some kind of beat

The annoyance, ignorance, arrogance just keeps on coming and coming. No need for conscience or consideration or class.

“Nancy Pelosi is a dingbat.” In characteristic style, Sarah Palin took to Hannity last night to discuss the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Affordable Care Act and the way it became law. Calling the House Minority Leader “the perfect spokesman for this agenda of the far left,” Palin told Sean Hannity she knew of Democrats who were thinking of bailing on the party over the leftist rhetoric, before turning to the Fast and Furious case and calling the situation with Eric Holder in power a “scary” one. (media-ite)

And in the coven of cowards, a careless, classless wonder wishes she was more than just a stupid soul. Her speech shouts silly and insincere and her heart is as empty as an abandoned out house She stands on a soapbox safely held fast by bully’s who base the truth on bigotry and bias. Sarah Palin floats through the body of America as a malignancy, managing to poison the people who at the most need truth and at the least suffer the lies.

One day, the dumb may figure out that the truth from the mouths of the moron are just lies used to control an already empty intelligence. And if that doesn’t happen maybe the smart will finally catch on an let the dumb wallow in their own waste and finally take back control of this nation.

Former Town Councilor Mike Malzone, the founder of the Merrimack Tea Party, said Thursday in a Facebook post reacting to the Supreme Court ruling on health care, "I hope the (5 supremes) get colon cancer." (Huff Post)

Arrg, uugh, hurrumph, a pox on your house! You once were loved for restricting union rights, making corporations people, for permitting billionaires to buy elections, for making the wealthy the slave owners. And now you nasty, unfair, socialist Supreme Court, by trying to help people stay healthy, to stay well, to have a chance at finding affordable care you have become the antichrist and need to suffer with colon cancer. Suffer you black robed anarchists.

Violence, is always the best medicine for an ailing democracy, if you are a member of the Tea Party. Carry your gun to a political rally, complain your failed life is their fault and call for revolution because you can’t trust that one vote for one citizen thing. The Tea Party is bogus, belligerent and not on iota of honest or honorable.

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), who sponsored a mandatory ultra sound bill of her own last year, wrote in a Washington Times op-ed Thursday that Democrats belong to "a party that believes that government knows what is best for your health care" and "comes between you and your doctor," while Republicans are the ones who "will repeal this massive intrusion on the freedom of Americans and allow us to make our own health care decisions."

Delusional, deranged, diatribes can cause the gray matter in a brain to shrivel up and die. Insisting on incendiary illustrations of fact as fiction is a form of communication used by buffoons and befuddled biddies with nothing else but hate to spew. As has been the case for Michelle Bachmann’s entire career as a Congresswoman, she enjoys selective memory and employs self serving minutia.  Surrounded in her own palace of cloistered coincidence and no consequence for fabrication, Ms Bachmann lives in a lie and loves to linger in false and phony.

Whenever the Republican/Tea Party crowd of politicians and pundits lie about less government as the Holy Grail those of us who actually care about facts and honest and truth sigh a heavy breath and just sob in disbelief. How does government denying same sex marriage, women the freedom for their reproductive rights, voter ID laws be considered small government. How the hell can Michelle and her conservative colleagues lie like a sinister snake and then go to Church using the same tongue, the same mouth the same soul and pray to God.

As Sonny and Cher once lamented the beat goes on. How come? Huh, how come?

the sky did not fall

“The Sky Is Falling”, (English Traditional) or Affordable Care Act is Constitutional (American Surprise)

One day Chicken Little was scratching in the farmyard looking for something good to eat when, suddenly, something hit her on the head. "My goodness me!" she said. "The sky must be falling down. I must go and tell the king."

With a slim majority the Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act as Constitutional. Now it seemed that millions, not all Americans (too bad) could have affordable access to health care and could worry less about being too sick to be covered. And like Chicken Little something hit the Republican/Tea Party on the head. And they promptly began shouting doom!

Republican Indiana Representative Mike Pence immediately compared the decision on federal health care reforms to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Killing people and trying to save lives must be the same thing for this fool of a man.

So Chicken Little ran and ran, and she met Henny Penny. "Where do you travel so fast, Chicken Little?" asked Henny Penny. "Ah, Henny Penny," said Chicken Little, "the sky is falling, and I must go and tell the king. "How do you know that the sky is falling, Chicken Little?" asked Henny Penny. "I saw it with my eyes, I heard it with my ears, and a bit of it fell on my head," said Chicken Little. "I will go with you to the king," said Henny Penny.

For decades the debate has been waged on the costs of health care. People have been denied coverage, dropped from coverage or just priced out of coverage. The story has always been that this is Capitalism and with Capitalism it is a matter of free markets. If the people speak with their wallets the prices will drop. Uh-huh, when is the last time that happened?

Eric Cantor, Republican Majority Leader in the Congress said: It’s time to stop all the broken promises and let’s get back to the health care that people want. We know that families want choices for themselves. They don't want Washington coming in and telling them what kind of health care to have. (Just what they can not afford.)

So they ran along together, and they met Ducky Daddles. "Where do you travel so fast?" asked Ducky Daddles. "Ah, Ducky Daddles," said Chicken Little, "the sky is falling, and Henny Penny and I go to tell the king." "How do you know that the sky is falling, Chicken Little?" asked Ducky Daddles. "I saw it with my eyes, I heard it with my ears, and a bit of it fell on my head," said Chicken Little. "I will go with you to the king," said Ducky Daddles.

