Stepping Back a Bit!

Stepping Back a Bit!

My writing classes are teaching me that I need to stop blogging for awhile. I am so wrong on my approach that I must stop, learn, and begin again.

[ ... ]

Read between the lines!

Read between the lines!

Sen. John McCain is doublespeaking, but in a good way. He is saying yes, Cheney violated the Geneva Conventions and international law forbidding torture. Yes, he committed crimes against humanity that helped Al Queda. Yes, he destroyed our credibility worldwide. But no we should not prosecute him and his willing minions. We know the only way to stop this activity in the future is to bring justice to bear on the participants, but we shouldn't do that.

He in fact is saying we SHOULD but in the only way he can.

[ ... ]

HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM NOW!

HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM NOW!

Wow what a rally! The Organizing for America team worked up a wonderful "Health Insurance Reform Now" rally on Hampton and Elizabeth near I-44 this Sunday eve at the St. Louis IBEW Hall. The President of the Board of Alderman Lewis Reed, our County Executive Charlie Dooley, Labor Council President Bob Soutier and Rep. Russ Carnahan spoke at the event. It was so exciting and inspiring to see SO many people on the only moral side of this issue stand together and let their voices be heard!!

Of course the "teabaggers" showed up but the group was small and OUR event was organized to marginalize these very sad and misguided people. We chanted them down from across the street. They tried to make noise and distract but they were ineffective in their efforts. We were probably six times their number, maybe more. I am being "conservative" with that number LOL!

The most memorable moment was when I spotted the infamous Josh Schroeder in the crowd posing as one of us. Ya THAT Josh Schroeder that turns off the comment section on his blog when someone disagrees with him. I walked up to Schroeder and asked him if he was indeed who I thought he was. He was surprised someone would recognize him. I told him, "I know who you are!" And what do hypocritical teabagger preachers do when confronted with their arrogance and greed? They cut and run! I turned around to inform an event organizer that we had an infiltrator and poof he was gone. Oh well! To have gotten a picture of him with the Health Care Reform sticker oh his gravy stained green polo would have been classic!

[ ... ]

Back in the Saddle Again!

Back in the Saddle Again!

This has been a very rough week. School started with a BANG. I had to drop/add three classes. Then there was the accident on I-55. Things are getting better and I can start blogging again and reading the news.

I guess the most important topic on my mind right now is car safety. Put a fire extinguisher in your car. I cannot say that loud enough or long enough.

Second is the death of Ted Kennedy. A facebook friend said yesterday, "I am having a hard time mourning the death of the Hero of Chappaquiddick". You do not have to mourn him. Just keep your pie hole shut if you don't have anything good to say. Put his shoes on for just one second. He lost three brothers and a sister before he turned forty. After the accident Tuesday I can vividly imagine losing my sister, multiply that times four. These weren't just any siblings either. They were literally the cream of the cream, possibly the brightest and most talented people in our nation's history. And he had to try and carry on after them. No pressure Ted, no pressure.

More later. I have a most interesting class coming up.
Hopefully make flyers tomorrow and start pimping this blog!

[ ... ]

It is on!

It is on!

First day of school. The bus ride was noisy but friendly. Got here way early which is cool with me. I sit in a well lit room full of young people. The windows along the north wall remind me of another classroom long ago in a place so far away. The instructor is late. Oh noes!

[ ... ]

First Day of School!

First Day of School!

Tomorrow will be my first day of school since 1988. I am more excited than nervous. Finally completing my degree, Political Science with some IT and Spanish. Hopefully land a job in Jeff City. I am getting a teaching certificate just in case.

Getting fliers made tomorrow. UMSL Students, let your voices be heard!

Also have to join some student organizations.
Wow, this is so cool! Must not scare the neocons, must not scare the neocons! LOL, I am all about peace!

I cannot teach you violence, as I do not myself believe in it. I can only teach you not to bow your heads before any one even at the cost of your life.

-Gandhi

[ ... ]

The Face of Modern American Christianity

The Face of Modern American Christianity

Josh Schroeder is a Lutheran Seminary student. He is supposed to be studying the life and teachings of Jesus Christ as written in the Bible. Somehow he got lost. This is a teabagging minister with the compassion of a hacksaw and the charity of cold steel safe. When preachers work so hard to hurt so many it makes you wonder what books they are reading. Because the Jesus I read about was a communist, not an investment banker.

I posted this on his blog...I like the last line the best!

Hey preacher, what would Jesus do? 20,000 INSURED AMERICANS die every year because of denied treatment. That is six 911s every year. And "God" didn't tell the insurance companies to deny coverage, their greed did. Jesus was a socialist. The US is a socialist nation. Oh and you are socialist too, because everyone in the US benefits from government programs and regulation. Your kids eat clean food and drink clean water. Conservatives fought tooth and nail to keep that from happening. Public schools, days off, vacations, veterans benefits, a safe workplace, social security, medicare, decent working hours...all the benefits of socialism. Did you take any student loans out?

And finally, it was nine years ago that my best buddy from 4th grade died because his treatment was not covered by his insurance. He was a great guy and died a painful death.

Read your Bible, it might help you understand what it means to be "Christ like". Your tone is arrogant and selfish, your words are steely and callous, your mind appears nailed shut. Preachers are usually just parasites, you tend more toward the predatory!

[ ... ]

Listen to this Speech and live another day!

Listen to this Speech and live another day!

You are free to make this life free and beautiful!

[ ... ]

Sunday Morning Agnostic Reality Break

Sunday Morning Agnostic Reality Break

This morning we open our minds and read from the great philosopher Epicurus

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.

Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.

Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?

Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?

Think on that a few minutes.

[ ... ]

We admire and respect Barak Obama!

We admire and respect Barak Obama!

We do not want anyone to think this is an anti Obama site. I am all for this man. Politifact is tracking his progress. He is our best chance at some peace and justice in a long time.

