tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-362825582024-03-05T16:29:06.856-08:00Ruminations of a MotherPolitical comments from a concerned mother and citizen of USA about the corporate takeover of the American government.Bodhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14682322333858756706noreply@blogger.comBlogger139125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36282558.post-35091196081176065482023-03-16T12:28:00.000-07:002023-03-16T12:28:10.401-07:00Can the PRC promote World Peace better than the USA?<p> <span>After living in China, for 14 months, I have more faith in China to promote World Peace than I have faith in the USA to promote it. The Chinese may seem cold-hearted, but they are very interested in promoting the welfare of all their people. Yes, they do it in a totalitarian method. This is true. But they are still developing the PRC to raise up all Chinese people. </span><br /><br /><span>Our greedy corporatists discovered they could make more profits if they close down their US factories and ship them to China. Yes, they made more profits. And as a result, manufacturing in the USA became reduced to dismal levels, and the Peoples Republic of China has become a manufacturing powerhouse. </span><br /><br /><span>Chinese leaders do not want any war that might destroy decades of progress for their people. They are very practical. They would rather influence the world with their Belt and Road Initiative, opening up markets, which will raise the economic standards of everyone in the world, than waste their money on a military. But the US and allies are provoking them, forcing them to expand their military to meet the challenge. They are not the imperialists; we are. </span><br /><br /><span>The health of the US economy is heavily influenced by the weapons industry. In fact, the USA is the biggest vendor of weapons in the world. China's economy is based on manufacturing. The US wants to promote weaponry for profit while the PRC wants to promote consumer items for profit. Once again, it all comes down to profits. </span><br /><br /><span>I published a similar blog post in 2007, right before the giant financial collapse of 2008. My prediction of the ¥uan replacing the $Dollar as the word wide currency in a decade has proven wrong. Maybe in 2 decades, by 2027? What do you think? Will the Chinese take over the world economically? Or will the USA bomb their manufacturing infrastructure to smithereens, like we did in Iraq, in order to destroy the competition? </span><br /><a class="x1fey0fg xmper1u x1edh9d7" href="https://bodhis-ruminations.blogspot.com/2007/07/america-is-only-shell-of-what-was-once.html"><span>https://bodhis-ruminations.blogspot.com/2007/07/america-is-only-shell-of-what-was-once.html</span></a></p>Bodhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14682322333858756706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36282558.post-45441948520184416702022-12-28T08:56:00.001-08:002022-12-28T09:07:49.621-08:00Thoughts about "The Dance of the Dissident Daughter" by Sue Monk Kidd<p class="MsoNormal">I’m 1/3 of the way through The Dance of the Dissident
Daughter by Sue Monk Kidd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She keeps
talking about her feminine “wound” referring to the yoke of acculturation for
women to be lesser than men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She writes
on and on about the tiny steps she took in trying to embrace the role of her
whole feminine self.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She keeps quoting Clarissa Pinkus-Estes, who also talks
about breaking out of the yoke of what culture tells us about proper, gracious women.
I try my best to have compassion for them, since I have had the wool pulled
over my eyes also, and took a long time until it came away from my eyes and I
woke up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sue Monk Kidd also refers to
waking up out of the feminine wound.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
personally feel like I threw off that yoke when I was still a teen. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For me, it was more a struggle to act normal vs. being my
authentic self.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was about 45<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>when I decided that if they don’t like me the
way I am, then they don’t deserve what I bring to the job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, I was well under way by that time
into shifting my income from nursing to rental units.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My mom was an early feminist. She spent her life proving
that she could do just as good or better than any man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was an acrobat, entertainer, basketball
and ice hockey player. She was a bookie’s assistant, a dance teacher, a
secretary and typist, a truck driver, a dispatcher and switchboard operator.
She became an expert in diamonds and toured the country giving talks about
diamonds. She managed jewelry stores. In the sunset of her life, she strung
pearls to make money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her pearl
stringing booth in the shopping center burnt down for her 89th birthday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She just continued her business from
home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mother was not totally sold on
that feminine role.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My dad was delighted to have all girls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He loved girls and didn’t want a boy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were all raised to believe we could do
anything we wanted whether we were male or female.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was my dad’s right-hand man on his
moonlighting jobs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He taught me to use
tools and fix things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I was wrapped up in the feminine role through junior high
school to about 9th grade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s when I
discovered what abusive shits boys could be, and that all girls could think
about was boys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stopped shaving my
legs, plucking my eyebrows, staring closely in the mirror at my blemishes and
putting on makeup, bleaching my hair, and thinking about boys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I became a recluse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no one at school I could confide in
or trust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I became a vegetarian and
started doing yoga.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was breaking out
of the roles forced upon me by culture and community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All because I realized that girls were
obsessed with boys and boys were worthless shits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sue Monk Kidd also comes from the Baptist church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was once at a laundromat with a young
Baptist woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She told me that because
Eve ate the apple, all women were the source of evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love comparative religions!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The belief by this young woman that she was a
source of sin because she was born with a certain genitalia was equivalent to
the belief that we are all sinners from the get go because our parents did the
dirty thing and a baby was conceived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I remember in the book “Riders of the Purple Sage” by Zane
Grey, how the Mormon protagonist clung to her faith in the Mormon traditions
even though the Elders were perpetrating heinous crimes on her and her ranch
hands in the name of Mormon scripture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I keep thinking of the Taliban in Afghanistan banning women
from going to work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Taliban
interpretation of sharia law makes women house slaves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it any different in the Baptist
Church?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I am thankful that in the Jewish tradition, G-d is feminine
one day a week, on the holiest day of the week, and we are commanded to spend
one day per week doing nothing else but having a honeymoon with Her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The honeymoon with the feminine aspect of the Divine
includes eating, drinking wine, having sex and studying the sacred texts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I come from a much different tradition than the author of
this book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I come from generations of
feminists, and a religion that sees the Divine as both masculine and feminine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t have to heal the “feminine wound”
like she does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As a Buddhist, I follow the 8-Fold Noble Path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been a practicing Buddhist much longer
than I have been a practicing Jew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right
View, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right
Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I forgive Sue Monk Kidd for allowing herself
to get so deep into the role assigned by the patriarchs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I forgave her for being such a fool, just
like I forgive all those Muslim women who want their sons to be martyrs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I hear her suffering in every word of the book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hear how her “feminine wound” has caused
her to suffer, and how she strives to transform her anger into love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hear how this and that experience briefly
relieved her suffering, but then returned to the suffering of the feminine role
and what it takes to break out of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have compassion for her since I have also suffered, I have also had the wool
pulled over my eyes and woke up when it was torn away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have compassion for her because she doesn’t
see her plight as being parallel to removing her hijab.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have compassion for her because she
myopically believes this is an American problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The fact is that everyone suffers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I dislike when people tell me all their pains and
ailments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s not what I want to talk
about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suffering is in a point of
view.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are all constrained by the
limits of this mortal life; we have to eat and shit, and one day we will
die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pain and pleasure are just aspects
of the mortal package that we inhabit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sure! Fun is fun! And pain is pain!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But they are all part and parcel of this living body we inhabit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of it is pleasant and some is
unpleasant, and some we don’t even notice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So what! EVERYONE HAS PAIN!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But not everyone suffers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Suffering is in your point of view.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Suffering comes when you believe the pain is you and yours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By believing that pain and pleasure are just
part of the daily routine, makes it unremarkable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Both Pinkola-Estes and Kidd seem consumed by the fight to
free themselves of the classic feminine roles and find their unique feminine
selves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And as I read, I think, that
poor woman had to be middle aged before she realized she was being hoodwinked
by the patriarchy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I wonder why Black people worship a White God that fills
them with fruitless Hope? Someone sold them a bill of goods. Probably a Christian man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
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{page:WordSection1;}</style></p>Bodhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14682322333858756706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36282558.post-50383634147518906932021-11-02T12:23:00.000-07:002021-11-02T12:25:48.865-07:00 Thoughts about Critical Race Theory<p class="MsoNormal">Critical Race Theory poses that every law and every facet of
American culture is permeated with anti-black racism from the founding of the
nation until now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The more I learn about
history, the more I agree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Critical Race Theory is currently a hot button issue that
people are either violently for or against.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m not really sure, but I am starting to understand what it means. It
is very much….</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’ll give you so many examples:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Black Panther Party had a 10-Point
Program, all of which points were fundamentally essential for Justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: #202122; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Ten Point Program comprised two sections: "What We Want
Now!" and "What We Believe." </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: #202122; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #202122; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1. <b><i>We want
freedom. We want power to determine the destiny of our Black and oppressed
communities.</i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: #202122; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #202122; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2. <b><i>We want full
employment for our people.</i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: #202122; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">c.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #202122; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3. <b><i>We want an
end to the robbery by the capitalist of our Black and oppressed communities and
reparations for what has been robbed from us</i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: #202122; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">d.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #202122; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4. <b><i>We want
decent housing, fit for the shelter of human beings.</i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: #202122; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">e.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #202122; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5. <b><i>We want
education for our people that exposes the true nature of this decadent American
society. We want education that teaches us our true history and our role in the
present-day society.</i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: #202122; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">f.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: #202122; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6. <b><i>We
want completely free health care for all Black and oppressed people.</i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: #202122; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">g.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #202122; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7. <b><i>We want an
immediate end to police brutality and murder of Black people, other people of
color, all oppressed people inside the United States.</i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: #202122; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">h.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #202122; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8. <b><i>We want an
immediate end to all wars of aggression.</i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: #202122; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">i.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: #202122; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">9. <b><i>We
want freedom for all Black and poor oppressed people now held in U.S. federal,
state, county, city and military prisons and jails. We want trials by a jury of
peers for all persons charged with so-called crimes under the laws of this
country.</i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: #202122; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">j.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: #202122; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">10. <b><i>We
want land, bread, housing, education, clothing, justice, peace and people’s
community control of modern technology.</i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
personally agree with every one of these points; totally positive, just and
non-violent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They also believed in their
2<sup>nd</sup> Amendment Rights to bear arms in a well-regulated militia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this time, 2<sup>nd</sup> Amendment armed
militias are organizing and training all over the United States, yet our FBI
doesn’t feel compelled to assassinate them as they did the leaders of the Black
Panthers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why did they arrest, imprison,
or assassinate members of the Black Panther Party, who were defending their constitutional
Rights? Because they were Black.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My
Grandma Rose was a “Gray Panther.” She also worked very hard to advance social
justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was one of the original
authors of the Medicare bill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, the
FBI didn’t want to assassinate her even though she was a card carrying
Socialist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because she was White.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Critical
Race Theory points out the historical discrepancies in which Whites and Blacks
were treated for the same actions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
about White Privilege and how Whites are driven to disempower Blacks any way
they can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">During World War II, Whites and Blacks fought
side by side. Yet, when they lined up to get their paychecks, the service
always ran out of money when the Black servicemen came to get paid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I heard this time and again from WWII
veterans when I lived in Vallejo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I am a Registered Nurse having spent many
years in the Mother/Baby Department.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
noticed early on that White women got very different treatment than our Black patients.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw an obstetrician literally tear open a cesarean section on a black patient, yanking it apart like it was an old
rag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said it heals faster when you
tear it rather than cut it with a scalpel. I never saw him do that on any other
patient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At change of shift, the
derisive tones of some nurses when giving report on their patients of color.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They seemed to lack empathy or respect for
the women of color.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I saw White women get top notch healthcare and
the Black women were abused. That’s what initially instigated me on this
3-decade journey of trying to resolve the inequities of our healthcare system with
universal, single-payer healthcare in California and the USA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I realize that the reason we don’t have
universal, single-payer healthcare in the USA, unlike nearly all industrialized
economies, is because the Elites, presumably White, believe that they deserve
better quality than the Poor and the Blacks, who deserve nothing. Such arrogant
hubris.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pointing out the inequity is
Critical Race Theory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Redlining was a blatantly illegal banking
policy that excluded Blacks from White neighborhoods and relegated them to
ghettos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Black people were clearly
unjustly excluded from buying homes in certain neighborhoods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The sub-prime mortgage and foreclosure debacle
of 2008 to 2012 is another example.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Normally,
banks offer higher interest loans to People of Color. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mortgage companies went wild in the years preceding
2008, selling high interest mortgages to mostly Blacks and Hispanics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then the greedy investment bankers put
together portfolios of mortgage notes and sold them on the securities exchange
as ABD’s (asset backed derivatives).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This caused the worldwide economic collapse in 2008, and the beginning
of conveyor belt foreclosures, causing a massive shifting of assets away from
People of Color upward to the Elites as family after Black family were evicted
from their own homes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Critical Race
Theory suggests that the bankers have been preying on the hopes of upward bound
Black families, only to cut them down and take all they have earned, time and
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe, this is part of the
banking industry business model. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Next example is discrimination against Blacks
in voting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Slaves could not vote, although they were
counted by 2/3 in the census to determine the number of Representatives in the
House.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Once slavery was outlawed, the elite Whites
who controlled the voting booths came up with the system of Jim Crow to continue
to disenfranchise American citizens of color from their Right to Vote.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">c.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jim Crow ended with the Voting Rights Act of
1964. Which was followed by the War on Drugs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">d.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The War on Drugs convicted People of Color far
more often for the same crimes as Whites, who were either never charged with a
crime, fined, or acquitted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In many
States, felons can never regain their Right to Vote.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Currently, about 2/3 of all Black men have served
time in jail for one thing or another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">e.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Look what happened in Florida.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A citizen’s Initiative on the ballot passed
by a landslide, and felons who had finished their parole could regain the Right
to Vote.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since poll taxes were made
illegal by the Voting Rights Act, the Florida Legislature immediately passed a
law saying that they had to pay back all their financial obligations to the
state first before they could apply to vote.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That eliminated about half of the 1.5M new Florida citizens with the
Right to Vote.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">f.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">These are my thoughts about paying back what
these former felons owe to the State.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The 13<sup>th</sup> Amendment to the Constitution abolished slavery
except as a punishment for crime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So the
War on Drugs put Black People back into slavery in prison.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While in prison, everyone has a job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The prisoners are paid pennies a day for
their labor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their virtual slave labor
saves the prison in maintenance costs, and even earns for the prison in renting
out their slave laborers to farms, factories, and customer service jobs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When they have completed serving their time,
all their slave labor is valued at nothing, and instead, they are discharged from
prison with debts to the Courts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Critical
Race Theory points out that even today, we find ways to put Black People back
into slavery aka prison.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">g.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The racial bias built into the culture that
punishes Blacks for the same behavior condoned in Whites is endemic among
police and the courts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no
Justice in the Justice System, especially not for Blacks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These inequities are what Critical Race
Theory points out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why is it so
important to disenfranchise People of Color from the vote?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">h.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Every 10 years, the Constitution requires a
census in order to adjust voting districts to achieve even representation in
the House and the Assembly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Time and
again, the districts are gerrymandered to spread out communities of color into
fringe minorities in peripheral districts thereby disempowering the Black vote
and maintaining White control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
results in Rule by the Minority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>White
Capitalists want to make sure their Property Rights supersede all other
Rights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Critical Race Theory teaches us
that the need to overturn Democracy into Rule by the Minority is all about White
Supremacy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">i.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Elite Capitalists talk about freedom and liberty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They mean the freedom to make as much money
as possible no matter who they hurt or what law is broken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That leads to the issue of State’s Rights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>State’s Rights is another way of saying the right
to segregate and disenfranchise voters of color.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Liberty and State’s Rights are words we often
hear from White Supremacists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know
what you really mean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Critical Race Theory states that racial bias
has been interwoven in our entire US history, since the 2/3 Rule at the Constitutional
Convention to the January 6<sup>th</sup> insurrection in DC.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Declaration of Independence talks about
unalienable Rights to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time they ratified the Constitution 11
years later, the unalienable rights had become Life, Liberty and Property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Property is another euphemism for slaves, and
wives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Slaves gained their legal freedom
before wives did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Black men got the
Right to Vote before women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The unbelievable cruelty of the police and
White Supremacists who kill Black citizens provoked by nothing more than skin
color and their own assumptions about Black People.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rate of police fatal shootings of Black
People from 2015 – 2021 was 37 per million of the population.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add the Hispanics, and the total become 67
per million compared to 15 per million for Whites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rate of police shootings for Blacks is
more than double for Whites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And this
doesn’t include killings by chokehold, tasering, beating, breaking their neck,
or by suffocation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And also doesn’t include
Blacks killed by hate crimes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>57.6% of
Hate Crimes in 2019 were motivated by racial bias.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fact that most of these crimes are either
covered up or the White perpetrators are acquitted is something that is
illustrated by Critical Race Theory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Critical Race Theory says this is not unique but rather has been endemic
since the beginning of the nation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
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{margin-bottom:0in;}</style></p>Bodhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14682322333858756706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36282558.post-86085392056112659022020-01-25T11:51:00.001-08:002020-01-25T12:05:56.409-08:00Speech for the Women’s March 2020<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
I long for Peace with all my
heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peace is a word bandied about on
Christmas Day when everyone pays lip service to it saying, “Peace on Earth and
Good Will to Men.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what about the
other 364 days a year?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do Americans
really want Peace?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
There are 2 ways to achieve
Peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One is for a repressive dictator
to brutally kill all the dissidents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
wouldn’t like to see that here. The other is for there to be Justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s the one I want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There can be no Peace without Justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to reach university level education to
even learn what Justice means.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It isn’t
just retaliation for harm against you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are many kinds of justice: social justice, racial justice,
economic justice, environmental justice, and more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
Yet, in today’s world, there is
no Justice in the Justice System.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We see
multitiered justice different for Whites, Browns and Blacks; different for males
and females; different for rich and poor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How did it get this way?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
There’s no Justice in a system
that cuts school funding, cuts public assistance to the poor, cuts funding for
women’s health, cuts funding for contraception, then provides no other career
avenue for the resulting youths other than being cannon fodder for unending
wars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How did it get this way?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
There’s no justice in a system
that allows giant corporations to exploit our natural resources desecrating the
Earth and polluting the water, air and soil on which all life depends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meanwhile, we see our children’s health
become damaged, sacred burial sites unearthed, and our property values
destroyed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How did it get this way?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
Don’t believe a word if someone
says, “There’s nothing we can do about it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>BULLSHIT!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
We still live in a Democracy; a
Democratic Republic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That means the
PEOPLE RULE within the limits of the Constitution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The President is not a king and the United
States of America is not for profit!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
government derives their just powers from the consent of the governed!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our public servants exist at our pleasure to
serve us, the People.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And especially the
least of us, the children, the poor and the disabled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And to justly manage our public lands for us,
the People.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
Incidentally, did you
hear?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Talk about gender justice!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Virginia just became the 38<sup>th</sup>
State to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. Finally!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After 97 years! Women might become equal to
men in the eyes of the law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Believe it
or not, it’s still not a sure thing! How about that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
So, what can we do to achieve
Justice and Peace?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lot! We can march
in the streets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can join groups of
like-minded people and together we can storm the offices of our elected
representatives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can demonstrate on
the steps of the capitol.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can write
letters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can run for office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can pass local ordinances to protect our
cities and county.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can make sure
everyone gets out to vote.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or we can
join a phone bank and call people, like we did for Virginia a few months ago,
to turn the Virginia House of Delegates blue so they could ratify the ERA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are the People.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s grab the bull by the horns and Rule!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now is the time to take action!</div>
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Bodhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14682322333858756706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36282558.post-90697924560936693432019-12-29T15:00:00.000-08:002019-12-31T00:48:41.164-08:00The End Times give some Christians hope!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="_5yl5">I love interfaith Bible study. My hired worker and I have been talking Bible lately. He's a devout Christian. </span><br />
<br />
He knows I am a practicing Jew. I mentioned to him that I have 2 issues with Christians: 1) they have been slaughtering Jews for 2000 years; 2) they don't follow the teachings of Jesus and sow hate and division.<br />
<br />
My worker responded that he agrees. There are too many people full of hate that call themselves Christians. He said that he and his wife found hateful agendas from the pastors at church and so they stopped going to church. They do private Bible studies and worship in their living room with a group of friends.<br />
<br />
We both enthusiastically agreed that "God loves all His children; it is not for me to judge."<br />
I mentioned that through the ages, one group of Christians who never persecuted Jews was the Mormons.<br />
<br />
That set my worker off on how the Mormons and Catholics, Jehovah's Witnesses and 7th Day Adventists aren't really Christians.<br />
<br />
So what is a Christian? We both agreed that if you take Christ as your personal savior and believe that he died for your sins, then you are a Christian.<br />
<br />
I said that Mormons and Catholics both take Christ as their savior and believe he died for their sins. My worker disagreed. He went on and on about minute differences in their beliefs which disqualifies the others from being Christians. He said Catholics don't even worship Christ; they worship Mary and a dozen other idols. And both Mormons and Catholics don't believe that Christ died on the cross and rose up in 3 days. <br />
<br />
I replied that Mormons and Catholics believe they are Christians and call themselves Christians.<br />
My worker declared that it is a FACT that they are not Christians! I asked if they believe they are Christians, and he believes they are not Christians, can both facts be correct at the same time?<br />
<br />
Without answering, the discussion took a pause at that point. Then I asked if he isn't being a tad judgemental? He replied that there is no judgement in a fact. Facts are facts.<br />
<br />
I thought the whole exchange was fascinating. I love Bible talk!<br />
<br />
<br />
********************************************************************************* <br />
<br />
At another time, we were talking about our children. I mentioned that one of my sons is of the "non-binary" generation. He asked what non-binary means. I explained. He retorted that the Bible only gives 2 choices, male and female. He said he can't understand why non-binary is so popular now.<br />
<br />
I thought about it for a week and told him my conclusion.<br />
<br />
When things are normal and there is hope in the world, then males and females want to mate and procreate a generation for the future. But when the people in power do nothing to stop conditions leading to the extinction of all life on Earth, then hope is sucked out of the world and no one wants to procreate. If there is no future, why make babies??? So everyone becomes a non-sexual blend of amorphous androgyny.<br />
<br />
My worker responded that his religion gives him hope. These are the End Times just as predicted in the Bible and being forgiven in Christ, he can look forward to sitting at Christ's side at the End. <br />
I love Bible talk!<br />
<br />
Needless to say, I was not only fascinated to learn his viewpoint on things, but was shocked that my worker is one of the people who does nothing or even accelerates climate caused mass extinction. And this gives him HOPE!!!!! <br />
<br />
You read about people saying things like this. And you hear about it on the late night comedy shows. But to hear it in earnest right from the horse's mouth is a phenomenon extraordinaire. <br />
Fortunately, we both agree that President Trump is NOT a Christian.<br />
<br />
I could have added a third issue that I have with Christians, the absence of brotherly love. My worker and I wholeheartedly agreed that we must love our neighbor as we love ourselves. But I find Christians to be a backbiting crowd. The Protestants all agree that the Catholics are idol worshipers and not Christians. Most agree that LDS aka Mormons are a cult, and not Christians. The Baptists laugh at the Lutherans. The Adventists disqualify from Christianity all sects that have Sunday instead of Saturday as the Day of Rest. I could go on and on, but I haven't heard them all yet. In my experience, the Book of Mormon and the Pearl of Great Price are as much a bundle of myths, tales, and beliefs no more crazy than the New or Old Testaments of the Bible. Or the cultural beliefs that accompany them.<br />
<br />
To me, if someone considers themselves a Christian, they should follow the teachings of Jesus. I hear the Gospel words come out of their mouths, and in the next breath are judging their fellow Christians of not being authentic. It is not the first time that a Christian has assured me that his beliefs are FACTS.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I want to love all beings. It is not for me to judge anything about anyone else. And I am totally fascinated to learn the viewpoints of other people. I find that Christians who consider their beliefs to be facts are living in a house of cards<span style="font-size: small;">
floating on a sea of hope</span><span style="font-size: small;">. </span>Collapse is inevitable. A very different reality than mine yet we share the same world. </span></span><style>
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Bodhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14682322333858756706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36282558.post-68900927033778412352018-05-13T19:51:00.000-07:002018-05-14T10:03:36.862-07:00A Mother's Day Funeral<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Today, Mother's Day, I attended the funeral of my friend. Having known her for over a decade, I can't recall how and where we first met. But from the very start, it felt like we had been old friends forever. <br />
<br />
Esther was the child of Holocaust survivors. As such, she embraced that unique set of neuroses associated with Holocaust survivors and their children. Her voice tone was a gravelly whine that would have been enough to drive anyone crazy, which resounded with immeasurable grief. Yet, she was warmly courteous and respectful, and took interest in my life, as well as sharing hers. She never failed to phone me for every Jewish holiday to convey her good wishes. <br />
<br />
She emitted a lifetime of grief, and the light of her life was her 2nd husband Barney. I never met Barney, and they often lived apart. Secretly, I said to myself that it would be difficult to live with Esther's grating voice 24/7, and distance makes the heart grow fonder. <br />
<br />
Barney fell ill and had collapsed at their home in SoCal. Esther called me to share the news that he was in the hospital. She hadn't been feeling well but wanted to drive down to see him. I agreed to go with her, and be her alternate driver. Come the day we were to leave, Esther called me to cancel. Two weeks later, Barney had died. When she finally got there, she found his corpse guarded by the dogs in the garden several days after his demise. She had his body shipped for burial in St. Helena, and the headstone was finally ready 5 years later. Esther phoned me last week and 3 weeks ago to invite me to the unveiling of Barney's stone. <br />
<br />
Many times, she told me about her cruel brother who wouldn't release her portion of the inheritance, and how he cheated her out of the apartments she used to manage. Eventually, she had to hire a lawyer and sue her brother to get her share released. He was not present when I joined Esther at the memorial of their mother's death. But he was there today, beside her pine box, bearing a masculine version of Esther's face but much taller. He was first to eulogize his sister. He spoke annoyingly long about how he neglected her as a child and, as a result, she got run over and injured. He professed that ever since then, he vowed to protect his little sister. The length of his eulogy was almost as if the more he talked, the more his guilt could be assuaged. <br />
<br />
Esther often shared with me the grief of her divorce and how her X-husband has somehow turned her daughters against her. She had never even seen or met her grandchildren, and another one was soon on its way. Her daughters wouldn't talk to her. I convinced her how it was their problem and she need bear no guilt for having done anything wrong. I urged her to reach out to her daughters even though they might rebuff her advances. I encouraged her to keep trying, and finally she got through to one daughter, who invited her to Los Angeles to see her grandchildren. Seeing her grandchildren was one of Esther's greatest joys. And after a couple of years, she was on good terms with one daughter and in communication with the other. A great improvement!<br />
<br />
Esther's oldest daughter got up to speak after Esther's brother. She spoke about what a treasure it has been these last 5 years to be sharing her life with her mother. Even her young son and daughter got up and spoke eloquent, heartfelt words about their grandmother. This daughter so resembled my best friend Alice, and she was warm and charming. She didn't look anything like Esther. Elder daughter was tall, with olive skin, brown eyes, thin lips, and an aquiline nose. Esther and her brother had northern European complexions with round noses, full lips and gray eyes. Elder daughter said she looked like her mother. I didn't see the resemblance. She warmly thanked me for my kind words when I bid her farewell. <br />
<br />
Esther's 2nd daughter spoke about how their relationship had been "up and down" and how, now that she herself was a mother and wife, she understands how difficult it can be. She recalled how they would all fly here the last few years as Esther was on her death bed, and then she would recover, and not die. I realized that her main relationship was being at her mother's bedside at the time of death to claim her inheritance. This daughter was unable to look anyone in the eye, and kept turning her back to me after lunch when I was trying to bid them all goodbye. <br />
<br />
Then there was Faith, who left the message on my phone about Esther's demise and the funeral. Esther and I both had issues with hoarding resulting in clutter. I had decided, years ago, that I would clean the clutter out of one "zone" of my house per year for Passover. Over the years, the clutter had dissipated and there were many wide open empty spaces to be seen in my domain between the remaining eyesores of clutter. But I was shocked at the level of clutter at Esther's house. Over time, we discussed it, and she decided to take it on. So, together, we worked on a corner of her kitchen. It didn't look like much when we were done, but a 10,000 mile journey begins with the first step. Esther realized how important it was to have someone else to help sort through the clutter, that she hired a helper, which led to Faith. <br />
<br />
Faith is the daughter of a locksmith who had worked with Esther for years ever since she was managing the apartments in San Francisco. The locksmith also gave Esther a eulogy at the funeral. Faith lived with Esther the last few years helping like a nurse's aid and companion. She stated at the graveside that living with Esther was not always easy but was the best education a young person could have. Esther was so knowledgeable in law, as well as such a good and kind friend, Faith considered living with Esther to be a privilege. <br />
<br />
Altogether, what this funeral meant to me was to demonstrate that it is our family and friends who give us the most fulfillment in our lives. And how it is a damn shame if you wait until after death to say the things you want to say to your mother. There's no time to waste in petty grievances, and it is urgent to shower the people we love with love. <br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Bodhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14682322333858756706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36282558.post-6653716860829675432017-06-28T15:10:00.000-07:002017-06-28T15:10:02.595-07:00A Moment of Joy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In my creative writing class with Ellen Weed, in the 4th week, we were assigned to write a piece about our most joyous experience. It posed a problem because which of several joyous experiences should I choose, and what exactly does she mean by "joy?" Most people feel joy when they look at their newborn baby or the day they get married. Those didn't jump out at me as one of the most joyous experiences of my life. Every time I speak to my centenarian mother on the phone and she tells me she loves me, I feel joy, but only a small joy. What were the most joyous experiences I can remember?<br />
<br />
There was that time my slave Master kicked me out and told me I was now free in the middle of India. But too many of my stories took place in India over 4 decades ago; aren't there any more recent? One divine afternoon of sexual union in the shower was certainly one of the memorable and more recent joyous experience, but X rated was not appropriate for this class. So I thought about the several times that I have been touched by Grace, and decided to work up a piece on the joy of being filled with God's Grace. <br />
<br />
Here it is:<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>A Moment of Joy</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 22.5pt;">
As a Jew, the
holiday of <i>Yom Kippur</i> has had great meaning for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the one day each year that Jews come
face to face with our Creator to be forgiven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><i>Elul</i> is not only the name of the month before <i>Yom Kippur</i> in which Jews
practice many forms of ritual forgiveness and charity, but also the name of the
process of purification.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We recall all
our unskillful words and deeds of the last year and spend a month and then a
week forgiving ourselves and letting them all go in preparation for the big
day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We beg forgiveness of others, and
forgive them for trespassing against us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On the day of <i>Yom Kippur</i>, we fast as we spend the day with our
congregation turning and returning to the One.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 22.5pt;">
After a month,
and then a week, and then a day of sacred fasting, we prepare ourselves to be
face to face with <i>HaShem</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the day of
purifying rituals moves along, we reach the culmination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We bow down to <i>YHVH</i> in full prostration.
During the first prostration, we culminate the period of purification by
begging forgiveness for ourselves, and then we forgive ourselves of our sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the second full prostration, we forgive
our neighbors, relatives, community for the unskillful words and actions they
have done toward myself and toward others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Included in the 2<sup>nd</sup> prostration is begging God’s forgiveness
for the State of Israel and what they are doing to the Palestinians, and for
fomenting war profiteering around the world. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 22.5pt;">
On the third
prostration, we have to forgive every murderer and despot in history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I recall working hard to forgive Hitler,
Bush, Cheney, Idi Amin, the instigators of China’s Cultural <span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;">Revolution, David Duke and the Ku Klux Klan, Queen
Isabella, and every other genocidal maniac that we recall from history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hardest, of course, is forgiving the man who
killed my daughter.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 22.5pt;">
Part of the
process is to make oneself empty and receptive to God’s Grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As my face presses on the floor in full
prostration, if I have been effective in the forgiveness exercises, I will be
taken over with such a passion that I wail and sob while tears stream out of my
eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are not tears of anguish or
despair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These tears are for the release
of hate, resentment, blame and injustice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These are the tears that flow when I am touched by the finger of the
Creator and filled with her Grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 22.5pt;">
A few years ago,
<i>Yom Kippur</i> fell on the same day as the Mendocino Environmental Center big
street fair fundraiser.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was able to
get there in time to hear Clan Dyken, the last band of the lineup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I arrived directly from the break fast
terminating <i>Yom Kippur</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had culminated
a month, a week, and a day of purification, and had just finished forgiving
every murderer in history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt
spent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t feel like dancing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sat on a hay bale wrapped in my meditation
shawl and listened to the band sing “Imagine” by John Lennon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I began to imagine<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> all the people living life in peace, and then it
happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 22.5pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was using my skills at
sending lovingkindness around the world, but instead I was sending Peace all
around the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My inner being emptied
out and was filled with a rush of rainbow light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a pillar of rainbow light coming
down from heaven on the whole scene and exchanging energy and going back up
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With each breath, I amped it up
and focused that rainbow light and spread it enveloping the entire planet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sense of thrill and joy as I focused the
rainbow light passing through my empty conduit up and down and all around the
Earth was overwhelming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once again,
touched by Grace, I sobbed uncontrollably with tears of utter joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
</div>
Bodhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14682322333858756706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36282558.post-80088223336454243492017-05-21T11:18:00.001-07:002017-05-21T16:19:29.123-07:00A Very Harrowing Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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</style><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Today was quite the harrowing day for me.
I attended a Move to Amend workshop on the Corporate Rights and Powers
Timeline in Willits given by David Cobb. Afterwards, Al Rosen of Willits
Public Access TV asked if I was willing to appear on TV to talk about the
Grange/Guild conflict. I agreed. He wants either 3 people from the
Guild side, or a <span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;">panel of 3 from both (or
more) sides. Anyway, I said I would get back to him with a date. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Meanwhile, someone overheard Al and I
talking and notified Lanny Cotler, who then called me to invite me to talk.
I accepted. Lanny also asked me if I knew about the Facebook page
imitating the RV Grange FB page saying their 100-yr celebration was cancelled? I
assured him that we agreed at our meeting Thursday night not to do anything to
hurt or damage anyone. He felt assured that was consistent with my
nature. After squeezing a used swamp cooler into my Subaru and then
searching all over the back roads of Willits to visit a friend who lives beyond
Third Gate, I finally got to Lanny’s house. We hugged <span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;">at the door but I could see a lot of tension in
his face and I could feel he had an agenda. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA;">We sat down and reviewed our ties. We
are not only friends, and community members, but being Jews, that makes us <i>mispuscha</i>,
“kin." We agreed right away that we can still love the people we
disagree with. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA;">First Lanny started by telling me that
everything I have heard from Bob McFarland is a lie. I wasn’t too
surprised since both sides are accusing the other side of lying. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">After all, this is the
age of Trumpian "Alternate Facts." </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lanny then began a history from 2005, including the 2009 annual CA Grange convention,
and the plan to make the Grange more progressive. Although there
was a note of derision in his voice, he described the kind of political organizing plan we are
currently working on to make Mendocino County elected officials more
progressive. I interrupted Lanny to mention the similar plan by local
progressives, and he readily agreed it is a good plan. So why was Lanny
deriding Bob for his well-organized plan? </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lanny went on to talk about Bob McFarland’s
personal shortcomings. He praised Ed Komsky as a “straight-shooter” but
Bob as charismatic but wily. My thoughts at that point were the pan
calling the kettle black. Also, my personal email experience
with Komsky demonstrated a few personal flaws on that side also. So one
of Lanny’s major points was the personal character flaws of Bob McFarland.
</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lanny’s next point is that fraternal law
presides over corporate law, and therefore, although the local chapter may hold
title to the property, the bylaws of the fraternal order say that the local
chapter doesn’t own the building but rather stewards it, as proven by the Vista
Grange case. Therefore, Bob is a "tragic hero" since he will
fight this to the “death.” There is no chance of winning in civil court
since the court doesn’t care about the Grange. I didn’t fully understand
this point. But he added that the Guild side is doomed because the Grange
side has more money. Of course, with the deep pockets of Monsanto behind the Grange, the fight is David against Goliath. I have never read the CA State Grange bylaws from
before the change so I don’t know. And this is a question that the courts are still adjudicating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lanny’s next point was to say that Bob
McFarland only cares about taking properties, whereas the Grange only wants to
support and promote local chapters. That’s exactly what I hear Bob say
about Ed Komsky and the newly formed State Grange. Once again, both sides
are accusing the other side of the same thing! Lying and stealing! </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lanny may have been trying to badmouth Bob
to convince me to turn to the Grange side, but the more details he told me about Bob, the
more admiration I gained for him. Lanny told me that he separated from
Bob in 2013 when Bob declined to support or publish Lanny’s newsletter, the
Independent Grange Communications Network. He gave me a copy dated
11/5/2013 and emailed me several more issues. I have yet to read them.
Lanny told me his aspirations for the future of the Grange, and his words were nearly
identical to what Bob says he wants for the future of the Guild. I was
astonished that both Bob and Lanny verbalized the exact same goals! I can
see how they were once partners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lanny stated to me that he and I agree on
about 99% of all issues, and this is the one issue upon which we differ.
I have heard the history from many others, and was astonished that hearing the tale from Lanny’s
viewpoint that it was the SAME history I heard from people on the Guild side!
So what was the rub, I wondered? </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lanny finally got to it. The Guild is
damaging the venerated reputation of the Grange. Lanny and I both
agreed that the historical roots of the Grange are now topsy turvy to the
current National Grange and CA State Grange, which policies have been
corrupted. But Lanny and the folks at Little Lake Grange are planning to
change it from within! Except that Lanny says he's tired and isn’t
involved anymore. I responded that <span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;">Bob
tried to change it from within and look what happened to him! I added
that the Grange doesn’t need the Guild to damage its reputation; it is damaging
its own reputation. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lanny finally asked me where I stand.
I told him that as long as the National Grange had a policy in favor of
industrial farming and states on their website that GMO agriculture is
"necessary to feed the world,” that I would NEVER ally myself with an
organization that defends Monsanto in court. Lanny invited me
to help change it from within. I laughed. We hugged at the doorway and I assured him
that we don’t have to hate each other because we disagree. We mustn’t be
enemies. He hesitantly agreed, his eyes full of regret.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA;">By this time, I was starving. I hadn’t eaten
since 7:30am and could only think of food. As I headed home, I came upon
the exit to Redwood Valley and realized that I had been invited to the 100-year
celebration. I could probably buy food
there with a check. The first person I met was Peter Mayland, the
psychologist who attempted to mediate 2 months in a row, but both times left
early in frustration before I even arrived from my conflicting Red Cross
meeting in Willits. Peter asked me if Hal was hosting a synonymous
celebration in the nearby park. I told him I knew nothing about it.
That was the 2nd malicious rumor going around about the Guild side.
Peter also blamed Hal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I agreed
that Hal was not the wisest leader, but declined to mention that Hal had
resigned the other day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cut off the
discussion with this red-faced licensed psychotherapist who perpetuated false
rumors, used blame as a tool, and left mediation sessions early in frustration,
by saying that I was too hungry to chit chat right now. He gave me a wide smile
realizing he had been cut short.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Unfortunately, the only thing they had at
the celebration to which I wasn’t allergic was pie. So I wrote a check
for 2 pieces of pie, but remained starving. The sight of those 2 slices
of raspberry pie made my stomach growl. I hugged a few more friends going
out, and passed Jini Reynolds on the porch. We hugged and she rushed
away. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Suddenly, as I was leaving, someone I never
saw before was calling my name. I turned around and saw a suntanned
handsome man with ice blue eyes looking trim and fit calling me. I saw
his nametag said Ed Komsky. The shade of his tan was reminiscent of the
latest fad in DC, bronze. Every time I see a TV commentator or expert appear with bronze skin, I know they are allies of Trump. The bronze
skin, fit stature, and ice blue eyes brought me back to the Nazi occupied
Warsaw Ghetto of Poland and gave me shivers up and down my spine. I
smiled cordially and we shook hands. He said, “You want to talk to me?”
