Cinnamonblue's Blog

The Price of Bread

2012-01-19T16:38:00.002-05:00

Going to the grocery store shouldn't be a challenge, should it? I'll say right out that I must count my blessings as I have a good job and am not food insecure. If you're paying attention, the data on food insecurity is really enough to give one pause.

What is really is getting to me these days is the price of bread. Specifically, a good brand of multigrain or whole wheat bread. Many of them where I shop now have a regular price of more than $4.00 per loaf. To me this is totally unacceptable. A staple, a healthy staple at that, should not be priced so that it's geting out of reach.

There has been much talk about this in the media recently and one point that comes out is that if a family is using Food Stamps or a Supplemental Nutrition Program - it's hard to afford healthy food choices. With the cost of healthy bread so high, I well believe it.

In general, the data on poverty is just staggering. And if the cost of FOOD - something we all need - even BASIC food like bread - gets so high, it's going to just make it that much harder for people and families to tread water, let alone emerge from poverty. On top if this, many states want to reduce benefits or eligibility for their programs.

Can't we do better, folks? Can't we cut elsewhere? Can't we end the loopholes so everyone pays a fair share of taxes? Can't we create more jobs here? There certainly is enough work to be done. Let's start with customer service and tech support workers. We're all tired of automated systems so how about hiring more humans! And why can't our own folks be trained in tech support instead of shipping those jobs overseas?

Let's do better so we can all eat healthy and keep rising up.

Occupy Poem

2011-11-16T00:12:00.002-05:00

Reading reports of the crackdown on Occupy Wall St. in NYC and hearing of problems in other places is just unsettling. How can we defend peaceful protests overseas and treat protesters here at home so badly?

To do something, I ended up writing this poem. I was going to post it to the OWS forum but you have to register and give your location and all, and I just didn't want to do all that... Guess I'm not all that into a lot of this social media...

Anyway, now for the poem:

What Really is the Problem?
Dedicated to the Occupy Movement　

What really is the problem?
What is it on my sign you find so offensive?
Why do you want to silence my message?
Why do you want to meet my peace with your violence?
After all, I really am only one of you
As were the abolitionists
As were the suffragists
As were the civil rights workers
Were not their causes just?
And yet how ill treated were they?
Haven’t we learned?
What really is the problem?
I’m only looking for my voice to be heard
I’m only looking for simple respect
I’m only looking for a better tomorrow
Don’t block its dawning
Don’t keep me from its warmth
Let me embrace its freedom without constraint
Put away the tear gas and take up the peace pipe of the Native American Tradition
Let the conversation start.

Happy Birthday, John Adams!

2011-11-02T19:43:00.002-04:00

Well, time again to wish a very Happy (somewhat belated) Birthday to John Adams, second President and Founding Father!

From 276 years ago to today, Adams still has lessons to impart to us. It's always interesting, to me at least, to learn history and to learn from it. Certainly Adams is worthy to learn from. And there have been many times when I've wished Adams would somehow teach our contemporary lawmakers and politicians a few things!

I also believe that someday I WILL finish David McCoullough's biography.

Happy Birthday, Mr. President!

What About the Children?

2011-08-18T00:18:00.003-04:00

Have you heard the reports? The results of the National Child Welfare Survey found that 1 in 5 children are now living in poverty. That's almost 15 million children. Go here for an article about the issue.

I think we should all be outraged that this is happening to our children. We're not giving our future a good head start. We have got to struggle for better social supports and policies to help our families and especially the children.

The War Against Workers

2011-06-23T21:48:00.003-04:00

Today I'm angry and sick about the continuing war against workers, especially public sector workers. It has now hit NJ and I have to vent. The Legislature voted to strip state workers of the right to collective bargain for health care, to make us pay much more toward our health care benefits, and to raid the pensions of the retired. The NJEA (to which I belong) was a leader in the fight against this legislation. For an excellent analysis, read our NJEA President's remarks here.

I hope people wake up. How can we continue to allow our elected officials to get away with such policies that hurt the middle class and below? We had all better start doing something to reform the system. To those who think that this "couldn't happen to them"... don't be so sure. They're gunning for us, the public workers. Who do you think will be next?

Get informed. Know the issues and keep watch on what our officials are doing. Let them know what you think, and VOTE!

Flag Day / Bill of Rights

2011-06-14T03:03:00.003-04:00

Today is Flag day. It's a good day to honor our flag and to honor the values we believe it stands for: things such as freedom, liberty.

So get out a flag and ponder those things today.

And in regard to freedom and liberty, why not take a few minutes out and read the Bill of Rights, the first 10 Amendments to our Constitution. Shouldn't we all know what these important Amendments say?

You can go here to read them and even print out a copy.

Happy Flag Day.

I'm Just Sick

2011-06-02T00:44:00.002-04:00

There are so many stories recently that are just terrible, but this one is particularly so. Go here to read of a suicidal man who drowned while a crowd watched and did --- nothing (although someone EVENTUALLY did pull him out).

What kind of society are we when no one - no one - in a crowd of 75 did anything as he walked into the bay? We read of these kind of things happening from years ago (Kitty Genovese in New York), reports of young people beating others or worse where sometimes the victim is lucky to get any aid at all. We can't keep blaming this sort of thing on "budget cuts," or keep excusing sometimes whole crowds who do nothing or worse. We've got to be more compassionate toward each other. If personal safety is an issue, someone should at least try to get somewhere safe and then try go get some help.

We also need to teach people, especially our young people, compassion. We need to show as a society that we really value this quality.

Thank God, there ARE good people out there. We do hear reports of Good Samaritans and bless them for sure, hoping and praying for more of them. We also sadly wish that someone had been much more pro-active for the victim who drowned in the bay.

Hunger in America

2010-11-08T00:36:00.003-05:00

The Phila. Inquirer recently ran another in an occasional series about hunger. It turns out, this one Congressional District in Phila. is probably the poorest in the entire country. The statistics are staggering. Welfare and food stamps often do not cover the necessary expenses of rent, utilities, etc., and food for a family. By the third week of the month, people, including children, are struggling just to have something to stave off starvation. Food pantries offer some help, but they only have so many resources. Their supplies are down while demand had dramatically risen.

So what should we think, what should we do? It's so easy to have a knee-jerk reaction and think someone is at fault for not working. However, in this economy, if you're without a job for any reason (say, a layoff) it's not easy to find another job - not with unemployment around 9.6%. A person or family may not be able to just pack up and move to another area to try to find work. And what about the children? It's not their fault, and many parents the Inquirer has written about try to see that their children eat first, and they eat if there's something left. Making sure children get proper nutrition is critical for their long-term development. School lunch and breakfast programs are crucial, and more should be done for them.

What should we do? First, I guess we should NEVER take our food for granted and should be thankful for it. Second, we can support local food banks, food pantries and related programs. Third, we also should work to see the government strengthen the safety net and patch some of those holes that are in it.

Aren't we taught to care for our neighbors? It just seems somewhat out of whack to me that we have those struggling just to survive and others having such luxurious lives. While it's unrealistic and impossible to eliminate all economic disparity, we should at least see that the most vulnerable among us get enough food to thrive and that the children get a good start. It's the right thing to do.

Happy Birthday, John Adams

2010-10-31T02:02:00.002-04:00

It's the time of year to wish a "Happy Birthday" to our Second President. I hope you won't mind, Mr. President, if I mention you're a hale and hearty 275!!! And you're not forgotten. Gov. Jesse Ventura mentioned you in his chat the other week.

I often wonder what John Adams would think of our country today. What would he make of our current political climate? What would he make of the current world situation? What would he think of our economy?

It's impossible to know, of course, but an interesting exercise nonetheless. By asking ourselves what he and other Founding Fathers - and Mothers - would do, it challenges us to look for solutions. They faced incredible challenges. What can we learn from them to apply to our present day?

One thing I think we might learn from is their pragmatism. Not perfect, certainly, but they were able to compromise and get some big steps taken. Admittedly, there were more problems later (i. e., the Civil War), but at least they ignited the fire. Today, we have such name calling (I get so sick of seeing Liberal used as a smear term) and polarization , it's hard to get ANYTHING positive accomplished. The ads are so negative (although not a totally new concept, I think now it's worse than ever) I wonder if there are ANY decent candidates around!

So if there is something I wish we'd learn from Mr. Adams and Co., it would be to really come together and work for the good of the country and "We, the People".

The Visitor

2010-10-23T01:12:00.002-04:00

This week, in conjunction with some activities at college, I had the opportunity to view the film, The Visitor. It was quite a good film - well, up until the ending anyway. If you haven't seen this movie, there's a synopsis here The acting was excellent, especially Richard Jenkins as our protagonist Walter. And if nothing else, was a definite reminder I really need to write to Lois! So if you're reading this Ms. A., here's a shout out and a note that I definitely haven't forgotten you and WILL write.

Probably my first reaction to the film was that anyone who agreed with the Arizona immigration law needed to see this film. That was further reinforced by an article I read at the Common Dreams site (see my links section). Here's a link to the specific article. In the film the issue of center conditions is more muted, but it should be of concern to us. No matter one's opinion on illegal or undocumented persons, they are human beings and should be treated humanely. It would also be good to see a better system of due process for them. Then there's the matter of what happens to those who are deported. At the very least, they probably aren't returning to some cushy lifestyle. And moreover, real dangers may await them. These things should concern us and the film definitely gets one to ponder the issues.

Still, I really didn't like the ending of the film. Boo, hiss!!! I don't feel that a good ending would have robbed the film of its thought-provoking nature. If we could feel relief that Tarek be allowed to stay, would that mean we couldn't feel for those who in real life are facing a similar crisis? How about this, director McCarthy - give us a sequel! Have Walter get a new lawyer for Tarek or get the Congressperson involved. Or have him go to Syria and bring back Tarek and Mouna. After all, this is FICTION, so why leave us with a downer? The way I see it, a bit of hope might just do us some good.

Who Would Sign the Declaratiuon of Independence Today?

2010-09-11T01:41:00.004-04:00

Some thoughts...
At our college, Education majors sometimes put up sample bulletin boards as class assignments. In my opinion, the best one (at least so far!) was one put up last year and themed on the Declaration of Independence. There was a section of the board where people were invited to sign. I did, as did at least one of my colleagues.

This may not be an uncommon thought, but who would sign such a document today? Indeed, the signers did take a tremendous risk in doing so. But today, with the poisonous political climate and intolerant dialog about about certain religions, I thought about this again.

Would you sign the Declaration of Independence, knowing it said "all men are created equal?" Remember all means all - not just ones like you or like "us." Would you sign knowing that this equality would extend to those who worship differently from you? Would you sign knowing that this equality would extend to those of different ethnic backgrounds from yours? Would you sign knowing this equality would extend those of different sexual orientation from yours? And what about us women? Would you sign if it specifically said "all men and women are created equal?"

The President just reminded us this is "one nation." Will we see that all are treated equally under the law? That was the vision, even though the Founding Fathers fell short on really putting it into practice. That was the fight and struggle through the Civil War and the Civil Rights movement. That was the dream of Rev. Dr. King and so many others. It's still an unrealized dream for some Americans. So who would sign the Declaration of Independence today? Would you?

Say What?

2010-06-30T02:31:00.001-04:00

I couldn't believe that Congress would not pass an extension of unemployment benefits for those out of work more than 6 months. How heartless is that?

Maybe the infamous members of Congress who voted 'no' should be sentenced to live on unemployment benefits for the remainder of their terms. I wonder if any of them could make it on those benefits? I hope people also remember who they are on election day.

I know that we're in a tough economy, but we should do better than always cutting funds and services for the most vulnerable.

Happy Birthday, John Adams

2009-10-30T23:08:00.002-04:00

Hi to anyone who actually reads my blog. Yes, I'm still around, but trying to keep up with everything gets hectic sometimes. Unfortunately, blooging is not a TOP priority.

But since it is that day, and I have 5 minutes to breathe this evening, I have to post a Happy Birthday to our second President. Happy Birthday, Mr. President and many good wishes!

