Kate Anne FOR Peace, Justice and Nonviolence ~ Weblog

Where did this weekend go? Personal stuff in abundance to do -- yet some reading surfaced this thought [live link on links page]:

"As a POD I am often tempted give up worrying about national and international matters and just work on local issues. But in the wake of the 2004 election I feel that that's exactly what the Bush administration wants: keep citizens so tied up fighting Wal-Marts, saving wetlands, promoting energy conservation, providing food pantries and homeless shelters, supporting quality public schools, defending Social Security and Medicare, protecting rights of gays and non-Christians, backing sound science against the theology of "intelligent design", and agonizing over abortion and gun control that we have no time, energy or wits to notice the devastation their policies are wreaking on the planet, their perversion of democracy, their cruel wars on the people of Iraq and the poor of the world, and their use of terrorism, torture and WMDs to achieve their goals...."

-- From "Portage County Ohio January 2005" sited at Common Dreams.org -- http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0130-11.htm

And learning this past week that they (we?) are building a 6th concentration camp at Guantanamo, I am reminded of the 34 Scandals of the Bush administration posted at Salon and Truthout.org: http://www.truthout.org/docs_05/011905D.shtml -- horrifying. And they impeached Clinton for lying about sex....

Peace, peace, peace -- please, God -- with OUR help, AMEN.

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
--Galatians 5:22-23

That certainly is NOT a description of George Bush, who claims Jesus as his favorite philosopher. Nor does that describe Alberto Gonzales, the torture-monger who is likely to be confirmed as Attorney General. Nor does that fit that lying warmonger Condi Rice who is most probably going to be confirmed as Secretary of State. Outrageous, but we cannot give up our moral high ground, that of the liberal independent Democrats! (Peace, Kate Anne, remember that beautiful biblical quotation.)

God bless Barbara Boxer who continues to speak up against liars. Would that Hillary (whose intern Jeff I spoke with today) get some guts and not just focus on middle America at the expense of her New York base. I spoke to Cassandra in Chuck's office. He's at least wavering on Alberto Gonzales. I am sure they both were getting earsful. But will they heed? I am urging all my friends to call in NOW. Even if it is a done deal, they must be told that Alberto and Condi are slimeballs (oh, dear, this isn't sounding very peaceful nor self-controlled....but it is a JUST evaluation. They ARE slimeballs -- or at least their politics are slimey.) (And I have let Hillary's pac know in her own SASE that I am sending my money to Barbara Boxer and plan to encourage and work for HER candidacy for president.)

Please, Dems, speak up and tell our Senators to vote NO to torture, no to concentration camps, no to giving a promotion to a torturer, no to Alberto Gonzalez. See Kos's editorial for more info: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/1/25/15437/3930 and email your Senators tonight, call them first thing in the morning. Tell them there is honor in voting their principals, regardless of the outcome.

And while you are at it, complain about Guantanamo where they are building a SIXTH concentration camp. Use those words and remind our Senators (and Congressmembers) that it is a given that innocent people are being held without trial, along with some guilty ones. We complain about Castro and our human rights record is STINKING under Bush and his ilk. See Thom Hartmann's column at Commondreams or via ThomHartmann.com and remember:

"First they came for the Communists, but I was not a Communist so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Socialists and the Trade Unionists, but I was neither, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew so I did not speak out. And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me." -- Martin Niemoeller

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

I stopped myself. I almost forgot it was "Not a Damn Dime Day" and nearly purchased something on the web. Well, if I am going to make an exception on this, Bush's coronation day, it will be at my friend Dorothy Morehead's Bliss restaurant (46/Bliss Street and Skillman Avenue in Sunnyside: great food, lovely atmosphere, terrific staff!) or some Mom and Pop store, not at someone's site where they may not even be AWARE of the event. (See www.NotOneDamnDime.com for more info.)

In the meantime, for the events of this day, listen to AirAmericaRadio.com which can be streamed over the web or in NYC found at 1190 on your AM radio dial and check out TruthOut's Will Pitt's blog, FYI (Will is in DC reporting on the Bush bash and the bashing of Bush.)

Finally, while I AM wearing black (something I rarely do), I am certainly not rolling over and playing dead. There are events going on all over the country in protest to the Bush administration and the evil they perpetrate. (For a list of some of the happenings, see http://unitedforpeace.org/ We are more organized than ever. And thank God for Senator Barbara Boxer who has the guts and courage to once again speak out for truth -- who allowed Condaleeza Rice to impugn her OWN integrity by her OWN words. Barbara Boxer for President in 2008!!

Peace hugs,

Kate Anne

Can you believe that Bush is calling his "election" a reconfirmation of his Iraq position -- this after he released the information about no WMDs well and truly after they fooled enough people (and stole enough votes)? What gall! Then he talks about pushing his agenda, headed up be his Social Security privatization a/k/a destruction. Google Paul Krugman for some great info or see Common Dreams' http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0113-34.htm for "There He Goes, He's Lying Again" by Joyce Marcel. Bottom line: even Bush's own administration knows that Social Security is healthy for at least the next 40-50 years. So of course, Bush chooses to destroy it and benefit his campaign contributors. And how many Bushites were thinking about Social Security when they voted for him? It is really annoying how the press quotes Dubya without saying he's wrong, that his own administration belies Bush's statements. Marcel recommends phoning our Senators and Reps and gives the AARP hotline to connect to them: 800-307-8525.