The cards are stacked against the working man. The powerful interest groups that control our Government have us fighting each other, as usual, over basic issues. Obama may help our cause. It is imperitive that we push him to do what is right.

[ ... ]

Quote of the Day!

Quote of the Day!

Management is doing things right. Leadership is doing the right things!

-Peter Drucker

[ ... ]

Health Care for America Now!

Health Care for America Now!

We went to the Culture Cafe on the Delmar Loop to attend a solidarity meeting sponsored by Health Care for America Now. The very classy Culture Cafe has great food and it is CHEAP. It's attached to a very stylish salon and is adorned with art and books and posters. Real class.

We stood outside with the HCAN crew and asked the myriad "Loop" hipsters that passed us to sign our petition, and many did! Did not see ONE teabagger. Got to pass our new UMSL BLOG cards made that day by Creative Litho Inc. Never go anywhere else for your printing needs. They made me 250 cards in 3 hours and the price was right.

Spent the afternoon passing out fliers and talking to people. It was hot but fun and if we swayed one person, it was well worth it.

My growth moment came from a guy I saw at the Mehlville Town Hall a few weeks back. He was at this event and handing out fliers with the rest of us. His name is Brian, and he said something that I took to heart. As people walked by I kept saying, "twenty thousand insured people die every year because of undercoverage or denied coverage, you are not safe, that's six 9/11s every year." He advised me that the "be afraid" tactic might make us sound like the Right and their eight year long program of scaring Americans. I could not agree more. Thanks Brian and thanks to all who showed up to this great event. Leadership is action not position...and not scaring people.

[ ... ]

The Rich Get Richer and We Bicker over Reform!

The Rich Get Richer and We Bicker over Reform!

[ ... ]

We do not have to be afraid!!!!

We do not have to be afraid!!!!

[ ... ]

Grassroots Urban Renewal Rocks!

Grassroots Urban Renewal Rocks!

UMSL Blog went to the Urban Renewal Film Festival at the Black Bear Bakery hosted by grassroots community activist Mark Berry. I drank some coffee, watched some movies and was so out of place no one would speak to me, well almost no one! I did look like "Joe the Salesman" in my dockers and button down shirt. Midwest boring I was! They probably thought I was a cop!

This link details the independently produced films that were presented. The first film, "Buffalo ReUse: Building Community" was really well done, informative and entertaining. It showed how grass roots organizers had set up a non profit to "recycle" houses that would have normally been demolished, made money to pay for the operation by selling the reusable resources from the homes, trained people to work and grow, and had fun doing it. We got to hear from the organizers, the workers, the customers and people from the neighborhood. I would love to see the reaction of mainstream Americans to the efforts of these men and women making a difference.

The next film, "We Need Food not Bombs" was a real crowd pleaser. It showed how people working together could help feed the poor and how a city like Buffalo could still try and stimey their efforts. There were clips of their organization's marches and demostrations against the wars and how they were abused by the police. It was stirring without making the particpants look like weak and whining victims. They came off as wise and wary veterans of the ongoing struggle for peace and justice. I loved the flick.

The third movie, "We Own It" was a like a mainstream reality TV show about a co-op housing project in Buffalo. The "Real World" with anarchists and no sex. The film told the story of people getting together and securing a property, organizing the rehab, and filling it with tenants. It was mostly about the rehab. You could smell the old wall studs and sawdust, and the plaster and lathe walls, and feel the ancient floor creaking beneath your feet. It was realistic.


I didn't stay for the last film, I hit the gym at five a.m. so I was leaving as it was beginning. I did get to speak to a young lady named Emily, a bright and cheerful Washington University student. She had some unique insights about student activism in St. Louis. She contends that students are smart and educated, but only about what interests them. They are not encouraged to get involved beyond the "formalized community service" that looks good on resumes, but keeps them away from rough neighborhoods and "interesting" people.

We encourage you to go the Black Bear Bakery and get a taste of great food, savory coffee, homegrown anarchy, urban radicalism, and a lot of interest in what can make this city, nation, state and world a better place for all men and women.

[ ... ]

Frank Rich says what I have been saying all week!

Frank Rich says what I have been saying all week!

I have been rubbing elbows with many right wingers lately. At work my buddy John is an "evangelical catholic" with a love for Glenn Beck. On Facebook I have been spanking righties as seen in the last post. Of course during the Mehlville debacle I was surrounded by them. Surrounded!

As a way to gain some common ground and break the ice with them I have been using this line, "I don't know why your upset with Obama because I see little change from the past administration. We are still torturing, still illegally eavesdropping, we still have troops in Iraq, we are escalating in Afghanistan, what is the beef?"

We know what their beef with Obama is, *whispering* he's black.

I have to say it was Michelle that got me to vote for the President. She was in rural Illinois giving a speech and I saw it on CSPAN. She was talking about how Obama said he wanted to run and how she said yes. He was shocked she related and he asked if she was afraid. Her reply was, "You have to run because I am tired of being afraid." BAM!! That knocked me out, I got misty, I got online, I got out my CC.

He did, however, seal the deal. Remember when all the Reverend Wright nonsense, and the saluting nonsense, and the lapel pin nonsense, and his middle name nonsense was swirling through the media, when bloggers, pundits, anchors, editors and even sportscasters were questioning his patriotism? When article after article, newscast after newscast tried to smear him, he said in one sentence what none of the aforementioned assholes could ever hope to express. "Everything that I am is because of this country." Pwnt! Uberpwnt!

Progressives never really thought he was a progressive and knew he would not meet their expectations. But Joe Democrat was hypnotized. The glassy eyed cheerleaders were in LOVE! And I can see why. Even the mainstream media started treating him like a man. But six months into his first term the man on the street who backed his play is starting to question his overall plan. Frank Rich wrote this in the NYT and hits the nail on the HEAD! This is the key paragraph from the article...

