Naomi Wolf Gets the Occupy Movement. .

Naomi Wolf (prominent author and social critic):

"So, when you connect the dots, properly understood, what happened this week is the first battle in a civil war; a civil war in which, for now, only one side is choosing violence. It is a battle in which members of Congress, with the collusion of the American president, sent violent, organised suppression against the people they are supposed to represent. Occupy has touched the third rail: personal congressional profits streams. Even though they are, as yet, unaware of what the implications of their movement are, those threatened by the stirrings of their dreams of reform are not. "

Please, think about it and,

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Happy Birthday America. . .

In Philadelphia at Independence Hall, 236 years ago this weekend, John Adams proclaimed that July 2, 1776 would open the most memorable epoch in the history of the world!

On that day that the Continental Congress declared the 13 colonies of the United States of America free and independent of Great Britain, once and for all time.  This act of democracy was original in kind and adopted by the whole 'elected' body in that Philadelphia hovel, called today Independence Hall.  It signaled the advent of the Modern World, as we now know it in historical context. . .

It was two days later, July 4, when Thomas Jefferson’s formal document of succession from the Crown, then referred to as a Declaration of Independence, was adopted by the whole 'elected' body as legitimate in response to the July 2, 1776 vote.


Happy Birthday America!

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Robert Reich- Obama Economics 101

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Ralph Waldo Emerson on Currency. . .

"Money, which represents the prose of life, and which is hardly spoken of in parlors without an apology, is, in its effects and laws, as beautiful as roses."  --  Ralph Waldo Emerson  (1803-1882)

- such is the preoccupation of America for centuries!  Can we not move on to a more sublime obsession?


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Spiritual Humanism:

Reason Based Religion

We cannot abandon ancient traditions and practices, but we can adapt them to our new understanding of the universe. Religion must be able to adapt to new scientific inquiry without rejecting humanity's deep spiritual connection to history and the natural world.

All humans have an inalienable right and duty to practice their own religious traditions.

Spiritual Humanism allows everyone to fuse their individual religious practices onto the foundation of scientific humanist thought. This new tradition accepts people from all religious backgrounds.  It recognizes the validity of all peaceful religious practices and behaviors as being helpful and necessary in developing the spiritual nature of humanity.

Love is here. . .

The GIFT of Spiritual Humanism:

REASON

We cannot abandon ancient traditions and practices, but we can adapt them to our new understanding of the universe. Religion must be able to adapt to new knowledge about the universe without rejecting the deep spiritual connections to human history, and the natural world of which we are apart.

All humans have an inalienable right and duty to practice their own religious traditions.

Spiritual Humanism allows everyone to fuse their individual religious practices onto the foundation of scientific humanist inquiry. We accept people from any religious background and recognize the validity of all peaceful religious practices and behaviors as being helpful and necessary in developing the spiritual nature of humanity.


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Mavis Staples- Never Forget!

Keep Your Eye on the Prize

Thanks Betty Grady!
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Mavis Staples- Never Forget!

Let's keep our 'Eyes on the Prize':



Take the Poll- How Do Your Politics Rate?

Click on the link- the results are scientific and fascinating. . .


http://people-press.org/typology/quiz/

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Birthers Won't Go Away. . .

NO JOKE:

Some obscure author, Jerome Corsi, released this week a new book that the publisher says will be a bestseller "of historic proportions."

The title is "Where's the Birth Certificate?" -- indeed.

Corsi's work is a greatest-hits reel of delusions, ranging from 9/11 conspiracies to claiming that there is an infinite supply of oil in the Earth's core. In 2008, he published a book about Barack Obama claiming, among other things, that he is a secret Muslim;  is secretly anti-military;  has secretly dealt drugs and get this- secretly mind you, supported terrorist actions when he was eight years old. So many secrets!

FactCheck.org called Corsi's work "a mishmash of unsupported conjecture, half-truths, logical fallacies and outright falsehoods."

There's really no way to make this stuff completely go away. The only thing we can do is laugh at it -- and make sure as many other people as possible are in on the joke.




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Spring Has Sprung. . .

Each season has its own flavor, and atmosphere. The essential nature of SPRING is hope. Even though the whole of Winter's bluster has not entirely faded, there is a change in the air. The days have slowly been growing longer to noticeable degree. . . growth is in the air!

A Spiritual Humanist thought. . .

THE 'religion' for a New Age



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For Wisconsin Republican Legislators. . .

‎"While there is a lower class I am in it; while there is a criminal element I am of it; while there is a soul in prison, I am not free."  

 -- Eugene Debs ‎(1855- 1926, American union activist)

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The Reality of Afghanistan for Our Soldiers. . .

This is the reality for American soldiers day after day in exotic Afghanistan:

It is a place most of them have not seen before, nor like any other desert or mountains, including those in the American Southwest and Mexico of which many of them come and are familiar. -It is the place of a language most of them do not speak, nor have even before heard. The fear of  gangland type killing is not like anything Detroit or any other American city offers.  It is the place of a social order most of them do not understand. The politics of revenge there are palpable daily.

 

American soldiers here are on a mission from a continuous hell.  Muslim fanatics have already won, just as surely as Christian fanatics that brought us here have lost.  Hopefully, it won't take a long time before the deluded conservatives in American government figure this out.

