for the umpteenth time! I'm not making excuses, I think about writing often but I procrastinate. It's just another of my many bad habits.
What am I thinking about now? No surprises.
Patti and I are feeling bummed today because Russell's Babe Ruth All-Star team lost a double header in the District tournament yesterday and were eliminated from further competition. Truth is they didn't just lose, they were drubbed by both teams they played, 6-0, 16-4. I don't know if they were good enough to win the championship but they were good enough to be competitive, and that just didn't happen. This marks the end of Russell's Babe Ruth playing days, next year he will be too old, and it's too bad it ended on such a sour note. We weren't going to send Russell to a baseball camp this summer but have changed our minds. He's going to go to the camp at Central Washington Univsity at the end of this month. It should be helpful in preparing him for high school baseball next spring and he's already dreaming about on a traveling team or maybe an American Legion team next summer.
Next issue: Patriotism, the last refuge of _______. I am convinced it will be, excuse me, is the root cause of the end of whatever is, or was, good about this nation. It amazes me how otherwise good people can be led around by their nose if they become convinced that in not questioning the nations leaders they are being patriotic. This god damned war is the most unpatriotic and immoral action that has been foistered on the American people, still a large majority who agree with that premise are afraid to speak out because they might be accused of being unpatriotic. And the stupid lengths we go to to prove we are patriotic; plastic yellow ribbons on our cars, flags on everything, flags in church sanctuaries, one of the teams in the baseball tournament yesterday had little flags sewn on the backs of their jerseys. What bullshit!!! We have to sing the national anthem at every public event or people might think we aren't p_____, Bullshit.
I'm not patriotic, I am convinced the world would be a better place if my country weren't a superpower, much less the only one. I am convinced our nation would be a better place to live if we lost all our military power.
I think George Bush, Dick Cheney, and a whole lot of others who are benefitting from the suffering they cause in the world should be in jail, or maybe doing hard labor in Iraq.
I'm not a patriot, I am and would much rather be called a Christian. As far as I'm concerned they can stick the flag up Cheney's ass, while they are singing the national anthem.
End of tonight's rant.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Sunday, April 29, 2007
It's a good day when
you can do something nice to help someone who you will never meet.
I first heard about KIVA (see link on left side of this page) on a program on LINK TV. It is a program to enable people like Patti and I to make small loans to people who have or want to start a small business in their community. I recommend you check it out. So far we have "invested" only $25 but that's $25 more than we have ever invested in something like this before. Our money is going to a mother of six children who has a clothing shop in Benin City, Nigeria. She is borrowing $500 to buy more clothing to seel. Including our measly $25, she only needs $50 more to fulfill her loan. I know she will get it and we thank God we can help her in our small way.
It is our goal to raise our total investment "portfolio" to $100, which means we will make at least three more $25 "loans." The as loans are repaid we will always reinvest. What a great program. Please check it out!
I first heard about KIVA (see link on left side of this page) on a program on LINK TV. It is a program to enable people like Patti and I to make small loans to people who have or want to start a small business in their community. I recommend you check it out. So far we have "invested" only $25 but that's $25 more than we have ever invested in something like this before. Our money is going to a mother of six children who has a clothing shop in Benin City, Nigeria. She is borrowing $500 to buy more clothing to seel. Including our measly $25, she only needs $50 more to fulfill her loan. I know she will get it and we thank God we can help her in our small way.
It is our goal to raise our total investment "portfolio" to $100, which means we will make at least three more $25 "loans." The as loans are repaid we will always reinvest. What a great program. Please check it out!
Saturday, April 7, 2007
It's not my job... (but it is)
"I may criticize a carpenter who makes me a bad table, though I cannot make a table myself. It is not my job to make tables."
Dr. Samuel Johnson, 18th century English author and philosopher
Who am I to argue with an 18th century philospher?
