March 2008 Archives

Karen posted about AfterDowningStreet's initiative to engage grassroots activists to develop town halls against funding the Iraq Occupation in our local districts.

These endeavors may seem as though they're wasted. But they're not. I point out to you a few examples.

1. The district where I live, which is represented by a extremest right-winged Bush supporting war-monger-liar, and former paster Walburg has a huge chance of going for the anti-war candidate. The more we the people know about the occupation, the less likely it is that Walburg's election propaganda will be believed.

2. A few years ago, two DCP members, Madame Defarge and Ellen Beth, orchestrated an Out of Iraq educational forum, even in their really red district outside Chicago. They received a tremendous crowd who came to listen to their speakers. In 2006, their candidate Dan Seals came close to beating war-supporting, Bush supporting, and not-so-moderate Mark Kirk.

Ellen Beth has run a website in that district for the past four years. That website track's Kirk's votes, lies, and propaganda.

That dedication has paid off.

3. Oncall's really red district has a few active groups--such as DAWN. And, according to recent news articles, DuPage, Illinois might be able to elect an anti-war Democrat to Congress.

All of those indicate progress. Each time we put pressure on our Representatives, they will get antsy about their war supporting votes.

We need your activism now, so don't give up!

(Christy sent this piece in).

Not too long ago, seemingly out of the blue, I was suddenly bombarded by forwarded emails. We all know the type. Patriotic themed and usually opening with a Mexican 'joke'. All of them had buzzwords in them like 'Freedom' and some even threw in Jesus for no apparent reason at all. In one such email, I was 'reminded' that 'only Jesus and US Soldiers were ever willing to die for me'.

I remember staring at that line for a long time, thinking nothing, trying to think nothing. The words just sat there in front of me, and without meaning too, I started thinking about its meaning. I started thinking about what the sender wanted it to mean to me. I started asking myself had I ever known anyone else willing to 'die for me'?

I remembered a Mexican who once loved me, and yes, I had no doubt he would have lay down his life for me, had he been asked. My mother, certainly typical of 'mothers' would die for me. My lover, a good and honest man, him too, if it came to the ultimate sacrifice to be made in my name, I have no doubts he would volunteer to lay down his life for me. For any of those 3 and for my own children, I also would gladly face death so that any one of them could live.

And yet the words still sat there, telling me only Jesus and U.S. Soldiers were ever willing to die FOR ME.

Reading back, Matthew lost his job, Truth Shall Prevail fell and injured her arm. We wish them well, but more than that, I wish them healed.

Today is a day when we celebrate resurrection of hope and light, following a long dark winter of discontent. Easter actually arose out of a Roman celebration, Floralia.

The Floralia, also known as the Florifertum, was an ancient Roman festival dedicated to the goddess Flora. It was held on April 27 to May 3 and symbolized the renewal of the cycle of life, marked with dancing, drinking, and flowers. The Floralia was on the IV Kalends May. Dedicated to Flora, the goddess of flowers and vegetation, this day was considered by the prostitutes of Rome to be their own. While flowers decked the temples, Roman citizens wore colorful clothing instead of the usual white, and offerings were made of milk and honey to Flora.

One Easter, back around 1997, I woke up very early--around 4:30 am--feeling the losses I had experienced in the previous year. My then-boyfriend, now husband got up and made me a cup of hot milk with honey and cinnamon. It was the perfect antidote. We then got into the car and drove to the Tidal Basin, where the cherry trees were in full bloom, and watched the sunrise, while a choir sang in front of the Jefferson Memorial.

I think about that morning as an offering to the gods, and a gift from them as well. We don't have enough miracles these days, but I'll share a little moment from the past week that I did not write about in the thread header on the main page, but one which moved me similarly:

Now, what are your miraculous moments these days? What gives you hope? What is your offering to the coming spring?

And it continues unabated...

(Editor's note: This article is reprinted in full from the Washtenaw Community College newspaper (The Voice). There is not an online link to use; however, the author is Grace Ruedger and she has written about Robert Anthony a WCC student and former member of the U.S. Army.)

When flying home in a C-130 military cargo plane, Robert Anthony and some of his fellow soldiers felt the aircraft swoop steeply very suddenly. Everyone held their breath before it leveled out again. Excited, the soldiers begin laughing and cheering.

However, their merriment was short lasted. A crewmember by the pilot turned around and said they wouldn't be laughing if they knew the reason for the plane's drastic movement.

They were nearly hit by a rocket on the way home.

On today's home page, Karen urges us to "Tell Me A Story" and to share what we've learned from our stories.

Yesterday, after her family sat and watched movies together, they reminisced about books that made a difference in their lives--stories that caused them to learn, grow, or react to tough times differently. Those themes have provided richness in their lives that has helped them transcend adversity.

Whereas, Karen spoke to you of the novels from which they've been able to learn, I want to share with you a wonderful tv series (Firefly) and movie (Serenity) that has spoken to my family in the way that King Arthur spoke to Karen's family or the way that Star Wars spoke to a whole generation and showed us the ultimate battle between good and evil.

The name is very easily misunderstood. Firefly... and Serenity.... But the stories they tell are interesting, meaningful, and quirky-- even as they fight the wars of good over evil too. The battle is between the powerful (but evil) establishment and those who fought against it, but lost.

The following excerpt was cut from the pilot episode but it gives an overview of the background story.

The victorious alliance was spreading its control further and further though out the galaxy...
Those who fought for independence and had so bloodily lost had no choice but to live by alliance law.
Some never would. Those few found themselves drifting, flying to the furthest reaches of the galaxy...where the alliance might not control their lives...

And the clip below is the theme song. Give it a listen...

Karen pointed out in her thread how King Arthur may have lost the battle, but won the moral war. In Serenity (Firefly), they lost the battle, as you can see, but as you watch the series, you can discover if they have won the moral war.

Looks like hate will have to find a new home...

Melanie Morgan — the conservative radio talk show host who chairs Move America Forward, the group which has led efforts to shame and boycott Berkeley for its anti-U.S. Marine Corps recruiting stand — has lost her job at KSFO 560 AM.

Morgan, 51, delivered her final broadcast there today after 14 years at the microphone, she says in a news release. KSFO owner Citadel Broadcasting decided not to renew her contract as part of the company’s announced across-the-board financial cost cutting.

Media Matters reminds us of some of her trail of smears.

But grieve not, gentle readers, for I am sure her broom will land somewhere, sometime soon. As Media Matters reminds us, she will be off the air, but should not be off our radar.

[Editor's Note: Don't forget to check the homepage for slugbug's latest post. Thanks.]

And remember:

Watch this: