exception making

In Mrs. Ida Plant Nauhaus's English class in Linden Elementary School back in the 50's, we were told that the English language was the best language in the world to speak, however it also had some exceptions to its rules. But, Mrs. Nauhaus added, that smart people would understand the exceptions and have no problem learning them. After all this was America!

Exceptions to the rules. We make rules and then when it becomes necessary to explain our behavior, which does not fall into the rules, we create exceptions. The exceptions not only happen in how we speak, but what we speak.

Take the American Catholic Bishops and the issue of life. Under no circumstances can abortion be tolerated. The taking of a life in the womb is severe, anti Jesus, and a rule with no exceptions. And to prove the point Bishop Thomas J. Tobin informed Representative Patrick J. Kennedy (D) of Rhode Island he could no longer participate in receiving Holy Communion. It seems Representative Kennedy was living two lives, one an American and the other a Catholic. And as a Catholic, Representative Kennedy could not practice the separation of church and state, but needed to only practice the non exception of the catholic rule on abortion; that being it is an aberration!

The same American Bishops however have not disallowed Holy Communion to those ELECTED OFFICIALS who constantly vote for the death penalty, who by not allowing Americans access to health care to save their lives commit those Americans to an early death. No aberration in killing of those already living outside of the womb.

"Comic" Sarah Palin, speaks from her "just add water", pulpits and clutches the flag and the Constitution to her bosom and professes that the truth will set you free. All God fearing, "red white and blue Americans want, practice and speak the truth. Telling the truth and living by the truth are virtues God has blessed on this land.

But the "quitter" Palin somehow finds the truth gets in the way when it just doesn't fit her scheme of things. She says what she wants based on fabrication not truth, points her fingers, flicks her hair, pouts and proclaims. But when she is confronted with the real facts, the non fiction, the "mean spirited " Palin makes exceptions to the truth by accusing others of being her enemies, not understanding, or just fools. Seems the rules of truth don't hold true when you just don't want them to.

And then we have those who proclaim the Institution of Marriage to be a union between a man and a woman. They swear in front of the children (whose lives they also proclaim to be saving by denying "same sex" unions) that God created marriage in the same way he created male and female. It is normal for man to wed woman, as it is for man to have intercourse with woman. The "opposite sex" Institution of Marriage has nothing to do with homophobia, bigotry or bias.

The proponents of saving the "Institution" swear that all unnatural, ungodly, Un-American behaviors of "same sex" couples will ruin current marriages, dissolve current families and disrupt life as we know it. However, the same proponents of the "Institution" never mention how many "opposite sex" couples practice adultery, infidelity, divorce, leaving spouses hurt, children lost and families ruined. We never hear about how the "Institution of Marriage", is chipped away by heterosexuals.

No we hear why homosexuals can't marry. Seems the rules we use to deny the "Institution of Marriage" to homosexuals are changed when it comes to heterosexuals. Seems we can stand behind bigotry, and bias masked in religion and saving the kids, and change any and all rules. As long as those rules pertain to the LBGT community.

Our religious leaders taught us that rules can change depending on who it is who says they are closer to God. Our ELECTED OFFICIALS change the rules depending on whose lobbying pays more. And Mrs Ida Plant Nauhaus taught her students to be cautious about the rules when using the greatest language in the world.

When do we make some rules which shouldn't be changed, which we stick to because they are right not useful?

kidney stones

It was 1988 and I had this weird pain on the right side of my lower back. Hoping it was just gas, I waited for it to pass. Pass it did not, and four excruciating hours later I was in the Emergency Room of the local hospital in the process of passing my first kidney stone.

A year later to the date, I had another strange kind of cramp on the other side of my back, and somehow knew it was not gas, but hope upon hope, hoped I was wrong. About five hours later I was taken to the Emergency Room and told that my second kidney stone wanted be born and I was in kidney stone labor.

I remembered (something you never forget), that in my pain and agony, the doctors and nurses, tried a bunch of pain relievers,( to at least have me stop climbing from the walls, and) and make the kidney stone arrival as bearable as ever. After a few useless shots of what seemed to be aspirin, I was given Demerol and told I would feel better. Two hours of Demerol, and not a degree less pain, and me screeching, a nurse came in and said she would give me Morphine.

I had never had Morphine, nor the reason in my life to try it, and was sure it would not work, just as the promised relief from Demerol hadn't worked. But hallelujah, the minute the warm burning sensation oozed through my veins, I could feel some relief.

It seems for the next eight years I was becoming a kidney stone mommy, giving birth to a proud, belligerent brood of sharp, jagged pups around mid October. I now knew the difference between gas like pains and full blown (if I had a gun I would shoot myself in the head) pain of kidney stones.

And I now knew then that ONLY one drug could and would help ease this discomfort sooner than later. I would go to the hospital and depending on who saw me in the Emergency Room, I would get the run around of a pain reliever for headaches followed by maybe some Demerol, and FINALLY as I jumped from wall to wall MORPHINE. I used to call this period of Demerol/Morphine, my Demi-Moore pain time.

It seemed that if I was lucky enough to get an emergency Room Nurse or Doctor who had ever experienced or had a loved one who experienced kidney stones, he/she, would not wait for the Demi part of Demi Moore, but immediately go for the Moore, knowing Moore was better for less pain. If someone attending to my kidney stone pain had experienced first hand my pain, they would not beat around the bush, but act quickly, and wisely.

I have found in most cases when someone in charge, someone with the power, the authority, the responsibility to make change understands the people he/she is directed to make change for... will do the right thing.

When I think of all the hoopla and shenanigans from our ELECTED OFFICIAL who pontificate about "free market practices", regarding any reform towards Health Care. Or ELECTED OFFICIALS who drag their feet on making health care universal, while they easily receive government funded health care themselves. Or ELECTED OFFICIALS who say we must study this or that, it is too soon to jump into it. I pitch a fit and realize those in CHARGE, those with RESPONSIBILITY and in POWER have never experienced not having health care at all.

Like the Emergency Room staff who never knew the insidious, nerve rattling, gnawing pain of kidney stones, our ELECTED OFFICIALS who have the "Cadillac" of health care, just don't seem to understand waiting, dying, decisions of food or rent instead of doctors, and anguishing about how bad it is to finally go to the doctors, won't act fast or at all. They don't get it, because they have never had to get it!

Perhaps if, during this awful summer and now hideous fall of debating who should have the right to health care, or who should not pay outrageous fees, or whose preexisting condition is real or not, IF our ELECTED OFFICIALS had to fend for themselves regarding health care, maybe we would resolve what seems to me a very human issue quickly and correctly.

The Doctors and Nurses who had kidney stones, would say as they plowed me with MORPHINE, no need to be in pain, Mister Buncher, it will be a long night and if we can do with less stress then we will. Imagine if our ELECTED OFFICIALS said, we know how difficult it is to be poor, or work for a wage but still not be able to afford insurance, or its enough you suffer from some disease that is painful and stressful, but we can and will provide you with some relief?