I don't remember the first time I heard someone say "it's not my job," (and I may have even said it myself at one time or another) but it's always bugged me. Especially when it's used as an excuse to escape responsibility. The latest version of this comes from the "esteemed" power people in the Bush administration. Rumsfeld and Gonzales are two good examples but Boy george himself is the prime culprit. He so often and so easily talks of being "responsible" for the actions of his people but at the same time never accepts any responsibility. In Dr. Johnson's terms it's as though Boy george's job is to make tables but he thinks he's only "buying" them. Of course Boy george was never responsible for "making" anything (including a profit at two oil companies he headed) before he was handed the presidency (and he was able to "buy" anything he wanted) so why would anyone think he would change once he had moved into the oval office?
According to Boy george, who likes being known as the "Commander-in-Chief," it's his job to start wars but it's not his job to end them. He is not responsible for any of the hundreds of thousand, millions, of lives lost and suffering because of the way he has done his job. He is just buying a war that other people are paying for. Which makes sense, what he used to get with his daddy's money, he now get's with (future) taxpayers money. (we should call this our first credit card war.)
And like more and more Americans, bankruptcy is closing in on our democracy. But of course, I can always say it's not my job to save democracy. But I can't if I have a conscience and I believe in justice and I want peace in our world.
It's time to stop this god damned war! (and it's my job to work for it!)
Dr. Samuel Johnson, 18th century English author and philosopher
Who am I to argue with an 18th century philospher?
I don't remember the first time I heard someone say "it's not my job," (and I may have even said it myself at one time or another) but it's always bugged me. Especially when it's used as an excuse to escape responsibility. The latest version of this comes from the "esteemed" power people in the Bush administration. Rumsfeld and Gonzales are two good examples but Boy george himself is the prime culprit. He so often and so easily talks of being "responsible" for the actions of his people but at the same time never accepts any responsibility. In Dr. Johnson's terms it's as though Boy george's job is to make tables but he thinks he's only "buying" them. Of course Boy george was never responsible for "making" anything (including a profit at two oil companies he headed) before he was handed the presidency (and he was able to "buy" anything he wanted) so why would anyone think he would change once he had moved into the oval office?
According to Boy george, who likes being known as the "Commander-in-Chief," it's his job to start wars but it's not his job to end them. He is not responsible for any of the hundreds of thousand, millions, of lives lost and suffering because of the way he has done his job. He is just buying a war that other people are paying for. Which makes sense, what he used to get with his daddy's money, he now get's with (future) taxpayers money. (we should call this our first credit card war.)
And like more and more Americans, bankruptcy is closing in on our democracy. But of course, I can always say it's not my job to save democracy. But I can't if I have a conscience and I believe in justice and I want peace in our world.
It's time to stop this god damned war! (and it's my job to work for it!)
Sunday, April 1, 2007
"I understand..." (I don't have a clue)
"Make no mistake about it, I understand how tough it is, sir. I talk to families who die." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Dec. 7, 2006
I wonder if anyone has ever counted how many times George Bush has used the term "I understand" in response to questions posed by news media? If you listen and watch closely it most always means he doesn't have a clue. It really means he doesn't believe or accept the premise of whatever the question happens to be about. That means he has to use the phrase repeatedly.
In the context of the statement quoted above, GB doesn't have a clue how "tough" it is. He may, on a rare occasion or in the midst of a photo op "talk" to someone who really knows "how tough it is" but he certainly doesn't listen to them. He's too busy thinking about himself to be able to hear anything else.
They have a word for GB's dumb statements, thay call them "Bushisms." You can find them updated and archived at http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/blbushisms.htm
They show how GB's mind works, or doesn't work. More importantly I believe they show how dangerous it is to put a person of his lack of intelect and thought in a position where he has so much power. They show why we have good reason to be mad as hell.
It's time to end this god damned war!
I wonder if anyone has ever counted how many times George Bush has used the term "I understand" in response to questions posed by news media? If you listen and watch closely it most always means he doesn't have a clue. It really means he doesn't believe or accept the premise of whatever the question happens to be about. That means he has to use the phrase repeatedly.