I responded amazed, “I want to talk to you?” So he smiled and
said, “You want to ask me questions?” I had no idea from where he got
these notions. I had just sat through 45 minutes of Lanny Cotler, my
hands were full of pie and my stomach was hollow and grinding. Also my
son had a choral performance with the Ukiah Symphony at 8, which gave me less
than an hour to eat and get there. I assured him that I didn’t want to
ask him questions, and left. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA;">This demonstrates the insidious creep of Monsanto's invasion into the back door of the first county in the Western Hemisphere to ban GMO agriculture back in 2004. It’s the malicious rumor mill, and the
manipulation that wins well meaning organic farmers to the Grange side. Like
Republicans, the Grange can only win with manipulation and lies. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lanny described Bob as personally charismatic,
and Bob described Ed as like a Svengali. When I saw Ed’s charming smile,
handsome physique, and the alluring blue of his eyes contrasted against his
bronze skin, I knew what Bob was talking about. It is through charismatic leaders that lies are generated and perpetuated. Monsanto has entered Mendocino County through a back door in the name of the venerated Grange, and is charming organic farmers into supporting with their paid dues what is contrary to their own interests. </span></span></span></div>
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</div>
Bodhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14682322333858756706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36282558.post-56868480130173509792016-11-24T04:59:00.000-08:002016-11-24T04:59:55.534-08:00A Portrait of Neo-Con Operatives<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
A portrait of neo-con operatives<br />
<br />
<br />
Is it the haircut that seems so similar?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Or is it the face of a zealot who will do anything to fulfill his aims?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This is the portrait of men who kill for Christ.<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
Bodhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14682322333858756706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36282558.post-75915294218706522792016-11-24T04:56:00.001-08:002016-11-24T09:36:58.976-08:00Thoughts about being Average<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have never claimed to be average. I have no ambition to be average
or normal. To me, if you ran the statistics on domestic violence, drug
abuse, cigarette smoking, alcoholism, cardiovascular disease, and the
use of chemical herbicides, and insecticides, all would be average and
normal. The family which practices Non-Violent Communication, eats
healthy home-cooked food, avoids plastics, walks or rides a bike instead
of burning fossil fuel, and pulls their weeds is not at all average.<br />
<br />
I do everything I can to try to slow climate change. I admit, I drive a gasoline-powered car, but can't afford a hybrid or electric car. I get around town on my bike for most errands and only use my car when I have to haul freight or travel in the rain or dark of night. I dream of a biodiesel SUV, but current regulations prohibit such vehicles into the USA. I waited 2 decades for a front loading washing machine to be permitted into the USA; I am already a decade into waiting for my biodiesel SUV.<br />
<br />
In addition, I am slowly phasing plastic out of my life. Plastic is difficult since nearly all tools and appliances are made with plastic nowadays, and single-use plastic bags have been banned in the State for a year already. Garbage bags are one of those things that are hard to shift away from plastic. I commonly reuse single-use plastic bags to line my garbage cans. As such, I brought about 150 single-use grocery bags from my sister's home in another state. That number of bags should have been sufficient for 5-10 years of garbage pail liners.<br />
<br />
Part of the regime includes recycling. All food waste goes into the compost, which we use to fertilize our crops. Meat bones go into the curbside yard waste bins. Our town recycles everything except plastic bags and Styrofoam, which have to go into the landfill waste. The waste management company not only pastes a large label to the recycle bin explaining what can be recycled and how, but also sends similar announcements in the mail. One such notice is attached to our refrigerator to remind everyone. Even our waste management company suggests we rinse the food waste off of the recycle items in this devastating drought using gray water. So we have a gray water catch basin in one side of the double sink with a hand-held ladle for use in rinsing recyclables and dishes destined for the dishwasher in the other sink.<br />
<br />
At election time, I collect all the voting literature in a big pile on the kitchen table. I collect the opinions of the various newspapers and political action groups and add them to the pile. Then I schedule a few days with my sons to sit around the kitchen table studying the pros and cons of every candidate and initiative, until we all fill out our ballots together. I have come to understand that traveling short distances by bicycle, avoiding plastic, reusing plastic bags, recycling, composting, use of gray water, and studying the ballot before voting are not average but rather exceptional. <br />
<br />
The purpose of this lengthy prologue is to introduce our new housemate. He is part Native American, but doesn't know what tribe. He feels a kinship with green-growing things and talks in sacred terms about "ceremony." Yet, he lives on an egg farm a buys his eggs from the grocery store. He uses a roll of toilet paper a day but declines to purchase toilet paper made from recycled material. When our new housemate saw my sons and I studying the voting literature, he remarked that "nobody does that." I assumed he meant that he has never seen anyone do that. He meant that he has never himself done that. He said that the "average person" doesn't study up on the issues before voting. I think he is right. It makes me wonder why the government and all the newspapers even give us all this reading material if no one bothers to read it. I am perplexed.<br />
<br />
After several months of gently orienting the new housemate to recycling and the use of gray water, I find him doing a laundry every day with just a few rags and not a full load. I find soiled cans in the trash and plastic bags in the recycle bin, and the gray water will be polluted with grease and food waste requiring even more water just to clean the gray water basin. He takes at least one shower per day and flushes the toilet more than 10 times/day. He has already depleted my imported bag supply and had to buy a box of plastic bags from the store to replenish the supply. He takes the garbage out daily needing daily replacements of plastic garbage bags. All the food he buys is wrapped in individual plastic packages, and throws his CRV (return deposit) beverage containers in the trash. It is beyond his comprehension why we should conserve on plastic bags, let alone recycle according to the city requirements. Every day I pick food and cans out of the garbage, plastic bags out of the recycling. My new housemate smiles and lies to me saying he will try to get it right next time. After all, it is written in his lease that he must recycle according to the city's requirements.<br />
<br />
The housemate contends that the "average" person doesn't do any of this. He states he is a "team player," and if the majority don't bother recycling, composting, conserving water or reducing the use of plastic, then it wastes his time to do otherwise. I was astounded at his use of wasting time as the reason not to recycle since he wastes a lot of my time talking about himself to me. I have known this man casually for many years and am well aware that most of what he says is rhetoric. In essence, he will sit for an hour watching me pick his soiled cans out of the garbage and rinse them with gray water while he goes on and on about himself, his family, his extended family, the farm in which he feels a kinship, the construction jobs he is so proud of, and his health issues. I have heard it all before. But he doesn't have time to rinse the cans out himself because he is a "team player," his team being the unknown "average" people whom he assumes never comply with the policies, laws or rules. <br />
<br />
In a certain sense, he is right. The average person doesn't connect their car trip to the corner store, their garbage full of plastic wrappers, single portion wrapped food items, disposable plastic eating ware, daily showers or toilet flushes with the melting ice caps, the continent of plastic in the middle of the Pacific Ocean or the fact that their citrus trees and bougainvilleas froze to death last winter or that the shoreline parking lots are now flooded.<br />
<br />
Here is a word about ignorance. Ignorance is the condition of ignoring. To ignore is to know the facts and choose to not take heed of them. It is one thing to be a baby never having been exposed to the information. One would refer to such baby as being ignorant but in fact they are uninformed. They can't ignore what they have never known. It is entirely another case when every package of cigarettes has a lethal warning on the side and a person smokes them anyway. It is another thing when a diabetic eats a doughnut, or someone with lactose intolerance has a root beer float, or if a woman votes for a candidate who proudly admits to sexual abuse.<br />
<br />
So, I have to conclude that my new housemate is right. The average person ignores the facts.<br />
It is the topic for another essay what drives the average person if not facts and regard for their own welfare and the welfare of their community. And if it is isolated to the USA or if this kind of ignorance is worldwide. And if it is unique to this time in history, or if the use by people in power to convince the average person to ignore the facts has always been used throughout recorded time. And why people prefer ignorance when given a choice. All topics too extensive for today's exploration of what is average. </div>
Bodhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14682322333858756706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36282558.post-44794623660777110792016-08-14T12:25:00.001-07:002016-08-14T12:25:45.526-07:00About feeling blue<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span><span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span>The
gift of life is very precious. We are not given life for no reason.
We, the living, need to find out what that special purpose is, and then
carry it out. The purpose is usually about healing the world, <i>tikkun
olam</i>. And like the flapping of the wings of a butterfly, everything we
do affects everything and everyone else in the world just a little. </span><br /><br /><span>I
imagine humans were created in order to help the omnipotent eternal Being
develop wisdom. Limitless power and unending compassion doesn't mean
that S/he is wise. It is a commandment in Judaism for all Jews to work
on fixing the world. That's probably why so many world leaders have
been Jewish. </span><br /><br /><span>Feeling down depends on a lot of
reasons. Sure! Lots in life sucks! But we can't have pleasure without
pain. We can't have happy without sad. Yeah. Take a pill and be
neutral all the time. Ugh! Feelings and emotions are part of the
mind-body complex that we have been given this time around. Without the
precious gift of life, there would be no feelings. So the choice is
nothing or everything. I observe my feelings with interest and seek to
find the true message the emotion is trying to tell me. What lesson is
there for me to learn from this emotion to make me wiser? </span><br /><br /><span>If
the emotion is unpleasant, I observe with interest what unpleasant
feelings do to my body, to my throat, my gut, the hair on my back, my
heart, etc. I also observe that I feel repelled by the unpleasant
emotion. I observe this all with interest. I am timeless, and currently
embodied in this corporeal temple for a few years, to help the eternal One heal the world. </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span><span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span>
<span><span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span>In addition, a junk food diet will make anyone feel blue. Proper nutrition including fruits and vegetables are essential for good mental health. B-vitamin deficiency is known to cause or exacerbate mental health issues. We take a daily vitamin over here of B-50. It helps to keep us sane. </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span><span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span>
<span><span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span>Aerobic exercise gives off natural endorphins that act like anti-anxiety medication. A sedentary lifestyle eating junk food texting to your friends on your smart phone is bound to cause metabolic changes that will make you feel depressed. </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span><span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span>
<span><span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span>Volunteer your time to those less fortunate than you. Their horrific stories make our woes seem so minor. Start counting your blessings instead of focusing on the empty half of the glass. I'm alive! I can still walk and talk and think and feel. I have a safe, warm, comfortable place to sleep and people who love me. I have enough money for my needs. I have another precious day of life for <i>tikkun olam</i>, to heal the world. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
Bodhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14682322333858756706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36282558.post-68307285795252798952016-07-17T17:27:00.000-07:002016-07-17T17:32:40.549-07:00The election of 1912 was very similar to today a century later<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span data-offset-key="3miaj-0-0"><span data-text="true">I finally finished reading "The Bully Pulpit" by Doris Kearns Goodwin. It has been an amazing read since conditions a century ago were very similar to now. Only the political parties seemed more honest. </span></span><br />
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<span data-offset-key="3miaj-0-0"><span data-text="true"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFHEKzuMj4KSO-kI7BCI0HFJTFl6AE2uNQnQpUu53qOIq-dm9iyFpPINX7_pzE3vdPIkGiRhhuuA20CKZnUe2xUZJIHQPAZNnRRvYGnbuAD7kAzMX_c_dZ5ALw_K5QLIQojaf3A/s1600/The+Bully+Pulpit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFHEKzuMj4KSO-kI7BCI0HFJTFl6AE2uNQnQpUu53qOIq-dm9iyFpPINX7_pzE3vdPIkGiRhhuuA20CKZnUe2xUZJIHQPAZNnRRvYGnbuAD7kAzMX_c_dZ5ALw_K5QLIQojaf3A/s200/The+Bully+Pulpit.jpg" width="200" /></a><span data-offset-key="3miaj-0-0"><span data-text="true"> <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/17/books/review/doris-kearns-goodwins-bully-pulpit.html?_r=0" target="_blank">2013 NYT Book review</a></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="ck2i4-0-0"><span data-text="true">It was mainly focused around the election of 1912, in which all 4 candidates agreed that corporate abuses were the #1 issue. All 4 candidates were in the Progressive spectrum. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="15rv6-0-0"><span data-text="true">Republican William Howard Taft was formerly Roosevelt's sidekick in the Progressive Republican agenda to regulate corporations, break up the Trusts, promote labor rights, and conserve land from the greedy hands of mining corporations and preserve them for the People. They favored a post office bank, child labor laws, 8-hr workdays, Workman's Comp insurance, European style social insurance, direct election of Senators, prohibition of corporate campaign donations, and a progressive income tax. Taft wanted to break up all the trusts. During his first term beginning 1908, he made a lot of compromises. By 1912, he was considered the "Conservative" of all the Progressives running. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="bji1r-0-0"><span data-text="true">Not being chosen by the Republican convention, former President Teddy Roosevelt felt Taft had abandoned the Progressive agenda by compromising with the corporations on some things, so he started a new party called the Progressive Party. But since everyone associated it with Roosevelt, people liked to call it the Bull Moose Party. They were also advocating women's suffrage, and the rights of referendum on 5-4 split SCOTUS decisions. His platform was that all power belongs to the People and money is to serve the People, not be master. People are more important than property. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="a0he0-0-0"><span data-text="true">On the way to Roosevelt's first speech as the Progressive candidate for President, an assassin shot Roosevelt at point blank range. The bullet was slowed by the 50-page speech he had written and folded in half to fit into his breast pocket. The bullet lodged in his rib, and he went on to give the entire speech anyway before spending the remainder of his campaign convalescing. He still beat Taft 27% to 24%. He never regained his robust health and died 6 years later of a cardiac embolus. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="eoo8c-0-0"><span data-text="true">Calvinist </span></span><span data-offset-key="eoo8c-0-0"><span data-text="true">intellectual Woodrow Wilson, governor of New Jersey, was the Progressive Democrat. He was chosen at the Democratic Convention on the 48th vote. Can you imagine if there were 48 votes at the upcoming Democratic Convention in Philadelphia? If so, I'm sure Bernie would be the winner! Wilson had almost the same agenda as Roosevelt and Taft. Only, Wilson was a southerner, and so firmly believed in segregation. He institutionalized segregation in many government services. He also initiated the Federal Reserve in order to control the money supply. But as a candidate, he was an anti-corporate Progressive. He won with less than 42% of the vote. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="7bn8q-0-0"><span data-text="true">And Eugene Debbs ran as the Socialist candidate for the 4th time. No, the campaign was not conducted from prison this time; that would be 1920, when he was convicted for Sedition for speaking against the war. He was not just anti-corporate; he believed that the whole Capitalist system was wrong and was impossible to regulate. He promoted common ownership of the means of production, co-op prisons, a national bureau of health, abolition of both the Senate and the presidential veto. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="7bn8q-0-0"><span data-text="true">All of these Progressives envisioned an expanded role for the government beyond just national defense. They all felt to one degree or another that the role of the government was the welfare of the People. Unlike today, when only the Green Party expresses values like the Progressives of 1912. Both our current Democrat and Republican Parties kowtow to Wall Street and corporate interests, just like the corrupt legislatures that the 1912 Progressive candidates were striving to fight. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="48oq1-0-0"><span data-text="true">The things I liked most about this book are these:</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="euiea-0-0"><span data-text="true">1. Every time they described the boundless energy of Teddy Roosevelt, I thought of </span></span><span class="_5u8u" data-offset-key="euiea-1-0" spellcheck="false"><span data-offset-key="euiea-1-0"><span data-text="true">Aric Cordell</span></span></span><span data-offset-key="euiea-2-0"><span data-text="true">. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="ca0j6-0-0"><span data-text="true">2. It really put into perspective the current 2016 election when we are facing mostly the exact same issues. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="18gbi-0-0"><span data-text="true">3. The incredible Muckraking journalists, Ida Tarbell, Jay Baker, Lincoln Phillips, Sam McClure, etc., thought that when they exposed the corruption to the American People, that justice would prevail. They all became disillusioned understanding that the general public doesn't care a whit. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="54ian-0-0"><span data-text="true">4. It contrasted the campaign styles of Roosevelt and Taft. Taft was straightforward, trustworthy, logical and linear, and wanted to be loved. Roosevelt wanted to win. He rode the public sentiment like a surfer, and learned how to manipulate the legislature in order to get what he wanted. It teaches me how much of getting political justice has to do with manipulation. </span></span></div>