It should not be necessary to experience the things your constituents are facing. It should be necessary not to say, I know I have been there. It should not be necessary to ignore the pain and suffering of others because you are not in PAIN or you are not SUFFERING.

But with the selfish, self serving antics of those we ELECT, it seems the only thing to do is wish them the same bad luck.

I hope those who deny and delay Health Care Reform sit well with their consciences this Thanksgiving Holiday. Cause if they do they must be made of anything but heart, compassion, and care.

thanks for giving

The giving of thanks, I find should not always be reserved for the 26^th of November, but might indeed be spread across the hours of every day all 365 of them in a year.

Whether or not we speak with gratitude for our health, whisper in hushed tones about our finances, calmly sigh as we find sanctuary from rush hour traffic, long commutes, or shout with delight regarding the quality of people in our lives, most of us find a moment to say “thanks”!

It seems in America, we have conceived a Holiday which permits gushes of glee, torrents of terrific, hours of hurrah, and moments of my oh mys’s mostly centered on a facade of safety and cozy surrounded with food, family and friends.

This is America, and we assume that no matter what may be wrong can and will be made right. This is America, and we assume our beliefs have as much weight as anyone else’s opinions. This is America and we assume that “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”, as described by our founding fathers, still carries weight no matter, gender, color, religion, income. This is America and we assume with holidays like Thanksgiving, we are good people, who care, who are inclusive, and who are generous and giving. This IS America, and we assume we are the good guys/gals. We assume good triumphs over evil, truth triumphs over lies, and hard work, honest thoughts, pure intentions triumph over gluttony, greed and maliciousness.

In the few months leading up to Thanksgiving 2009, America has seen a growing disconnect among its citizens, against new and different, challenging its foundations. These foundations as they were established were to create equality, fairness and justice for all. Suddenly we have seen an America which has stopped giving and now want to deny.

We want to deny health coverage to some Americans. We who have, what we think is a good health insurance policy, believe that we earned that right. And if others are too poor, not as hard working as we, or are constantly ill with poor nutritional habits, don’t deserve our kind of health care. We have this attitude that it is a free market, this America of ours, and you must pay your way, earn your way, and struggle like we did.

We want to take away laws that permit equal rights for some and replace them with not equal… but separate. We disguise our discomfort, our fears, our bigotry in a blanket of religion and self proclaimed morals, by defining marriage as a sanctimonious institution set aside for one man and one woman. We invoke passage and scripture of the holiness of marriage for heterosexuals, assuming within the heterosexual marriage, there is never infidelity or adultery. And if a husband cheats on his wife or a wife has an affair while married, they have not harmed the Institution of Marriage, just made a little dent in its foundation.

We have once again embraced our perceived hierarchy of race and its prominent place in our society that so precisely denied access to power in the America. We elected our first African American President, but through our own insecurities, self loathing, and dimished self respect, have refused to accept his election and thrown the principals of Democracy out the window. We have tried to reinstate the status of white as the alpha any one else less than.

We have renewed our lines in the sand denying those a chance to debate, communicate, understand. We have permitted voices with no fact behind them to lead a harangue of fabrications mistruths- unsubstantiated folly. We have applauded their malevolent behavior because we can safely hide behind their bias and bigotry, and pat ourselves on the back for hating based only on our lack of education, lack of self esteem, lack of backbone.

We have embraced the Capitalistic mantra that win at no cost is correct forget about character or conscience. Stay sly; be sinister to avoid having the middle class or poor obtain chance or choice. Greed and gluttony have become our American way. The actions of the Executives and their legions of doom from the Corporations, Conglomerates, Banks and Wall Street are rewarded for their devious, unethical, immoral actions, while most Americans are denied “a step up”, “an opportunity”, “and fair share”.

We are embarking upon the day of turkey, the weekend of “black Fridays, the start of a national embrace of the season of lights and peace. We are approaching this National Holiday, which whether we like it or not is plump with commercials to give thanks, messages from Politicians to act like good Americans, homilies and proverbs from the pulpit to love they brother.

We want to follow our hearts, but many times it seems in this Thanksgiving 2009, we are told how to love, who to love and when to love. It seems for some, many are not deserving of thanks nor do they warrant providing thanks to.

It is Thanksgiving 2009 and it makes me worried that unless we stop and consider how we got this far and evaluate our individual responsibilities we may not have too many more Thanksgivings to be thankful for tomorrow, tomorrow and the days beyond that.

I will sit at my table with those I love, and wonder about the America I live in.

that demon called debate!

I always thought there were two sides, at least two, to every story. If there is a victim there is an aggressor. If there is a right there is a wrong. If there is offense there is a defense. If there there is an opinion there is a response.

I also used to think that in America, the land where "democracy" was born, there was room for discussion on any idea which elicited more than one view. And that the healthy part of living within a "democratic society", debate about any subject, expression of opinion about any concern, conflicting commentary about any idea, was the best way to try and find common understanding, reason and resolve.

But it seems ever since the strong armed tactics of the Bush Administration, and the Republican goon squads, debate is a demon, and has no place in the type of "do as I say, not as I do, "democratic" process lived by most and many Republican Elected Officials.

Debate it seems relies on expressing truth or fact, reason and real. When all you have on your side is fabrication, greed, selfishness, or lies, it becomes harder to justify your side of the story, so better not try debating just elude the explanation.

If the point of view you hold as true has merit then by all means you should gladly debate your opponent by letting them know the value of the issue and the facts that back up your point. If the facts add up and lead to a better solution talk loud and proud about them. Fear not the truth.

Why each and every Republican Senator voted no on the cloture vote to even allow the Health Care Reform Bill to be permitted for debate is astounding. It is horrifying that the Republicans wanted to deny a mere debate on an issue many Americans have made one of their top priorities. And if you buy the Republican argument that Americans do not need the type of Health Care Reform sponsored by the Democrats, why not then have the Republicans debate their views of negativity?

Why not? Well for me that is an easy answer. The negativity surrounding the Republican point of view has little to do with Health Reform but more to do with the Lobbyists of the Health Care Cartel/Pharma-Conglomerates, who have promised more money in the pockets or coffers of said Republicans.

There is little honest fact the Republicans have to use for the debate on Health Care Reform, and more about greed and gluttony. There is less fact in the "only say no" Republican tirades, and more about fabrication. There is less to be gained for most Americans and more about selfish self serving rewards for the Republicans in denying any conversation about Health Care Reform.

And the "win-win" would be if the Republicans, stop the conversation, allow the lies to be held as truth, never argue the facts and disregard the "life liberty and pursuit of happiness" of millions upon millions of American citizens. At least when the "life liberty and pursuit of happiness interferes with campaign donations, jobs for spouses and kids, or private financial gains for most or many of the Republican Elected Officials.