*~*~*

While Bush prepares for his coronation, many of us are celebrating the life and contributions of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is snowy here in NYC, but a number of us FOR folk are joining the Westsiders for Peace in a nonviolence workshop and then an afternoon p&j walk to several Westside Manhattan churces: Lots of Good Energy. We follow his good example and recommit ourselves in these troubled times to be drum majors for peace and justice. And let us remind the sanctimonious Dubya of Brother Martin's wisdom, "A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death." God help us -- these are tough times -- but together we can and must make a positive difference.

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

Everything points to Common Dreams this morning -- even TruthOut.org's column featuring Thom Hartmann and Air America Radio's Morning Sedition's segment with Terry Jones. CommonDreams.org has become a regular stop of mine, but today it says lots. Terrorism by US by Bush's definition isn't terrorism but administrative policy. Guantanamo -- with those incarcerated and subject to abuse and violence which isn't really torture (yeah, sure) without lawyer, trial, family, or much chance of ever seeing freedom -- has probably created the terrorists we were looking for. With perhaps 75% inappropriately there and experiencing massive injustice can we possibly release these people, but can we not? My God, forgive us, we don't know what we have done.... How will we ameliorate the evil we have perpetrated? How can we make restitution to those folk just rounded up and detained? But then, we are not interested. Instead, we are likely to confirm Alberto Gonzales who has "promised" not to use torture even as the Salvador Option of death squads in Iraq is being considered. And Marianne Williamson speaks rightly so that the tsunami relief effort is awakening humanity's heart -- yet Terry Jones aptly puts it that the tsunami-like numbers of victims in Iraq are ignored by the media. So what do we do?

It is up to us to speak up for the Common Dreams of Peace, Justice, and Nonviolence. Read up, yes, but discuss the topics in our families, amongst our friends, in our blogs, in letters to editors -- and even on the subways. No, I don't expect most New Yorkers to evangelize for peace [but I have done this to drum up numbers for peace marches] but talk to a friend and "allow" others to overhear -- and yes, wear those peace buttons and when weather permits those p&j tee shirts. Don't just save peace for meetings, marches, and rallies. It is too important. Get the Truth Out, again and again and again. We have to awaken the world and make of our Common Dreams a shared reality. Read, write, and ACT.

***

And finally the Bushies are admitting that not everyone in Iraq will be safely able to vote in their upcoming election. Well it didn't happen here so why should it happen there? Besides they wouldn't vote "right" anyway. Yeah, Right..... Deja vu.

Peace hugs,

Kate Anne

Senator Barbara Boxer of California and Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio deserve our thanks and praise for standing up January 6th for Democracy and the right of every vote to count. Too few voted with them but two important Pebbles have been tossed in the House and Senate Ponds and the ripple effect will continue -- it must and it will, with our help. Write thank yous to the 31 who voted yea in the house and to Senator Boxer. As for Clinton and Obama and other Senators who made some some supporting statements but in the end voted Nay, we are disappointed, to put it mildly. I'm busy re-drafting my own note to the Democratic traitors (or are they traders, and if so what are they getting?). Schumer says he saw no evidence for fraud, one of the NY papers says. Obviously, he either can't read or didn't bother to read evidence such as that posted at FreePress.org. Shame, shame, shame. But let us rejoice in freedom of speech and those who spoke up with their voices and their votes on January 6th.

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

Let's see if we get a Senator to stand up with Rep. Conyers to object to the certification of the delegates from Ohio. Rainbowpush.org has a site where you can sign up to send letters to certain key Senators. The item is on the agenda for about 1 PM, however, so if you are reading this later in the day, forgettaboutit.

I like Air America's Randi Rhodes' argument that we should tell them, "Don't certify what we cannot verify. Let the House decide." We know it'll be Bush, but once again he will be "selected" and this disses him and weakens his argument that he has a mandate for his neocon agenda. Think about it. Also, you can still call any and all Senators -- mine are so busy I had to call the local offices to leave a message -- but there's an 800 number to the Congressional Switchboard (compliments of Labor): 800--839-5276. If for whatever reason, it isn't working, dial 202-224-3121.

"Failure is impossible." Sooner or later, we win.... I prefer sooner. BUT WE MUST ACT -- and never rest on any laurels we happen to be given.

Hope you are feeling pretty fine on this the last day of Christmas, The Feast of the Three Kings -- big in the Hispanic circuit.

Off to work now -- peace hugs one and all,
Kate Anne

With word of tsunami aftermath and post election fraud and more deaths in Iraq on all sides, it is hard to think Happy New Year -- but nonetheless, we should wish it, and work for it -- compassionately, in peace, with true and loving justice.

As we look for a U.S. Senator to join Rep. Conyers on Jan. 6 in objecting to the Ohio delegates to the Electoral College in the Senate, I continue to post links on my link page to especially good articles. Thom Hartmann gave an 800 number to the Senate in his article posted on CommonDreams.org --
800-839-5276 or dial 202-224-3121 but ask your Senators to join Conyers in his protest of the Ohio electors. Tell your friends -- this is particularly important if they live in California, West Virginia, Minnesota, Iowa, Vermont, Massachusetts, Michigan, Maryland, Illinois, or Maine, as those state have senators who may be more inclined to join Conyers than most, says Hartmann. Will it make Kerry the winner? Not likely, unless some overwhelming evidence surfaces fast to convert the Republican majority, but the Senate needs to discuss this and work on real election reform.

Happy New Year, one and ALL. Let us make it more than a wish, let us make it reality by creating a Happier New Year -- speak out, work for, live for, pray for -- loving peace, compassionate justice, and active nonviolence.

Amen and Peace Hugs,
Kate Anne