"No president can do that alone, let alone in six months. To make Obama’s goal more quixotic, the ailment that he diagnosed is far bigger than Washington and often beyond politics’ domain. What disturbs Americans of all ideological persuasions is the fear that almost everything, not just government, is fixed or manipulated by some powerful hidden hand, from commercial transactions as trivial as the sales of prime concert tickets to cultural forces as pervasive as the news media."

That's it! It's a WWF match, a three scene farce at the theater of the absurd, a monstrous passion play of deceit and denial? No, it's reality. His reality. He is doing what he thinks is right and can fly. But he is seriously blowing it on health care. Susie Mandrak sums it up in this post from Crooks and Liars.

I want the man to exceed my expectations. He is barley meeting some of them. He is my President and I salute him. Everyday!

[ ... ]

U City is Smart and Teabaggers get Lucky!

U City is Smart and Teabaggers get Lucky!

Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill had scheduled a Health Care Reform Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday at the University City High School, a very diverse suburb of St. Louis MO. The school district wisely, and I mean very wisely, decided to unilaterally cancel this event citing safety concerns.

The "teabaggers" are lucky, very lucky. University City is probably the most diverse of St. Louis' many suburbs. It is home of the St. Louis' China Town. It boasts about it's large Russian and Jewish communities. It is the home of "The Loop", a cosmopolitan stretch of Delmar Ave. with many music, art, food and fashion venues. It also has a strong and vibrant African American community. U City is proud of this diversity but struggles with a recent history of gang related violence that left a University City Police officer dead last summer.

"U City" is not a 93.9% white, low key, South County suburb like Mehlville where violence erupted at a town hall meeting hosted by Missouri 3rd District Rep. Russ Carnahan.

The primarily white and definitely rowdy "teabaggers" that hijacked that event are just spiteful and stupid enough make the same play in U City, but the results would be MUCH different. And the U City school board was smart enough to know that and the "teabaggers" got lucky, very lucky.

[ ... ]

I made it!

I made it!

I started this blog in June and was basically playing with it. I was just repeating what read on other blogs and commenting on them. Last night I wrote an original piece of citizen journalism and it got quoted and posted all over the web. I was on a local radio station this morning. I have finally made it.

[ ... ]

Chaos in Mehlville

Chaos in Mehlville

Update: I made the News!

I am the guy pointing and shouting down the "baggers"!!

I went to the Russ Carnahan's (D-MO 3rd District)Town Hall Meeting on Health Care and Aging at the Bernard Middle School in beautiful Mehlville Missouri tonight. It was more than I expected. What was setup as a multi guest, informational resource for seniors and those that care for them turned into a chaotic political showdown between partisan groups.

I got there about 5:45pm and was in a hurry because I had printed fliers to pass out to the many people in line to get in.

The flier said, "For 2500 years people have gathered and discussed issues that face their families, their communities and their nation. It is the bedrock of our living democracy. It is America! We gather here to continue this tradition in a civil and respectful manner. Efforts to disrupt and thwart public discourse are profoundly undemocratic and divide us when we desperately need unity! Please show the same respect for these proceedings you would show your family or your church." It didn't work.

I walked down the line and handed the people my flier while saying "any patriots here" or "any veterans here" or "hey you look like an American read this!" People quickly grabbed for my fliers and started reading. I knew those phrases would get the attention of the "teabaggers" and "astroturfers" that were as thick as flies. One old man didn't like what the flier said and tried to get the cops to take away my fliers. The cops laughed.

There were some union and clean air people clustered around a side door and I went over and introduced myself. They took our names, I took my mom who is a senior and an ardent progressive, and we got "juiced in" with great seats, because we were progressives. That was nice! As the auditorium began to fill you could hear the "teabaggers" warming up.

We sat down next to an older couple named Dan and Dot. Dan is a very well spoken and classy guy and we discussed some issues while we waited for the speakers to start. He didn't really have any strong opinions but seemed to enjoy my answers to his questions. Realize I am SURROUNDED by "teabaggers" and they are listening to every word I say. Dot, is a sweet lady but the firebrand of the family. She balked at my "out of the box" analysis of Obama and Clinton, Defense spending and aggressive wars, health care and workplace issues-so did the "teabaggers" listening in. She really flipped when I explained that all Americans are socialists. It was a lot of fun. But the fun ended quickly.

It is important to note this was not a broad based health care town meeting. It was specifically about aging, resources for seniors, and related policy. The "teabaggers" would have none of it. Carnahan introduced the speakers and was booed. He gave me thumbs up, which was the highpoint of the night. One by one the speakers would come to the podium, one from AARP and one a regional federal Senior Care official, and were greeted with applause for the Democrats and progressives and boos and chants from the "teabaggers". As each speaker made points the "teabaggers" jeered and booed, stood up and turned their backs then sat back down, and called for Representative Carnahan to come to the podium.

That is when I got vocal. I know, I know I wasn't supposed to lose my cool, but after about twenty minutes of this inexcusable and blatant disrespect and rudeness from this crowd of "teabaggers" I got up and yelled, "don't you have the common decency and manners to let this man talk?" That actually caught them off guard and I got some applause. It was a short lived victory. They started chanting and individuals started approaching the podium demanding that Carnahan speak. I got up again and yelled, "sit down, sit down." One lady jabbed me with her flag and another guy started whining about Carnahan not speaking. I did not take that well.

I am 6'4" and 250 pounds, and not one to back down from ANYONE. I told the whiner to shut up, he didn't run this meeting and he should wait for the Q&A session like an adult. I was then told by three male "teabaggers" sitting behind me to shut up or they would shut me up. My adrenal gland opened up. I emptied my pockets and was fully prepared to duke it out. After eight long and deadly years of the Right running this country into the ground I was not about to let those douchebags muscle me. And for them to try and hijack this meeting was making me go nuts. But reason prevailed and I got up and walked out. I had at least ten people slap my back and high five me on the way to the door.

I failed. I wasn't able to live up to the flier I proudly passed out before the event.

I failed. I didn't know how evil and rude and spiteful those people were.