I am pleased that all 60 of the so called Democratic party Senators allowed the debate to continue. (But I also wonder just how many kickbacks, bribes "pork projects were promised to the hold out Senators "what's in it for me" Joe Lieberman (D) Connecticut, "if I can't win I won't vote" Blanche Lincoln (D) Arkansas, "i screwed up during Katrina" Mary Landrieu (D) Louisiana, "and how much do you want to pay me" Ben Nelson (D) Nebraska? Wonder how much more the Health Reform package grew with secret promises to all these American selfish men and women.)

We have been witness in our most recent history to those Republican/NeoCons, Religious Bigots who fear the demon called debate or never want to state an opinion but wish so well to deny a point of view. They were in full force disrupting the town hall meetings. With their bullying, their mob mentality they attempted closure on any conversation on Health Reform. They made sure only one side screamed and yelled, never waiting for a response. They don't debate the abortion issue, instead they send armed militia to churches or offices and kill the doctors who preform late term abortions. They preach from their pulpits, arguing that if it comes from God there is no other answer. And they sit behind microphones on television and radio, spewing garbage, myth, and bias. Never once do they provide the other side the chance to answer.

We all are entitled to our opinion. But when WE are the Elected Officials of this great country and our opinions become law, there has to be more consideration given to the facts, the honesty the opinions of the other side.

I am saddened by the politics of our Politicians. The ones who place their needs, their careers, their pocketbooks above all else. The Politicians who refuse to debate for fear all they have to offer to the debate is a debacle of indecent lies and lore.

We must never let the debate die. Nor allow it to be called a demon.

This is America after all... isn't it?

where is walter?

I am old enough to remember, sitting in front of the television set in the living room of

my home on the day that the United States set up a blockade off the coast of Cuba. It

was, for Americans, the very real possibility of a nuclear war, not starting in Europe but

off the coastline of the United States. It was one of the first times my three sisterʼs mother and father

and I all sat in one place at one time to watch anything on television.

This was October 14, 1962.

We tuned to CBS, and only trusted one man, Walter Cronkite, correspondent/journalist to

guide us through the emotional, factual, very real threats that could bring relief or just

introduce all of us to a bleak, dead future.

Mr. Cronkite did not get into the politics of if what was happening in Cuba was right or

wrong, nor did he bring in "talking heads", from the right or the left, to debate if the

blockade was wise. What Mr. Cronkite did was to present real facts on what was

happening now and all the possible scenarios of the next steps in the already eventful

series of events. He knew we were scared and that only through lack of fact or

knowledge scared could turn into fear and fear would lead to chaos, confusion and

catastrophe.

There was enough bickering, politicking and posturing going on in Washington. Enough

"l told you so’s," "if you had only listened to me’s", headline grabbing chicanery in front

of cameras and reporters to fill hundreds of newspapers. There was enough second and

third guesses floating like chips to fill thousands of craps tables in Vegas. There was

enough pontificating blame and blasphemy to make anyone frightened even more

anxious and afraid. So Walter Cronkite just wanted "the facts, ma’m, nothing but the

facts", to be heard by the American public.

And it was through professional television correspondents like Mister Cronkite, (who did

not try to reach the lowest common denominator of Americans, who did not try to dumb

down the news, who did not wish for fiction to be considered fact, who asked the hard

questions and did not settle for the simple answers or for no answers), I learned that truth

was possible to be heard, that honesty made sense, that ethics and values had a place in the

world of mass communications.

It is so sad that in 2009, many Americans no longer care if we receive the real news. We

have little desire to learn the facts, listen to the whole story, or allow truth to be spoken.

So many entertainers (so called news people) both on the right and the left have found a

profitable soap box and have stood high on their perch, sprouting bias, bigotry and b.s

just to ramp up their careers, and their cash flow. So often do they level charges with

little fact. So often do they accuse without any reason. So often is the story more about

THEIR cause and personality. So often do they lie without any conscience or care'?

We have so much unfinished business to complete, left over from the Bush/Cheney eight

year fiasco's. We have a recession, two wars, health care, marriage rights, civil rights, a

resurgence of religious bigotry, racial divide, climate change, joblessness (to just

name a few) to deal with, decide upon and solve. We have to find a common

denominator, a consensus, a conscience!

Yet when we tune in to television or radio, we are supplied with all the reasons "why

not", all the ruminations as to "never", all the excuses to say no. Then we are provided

the lines drawn in the sand by those whose voices we hear, words we listen to those who

disguise themselves as "fair and balanced", "news you can count on“ "the place for

politics.

And the divide grows wider the rift deeper, and the disgust greater.

I don’t linger for the years gone by to come back. N0! I am living in the present, but if

we forget how we got where we are by not learning form both the bad and the good of the past,

I doubt we can trudge along much further to the future.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we started to hear the news from people, who don’t teach or preach

partisanship, but who evoke fact and reason'? Shouldn't we demand this?

I do miss Walter Cronkite!

joe

I am a news “junkie”. I believe the more I know the better equipped I become to fight the battles which if not an aggressor about now may certainly find me being a victim later.

I am becoming more and more an advocate for the underdog. I have taken on a persona which wants to speak for those who can’t find their voice, act for those who become paralyzed with the pressure of fear, and react against the bad guy in hopes of the hero winning the battle.

It seems for me, my world; the one I live in, in 2009 has begun to rotate on a different axis. Its spin, it seems has shifted the momentum from RIGHT is RIGHT to, if you lie about it, deny it, shout loud enough about it, call others names, and hate in the shelter of religion WRONG is RIGHT!

For me this shift in the axis of my Earth won’t happen as predicted by the Mayans in 2012, but began its negative gyrations when the Supreme Court decided on the election of the President, continued when we were told about the “weapons of mass destruction," and now plays loud and strong with the ranting and roaring of cowards calling themselves conservatives, the religious right, or fans of FOX TV.

And during this transition from just watching the news, to reacting at it, and now writing blogs about it, I have made another transition and included someone else in my life, who must now sustain my outbursts of injustice. It is my partner Joe.

Joe has had to watch me scream at the TV as Dick Cheney and coconspirator Lizzie Cheney brag about death and dying in Iraq and Afghanistan, and commit more anti American atrocities than any terrorist. Joe has to listen as I point fingers and yell "hypocrite" as most Republican Senators or Congress People, forget their inactions during the Bush Dictatorship, and accuse President Obama of being a Socialist, Communist, or Fascist. Joe has had to endure endless hours of Keith Olberman and Rachel Maddow. And Joe has had to be witness to my righteous indignation as those on the Right are ever so wrong.

He had at first, remained silent absorbing my body language, my "hissy" fits, my temples bursting in my head. He patiently patted my brow wondering if the next fit I had would land me in the hospital. And he quietly let me blow off steam while I was swearing those evil, non caring, ELECTED OFFICIALS are getting away with murder.