In the context of the statement quoted above, GB doesn't have a clue how "tough" it is. He may, on a rare occasion or in the midst of a photo op "talk" to someone who really knows "how tough it is" but he certainly doesn't listen to them. He's too busy thinking about himself to be able to hear anything else.
They have a word for GB's dumb statements, thay call them "Bushisms." You can find them updated and archived at http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/blbushisms.htm
They show how GB's mind works, or doesn't work. More importantly I believe they show how dangerous it is to put a person of his lack of intelect and thought in a position where he has so much power. They show why we have good reason to be mad as hell.
It's time to end this god damned war!
Sunday, March 25, 2007
When George Bush talks about peace
"I just want you to know that, when we talk about war, we're really talking about peace." -- George Bush, June 2002
If only the world were upside down
If war was peace and peace was war.
The hungry would be filled with good things
And the rich would be hungry.
The fearful would be fearful
And the fearless would know fear.
The wounded would be made whole
and the whole would be wounded.
The 'have nots' would have
And the 'haves' would have not.
But the world is not upside down
The world is the way it is.
The hungry are not filled
The fearful are afraid
The wounded are hurting
The 'haves' have more than they need
And demand more.
And even when George Bush talks about peace
He's really talking about war.
If only the world were upside down
If war was peace and peace was war.
The hungry would be filled with good things
And the rich would be hungry.
The fearful would be fearful
And the fearless would know fear.
The wounded would be made whole
and the whole would be wounded.
The 'have nots' would have
And the 'haves' would have not.
But the world is not upside down
The world is the way it is.
The hungry are not filled
The fearful are afraid
The wounded are hurting
The 'haves' have more than they need
And demand more.
And even when George Bush talks about peace
He's really talking about war.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Sometimes, when I have time,
Sometimes, when I have time,
I think.
Sometimes I think about baseball.
I don’t play baseball anymore but
I think about other people playing baseball.
And I feel good when I’m thinking
about baseball.
Sometimes I think about singing.
I’ve never been a good singer but
I think about other people singing.
And I feel good when I’m thinking
about singing.
Sometimes I think about woodworking.
I’m not very good at woodworking but
I think about other people who can teach me.
And I feel good when I’m thinking
about working with wood.
Sometimes I think about war.
I’ve was in a war once, a long time ago, but
I think about other people who are in a war now.
And I feel very sad when I’m thinking
about war.
I think we shouldn’t do war anymore.
I think.
Sometimes I think about baseball.
I don’t play baseball anymore but
I think about other people playing baseball.
And I feel good when I’m thinking
about baseball.
Sometimes I think about singing.
I’ve never been a good singer but
I think about other people singing.
And I feel good when I’m thinking
about singing.
Sometimes I think about woodworking.
I’m not very good at woodworking but
I think about other people who can teach me.
And I feel good when I’m thinking
about working with wood.
Sometimes I think about war.
I’ve was in a war once, a long time ago, but
I think about other people who are in a war now.
And I feel very sad when I’m thinking
about war.
I think we shouldn’t do war anymore.
Monday, February 19, 2007
I should probably change
the title of this blog since I am obviously not dallying daily. But what the heck, since I'm the only one reading (and writing) I will just continue to carry on. Besides I don't know how to change the name and I don't have enough interest to learn. Someday I'd like to take a class on blogging. (Thinking out loud -- Why don't I call Danny Callahan and see if he would be interested in teaching one.)
I'm writing today because I couldn't think of anything else to do. It's a pretty rotten day outside, windy,overcast and about 35 degrees. Wish I had a good book to read, thought about ordering the new book by Chris Hedges. It's about the Christian right and their leading us toward a fascist state. Sounds pretty far out, but when you look at them with a critical eye it seems ver plausible. I think Hedges is one of the most insightful thinkers of our time. I read his book "War is a Force that gives us meaning" and it really says a lot about us as a nation. I have a hard time expressing how strongly I feel that our country is becoming , if it is not already, the greatest threat to peace in the world.