I have to confess I have not yet finished that biography by David McCullough (I keep promising myself I will get through it all one day). I haven't even seen the Miniseries based on it - but I hope to see it on DVD one day. Of course I watched The Adams Chronicles years ago; it would be nice to see that miniseries again.

I hope we all will take a few minutes to honor Adams' heritage of dedication and service to our country; his commitment to freedom. We must continue to work, pray, hold officials accountable, and strive to advance further toward those ideals.

Dissent, Protest, and Any Support?

2009-06-28T02:22:00.002-04:00

Hello - if anyone is reading this.

I haven't given up blogging, although my life gets busy and crazy and I don't post as often as I would like.

I finally felt I had to post about recent events in Iran. My heart just breaks for those people. To see and hear of folks beaten or killed, harassed, having their property trashed, having communications cut off is so upsetting. How can some humans mistreat other humans so miserably - especially peaceful protesters? What kind of animals would do things like that to others? And what kind of government oppresses its own people so?

Not that this country is or has been perfect. Anti-war protesters in the 60's were often beaten and those of us of a certain age cannot forget Kent State (and how protesters were beaten in Chicago at Democratic Convention, 1968). More recently, when preparations were being made for the last Democratic National Convention, a news report showed jail cells being built for protesters. Why was protesters needing jail cells the first thought about them that came to mind? Further, some of my previous posts talk about how protesters were treated at both of the last two major party conventions. And locally, 2 graduation speakers at a nearby town had speeches critical of the way the school was run. The administration didn't want them to give their speeches at all. Eventually they gave shortened speeches. The administration then barred the two from going to the post-graduation party. I'm left wondering why there's such a problem with peaceful dissent and protest.

Is "power" such a strong aphrodisiac that those with it will do anything to maintain it? Why do some (too many, really) of the "powerful" resort to physical force and intimidation , caring nothing for human rights at all?

And I'm also feeling somewhat discouraged. It seems that there really isn't much the International Community is doing to help those struggling for human rights. Amnesty International does some good work, Human Rights Watch, too. But they only seem to be able to do so much. Burma/Myanmar has been a terrible situation for many years. Tibet and Darfur, too. Now Iran. Those who follow the situations wonder what can be done; wonder why more has not been done to support people struggling for basic rights.

This Time There's Some Noise

2009-02-27T23:13:00.002-05:00

I'm referring to the outrage over the "Chimp" cartoon by Sean Delonas that appeared in the NY Post recently.

I found it highly racially insensitive and offensive. I also didn't like the violence (which we definitely don't need more of) shown by officers killing a chimp - who must be presumed to be the author of the stimulus bill (I wonder who that could be?). I don't know what they were thinking - how could they - the cartoonist, the editors - NOT know this was feeding into racial stereotypes? And how could he find that chimp attack which landed a woman in very critical condition food for "satire" in the first place?

An opinion writer for USA Today suggests we keep up the heat on the NY Post. There have been protests, people are boycotting (I never buy it anyway), and John Legend, the musician, wrote an excellent open letter to this paper. Doing my part, I just e-mailed the Editor of the page where these cartoons appear. He is Robert Johnson, e-mail: rjohnson@nypost.com

We must demand better public discourse than this.

The Economy - there IS work to be done

2009-02-27T22:29:00.002-05:00

I'm still around - so busy it's hard to find time to blog although there's no shortage of topics.

The economy seems to be topic #1. We had a local job fair recently - attendance was far beyond what the organizers had expected (around 2,000 people). The local paper had a mini-interview with one attendee, a former student of mine (who I believe has his Associate's Degree now). He was applicant #1,872 for a dish washing job at a local restaurant! Imagine - that many applications for a dish washing job! The host venue also received around 1, 800 applications for the jobs they had available.

Not that there is any shortage of work to be done in this country. There are so many societal needs and problems that we should find ways to get people to work on those. Of course we need teachers, police officers, firefighters, and librarians. We need to keep those we have and hire more! We need workers to upgrade our infrastructure - the stimulus plan seems to address that area - generally through money the states will get. But that's not all

We need more social workers to handle the terrific number of cases our social service agencies have. We need more of them to guide people through the system to resources and get them empowered toward self-sufficiency. We need more transportation for the disabled. This would mean jobs as drivers, aides and dispatchers. We need more people to care for the elderly who need such care. If we can have these folks cared for in their own homes, they would be better psychologically, families would be better served, and society would be helped budget-wise compared to nursing home care. One focus of the Middle Class Task Force is "green jobs". How about jobs cleaning up the environment? Too many of our rivers are still polluted, and too often our air isn't of the quality it should be. And of course there are more skilled, hazardous jobs that need to be done - cleaning up sites that have toxic waste. And how about jobs preserving our historic buildings (if that doesn't count as infrastructure)?

So it's not as if there isn't stuff to be done, work that could truly make a difference. Now, can we just figure out how to get people to do them?

Inauguration Day

2009-01-20T23:36:00.002-05:00

Thank God that the Bush Administration is over at last!

Although there are so many challenges ahead, it is a day for hope.

Gaza

2009-01-06T00:04:00.001-05:00

Please pray for the people of Gaza. Please pray for some relief for the civilians and a speedy and permanent cease-fire.

The Slience was Deafening

2008-12-07T02:38:00.002-05:00

All last weekend I was upset over that "Cold Case" episode. I couldn't believe that something so insensitive would actually be aired! When I mentioned it to some co-workers and others, no one seemed to have heard about it. Maybe CBS thought that on a holiday weekend, folks wouldn't be paying attention.

What also upset me is that there seemed to be little discussion of it - at least not that I could find on the Internet (and I heard nothing on tv about it other than those awful promos). That LeBron James Vanity Fair cover controversy seemed to generate more. I'd expected to see many organizations condemning it, some prominent individuals, too - but none that I could find reports of. I just couldn't believe CBS was getting such a free pass. Well, at least Sunday Night Football came out ahead of it in ratings. Thank God for that, I suppose.

The irony of it is that I never would have thought that this particular show would be guilty of something so inappropriate. I've watched it and enjoyed many episodes. They've had a good track record of dealing with racial issues on the show; have two African-American cast members. I wish the entire cast had stood together and just said "We won't be associated with this."

I find I can't watch this series and enjoy it anymore. I'm not sure what I'll watch after Sunday Night Football, but it won't be "Cold Case."

Turn off "Cold Case"

2008-11-28T23:50:00.002-05:00

To everyone -

I urge everyone to turn off the show "Cold Case" - at least Sun. night. This is a show I've watched in the past but probably will not again.

When I saw the promos for the new episode scheduled to air on Sun. night, I was so upset and shocked that I was unbelieving and speechless. The story line concerns an African American politician whose slogan is 'Change' and who gets murdered. I just don't know how those who came up with this could be so insensitive. It is certainly in extremely poor taste.

I further urge EVERYONE to contact CBS, local affiliates and whoever else might help. I think that it might be great idea if they were to pull this episode. We just don't need this sort of bad taste.

A Hopeful Sign

2008-11-22T21:55:00.002-05:00

It's not often we actually hear any good news these days, but in the newspaper today, I did run across an item which spoke to me of hope.

Bob Jones University has now put a statement on its website apologizing for the segregationist policies it followed in the past. You can read the entire statement here.

I find it hopeful and refreshing that they would be open about this. I think that things like this clear the air. I also hope that the University's future directions continue to show progress in being sensitive to all students.

And it's delightful to have something positive to report!

P. S.
Did anyone notice I missed my annual birthday greeting to our second President? I'll have to work up a belated one in the next few days or so...

Mayanmar Yet Again

2008-11-22T21:01:00.003-05:00

I'm sorry to say that Myanmar is still in the news for brutally abusing human rights.
Around 150 people were given sentences - from 2 - 65 years. Many were held in secret, sometimes with no counsel present. Why? These are protesters for democracy and/or against the brutal military junta.

A leading comedian, who helped distribute post-cyclone aid and gave interviews critical of the government's slow aid efforts, was given 65 years. 65 years! For a comedian! Medieval kings showed court jesters more respect than that!

It is estimated that around 2,100 political prisoners are now held. And that junta has nerve to say they want to be on a road to democracy? How could anyone believe that?

A lone brave soul, Min Thein, staged a silent protest near the headquarters of Aung San Suu Kyi's prodemocracy party, the National League for Democracy.

I am outraged, saddened and frustrated that this situation is still without remedy. I just e-mailed the U. N. Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (e-mail: (InfoDesk@ohchr.org).
If you go to the Human Rights Watch link on the left, you can look up more background information.

Do everything you can to keep this in our public consciousness, and also pray for the people of Myanmar/Burma.

Digital TV

2008-09-27T21:20:00.002-04:00

Wow! A second post this month!

Last weekend I took my cousin shopping for a new digital tv. We noted that even converter boxes will not work once a complete switch to digital is made in 2012. As we were shopping it hit me. What are the working poor and those in real poverty going to do to continue to receive the broadcasts? How are they going to be able to afford even one of these new sets? This time, they will have converter box coupons to use which will help with most of the cost. A new digital set (even a small one) is much more pricey. I really hope that Congress can get its eyes off Wall St. for a while and start considering a program to help people afford the next switch.

I wasn't sure what Congressional Committees work on this, but I did find that a Congressman from Massachusetts, Congressman Edward Markey, is Chair of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet. He has held hearings on the Digital transfer, so I figured he would be a good elected official to contact. I just e-mailed his office tonight. I will let you know if I get any response.

Disrespect of Civil Liberties

2008-08-28T23:46:00.003-04:00

We can never stop being vigilant in defending our civil liberties. During the just-ended Democratic Convention, a reporter for ABC News was arrested while working on an investigation. Protesters have also been subjected to poor treatment. You can read a brief report here.

I was understandably appalled and have been e-mailing my sentiments. I e-mailed the Mayor of Denver and the Democratic Party. I also e-mailed the NBC Nightly News to ask they cover this.

I hope that we Americans stand up and say "No More!" to such disrespect of our freedoms of speech, protest, and press. We are supposedly a free, not a totalitarian society. We need to fight hard to keep it that way.

I think that for too many Americans such freedoms are just abstract ideas. People are so worried about other things, like the economy. But these freedoms won't be so abstract if your own personal expression is next in the line of attack. We need everyone to make sure it does not get to that point.

Enough Darkness Already

2008-08-10T22:04:00.002-04:00

Hello if anyone's still out there.

I hope that at least some of you are boycotting the Olympics. I am (well, after advocating everyone boycott, I don't have much of a choice, do I?) Blog or not, I just can't in all good conscience watch, knowing of the repression in Tibet and that the Chinese government helps prop up Myanmar and doesn't help to end the horrible situation in Darfur.

Well, on to the main topic for now. Since I don't live in a cave, I notice that "Dark Knight" is just shattering all kinds of box office records. I just don't get it. I just don't see why people are drawn so such a dark story line - with such a dark villain - and our late Heath Ledger's performance seems to be the draw (I'm sure he did a fine job - I just don't care to see this one...). Why are we now so preoccupied with darkness? And it's not just movies, of course. Lately this musical artist and that one's new albums have been described as darker. And the "Heroes" show this coming season is certainly going to be much darker than before. You can count me out of that one. Although I did watch that show at the beginning, I stopped sometime during the first season as it just got too dark for me. And then there were the horrific story lines of "Law and Order: SVU" last season. Great cast, but I got turned off by too much - darkness. I won't even get started on the video games that are so violent I feel like taking a shower after just reading about them.

It just seems to me that the villains are so much darker now- so much more cold, calculating, amoral, sociopathic, whatever. Of course the writers are seemingly making these into the more interesting characters.

Some may disagree, but I feel that all this darkness and violence can't be psychologically healthy. Certainly most people aren't going to commit such outrageous acts, but for those who are vulnerable these bombardments don't help. I also feel it must not be healthy for our society as a whole. I don't know where all this fascination with darkness comes from - but it seems to me it points to there being some fundamental problem with our culture.

Here's what I would suggest:
People - for goodness sake, leave the darkness behind and stop buying tickets for such dark movies, leave the ultraviolent video games on the shelf, and look for music and other entertainment that has some light in it! Stuff that doesn't do great box office, get terrific ratings or sales won't be around, so support some alternatives.

