sun worshiping

the foundation of our fears is religion.

http://zeitgeistmovie.com/main.htm

summer

Cooney for Congress

Don Cooney
running for Congress on the
Democratic ticket in the 6th District

http://cooneyforcongress.com/

earth

rhhhhubarb, aaaasparagas, bluooooberries, earth squishing up between my toes. I love you Kalamazoo.

Obama - a question

I recently listened to Barak Obama's speech on race and racism in America. I was once again captivated and inspired... yet there is one line in there that urked me. In the first third of his speech, Obama was commenting on the controversial statements made by his former paster...

"But the remarks that have caused this recent firestorm weren't simply controversial. They weren't simply a religious leader's effort to speak out against perceived injustice. Instead, they expressed a profoundly distorted view of this country - a view that sees white racism as endemic, and that elevates what is wrong with America above all that we know is right with America; a view that sees the conflicts in the Middle East as rooted primarily in the actions of stalwart allies like Israel, instead of emanating from the perverse and hateful ideologies of radical Islam."

My acquisition of historical knowledge and current political climates is admittedly limited to that a U.S. citizen, small-town-country-girl, who rarely watches TV news, or reads a newspaper. Even so I do have strong opinion on this issue, and I tend to blame Israel (and its allies) for a good portion of current conflicts in the Middle East. I am attempting to decipher Obama's stance on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict/occupation. From what I hear and read he has recently been a quite outspoken in his support of Israel...

So, as bright and aware people of the world, what is our opinion on Obama's climbing into bed with AIPAC? Does his worldliness and charisma make up for it? Is he so great that one can just overlook this great flaw? As long as we have health care and peaceful race relations at home... it won't matter that we continue to monetarily and militarily support genocide and apartheid in the Promised Land?

Making Histroy

Last night I found myself in Minneapolis, Minnesota as Obama and his supporters rallied together to celebrate his victory in the Democratic primaries. So, my hosts and I crossed the river to St. Paul, found the Excel arena, and followed the line for a half hour until we finally found the our place. The doors were opened at 7:00 pm, but we did not budge an inch until at least 7:30 and then slowly started to make our way through the line, returning to the arena. Two hours and 20 blocks later we reached the main entrance and they closed the doors right behind us. We were some of the last of the 17 thousand people who attended the rally. According to the fire-marshal, another 15 thousand waited and watched from outside.

* Change means using "not just firepower, but the power of diplomacy"

* Things you won't see used in this campaign are "religion used as a wedge and patriotism as a bludgeon."

Watch Barak Obama's speech from St. Paul, MN.

I was honored to be witness and participate in such a historic victory. But more than anything else I was in awe of Barak Obama's oratory skills. I appreciate his choice and/or use of words, and his enthusiasm. I was surprisingly moved and inspired.