Being involved with the Politics of the United States, trying to understand the reason and rhyme of why people hate, trying to let my voice, that of the common man be heard, has become an overwhelming passion of mine. It is always on my mind. And Joe is always on my mind.

The beauty of being loved by someone, is that he knows trying to make a difference is my love, so Joe has embraced the two of us, me and my trying to make change.

I write this because what is important to me is that the American Government care about its population. And I want my partner to know I so appreciate his caring about me. Makes me writing, ranting and raving so much easier to do.

psalm 109:8

So once again, under the guise of "just kidding", under the cover of its "religion dude", under the cover of "we hate this America its not our America, so we will Christi-fy it," "ain't nuthin' unAmerican to read the scripture."

The newest ploy, or is it plot to stir up the disenfranchised, who use the 700 Club for inspiration and Glen Beck for the news, is to use Psalm 109:8 against the President, which in the first part of the Psalm says, "Let his days be few; and let another take his office."

Fair enough, you might say, if you want the bum out of the office make sure he is not elected to a second term. BUT if you read on and look at the second sentence the psalm continues with, "let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow."

Now those who proclaim this is just a political statement and you can read into what you want, just seem NOT to read the second part of the Psalm stating the death of our President. They may want him out of office, but through his death? Very Christian like!?

It seems if we use the Bible to make a point, the point stands on its own. It seems if we quote scripture then the law of the Lord surpasses the law of the Land. It seems if we hate but hate in the name of God, then it is justified and just.

When is enough finally enough? When do those with the real compassion of religion, the light of the Lord, the depth of the meaning of God, stand forward and scream from the roof tops STOP! When do Americans who understand that death threats, underlying bigotry, fear of anyone smart or intelligent or fair are people not to be ignored but dealt with? When do we take seriously those who honor men who kill abortion doctors, who ask for revolution against our own Government, who refuse to respect the President because he is Black.

Psalm 109:8 is the prelude to more Biblical excuses for a religious war. We went into Afghanistan for many reasons, one being to remove the intolerance of the Taliban who impose only their view of religion. We said Afghanistan needs to be a Democracy, a place with a division of church and state. Yet now with American Evangelical bigots we have them copying Taliban like behavior in this Country; Its a religious war but not heralded by Muslims BUT by pseudo Christians.

The Right Wing squawk box "protests too loudly", that it is a Psalm and no one is told to read all of it. Read only the first part, and forget the second part exists. Its like asking the folks in Jonestown, drink the lemonade but don't ask us about recipe.

A bad cloud is arising in the heavens in the United States of America. Our heads seem to be in the sand. A great storm is taking hold and it will be raining hate, fear and loathing. The rain may fall on all of us and pellets of "not like us", "not Christian enough", "my America not yours" will fall and flood the minorities, the less than, the Black, the Brown, the Yellow, the Gay, the Jew, the Muslim, the Atheist, the Curly Haired, the Bald, the Ones Who Are Different.

You aren't scared? Just start counting how many bumper stickers, t-shirts, front yard signs with the quotes from Psalm 109:8 in red the color of blood become a common sight.

America, love it or leave it? The Evangelicals will you have you leave if you don't live it their way.

When does sanity return to our shores?

illusion delusion

In the land of those who live in a land of their own, there is a fine line between Illusion and Delusion. The difference between Illusion and Delusion is the use of smoke and mirrors to make a point, and the pointless use of make believe to never get to the point.

The latest piece of geography listed in the real estate ads for Illusion and Delusion is a place called Palin-Land. It is a land surrounded by mountains of lies and fabrications, rivers of baseless facts and tributaries flowing and filled with "I didn't say that even though you have it on tape", or "that video of me speaking was done by Liberals who have it out for me."

The maps of the locale highlight speaking the lie, sluffing it off when confronted with the truth, and continuing a stroll down the boulevard to visit the next humble abode of "who cares?"

In Palin-Land the common man is bragged about. He/she is proclaimed the most valuable asset in the land. But they are denied the right to health care if they are poor or working hard but hardly making any money at their job(s). They are denied the rights to marry if by chance they are not marrying in an opposite-sex kind of way. And they must pay higher taxes so that the real citizens, the ones with lots of money, don't have to.

There is a lively spiritual community in Palin-Land. You can only, however believe in the right God, and anyone who is a non Christian, especially of the Muslim faith, must undergo a rigid amount of tests to be protected by Palin-Land's constitution.

You can rant and rave about abstinence, giving the argument that being a Virgin is the Biblical/Christian thing to do, all the while ignoring the behavior of your daughter, never explaining the consequences of not remaining abstinent.

Family is most important in Palin-Land, and you must always carry your children at the ends of your arm, and coo over them while in public. Swear that you love your special needs child, but only when reminded said child is your kid.

One can find Palin-Land if you camouflage yourself in untruths, undemocratic behavior, self serving actions, racist, homophobic attitudes. You will find yourself well received in Palin-Land

if you leave your own thoughts behind, blame others for your problems, never own up to any mistake, and read no magazines, see Russia from your back door, and pageant walk.

The scary thing about Palin-Land is for some bizarre reason its borders seem to be growing and gaining momentum. There are already suburbs spouting up with some names as familiar as Prejean Promiscuous Gardens, Beck Low Life Valley, Michele Bachman Abysmal Beach, and Limbaugh Landfill.

Illusion and Delusion are prospering well in Palin-Land. There is never need for real or right, just use fake and foolishness. There is no necessity for conscience or fair, just remain corrosive and full of fallacy.

Rolling hate filled hills, land filled slime and slander, roads of ruin, and avenues made from bias, sinister and bigotry. Illusion, Delusion quite the "home sweet home."

21st century vampires

We were told that Vampires have the tendency to look like anyone of us. Growing up in the 50's, when the only Vampire movies around were classics with Bela Lugosi, there were some sure fire methods to discern if someone was of the "blood sucking ilk". You could do one of two things; place a mirror in front of them or draw the curtains so a bright ray of sun illuminated their skin, eventually making them die a dastardly death.

Vampires it seems live among us these days. You know the blood sucking, self serving, no scruples kind of Vampire, who never seem to die, but make our lives a slow long death.

It seems our Vampires for the most part are either the kind that run for politics, or pay amazing sums of money to those who run for politics and make sure that their special interests are a priority.

The truth in telling a Vampire from the common man as I stated was to have he/she stand in front of the mirror. No reflection, than it was an easy call; they were not of the living. Seems with our 21st Century Vampires, it has become harder and harder to place a mirror in front of them. Seems they learned some new techniques in avoiding looking in the mirror and being seen for who they really are.