Oh yeah, when something is deemed as constitutional, (you know the bounded set of laws crafted with the help of the Lord), just doesn’t fit your definition of constitutional then take the law,  in your own hands. ACA is bull crap so destroy the evil doers who invoked it! This IS Amerika my Amerika! 

Matt Davis, a Michigan attorney who was once the state Republican Party's spokesman, sent out an email that asked whether armed rebellion would be justified in the wake of the court's decision. According to Michigan Capital Confidential, a local news service that originally reported the missive, Davis sent it "moments after the Supreme Court ruling to numerous new media outlets and limited government activists." (Huff Post)

So they ran along together, and they met Foxy Loxy. "Where do you travel so fast, Chicken Little?" asked Foxy Loxy. "Ah, Foxy Loxy," said Chicken Little, "the sky is falling, and we go to tell the king." "Do you know the way to the king's house?" asked Foxy Loxy. "No," They all said. "Then come with me and I will show you," said Foxy Loxy. And just as he was about to lead them into his den to eat them.....the sky fell on him.

When the Government rules in favor to prohibit women from owning their own reproductive rights, or Gays from marrying, or workers from earning a fair wage and is enforced by the SCOTUS, many a Republican/Tea Party politician heralds the wisdom of the justices as being supreme. But when the SCOTUS creates a fair law in favor of an idea the Republican/Tea Party find repulsive then it is just a bunch of idiots sitting on the highest court of the land. So hard to have your way only.

Republican/Tea Party Senator Rand Paul said: “But just because a couple of people of the Supreme Court declares something to be “constitutional” does not make it so. So now, when the decision is not as he he would prefer, the esteemed Justices are now JUST A COUPLE OF PEOPLE!

The end of the story was all about no sky falling, but instead a bunch of hyped up creatures more afraid of fiction than of fact. Silly huh? But fear is contagious and when is fear is based on nothing more than stupidity it is dangerous.

The Republican/Tea Party storm troopers have insisted that life begins as a Zygote but refuse to permit Planned Parenthood to perform well women exams for the mothers of those Zygote. The Republican/Tea Party insists that there is no love in a house of same sex couples and denies adoption of children by same sex couples. Rather have those kids live as orphans.The Republican/Tea Party says life is special a gift from God, but states loud and clear carry a gun just to protect yourself from other forms of life you deem not worth God’s attention. And now the Republican/Tea Party shouts, and screams fair, affordable, accessible health care for all Americans is not a good thing, is UN-AMERICAN. It will cause the sky to fall all over America.

And the Republican/Tea Party is about to nominate a candidate who once agreed with the ACA, only to disagree with it and then to say if he is elected will repeal and replace it. He not quite sure with what he will replace it. He and his band of Un-American self serving corporate donors insist the sky is falling and it will completely drop if we actually provide fair and equal health care for ALL Americans. What frightens me more then the sky falling is four years of President Romney.

I am confused

I am confused why wanting equal access to health care, affordable access to health care, easy access to health care is even debated? I am confused why anyone who likes to speak on God’s behalf, recite the 10 Commandments, has a copy of the Constitution in their back pocket would not be going ballistic because the Affordable Care Act is not called the Universal Health Care Act? I am confused why providing health care for all is called socialism, an attack on free markets, a ploy to raise taxes, the end of democracy as we know it instead of one of the greatest gifts the American government has provided for its citizens?

I am confused why there is conflict, partisan attacks when laws to make life better, healthier, fairer for ALL Americans is suggested. I am confused why those who believe in God believe that if you can’t afford it then you don’t deserve it as if God wanted it that way? I am confused whenever a vote is necessary to create equality, provide civil rights, deny racism, homophobia, bigotry, keep you from dying? I am confused why a big government is not necessary in providing affordable health care to maintain a life, but damned well important to tell you when life begins? I am confused why anyone would not feel like a winner with the Supreme Court’s ruling today?

Today, provided me with some hope that honest intentions may prevail in our mired and morose world of politics. Today, provided me with a teeny, tiny ounce of hope that government has the responsibility to try and even the playing field for ALL Americans when it does come to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Today provided me with a spark of optimism that people, not profits, people not corporations deserve to stand in front of the line. Today provided me with encouragement that once the truth is told and the facts realized good can happen.

And then Mitt Romney took to the podium and told the crowd at hand “As you might imagine I disagree with the Supreme Court’s decision, and I agree with the dissent, what the court did not do on its last day in session, I will do on my first day if elected President of t he United States, and that is I will act to repel Obama Care. Lets be clear about what the court did and did not do. The court said that Obama care does not violate the Constitution. What they did not do was say Obama-care was a good law or its good policy, Obama care is bad policy yesterday, its bad policy today.  

And the most confusing thing for me is that there are people out there without health care, with inadequate health with expensive health care who will vote for this man. And I am most confused why none of them who believe Mitt Romney actually is correct in his self serving rhetoric have not asked a basic question, what will you do when you repeal this? How will your plan keep me well and alive?

Today was a good day in America, hope tomorrow is the same.

help

And I then become mystified and imagine that pieces of the universe are so dysfunctional that no matter how strong gravity may be things will never fit snuggly again. What seemed to make sense once, when scrutinized closely again, was never the reality I imagined it to be. What might have had moral value, ethical fortitude, or simple courtesy is now on an enemy’s list and emerges as a villain ready to pounce and ruin.

In Arizona an American as perceived by another American as being a non-American can be asked to show his papers to prove citizenship. No other variable except I think you are an illegal alien is necessary to stop a person and have them demonstrate their legitimacy. Sure, sure this questioning is supposed to be done by the police and in Nazi Germany it was uniformed squads also who could stop any German from freely going about their day. Uniforms are not barriers to bigotry.