So, be damned the attempt to impose some 'notion of democracy' on the Afghans- they are not even sure that's who they are. They work against America at every turn. They hate us. They kill our soldiers because our soldiers kill them. They just plain don't want us there! So why are we there? It is because of the arrogance of greedy, warmongering American psuedo-intellectual advocates of hegemony, and the hubris and stupidity of those who have enthusiastically waged this faraway war for them. Sadly, those too have been persuaded to insidiously and calculatingly wage war as well on their own people's 'notion of democracy'.

The ancient Greeks, the British and Russia have learned the folly of trying to subjugate Afghanistan.  This is a lesson of history.  Why can't we learn this?

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For the Courageous and Honorable Rep. Speier

Hurray for Rep. Speier, I worked on her campaign years ago. She probably doesn't remember me, but I know what a stalwart she is for women's rights! I am proud to have made the acquaintance of such a great American. . . Her statement on the floor of the House of Representatives this week was a tremendous uplift and bright light to women everywhere.

When I was very young and foolishly straight, I impregnated a beautiful young woman. We were smart and from privileged backgrounds.  This was such an easy time for us, hah.  During our high school relationshiop, we went to Planned Parenthood as savvy teenagers (encourage all to do) to discuss the options of a sexual relationship, previous. They provided a wonderfully informative program that layed out real options, way beyond the rote sex ed stuff of our 'liberal' schooling  (unfortunately, most kids today dont even get that, because of the influence of fundamentalist kooks invading our school boards).

An accident occurred. . .Planned Parenthood in their goodness and expertise, saved our lives.  They provided a safe, secure and loving environment for a legal abortion.  I have no regrets and the lovely young woman of this story went on the have a fine 'planned' family.

To this day, Planned Parenthood provides important family planning education and services, esp to the underprivileged and underserved.  These are those who need it most.

Don't let Congress cut off funding for this essential service!  The right wing in control of government now does not understand the informed gift of science available for reproductive health.  They are confused by religious fanaticism and political opportunism.

Contact and support:

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/



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Just Because-- Washington Irving:

"Love is never lost. If not reciprocated, it will flow back and soften and purify the heart."

--Washington Irving  (1783-1859)

The best short story writer of all time, perhaps.  Another great American. . .  The goal here is to showcase them all!

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Oust the Egyptian Dictator Now

Egypt now presents the inevitable course of dictatorships in modern times.  Their unwillingness to leave when the opportunity presents itself civily, reinforces the arrogance and stupidity of the entrenched power accumulated over years of oppresssion.

Mubarak is a thug with a tin ear for the necessary interests of the people he purports to be the benificent patriarch.  Egypt is ready to move on and join the democratic world.  They have a solid middle class and are generally well educated by African and middle eastern standards.  In any case, Egyptians deserve the blessings of democratic society and are crying out for it desperately, on the streets.  Its their turn.

Mubarak's arrogance was exemplified by his rambling speech this evening. . .Where has he been for the last two plus weeks?  In a cave.  That he is aware of the situation completely is obvious- he knows everything that is happening. He implies a coming conflagration to keep his authority, the dangerous fool.  Then, his so-called heir apparent comes on the air soon after, blaming the political crisis on foreign media.  Are they joking, dumb or just indifferent?  With these secretive types the answers are not obvious.

The matter will be decided by the military here, as in so many similar revolutionary situations.  This conscript army will have to decide among its junior and mid level officer corps whether to continue to support the corrupt generals and upper echelons of government, or the common people of whom they are composed.

We shall see how it plays out over the next few day. . . Please, wish for a peaceful outcome.


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To the Egyptian People from a Great American:

"There is no freedom without struggle. . ."

--Frederick Douglass (1818- 1895)

LOVE with SOLIDARITY

--Stay Firm!  We are with you.  Continue to. . .

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All Americans Have Common Interests

"So, let us not be blind to our differences—but let us also direct attention to our common interests and to the means by which those differences can be resolved."   -- John F. Kennedy (1917- 1963)


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Obama's Promises Kept mostly. . .

In two years, President Obama has moved America forward, even though constantly thwarted by the Republican right-wing.  This was done by creation into law after successful passage through a hostile Congress of:

• The Recovery Act
•  Health Care Reform
•  Wall Street Reform
•  Repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

Many things are still to be done, no doubt!

-also, include the new START Treaty!  It is landmark legislation for our national security. . . (addendum as of 02/11)

Look back on these two years by downloading a copy of a new White House report called "Promises Kept":


http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/PromisesKept/?source=FBS



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IT GETS BETTER- The New Gay Anthem. . .

Rebecca Drysdale Rules

Just for Kids (and everyone else, too):



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America- Heed Martin Luther King Jr.'s Last Prescient Speech!

Such brilliant oratory in the cause of good comes around very rarely (plus adenda):







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John F. Kennedy's Sad 20th c. Insight. . .

"It is an unfortunate fact that we can secure peace only by preparing for war."   --John F. Kennedy (1917-1963)


This old 'realpolitik' must change.  Otherwise we are doomed!

The new START Treaty is the way forward.  Thanks, Mr. Obama. . . nary a republican vote.

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