Writers - there have got to be ways to make decent heroes more interesting. You can indeed hold our interest without a lot of violence. So write story lines that involve us, that keep us on edge without being so over the top violent, dark or shocking. Yes, it can be done.

So please, some light, folks.

Olympics

2008-03-19T17:47:00.003-04:00

Hi - anyone out there?

The recent events in Tibet have brought this topic to mind again. I usually watch and enjoy the Olympic Games, but I will not be watching this time. A report in the news today said that sponsors are beginning to face pressure from activists. Today I wrote to Coca-Cola, McDonald's and Lenovo - some of the Olympic sponsors. Their websites should be easy to find - so I don't think I need to put them here - with my dial up it would take so long to load them and check.

Previously I'd written the USOC and NBC which will do the broadcasting. I would urge everyone to boycott watching the games, to let the sponsors know, and to encourage everyone you know to do the same.

What Is Going On Here?

2007-12-28T19:49:00.000-05:00

We need to ask ourselves what is going on right here in America. Please read.

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/12/27/6007/

Birthday Greetings

2007-10-30T23:09:00.000-04:00

Again it's time to send Birthday greetings to our second President. Happy Birthday to John Adams! We could use some of your spirit now to help solve the problems of this country. Maybe you could somehow send some decent advice to the current administration; they surely need it!

I've started David McCullough's award-winning biography of our birthday boy. I haven't gotten too far as there never seems to be enough time to settle in to read, but I am already very impressed with the painstaking research McCullough did. I should also note here that just recently we lost George Grizzard, the actor who so wonderfully portrayed John in "The Adams Chronicles" miniseries.

Although I have visited Quincy and the Adams sites, I still would like someday to revisit and attend the Presidential Wreath laying ceremony. Maybe one year they'll have it on a weekend day and I'll be able to somehow get a way up there. Meanwhile, here's a link to the sites to check out.

Free Burma!

2007-10-04T18:57:00.000-04:00

More on Myanmar

2007-09-30T14:31:00.000-04:00

While reading some web news yesterday about Myanmar/Burma, one poster on the abc news discussion suggested finding out what corporations do business in Burma and so help prop up the junta. Well, there is a news report about that very topic today. Chevron is a U. S. corporation involved. I e-mailed them to express my concern. You can read the article here. I hope that many will let these irresponsible corporate citizens know that we hope they will do more to help this oppressed people.

Myanmar

2007-09-29T21:33:00.001-04:00

Dear Readers:

I am so heartbroken about the situation in Myanmar/Burma. The Burmese people need your prayers and your solidarity.

In addition to news from the regular media, check out the blog of a Burmese expatriate here.

The United Nations will be having a special session on Oct. 2. I e-mailed them to press them to help end the repression. If you go to the United Nations site, there will be a link to e-mail when you click on 'comments' at the bottom of their pages.

Also, if you go to the Amnesty International site, they have an action link for Myanmar with a sample letter to cut and paste into an e-mail to the Minister there urging humane treatment of those arrested, etc. They have the e-mail link and the fax number there that you would use.

We need to stand solidly for human rights all over the globe. With the crackdown in Myanmar, stifling of some protests in Pakistan, we need to be constantly on the alert.

The Emmys

2007-09-17T21:54:00.000-04:00

I knew there was a good reason why I went with the football game last night. From what I've read about the Emmy Awards, I'm so glad I didn't watch them. I really don't like 4-letter words so I wouldn't have appreciated all the bleeping that went on. Then I read of Kathy Griffin's speech (apparently mostly cut from the broadcast, however). I hardly have words to describe how awful I think it was. Although I defend her right to such speech, in no way can I condone what she said. I think it showed no taste, no class, no respect whatsoever. And she defends this as being "funny" - and a great Emmy speech? Intellectually, I can say, ok, Freedom of Speech rules. Emotionally - my gut says give the award, show, live performances, platform to someone else. Someone who has some taste and respect for others' religious values.

Has our society gone so far down that these kind of antics and humor are considered acceptable? I'm sorry, but I find what went on pretty offensive. I get tired of these celebrities trying to shock and so keep pushing the envelope. Please show some shred of decency and common sense.

And to the rest of us: I think stepping away from the altar of celebrity worship would help. Let's stop reacting to every controversy, stop applauding bad language, and stop winking at bad behavior.

The Snooping Needs to Stop

2007-08-05T21:23:00.000-04:00

Hello - anyone out there?

It's hard to believe I haven't posted since January, but life does get crazy sometimes. Unfortunately, there always seems to be much material I could write about if I could be more "disciplined", I guess.

Today, though, I am angry enough to post. I am angry that Congress (especially Democrats who were more afraid of a veto than concerned about civil liberties) expanded the scope of warrantless wiretapping. I don't understand why they cave in to a President who has no respect for the checks and balances of our Constitution, our civil liberties, or the common people, period. I am angry that no one seems outraged. Wake up, people!

Then I received an e-mail of this article and felt I had to post the link and urge everyone to read it. Maybe it will cause someone who had been unaware or unconcerned to be more alert and active.

The link: http://www.consortiumnews.com/2007/080207.html

My Action List for the New Congress

2007-01-04T23:56:00.000-05:00

So the new Congress is in place and there's buzz about a "100-Hour Agenda". Ok, I endorse that; it's a start. But there's quite a lot more to be done:

1. Global Warming - with the polar bear threatened, penguins adjusting habits due to climate change and even a "tongue" of Canadian arctic ice breaking off from Ellesmere Is., it can no longer be denied that this is indeed a planetary threat. We need to get get into the Kyoto Protocol and start taking some leadership for addressing this immense problem. If we don't, I have the feeling many others won't matter.

2. Iraq - get us out of there. Get U. N. Peacekeepers in if possible, get the Iraqis doing the job, just stop letting our men and women face danger in this quagmire.

3. Violence - we need to take steps to stop the violence that seems to be infecting our cities, especially. What about having some sort of summit or networking session to help law enforcement and community leaders find solutions? We also need to commit more money for police and for rehabilitation programs.

4. Civil Rights - for heaven's sake - recall that detainee bill, restore Habeas Corpus, and make sure that detainees have fair legal hearings and close Guantanamo. For privacy's sake - stop warrantless wiretapping and snooping. I just saw a snippet of a report where they were opening mail. This practice needs to be curbed and snooping should ONLY be done by court order. Fix the Patriot Act and stop snooping on what people borrow from libraries!

5. Poverty - I don't know of easy solutions, but funding more rehab (so many impoverished are addicted) and more education, training, and mentoring programs would be a start. Get good affordable child care and public transit. Those things can help people as they seek to rise.

6. Education - start scholarship programs so that students can attend college without going into debt. If the government could start the framework and provide some seed money, I would think that people and organizations would be willing to donate. Hire more social workers to help students cope with the pressures and problems of society they are too often faced with.

7. Accountability - listen to ordinary Americans. Members of Congress (as well as other officials such as the President and the Cabinet) should hold regular town hall meetings. Be accessible to regular folks, not just lobbyists. Pay attention to demonstrations and protests, don't be so insulated from them, even if you disagree.

Christmas Bonuses - for Some of Us

2006-12-16T23:19:00.000-05:00

I saw a report on NBC Nightly News that said Wall St. Christmas bonuses would be quite generous this year. Hmmm. It also said that (if I remember correctly) 66% of workers don't receive such bonuses. There was also a report in the Phila. Inquirer recently that said the South Jersey food bank was hurting because there is such a demand for food to help families make ends meet; increasingly these families are the "working poor". And I found out today that the one local "strip mall" raised the rent on the Dollar store (a Mom-and-Pop store, not a chain) so it will be going out of business. Word is that a Dollar store chain will take its place.

Why isn't it clear to everyone that our priorities are out of whack? We give lavish bonuses (and tax breaks) to the wealthy; to everyone else - just crumbs. It just keeps getting harder and harder for anyone to own their own store or small business. We're being overrun it seems with franchises and big corporations. One major concern about that is that decisions are too often made at the corporate level without knowledge of local trends. Another is that our choices are too often swallowed up as "little guys" cannot compete with the big retailers. If your favorite brand isn't one of the top sellers, well, good luck having it stay available.

Can we imagine a world where more people are economically empowered? I think it's time to start.

I'm Back, Sort of

2006-12-16T23:03:00.000-05:00

If anyone's reading this, you know I haven't posted to this blog for a while. Things have been particularly crazy at work this semester; there's been so much to do on weekends; and there was the little matter of having to get a new heater and oil tank. I'm not sure how much time and energy I'll still have for this, but I may not give it up just yet. There's so much I probably could write about if I were more motivated, it seems.

I even missed my man John Adams' birthday. Well, Happy Belated Birthday, Mr. President! Hope you're praying for this country from the other side.

The Shameful, Tyrannical Detainee Bill

2006-09-30T19:35:00.000-04:00

Like many, I am unbelievably upset that Congress passed this horrible piece of legislation. I am astounded that so few of our elected Representatives and Senators have no backbone and caved in to a power grab by the administration.

Please read posts by Jane Smiley, Molly Ivins, and Joshuah Bearman.

If you do not share these concerns yet, I would advise you to wake up, and to do so very soon.

I was especially disturbed that my two Senators - who I thought were pretty good - joined the Republicans in passing this bill. I wrote to them and expressed my extreme disappointment. I would advise anyone whose Senator or Representative voted for this atrocity let them know this is unacceptable. And do not let the GOP get away with continually playing a fear card and using 9/11 as an excuse to shred our liberties.

Merely coincidences...

2006-08-22T23:09:00.000-04:00

I think everyone should view the Keith Obermann video in which he lays out some very "strange" coincidences of political events and terror warnings. I sort of felt that there were some very eerie coincidences - or are they- going on. It seems as though someone else has noticed in a much more organized fashion than I have. It's well worth watching.

To view the video go here. Scroll down for Keith Obermann/Politics and Terror. There are a variety of links for different viewing formats.

We should all be aware and insist that politics NOT be played with security and terror warnings.

Is There Something Going On?

2006-08-22T22:10:00.000-04:00

Recently it seems that some Yahoo groups were shut down, apparently by Yahoo itself. At this point any information I have is very sketchy. It seems that it was groups critical of the administration who were affected. I have also heard that it was not just Yahoo groups affected but some other groups and blogs have been shut down as well. I think we should all ask what is going on. Is this just the work of hackers? If so, why should they be allowed to shut down someone's mode of communicating with a wider audience? Is it deeper than that? Is there some movement to deny these venues to liberal groups and writers, to dissenters? If so, we'd all better wake up and stop this in its tracks before it's really too late for all of us.

If anyone has more information, please post a reply as I'd really like to know as much about the situation as possible. If there is anyone whose group or blog has been affected, I'd really like to hear from you. Thanks to all in advance.

The GOP must be in trouble

2006-07-21T01:19:00.000-04:00

I figured that when Pres. Bush decided to finally address an NAACP Convention that something must be up. Why now? Why hasn't this happened before? It struck me that the GOP must really be in trouble! I'm thinking that until now the present make-up of the party never felt the need to really go after the African-American vote with any kind of enthusiasm. A very recent poll suggests that there might be real trouble for the GOP in the November Congressional elections.

While it may not be totally bad to get some attention from the Republicans - at the very least it may nudge the Democrats from taking us for granted - I hope voters remain wary at this point. I don't feel as though the policies of the present administration and Congress are helpful to the country as a whole, let alone African-Americans who face a greater share of economic and social challenges. I hope that people will not be diverted (I thought Robert Smigel's cartoon on SNL about "The Divertor" (or something like that) was certainly on target) by such non-issues as gay marriage.

Excellent Article

2006-06-29T22:41:00.000-04:00

In the Truthout.org archives is an excellent article by George Lakoff, Mark Ettlinger and Sam Ferguson. It's definitely worth reading, digesting, and acting on!

Arrogance

2006-06-29T22:09:00.000-04:00

I certainly don't find much to like about the President, least of all his arrogance. The Supreme Court rules that the administration's plans to try detainees in military tribunals violates both U. S. law and the Geneva Conventions. The Supreme Court says a better alternative would be military courts-martial which affords defendants rights similar to civilian courts.