Our Politician Vampires and their conspirators in blood letting the Lobbyists, avoid mirrors or any sign that might prove their hideous acts of evil. They stare clear of answering any questions truthfully, decide who it is who may broach the subject of their deeds or misdeeds, and scream so loud as to distract any truth from falling on any one's ears or eyes.

The numerous Vampires of the 50's avoided the Church or any of its facilities. It was a definite line in the sand, one could not be a Vampire and be associated with the Church. Our 21st Century Politician/Lobbyist Vampires have made an odd turn in their evolution. It seems they have embraced the church whole heartily and with fond embrace.

Our 21st Century Politician/Lobbyist Vampires, now find sanctuary in fermenting, fabricating and falsifying lies with warm wishes and urging from the clergy. Seems the church and the Vampires have found a common victim. Seems the sacred halls of the holy has become the basement for the bigoted.

Vampires of the 50's were mostly shrewd creatures, knowing that avoiding the mirror, meant ensuring one more neck to suck dry, one more soul to claim. Our 21st Century Politician/Lobbyist Vampires use slick marketing firms, lemming like loons, disenfranchised dummies, and the voices from the alter to avoid the glass of the mirror.

Sunlight streaming in on the 50's Vampires was a great way to watch victor become the victim in Vampire culture. The slow painful glowing rays of light hitting the white emotionless bodies made the audience hoot and howl, as the bad guy finally got his/her just reward.

We were told by the Obama Administration we too could overcome the evils of our Politicians/Lobbyists Vampires, by increasing our transparency and allowing the sunlight to shine on all transactions done by Elected officials as well as any and all Civil Servants. We would finally watch the sun shine on misdeeds, selfish calculations, personal privileges, and tedious schemes paid for by taxpayers. Laws, rules, and punishment for breaking those rules would be as harsh as the sun kissed beams on the skins of the Vampires.

After 8 years of less and less transparency by the anti democracy crusaders Bush and Cheney, and their ever ready to commit evil Republican majority in congress, the thought of sunlight showering over the 21st century Politician/Lobbyist Vampire seemed like Heaven on Earth. Somehow though, our current Vampires still hide in the dark recesses never admitting how much money they receive from the Pharma-Conglomerates or the Health Insurance Cartels to stop Health reform for all Americans. Or who is exactly behind the so called "grass roots" organizations creating inciting funding the "birthers", and "tea baggers"

And somehow, transparency has not transcended beyond "talking points".

There is a new Vampire movie coming to theaters soon. It seems the plot of that movie is the realization that Vampires have grown so great in number, they have eliminated most of the human race. Their food supply it seems is becoming short supply.

I wonder how much longer it will take our 21st Century Politicians/Lobbyist Vampires to run amok, pillage, steal, deny, any true American of their rights as once listed in the U.S. Constitution and actually lose their food supply? Or will they have grown so gluttonous as to not really care?

At least in the Vampire movies of the 50's, as the reel came close to the end, and the rods of lighting and the percussion of thunder rolled across the screen, and the chanting mobs surrounded the castle upon the mountain, the movie goer was relieved to find that good did triumph over evil. the vampire got what he had coming to him.

Why is it that I suspect as this reel of the 21st century Politician/Vampire is coming to an end, I am the one getting the shaft, and no good will come to me?

beauty queens????

Beauty Queens, they pageant walk, they wink, they show just enough cleavage, and they answer questions with the utmost silliness, giggly girlish laugher and many times with the most mundane and miserable response this side of Mars.

Beauty Queens, they vie for the attention of millions and in return supposedly wear their home town sash with great pride representing the dreams, desires, and delirious machinations of marketers and madmen.

Two former Beauty Queens have each found themselves on a road beyond the runway, beyond the "itsy bitsy teeny weenie" bikini contest, beyond the fifth grade talent show. They, Sarah Palin, and Carrie Prejean, have left the glow of the klieg lights and are now trampling onto the Political scene with tiara on head, perfect pumps on foot, and a book of their memoires in hand.

Like Sherman's march to Atlanta both women are tearing up the earth they walk upon. They cast accusations and dispersions toward anyone who questions them, disagrees with them, or wonders why or how they did what they did.

Both women are armed with innuendo, fabrication, lies, half truths and the blessing of the lemmings who, like the Beauty Queens, like to blame the entire world for anything bad which has happened in their lives. Neither woman takes accountability for their individual actions, nor do they allow real or legitimate argument to stop them from their quest of finger pointing or fallacy posturing.

Whether it is racy, sexually charged photos or a comment about in my country we believe in opposite marriage by Ms Prejean, or I voted for the bridge to nowhere then didn't vote for it, or troopers gate by Ms Palin, both women find themselves embroiled in conflicts made by their personal actions, but denying any responsibility for either their personal words or deeds.

Both Beauty Queens will look you straight in the eye and accuse you of harassing them, intimidating them, disallowing their freedom of speech, or taking out of context their actual conversation or behavior. Both Beauty Queens will never own up to anything which doesn't glorify the gals. But both will lay claim to the cacophony of lame lessons in life which usually deny others freedoms or choice.

And the Beauty Queens pomp and circumstance, parade before FOX or the hordes of "birthers", "tea baggers", and dogmatic religious groups based in bias and bigotry, or the Neo-Cons bent on anarchy in America. The two Beauty Queens proudly clutch their Bible, their American flag, their lack of conscience and babble relentlessly on all the evil around them. Never once do they look inward or contemplate their role in making America just or fair. Nor do they consider the evil they have created.

And we in America seem to love our Beauty Queens. Just love them and spoil them. We buy their books. We watch them on television. We attend rallies in which they can, one more time, take fiction and make it sound like fact. And we call them "just one of us".

And we allow these Beauty Queens not only to have the famous Andy Warhol "15 minutes of fame", we permit them to try and shape our culture and circumstance forever.

Why is it once again the dumb, the dull, the delirious, the destructive seem to be ruling the Earth?

Beauty I have been told is skin deep. Seems there is not enough epidermis on these two Beauty Queens to find any beauty at all.

here we go again

Here we go again, going against the grain, as the blur between church and state in the U.S. grows hazier and less pronounced.

As the wise man/woman might have pondered after the horrendous murder spree at Fort Hood, fingers would be pointed to all the "villainous "Muslims living in America. Most of those fingers pointed would come from very self proclaimed Christians who know the "evils" of Islam. The fingers would point out that any and all Muslim(s) in the U.S. is/are dangerous and believe( s) that his/her religion is greater than the flag or the one true American religious belief Christianity. Not just any Christianity to be certain but Evangelical Christianity to be exact.

Now there is a movement by all the Christian conspiracy theorists that no Muslim serving in the Armed Services should be permitted to serve unless he/she swears on a stack of Bibles, (not the Koran), that America first Islam not at all.