I failed. But I did not harm anyone or break any laws.

I will not fail again.

[ ... ]

Carnahan to speak in Mehliville

Carnahan to speak in Mehliville

Rep. Russ Carnahan will be speaking at a Town Hall meeting held at the Bernard Middle School 1058 Forder Rd. in Mehlville tonight at 6pm. We expect that "AstroTurf" or artificial grassroots demonstrators will try and disrupt these proceedings. That is unacceptable. Big time Washington PR firms are organizing this thuggery and we will be there to encourage civil and polite discourse on this gravely important issue.

Twenty thousand people die every year because of no coverage or denied coverage. That is six 911s every year. Carnahan must know we need economic and social justice for working families! Help us!

[ ... ]

Hired Guns

Hired Guns

The controversial mercenary company Blackwater may be in trouble. Their CEO Erik Prince has been accused of more nasty crimes as reported in a Nation article by the most excellent journalist Jeremy Scahill. Blackwater has tried to "rebrand" itself after all the trouble they caused by pointing weapons at American servicemen and firing their weapons at Iraqi civilians, but to no avail, a Kleenex is still a Kleenex and a company of freebooters is still anti American and a threat to anyone who stands in their way. Here is some footage of another reckless gang of hired thugs called Aegis randomly killing Iraqis. I guess they were bored. Well I bet our buddy Erik Prince isn't bored, and to quote a commentor from Huffington Post, "the Prince is about to become a Princess". I bet he goes on the lam if it looks like this will stick. Argentina likes it's war criminals. Hable espagnol?

UPDATE: Video from Crooks and Liars, oh this is good! Onward Chrisitan Soldiers....

[ ... ]

The War Agenda

The War Agenda

Michel Chossudovsky speaks in this video on the War Agenda which he thinks is a part of Globalization. The wars we are involved in now have been planned for many years prior to the events of 911. We are not "truthers" and perceive no conspiracy. Conspiracy infers secrecy and covert action but it is quite obvious that there is no need for such. A hypnotized population see wars as just another blockbuster series on network TV, the ultimate reality show so to speak. I am watching this as I post this, but I have seen it before. More later.

[ ... ]

Defense Spending Insanity

Defense Spending Insanity

The Defense Budget is out of Control. Of all the issues facing our country, spending money on "Defense" should not be on the top of the list. The word "Defense" is misleading in itself, because we are spending money on "Offense" not "Defense." I have heard the phrase "the best defense is a good offense". Quaint and earthy that phrase, but we are not going toe to toe with a world threatening menace with millions of troops and armed with state of the art weapons and technology. We are in fact securing resources and geo-political dominance in the region and at the same time lining the pockets of "Defense Contractors".

We are currently involved in Iraq, a country hamstrung from almost twenty years of war, sanctions and occupation. The reasons we invaded were fabricated and through the collusion of the media, religious and social institutions, and a corrupt administration, we committed the worst crime known to man. The crime is called Aggressive War, as defined in the Nuremberg Principles and the UN Charter. This aggressive war was for oil. Oil and the no bid contracts that went with the invasion made the flag wave and blood flow. When two oil men run a country controlled by large corporations and a Defense establishment armed to the teeth, someone is going to get hurt. Iraq was the target.

We are currently involved in Afghanistan, the poorest country in the world and home of the Taliban, a creation of our policy in the region since the Eighties and Pakistan's policy since the Nineties. What do we hope to accomplish in Afghanistan? After eight years, Osama bin Laden, the alleged mastermind of the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon is still lurking in the mountains, still lurking in our fearful minds. The Taliban grows stronger and the puppet regime we installed grows weaker. A regime that is structured to "unite" a "country" made up of factional tribes, warlords, drug peddlers, bandits and simple mountain herders and farmers. But the outcome is not important in terms of the people of the United States or the people of Afghanistan. Zbigniew Brzezinski's book, The Grand Chessboard foretold of our involvement in Central Asia and how our dominance depended on it. The journey is just as important as the destination. Everyday we occupy Afghanistan millions of dollars are deposited into the accounts of Defense Contractors. Contractors who don't put the interests of US servicemen and women first.

The new administration, and the Congress are for the most part continuing these policies. This is reflected in the growing Defense budget, and it's projected growth over the next ten years. I would rather grow tomatoes than hemlock, but I am not in the murder business. Somebody is and they have the ear of our government, not us.

One last little note, after TRILLIONS of dollars in defense spending since the 1950s, when we were actually attacked, our massive infrastructure of radar and interceptors failed. No one ever mentions that. Well almost no one.

[ ... ]

I don't know what to expect...

I don't know what to expect...

The first day of school is three weeks away and I have no idea what to expect from the students of UMSL. I would imagine they are like most Americans, but I hope for better.

I will try to join any campus organizations that have progressive goals and avoid those that don't. I want to really stand back the first semester, and soak up the vibe before making any organizing moves.

I will promote this blog but I am not sure how. I want to hang fliers all over campus but they may be a forbidden act. We don't need trouble right off the bat. We shall see. More later!

[ ... ]

Sunday poetry sucks!

Sunday poetry sucks!

A shaft of sun pierces through the window firmly closed and shuttered

A thought so long ago refused the words were never ever uttered

A shaft of hope pierces through the wall around a dying heart

A faith once stunted grows anew a vesper prayer it shan't depart

A shaft of reason pierces through this cloudy fleeting restless dream

Contrived constructed almost true a lie on which this soul might scheme

[ ... ]

UMSL Blog vs. Mainstream Media Editor

UMSL Blog vs. Mainstream Media Editor

David Sheets asked me to be his Facebook friend. I had no idea why until I started getting his feed. He works for the Post Dispatch and writes a blog called "The Game Guy". I have never read his blog, but his feed was interesting although a bit quirky. He always wrote in third person, for example, "David Sheets feels like a hammer and everything he sees looks like nails." No kidding. At first I thought he invited me because of the blog or mutual friends. I think he invites everyone he can to promote his blog and his feed, and the Cardinals, and the Post, and his important "associations".

