. There are, as you'd probably surmised, one or two significant differences.

Tonight's vigil is for the four peace activists who have been kidnapped in Iraq, rather than the American soldiers fighting there. The stated condition for their safe return, the release of a large number of Iraqi prisoners, is unlikely to be met; Bush has said that we do not negotiate with terrorists, (though we have a long history of doing so). Just the same as with our other fellow citizens, I hope for their return, but my own thoughts as to why they were taken are dark, and leave me filled with foreboding. Tonight from 7:00-9:00pm, please hold a candle and whatever beliefs you have, and offer a warm thought, a prayer, or a few whispered words to the hope of their safe return.

Wednesday Dec. 7th, 7:00-9:00pm
Langley Hill Monthly Meeting (Quakers)
Clarendon Metro Stop
Wilson Blvd & Clarendon Blvd.
Arlington VA 22201
Contact: Jeannette Smith
www.quaker.org/langleyhill
Open area at the subway stop, open park area between 2 major streets

Getting Involved

2005-11-27T19:06:00.000-05:00

SARTRE24
invited writer

The rationale for getting involved in political action is so simple when we look at the issues we face and compare them to the misdirection oozing from the halls of governance and the White House itself. Republicans would have you and I believe that they are the everyman party and they represent the values and issues faced by common, everyday Americans and that my dear friends is their most disturbing lie. They want us to believe that as Democrats, liberals, and the like that we have no values and that we have no sense of the moral issues our country faces but they are working under the very public assumption that the abortion and human sexuality are the only moral issues. This may be a result of the right-wing religious fanatics own the party but that is another discussion for another time. As a Democrat, I hope to convey to people that we face wider-reaching and very real moral dilemmas in this country. The education of our children is a moral issue, making sure our citizens have health care is a moral issue, not forcing our elderly citizens to choose between eating and taking vital prescription drugs is a moral issue, promoting real and inclusive constitutional and civil rights is a moral issue and it is high time that those of us who aren't conservative Republicans start explaining to people that we too believe in advancing some important moral issues. Republicanism has become synonymous with big business and allowing the wind to follow whatever direction the corporate lobbyists are blowing. I am not suggesting that all Republicans are alike but they are a party that knows how to follow the leader and the leaders has duped this country into believing that he cares about real issues when in reality he has no concept of what problems we commoners face on a day-to-day basis. We on the other side have sat silent as our troops were sent to die for reasons that at best were misleading and ill-founded. We have been bullied and attacked and called un-American because we promote global responsibility and try to view our political structure as an extension of our character and we have yet to stand up as a group and counterattack.
To my fellow gay and lesbian citizens I say that this should be even more important to us because this President and this party won the 2004 election on our backs. In a campaign of divisive hatred they brought conservatives to the polls to vote not for a president but against the advancement of civil rights in this country. By attacking the validity of our relationships they were able to gather a viscious momentum that gave our president his second term. Getting involved is a moral issue for us now more than ever.
You need to get involved because your country has been hijacked, because our reputation in the world is at stake, and because the people in charge DO NOT care about you no matter how many heartfelt homeland tales they tell. Government should be an extension of what is best about its people, not the product of a corrupt and unjust campaign of fear, hatred, and dishonesty. Our elections cannot continue to be the result of whose smear campaign was most successful. What does it say about us that our political discourse has degenerated to the verbal equivalent of beating each other with clubs.
When the government is failing its people it is because the people are failing to govern. You and I have a responsibility to ourselves and our country to get involved, we owe ourselves a place in the conversation.

Getting involved??

2005-11-27T10:31:00.000-05:00

Getting involved is as easy as showing up and speaking out. I have invited friends and somewhat like-minded individuals to contribute to this blogspot with the hopes of isolating action items that could move US towards a real democracy, you know, one where citizen participate in governance.
Lets do this thing.

Ellipse Art Gallery

2005-11-21T23:38:00.000-05:00

art and the making are performances to build soul and community
Posted by Picasa

Ellipse Art Gallery

2005-11-21T23:37:00.000-05:00

down-home mountain music
Posted by Picasa

Ellipse Art Gallery

2005-11-21T23:35:00.001-05:00

storytelling, laughter
Posted by Picasa

Ellipse Art Gallery

2005-11-21T23:35:00.000-05:00

listening to life, love, and what not we were taken into a new space of being
Posted by Picasa

Ellipse Art Gallery

2005-11-21T23:34:00.000-05:00

some of the performances at the Ellipse indoor picnic transformed a casual night out into a deeply cathartic happening
Posted by Picasa

Ellipse Art Gallery

2005-11-21T23:32:00.000-05:00

Arlington is a place of hidden delights and intense music...
Posted by Picasa

Chalk4Peace

2005-11-20T00:46:00.000-05:00

Chalk4 Peace artist and activist John Aaron thrilled us with a dedicated pitch to join his event on September 16, 2006.
For the kids in your life, for the child in your heart give into a goal of 1 million young artists all over the GLOBE! drawing with chalk....drawing for that oh so simple thing: PEACE ON EARTH! Develop a following and grow the movement.
Posted by Picasa