But Bush vows to pursue some sort of military tribunal and Sen. Frist wants to introduce legislation to do just that.

Such arrogance. When told what they're doing is overstepping the law, Bush and Co. just want to do whatever fits their plans. I'm amazed and appalled that there is not more outrage about this dangerous, yes dangerous, and un-Constitutional way of thinking.

Wake up, people! No one, no one, especially the President, should set him or herself above the law. Why are we tolerating illegal wiretapping and snooping into financial records? Why is no one upset about signing statements negating parts of legislation he doesn't like? When will the public see that this is the wrong road to pursue? When will people realize we've sacrificed too much liberty in the name of the 'war on terror'? When it's too late? My advice to everyone is open your eyes, NOW!

Economic Inequity - Again!

2006-06-23T21:16:00.000-04:00

Unbelievable! The Senate has blocked a minimum wage increase. The Senators (mostly Republican) who voted against this should be ashamed. I hope people take a look at how their Senators voted and hold them accountable for standing up for working families.

Meanwhile, everyone should work to have their states raise the state minimum wage. NJ has passed a raise, and PA has just passed one.

This is only economic fairness. How can you support a family on a wage of around $5.15? This also comes as news breaks that the average CEO makes $11 million per year as compared to just under $42, 000 for an average worker. This means the average CEO makes around 262 times the wage of an average worker. These figures come from the Economic Policy Institute and are based on 2005 wages and compensation. The EPI also says that the buying power of the minimum wage is at a 51-year low. You can read more about their analysis at the EPI site.

So why won't our policy makers do the right thing and give the working poor a boost?

More on the AC Scandal

2006-06-23T20:36:00.000-04:00

Found here is an excellent article by Peter Daou which explains why we should all be concerned that the media is giving a platform to the hate-mongering of Ann Coulter.

Another note to Bushwack since you ask why no one says she's wrong. Maybe we Liberals take for granted that people will know we disagree with 99.99% of what she says. I'm not sure what rational points she makes. From the little snippets of her writings or interviews, it seems to me as though all she does is hurl insults.

I think it's beyond decency to say that a Congressman is the reason soldiers invented fragging (assassinating an unpopular member of one's own unit). To even suggest that happen to another human being is way over the line. I can only imagine the outcry is someone Liberal or even moderate had said something similar about a figure they consider unpopular.

Those who are concerned about the media and fairness can also visit mediamatters.org. There are many great articles and resources there.

Ann Coulter

2006-06-16T17:53:00.000-04:00

In case you haven't noticed the rhetoric in this country recently hit a new low. Syndicated columnist Ann Coulter is now attacking 9/11 widows and claiming Liberals are "Godless".

I certainly think it's bad form to attack the women who have lost husbands in such a tragedy (I think the Inquirer suggested she went after them because they backed Kerry!). What I really want to comment on, though, is her totally baseless thesis that we Liberals are "Godless".

As I mentioned in one of my early posts ('Why I am a Liberal', found in the March 2005 archives) my faith has been a definite reason for my Liberal views. Jesus says we are to love one another; I see her constant vitriol as quite the opposite.

What also concerns me is that her book is a best seller and she got cheers on Jay Leno. Has the mood of our nation become such that this sort of baseless, classless attack is what people like? Maybe it's just me, but I cannot see how anyone can buy (literally, as well as figuratively) such garbage.

I would urge EVERYONE to reject such rhetoric. You might want to write a letter to the editor refuting such views. You may also want to let her syndicate know that you don't appreciate her going over the line (I did). Info can be found here.

Let's Investigate

2006-05-20T21:40:00.000-04:00

I want to know where all the real investigative reporting has gone. Dateline - I know that your "To Catch a Predator" has done good work, but how many episodes do we really need? Do we really need more celebrity interviews (usually when he or she has a movie opening) or murder mysteries? As for local news - can we cut back a bit on weather stories and cover another news story or two?

I would like to see an investigation of gas prices that doesn't whitewash the oil companies. I would like to see an investigation of why property taxes are so high (I believe NJ has the highest in the country) yet the state and almost all municipalities and school districts have budget crises. I want an investigation of what is happening with our civil liberties. I want real answers as to what went on with this domestic spying business. I also want an investigation into the implications of RFID technology for us and our privacy as consumers.

I want investigations into secret prisons and torture that will be covered in the mainstream press as well as nightly news and not be brushed off. We cannot turn away from facing up to what the U. S. has done that would betray the freedom and values we preach.

I want an investigation as to why social mobility in this nation is stagnating. A recent report said that such mobility in the U. S. has declined. That means someone born poor usually will remain poor; someone born wealthy usually will stay wealthy. I want an investigation on this and on why and how the middle class is being squeezed. Some reporters from the Philadelphia Inquirer did a series on the squeezed middle class some years ago. You don't see much about this topic in the mainstream media much anymore.

I want an investigation as to what we're doing or not doing to help the situation in Darfur. BTW, did anyone see the reports of the recent rally for Darfur held in Washington, DC? Some of the faculty and students from my college attended. I observed (and this was echoed by one of those faculty members) that I thought the only reason that rally got any coverage on the evening news that night was that George Clooney was one of the main speakers.

I want an investigation as to what stories we're seeing are not really news stories at all, but promotional videos furnished by either the government or businesses with something to sell. I'd read about this and really didn't take it to heart until I recently saw a "health" report which I believe to have been such a video.

Those are a few ideas for starters. Maybe if we do less coverage of celebrity gossip and promotion of network programs on the news, we'd have a bit of air time for such stories. The next challenge would be to get people to tear themselves away from American Idol for the five minutes it would take to make themselves aware of such issues.

Stand Up Against Spying

2006-05-14T00:20:00.000-04:00

I know it's been quite a while since the last post, so I hope some of you are still out there. It's been a very hectic spring and things are just slowing down enough for me to vent about the latest outrage, the fact that the NSA has collected phone records on millions of Americans.

What kind of country are we becoming? Sometimes I feel like shouting to people: Why aren't you outraged? Why don't you see the dangerous road we're headed down when privacy and civil liberties are given such little regard? I just don't understand why we're letting our officials get away with this. War on terror? Homeland Security? I don't buy it for one moment. Anyone still under the illusion that the administration really wants to protect us better remember that proposed Dubai Ports deal.

Yes, this collection of phone records should have every single one of us infuriated. Even if no names were given the NSA, they would be easily figured out, according to experts. And once that happens, they could find out lots and lots about you (or yours truly - that I most frequently call my friend, my cousin, and my place of employment). OK so I'm law abiding and my life is rated probably - well, let's just say that it's NOT rated R - but that's not the point. The point is that the government should have NO business snooping on law-abiding citizens, with no suspicion the specific person has done anything wrong, without a warrant or any kind of court order.

We all need to stand up and to urge Congress to stand up and demand an end to such practices. You can go to the ACLU website and sign a petition to the phone companies to tell them to stop cooperating with the program (I did and I also wrote directly to my phone company, Verizon). The site also has a link to find the phone numbers of your Senators. They suggest you call them and urge them to cut funding for this program until more answers are forthcoming. They also suggest you urge them to oppose S. 2453 and S. 2455 which would effectively reward this highly questionable program.

Please take action; we can not just stand by and be apathetic. We must stand up for civil liberties NOW.

Happy Anniversary

2006-03-20T22:05:00.000-05:00

It hardly seems possible, but today is the first anniversary of Cinnamonblue's Blog! At times I've wondered if I'd keep it up this long, but I'm still here - when I have the energy to post!

Thanks to all who have found a way to this cyberwindow. It's about communication and empowerment. I hope to foster dialog, discussion, debate. We need not shy from openness and not always sharing the same point of view. Real trouble starts when one point of view is afraid or not forward enough to speak up. I sometimes feel we Liberals are too lax in trying to respectfully advocate for what we believe. I hope that people will feel outraged enough, energized enough, or tired enough of the status quo to take some action to make some positive changes. The problems we have didn't happen overnight; I really feel part of the problem is that so many of us just didn't get involved enough to head them off.

I know we're all busy. I know we all have many things to deal with personally. But if we take the time to do SOMETHING - even for one issue we care about - maybe that, along with the efforts of others, really can make a difference.

Champagne, anyone?

What We Watch

2006-01-27T19:13:00.000-05:00

What we watch on television (and also movies, video games,etc.) has been on my mind recently. I think everyone's heard of the controversy surrounding NBC's "Book of Daniel" and it's cancellation. No, I didn't watch it - NUMB3RS on CBS which aired opposite it is one of my very favorite current shows and I just couldn't miss THAT!

But it did lead me to think about what I watch, and about what is on television these days. The other week I had on "Law and Order - Criminal Intent" - the episode with guest star Michael York. This episode had a graphic scene where Michael York's character dispassionately had one of his proteges (who seems to finally revel in it) murder someone. Then, in a recent episode of "CSI: Miami" the story centered around a serial killer who of course, did his deeds with relish. The show also had some pretty bloody scenes.

Those scenes really got me upset. I didn't really change channels as there was nothing much better on at the time (yes, I know, I really should get cable), but those shows really left me with a bad feeling. Of course whodunits have been around forever - but the kind of violence now seems different. The villains are too dispassionate, too many characters are really amoral, few ever show any type of real remorse. I really have to believe that constant exposure to this type of entertainment has to affect people. (The American Psychological Association is concerned about the effect of violent images and lyrics on youth, and has called for a reduction of violence in video games.)

I wonder why we take shows like those I've mentioned above in stride - but things like "Book of Daniel" seem to get right-wing groups upset. I wonder why they aren't protesting shows that are excessively violent and graphic. I wonder why writers don't come up with something better; I know they can! I wonder why we don't demand better programming.

Maybe we should all think more deeply about what's playing - and demand and look for better choices.

The Domestic Spying Outrage

2006-01-20T18:25:00.000-05:00

I am thoroughly outraged by the recent uncovering of domestic spying by the NSA. I am even more outraged by Bush's defense of this as necessary for the war on terrorism. I don't buy that for a second. I feel it is disgraceful for him to always use the "war on terrorism" as some smoke screen for trampling on civil liberties and privacy.

First, I don't believe that we should ever compromise civil liberties for some claim of helping national security. I am stunned that this administration continually tries to circumvent our Constitution and the separation of powers. It is especially troubling in this case as there is no reason for them not to follow the law. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act even allows for immediate emergency taps for 72 hours before getting court approval. Surely this is not so burdensome that the NSA can't comply. Second, there appears to be some doubt that the program is even effective. A New York Times article says that the NSA provided the FBI with literally thousands of names and contacts that led to innocent citizens or dead ends.

We need to let Congress know that it needs to provide more oversight of this agency. We need Congress to insist that the President and the Executive Branch adhere to the laws of the land. NO ONE should be above or outside the Constitution and U. S. law. We need Congress to hold real, meaningful hearings on the subject. Better yet, Congress should appoint a special commission to look into the matter. We can also hope for a positive outcome of lawsuits filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Constitutional Rights.

Let your Congressional representative and your Senators know you are outraged about this and want it to end. Get your family, friends, colleagues and neighbors to do the same. We must all stand together and let Washington and the entire nation know that this program is unacceptable.

Madame President

2006-01-15T23:13:00.000-05:00

Have you heard of the two women who will indeed be "Madame President" in their respective countries? Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf takes office tomorrow as President of Liberia. This article tells of some of the challenges she will face. Michelle Bachelet has just been elected as the next President of Chile. She will become her nation's first female president and the first popularly-elected female president in South America.

So why has the U. S. not yet elected a female President? Why have other nations had female heads of state, but we have not? I often wonder about this as I feel women on the whole are better off here and have more opportunities than in many other places. For that matter, why have we not yet elected a President from one of our more diverse ethnic or religious backgrounds? (Oh, I keep forgetting, it was just in my lifetime that we finally elected a CATHOLIC President!)