The ever Christian like Evangelicals using their ever ready double standard, would not of course, ask their own brethren or sister-en, to swear America first as they see no conflict in being an Evangelical, because after all it is the preferred religion and the "unofficial" official religion of this country anyway. (It is the 10 Commandments not the Constitution on which our laws are based.)

Any act of treason or mob rule or intimidation or flag burning, or riotous acts against the citizens of this country, such as killing of abortion doctors, bombing Federal buildings, carrying guns to protest the President of the United States, carrying effigies of the President comparing him to Nazis or Communists or Socialists, or threatening to poison the Speaker of the House, voting no because the "black" man in the white house wanted "yes", DON'T count as terrorism or anti American behavior because they are done by and for people with Evangelical Christian values. Not Muslims!

Purging America of the bad guys can only be done by Evangelicals because it is only through their wisdom based on bigotry, self loathing, bias, small minded xenophobic delusions, lack of knowledge of anything different, that true evil doers can be recognized and laid at the alter to sacrifice.

The Evangelicals with the GREAT assistance from the Church of Latter Day Saints and the American Catholic Church have already set the standards for "real marriage" in this country, and now the Evangelicals, so far on their own, are defining who should be a real American, and who should be able to serve in the Military.

Seems the "we" and "they" division just grows stronger and more pronounced. The checks and balances in this Democracy seem to be dwindling and drowning. Most Republicans fear the wrath of the Evangelical so they cower in the distance and provide no roadblock for the ignorance and nonsense. Blue Dog Democrats and spineless main stream Democrats just lurk in the shadows waiting for the boogie man to leave. Seems the power of the few huff-ers and puff-ers have taken the dimensions of the winds of a Hurricane, seemingly with limitless boundaries and privilege.

Letting this unbridled arrogance go unchecked is scary and serious. For those who just laugh at the insanity and look the other way, just wait till YOU become the next target. You just never know, do you?

save us

"Houston, we have a problem", say the astronauts as they communicate with the scientists from NASA. And immediately if not sooner harried men and women work diligently to correct the problem and set a course hopefully which will make for happy after ever.

Seems when we say "America, we have a problem...", our busy bee Senators and Representatives scurry, rush and find the nearest TV reporter and camera then pontificate, ponder and pout. And if the problem can earn them votes, or lobbyist dollars or a false implication that by sounding patriotic and not having to really do anything patriotic, go for it!

And so it seems America has a problem with the terrible murders and shootings at Fort Hood. Fingers are pointing, hands are being rung, bigotries are arising and all the good old red white and blue hero's are coming to the fore to solve the problem. Senator Joe Lieberman (I) Connecticut, Senator Olympia Snowe, (R), Maine and Congressman Peter King (R) are vehemently appalled. This is a serious situation which needs to be resolved immediately. Or at least it needs to be made into headlines filled with hate and innuendo some facts, some fabrication but lots of media attention.

And of course it should be a priority. INNOCENT people have died, more are injured and the basic structure of safe and secure on a military base has been indulged and breached. It seems, a SYSTEMIC situation has risen to the surface, a lack of OVERSIGHT has finally come into view, and a LIAISE FARE attitude stating army business is army business has been found to be false.

And so, spewing the red white and blue, defending America to its fullest, making this country safe for ALL citizens, the two Senators and one Congressman are holding meeting, setting agendas, and taking no prisoners in getting to the bottom of this. At least making the gestures and gyrations as if they WILL do something about this.

Wow! If only these three ELECTED officials felt that dying Americans, injured Americans, INNOCENT people who can not afford Health Care or Prescription Drugs were as much a priority as the security and victims of Fort Hood. Wow! If only these three ELECTED officials delved into the lack of OVERSIGHT towards the Health Insurance Cartel and Pharma-Conglomerates that Congress has refused to acknowledge for years and years. Or began to evaluate the SYSTEMIC breakdown from eons of ignorance and kickbacks. Or the LIAISE FARE attitude the Health Insurance Cartels and Pharma-Conglomerates have towards their customers and the United States Government.

I applaud the efforts of our ELECTED officials to make America safe, but a safe America is more then securing our borders from terrorists, finding potential assumed bad guys, or witch hunts weeding out anyone different than us. Making America safe is also keeping Americans healthy, helping Americans to live longer and more fruitful lives, making our day to day existence more pleasurable and less sufferable?

I can never understand why suddenly some situations seem important than others? I can never understand why when we say keep America safe, it has nothing to do with being safe from illness or pain or budget or bills? I can never understand when we say "America, we have a problem...", our Politicians never fathom that the problem can be solved unless they get votes or lobbyist dollars to fix it? I can never understand why any problem with deep roots, deeper history, deep meaning is never the priority?

So we resolve the threat of terrorism from extremists of foreign lands. So America is safe from threats of nuclear or chemical attacks. So we have all of that but in the meanwhile many Americans are not safe from shameful, unprofessional, unethical, immoral practices from the Health Industry Cartel or the Pharma-Conglomorates. What is wrong here? Huh?!

numbers

NUMBERS!

Now days everything is good or bad, right or wrong, successful success-less based on NUMBERS.

How many people attend a rally (turned riot) like most Tea Bagging fiasco's sponsored by FOX News, or the call for Revolution against our Federal Government as in the so called, "news conference", initiated by the deceitful, lying, bigoted Congresswoman, Michele Bachman (R ) of Minnesota?"

We are blasted with the NUMBERS of self loathing, outward hating goons in attendance, or the wild eyed hopefuls spurned by a cause they believe in, but those with real power hem and haw over. We are told by the media, depending whose side of the argument we believe, how fantastic the turn out was and what impact they say it will have on the politics of this nation, OR told that a mere 1000 or 100,000 was either empty or meaningless. Just NUMBERS

What we never seem to be told is WHO is in attendance. Who is the loud screechy lady who preens for the camera, who was she hired by to rant and rave on cue? Who created these so called "grass root" events? All of these groups have very "red white and blue" sounding names organized with dozens of thousands of dollars from rich Ultra Conservative sugar daddy's run by very wealthy people who only speak for themselves have set up the carnival of mime and mimicry only to continue the division of the "haves and the have nots"? What is the purpose of all these staged media moments? Are they to state the real truth, the real needs the real wishes of the real people or just to stage chaos and confusion in hopes of never find the facts only portraying the fiction? And why the staged events at all? Are we holding these mob run rally's because a real reason exists? A real reason based on passion, based on lack of hope, based on promise never realized? Or is it just one more way those who lost the last election can't face the reality of honest democracy in action and only prefer to pervert anything real? And why is it always the CEO's BIG Industry, very wealthy who decide to fight anything that comes close to helping the middle class the underdog, the real Americans? Why is it no matter the outcome it seems the Corporations seem to live the "high" life while most Americans just try to live? Any NUMBERS for that?