His posts were mostly topical and amusing, when the weren't blatant pro sports and mainstream media shout outs, and I commented frequently. But I started, little by little, responding to posts about the Cardinals and the mainstream media with jabs, then thrusts, then direct attacks! Ya, that's how we roll.

Now he kicked me off his feed. Oh noes! It must have been this response to his post about the internet. I said, "the beauty of the internet is that it is allowing people to throw off the shackles of corporation owned mainstream media, who when not manufacturing opinion and consent, are distracting and dumbing down the masses." I don't think he liked that. Or maybe it was my response to his whine about extra inning cardinal games, "anything the Cardinals do whether it be swinging a bat, signing an autograph, spitting, grabbing their nuts, or breaking wind...it is for one thing, MONEY!" He didn't like that either.

Mission accomplished I say sans aircraft carrier. Because a modern day citizen journalist needs mainstream media friends like a pharmacist needs a snake oil salesman's business card...totally without use and a bit incriminating.

[ ... ]

Trusted!

Trusted!

Time Magazine's online poll suggests Jon Stewart is the most trusted "newsman" in America. That isn't saying much. The mainstream media is getting pounded by online new sources that aren't controlled by corporations or the overclass. More and more Americans simply won't eat shovelful after shovelful of partially hydrogenated frozen concentrated bullshit like they used to.

The players themselves are responsible for their less than genuine or cogent behavior. Katie Couric blew it with her "Katie's Journal" fiasco, so honest and so from the heart Ms. Couric. Charlie Gibson and his step son George Stephanopolous made debate history last summer with fifty two minutes of talking point inspired, conventional wisdom infused, metaphorical grabass that was called a debate. So much for objectivity and basic journalistic convention. Brian Williams' epic, nightly, ever confounding efforts to manufacture consent and opinion are so numerous we will just say this. Tool.

Jon Stewart says what he wants. I hate to use the word truth, because most Americans can't handle the truth, but his truth is so refreshing, so unusual, so needed, he makes the so called "pros" look like Elvis impersonators caught in their dressing rooms adjusting their wigs. I'll throw a little Elvis in for fun.."why can't you see what your doing to me, when I can't believe a word your sayin'."

PWNT!

[ ... ]

Fundemental Constants!

Fundemental Constants!

There are three fundamental constants that resonate from the founding of the Colonies to the present.

1. Working people have to fight for justice. No one gave freedom to the captives, or let women vote, or blessed workers with the right to organize. People had to die to get basic human rights.

2. Human life comes in second to business interests, especially minority and female life.

3. American politicians respond to direct pressure. If enough people make a racket they will respond. No matter how corrupt and hateful they are, their political survival comes before EVERYTHING!

[ ... ]

"Killing for Jesus" and getting away with it!

"Killing for Jesus" and getting away with it!

I was talking to my evangelical Republican online friends this morning. They are such a nice couple. She works for the State of California DMV and he is an military airline pilot. They are throwing a big party today because their eldest son, first born and sitting at the right hand of the father so to speak leaves for Marines this week. I cautiously asked him if he was concerned about the timing of the enlistment considering the escalation of Marine operations in Afghanistan. His reply was unexpected. He said last year more Marines died on motorcycles than in combat. I said that's reassuring. But it isn't to me.

I wanted to ask him if he thought Jesus would become a Marine, or who would Jesus call an airstrike on? I can hear it now...
"Bravo Six Leader this is the Almighty we have movement in sector Blue, repeat sector Blue can you confirm over?"
"Almighty this is Bravo Six Leader confirmed six no wait seven Tangos in sector Blue we will engage over."
"Copy that Bravo Six Leader, make them count over!"

It would seem to a non believer or an undereducated Christian that the phrase "that which you do to the least of my brothers that you do unto me" is pretty self explanatory and leaves little room for debate on how one should behave. Killing and rape and torture or even rude language are ruled out by the above statement.

It isn't that simple because many many many Bible verses are extremely violent. Here are some examples of what the Bible says are the words of a perfectly just, kind, loving and forgiving God.

Genesis 7:4 For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.

Ten pages into the Bible and God drowns 99.999% of all living things, that's all the baby horsies and kitty cats and puppies not to mention women and children. Drowned. Now if you asked a thousand people the way they would NOT want to die, drowning and burning are the top picks.

Genesis 19:24 Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; 19:25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.

There is the burning part. But teh gays live in those cities we haz to nukes it! There is a pattern here.

Exodus 11:4 And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt: 11:5 And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first born of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts.

Clearly the first born of the Pharoah, his servants, his pets and all the citizens of Egypt deserved to die because the Pharoah wouldn't play God's game. I should mention that there is no evidence Hebrew slaves ever lived in ancient Egypt, let alone helped build the Pyramids. None.

Numbers 31:1The Lord said to Moses, 2“Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites. After that, you will be gathered to your people.”

3So Moses said to the people, “Arm some of your men to go to war against the Midianites and to carry out the Lord’s vengeance on them. 4Send into battle a thousand men from each of the tribes of Israel.” 5So twelve thousand men armed for battle, a thousand from each tribe, were supplied from the clans of Israel. 6Moses sent them into battle, a thousand from each tribe, along with Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, who took with him articles from the sanctuary and the trumpets for signaling.

7They fought against Midian, as the Lord commanded Moses, and killed every man. 8Among their victims were Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba—the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword. 9The Israelites captured the Midianite women and children and took all the Midianite herds, flocks and goods as plunder. 10They burned all the towns where the Midianites had settled, as well as all their camps. 11They took all the plunder and spoils, including the people and animals, 12and brought the captives, spoils and plunder to Moses and Eleazar the priest and the Israelite assembly at their camp on the plains of Moab, by the Jordan across from Jericho.^a

13Moses, Eleazar the priest and all the leaders of the community went to meet them outside the camp. 14Moses was angry with the officers of the army—the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds—who returned from the battle.

15“Have you allowed all the women to live?” he asked them. 16“They were the ones who followed Balaam’s advice and were the means of turning the Israelites away from the Lord in what happened at Peor, so that a plague struck the Lord’s people. 17Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man, 18but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man.

I could go on and on but let me finish with some verses attributed to Jesus himself.

Luke 12:10, "And everyone that says a word against the Son of Man, that will be forgiven; But he that blasphemes against The Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

Mark 3:29, "Whoever blasphemes against The Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of everlasting sin."

Matthew 12: 31-32 "Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. And whoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age, or in the age to come".

So violence is a tool to be used "righteously" and most sins, even violent sins can be forgiven...all except blasphemy. Given that premise, Hitler, a self proclaimed Catholic could get into heaven if he was resolute and contrite of heart before he died, but his victim Anne Frank, a Jew, could not. Peace and Justice? Hardly!

There are hundreds of verses in the Bible promoting violence, slavery, incest, and other heinous acts. It is easy to see how a young man raised with this kind of moral base could join the Marines, pick up a rifle and kill and kill again.

[ ... ]

Children of Men

Children of Men

I love movies! I have a top 200 list of my own. Cool Hand Luke was my favorite movie for many years but it was recently replaced by Children of Men. Some people don't like this movie and it seems to fall into the meme "you either love it or hate it". But that is bullshit. Bullshit. Children of Men is a mirror, if you don't like it you don't like what you see in the mirror. You don't want to accept the fact that you, yes you are killing our species. Many people who are Christians or Republican don't like this movie. I have an online friend who said "worst movie ever". He is both a Republican and a Christian. I wondered for some time why this movie is so repugnent to "those people" and I think I know why. The main premise of the movie is that humanity becomes infertile. That premise, in a roundabout way, denies the existance of God, a future and the supreme impotance of "me". Me. The most important and signifigant moment in history is "me". Without "me" there is nothing. "Me" has no future unless "me" reproduces so by taking that away "me" becomes unimportant, trivial, temporary, meaningless. This is why religion is so popular because it makes "me" immortal. How could something as important as "me" be finite? Children of Men tells us we can live on as a species if we are willing to sacrifice "me".

[ ... ]

A Violent and Unjust History

A Violent and Unjust History

The staff of UMSL Blog agree that our two favorite words are Peace and Justice. In this most excellent comic strip you see how the violence of the past promotes the injustice of the present.

I grew up in Fulton Missouri, in the particularly racist center of the state known as "Little Dixie". I was told by my schoolmates, after flirting with a young African American girl at a little league game, that if I kissed a black girl I would have to take a special medicine or I would turn black too. I asked my dad if this was true and he said, "no that's not true, but the truth is much worse." He then went into a now historic racial tirade on the "inferior n____r race" and how they are "different from us" and have an antithetical moral and ethical base. Sure, some of them are good, "as long as they stay away from white women and liquor they do fine", he told me with the same stone faced conviction he projected when he spoke of the beauty of nature, the value of hard work and the strength of America. By kissing the black girl, he went on, I was forfeiting the natural advantage I had by being born white and would become prone to the relaxed morality they espoused.

Time, education, experience and the natural goodness I learned from my mother kept those seeds of racism from taking root. Traveling to Central America, living in the West, learning Spanish and working in the food industry have made me become an avid fan of diversity. Not the clinical, sociological diversity that is part of poster board "political correctness", but the joy and wonder of talking and working and eating and playing with people who are different from me, but the same as me.

Peace is an end to violence, oppression and explotation, justice is the beginning of world of oppurtunity and hope for all. We can't have one without the other and we can't have either if we think in terms that exclude and label. Let all of us be the step ladder the African American in the comic strip needs and deserves!

[ ... ]

Thinking!

Thinking!

One of the main purposes of this blog is to expose the students of UMSL to information they may not be normally experience. The mainstream media and it's partner ship with the Pentagon have produced a story line in which Osama bin Laden recruited Saudi and Egyptian students to fly American airliners into the World Trade Center,the Pentagon and the White House.

We invaded Afghanistan on that premise. The FBI's Most wanted list does not accuse OBL of the attacks of 9/11. There is no proof, that has been publicized, which ties OBL to 9/11. There is no evidence, that has been publicized,which proves the 19 hijackers were even on the planes that hit the Twin Towers. Before the invasion, the Bush Administration told the Taliban, give us OBL and we won't invade. The Taliban said fine, show us proof of his complicity and he is yours. We didn't and we invaded instead.

Somehow OBL got away. Somehow.

I do not know what happened to the lead up to 9/11 or what happened after we invaded Afghanistan. I want to know. The 9/11 Commission could not and will not answer these questions. I think the Military Industrial Complex wants OBL at large, they want him to be a continuing and ever present threat to us. More later!

[ ... ]

Cheney II The Reckoning!

Cheney II The Reckoning!

Newt Gingrich, disgraced former Speaker of the House, leader of the so called Republican Revolution and "enemy of working people everywhere" says in an interview that we should send Special Ops Teams into Iran to sabotage their gas refinery. This is twentieth century, big country vs. little country, Empire of the Eagle geo-strategy being articulated by a possible candidate for President or more likely Vice President in 2012. This is another Cheney in the making watch and see. Here is another example of "Gingrichthink", The Contract for America. That article from Mother Jones shows his handiwork. It's alive!

[ ... ]

Robert Reich is a Good Man!

Robert Reich is a Good Man!

Robert Reich is a good man. I can't say it enough. He makes me feel like there is hope without being over optimistic or gushy. His cool and reasonable approach to economic and political questions is as reassuring as when your father says, "it's going to be alright." But Reich doesn't say it's going to be alright. He doesn't know what the economy is going to do. But he has some very good ideas and he is well worth reading!