I guess that since we're SUPPOSED to know better now, I keep hoping that the pace of progress should speed up a bit. I really think it would do us good to elect a leader of a more diverse background. It might shake things up a bit (Heaven knows our current political system needs that!), might open things up, might give more of us a stake in the political system.

Meanwhile, let's demand better of our leaders, let's demand more responsiveness to the problems of everyday Americans. Let's not be satisfied with business as usual - the poor response to hurricane Katrina, the mess that is the Medicare drug program, wiretapping without court warrants, a President who says critics of the war are less than patriotic.

Fight Renewal of the Patriot Act

2005-12-09T18:07:00.000-05:00

My, my - another post. I think if I had more time and energy, I'd post more often as there always seems to be another outrage coming along. This is a big one! Congress is close to adopting a renewal of the Patriot Act which would extend, permanently, many measures which adversely affect our civil liberties and privacy. We all need to contact our Representatives and Senators and urge - demand - that this conference legislation not pass. They need to rethink any renewal of this legislation and scrap the notion we must sacrifice liberty for security.

Sen. Russell Feingold is leading the opposition. Please let the Senator know you support his efforts. Please also spread the word and get more people involved. You can read more on this here .

My Birthday Present

2005-12-09T17:19:00.000-05:00

My birthday is tomorrow - 12/10! That means I want presents, lots of them! And you can make sure I get them. I'm not talking diamonds and champagne (although if someone would like to buy me a new PT Cruiser, I probably wouldn't refuse that!), but something else. You see, tomorrow is also Human Rights Day. I would like EACH of you to commit (and follow through!) to doing something for Human/ Civil Rights. Sign a petition, write a letter to the editor about an issue, contact your Representative or Senators, march, serve, donate, or do SOMETHING to help in the cause! We can't just sit idly by and watch these rights be trampled here and around the world. Everyone needs to stand up and start making a difference. It will take all of us, so each and every person must do what he or she can.

So put pen to paper, get on the telephone, take to the streets and work on those birthday presents!

Petitioning to End Genocide in Darfur

2005-12-09T16:41:00.000-05:00

Recently my college's Amnesty Club (yes, they started a student branch supporting Amnesty International!) circulated petitions to the President to end this genocide. I was able to get 10 signatures to fill one petition and give it to the students. Even though it may not be the most effective thing (I wonder sometimes if such petitions ever really have an effect), it made me feel as though I'd done SOMETHING for the cause. It was also a good feeling to support the students - they were quite appreciative of getting that filled petition. You can download one and have people sign, too. This campaign is found at africaaction.org . Find your way to the Darfur Campaign and it's "take action now" section.

There is another step we can take as well. We can urge our Congressional Representatives and Senators to support the Darfur Accountability Act. The House version is H. R. 1424 and the Senate version is S. 495. Maybe, just maybe, our combined efforts might start to make some positive changes for these fellow humans going through such trials.

Yet Another Outrage

2005-11-26T00:33:00.000-05:00

I wasn't aware of this until I saw tonight's episode of NOW on my local PBS station. Earlier this month, the IRS warned an Episcopal Church in Pasadena, California that its tax-exempt status could be in jeopardy. The reason? An anti-war sermon preached last year. Read about it here.

I could hardly believe this. This is a very troubling development. David Brancaggio's excellent guest discussing this was the Rev. Madison Shockley of Pilgrim United Church of Christ in Carlsbad, CA. He said it was quite cynical for the IRS to target this church, when so many evangelical churches were quite active for Bush. I might use other words. The Rev. Shockley said he would not be cowed into changing his messages and he felt that other progressive clergy felt the same way.

It is events such as this which are continually happening during this administration that keep me upset about the direction this country is headed. It is important that we guard the right to dissent. It is vitally important that we guard the right of free speech and not compromise it - not for national security, not for fear of being labeled unpatriotic. It troubles me that this administration always seems to want to silence criticism. It's scary and also not very smart. Always thinking you're 100% correct is a recipe for getting into messy situations.

I hope that each person will open his or her eyes to the abuses of this administration and its allies on the extreme right. Find out what the issues are and stand up for more progressive, inclusive and less repressive ways of dealing with our society's challenges.

I hope specifically that people will be interested enough to find out more about this situation. All Saints Episcopal Church has a website where you can read about their viewpoint (their Rector's Nov. 13th sermon is worth reading) and offer support. Rev. Shockley is a columnist for the L. A. Times. You may want to read some of his columns.

Word Verification - Please Read

2005-10-30T22:21:00.000-05:00

To everyone -

I just took the step of turning on word verification for comments. This means that if you want to leave a comment, you will have to type in the characters you'll be presented with. This is to stop spam comments. It is in no way meant to discourage any real, honest comments; I fully encourage - and value those!

It's a shame that spammers always want to spoil things.

Happy Birthday, John Adams!

2005-10-30T19:16:00.000-05:00

The Birthday Boy

Posted by Picasa

Today is the day to wish a happy birthday to John Adams - yes our second President! I never thought too much of him until the Adams Chronicles came on tv. I so enjoyed that mini-series and found out what a great person he was. Although he certainly wasn't a very good president (sorry...), he had lots of good sense and integrity, was anti-slavery,wasn't afraid to say what he thought, and was quite a liberated guy for the times!

Following the series, I fairly DEMANDED that my parents take me to see where he lived. So that summer we went to Quincy, MA. We visited the museum; went briefly by his birthplace and the house he moved into when he married Abigail - where son John Quincy was born. We took a tour of the main house. That was incredible - to actually see where they lived and all those family heirlooms. Most impressive was probably the library. That was a separate building lined wall to wall, floor to ceiling - three books deep. We also saw where he, Abigail, John Quincy and his wife Louisa were buried. This is in the basement of United First Parish Church in Quincy. I was actually able to touch the marble enclosing their coffins.

John Adams was a fairly quotable guy. To commemorate his day, here are some of my favorites:
First, three we should heed today:

"There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty."

"Facts are stubborn things, and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence".

"Power always thinks it has a great soul and vast views beyond the comprehension of the weak."

Another one to think about:
"Liberty, according to my metaphysics is a self-determining power in an intellectual agent. It implies thought and choice and power."

And here's one I wish our Supreme Court had believed:
"Property is surely a right of mankind as real as liberty."

Being an educator, I find his views on education stimulating:

"Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people."

"There are two educations. One should teach us how to make a living and the other how to live."

"I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain."

Finally, some good advice for all of us:

"Old minds are like old horses; you must exercise them if you wish to keep them in working order."

Happy Birthday to you, John Adams; hopefully somehow in cosmology you're getting these vibes!

Vote of Shame

2005-10-29T20:19:00.000-04:00

By now, most of you have probably heard that the U. S. House Agriculture Committee approved budget cuts that would cut food stamps entirely from around 300,000 people and cut school lunches and breakfasts for approximately 40,000 children. This comes as it was reported that the people who cannot afford enough food rose - to 38.2 million in 2004! Read about this shameful vote here and you can also read more details of the proposal at this site.

I ask, how in good conscience can these supposed representatives of the people vote to take food from those who need it so much? I ask, how did it get to this point? How did so many of us slip into poverty? How are we letting our representatives get away with cutting programs to aid them, yet vote tax cuts for the wealthy and tax breaks for corporations? I ask, why aren't we outraged?

Ladies and gentlemen, I ask that you get outraged. Find out where your representative stands on this issue. Let him or her know that you favor restoring these budget cuts that would hurt the most vulnerable among us. Don't stop there, but please spread word about this to as many people as you can. We need to put as much pressure on the House to restore these particular cuts as possible.

Why are we even debating this?

2005-10-25T19:05:00.000-04:00

How can anyone believe that it is somehow acceptable to torture in the name of our country? How can anyone think that we, as a supposedly civilized society, should do anything but condemn its use by any of our forces or agents?

Still, there is pressure from the White House and from the Vice-President to weaken language (by excluding overseas clandestine forces not under the Pentagon) in the defense bill, now in negotiations to reconcile differences in the Senate and House versions. The Senate version contains language from Sen. John McCain which would ban the use of "cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment" against anyone in U. S. government custody no matter where held.

How can we even pretend to lead the world toward freedom and democracy if we don't set the standard for civilized treatment of prisoners? How can we ignore international bans on such practices? How can we condemn such behaviors in other countries and not take steps to make sure that the abuses of Abu Gharib prison are never repeated by American forces or agents?

I urge everyone to contact their Senators and Representatives and urge them to support Sen. McCain's language and to vote against any weakening of it. In particular, you may wish to contact Sen. Stevens of Alaska and Rep. Young of Florida who are leading the negotiations.

William Bennett

2005-10-01T20:16:00.000-04:00

Will someone please tell William Bennett that this is the 21st Century, not the 19th. What he said was beyond reprehensible (if by some chance you have not heard about it, go here). What he was saying is that he equates blackness with criminality. What an affront to the law abiding, good citizens of every ethnicity. I'm truly angered and saddened that people still have such racist attitudes in their hearts.

What Mr. Bennett fails to understand is that for America to truly progress, we must stand as one people. We must support each other, mentor those who need it, and promote economic policies which help the middle, working and underclasses. We need to somehow stop fostering a culture of violence and to teach better ways of resolving conflicts - both in our entertainment (which many researchers do feel has an effect on our young people) and in our communities. We need to affirm that "American" refers to all of us and that we all have a stake in solving these problems.

Developments in China

2005-10-01T20:08:00.000-04:00

Did you notice that China is placing new restrictions about what news can be posted on websites? Read about it here.

I'm dismayed that the Chinese government feels the need to restrict the access of its citizens to all information. Let's be vigilant and make sure that we keep access open here in the U. S.. Remember that what someone doesn't want you to read may very well be something you absolutely should read!

The Missing Press

2005-08-27T21:38:00.000-04:00

Please visit here and read the article by Paul Craig Roberts. Also please pay attention to the quote at the top of the page: "Only a free and unrestrained press can effectively expose deception in government." - former Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black

And This is 2005?

2005-08-21T22:10:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I wonder if we humans really have entered the 21st Century. I saw this news report of a professor in my state who told a racist joke in class.

To me, this is totally unacceptable. As an educator myself, I feel it is my job to open the minds of my students to education and my subject matter, not to make them feel uncomfortable or turn them off. Educators must set a high standard for students in creating an atmosphere of acceptance of students regardless of ethnic or cultural background. I feel that all educators need to practice the philosophies of two of my grad school professors; Dr. Adams who always said that once she had a student, that was her student and she took full credit for that student; and another lady (whose name escapes me), who always expressed to us that she thought teachers should be the head of a classroom family. I can also proudly say that my Mother, an elementary teacher, certainly practiced those principles in her classroom. I really don't know what this fellow was thinking - or NOT thinking.

I could also go on about the state of humor here. Sometimes I think our humor gets too mean, too "in your face". I find racist jokes certainly the most objectionable. I like to see humor build bridges between people who can laugh at some common human foibles. Humor that belittles others certainly has no place in the classroom.

Attention NJ Residents

2005-07-29T21:04:00.000-04:00

All NJ residents should be aware that there is a bill in the legislature which would address concerns in the use of eminent domain which have occurred recently. The bill is S2739 and is sponsored by NJ State Senators Diane Allen and Mia Gill. It would prevent the use of condemnation to take occupied homes which are up to code. Jenny from Sen. Allen's office, I hope I have this correct!

Please get involved; this issue is too important for people to stand on the sidelines. You can contact Sen. Allen and Sen. Gill to tell them you support their effort and thank them for sponsoring this. You can also contact your State Senator and ask him or her to support this or even to be a co-sponsor.

Please don't sit back; homes of our fellow citizens are at stake. Someday the home you want protected may be your own.

Women's Health Alert

2005-07-16T18:10:00.000-04:00

I was really shocked at this latest news concerning the birth control patch, Ortho Evra. Read about it here. I'm stunned that this is just coming out now. I don't understand why this didn't ring any warning bells earlier.

This, along with the problems with Vioxx, et al., cause me great concern. I wonder just how committed the FDA and these drug companies are to giving us SAFE as well as effective medications. I think we need more safeguards, more people not afraid to blow whistles - and better protection for whistle blowers. I know we want medicines for various purposes "yesterday"; but maybe we should slow down just a bit so that more problems don't occur in the long run.

In the meantime, I think I would advise women considering the patch to think twice. And advise any woman on it to consult with her doctor very soon.

New Features to my Blog

2005-07-07T23:50:00.000-04:00

If you've noticed, there are two new features to Cinnamonblue's Blog. Below each post now is an envelope icon. This is a link which allows you to e-mail the post to a friend.

Also, I downloaded Google's Picasa and companion Hello programs so I could load that picture of London. I may post pictures to supplement posts from time to time.

Now, is anyone out there?

London

2005-07-07T23:36:00.000-04:00

As with so many around the world today, my thoughts and prayers go out to the people of London, especially families of the victims of terrorism. It's agonizing, saddening, and numbing to see such violence inflicted against innocent people.

London is a great city. My Dad and I visited there in 1977 and I really loved it. To me it felt almost not like a city; the parks, squares, and openness of its layout made it seem less like a huge metropolis than something a bit more personal. It's proved its resilience through the ages. Bless the city and its residents in this latest test.

Posted by Picasa

Blogging is Subversive?

2005-07-02T02:25:00.000-04:00

Wow- a three-fer today.

I was just browsing through some blogs tonight and came across an item in one referencing something I'd just vaguely heard about.

In China, they are now requiring that all blogs be registered (though apparently, this wasn't easy to do) - one requirement of which is the removal of links not approved by the Chinese government (this even includes their friends' websites!) Apparently blogspot blogs are being blocked from use - as well as those of some other providers. Also, Microsoft is censoring text used by Chinese bloggers - words such as "democracy" or "human rights" are not to be used (Yahoo! and Google have been censoring as well). You can read about some developments here .

As a blogger myself, and a firm believer in free speech, I am very troubled by such developments. We can only imagine what it feels like to have your free expression controlled or totally blocked. We had also better be concerned that in current repressive atmosphere which has so little regard for civil liberties that this does not happen here!

Muktaran Mai Follow Up

2005-07-02T01:10:00.000-04:00

I thought I might see if there were any new developments in this case, so I just visited the site of the Asian-American Network Against Abuse of Women. The news is relatively positive. The Supreme Court of Pakistan has apparantly issued a favorable ruling. Also Ms. Mai will be in the U. S. to take part in seminar in Houston today. There will be a webcast available at 1:00 p.m.. You may access this at the organization's site.

O'Connor is retiring...

2005-07-02T00:55:00.000-04:00

I'm probably not the only one who was shocked at the retirement of Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one concerned as well. The prospects of the type of Justice the President might propose and of a nasty and protracted partisan battle are not pleasant ones. I hope that we put enough pressure on the White House AND on the Senate to make sure that the nominee is mainstream and decent, not extremist! Make sure that YOUR Senators know we don't want an extreme right-wing idealogue to take the place of someone like Justice O'Connor who has helped keep the Court somewhat centered.

An Eminently Troubling Court Decision

2005-06-23T20:55:00.000-04:00

If you haven't heard, your home is no longer your castle. Today, in an unconscionable decision (5-4), the U. S. Supreme Court ruled that cities and towns can take homes for private development projects by use of eminent domain. I'm going to have to pinch myself and ask if I'm still in America!

Eminent domain was supposed to allow governments to take (with compensation) property for public use such as roads, schools, libraries. Now the door is open for seizure of homes for private developers. The case heard before the Supreme Court was brought by a group of homeowners in New London, CT, who are fighting to keep their homes from being taken for a private development project to complement a facility owned by Pfizer, Inc..

I literally felt shock and outrage when I first read about this. I feel it is probably the worst Supreme Court decision since Plessy v. Ferguson or Dred Scott. I bless the 4 dissenters: Chief Justice Renhquist and Justices O'Connor, Scalia and Thomas (wow - he actually got one right!) Justice O'Connor wrote in her dissent: "Any property may now be taken for the benefit of another private party. The beneficiaries are likely to be those citizens with disproportionate influence and power in the political process, including large corporations and development firms." She is absolutely correct. Justice Thomas wrote in his dissent that it will have a great impact on poor communities undergoing renewal programs. He wrote that "no compensation is possible for the subjective value of these lands to the individuals displaced and the indignity inflicted by uprooting them from their homes."

Ladies and gentlemen, where is the outrage? Do not wait until it is your home that your town wants to seize. I urge you to take action. Contact your Senators and Congresspeople and urge a legislative remedy. Contact your state representatives and also lobby for a remedy on the state level.

Flag Amendment

2005-06-22T18:47:00.000-04:00

Today, the House passed an anti-flag burning amendment. It may not be the most popular sentiment, but this saddens me. I love this country, and personally respect our flag. I do not like the sight of our flag being burned. However, I must agree with the Supreme Court who declared that burning the flag in protest is protected free speech. We must guard our right to free expression, even though we find some expressions personally offensive. That's what free speech is all about. Isn't that part of what we're supposed to be fighting for and standing up for around the world? When a piece of cloth, symbolic though it may be, becomes more important than the Constitution and the civil liberties that are supposedly central to the American way, it's time to look at our priorities.

I hope that it does not pass in the Senate. I would urge everyone to contact their Senators and urge them to vote against this measure which would erode more of our civil rights.

Howard Dean

2005-06-22T00:10:00.000-04:00

What are we to make of Howard Dean? Personally, I like him. Granted, he may need to phrase things a bit more diplomatically at times, but I find his "tell it like it is" spirit refreshing. As I've said before, I'm tired of everything being so scripted and politicians being so scared they might actually say something! I liked his reply to Dick Cheney's remark (which doesn't seem to have drawn the same scrutiny). Dean said, "I don't care if Dick Cheney likes my mother or not. We are going to fight back. I think it's great that Dick Cheney went after me, to be honest. At least they notice there's a Democratic Party that's not going to put up with this stuff any more. So there's a lot we're gonna do." Given the GOP attacks, it's about time the Democrats got some fighting spirit!

Actually, I'm amazed that the media jump all over Dean's controversial remarks yet never challenge the Right-wing candidates and pundits who trash the word Liberal and paint Liberal candidates as extremists. I also wonder why no one notes that his remarks have not seemed to provoke any sort of soul searching among Republicans. Often remarks we don't particularly enjoy hearing still have a grain of truth. Trying to be diplomatic here, why aren't more Republicans saying there may be a need to look at why the party is perceived in some of the ways Dean has mentioned. Why aren't such remarks provoking a discussion of having the Republican party be more inclusive racially, socio-economically, and politically (i. e., strengthening its Moderate wing and attracting (gasp!) Liberals back! There is a growing frustration in the "moderate" wing of the GOP which could be tapped into.

Meanwhile, I hope that DNC Chairman Dean stays passionate yet finds ways to express this a bit more effectively. We need his fire to help a more progressive agenda get adopted and progressive candidates elected.

Blocking Bolton

2005-06-20T22:39:00.000-04:00

So far, efforts to block the nomination of John Bolton as Ambassador to the U. N. have been successful. However, the President is considering a "recess" appointment which would not need Senate approval and which would last until Jan., 2007.

We need to keep the heat up and let the Senate know that such a nominee is unacceptable. I'm not sure why that Bolton, who has shown disdain for the U. N. in the past, would want to go there. There are also questions about his possible intimidation of officials who disagreed with him and about the possiblilty of his involvement with exaggeration of intelligence data.

Urge your Senators to vote against confirming Bolton as U. N. Ambassador. Also, please e-mail the President and urge him not to use a recess appointment.

Another Outrage Du Jour

2005-06-19T19:37:00.000-04:00

This administration's attitude toward scientific information troubles me. There was Phillip Cooney who edited passages of a global warming study to diminish the link between greenhouse gases and global warming. Now scientists who have retired from the Bureau of Land Management report that a scientific analysis was changed. Specifically, passages critical of relaxing grazing regulations for cattle were eliminated or altered. Read their story here.

I feel that it is very important that decisions affecting our precious biosphere be based on a) truthful information and rigorous science, and b) a true concern for protecting our environment. Native Americans (I'm part Delaware) always have a reverence for Mother Earth. We - and our decision makers - need to remember that in the words of one Native American, "What we do to the Earth, we do to ourselves."

It seems to me that this administration falls short on adhering to both of the above criteria. We need to demand that our decision makers be held to higher standards than altering scientific reports to support a conclusion that they support for some reason, even if the data does not.

Women Still Face Unbelievable Injustice

2005-06-18T22:46:00.000-04:00

I have been shocked, saddened and outraged by some cases of extreme injustice against women recently. Around the world, women still face many hardships such as lack of education and struggles for daily survival. They also face many injustices and indignities brought on by powerful male-dominated societies.

Very recently, an Indian woman, Imrana Bibi, was raped by her father-in-law, divorced and abandoned by her husband, yet ordered to live with her attacker! In this article, she says she will never live with her attacker and describes her ordeal.

Another famous case is that of Muktaran Mai, who was ordered gang raped to avenge something one of her brothers did. Most of her attackers are now free and she has been fearful of retaliation. On top of everything, she has been a virtual prisoner; it seems the government does not want her to move about freely and tell her story. Last week, it appeared as though she would be allowed to visit the U. S. and give a series of talks organized by the Asian-American Network Against Abuse of Women. As of today, the President of Pakistan has stopped her from coming. At their website, the Network has updates on her case, sample letters to the President of Pakistan, and a link to an e-mail form to Pres. Musharraf. Please visit their site and e-mail the Pakistani President to urge him to allow her to move freely and visit the U. S.. Contacting our Congresspeople would be a good idea also.

The Plight of Stray Animals in Iraq

2005-06-04T17:39:00.000-04:00

When I first started thinking about doing a blog, I toyed with the idea of calling it "Outrage du Jour" (Daily Outrage), since this administration always seemed to be doing something I found objectionable. This latest unspeakable and unnecessary cruelty is no exception.

Animal lovers, please take note and take action. The Humane Society of the U. S. reports that our armed forces have been ordered not to keep or rescue stray pets in Iraq. Those who do face severe penalties; the pets face even worse. Soldiers have confirmed contractors have been hired to actually kill dogs found on bases. Some pets have been smuggled to safety, but those routes are being slowly closed off. For anyone who cares about animals, this is an unjust action targeting innocent animals whose only crime was to be a stray and to be rescued and adopted by service personnel. In some cases, units have been ordered to shoot strays on sight - not even letting them have a chance to be rescued. I can't imagine how they can justify this action against animals who have probably been separated from their human companions and want no more than to either be reunited with them or find another loving home.

Please read about this at the HSUS site and take a moment to send a message to Pres. Bush and ask him to rescind this order.

A Plan to Save?

2005-06-03T19:46:00.000-04:00

Today I think I'll take a break from politics and relate my experience trying to save some money on my phone bill. A few months ago, I signed on to a regional package with Verizon. I "thought" this would save me money, but quite the opposite was the case. I didn't realize this package was on top of their "basic charges", which meant this effectively doubled my bill!

So this afternoon I tried managing the maze of phone plans and automated customer service phone lines. It was a challenge just to get a live person at Verizon who could finally change my service back to the minimal package I was on BEFORE I changed it. I also didn't realize that the local lines are controlled by Verizon and ATT - who apparently don't have to share them! So much for competition.

Although I can get some great deals in long distance, that's not the major part of my phone bill. Those "basic charges", such as the FCC subscriber line fee and the wonderful fee I have to pay for the privilege of having a subsidiary line for my computer are what's killing me! I did investigate switching to ATT, but to switch both lines would have cost me almost $130! I told the gal at ATT I thought that would be highway robbery (and yes, I did use those exact words).

After dealing with all of this I am still on Verizon for my local calling (on their minimal flat rate plan), and I took a plan with my Internet provider for my long distance. And I'm still wondering when everyone will stop gouging the consumer.

Calling Some Senators

2005-05-23T11:26:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since my last post; I definitely was in an end-of-the-semester rush. I have, however been following developments in the possible use of the "nuclear" option to end filibusters of Federal Judicial appointments in the Senate.

