Susie sez, quit analyzing and go with your gut.
I’m not here to talk you into it. I’m not here to break down legal arguments, or to find out whodunnit. We already know.
If there’s anything I hoped to effectively communicate in the past five years, it’s this: You don’t have to give them the benefit of the doubt - ever. It’s far past the point where we need details.
This story tells about a Dallas redneck getting converted into an advocate for universal health care during a screening of Michael Moore’s Sicko.
It’s but one example of many being reported on the internet of how the film is galvanizing Americans into action.
In all my thirty years on this earth, I have never ever seen any movie have this kind of unifying effect on people. It was like I was standing there, at the birth of a new political movement. Even after 9/11, there was never a reaction like this, at least not in Texas. If Sicko truly has this sort of power, then Michael Moore has done something beyond amazing. If it can change people, affect people like this in the conservative hotbed of Texas, then Sicko isn’t just a great movie, seeing it may be one of the most important things you do all year.
These are my links for June 15th through July 2nd:
These are my links for June 1st through June 11th:
I found this in a diary at Daily Kos and felt the vibrations of a huge bell knolling. Hallelujah — a name for what I believe in! (This before Easter, I’m just getting around to blogging about it.)
How Many Here Believe He Is Risen?
[…]I’m a secular animist. I believe that all living things are embued with a spirit. Not something demonic or angelic. Just some form of “spirit.” Maybe it comprises dark matter or dark energy. Or something even less known. More ephemeral. I don’t know. This “religion” of mine is deeply personal and private. There’s no scripture, no rituals, no preachers, no slaughtering of the infidels, no seeking of tax breaks, no blasphemy and no schisms since, so far as I know, I’m the sole adherent …
Like Meteor Blades (the author of the quoted diary) I came to this “faith” after a long journey through other, more “established” religious points of view (Wicca, Zen, Quakerism — so you see why the quote marks), and most recently came to calling myself atheist, but, to some extent that was a firm rejection of all that passes for religion in this all-too-immoral country.
Before that I adamantly protested that I didn’t have a label, and didn’t need one. Maybe I was wrong about that last part, since MB’s diary and the term “secular animist” made me happy — the way I feel when I hear about or see an act of selfless human kindness, or see a cat praising the sun with complete stillness, or see what unexpected “spirituality” science reveals about the universe. It felt right and gave me context.
I’m actually fascinated by religion and by what people believe in and how this does or doesn’t affect their life choices, whether it should or shouldn’t, etc. i look back and my haphazard blogging, here and elsewhere, and a great percentage of it is about religion in one way or another — mostly how hypocritical most “people of faith” are, and how little time they spend thinking about the subject in any meaningful way. Mostly they want to be told what the truth is, and they don’t seem interested in passing it through their mind, their experience, or, assuming they actually believe what they say they believe, they don’t seem to be bringing that truth out through their voice, their hands and their heart.
So really, I’m as obsessed about religious matters as most other Americans. Damn, now I’m back to being bummed. I’ll have to comfort myself with the fact that, as usual, I come to that obsession from an unconventional direction.
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I finally got new glasses today. I’ve needed them for a long time, but couldn’t afford to get them. It got to the point of emergency, as I was getting headaches added to the annoyance of not being able to see much of anything close up.
But I got progressive bifocal lenses, and I’m now thinking I made a big mistake. Only a small area in the center of my line of sight is in focus. Everything else is way worse than it was with my old glasses. They say it takes time for your eyes to get used this arrangement, but I’m feeling very anxious about my decision.
Historical perspective: I was nearsighted for years and started wearing glasses when I was 10 or so. As I got older, my eyes gradually became farsighted. Nearsighted is way better.
Oh, and though I like the frames, they don’t fit right. I had the woman work on them for 15 minutes but she didn’t seem able to adjust them properly and I didn’t want her to keep bending them if she didn’t know what she was doing.
Shit, now I’m really depressed. I can only see in a tiny pinpoint. I feel like my world just shrunk by about 90%. And for a progressive living in Waco, Texas, this is not a good situation.
I’m going to try to get to this event on my way to Oklahoma.