I'm starting a Lenten Bible study at church next Sunday. There will be the same small group if 5 or 6 that usually attend. Trying something new, I will start by passing around one or two articles I will cut out of the Oregonian (or maybe even the Times-Journal) and try to initiate a discussion of the theological or moral issues that are touched upon in the stories, hoping the class (not me) will be able to identify and discuss them. Hopefully, each following week one of the others will be asked to bring one or tow articles from the newspaper and they will be the focus of the conversation. I'm looking forward to seeing how it works out. I'll let me know!!
Enough for now
I was going to sign off but I just went back and looked over what I had written and saw something I want to say more about, the idea that our country is becoming , if it is not already, the greatest threat to peace in the world. I am often reminded of the old bumpersticker America, Love it or Leave it. It still pisses me off, why should I have to move to some strange place because I don't "love" this one. I just spent a couple of days in the town I grew up in. It's nothing like the town I grew up in because the population has probably tripled, the industries that dominated when I lived there are non-existent, having been repleaced by a lot of different stuff. I can walk and drive all over town and never see anyone I know. Yet, despite all that I still have a warm feeling in my heart for the place. I don't love it, I don't really want to live there again but I'm glad it's there and it has a place in my heart.
That's kind of the way I feel about this country, the United States. I'm not at all happy with the way it is but it is still the place I grew up in and it has a place in my heart.
One of the things I think about is maybe it's time we get past the idea of nation states. At one point in history nations may have been a political solution to provide safety and identity to disparate and desparate groups and tribes. But I am coming to believe that nation states are now a threat to bringing peace into the world. When self-interest always overwhelms communal interest, the powerless will always suffer.
Enough for now, I will write more on this in future posts.
In the meantime, go out and do something (anything!) to stop this god damn war!
I'm writing today because I couldn't think of anything else to do. It's a pretty rotten day outside, windy,overcast and about 35 degrees. Wish I had a good book to read, thought about ordering the new book by Chris Hedges. It's about the Christian right and their leading us toward a fascist state. Sounds pretty far out, but when you look at them with a critical eye it seems ver plausible. I think Hedges is one of the most insightful thinkers of our time. I read his book "War is a Force that gives us meaning" and it really says a lot about us as a nation. I have a hard time expressing how strongly I feel that our country is becoming , if it is not already, the greatest threat to peace in the world.
I'm starting a Lenten Bible study at church next Sunday. There will be the same small group if 5 or 6 that usually attend. Trying something new, I will start by passing around one or two articles I will cut out of the Oregonian (or maybe even the Times-Journal) and try to initiate a discussion of the theological or moral issues that are touched upon in the stories, hoping the class (not me) will be able to identify and discuss them. Hopefully, each following week one of the others will be asked to bring one or tow articles from the newspaper and they will be the focus of the conversation. I'm looking forward to seeing how it works out. I'll let me know!!
Enough for now
I was going to sign off but I just went back and looked over what I had written and saw something I want to say more about, the idea that our country is becoming , if it is not already, the greatest threat to peace in the world. I am often reminded of the old bumpersticker America, Love it or Leave it. It still pisses me off, why should I have to move to some strange place because I don't "love" this one. I just spent a couple of days in the town I grew up in. It's nothing like the town I grew up in because the population has probably tripled, the industries that dominated when I lived there are non-existent, having been repleaced by a lot of different stuff. I can walk and drive all over town and never see anyone I know. Yet, despite all that I still have a warm feeling in my heart for the place. I don't love it, I don't really want to live there again but I'm glad it's there and it has a place in my heart.
That's kind of the way I feel about this country, the United States. I'm not at all happy with the way it is but it is still the place I grew up in and it has a place in my heart.
One of the things I think about is maybe it's time we get past the idea of nation states. At one point in history nations may have been a political solution to provide safety and identity to disparate and desparate groups and tribes. But I am coming to believe that nation states are now a threat to bringing peace into the world. When self-interest always overwhelms communal interest, the powerless will always suffer.
Enough for now, I will write more on this in future posts.
In the meantime, go out and do something (anything!) to stop this god damn war!
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