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Bodhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14682322333858756706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36282558.post-26001564515465089602016-07-11T21:18:00.001-07:002016-07-11T21:29:19.809-07:00The 1912 Democratic Platform was far more Progressive than now<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span data-offset-key="5n3rf-0-0"><span data-text="true">The thing about voting in California is that your absentee ballot only gets counted if you submitted it well in advance of election day. Absentee ballots submitted on election day don't get accounted for until almost a month later. Since the polls in CA close 3 hours after those in the east, by 7pm on election day, Californians have a pretty good idea of how the rest of the nation voted. If it is close, you can vote for the lesser of 2 evils. In 2000, I voted for Gore instead of Nader at 7:45pm. If one candidate is distinctly ahead, you can vote for the best of the lot, because your vote becomes a statement at that point. In 2012 when Obama was far ahead of Romney, I proudly voted for Jill Stein. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="5lrvc-0-0"><span data-text="true">The question is, if the race is close, do you vote for the best choice thereby possibly allowing the worst candidate to get elected like in 2000 when Nader got over 2% of the vote which supposedly stole the election from Gore. The fact is, Nader took the blame but Bush stole the election in a rigged system. The next question is, when the system is rigged, what difference does it make how we vote?</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="8ch1q-0-0"><span data-text="true">It was obvious to Gore in 2000, to Kerry in 2004, and to Sanders in 2016. The system is rigged and they ended up walking away rather than challenge a corrupt system. Bernie at least used his considerable influence, having nearly as many primary votes as Hillary, to squeeze a few progressive concessions into the Democratic platform. Bernie wants it to be the most progressive platform the Democrats have ever had, but he has overlooked the far more progressive 1912 Democratic platform listed below. Woodrow Wilson was the Democratic candidate and winner. <a href="http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=29590" target="_blank">Link to the actual text of the 1912 Democratic Platform </a></span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="efgfo-0-0"><span data-text="true">Curb corporate abuses with:</span></span></div>
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<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span data-offset-key="4ookm-0-0"><span data-text="true">Honest tariffs</span></span></li>
<li><span data-offset-key="3t4rq-0-0"><span data-text="true">Regulation of Railroad rates</span></span></li>
<li><span data-offset-key="bt6fg-0-0"><span data-text="true">Break up the monopolies with Anti-Trust laws</span></span></li>
<li><span data-offset-key="frnqe-0-0"><span data-text="true">Prohibit all corporate campaign contributions </span></span></li>
<li><span data-offset-key="4o35c-0-0"><span data-text="true">Regulate of Interstate Commerce</span></span></li>
<li><span data-offset-key="7ki9v-0-0"><span data-text="true">Conserve of National Parks and wilderness lands free from corporate exploitation </span></span></li>
<li><span data-offset-key="2fu9g-0-0"><span data-text="true">Nationalize of Alaskan coal before the giant monopolies take them </span></span></li>
<li><span data-offset-key="6e10e-0-0"><span data-text="true">Labor Rights </span></span></li>
<li><span data-offset-key="2t5f6-0-0"><span data-text="true">Oppose the Federal Reserve but favor public banks</span></span></li>
<li><span data-offset-key="7vb00-0-0"><span data-text="true">Post Office Bank</span></span></li>
<li><span data-offset-key="9h3sm-0-0"><span data-text="true">A Civil Service Law rather than the Spoils System of government positions</span></span></li>
<li><span data-offset-key="1oa2b-0-0"><span data-text="true">Direct election of Senators </span></span></li>
<li><span data-offset-key="31k7b-0-0"><span data-text="true">Farm credit reform</span></span></li>
<li><span data-offset-key="2oria-0-0"><span data-text="true">A Progressive income tax</span></span></li>
<li><span data-offset-key="7i0gd-0-0"><span data-text="true">States Rights </span></span></li>
<li><span data-offset-key="bh3pe-0-0"><span data-text="true">Presidential primaries in States </span></span></li>
<li><span data-offset-key="bbuu7-0-0"><span data-text="true">Pure Food and Public Health</span></span></li>
<li><span data-offset-key="8l6if-0-0"><span data-text="true">Decrease poverty and the high cost of living with redistribution of wealth</span></span></li>
<li><span data-offset-key="a1qpa-0-0"><span data-text="true">Control the Mississippi and use it to generate power</span></span></li>
<li><span data-offset-key="2br3g-0-0"><span data-text="true">Enforce the Monroe Doctrine with a strong navy</span></span></li>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2br3g-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="2br3g-0-0"><span data-text="true"> The fact is, that in 1912, everyone was so sick and tired of the giant corporations getting filthy rich at the expense of everyone else, destroying free trade and monopolizing the industries, that all 4 candidates in the election were Progressives. William Howard Taft, the incumbent, was in the Progressive wing of the Republican Party. Woodrow Wilson was in the Progressive wing of the Democratic Party. Former Republican Teddy Roosevelt split the Republican vote by starting a third party called the Progressive Party (aka Bull Moose Party). Eugene Debs was a Progressive </span></span><span data-offset-key="2br3g-0-0"><span data-text="true">Socialist, </span></span><span data-offset-key="2br3g-0-0"><span data-text="true">left of the other 3 Progressives. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_1912" target="_blank">1912 Election candidates in Wikipedia</a></span></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2br3g-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="2br3g-0-0"><span data-text="true"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2br3g-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="2br3g-0-0"><span data-text="true">Conditions a century ago sound a lot like now. Obviously, whatever the Progressive Reformers did to control corporate abuses a century ago didn't last. History repeats itself. But where are our Progressive reformers now, to break the stranglehold of the corporations? </span></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2br3g-0-0">
</div>
</div>
</div>
Bodhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14682322333858756706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36282558.post-5887913390896967202016-06-23T09:50:00.000-07:002016-06-23T09:53:18.005-07:00Our Public Servants Choose to Deceive the Public about Election Results<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div data-contents="true">
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="8koer" data-offset-key="cuue3-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cuue3-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="cuue3-0-0"><span data-text="true">How can an election be determined on only 40% of the vote???</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="8koer" data-offset-key="4qfs0-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4qfs0-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="4qfs0-0-0"><span data-text="true">California has 30 days to report all the mail-in and provisional ballots. Since closing polls saves money, the majority of voters in Mendocino County use mail-in ballots. The County <a href="http://www.co.mendocino.ca.us/acr/current.htm" target="_blank">Elections page</a> disingenuously reports 100% votes counted when only 40% of votes were counted in that report. </span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="8koer" data-offset-key="2d4er-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2d4er-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="2d4er-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="8koer" data-offset-key="5evkf-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5evkf-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5evkf-0-0"><span data-text="true">In that 30 days when the majority of the votes are counted and NOT REPORTED, campaigns change, lives change, decisions are made, all based on counting less than half the votes. When I asked Sue Ranochak, the elected official in charge of these things, she replied that it has always been done that way, even when Marcia Wharff was in charge. </span></span><span class="_5u8u" data-offset-key="5evkf-1-0" spellcheck="false"><span data-offset-key="5evkf-1-0"><span data-text="true">Keith Wyner</span></span></span><span data-offset-key="5evkf-2-0"><span data-text="true"> asked Secretary of State Alex Padilla, who referred him to IT. His answer was that it is a software issue. </span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="8koer" data-offset-key="mmpc-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="mmpc-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="mmpc-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="8koer" data-offset-key="c806f-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="c806f-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="c806f-0-0"><span data-text="true">If it is neglect or a software issue, it is still a matter of our public servants deliberately or negligently deceiving us, the voting public, as to the true results of the election. THE SYSTEM IS FLAWED!!!!</span></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="c806f-0-0">
</div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="c806f-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="c806f-0-0"><span data-text="true">When asked, our county elections official, Susan Ranochak, responded:</span></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="c806f-0-0">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span data-offset-key="c806f-0-0"><span data-text="true">The way we've reported our election night results haven't changed.
The number of precincts reporting is always 100%. The reason for this
is all precincts have reported whether it's one vote in the precinct or
five hundred. It's also imperative that the polling places are included
in the these results as 100% accounted for. <b>That in no way means that
all the votes are counted. </b>That is why we identify the report as the
final election night report. When the canvass is complete and the
results are posted we label that report as the final official results.
We do not use the term <i>final official results</i> until we have completed
the canvass.
</span></span><br />
<div>
</div>
<div>
Your are correct some counties have provided additional updates.
It is up to the individual registrar how many updates they will provide
during the canvass. <span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>I choose to wait until the canvass is complete and
only do one update. </b></span>This is not something new. I've done this during
my tenure as Assessor Clerk-Recorder/Registrar Of Voters. My
predecessor Marsha Wharff also thought this was the best route too take
so <span style="color: #cc0000;">this</span> has been going on for a considerable length of time in Mendocino
County.</div>
</blockquote>
<span data-offset-key="c806f-0-0"><span data-text="true"> "<span style="color: #cc0000;">this<span style="color: black;">" refers to deceiving the voters about the results of an election for a month. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="c806f-0-0">
</div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="c806f-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="c806f-0-0"><span data-text="true"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AHActivism/videos/1085678464836331/" target="_blank">Discussing how the movement continues after Bernie's defeat</a>. Ugh!</span></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="c806f-0-0">
</div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="c806f-0-0">
</div>
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Bodhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14682322333858756706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36282558.post-82352301418023954882016-01-25T16:20:00.000-08:002016-01-25T16:21:55.025-08:00Considering the ethics of forced vaccination programs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
March 20, 2015<br />
I am a school nurse, as well as a student of ethics. <br />
<br />
As a
school nurse, I am a representative of the State and am required to
advocate for vaccines as part of my job description. I make sure all my
schools comply with CA State vaccination mandates. <br />
At the same
time, I understand that every student at school is someone's family
treasure, and we are charged with the duty of keeping the students safe
while they are in school. <br />
I don't doubt that many of the
vaccines are efficacious and safe. I remember how in my childhood,
everyone was forced to get a smallpox vaccine. I remember taking my own
perfect infant daughter to be marred and scarred with a smallpox
vaccine. But it wiped smallpox off the face of the Earth. It was a
success! <br />
<br />
But since the Tuskegee Syphilis experiment, it has
been deemed unethical to force medical treatments upon people without
their consent. Then we must weigh which is the higher good, to protect
the public from deadly diseases, or to give people sovereignty over
their own bodies, and those of their children? <br />
<br />
The press
release from Senators Feinstein & Boxer concerning Head Start
students about preventing "deadly diseases like measles." The CDC
reports that over 1/4 of children under 5 who contract the measles have
to be hospitalized for diarrhea (24%), dehydration (21%), and (17%)
pneumonia. No cases of encephalitis and no deaths were reported. NOT
DEADLY! Yet, at least 3000 - 49,000 people die each year of influenza,
and I don't hear anyone talking about forced flu vaccines. I think
perhaps you are jumping on the measles panic bandwagon with this
legislation to force vaccines on children without the parents' consent.
<br />
<br />
When smallpox and polio vaccines were invented, they were
public health miracles. But now we have a government that cuts funding
for FDA research, fast-tracks vaccines, and protects corporate rights
more than human rights. Many people are suspicious of what the
government sponsors these days because our members of Congress seem to
have mostly sold out to corporate interests and no longer protect the
People. We have been betrayed by our public servants. <br />
<br />
Many
people feel that natural immunity is superior to vaccinations. As
such, they breast feed their infants to protect infant immunity for the
first couple of years. They feed their children organic foods, live
far from air pollution, and wash their hands before meals. They
believe that good health is the best protection, and if their child
catches a disease, it will be mild and provide a better lifetime
immunity than a vaccine manufactured by a big pharmaceutical
corporation interested in maximizing profits. Considering how our
government has betrayed the People time and again, many people prefer
good health and natural immunity to injecting manufactured serums into
their precious children. <br />
<br />
I don't know what is right.