I can't believe that this is even being considered. It goes against giving the minority party any checks and balances on these very important appointments. I don't believe that any judge should be confirmed just because the majority party puts his or her name forward. The way Sen. Frist and company are going about this is also against Senate rules. People for the American Way has a good explanation here.

This morning, I called several Senators to urge them to vote against any nuclear option. I was able to leave messages at the offices of Senators Chuck Hagel, Richard Lugar, Lisa Murkowski, Ben Nelson, Gordon Smith, Ted Stevens, and John McCain (who has said he would vote against it). I also called Sen. Frist's office and left a message that I thought trying to do this was a terrible idea.

If some of you read this and have time to contact some of these Senators before a vote on this - possibly tomorrow, 5/24, I would urge you to e-mail them or call their offices. I was unable to reach the offices of Sen. Collins and Sen. Warner (who are two key Senators on this issue). The U. S. Senate site has a directory of contact information.

We should all watch closely as this unfolds as we need to keep some checks and balances on majority power.

Is "Public" still in PBS?

2005-05-06T23:53:00.000-04:00

Read here about what is going on at PBS.

In another report I received via e-mail, two recent appointees to the CPB board, Gay Hart Gaines and Cheryl Halpern have been major donors to conservative causes. Although the CPB Board is not supposed to interfere with PBS programming, there is tangible concern that this is what is on the agenda now.

We desperately need PBS to "balance the voices that dominate the commercial media" - that from the Fairness and Accurate Reporting group. The voices dominating commercial media seem to be increasingly corporate oriented - tending to the Conservative or Right-wing. We need the type of news and events coverage that only PBS can provide. We need a source of news and programming that will truthfully examine the issues of the day. We need news shows that will tackle issues that the more commercial media will not. After all, how many reports of the Michael Jackson trial, the runaway bride, and Paula Abdul do we need? We need programming that is independent, not subject to censorship. We need programming that will truly inform and enlighten, not just repeat spin. We do not need PBS to be another outlet of propaganda. We need PBS to truly be public broadcasting.

Darfur

2005-04-24T17:24:00.000-04:00

The situation in Darfur is just unbelievably horrific. I suppose that is why I hadn't posted about this previously. It is sad that the international community has basically allowed these atrocities to continue. Recently, a group at my college has begun organizing a chapter of Amnesty International; they are hoping to get the college community to help create awareness on this issue - hence this post.

Amnesty International USA has a very good page containing a late update on the situation and some links for action. Please take a moment, educate yourself, and act.

Pay Equity Day

2005-04-19T23:07:00.000-04:00

Today (what's left of it) is "Equal Pay Day". This day symbolizes how far into the next year women must work on average to earn as much as men earned the previous year!

Today is a good day to reflect on the problems women still face in the workplace. Discrimination (yes, still in 2005), the glass ceiling, the sticky floor, and less monetary value placed on "women's work" such as child care, all contribute to the problem.

Today is a good day to remember that many women are either the sole support of their families or provide a vital part of family income. By expanding the choices women view on their horizons, by allowing them to progress as far in their careers as their talents can carry them, and by compensating them fairly, not only women, but families and society will greatly benefit. Families will have a better standard of living and society will feel the impact of their fully utilized capabilities.

The Coalition of Labor Union Women has an Equal Pay Day site, as does the National Committee on Pay Equity.

Now Hear Us!

2005-04-13T23:22:00.000-04:00

While reading about the 2005 Jefferson Center Muzzles, something I'd thought about previously came to mind. The Muzzles cited both major parties for their treatment of protesters. The right to protest and dissent is central to our democracy. It should be cherished, not stifled. We should all be concerned about the treatment given to protesters. The next hot issue may be one which makes us want to join a protest. How would we care to be treated?

The thought that occurred to me, however, is that I wonder just how effective such protests really are. Lawmakers and decision makers are very insulated from us now. There are so many layers of security, lobbyists, and staff between ordinary citizens and our representatives that it's difficult for us common citizens to make our voices heard. Town hall meetings with the President are filled with partisan crowds, so very little real discussion of issues is heard. I'm not much on going to marches, but I do often send e-mails or letters to national and state officials. I wonder how effective even that is. We need to find ways to (civilly, of course) break through and get our decision makers to pay attention. Maybe they should be required to visit a grocery store at least once a month. They could meet us and see the challenges some people face in order to feed a family. Maybe there should be "People's" press conferences (regularly, not just during debating season) where ordinary folks are selected by lottery to ask questions. Maybe there should be some limits on the access lobbyists have. Maybe, as was mentioned earlier, there should be real campaign finance reform. What do you think?

Happy Birthday, Thomas Jefferson!

2005-04-13T22:56:00.000-04:00

I know it's getting late in the day, but Happy Birthday, nevertheless to our Third President. He reminded us that freedom of speech "cannot be limited without being lost."

Let's remember some more thoughts of Jefferson's as his birthday celebration winds down:

"Educate and inform the whole mass of the people...They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty."

"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent."

"I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."

Those are excellent observations that all of us should remain mindful of.

On or around his birthday, the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression gives out the "Muzzles" to those who have tried to stifle free expression. Go here - or use the link in the side bar - to read about the 2005 Muzzle awardees. I found the story of the high school valedictorian who stood up for her right to free speech against the school who earned a Muzzle very inspiring.

Journalism Under Fire

2005-04-09T20:31:00.000-04:00

I truly believe that an independent judiciary is crucial to our system of government. I believe that a free and independent press is as well. That's why I hope the courts would lighten up and not force journalists to reveal confidential sources. Jim Taricani, a Rhode Island reporter was just freed today after serving a sentence of home confinement for not revealing a source. I believe that if a source needs confidentiality, this should be honored. Sometimes, that is the only way the person may feel comfortable about providing information. Without this type of information, often the public would not be completely informed. I want a press that is not afraid to investigate and question everything, especially the government!

Here's another article about recent developments in this area. I hope that we all will support the establishment of a federal shield law for journalists.

Keep the "Third Branch" Independent

2005-04-08T19:35:00.000-04:00

I'm very concerned about the rhetoric and posturing that has been going on concerning our judiciary. Yesterday, the religious right had a conference on "Confronting the Judicial War on Faith". I wonder if these folks care about what the Constitution says. Rep. DeLay (who has "threatened" judges recently) and others want Congress to interject itself into the judiciary system.

At this point, everyone's alarm bells should be ringing. The Constitution of the United States created 3 independent branches of government, so that there would be checks and balances on power. For Congress to intervene or otherwise pressure the judiciary as they are proposing would compromise an independent judiciary, which is vital to our democracy.

I'm with Sen. Minority Leader, Harry Reid. The Sen. is quoted as saying, "I believe in our Constitution. I believe in the separation of powers doctrine. I believe that the Founding Fathers were wise in developing these branches of government - executive branch, legislative branch, judicial branch - one having no more power than the other".

Another Threat to Online Privacy

2005-04-08T18:18:00.000-04:00

I'm a fairly upstanding person, but I still value what little online privacy I may have left. I'm always complaining about "cookies". I won't accept them unless absolutely necessary. Although they are "supposedly" to help a website remember you (why?) or remember what pages you've visited if you're ordering from them, I suspect their real purpose is just to track our movements on the web. In fact, one of the tech support people at my ISP told me he thought there was no such thing as a good cookie.

I'm also alarmed at the personal information some websites want if they make you "register" to use them. For example, both my local newspaper and the Philadelphia Inquirer ask for your birthdate! Ok, so maybe I shouldn't be so sensitive about my age, but there is another reason I haven't registered with either one. In an age in which we have to guard against identity theft, a birthdate is sensitive information that we shouldn't have to give out just for some registration purposes. We all ought to be concerned about the availability of personal information in this digital society. For example, this article investigates how information brokers sell social security numbers, often with little or no verification that the request was legitimate.

Now, getting back to cookies. It seems a company, United Virtualities, has found a way to restore cookies that have been deleted from hard drives! Their system uses Macromedia flash player. You may want to read this and use the link provided to get information on adjusting your flash player settings.

We need to let our legislators (state and national know) that we are concerned about privacy issues and want legislation to address them. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of CA has introduced several pieces of legislation that could help consumers with some online privacy issues.

P. S. I also e-mailed United Virtualities to tell them I was not fond of their cookie-busting technique. Links are current as of today, 4/8.

H. R. 27 Alert

2005-04-04T22:18:00.000-04:00

I'm continually outraged at many recent events. On March 2, the U. S. House approved H. R. 27, the Job Training Investment Act. That sounds good, but in this latest update, certain anti-discrimination language pertaining to faith-based employers has been removed - specifically, there is would be no protection against such employers discriminating on the basis of religion. As of now, these employers must comply with all Federal anti-discrimination guidelines.

This has been opposed by People for the American Way (read their statement here ) and The Interfaith Alliance (their statement is here - scroll down their list of press releases).

Shouldn't recipients of Federal dollars consider all job candidates equally, regardless of religion or creed? Remember, our tax dollars would be funding this. As PFAW points out, the functions of worship and providing community services can easily be kept separate, so there is no real reason to have such employers be exempted from observing the guidelines others are subject to. The bill is now being considered in the Senate. It might be a good idea to let your Senators know how you feel on this issue.

We Need More Openness

2005-04-04T00:21:00.000-04:00

For anyone who hasn't read the reports, here are two more articles highlighting the trend of this administration toward media manipulation and stifling dissent. The first is by Helen Thomas, a very respected journalist. The second is by Ron Hutcheson of Knight Ridder.

When someone first told me that (at least some) audience members in Bush's campaign events had to sign loyalty oaths, I didn't believe it. However, this has been fairly well documented. I can't believe more people aren't outraged about this. Helen Thomas also mentions some questionable media practices by the Bush camp which have recently come to light. This makes me wonder why the media are so compliant! I can't remember where I read it now, but I read an article contrasting the coverage of protesters against the administration and protesters for Terri Schiavo having her feeding tube reinserted. Groups protesting administration policies barely get noticed, while the other group was given quite a lot of coverage. We need a good, free and independent press; I hope that more journalists will stand up to ensure that Americans have full and correct information with which to make decisions.

Open access to independent information, and open discussion, including dissent, are essential for democracy to work. Have we forgotten this? We preach democracy around the world; the best advertisement for it would be its full practice here at home.

Never off the Clock?

2005-04-02T19:34:00.000-05:00

Work is work and home is home (unless you work from home...), right? There are some employers that are regulating - at least tobacco use - quite closely. Here is an article with some highlights of what has been going on. It should be available for the next 14 days.

Is anyone else troubled by this trendzoid? A commissioner in Montgomery Co., PA wants to propose that the county create a policy of not hiring smokers. Weyco, Inc. (mentioned in the article referenced above) actually demands that employees not use tobacco even when not at work, going so far as to require random tests. A Michigan State Senator is drafting legislation to make it illegal to discriminate on the basis of a worker's LEGAL activities outside the workplace (unless it would infringe on his or her ability to do the job or if there's a conflict of interest with the organization). My state, NJ (one of 29) does have such a law.

I'm not a smoker; I've been known to tell folks that "It's not good for you". I would advocate that anyone who can quit this habit certainly should. However, I find these stories very troubling. Employers already have so much control over our lives, to have them exert more control over our private lives is a clear erosion of our personal freedoms. As Al Lewis suggests in the article, we don't know what they might start regulating next.

Do no Harm? Pass No Judgement?

2005-04-02T00:38:00.000-05:00

If you've been paying attention, maybe you've noticed more salvos of the culture war in the health care field. There have been reports of pharmacists not filling prescriptions because they had some moral objection to the drug involved (often contraceptives). First, there is some good news. Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich approved an emergency rule requiring pharmacies to fill contraceptive prescriptions with no hassles given to the client. Under the rule, if a pharmacists objects to filling the prescription, another must step in and fill it. Hopefully a permanent rule will be ready by the time this rule is set to expire.

Now the bad news: the Michigan House passed a bill which would allow health care workers to object within 24 hours to providing a service they are personally against, or protest providing a service to someone they have a personal objection to.