Health Care, all part of the equal and fair pursuit of happiness of this nations founding, is now an evil charm created to change America from a democracy to a socialist nation. Those who drown in self important religious dogma swearing that God fought the Revolutionary War and wanted all Americans to be good Christians are the first to scream bloody murder and demand fair and equal access is the Devils work. This is America they shout and if you want something you must pay for it, and if you can’t pay for it then you don’t deserve it. Don’t think the God who signed the Constitution imagined that something as capitalistic as health care would be available for all.

We are preached to that it is about the economy, ONLY, and as those sour words drip and drool from the lips of the Republican/Tea Party politicians and their handlers, the only laws generated to date have to do with the denial of personal rights and freedoms. More time has been spent on denying Women reproduction rights, Gays from formally marrying, Workers from earning fair wages, and Minorities from even voting. Its about jobs, the deficit taxes we are continually warned while the division between church and state grows smaller, the wealthier remain richer, and Corporations buy elections.

Fox News lies yet they are the most watched news network. Romney refuses to take a stand on any issue and he is running neck and neck with Obama. Vets return home from two wars unable to get the kind of mental and physical health care necessary and Dick Cheney gets a second heart replacement. Bristol Palin has a bastard child and she is paid to be a spokesperson for an abstinence only group and for being nothing more then a side show at a circus gets a reality show on Lifetime. Rush Limbaugh, Bill O’Riley, Sean Hannity, are millionaires yet those with no money believe those men are their soldiers for fairness. The Oil Cartels receive tax credits for making billions in profit, yet the middle class and poor are expected to pay more taxes and receive less services. And Romney thinks too many teachers, police and firefighters are a drain on the economy of the US.

And then I become angry, agitated wondering if there is a right or wrong. I consider the facts and that maybe greed and gluttony do pay off. I contemplate the question why do good things happen to bad people and do believe bad things happen to good people. The universe in which I currently live seems altered. But then maybe it always has been that way and only now I have seen it for its misfortune malignant, maligned nature. 

I hope not, oh God I hope not! But then we have to wait for November 6 to find that out.

the cooties

The New York State Conservative Party may drop its support of a state Senate candidate Republican Janis Castaldi  due to her being married to another woman.

“I want to be fair to the candidate, but I assume she has a different point of view on gay marriage than the party does, and that would be a problem,” Long said.

Rockland County Conservative Party Chairwoman Mary Loeffler also said she did not know Castaldi’s marital status before her committee backed the former Ossining village trustee.

“She’s married to a woman? Oh boy,” Loeffler said. “That puts a little crimp in it right now.” (Huffington Post)

Unless you are NOT one of those who are hated, you stand very little room in the favored category in the very racist and homophobic Republican/Tea Party. You can hate with the best of them but if you are a part of the minority being hated, no matter how deep seated your words of anger may be about people like you, you are still the enemy. If you got the cooties you too must suffer the consequences.

And still there are members of the LGBT community calling themselves GOProud who proudly voice their favor toward the Republican/Tea Party. This group of LGBT men and women insist that it IS only about the economy and the sanctity of Capitalism that counts. Matters of the heart or body or equality and those that are fair are only secondary to being rich. This IS America and wealth is the foundation of the pursuit of happiness.

There were Jews in Berlin during Hitlers rise who said we are Germans first, we are wealthy, we are not like the other Jews being persecuted. We are part of the status quo, no one will do to us what they do to those not like us. That population did not remain in the status quo for too long. They were wealthy, they were the 1% percent, but then they were also Jewish.

I have some good friends, who among other things happen to be from the the LGBT community. Many are angry with the President because they believe Mr. Obama is also in the grasp of the bankers, the oil cartels, the 1% percent who seem to be best friends of the very activist Supreme Court. So, some refuse to either cast a vote or if casting a vote will neither vote for Obama or Romney.

This IS America and thank goodness, unless the Republican/Tea Party state legislatures succeed in voter suppression laws all legal Americans can cast a vote or decide not to vote. But I wonder why is there even a question of lesser of two evils by members of the LGBT community when one of the two evils... insists that an amendment  prohibiting marriage between same sex couples should be added to the Constitution... insists that Gay couples should not adopt children...want to repeal Gays serving in the military... is fighting DOMA.

I am so confused why it seems that the LGBT community think once the economy is fixed all civil and equal rights for the LGBT community will be reinstated. I am so confounded that there is even the question of lesser than two evils when one is so evil as to consider the LGBT community as second class citizens. I am so curious why anyone within the LGBT community thinks that exclusion is a good thing in any government.

If you are accused of having the cooties no matter what you do those who accuse you will insist that the contagion is irreparable. And oh by the way, I am so amazed that women would even consider women who oppose reproductive rights for females as legitimate politicians. I am surprised that people of Latin decent would even consider voting for politicians who want to deny equal rights. I can go on and on....

Its about the economy, right! So you have a job at less than minimum wage, no benefits, must pay high payments for health care. You have no privacy in your bedroom, or doctors office. You have a job, right! You are denied the right to vote, the right wed, the right to purchase a home. You have a job so nothing else matters. Oh yeah you have a job and as long as you don’t have cooties everything is alright!