— In campcaseyalumni@yahoogroups.com, Herschel Tomlinson
As described in the email below, Dallas Police officers assigned to the
Homeland Security Division have cited members of Women in Black of
Dallas. This group has been doing some remarkable counter recruitment
work. A number of the regulars at Camp Casey Dallas have decided to go
support WIB, in lieu of our Friday picket of KB Hutchison’s office. We
are asking as many of you as are able to come help us show that (as
Laray says below) “they can’t intimidate peaceful protesters”!
Men are welcome.
This Thursday, the Dallas chapter of Women in Black could use some
support. Last Thursday, as two Women In Black stood in front of the
Federal Building downtown where recruiters are busy bringing in fresh
young recruits, they were cited by Homeland Security police officers for
“obstructing the entrance”. This is nonsense; the sidewalk is wide
there, and they were not right in front of the doorway, rather out near
the curb. The first officer called for back up, and an additional 2 cars
arrived, so 3 homeland security-division cop cars, each with a uniformed
officer ended up at the scene. The tickets that were written carry a $75
fine.
The following is from Laray Polk, founder of Dallas Women in Black:
I will get verification on where we may legally assemble in accordance
with local jurisdiction, so that on Thursday, we understand clearly
where the lines are drawn. All who want to attend and participate are
welcome. We will assemble on Thursday, May 11, at noon, ACROSS THE
STREET from the Federal Building at 207 S. Houston street (next to Union
Station). It may be a good idea to have a short discussion prior to the
action so that the sisters can come up with ways to lawfully create a
culture of contrast in the midst of all this unnecessary aggression.
Next Thursday’s vigil will be across the street from the building, so
there is no chance of being accused of (and ticketed for) blocking the
entrance, and it would be great to have a larger than usual group to
show solidarity. Please wear black as a sign of mourning. Let’s show
them they can’t intimidate peaceful protestors out of existence.
blah
Get a dog.
And I did. I’ll be picking up this little darlin’ tomorrow or the next day, after a certain reproductive matter gets taken care of. I was sorry not to be able to bring her back with me today. I found her at the Humane Society of Waco, and they have plenty more animals there waiting for good homes, if you are in the market for a loyal companion.
On the (roundabout) way home, caught some dessert and coffee at a new coffeehouse, which I’ll write about separately. We were gonna go to Mama Baris’s, but it was packed with lovebirds waiting for a table! So, part II(b) of my advice series today: eat!
advice to the lovelorn
picture yourself open
name yourself strong
give yourself flowers
act like you belong
I used to have a friend who was adverse to the very idea of holidays. He ignored them with a passion, so of course, I think of him on every “special” day. Today is no different. So, I’ll just say, Happy Valentines Day, David Michael Taylor. I still love you and regret all my misdeeds.
I wrote a poem for him years ago, after he shunned me. I actually managed to find it! Consider it copylefted. Reprint with credit (Serena Blaiz for noobies), blah, blah.
Long Distance
You can’t reach someone
who doesn’t want to be reached –
technology hasn’t yet solved the problemof the betrayed heart.
Where Love means
never getting the chance to say
you’re sorryand still loving
or dreaming it said,
dreaming it plummeting
the Colorado mountainsbusted like a vein of fool’s gold.
The thought of “sorry”
sounding like an invisible comet
falling endlesslyacross the Continental Divide.
Feeling like my right hand
floating somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico –
wave, wave wave …
http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/images/phuc-with-baby.jpg
Kim Phuc, “the girl in the picture,” is 42 today, and works as a goodwill ambassador for the UN. She is still physically scarred from the napalm attack she suffered in 1972, but has an unblemished spirit. This interview was published by the bruderhof, found via Susie Madrak and Tiny Revolution.
A woman who served as Hitler’s nurse in the Reichchancellery bunker speaks out on his final hours, 60 years ago today.
Interesting personal remarks, such as Hitler’s being “polite” and “charming”, Marta Goebbels being “brilliant” and nobody in the entourage liking Eva, dismissing her as irrelevant. She (the nurse) knew for sure the gig was up when she heard that Hitler had decided to marry to Eva.
www.flickr.com
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