Historical vaccination programs have been a boon to worldwide public
health, but never before have world governments been as influenced by
profiteering corporations as they are today. To me, informed consent
is the most ethical thing to do. I can't bear the karma of forcing
parents to vaccinate their children against their wishes. I just give
them the facts and let them decide. <br />
<br />
I suggest you get off the
measles panic bandwagon and stay off the annual pandemic panics and
instead advocate for more money for schools to hire school nurses to
teach health promotion. The fact is that most of the school nurses in
northern CA shamefully have caseloads of 4000 students each and have no
time to do prevention programs. School nurses advocating good health
is no longer a priority in CA schools, and school nurses have had their
hours cut and caseloads expanded as if they are being phased out as
unnecessary expenses. Instead, the government is investing in
vaccines. And you want to take away the parent's right to sovereignty
over their child for a mild childhood disease like measles. I don't
think it is ethical.</div>
Bodhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14682322333858756706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36282558.post-57801824075193556692016-01-23T12:10:00.000-08:002016-01-23T12:12:12.774-08:00What can we do about bad laws?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div data-contents="true">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfgO3WwhJvuWf3GS-JMJvB6yw-dgcJcBOFa3zVy0H9lNmtYHcM7_XBWxjeV8AANce1OGDR7KIc-MMM7JSlcC0xNQUXvyNaaAhFMnQHVLvdNs-qvR04uHopd4Usx9OSiI8V4aw5IA/s1600/Ada_Wright_suffragette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfgO3WwhJvuWf3GS-JMJvB6yw-dgcJcBOFa3zVy0H9lNmtYHcM7_XBWxjeV8AANce1OGDR7KIc-MMM7JSlcC0xNQUXvyNaaAhFMnQHVLvdNs-qvR04uHopd4Usx9OSiI8V4aw5IA/s320/Ada_Wright_suffragette.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-offset-key="c7jij-0-0"><span data-text="true">Photo of British suffragette Ada Wright being beaten for breaking the voting law</span></span></span></div>
<div class="_45m_ _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="c7jij-0-0">
</div>
<div class="_45m_ _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="c7jij-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="c7jij-0-0"><span data-text="true">This is what happens when you break the law. She's lucky they didn't shoot her! They might have if she were Black in the USA. </span></span></div>
<div class="_45m_ _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="4ptt4-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="4ptt4-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
<div class="_45m_ _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="cfpaq-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="cfpaq-0-0"><span data-text="true">In 1492, it became illegal in Spain to practice Judaism. Let's say a Spanish family secretly lit candles Friday night to keep the Sabbath holy, then went to church Sunday morning, removing their hat in the Christian style of respect, and genuflecting with holy water at the sanctuary door. Then Monday at school, their child accidentally mentions the Sabbath candles, this picture might be that child's mother after the teacher had informed the police of a known family that breaks the law. </span></span></div>
<div class="_45m_ _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="7np9r-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="7np9r-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
<div class="_45m_ _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="c4rp5-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="c4rp5-0-0"><span data-text="true">What do citizens do about bad laws? There is a list of bad laws too long to mention here. At </span></span><span class="_5u8u" data-offset-key="c4rp5-1-0" spellcheck="false"><span data-offset-key="c4rp5-1-0"><span data-text="true"><a href="https://movetoamend.org/" target="_blank">Move to Amend</a></span></span></span><span data-offset-key="c4rp5-2-0"><span data-text="true">, they try to convince corrupt members of Congress to amend the Constitution to state that Rights are for natural persons only. They think that a groundswell of public sentiment might sway the Congress. At </span></span><span class="_5u8u" data-offset-key="c4rp5-3-0" spellcheck="false"><span data-offset-key="c4rp5-3-0"><span data-text="true"><a href="http://celdf.org/" target="_blank">Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund</a></span></span></span><span data-offset-key="c4rp5-4-0"><span data-text="true">, they say we should write local laws that directly violate the bad laws, and take it to the Supreme Court, if necessary, to achieve justice in the law. Mahatma Gandhi advocated non-violent direct action even risking death at the hand of those enforcing the bad law. He even advocated home rule in his 1910 book, <a href="http://soilandhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/0303critic/hind%20swaraj.pdf" target="_blank">"Hind Swaraj or Indian Home Rule." by M.K. Gandhi 1910</a></span></span></div>
<div class="_45m_ _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="barb-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="barb-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
<div class="_45m_ _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="e8ct0-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="e8ct0-0-0"><span data-text="true">How do we achieve justice in the law? Should we include illegal provisions in our new Mendocino County charter like banning the constitutional protection of rights to fictional persons? This is like the "Emperor with No Clothes." It is obvious to everyone that the Bill of Rights was aimed at humans. Yet everyone is somehow willing to accept that under a quirk of the law, that aggregates of money charted by a state to do business have equal protection under the law as human beings or citizens. </span></span></div>
<div class="_45m_ _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="a9g14-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="a9g14-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
<div class="_45m_ _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="e2tpm-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="e2tpm-0-0"><span data-text="true">I wonder if we include something that contradicts currently established laws, i.e. that fictional persons have rights protected by the Constitution, that even if the voters approve the charter at the polls, would the Secretary of State even ratify a charter with provisions directly contradictory to known law? We should call him and ask. </span></span></div>
<div class="_45m_ _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="9q352-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="9q352-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
<div class="_45m_ _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="i41-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="i41-0-0"><span data-text="true">I wonder if the police would beat up a corporation like this if the corporation tried to vote? </span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Bodhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14682322333858756706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36282558.post-6382061946111024622016-01-21T13:03:00.001-08:002016-01-21T13:23:20.446-08:00Banning Neonicotinoid pesticides in the charter vs. stating our rights<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
On Sat, Jan 9, 2016 at 11:08 PM, <span dir="ltr"><a href="https://webmail.securepacific.net/squirrelmail/src/compose.php?send_to=agnes@mcn.org" target="_blank" title="This external link will open in a new window">agnes@mcn.org</a>></span> wrote:<br />
EPA Confirms Activists' Longtime Claims: Neonicotinoid
Pesticide Threatens Honeybees<br />
<http: epa-confirms-activists-longtime-claims-neonicotinoid-pesticide-threatens-honeybees="" item="" news="" www.truth-out.org=""> </http:><br />
<br />
Els asks, "How
does this square with the CA Department of Pesticide Regulation that
regulates all economic poisons? Can a charter county override that?"<br />
<br />
My response:<br />
That's a good question. All the thousands of pounds of Roundup that
is used on our school campuses has been approved by Chuck Morse, the
County Ag Commissioner. <br />
<br />
That's what Community Rights is
all about. They say that we the People have the right to govern
ourselves and protect our health and welfare. Therefore, they
advocate making local ordinances that contradict bad state or federal
laws, and give the example of the women's suffrage movement. <br />
<br />
Personally, I think that even if the people vote in favor of
something like prohibiting corporate constitutional rights within the
county, a charter with such wording may not get ratified by the California
Secretary of State. <br />
<br />
So if we want specific things like
that in the charter, we may need to wait until we tack on an amendment in
the future. That can be a new project for Move to Amend in our county. I'd vote for it.<br />
<br />
Until then, we can clearly declare our
<b>right</b> to protect our health, safety and environment
within the charter. That's what I call a Community Rights
Charter. I'd rather see global rights in the charter than specific
items like neonicotinoid pesticides. The chemical industries will
just invent another pesticide even worse. But a statement of our
right to be free of chemical trespass, the right to health, safety,
environmental protection, and the right to protect our agricultural lands
and clean food supply, etc, will better serve us. </div>
Bodhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14682322333858756706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36282558.post-62466416346832067092016-01-14T18:58:00.002-08:002016-01-14T19:05:30.529-08:00Why can't we practice our 1st Amendment Free Speech rights at the post office?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Until the Patriot Act was passed, we used to be able to gather signatures for ballot measures and propositions in front of the post office. I call that the citizen's 1st Amendment right to petition the government for redress of our grievances. Others call it 1st Amendment Free Speech rights. In 2012, when we were gathering signatures for Prop 37, the GMO labeling effort, and Measure F, the anti-corporate personhood rights effort, the Ukiah postmaster called the police to drive the petitioners away. I asked Steve, one of the clerks there, who replied that citizens can't petition in front of the Post Office because it is private property. <br />
<br />
I have heard that the USPS had privatized some of their services, but I had thought that the Post Office was federal property. In a democracy, the government is formed by the People to serve the People, and therefore, all Federal property belongs to all American citizens. <br />
<br />
I had also heard that the Patriot Act had a provision that prohibits ordinary citizens from getting within a certain distance of any diplomat. Thomas Jefferson is probably turning over in his grave about that. But it shouldn't pertain to the Post Office since there are no diplomats inside. <br />
<br />
Even if the Post Office was private property, the Supreme Court 1980 Pruneyard Decision ruled that 1st Amendment rights are higher than private property in places that can be considered equivalent to the town square, like a modern shopping center. I would pose that the Post Office is also equivalent to a town square. So the fact that American citizens can't practice our 1st Amendment rights in our democratic nation in front of the federal post office perplexes and alarms me. <br />
<br />
Can anyone tell me why the Post Office is now off limits to citizens to practice democracy? Will we have to get arrested gathering signatures in front of the Post Office and take the case to the Supreme Court? </div>
Bodhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14682322333858756706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36282558.post-52843131422771783482015-11-16T10:53:00.001-08:002016-01-14T19:13:59.472-08:00Picking a President is like picking an investment stock<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I wrote this essay 8 years ago, and much of it is still applicable today. I don't know why I didn't publish it then. <br />
<br />
Picking a candidate for President is like picking an investment stock. When I plan to buy a stock, I first investigate its fundamentals. I begin with the historical prices. This is like evaluating the candidates historical votes and acts from their previous government positions. I can find the voting record of all our members of Congress at http://thomas.loc.gov/. <br />
<br />
Then I like to read about the company. I like to invest in good companies with good products that have good management practices, a good balance sheet, and good growth of EPS over the years. I like to vote for a good candidate that has good platforms to offer, that have proven themselves to be good executive managers, whose money is not beholding to special interests, and who have a proven good track record in their previous government positions. <br />
<br />
I invest in companies that provide a good service to our society, that are dedicated to human health and the health of our planet, that take responsibility for their mistakes, that have women and minorities on their Board of Directors, and provide good benefit packages for their employees. Likewise, I seek a candidate for President that will provide good service to our society, that is dedicated to the health of our population and of the environment, that takes responsibility for his/her mistakes, that respects the rights of women and minorities, and will strive to give the American people benefits equal to the ones they enjoy. <br />
<br />
The companies that I have invested in due to their high-class, glossy promotional literature have almost all declined in value to a hand full of coins. I have learned my lesson not to invest in stocks by the glossy look of its cover. I believe it is the same for candidates for office: you can't judge the book by its cover. Yet, the American people are obsessed with how good the candidate looks. I'll never forget that people voted for Arnie because he was the Governator!<br />
<br />
When we look over the candidates contending for the Presidential nomination at this time, we have a long list to investigate, 115 announced candidates to whit according to http://www.vote-smart.org/election_president_search.php?type=alpha. Of the main 16 contenders, there is only one that fulfills my criteria, yet is ignored by the media. Obviously, the media have an entirely different set of criteria for what makes a good presidential candidate. <br />
<br />
Rudolph W. Giuliani is plagued with ties to organized crime, was an unfaithful husband, did nothing to defend NYC after the first jet collided with the WTC on 9/11, and ordered a cover-up of the air pollution after the Twin Towers collapsed. Doesn't sound good to me. <br />
<br />
Mike Huckabee is strongly in favor of promoting education and the arts. While governor of Arkansas, he facilitated legislation that improved roads, state parks, and health care for children. These are all good! Huckabee is an ordained Southern Baptist minister who believes in Creationism over evolution. Its beginning to sound like he might change Democracy to Theocracy. Not good!<br />
<br />
John McCain looked like Nosferatu at the 2007 State-of-the-Union address. Creepy! He proved he was willing to sell out to the theocratic Christians at Liberty University and claims to share values with Jerry Falwell. He may have been a prisoner of war and an opponent of torture, but he is all for continuing the occupation of Iraq. McCain is a war hawk and is affiliated with the Project for a New American Century (PNAC). Bad! <br />
<br />
Ron Paul is an OB/GYN MD. Having worked in the perinatal field for nearly two decades, I found that men often became gynecologists because they were misogynists and wanted to control women when they were most vulnerable. Of course, I can't assume that Ron Paul falls into that category. He is a distinguished scholar of the Ludwig von Mises Institute known for its economic theories depicting government intervention as destructive, whether through welfare, taxation, regulation, or war. Therefore, we can assume that Congressman Paul is anti-war, and also anti-welfare, anti-taxation, anti-fascist, anti-socialist. He believes that life begins at conception and wants to give legal rights to the unborn. Not good!<br />
<br />
Did Mitt Romney announce his candidacy at the Henry Ford Museum in order to affiliate himself with one of America's most vocal anti-Semites? Having graduated <span style="font-style: italic;">cum laude</span> from Harvard Business School, we know he's a smart businessman. This is good. He transformed the Massachusetts budget deficit into a surplus. Very good! First he was pro-choice and for gay rights, but is now pro-life and against gay rights. He supports the death penalty and the three strikes law. Not so good! <br />
<br />
Tommy Thompson was governor of Wisconsin for four terms. I guess they liked him. As governor, he implemented welfare reform, health insurance for low-income families, and a school choice program that used public funds to send low-income students to private schools. He wants to let the Iraqis decide for themselves whether they want to be occupied by American forces. And he was involved with improperly hiding the true cost of the Medicare Prescription Drug program before it was passed into law. Mr. Thompson is for injecting Veri-Chips into our skin for ID and financial data, admires George Bush, and is pandering for the Jewish vote. Some good, and much not good. </div>
Bodhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14682322333858756706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36282558.post-76124870327324407752015-11-16T10:36:00.001-08:002015-11-16T10:43:51.135-08:00A Wall of Separation Between Corporation and State<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span data-jsid="text">The Tea Party advocates told me that the Constitution protects capitalism. That perplexed me. I have read the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights several times and couldn't recall seeing anything about capitalism. As a matter of fact, I carry a copy of the Constitution with me like a Christian will carry a Bible. I can't say that I am a great Constitutional scholar, but I have a pretty good familiarity with it. </span><br />
<br />
<span data-jsid="text">I contended that I never saw anything about capitalism. The closest thing I could imagine is the right to own private property. They responded that this right IS capitalism, but the founding fathers just didn't have that word yet. I again contended that capitalism means buying low and selling high, which is not at all the same as the right to own private property. They disagreed, and affirmed that it is the same. </span><br />
<span data-jsid="text"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="color: black;">