I know, I know

I know, I know, supposedly this years election is ONLY about the economy, (i.e.), jobs, deficit, less taxes via a smaller government. I know, I know, Gays, Hispanics, Women, Older Adults, the Middle Class are first concerned about the economy and any other willy nilly sound byte about rights or freedoms is only a whole lot of helium with no where to go. I know, I know give those greedy minorities a job and they will be satisfied to be denied equal rights, civil rights. I know, I know who are they anyway to demand more.

I know, I know it is the Presidents fault that a jobs bill has not come into law. The Republican/Tea Party dominated Congress would surely have passed a bill like that if the President was not, well was not a Democrat. I know, I know it is Obama’s lack of leadership and disregard for the Oil Cartels that gasoline prices have risen. Now that the prices have fallen it has little to do with the President and more to do with the free market. I know, I know Obama is anti free markets trying to establish every kind of regulatory agency on clean air, work place environment, and the finance cartel. I know, I know this is America and Corporations are people and if they are people must have a conscience. I know, I know Obama’s pension and admiration for socialism is the true cause for Obamacare why else would he demand equal access of care for all Americans.

I know, I know it has been proven by the esteemed Sheriff Joe Arpaio of  Maricopa  County, Arizona  and touted by the honest and intuitive Capitalist Donald Trump that the President is in fact an undocumented alien. Both men deal in disceat so they know a scoundrel when they finger one. I know, I know, Obama is an elitist having only graduated from Harvard Law School, unlike Romney who went to undergraduate and graduate school at Harvard. I know, I know Obama was JUST a community organizer and Romney bought and sold communities. I know, I know Obama likes to hire people and Romney fantasizes about firing them.

I know, I know Obama found Bin Laden killed him, but he was only the President and really had nothing directly to do with it, unlike Bush/Cheney who really, really were the brains behind the final find of Bin Laden. I know, I know Faux News has O’Reilly, Hannity, Palin explaining the facts while Obama uses the “lame street press to talk about the issues. I know, I know Michelle Obama wants to control childhood obesity and wanted to work doing the kind of job a man SHOULD do, while Ann Romney with the assistance of a cadre of help raised her 5 boys even as she was working as an Olympian hiring help to achieve recognition in the sport of dressage. 

I know, I know P.T. Barnum is given the honors of the quote “there is a sucker born every minute”... I know, I know there is Bridge (The Brooklyn) in New York I can sell you or some swampland in Florida ready to purchase... I know, I know God only speaks to Evangelicals, Pat Robertson, or George Bush... I know, I know Jesus wrote the Constitution and never mention a division between Church and State...I know, I know men can legislate a women’s Vagina, but never permit women to speak about it publicly. I know, I know God hates Fags...I know, I know the disregard the Muslims have for women is much different then the disrespect the Pope has for females...I know, I know that even though this 110th Congress lead by the Republican/Tea Party has held more filibusters to NOT do the people Business, it is Obama’s fault we have not moved forward faster.

I know, I know that is what those of us out there who hate, who hide, who fear, who loathe, who are ignorant, who blame who are full of homophobia, racism, self victimization think. I know, I know that if you are not poor, or unemployed, or need quality health care, have never been discriminated, been bullied been isolated this what you think. I know, I know because you have actually made your voices quite loud.

What I don’t know is why the rest of us who identify as human, caring and concerned have remained so damn QUIET!!!!

monsters among us

Henry Frankenstein: Look! It's moving. It's alive. It's alive... It's alive, it's moving, it's alive, it's alive, it's alive, it's alive, IT'S ALIVE! 

Victor Moritz: Henry - In the name of God! 

Henry Frankenstein: Oh, in the name of God! Now I know what it feels like to be God! (‘Frankenstein’, Francis Edward Faragoh) 

We shirk, scream and hide our faces as a monster encroaches upon our lives. Run, we say, run before it is too late. But what happens when it is we who are the creators, the purveyors, the initiators of the evolution of monsters. What happens when what we create becomes to difficult to contain. What happens when what we deemed as sensible and wise in manipulating the life of these monsters becomes lost and instead all we have is chaos, incivility and commotion? No politician can become a monster unless we permit it. I am more frightened not by the idiot, insincere, moronic politician buy by those who give them permission to run rampant. 

Whoever battles with monsters had better see that it does not turn him into a monster. And if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you. (Friedrrich Nietzsche)

Democrats are hammering Indiana GOP Senate candidate Richard Mourdock over his statement that employers should not have to cover cancer in their insurance plans if they don't want to. 

Mourdock, the state treasurer, argued in a newspaper interview last week that not only should employers not have to cover health care services that they oppose, such as contraception, but they also should be exempt from paying for anything they do not want to include, based on costs. (Huff Post)

We create monsters and then we can't control them. (Joel Coen) 

That a candidate running for Senate from the state of Indiana feels the health of the bottom line of a business is more important than the health of it employees... is shocking enough. That a person who is asking to be one of the key political figures in a state, supposedly elected having the interest of his constituents as primary importance, has made the interests of corporations a priority... is disturbing enough. BUT the mere fact that Richard Mourdock won his primary battle with a majority of votes enabling him to be a Senator placing profit over people... is down right scary. 

Wisconsin U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde (R) says he is sick and tired of reading sad stories about people struggling in the recession. Instead, he wants to see the media focus more on the debt and the larger problems afflicting the country. (Huff Post)

That a candidate running for Senate from the state of Wisconsin is tired of hearing about sick people, families struggling to make it through the day and then says there are greater problems we should talk about is... sad enough. That a person who is running for one of the highest offices in his state thinks too much news about the poor, the homeless, the unemployed is undeserved... is sickening enough. BUT the mere fact that Eric Hovde full of arrogance and ignorance has received enough votes to be considered as a Senator elect in the Fall... is frightening.