We are never quite in on the joke about willful and wrongful politicians reason for planning events so counter to the good of the people they are supposedly represent. The NUMBERS we hear so often are so out of sync with the many of the ELECTED officials as it relates with their constituents. But we never get a true NUMBER of how much money our ELECTED officials receive from lobbyists from the Health Care Cartel, the Pharma-Conglomerates, the American Oil Cartel, and dozens of others who pay for play.

In an effort to not reform Health Care we are told of the NUMBER of Americans who shout and picket over the falsehoods of abortion clinics, death panels, socialist medicine. Never reminded of the many millions of Americans who will receive affordable care and for some care for the first time. We are seldom told the NUMBER of sane, intelligent, open minded willing to really communicate Americans who just grow tired of the loudest goon yelling and screaming from scripts written by some of the best paid marketers. And sadly we do see the NUMBERS of Politicians not demonstrating for or any thing altruistic, only shouting about causes which only add to their coffers and career.

We get the NUMBERS of bigoted, less intelligent lemmings, the less like Christian/Judaic jerks, who rely on religion as their scapegoat for hate. We get the NUMBERS of those who find it easier to be Christian/Judaic like by creating a society in this country, EQUAL and EQUAL but SEPARATE. We get the NUMBERS of people who think by using those NUMBERS they have the right to stop unfair, inhuman, UN-American actions AND CREATE THEIR the law. We seldom see the NUMBERS of lives destroyed, ruined and placed in limbo by people who just don't care.

We hear the NUMBER of military and civilians killed in two wars, which a NUMBER of our Politicians supported without any true NUMBERS of information of fact to back them up. We only now see the NUMBER of troops brought home dead, and of course hear no NUMBER of Politician who has taken the time to call upon each family to say "I am sorry".

We hear NUMBERS and NUMBERS but it seems we never take heed of these NUMBERS or use them to only relay the rumor or rhetoric we wish to lie about. Why?

It seems to me there should be a huge NUMBER of Americans who have had enough of ALL of this. A large NUMBER of Americans who want to stop the corruption, the fabrication, the looting by the rich, the denial of truth by the media, and raping of the American way of life.

Lets start counting up those NUMBERS and begin to make a difference.

I AM an AMERICAN

I AM a man who HAPPENS to be Jewish. I AM a man who HAPPENS to be Caucasian. I AM a man who HAPPENS to have two children. I AM a man who HAPPENS to have compassion. I AM a man who HAPPENS to be five foot seven. I AM a man who HAPPENS to be Homosexual.

I AM a man who IS a good citizen. I AM a man who IS a tax payer. I AM a man who DID have to place my name in the Draft Lottery during the time of the Viet Nam War. I AM a man who IS working and HAS been working for almost 44 years. I AM a man who IS a real American.

I AM a CITIZEN who when the Preamble of the Constitution states "...We the PEOPLE..." I AM one of those PEOPLE. I AM a man who when the Preamble to the Constitution says, "...In order to form a more perfect union... provide for common defense... establish justice... secure blessings of liberty to OURSELVES...", IS an equal member of the OURSELVES so stated.

I AM a CITIZEN who when Amendment 1 of the Bill of Rights states, "... Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion..." IS offended when the Church of Latter Day Saints

and the Catholic Church try to interfere with our secular Government and make great effort to deny ME the right to marry based on THEIR dogmatic biased beliefs. I AM a CITIZEN who clearly understands that there is a separation of Church and State and TAKES great offense that the bigotry and segregation of Religion IS allowed to seep into the Politics of this country with no effort by this country's Government to halt the tide of growing HATE.

I AM an AMERICAN who when Section 1 of Amendment XIV of the Constitution reads, "... All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, ARE CITIZENS of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state SHALL MAKE or ENFORCE any laws which SHALL ABRIDGE the PRIVILEGES or immunities of CITIZENS... nor SHALL any state DEPRIVE any person of life, liberty... nor DENY to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws..." I AM an AMERICAN who has just seen my rights DENIED in Maine and previously in California. I AM an AMERICAN as EQUAL as the small minded self loathing homophobic maniacs who yell and scream as they stand upon a stack of Bibles. I AM an AMERICAN as EQUAL as the hate mongers who bully, push, deny any discourse or view of life from THEIR xenophobic, insincere simpleton state of mind who select leaders like Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck to make decisions for THEM based on no more than self aggrandizement and patronizing paranoia.

I AM a member of this SOCIETY and as a HOMOSEXUAL, (seemingly considered a minority), as were Blacks and Women, I WANT the same rights afforded to me by the Federal Government stated in OUR Constitution so no biased MAJORITY could undermine the rights of a select MINORITY, as were done in Amendment XV (Rights Not to be Denied on Account of Race in 1870) ..."The right of CITIZENS in the United States to vote SHALL not be denied or abridged ... on account of race, color or previous servitude..." and Amendment XIX (Women's Right to Vote in 1920) "... The right of CITIZENS of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged in the United States... on account of sex..." These two Minority groups had to be recognized a AMERICAN CITIZENS and given the common right MOST AMERICANS took for granted. I want the same right that MOST AMERICANS TAKE for granted the right to MARRY.

I AM an AMERICAN CITIZEN a MEMBER of THIS society and want to charge THOSE Senators, Representatives, Presidents, Supreme Court Justices WHO have ignored the message in Article VI of MY, THEIR Constitution "... The senators and Representatives before mentioned mentioned and the members of state legislatures and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States an of the states, SHALL be BOUND by OATH or AFFIRMATION, to support THIS Constitution; BUT NO RELIGIOUS test SHALL ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States..." with TREASON for not fulfilling their ELECTED duties.

I AM accusing those ELECTED officials of abiding by a religious law to deny "same-sex" couples the SAME and EQUAL right to marry under the civil code of the Constitution of the United States. And by abiding by a religious code instead, the ELECTED officials have ignored the basic crux and foundation of OUR Constitution, which IS the law of the land; not the OLD TESTAMENT, THE KING JAMES BIBLE, THE BOOK OF MORMON or the KORAN.

I AM accusing the use of hateful religious rhetoric, bigoted religious rubbish, relying on religious rebel rousing saber rattling by OUR ELECTED officials and members of the Judiciary as Un-American, Un-Ethical, Un-Lawful.

I AM asking those with TRUE Patriotism and understanding of OUR Constitution to finally step forward and stand up for the real values America's Constitution were based upon. Not those meaningless values drawn and designed by mean spirited, hateful, scapegoating, disenfranchised, goons, who just HATE for the sake of HATING.

I AM a MAN who IS an AMERICAN. A man who believes in justice and fair. I AM a MAN who follows the laws of the United States and expect those in Government and in power to do the same. I AM a man who is tired of EQUAL being parlayed with EQUAL BUT SEPARATE. I AM a CITIZEN who must take a stand that OUR forefathers took when writing MY, YOURS, OUR

Constitution. I AM a man who HAPPENS to be, among so many other wonderful things in my life a HOMOSEXUAL. I AM a man who has HAD QUITE enough from those who deny my rights as an AMERICAN.