<span data-jsid="text">So I looked up the word Capitalism: a</span><span class="ssens">n economic system characterized by <a class="d_link" href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/private%5B1%5D" onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'Enhancement - link', 'Clicked', 'private[1]']);">private</a> or corporate ownership of capital goods, by investments that are determined by private decision for profit, and by prices, production, and the distribution of goods that are determined mainly by competition in a <a class="d_link" href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/free%20market" onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'Enhancement - link', 'Clicked', 'free market']);">free market. </a></span></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<span class="ssens">The first real capitalists were the Dutch East India Company founded 1602. They used capital for investment, but no one ever used the word Capitalism until it was coined in 1867 by Karl Marx in his book co-written with Engels, <i>Das Capital</i>. The meaning Marx gave it was using capital (money) to buy commodities to sell for profit. That seems pretty simple to me and confirmed my contention that capitalism is not the same as the right to own property. There is no right in the Constitution to own property for profit. Although the founding fathers assumed that shops and businesses would conduct commerce everywhere in the new Republic, they found no reason to guarantee </span><span class="ssens">the right to free enterprise or </span><span class="ssens">the right to make profits. </span></div>
<br />
<span data-jsid="text">That's why I believe we need to amend the Constitution to guarantee Constitutional rights only to human persons, as well as making election financing answerable only to the Public for which they will be elected. These together will make a wall of Separation between Corporation and State. </span></div>
Bodhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14682322333858756706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36282558.post-1677686117257909252015-11-16T10:18:00.002-08:002015-11-16T11:37:01.089-08:00Racial discrimination within my family<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Yesterday was my mother's 99th birthday. I've been thinking some about my dad lately, now that he's been gone for about 10 years. It has always been a conundrum why he was such a splendid father to me and my eldest sister, Susan, and an abusive father to my middle sister, Bonnie.<br />
<br />
We all heard over and over how Bonnie used to bemoan how dad treated her differently and discriminated against her. I never saw it until my dad was almost dead, at age 90, when my 2 elder sisters helped him to the bathroom, one under each arm to support him. He graciously thanked Susan and sneered at Bonnie. That's when my mother disclosed that she had noticed his discrimination for Bonnie early on and tried to reason with him about it. He just responded that he found Bonnie to be annoying.<br />
<br />
And Bonnie WAS annoying! Typical of the second child, if they can't get positive attention, then they demand negative attention, better than no attention at all. Yes, Bonnie was annoying. As a young child, I remember teaming up with my older sister against Bonnie and taunting her. As an adult, I apologized to her for that. But Bonnie was molded into a much different person than me even though we had the same parents due to my father's emotionally abusive discrimination of her. For over a decade, I have been pondering why my dad did this, and I finally got an answer yesterday.<br />
<br />
We are New York Jews. All of our ancestors came from Eastern and Western Europe. We are Caucasians with blue or brown eyes, frequently hooked noses, mostly with curly or wavy European hair. Both my parents fit that description, and all of my grandparents, as well. But not Bonnie. Bonnie was born with dark skin, the typical deep blue eyes of the Cohen side of the family, and kinky nearly black hair. For the first time in my life, I realized that my dad disliked her from the day she was born because she had dark skin.<br />
<br />
I remember the horror in my brother-in-law's face when he gazed upon his newborn son, Barry. I was also with Ronnie the day he gazed upon his first-born, Lori. Lori's head and part of her forehead was bashed in from the forceps assisted birth. Ronnie was beaming with pride at his wrinkled infant with a bashed-in head. But when he gazed upon newborn son Barry, he was struck with horror and disgust. Barry was born pinto. He had dark skin and light skin right across the middle of his face. One side of his neck was light skinned, and the other side was dark. I could understand it as horror of a deformed, imperfect baby, but Lori was imperfect and deformed, and Ronnie's response was very different.<br />
<br />
Today I am thinking that both my dad and Ronnie were more offended by having a child with dark skin. As I recall the racial attitudes of my parents, my mom said she grew up in NYC with all the races and didn't see much difference. But my dad was more surreptitious with his attitudes. Both he and Ronnie felt Blacks were lazy, untrustworthy, and inferior. Could it be that they gazed down at their 100% Jewish newborns and saw a Negro?<br />
<br />
Bonnie has since gotten vitiligo and her face lost it's Middle Eastern hue to become colorlessly white. But in her youth, her beauty was striking by those blue eyes in contrast with her dark skin and dark Jewfro. I was proud of her striking Moroccan-like beauty. It never even occurred to me at the time that she was "different" or "other" because of the color of her skin being so different from mine. There was no doubt as to her heritage since she was the spitting image of our grandmother Rose, except with dark skin. She looked more like the Cohen side of the family than any of us.<br />
<br />
I'm not sure my sister Bonnie has ever known happiness. She hates when I write personal things about her for the public to see. That's why I am writing it here in my blog, since nearly no one ever reads my blog. And also, I will skip the details of Bonnie's sources of anguish. Let's just say that her life might have been much happier if our father had treated her with as much love as Susan and me. Thankfully, our mother had enough love for us all. Even in my mother's self-indulgent years, she still made it a hard and fast principal to treat us all equally.<br />
<br />
Some might question my right to judge that Bonnie isn't happy as she gazes at the East River from her luxury Manhattan apartment with obscene amounts of money to spend and 2 employed sons and 5 healthy grand-children. But I think I know my sister Bonnie, and even if happiness was right in front of her, she wouldn't accept it, because our father rejected her. </div>
Bodhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14682322333858756706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36282558.post-14216127663634407692015-10-06T19:36:00.002-07:002015-10-06T19:52:20.155-07:00Why do counties keep public funds in private, for-profit banks?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896331746362/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896331746362/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896331746362/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896331746362/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end/=1$text0/=010">I
and my team are trying to make Mendocino into a charter county. After
15 drafts of a charter over the last 3 years, there was little or no
political will for our Board of Supervisors to put one on the ballot.
So the only other way to become a charter county is to elect a charter
commission. This is a 2-step process. First, we need to collect 2003
valid signatures by January to get the charter question on to the June
ballot. We are aiming for 4000. Then later in January, anyone
registered to vote in the county can run for the unpaid office of
Charter Commissioner. When the time comes, I plan to run for this
voluntary elected office. I am currently raising funds and cultivating
fellow candidates. This will be an amazing opportunity to think outside
the box and redesign our local government to assure more social and
economic justice, more direct democracy, more citizen participation,
more local control and more accountability.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896371587358/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0"><a class=" UFICommentActorName" data-ft="{"tn":";"}" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/hovercard.php?id=1238312989&extragetparams=%7B%22hc_location%22%3A%22ufi_admin%22%7D" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896371587358/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0.0" dir="ltr" href="https://www.facebook.com/robin.sunbeam?fref=ufi"><span data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896371587358/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0.0.0"></span></a></span><span data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896371587358/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896371587358/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.0"></span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896371587358/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896371587358/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896371587358/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end/=1$text0/=010">The
current legal opinion is that a county must be a charter county in
order to open a public bank. Ideally, the charter will be a fundamental
step in that direction. It is yet to be seen whether language about a
public bank will be included in the charter. It will be up to the
charter commissioners what language will be included.</span></span></span></span><span data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896371587358/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.5"></span></div>
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<span data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896399108046/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0"><a class=" UFICommentActorName" data-ft="{"tn":";"}" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/hovercard.php?id=1238312989&extragetparams=%7B%22hc_location%22%3A%22ufi_admin%22%7D" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896399108046/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0.0" dir="ltr" href="https://www.facebook.com/robin.sunbeam?fref=ufi"><span data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896399108046/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0.0.0"></span></a></span><span data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896399108046/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896399108046/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.0"></span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896399108046/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896399108046/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896399108046/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end/=1$text0/=010">There
are 3 kinds of money: coins, currency, and credit. Coins are printed
by the Federal government. Currency is printed and controlled by a
private banking conglomerate called the Federal Reserve (nothing "federal" about it). Money greases
the wheels of commerce and causes economies to boom when there is enough
of it in everyone's pockets. When money is scarce, the economy tanks.
The third kind of money is credit. Per Federal Reserve policy, every
bank can issue credit of up to 90% of their reserves. Each time they
loan out credit, the "note" gets added to their reserve of assets. In
other words, their assets are based on loan notes.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<li class="UFIRow UFIComment display UFIComponent UFIPartialBorder UFIUnseenItem" data-ft="{"tn":"R"}" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896409988318/=10"><div class="clearfix" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896409988318/=10.0">
<div class="" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896409988318/=10.0.$right">
<div class="UFIImageBlockContent _42ef clearfix" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896409988318/=10.0.$right.0">
<div class="" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896409988318/=10.0.$right.0.$left">
<div class="UFICommentContentBlock" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896409988318/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0">
<div class="UFICommentContent" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896409988318/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0">
<span data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896409988318/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896409988318/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896409988318/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896409988318/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end/=1$text0/=010">The
credit market is a kind of Ponzi scheme which occasionally implodes.
In 2009, the government bailed out the banks from their Ponzi scheme
losses, yet the big Wall Street banks continue to glean obscene profits
using business plans based on fraud. All counties in the USA keep
their public funds in private, for-profit banks, which use those funds in their reserve for their credit Ponzi schemes.</span></span></span></span><br />
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="UFIRow UFIComment display UFIComponent UFIPartialBorder UFIUnseenItem" data-ft="{"tn":"R"}" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896421308601/=10"><div class="clearfix" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896421308601/=10.0">
<div class="" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896421308601/=10.0.$right">
<div class="UFIImageBlockContent _42ef clearfix" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896421308601/=10.0.$right.0">
<div class="" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896421308601/=10.0.$right.0.$left">
<div class="UFICommentContentBlock" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896421308601/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0">
<div class="UFICommentContent" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896421308601/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0">
<span data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896429148797/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896429148797/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896429148797/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896429148797/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end/=1$text0/=010">SBMC
stayed healthy during the 2008 economic downturn because they only
issue credit up to 60% of their reserves. And credit unions even have a
lower limit. Only the big Wall Street banks like Bank of America issue all 90% of their reserves in credit.</span></span></span></span><br />
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class=" UFILastComment UFIRow UFIComment display UFIComponent UFIPartialBorder UFIUnseenItem" data-ft="{"tn":"R"}" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896429148797/=10">
<div class="UFICommentContent" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896429148797/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0">
<span data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896429148797/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896429148797/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896429148797/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896429148797/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end/=1$text0/=010"> </span></span></span></span><span data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896421308601/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896421308601/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896421308601/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896421308601/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end/=1$text0/=010">A
public bank could serve the purpose of parking and distributing our own
public funds instead of Bank of America. Why not keep our public funds
in our own bank? And if the law allows banks to issue credit based on a
fraction of their reserves, then why not use the county's reserves to
underwrite economic development loans issued by the local partners like
Savings Bank of Mendocino County and MendoLake Credit Union to keep the
money circulating right here in our own county?</span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="fsm fwn fcg UFICommentActions" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896421308601/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.3">
<span data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896421308601/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.3.$metadata/=1$action/=010"><a class="uiLinkSubtle" data-ft="{"tn":"N"}" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896421308601/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.3.$metadata/=1$action/=010.$timestamp-message" data-testid="ufi_comment_timestamp" href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10207892291045347&set=a.1626125733203.82158.1238312989&type=3&comment_id=10207895030153823&reply_comment_id=10207896421308601&total_comments=5&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R%22%7D"><abbr class="livetimestamp" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896421308601/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.3.$metadata/=1$action/=010.$timestamp-message.0" data-utime="1444184265" title="Tuesday, October 6, 2015 at 7:17pm"><span class="timestampContent"><br /></span></abbr></a></span></div>
</div>
<div class="UFICommentContent" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896429148797/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0">
<span data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896429148797/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896429148797/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896429148797/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".6a.1:5.0.1:$replies10207892291045347_10207895030153823/=10.0.1:2:$comment10207892291045347_10207896429148797/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end/=1$text0/=010">So why should we keep public funds in a private, for-profit bank? We shouldn't! </span></span></span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
Bodhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14682322333858756706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36282558.post-60356677757438072742015-07-17T13:00:00.000-07:002015-07-17T13:00:40.001-07:00Criticizing Israel doesn't make me anti-Semitic<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40OnUPVFIaRELg22c1nKIfkF9UEDckw8XWBcqL-ZFtSu7YNfM9O50J2o732XLzL_8MUFQK7CBi8QYEdFjE_jjs1fHpGg9oWukF8EiRHcmNBUk9UTdVAPhDD0jLhKHRCQioCtyhQ/s1600/Not_anti-Semitic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40OnUPVFIaRELg22c1nKIfkF9UEDckw8XWBcqL-ZFtSu7YNfM9O50J2o732XLzL_8MUFQK7CBi8QYEdFjE_jjs1fHpGg9oWukF8EiRHcmNBUk9UTdVAPhDD0jLhKHRCQioCtyhQ/s400/Not_anti-Semitic.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a> I usually stay far away from the issue of Israel and Palestine because I am an active member
of the Jewish Community and I love my fellow Jews. But as a Buddhist, I
love all beings and wish no harm to any, even those that wish harm to me.