Most of the monsters... are based on some sort of mythology. Every culture and even some geographical areas have monsters and mythology that is their own. (Laurell K. Hamilton)

"It's precisely this kind of thinking that has bled our treasury of money that we need to pay for the demands that this country has. I also think it's a moral issue," Sessions said. "Is our national goal to place as many people on welfare, food stamp support, as we can possibly put on that program? Is that our goal? Is that a moral vision for the United States of America, just to see how many people we can place in a situation where they're dependent on the federal government for their food? I just ask that. I think we should wrestle with that question." Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions. (Huff Post)

That a current sitting Senator from Alabama thinks that hungry Americans should not depend on our Government to assist with their daily survival...is cold and callus enough. That a person holding one of the most esteemed political positions in this nation thinks people want to be receiving food stamps instead of a pay check...is demented enough. BUT the fact that Senator Sessions holds an important position in the Senate and has been an incumbent with the popular vote... is ridiculous.

There is no denying that Hitler and Stalin are alive today... they are waiting for us to forget, because this is what makes possible the resurrection of these two monsters. (Simon Wiesenthal)

call my name

Michigan Republicans think it’s okay to legislate vaginas – but not talk about them. During a debate over one of the most restrictive anti-choice bills yet, Michigan state Rep. Lisa Brown read a letter from a voter that concluded, "Finally Mr. Speaker, I'm flattered that you are all so interested in my vagina, but no means no."

In response, Republican Speaker of the House Jase Bolger banned Rep. Brown from speaking on the state House floor the next day.

My ex-wife and I decided that we would be honest and open with our kids when they were young as it came to identifying their various body parts. We felt that real words used to describe the parts of their body would create a positive body image. There is nothing shameful about your arm so you call it an arm, there is nothing sinful about your leg so you call it a leg. There is nothing embarrassing about your penis so you call it your penis and there is noting weird about your vagina so you call it your vagina.

However, my Mother did not share our philosophy of using honest words and she was quite put out with our choosing this path of parenting.Often my Mother would plead that using wee-wee, or pee-pee would create healthier adults. She could not even say the word vagina or penis but stated that if we chose THOSE words our kids would grow up with a perverted sense of their bodies. She would insist that there is no need to teach our kids dirty words. Somethings she stated need to be private and personal.

I loved my Mother and many lessons of life learned from her have made me a whole person today, but this argument was one I could not buy. I was not going have my kids ashamed of their genitalia nor have them dwell on that part of their body as being bad.

I remember the first time my daughter asked my Mother if she has a penis or a vagina and my son chiming in ‘silly girl Grandma’s only have vaginas.’ My Mother staring her Grandkids in the face, turning slightly red, slowly holding back the urge to tell them not to use those dirty words finally said girls have vaginas boys have a penis...now lets talk about something else.

My Mother realized that a penis and vagina are a fact of life.

Republican Speaker of the House Jase Bolger of Michigan must have grown up in a house where women were subservient to men. A home where penis’s can make you proud but vagina’s must be silenced. A family life promoting the endless opportunities of males and the futile second class of females. He had to have developed disregard and disrespect for his mother and any other females in his life. 

Republican Speaker of the House Jase Bolger of Michigan is a blow hard, bully, hypocrite who believes he as a man can rule the lives of women. He had to have grown up learning that not only should women be ashamed of their bodies, but that women should never speak aloud about that shameful part of their body. He is proud and loud to legislate about the vagina, but dare a woman speak of it all he wants is silence. Any woman, any man who has respect for women should be appalled.

My Mother adjusted to the words penis and vagina, and after the first few times hearing it, paid little to no attention to those words. My Mother realized that it was she who had the problem with those words and never really finding rational for that problem stopped protesting. And after a certain age, my kids felt too old to ever say penis or vagina in front of their Grandmother anyway!

Michigan is only one state in the Union where male dominated Republican/Tea Party legislatures want to control the lives of women. It is only one state of many Republican/Tea Party dominated states where men can discuss what is right or wrong for women but prefer or rather insist women bud out of that discussion. This next election cycle, in November, strong proud women and caring men can stop this tide of out of control machismo, and vote into office equal opportunity humans. Or vagina’s will always be called who-who’s or thing-a-ma-bobs and the women who own them whores.

to dani and adam

To Dani, and Adam,

Dreams, at first are like the clouds that float above us some meandering we think, aimlessly, and others we are sure have direction and purpose. We point our fingers at the fluffy white ones, giving them identity as a shape, as a face of a friend or worry that the grey ones so bulky in the sky might provide too much rain, hail or snow. But each day we scope the sky and find ourselves with new clouds and if the mood is bright we permit the clouds to peak our imagination. If the mood is dreary we ignore anything that seems out of reach or too far to realize.

Dreams then become as routine as our inhaling and exhaling or as burdensome as the itch in the middle of our back. Dreams, can invigorate us as we deeply breathe in or permit us to release the tightness in our chest as we breathe out. Dreams can feel as good as scratching that nagging itch or as relentlessly futile as trying to stop that nasty nuisance so hard to reach. 

We can welcome dreams, relishing their frivolous, frenzied fancies or try our damnedest to disallow access to our hearts and souls. But whether accepted or rejected we are human, and our psyche insists that we at least acknowledge the fact that dreams are as unique to us as fingerprints. And they are with us no matter what we desire. And dreams at their best make us wish and wonder AND at their worst, make us wish and wonder! Dreams are like our shadows, sometimes we see them and sometimes they seem to disappear, but no matter the case dreams like the shadow are a reflection of who we are, might be, may never choose to be. 