It is NOW time for ALL of US to reclaim OUR AMERICA!

memory loss

I am not sure of how the memory of the people of the great country works.

We allow history to repeat itself, wringing our hands with despair as the same occurrences occur again and again, and as they do, we look blankly into the air wondering, "...how did that just happen..."

We say never again, but somehow AGAIN just walked in front of us displaying the same old boondoggles, the sick old shenanigans, the sad refrain of a sucker is born every minute.

Tricky "Dickie" Nixon approaching his almost impeachment could not recall or remember much of anything when it had to do with Watergate. He looked at the FBI from within the black demonic pits of his eyes and blandly coldly stated I do not recall.

Tricky "Dickie" Cheney sat with a new breed of FBI agents and almost 19 to 26 times said he did not remember, recall, or recollect when asked about outing CIA agent Valerie Plame to Scooter Libby and other lying propagandists in his cadre of villains and thieves.

Mister Cheney, when interviewed on FOX or being paid an outrageous sum of money to speak at some Neo-Con fund raiser remembers quite clearly everything else about his days as Vice President and as creator and author of the Iraqi, "weapons of mass destruction", War.

Senator Joe McCarthy the infamous "commie hunter" of the 50's took his personal insecurities and bigotries, self loathing and false patriotism and painted most Americans RED if they disagreed with his version of the USA. Using NO truth, NO fact, or NO reason ably concocted and laid out chapter and verse as to how, based on his criteria, why certain people were traitors to America. It was his opinion and through allowable fear and and intimidation by the Government, coerced main stream America into hating thy neighbor, harassing thy neighbor and if necessary hanging thy neighbor.

Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palan are making McCarthyism tame and timid. They have ventured into Senator Joe's backyard and are building skyscrapers filled with innuendo, ignorance, shared bigotry and bogus charges against their perceived enemies, based on nothing but whim and whimsy.

These hacks of the truth, these self loathing self serving self promoting clowns have taken ownership of the fears and foibles of a group of Americans who have NO direction, NO ounce of truth, and have created a new version of people who MUST heed the warning of be afraid, be very afraid. And only be afraid of those who we tell you are scary.

Past President George Bush has come out from his sheltered cowards hiding place and is now doing motivational speeches for some grand sum of money. When asked about the promises he made in finding Osama Bin Laden "dead or alive", good ole' Georgie looks blankly into the camera, (the same kind of look he elicited when sitting in front of children in school, being told the Twin Towers were bombed), and he responded all pissy and bent out of shape, "...well I just don't know if he is dead or alive... just know we ought to help our friends in Afghanistan..." The man who did a lot to invade Iraq to settle his father's score with Saddam, and did about just as NOT a lot to seek out Bin Laden in Afghanistan just looked at the American audience and almost said the words of MAD Magazine's, Alfred E. Neuman, "...what me worry..." yuck, yuck yuck! Got ya!

And now the Grand Old Party of House Members, and Senators look to our current President and say in astonishment, "...look at your war in Afghanistan and why can't you make quick and rash decisions and knee jerk responses and wrong turns..."? ( if they would have added the words just like we did and our leader George W. Bush did, they might become more honest and human.)

Three blatant examples of history smacking into our current affairs. We are faced with an off year election which one might think would seemingly remind us to not make the same mistakes again. But Americans are confused and stymied in making choices that won't mimic the past.

I am not the brightest star in the human galaxy but I certainly have learned some awful lessons from the collective American past. Why can so many find the courage to say, "...never again..."but most others want to cower in their doorways and ignore some basic facts?

Why does the power seemingly lie in the hands of those with memory loss? Why are the bright not so brave to shout as loud as the deniers and detractors, "...caution, caution, danger, danger...?"

I don't, in my 60 years, remember a PRESENT so filled with PAST mistakes. Makes the FUTURE seem as if it happened once before.

preying or praying eyes

As long as we hate appropriately in God's good graces, then it is really not bad hate, it is righteous indignation, with Biblical support, based on nothing but someone's interpretation of some dogmatic religious book of law.

Once we site scripture, chapter and verse, salt it up with personal bias and bigotry whose base we swear comes from God's own words, then the implementation of such hate is easier to achieve.

We feel we can take away rights from other citizens because those rights were never really granted by the real "higher" power, just temporarily designed to be law, by a few rebellious, non Christian/Judaic, pagans who actually thought in the United States the Constitution separated church from state.

To hate others, it is first necessary to be afraid. To be afraid of others means most likely we are scared of ourselves. We are afraid of our character flaws. We fear that by accepting those different than us is to admit we might be different from, well the "crowd", the group. We are afraid to admit our weakness. Never admit we couldn't do something or achieve it if we wanted, just admit that those people not like us made or make it impossible to find our own goals. Lack of ownership of anything else is, flawed is safer.

The louder we hate the scarier we become. The scarier we become and few will want to venture into our business to find what is real and what is made up. The louder we scream and rant and rave, the scarier our message sounds, and no one will bravely want to question the reasoning behind it. And when we question the reasoning, it becomes confusing to try and find any grain of truth.

And so, the religious right wants to make two categories of Americans into law in Maine; equal and equal but separate. Ignoring Constitutional rights, using fear and misinformation as the basis for change, ignoring the ruined lives of those same sex couples who want to enjoy the right of marriage, the bigots want to disallow marriage rights for the LBGT community.

Remember when the German Government decided to take away any and all rights of the Jewish population. Remember when Jewish rights became the "Jewish problem", and finally became the "Jewish solution"?

Wonder when some of the good ole' boys and girls of the South might think Blacks have had too much freedom and rights in this country. After all equal rights stuff allowed it caused some non-white person to become President; got to put a stop from that happening again.

And in a country supposedly blessed with a Constitution that states a separation of Church and State, and 233 years of a nation "for the people by the people", we are now trying to take away civil, human rights.

And no one of any power, no one with a true sense of Democracy seems to care. All the ELECTED officials too cowardly to display a conscience jut look the other way or just say, it is the will of the people. If it were the will of the people, then women would not be permitted to vote, the civil rights act would have never been passed and "for coloreds only" signs would still be hanging, interracial couples would go to jail before going to the church to marry. If it were left up to the will of the people, we would deny most rights to anyone who just didn't fit into the self described norm, of the "will of the people".

Where is the will, the spirit, the soul the humanness of our ELECTED officials? Bigotry oozes into being a coward oh so well. How about the will of a back bone to say all Americans are and should be EQUAL. Not the will of those who just shout God's name louder and screechier.

Makes me wonder who might be next to be the scapegoat. Who might be the next victim of a religious madness to keep us all safe from preying eyes or is that PRAYING eyes?

Where are the real God's children, the real hero's who understand how America should and could work, think and feel?