Even though he was Secretary of Labor in the Clinton administration, he is not a "Clintonista!" During the campaign, when Bill Clinton was talking smack about Obama, Mr. Reich defended Obama and derided Clinton's attacks as "ill tempered and ill founded". Read his blog and get a new insight into what is really going on from a man who has the education, expertise and experience to explain it properly.

[ ... ]

GM, "clean diesel" and it's rebirth!

GM, "clean diesel" and it's rebirth!

Clean diesel technology has piqued my interest. Given the restructuring and so called "rebirth" of General Motors, I hope that clean diesel motors are in it's future. I would like to see an entirely new way of manufacturing and selling automobiles. We still have to have them even though I want MASSIVE investment in public transportation and we aren't ready for electric yet nationwide (the south west needs them yesterday!). In the mean time if Detroit is going to make fossil fuel vehicles, they need to be clean diesels, have limited models, and be cheap and small.

Clean diesel looks good. They are talking 70+mpg with fewer emissions than a Prius. That is a step in the right direction and GM needs to be all over this. Big time. The idea of building twenty GM models that change every year has got to go. They need to make an ultra small two seat commuter, a four seater hatchback, a minivan, and a small truck. Commercial vehicles are a different animal and will be dealt with in another post. These vehicles need to be made in America by Americans from recycled materials and be as green as possible. Top speed needs to be DRASTICALLY reduced so that the vehicles can be lighter and still be safe.

If GM wants to be the leader in 21st Century transportation technology they need to "reinvent the wheel" so to speak!

[ ... ]

Blue Dogs, the Enemy Within!

Blue Dogs, the Enemy Within!

The Blue Dog Coalition is an organization of so called "conservative" Democrats. They are focused on fiscal responsibility and accountability, or so they say. I think they are Republicans that couldn't win a primary as a Republican and run as Democrats. They gain all the benefits of being a Democrat but obstruct or derail the work of other Democrats. They can't support the current health care bill without "significant progress" which is code for making sure insurance companies can continue to deny coverage and over charge Americans. Considering the current bill, which I have not seen, has got to be watered down and loaded with earmarks as it is, their demands would further corrupt the process. This is helping me decide what to do once I graduate. I would love to make my life's work the systematic destruction of the political careers of the Blue Dogs.

[ ... ]

Show this to your mainstream "friends"!

Show this to your mainstream "friends"!

This is the effect of a non functioning democracy has on working people and their futures. A day by day year by year erosion of the ability for working Americans to get ahead. What is not shown on this graph are the spiking of defense spending, health care costs, energy costs, college tuition and the exporting of jobs.

I have never been a fan of the Democrats. They are part of this, a big part. So if anyone in mainstream politics tells you that your ideas are fringe or impossible, show them these charts. It is impossible for America to stay on this course. It is mandatory that people get involved and pressure our representatives to do what is best for us and not what is best for them.

[ ... ]

Not a Typical Post

Not a Typical Post

It used to be a joke. I would say "you, I don't hate" to people I really liked. And if I really liked something it was "adequate". Anyone I really hated I would never speak to unless absolutely necessary. Love and hate are active emotions requiring effort and a plan. Indifference is much more effective, much easier, much more final. So when someone I REALLY care about is indifferent to me it hurts. I don't care for many people. I feel left out and somehow in the wrong. I know I haven't directly hurt this person. My guess is that I simply don't fit into their current whirling social galaxy. I must be old hat, a fond yet forgotten thing of the past. I "hate" feeling this way. I start becoming indifferent and uncaring. The mind begins to search for ways to show this indifference which is contradictory-focused and calculated indifference. "I'll show them who is indifferent!" Sad isn't it.

[ ... ]

Sound Familiar?

Sound Familiar?

"If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political,economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent,for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State." Joseph Goebbels

We are still paying for lies that started in 1979. But the truth is like a weed, keep spraying it and it will keep coming back and it will become resistant to the spray!

Men and women all over this country are starting to wake up. Washington is feeling the heat and they are gathering reinforcements!
They are going to need them because we have just begun! I said this years ago, you will have to shut down the shopping malls and people have to lose their homes before they wake up to the fact that they are getting raped. I hate for Americans to suffer, but it is time.

[ ... ]

Someone has to do it!

Someone has to do it!

Someone has to convince working men and women that peace and justice are not good for America and Fox News is the main source of this meme. Palin, if not indicted by the Feds, will most certainly work for Fox. O'Reilly, Beck and Palin are leading the charge against working men and women all over the world. They want war, corporate dominance and hate. They promote hatred for working people by working people. When Mexicans come to our country it's because NAFTA destroyed their economy. Rich white guys pass a law that helps rich white guys at the expense of American and Mexican working men and women. Working class Americans have more in common with an illegal alien than we do with an American corporate executive or a politician. I remember in a Medieval History class I had the prof said a nobleman from England had more in common with a nobleman from Germany than he did with a serf from his own manor. Believe it.

[ ... ]

Peace and Justice!

Peace and Justice!

The road to peace and justice is guarded by a heavily armed and well funded triumvirate of media, government and business concerns. General Electric owns NBC and is a huge defense contractor. They own some congressmen outright and lease several others. Halliburton, defense contractor, oil company and political machine is another all purpose entity. Not often does one company make so much for so few at the expense of so many! "Hally" even had it's own full time lobbyist in the White House for 8 years, the irrepressible Dick Cheney.

All the issues that face this country and this planet are a direct result of the this three headed chimera putting forward it's agenda in complete disregard for the consequences. Our energy, population, health care, climate, economic and defense policies are not formulated to ensure and promote peace or justice. To the "big guys", peace is a feel good word that comes with "stability", although neither are attained. Justice is a word that is only used in conjunction with prisons or courts and is conditional based on an individuals economic status.

[ ... ]

Don't read the personals!

Don't read the personals!