It is Father’s Day and I have received a gift from my son Adam, and my daughter Dani  of permitting me to watch their dreams come to fruition.  They have taken a gift their mother and I left for them at birth, perchance the ability to dream, and have honed and crafted that seed to grow and flower. They have pursued a future that at the present has their dreams close at hand, and entrenched in their hearts. Both Adam and Dani have said yes to the possibilities of dreams and yes to making dreams real. That is a gift for Father’s Day for me that is priceless, promising and perfect. 

I am blessed to be Dani and Adam’s Dad. It is, as it should be hard work, but the fruits of my labor are witnessed in the pursuit of my kids dreams coming to fruition. When I became a Dad, I became responsible for introducing the possibilities, the choices, the hopes, the joys of life. I also became responsible for letting my kids know how to dream.

And seeing both Dani and Adam embracing the once upon, as here and now, touching the hems of their dreams, my Father’s Day could not be bigger, brighter or better. Thanks Adam, thanks, Dani.

Love Dad.

  

at 20

“I was 20 when I killed my first person, then that night I killed 50 other people”. An American Iraqi War Veteran quietly reported what he remembers when he was 20. Since his first kill this Veteran has since suffered from all kind of unimaginable nightmares, recalls, and remorse unless of course you also at the age of 20 killed your first person and then all of that is very imaginable.

At 20 I was a junior in college. I had come close to being drafted to fight in the Viet Nam War, and when my Lottery number was never called was quite relieved. At 20 whenever I saw the bodies of the fallen from the  Viet Nam War I had to look the other way. At 62, my current age I have never killed anyone. I have no idea if I ever could kill anyone.

Mitt Romney, if elected wants to revive the Cold War with Russia, invade Iran, and have our foot soldiers at the ready in the Middle East. Mr. Romney believes a strong America is an America at the ready having its Troops on the frontline. Mitt Romney was a draft dodger during the Viet Nam War, seeking four deferments instead of serving in the military. (He felt it more Patriotic to proselytize for the Church of Latter Day Saints in France.) He felt his Church’s calling came before his own enlistment, (perhaps Patriotism was cooler in France, cause it sure was safer). Mitt Romney has five sons, all of which are not currently enlisted in the military nor ever were. None of Mitt’s sons, like me or Mitt or Mitt’s father ever killed anyone at the age of 20.

I am not pro war nor anti war. I try to understand its purposes and try even harder to realize the consequences of not waging war. I am a history buff and have read essay and passage about the why’s wherefore’s and what’s of war.  There are facts to substantiate wars, propaganda galore to encourage the fighting of the battles, speeches by doves and hawks to make you wonder for eons what is right what is wrong. 

But today, for the first time I heard a man say he killed his first person at the age of 20. And I had no idea, no comprehension, could not fathom what that part of war felt like. I never read about that aspect of war, viewed film about the war or spoke to anyone who spoke to me about the first time they killed a person while fighting a war. 

There are many issues of topic on the minds of Americans this election season. We are told by wealthy people, poor people are poor because they are lazy. We are told by heterosexuals, that only they know how to love and only they can marry. We are told by individuals that since they can afford health care everyone else should do the same or stop complaining. We are told by many people war is necessary, but many of these ideologues, individuals, interested parties have never, ever, ever killed a person at the age of 20. 

If I have never been hungry, if I have never been homeless, if I have never been ill, if i have never been Black or Gay, if I have never fought in a war, if I had never had an unwanted pregnancy, if I have NEVER been any of those and so many hundred things other, I must also NEVER be so arrogant as to think my life is better this permitting me to believe I am better than they. Or know how to lecture them on how to live that life.

I believe the election this year on November, 2012 has become more about knowing less of the American and thinking you know better. It has come down to my way or n way at all. How frightening is that, how inhuman.

When the Veteran spoke about killing his first person at the age of 20, I have no idea how that felt or how he still feels. But, I do know I want to consider what he has experienced and face the facts he sees every day. 

flags

“There are many flags of many lands there are flags of every hue, but there is no flag however grand as our own red white and blue.

So hurrah for our flag our country’s flag its stripes and its bright stars too

for there is no flag however grand as out own red white and blue.” (Many Flags of Many Lands, by Mary H. Howliston)

Every June 14th on the front lawn of Linden Elementary School Miss Cyphers, the music teacher for the school held a program honoring Flag Day. Each year the 8th grade graduating class would have the honor of creating a bridge of flags. The 8th grade students would line up in two straight lines facing each other holding our flags at an angle above our heads and the entire student body from Kindergarten to the 7th graders would pass under this arch.

As each and every student walked under the arch the 8th graders only, would sing the lyrics to the song ‘Many Flags of Many Lands. We rehearsed this song once Memorial Day was behind us and Miss Cyphers made sure we not only sung the song correctly but did so in at least three part harmony.

Once the entire school passed under the arch, the ‘big shot’ 8th graders would hand out a flag to every student at Linden and we would lead them in singing ‘God Bless America’.

Our Principal Miss Patterson, would stand at the podium with a huge pin of the USA on her right chest above red, white and dyed blue roses and have us all pledge allegiance to the flag. And then she would explain to us how lucky we ALL were to live in a land of democratic principles.