As a mother of 2 sons, I am well aware how children always blame the
other for starting. As a divorcee, I realize how painful it is in the
middle of separating from someone with whom you have shared a home for a
long time. I also know that it is dysfunctional to retain hates,
bitterness, blame, and thoughts of vengeance, and much better for my
heart and whole being to forgive and love.<br />
<br />
I never say forgive
and forget. NO! Forgive and remember! By remembering, we learn and
hopefully grow in wisdom and compassion.<br />
<br />
The world is shrinking
rapidly, and a bunch of myopic international corporations are making
obscene profits on promoting fear, hatred, discord, and war. My
position is that both sides have their issues. Both sides are full of
hate. Both sides are tired of fighting. And both sides are violating
international human rights. This is basically a racist war. It is
racist for Netanyahu to believe that every Israeli life is worth 500
Palestinian lives. It is a genocide, much like what the USA did with
the Indians, and what Australia did with their aborigines. Much like
what the Cro Magnin did with the Neanderthals. The way I see it, the
Jews of Israel were an oppressed ethnic group, having now been freed of
oppression, decided to turn the tables and oppress another ethnic group
as they were once oppressed. Yes, it is true that we Jews were slaves
in the Third Reich, and the Israelis haven't enslaved the Palestinians
yet.<br />
<br />
If I love being a Jew, and I criticize the fascist
genocide of the Palestinian people by the Netanyahu government, that
does not make me anti-Semitic.<br />
<br />
I was just discussing the other
day how racism all over the world affects dark-skinned people. In
Israel, the Yemeni dialect of Hebrew has become the gold standard in
common language, even all over the world. The Yemeni rabbinic scholars
are touted as the wisest and most profound. Yet, the Yemeni people are
discriminated against in Israel because they have dark skin. That is
similar to White culture co-opting Jazz, Hip-Hop, Blues, and standards
of beauty that include thick lips, and round nostrils in men, yet
discriminate against Black people.<br />
<br />
I don't love being White. I see it
as a quirk of fate. I don't love the White Privilege I receive
resulting from that quirk of fate, although I find it ridiculously
funny. But if I criticize my racist, sexist, classist, perpetually
warring culture, that doesn't mean that I am anti-American.<br />
<br />
PS. I am not one to criticize anyway. I may point out the ironic facts of injustice, but I am one to make a plan to change it rather than waste my time criticizing. </div>
Bodhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14682322333858756706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36282558.post-32020366719448599302015-07-12T12:05:00.000-07:002015-07-12T12:05:56.969-07:00My response to Senator Feinstein's letter about Fast Track<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My answer to Senator Feinstein when she explained that she crossed
the aisle and voted with the Republicans to approve Fast Track Authority
for the President to negotiate the TPP.<br />
<br />
Dear Senator Feinstein,<br />
<br />
In response to your letter explaining why you voted for fast track
authority, I agree that trade is crucial for the economy and has been
since the founding of this nation. Our Founding Fathers also understood
the value of tariffs which fund the government and protect fledgling
industries. They also understood the importance of sovereignty and the
negative effects of powerful corporations, i.e. the British East India
Company. They were so enraged about the special privileges that giant
corporations received compared to local businesses that they threw all
the East India tea into the sea. Perhaps you have forgotten the
anti-corporate history which founded this nation. <br />
<br />
Previous
trade pacts have not only ruined the American economy, but have also
bankrupted the government by eliminating import tariffs. Previous trade
pacts have moved good jobs offshore and turned the USA into a banana
republic.<br />
<br />
You stress the importance of trade for California's
economy, yet conflate that with why the President should have fast
track authority to negotiate secret international trade treaties that
are kept from the eyes of the sovereign people who rule in a Democracy.
Either we are no longer a democracy, or you and the President are
hiding something very foul in the TransPacific Partnership (TPP).<br />
<br />
You mention how trade deals in the past have "negatively affected
certain areas of our work force." Those certain areas include good union
jobs. By eliminating good union jobs, the standard of living in the
USA has plummeted. You say that because so many jobs were lost due to
previous trade agreements, you support the Trade Adjustment Assistance
(TAA). There is no point in retraining people for jobs that do not
exist. I have personally seen several of my friends lose their good
jobs and been retrained for jobs that don't exist. Your preference to
mitigate the expected damage from the TPP with TAA retraining programs
is a betrayal of your constituents.<br />
<br />
Lastly, you mention how the
TPP is key to our national security and foreign policy objectives. If
by foreign policy objectives you are referring to overthrowing
democratically elected sovereign rulers who block our corporate
exploitation of their natural resources as our CIA has done time and
again since 1953, and the further expansion of our imperialist
incursions into sovereign nations around the world, then you have
obviously drank the kool aide and owe more allegiance to your corporate
donors than to your human constituents.<br />
<br />
Please tell me how
allowing corporate interests to override local environmental laws
improves our national security? The way I see it, the USA is far more
secure with healthy local industry and manufacturing jobs and locally
grown food than by sending our military onto foreign soil or by
extrajudicial assassinations by drone. I believe your priorities have
been subverted and you no longer represent the best interests of the
people of California.<br />
<br />
Signed,<br />
Your disappointed constituent<br />
<br />
<br />
• Here is the letter from Senator Dianne Feinstein in response to when I complained about her approval of fast track authority for the President. <br />
<br />
<div class="Section1">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Thank
you
for
contacting
me
to
express
your
concerns
regarding
Trade
Promotion
Authority
(TPA).
I
appreciate
the
time
you
took
to
write,
and
I
welcome
the
opportunity
to
respond.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">First,
please
know
that
as
a
U.S.
Senator,
I
carefully
review
each
free-trade
agreement
that
comes
before
me
to
ensure
that
the
best
interests
of
American
workers
and
businesses
are
served,
and
that
the
agreement
will
not
adversely
affect
the
U.S.
economy,
human
rights,
labor
rights
or
environmental
standards.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">As
you
are
aware,
I
voted
in
favor
of
TPA—otherwise
known
as
fast-track
authority—because
it
grants
the
President
the
ability
to
finalize
the
Trans-Pacific
Partnership
(TPP).
I
believe
that
increasing
free
trade
with
our
neighbors
in
the
Pacific
Rim
is
squarely
in
our
economic
and
national
security
interests. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The
process
of
considering
trade
legislation
has
enabled
me
to
see
the
extraordinary
importance
of
trade
to
California's
economy,
and
I
wanted
to
share
some
of
this
information
with
you.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Today,
trade
supports
more
than
4.7
million
jobs
in
California,
and
nearly
40
million
nationwide.
More
than
75,000
California
businesses
export
goods
out
of
the
state,
and
95
percent
of
those
are
small-
or
medium-sized,
meaning
they
have
fewer
than
500
employees.
Since
2009,
jobs
related
to
merchandise
trade
have
increased
by
11
percent
in
California,
and
research
has
shown
that
firms
that
export
pay
their
employees
15
percent
more
than
those
that
do
not.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Three
of
California's
major
sectors
benefit
substantially
from
trade:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;" value="1"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The
services
sector—both
high-skilled
professional
services
as
well
as
lower-skilled
services
such
as
accommodation,
food
and
administration—have
helped
lead
California's
economic
recovery
since
the
2008
recession.
Services
exports
have
been
a
key
contributor
to
that
sector.
For
instance,
in
2013,
California
exported
$114
billion
in
services,
a
58
percent
growth
over
2006.
This
has
translated
to
job
growth:
last
year,
66
percent
of
all
new
jobs
in
California
were
in
the
services
sector.
By
reducing
barriers
to
services
exports,
the
Trans-Pacific
Partnership
is
expected
to
boost
this
critical
sector
of
our
growing
economy. </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;" value="2"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">In
2014,
California
exported
$174.1
billion
in
total
merchandise
goods
and
over
the
past
10
years,
exports
from
California
to
existing
free-trade
partners
grew
by
50
percent.
If
past
trade
deals
are
any
indication
of
the
future,
then
our
merchandise
industry
will
continue
to
grow
under
TPP.
Today,
California's
exports
of
computer
and
electronic
products
face
tariffs
as
high
as
35
percent,
while
transportation
equipment
and
machinery
face
tariffs
as
high
as
70
percent,
both
of
which
will
be
reduced
under
TPP. </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;" value="3"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">California
agriculture
also
relies
on
exports.
In
2013,
agricultural
exports
were
valued
at
$21.2
billion,
making
our
agriculture
industry
the
largest
by
value
in
the
United
States.
According
to
a
U.S.
Department
of
Agriculture
study,
under
TPP
nationwide
agriculture
exports
are
expected
to
increase
by
5.4
percent
by
2025.
As
with
our
merchandise
exports,
our
agriculture
products
currently
face
steep
tariffs
in
the
Asia-Pacific
region.
Dairy
products
face
a
tariff
of
up
to
35
percent
in
Japan
while
walnuts
face
a
30
percent
tariff
in
Vietnam.
With
these
tariffs
reduced
or
eliminated,
the
TPP
will
help
California's
farmers,
ranchers
and
producers. </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The
bottom
line
is
that
trade
has
been
critical
for
California's
economic
growth,
and
it
will
be
vital
to
sustaining
that
growth. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">As
you
know,
past
trade
deals
have
negatively
affected
certain
areas
of
our
workforce.
This
is
why
in
addition
to
supporting
TPA,
I
also
strongly
support
Trade
Adjustment
Assistance
(TAA).
TAA
provides
workers
displaced
by
trade
with
job
retraining
and
other
assistance.
I
look
forward
to
TAA
becoming
law
as
soon
as
possible,
and
as
a
member
of
the
Appropriations
Committee,
I
will
continue
to
push
for
funds
for
the
program
each
year. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Lastly,
it
is
important
to
note
that
beyond
economic
considerations,
the
proposed
TPP
is
key
for
our
national
security
and
foreign
policy
objectives.
TPP
will
require
our
trade
partners
to
raise
their
standards
with
respect
to
human
rights
and
workers'
rights.
Further,
it
will
require
countries
like
Vietnam
and
Malaysia
to
improve
their
laws
and
enforcement
against
human
trafficking
and
wildlife
trafficking,
which
I
believe
are
absolutely
critical. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Additionally,
TPP
will
help
the
United
States
re-balance
our
global
priorities
to
take
into
account
the
increasing
role
of
the
Asia-Pacific
region.
Pursuing
free
and
fair
trade
with
our
allies
in
the
region
is
a
key
part
of
that
re-balance.
By
creating
a
free
trade
zone,
we
will
be
ensuring
its
member
countries
play
by
internationally-recognized
rules
that
we
will
help
establish.
Rejecting
this
trade
deal
would
cede
influence
to
countries
that
do
not
share
our
commitment
to
worker
rights,
human
rights
and
environmental
stewardship. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">As
the
information
above
demonstrates,
trade
is
economically
vital
for
California
and
the
nation,
which
is
why
I
will
continue
to
support
Trade
Promotion
Authority.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold;"></span></div>
</div>
<br />
<center>
Sincerely
yours,<br />
<br />
<br />
Dianne
Feinstein<br />
United
States
Senator</center>
</div>
Bodhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14682322333858756706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36282558.post-2637838920569604952014-09-21T10:44:00.003-07:002014-09-21T10:44:28.929-07:00Another UVP LTE response to Muslim hate<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Not as
portrayed</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></b>
<div class="yiv8117676072MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1411317183035_37491">
<b><span style="font-family: Times-Bold;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="yiv8117676072MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: top;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">THURSDAY, SEPT. 22, 2011<span style="color: #333333;"></span></span></div>
<div class="yiv8117676072MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">UKIAH DAILY JOURNAL</span></div>
<div class="yiv8117676072MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1411317183035_37511">
<b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1411317183035_37510"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1411317183035_37509"> </span></b></div>
<div class="yiv8117676072MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1411317183035_37514">
<b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1411317183035_37513"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1411317183035_37512">To the Editor:</span></b></div>
<div class="yiv8117676072MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1411317183035_37516">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1411317183035_37515"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv8117676072MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1411317183035_37493">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1411317183035_37517">Please
allow
me to comment on Robin Sunbeam’s letter to the editor posted </span>
<span>9/2/11</span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1411317183035_37492">
titled
“Hating Muslims doesn’t help.” I would first like to tell
readers who I am and
how we conduct Ukiah Valley Patriot meetings. I am the “MC” Ms.
Sunbeam refers
to in her letter, although I am more correctly called a
facilitator.</span></div>
<div class="yiv8117676072MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1411317183035_37518">
<span> </span></div>
<div class="yiv8117676072MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1411317183035_37495">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1411317183035_37494">The
purpose
of the Ukiah Valley Patriots is to inform and educate the
public,
empowering people to make better decisions in electing our city,
state, and
federal leaders. I conduct meetings in an open and orderly
manner. We start every
meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance to our flag followed by a
short prayer
(not unlike the prayer that opens each session of Congress). I
allow everyone
in attendance to speak their mind as long as it is done in a
respectful manner
and time permits.</span></div>
<div class="yiv8117676072MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1411317183035_37496">
<span> </span></div>
<div class="yiv8117676072MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1411317183035_37520">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1411317183035_37519">Contrary
to
information presented by the mainstream media, we are not an
extension of
the Republican Party, although some of our members are
Republicans. We welcome people
of all parties who share our core values of fiscal
responsibility, limited
government, and free markets.</span></div>
<div class="yiv8117676072MsoNormal">
<span> </span></div>
<div class="yiv8117676072MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1411317183035_37498">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1411317183035_37497">The
speaker
at our last meeting has been studying Islam for over 40 years
and
boasts knowing the Qur’an better than most Muslims. He does not
hate Muslims
nor does he promote hatred of Muslims; his fears for our country
drive him to
research and present facts most of us would never discover on
our own.
Everything presented at the meeting was either taken from Muslim
documents, web
sites, or straight out of the Qur’an; he even quoted the book
and line number
so if anyone so desired, they could find a Qur’an and verify the
truth for
themselves (Qur’ans have been translated into English and can be
found online).</span></div>
<div class="yiv8117676072MsoNormal">
<span> </span></div>
<div class="yiv8117676072MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1411317183035_37522">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1411317183035_37521">After
our
meeting, I approached Ms. Sunbeam to ask her why she continues
to come to our
meetings when she does not appear to share our values and in
fact has written
many falsehoods about us in the UDJ. I asked her if her purpose
for coming to
our meetings was to ‘try and find dirt on us.’ It didn’t occur
to me at the time
that Ms. Sunbeam would construe this as a guilt reaction as our
group has never
tried to hide anything. It seemed clear to me that her purpose
for being there was
to try to discredit us with the lies she writes to the newspaper
in order to
eventually destroy our message and influence. She has stated in
a previous
letter to the editor that her progressive organization can only
draw seven
people whereas the patriot group generally has 30 or more in
attendance. Does
she think that heckling our group is going to help her cause in
any way?</span></div>
<div class="yiv8117676072MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1411317183035_37523">
<span> </span></div>
<div class="yiv8117676072MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1411317183035_37525">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1411317183035_37524">Neither
our
‘chaplain’ nor our ‘prayer man’ ever said anything that would
indicate
hatred of Muslims or wishing revenge against them. They were
merely showing
kindness to Ms. Sunbeam and trying to answer any questions she
may have had
regarding our group or our values. I’m sure they were not
expecting what they
got in return.</span></div>
<div class="yiv8117676072MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1411317183035_37526">
<span> </span></div>
<div class="yiv8117676072MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1411317183035_37529">
<b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1411317183035_37528"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1411317183035_37527">Duane
Grilli</span></b></div>
<b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1411317183035_37531"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1411317183035_37530">Ukiah</span></b></div>
Bodhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14682322333858756706noreply@blogger.com0