I was eating the best lunch in St. Louis and I accidentally opened the personals section of the Riverfront Times. And like a child, a curious child seeking forbidden delights, I started reading. Let me be kind and say that the people writing those ads think they will find that special someone. They are wrong. Most people are not kind, caring, and giving. The ones that are have already been scooped up or are trapped in relationships they can't or won't leave. Barring recent widows/widowers and virtuous divorcees, the remainder must have questionable intentions. So I will write a personal ad that is realistic and hopefully funny.

Self conscious, neurotic, compartmentalizing, straight SWM loner seeks self absorbed, facile and demanding SWF for gratuitous, meaningless sex and someone to eat with. Must be extremely high maintenance and materialistic. Do you enjoy frantic mall crawls, watery margaritas, tanning, curling irons, white lipstick, cellphones and carryout? Are you the focus of most of your conversations and feel left out when they aren't? Well you may have found your man.

[ ... ]

You down with GOP, well you know me!

You down with GOP, well you know me!

What a wonderful representation of Republican hypocrisy. I have always wanted to be a Republican. Balanced budgets, a safe homeland, a strong economy and oh wait a minute the Republicans have never done any of those things!! Both parties are owned by special interest. It matters little if there is an R or a D next to a Senator's name, but the Republicans keep pressing the "family values" routine and it wears thin when you have so few screwing so many for so much...both figuratively and literally. I don't care for Ron Paul very much, but this video shows how he is by far the best Republican out there. He hits so many obvious contradictions in the party leadership, but is basically laughed at for being so on target. Notice how the rest of them look down or away because they know he is right on.

[ ... ]

Lies!!

Lies!!

Let me preface this post with a few facts. I supported Obama in his run for the Presidency with time, money and effort. The most inspirational politician in my lifetime won the election and promised a new beginning, a new hope. We get lies. We have come to expect lies from politicians. Dogs bark, cats meow, birds sing and politicians lie. The two big glaring lies of the past few days, Obama prepares an Executive Order authorizing indefinite detainment of "terror" prisoners, and a Signing Statement concerning the new "war spending" bill.

Here is the first lie. From a Glenn Greenwald piece on Salon,"my Administration will work with Congress to develop an appropriate legal regime." He is not. He is making it "legal" for him to incarcerate human beings without due process. He is avoiding the trial of those "terrorists" and their possible confinement in an U.S. facility. Since most of those men have been tortured, their cases would be thrown out of any lawful court. Good job Cheney!! But even if they were convicted we could certainly hold them in "super max" prisons. We hold hundreds of thousands of hardened career psychopaths who are infinitely more dangerous than these guys.

The second lie. From an article on Politico, “This president will use signing statements in order to go back to what has previously been done — that is to enumerate constitutional problems that either the Justice Department or legislative counsel here see as potential problems with their reading — but not ask that laws be disallowed simply by executive fiat,” White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said. He is disallowing part of the legislation. From the Huffpo piece, "However, provisions of this bill within sections 1110 to 1112 of title XI, and sections 1403 and 1404 of title XIV, would interfere with my constitutional authority to conduct foreign relations by directing the Executive to take certain positions in negotiations or discussions with international organizations and foreign governments, or by requiring consultation with the Congress prior to such negotiations or discussions. I will not treat these provisions as limiting my ability to engage in foreign diplomacy or negotiations." Then don't sign the Bill. It's that simple.

[ ... ]

Sadness!

Sadness!

The life and death of Michael Jackson. It is so sad. Take a child and turn him into a superstar. I have a feeling this story is the final chapter in the life of an aging, tormented, disfigured, broke, junkie, pedophile who committed suicide by Doctor via Demerol. I once heard a comedian say Michael's surgeries were an attempt to turn him into his ultimate role model, Diana Ross. I also read that his psychopathology may have been molded by his father physically/emotionally abusing him and his older brothers "sinning" in his presence when he was quite young. Being a Jehovah's Witnesses cult member could not have helped. The JWs have a very special kind of hierarchical and all encompassing credo that is very inconsistent with the life of a pop star. Violent parenting, indifferent siblings, abusive church life and then to be given over to an entire planet. Criminal.

[ ... ]

Sleep easy my dear!

Sleep easy my dear!

Farrah Fawcett died at age 62. She was in Extremities and The Apostle and did a great job in both. I never thought of her as the uber sex symbol like most guys my age. I liked her ability to appear real and go well beyond the typecasting that could have strangled her career. I would never post about a celebrity unless I thought they were really making a contribution. She did, and I am not that big a fan. She was married to Lee Majors which creeps me out. He creeps me out. I don't know why.

[ ... ]

Obama is real!

Obama is real!

Huffpo posted a video of Harry Smith from CBS interviewing President Obama. Watch how Obama reacts after Smith uses the word "treacherous"! His persona changes for a couple of seconds. The President straightens up and looks Smith in the eye and laughs. It was the "You don't want to do that" laugh and it was SO good. Then the most powerful man on the planet quickly reverts to his usual calm, refined, dignified visage. It was a glimpse, an affirmation of the reality of that man. Both headlights came on full bright!

And as bright as that light shines, I am still torn about this President. You have to just love the guy because of what he has done and what he has said. Remember when the mainstream media were wearing us all out over his "patriotism" and all those blog postings and all those pundits and all those ranting racists screamed to high heaven at how Obama was a combination Marxist Antichrist Muslim Taliban Superfly born in Kenya and raised on some exotic soviet controlled Indonesian collective named Hawaii? All he had to say was this, "Everything that I am is because of this country." Nine words. he didn't raise his voice, he didn't cheese, he just looked at the camera and made history.

Then I think about how he is a mainstream center right Democrat. We knew from day one he isn't a progressive. His FISA vote last summer made many of us crazy. I was a "Get FISA Right" member from the beginning. He never promised to be a progressive but he did promise hope and change, and now is the time. The GOP is rotting away! Of course there are plenty of Republicans and neocons out there, but their main political engine is withering. But Big Business is still in control and that is the problem. He has to go both barrels with the media and cut threw the corporate propaganda and do what HAS to be done. Today!

[ ... ]