I was an eighth grader during the spring of June 14, 1963 and I thought I was so cool to be a part of this demonstration in support of my country, but more so, the flag that flowed so freely.

Linden School was a public school. We not only had academics taught but enjoyed Art, Library, Print Shop, Home Economics, Gym, Health classes also. Every six weeks we would ride a chartered bus and go to a concert at  Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Music Hall. For the kids considered really smart, of which I was never one, we even had French classes.

We had Miss Ida Mae and her puppet Happy come to the school to teach all of us the proper methods to brush our teeth. If we had no cavities we received a sticker and if we had cavities we got a toothbrush. (Go figure) On the third floor of the building we had very spooky all steel sound proof box built permitting all students to have their hearing tested. During the early years of Jonah Salk testing the polio vaccine, the kids at Linden would be subjected to polio shots, a very scary day in our life but we were told what we do today would save the children of the future. And a few teachers would say maybe even your children. (We laughed and giggled as if that would really happen.)

Flag Day was the final holiday we formally celebrated at Linden School. Miss Cyphers made sure we learned the appropriate songs for the Fourth of July and reminded us that IF we were really good citizens of the best nation in the world we would actually sing the songs she taught us with our families as we watch the fireworks fly in the air.

There can be debate about how wonderful of a nation the US was during the years I attended elementary school, and there can be discussion about the politics of this great nation during the decades of the 50’s and 60’s. 

But education, hiring teachers, providing  full variety of curriculum was a priority. If there was a debate on budget both parties realized the value of education for all and didn’t include cuts to teach our youth. It wasn’t a right or left, Republican or Democrat thing to include or exclude education. It was the correct thing to do to educate the kids. You know an ‘American kind of thing’!

Mr. Romney soliciting the vote of the inane, insane, ignorant or idiot has chided President Obama for using government money to hire more teachers, firefighters and police. Mr. Romney considers large classrooms perfect environments for learning. Mr. Romney feels not every one should have the opportunity to attend an institution of higher learning (more people for him to provide he and his family service so he can get his jolly’s and fire them I suppose). Mr Romney  believes in a very defined caste system, err I mean class system and in his world for America there is rich and not you. Mr. Romney is selective of anyone achieving that so called ‘American thing like equal opportunity education.

Miss Cyphers taught her classes that patriotism is enhanced from singing about it, BUT she said the true form of being a patriot is believing in those with which you share this nation. She would actually get a bit teary eyed placing her hands on her lap as she sat on a bench near the piano, and tell her class. Your voices must be loud to be an American but your action must be louder.

I think about my days at Linden School and am grateful for teachers like Miss Cyphers. I think about her words and actions and hope I too say and do the words and deeds to be a patriot.

BUT,I do not want to be an American in the land Mitt Romney envisions. His words fail me and his actions scare me. He seems loyal to no one but his own selfish, greedy ambitions. 

While we are still free to raise our flag, Happy Flag Day.

once upon... what

I am not usually the person who is organized, knowing where each and every detail is stored or stacked. But as is the case in most people’s lives there is a caveat to always and only. And for me my homage to order is my music. I know where and when, why and how music has found its way into my personal nickelodeon.

Music has always been a saving grace for me. And when it was or is played loud, sweetly swaying in the quiet of the breeze, a symphony of success, a dirge of misdeed as background instrumental to a very dramatic bit of dialogue or ringing with romance I can tell you stories about each and every note, each and every song.

I am usually very non-savvy when it comes to computers and usually anything more then signing in, writing a blog and reading email is the limit to my technology machinations. If it was not for my partner Joe, I would be listening to cassettes, using an answering machine, and carrying a pad and pen; oh yeah and most likely own a mimeograph machine. But when it comes my music I am a techie from the 25th century and I can do almost anything.

My I-Tune purchased music has a wide range of categories in which I live or has lived. I buy a song and immediately know which of over the 100 categories of choice it belongs. One section is titled REM. It is really Remember (if I am mugged and someone steals my computer I would rather they not know my emotional past) which is a category of music that contains my loves, my adventures, my disappointments, my successes and my first time’s for so many an experience. Music placed in REM is selective and scrutinized.  For a song to arrive in REM there is almost an affidavit written in both my heart and soul and must pass the sigh or smile test.

Today I went for for my two mile walk, took my I-Pod and feeling a bit melancholy decided to play music from the REM section. I was half way through my walk laughing, smiling, sighing as each song played and then it happened, “ You Didn’t Have to Be So Nice”, by the Turtles played and try as I might pushing my brain as hard as I could I had no idea why this song was playing in my REM list of music. Okay, I thought, this is a brain freeze. I stopped my walk, usually a taboo, said to myself give it awhile and you will recall. I went on to the next six songs remembering in vast detail where, why and how as they played. I stopped one more time, again an action I frown upon when doing my two mile walk, found “You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice”, hit play and slowly picked up my pace knowing in the next few notes a flood of memory would fill my mind.

And nothing, nada, NOT!

I listened to most of the music in the REM section as I continued my walk, giving myself a test with each bit of music, and to the last note I had little difficulty in understanding its reason for being played. But try as I might and I DID try, I never found the memories attached to “You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice.”

Here I am writing my blog and even as I try to create thoughts as words to place on paper, the back part of my brains is wondering what just happened. I know I added “You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice” for a gamut of reasons. I am sure that when I added that song to my list, some emotion resonated and at the time that emotion was so major, so important. And now it is gone.