I can't believe this. Why would a person go into a helping profession if he or she doesn't want to help people? That means providing care without imposing judgement, in my opinion. I had to be on the pill for a while when I was in college. The reason had nothing to do with contraception. I needed that prescription to regulate my cycle. I can't imagine how I would have felt if I'd been hassled by a pharmacist about using them, or what might have happened if that prescription hadn't been filled.

There is great danger for abuse here. Single people might be denied contraception because of some moral objection of the pharmacist. Morning after pills might not be as readily available to rape victims. A patient might be denied care if the patient's sexual orientation or lifestyle conflicts with the beliefs of the health care provider. Having these moral beliefs is a personal privilege, but when providing services necessary to enhance and sustain life is concerned, I feel we should do so without discrimination based on them. My job is to teach all of my students - not just the ones who fit my own mold of morality. We must be vigilant and make sure that the job of providing good health care is done on a nondiscriminatory basis.

Name for Sale?

2005-03-29T23:31:00.000-05:00

Did you see the report of the woman who sold her name on Ebay? A casino bought her name, which she is legally changing to goldenpalace.com. Getting funds to send her children to a golf school was apparently a primary motivation.

While embracing the freedom that lets this woman change her name, I sometimes wonder if there is anything in America NOT for sale. The "selling" of names now seems somehow commonplace. Stadiums and theatres are named for corporate owners or sponsors. Even colleges change their names for donors (well, at least one of my alma maters did!). It's not just names, either. Someone was selling tattoo space on his or her body!

This "everything for sale" mentality definitely makes me shake my head. I find it very curious that anyone would give up their individual appellation for some corporation's . Corporate monikers have robbed many sites of names more meaningful to their communities. Events are often now known by the sponsor's names. We're bombarded with advertisements in those video monitors that keep popping up everywhere. The logos that are on most items we purchase make us walking advertisements. I wonder why we don't draw more of a line. It's hard to believe that we are so seduced as to sell things, such as names, that are more than mere possessions.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

2005-03-28T20:45:00.000-05:00

I've long been interested in civil and human rights. Maybe it's not a coincidence that my birthday (December 10) is Human Rights Day. This comes from the fact that the U. N. adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on that date in 1948.

Eleanor Roosevelt was Chairwoman of the U. N. Human Rights Commission at the time and was instrumental in its writing and adoption. It is readily available online; a nice presentation is here .

It is well worth the time to read it. Article 1 is a wonderful statement on the true spirit of human rights. Read Article 5 - I'm struck that some of those fighting the war on terrorism seem to have forgotten this. Some provisions of the Patriot Act seem to violate Article 9. Articles 18, 19, and 20 are excellent and ones we should cherish, protect and strengthen here in the U.S. as well as abroad.

Here it is, more than 50 years later, and some Articles, such as 23, 24, 25 are still idealistic dreams for too many around the world. Even in the U. S., our economy has challenged progress in these areas, to say the least.

Let us work, hope and pray that this remains a vital document and that individuals and nations never lose commitment to the spirit of this Declaration.

Why I am a Liberal

2005-03-26T22:23:00.000-05:00

I mentioned in the first post that I am an unapologetic Liberal. Maybe we Liberals don't do enough to let people know why we have this point of view.

I am a Liberal because of my faith. I see the teachings of Jesus - the concern for the poor, the inclusiveness He practiced (such as with the Samaritan woman at the well), and his commandment to Love one another - as pointing in this direction. I am amazed that this Christian Liberal viewpoint is too often ignored today. Not all Christians are Conservative or Right wing, by any means.

I am a Liberal because of the heritage of leadership from people such as Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, as well as other leaders such as Robert F. Kennedy, and the Rev. Martin L. King, Jr..

I am a Liberal because I believe Liberalism espouses programs more in line with the concerns of ordinary Americans - the middle class, working class, and working poor. I look at the policies put forth by the present administration and see mostly programs which benefit big business interests and the wealthy. While it is true that both sides are too dependent on special interests, I still feel Liberals offer more to ordinary citizens.

I am a Liberal because I see Conservatism too often associated with a repressive mode of thinking. I was really angered by the Republican campaign on "moral values". They seemed to only look at a few narrow aspects of morality - such as sexual morality - and tended to define things quite rigidly. I submit that there are other aspects to morality which I feel are more important when choosing leaders and making policies. Aren't there moral aspects to the decision to go to war and put American men and women at risk? Aren't there moral aspects to really supporting them with necessary equipment and good medical care here at home, should they need it? Aren't there moral aspects to economic policies? Aren't there moral aspects to respecting our civil liberties?

I am a Liberal because I truly do love this country, contrary to what some might suggest. I want this country to be great for all her citizens.

Blessings to all and a Happy and Blessed Easter to all who celebrate.

Poverty and Economic Inequality II

2005-03-25T23:15:00.000-05:00

Have you noticed it seems to be harder and harder to "make it" in this country? Many work more than one job to make ends meet. It's more difficult now for small, independent stores to be successful. I've lost track of local businesses that just weren't able to continue operating. Along with giving people more economic stress, I feel we're also losing something. If everything is a franchise or a branch of a chain, we're becoming more homogenized, losing local character and color. Decisions will be made in corporate headquarters that may not be the best ideas for local situations. And of course, our choices are becoming more limited, since not all manufacturers can meet the demands of big retailers.

Here's a very thought provoking article by Richard Manning who writes from Montana. Thanks for bringing it to our attention, Birdie!

I keep saying that businesspeople need to take a cue from Henry Ford. I wouldn't call Ford a great humanitarian, but he did possess a good sense of pragmatism. When asked why he paid his workers as much as he did, he replied that he wanted them to be able to afford the cars they were making. I wish we had more of that mentality today. As many have said, the minimum wage needs to become a living wage.

Genuineness and Messy Democracy

2005-03-23T23:15:00.000-05:00

I really appreciate genuineness. I love people who come across as real, flaws and all. A big problem with politicians is that there seems to be so little genuineness shown. Everyone seems to be afraid to be real. They might alienate some block of voters, they might alienate a special interest, or the opposition might seize on it and use it somehow against them. The conventions are so stage-managed and scripted today. The Democrats were really concerned someone might go "off message". Maybe a good "floor fight" might not be such a bad thing!

Does anyone remember the show "Mr. Sterling" (it only lasted a shortened season)? I particularly remember the episode in which the research of Sterlings' friend was taken out of context - which made the friend appear to be racist. Sterling was going to vote FOR him in a confirmation hearing, but his chief of staff said, "It's not about the truth anymore." She said it was all about appearance. I was struck by the fact that NO character in the show challenged that! It seems to be exactly like that in real life. Truth too often takes a back seat. For example, I could not get over how those "Swift Boat" veterans were given any credence at all!

I would love to see no more political posturing, a real discussion of issues, and a true desire to make things progress for ordinary Americans. Amy Gutman, President of University of Pennsylvania, champions what she calls "collaborative democracy". She says it can be messy - there can be very spirited, even heated debates. However, voices are heard and collaborative solutions are sought. Congresspeople and legislators, are you listening?

Poverty and Economic Inequality

2005-03-23T00:14:00.000-05:00

This topic honors the appearance of John Edwards on the Today show this morning to discuss his upcoming work on poverty issues.

Many people don't seem to believe the depth of the problem. Globally, it is a day-to-day concern of so many just trying to survive. A researcher, Milanovic, found that the richest 25% of the world's population receives 75% of the world's income. I found this in the atlas on inequality maintained by University of California Santa Cruz.

Closer to home, here in the U. S., only workers in the top 20% of wage earners experienced gains in real wages between 1973 and 1997. The top 20% of American wage earners in 2000 eaerned as much as the bottom 80% (that from the Census Bureau).

Edward Wolfe reported in "Recent Trends in Wealth Ownership 1983 - 1998", a study for the Jerome Levy Economic Institute (2000), that the top 1% of houesholds controls as much wealth as the bottom 95%!

All those statistics can seem overwhelming, even for this math professor! However, that is not the human face on the problem. And there are human faces. The human faces on the problem are the faces of people who come to my Church for a food bag on Tuesdays. The human faces on the problem are those of the community residents who humble themselves to request a Thanksgiving or Christmas basket so their families will have a better holiday. The human faces on the problem are those of students who can't afford to stay in college.

What can be done? I believe in the short run, we need to continue to support comunity outreach programs and keep our safety net intact (please, decision makers do not cut from food and nutrition programs). In the long run, we need to see that people get educated and see that there is something to aspire to beyond their present experience. One thing that bothers me as an educator is the poor condition of some of our schools - mostly in the inner cities. We want our young people to go to school, become educated, productive citizens. What kind of signal are we sending to them if their schools are dilapidated?

And I just have to wonder about this great disparity between the haves and the have-nots. I think about the few that have such great incomes. How many millions are enough? Couldn't some of those in the top 1% make do with, say a yearly income of 1 million instead of 2? 5 million instead of 10? How much food would that buy? How many police officers, firefighters, or teachers (ok, I am a bit biased here) could be paid?

I also wonder if tax cuts (which even the Wall St. Journal reported benefit mostly the wealthy) when we are facing a tight budget are really a good idea.

Some months ago, the Phila.Inquirer ran an article by Professor Robert H. Frank of Cornell. The article told of the economics and psychology of why the middle class is being squeezed. I e-mailed Prof. Frank to compliment him and received a nice reply that also made me sad. He said he had gotten many very vitriolic responses to his article. I don't understand why people are so uncivil! Online, I found a article based on one of his lectures which has a lot of the same information as the Inquirer arcticle and even more goodies. You can find it online . The website which hosts it has lots of resources for understanding issues relating to economic inequality.

John Edwards will be working on these issues and has started a thread on his blog for people to post their ideas on poverty issues. I posted (under the nickname everarden - if you can find it). If you go to his site, you will see a link to the blog.

I think I now know how to do links correctly.

Third Time's a Charm?

2005-03-21T18:08:00.000-05:00

Ok - One more time...

Women Watch from U. N.

Another Try at the Link

2005-03-21T17:41:00.000-05:00

I didn't quite get the link in correctly - you have to use HTML. Ok Here's another try:

U. N.'s WomenWatch site

Cinnamonblue's Blog

The Price of Bread

Occupy Poem

Happy Birthday, John Adams!

What About the Children?

The War Against Workers

Flag Day / Bill of Rights

I'm Just Sick

Hunger in America

Happy Birthday, John Adams

The Visitor

Who Would Sign the Declaratiuon of Independence Today?

Say What?

Happy Birthday, John Adams

Dissent, Protest, and Any Support?

This Time There's Some Noise

The Economy - there IS work to be done

Inauguration Day

Gaza

The Slience was Deafening

Turn off "Cold Case"

A Hopeful Sign

Mayanmar Yet Again

Digital TV

More Problems for Protesters at RNC

Disrespect of Civil Liberties

Enough Darkness Already

Olympics

What Is Going On Here?

Birthday Greetings

Free Burma!

More on Myanmar

Myanmar

The Emmys

The Snooping Needs to Stop

My Action List for the New Congress

Christmas Bonuses - for Some of Us

I'm Back, Sort of

The Shameful, Tyrannical Detainee Bill

Merely coincidences...

Is There Something Going On?

The GOP must be in trouble

Excellent Article

Arrogance

Economic Inequity - Again!

More on the AC Scandal

Ann Coulter

Let's Investigate

Stand Up Against Spying

Happy Anniversary

What We Watch

The Domestic Spying Outrage

Madame President

Fight Renewal of the Patriot Act

My Birthday Present

Petitioning to End Genocide in Darfur

Yet Another Outrage

Word Verification - Please Read

Happy Birthday, John Adams!

Vote of Shame

Why are we even debating this?

William Bennett

Developments in China

The Missing Press

And This is 2005?

Attention NJ Residents

Women's Health Alert

New Features to my Blog

London

Blogging is Subversive?

Muktaran Mai Follow Up

O'Connor is retiring...

An Eminently Troubling Court Decision

Flag Amendment

Howard Dean

Blocking Bolton

Another Outrage Du Jour

Women Still Face Unbelievable Injustice

The Plight of Stray Animals in Iraq

A Plan to Save?