It then has me thinking of what it is we consider important at the time, and when in our lives does that importance not only fade into the sunset, but almost disappear somewhere in the universe. What is it we hold on to, keep close to our hearts, refuse to admit and smother ourselves with that was so GREAT once and no longer even exists. 

What is it about once upon a time that will ride with us to the grave and the once upon a time that is as fleeting as gas from a bad meal? What becomes important and why? Why do we end up saying once upon a time, and look around only to say what time?

something to quote

I am so not sure of the world in which I live and times I wonder why this madness has become so out of hand. It seems to me, as simple as looking, listening and speaking the truth no matter how difficult the facts may seem. Words are important, actions somehow lead us to the road of fair, equal and free.

A question was asked, "If a tree were to fall on an island where there were no human beings would there be any sound?" They then went on to answer the query with, "No. Sound is the sensation excited in the ear when the air or other medium is set in motion." (George Berkeley)

If an elderly person living alone, without enough money for food stamps, lack of any meaningful support system, fearful of dying but more scared to ask for help, without any home delivered meals, with the only contact being the utility company to collect overdue bills and she died of starvation and cried out loud as his/her stomach ached and arched from no lack of nutrition would her plight be heard, acknowledged? Or would her life just be meaningless enough that when she died of starvation, proper medical care, a soft touch that all we would hear is the click of the computer as she is listed as a statistic? If no one was around to witness the sound of sadness, loneliness, futility did those sounds ever really exist? 

“The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but those without doing anything about it.” (Albert Einstein)

When the Pope and his legion of Bishops delay and deny most to any  accusations of inappropriate interaction, sexual abuse, immoral activity between Priests or Church Staff, with women and boys does that mean that these actions done by the evil are of no Catholic consequence, have little to do with Jesus’s preachings? When the man designated to speak for a population of Catholics remains allusive and abrupt about dealing with an issue he accuses the Press to have in-sighted and originated is he speaking the language of his Lord? And when the millions of devout Catholics in America look the other way, whisper silently, refuse to address the issue, accuse the victim or just ignore the entire question of Pedophilia are they not as guilty as the sick men who prey on the innocent. If these Catholics cling to the deeds and scripture of their Lord and Savior while watching mere mortals fail to understand that message and remain silent are they not as guilty? 

“Contempt for happiness is usually contempt for other people's happiness, and is an elegant disguise for hatred of the human race.” (Bertrand Russell)

When those who protest that same sex marriage is a sign from the Devil, only to return to their sexless, love marriages, pretending that the Institute of Marriage has done them well. When men who just dislike any kind of power for women in fear that the freedom for women will emasculate their own inability to be a man, whatever that definition entitles. When self entitled men and women don’t want the same work conditions, health care, standard of living, they have because it assumed they deserve all of that while others don’t. Just how unhappy, how angry, are those people. How much hatred do those who like to divide and conquer, exclude rather than include, bully then announce they are the victim do those sad, unhappy people hold, and why?

one question

I wish we all could take a turn asking one question for each of those in the world who seem to make decisions and set priorities that affect all of us in the world. How nice it would be to get clarification on the truth instead of settling for the propaganda usually delivered. Imagine asking a question and the only way out of the interview is to answer it honestly!

Your Holiness, why is it that you can mobilize your Bishops to fight with great vigor those in your parishes who feel God would be in favor of same-sex marriage. Why is it you can immediately order your holy soldiers to combat same-sex adoptions. Why is it you can recite Chapter and Verse stating God’s unhappiness with men loving men and women loving women in matters of seconds even milliseconds. Why is it when it comes to anyone but you and your own responsibilities toward Catholic Church work you are ready on the draw. Why is it so easy for you to identify sin and demean it as a work of evil when love is involved WHEN it takes you so long to stop the hate of pedophilia and the pedophiles on your pay roll? WHEN you easily set up diversions from the truth, roadblocks for justice, excuses for behavior WHEN the buck stops at your own throne, why is it so difficult to do God’s work? Why do you tell your sheep that you see the light, except of course when the light shines on your own lack of compassion or true reason? Why does your vision wane WHEN it comes to facing the truth about both your own actions and inactions?

And to the Catholics in America why is it so easy to cow tow to the Pope and his misconceptions of God’s will when it comes to people in love. You ignore, look the other way, make excuses for saying very little to nothing when the members of the Pope’s church express and practice hate and discrimination. Why is it men wanting to marry men, women wanting to adopt a family with two loving mothers seems so villainous that you vehemently shout out the sin, the sinner as if God was whispering in your ear. But WHEN those who swear allegiance to Christ and his teachings savagely prey on youth, sinfully abuse the soul of the youth, act as predators to the young men and women you can not raise one finger or one decibel of your voice to say STOP! Somehow God is not whispering in your ear to stop this abuse because the abuse is permitted by the Vatican. 

Why do you find it so easy to pick and choose Gods words when they snuggly fit your own UnCatholic bigotry but when are words of inclusion you ignore them? Why are all the lessons and legacy you say Christ left to you so laced in homophobia but you deny all of that and say it is just religious dogma that makes you behave badly? Where is your responsibility to ask the Pope to stop the denials of pedophilia and stop the promotion of hate toward people who love? Why is the hue and cry for the Pope to act more Catholic as a representative of Jesus? Why is hate for those who love phrased as something bad, while the hateful acts by the Catholic Clergy toward youth overlooked or ignored and deemed as good?

One question please, to the Pope and those Catholics who call him Papa... when did hypocrisy replace reason...when did selfishness replace selflessness... when did God’s love become replaced with meaningless human hatred.and why oh why do you permit this happen?