The Wreck...

This is a re-post of a piece I wrote earlier this summer for those who may have missed it....

The Wreck

I was racing down the highway of hypocricy, measuring the distance in the headlights of my short sightedness. False confidence, the rush of speed and power holding me firm in its embrace.

I smiled to myself, secure in my justifications for supporting, building and profiting from weapons of war that would kill for the God I created in my own image.

Lost in my reverie, contemplating my complete freedom from conscience, the road of self-righteousness I was traveling narrowed. The canyon walls of cause and effect rose high above and pressed in upon me from either side.

I saw the hair-pin curve of consequences ahead and suddenly speed and power were my bane. The distance that had once seemed so far , now drew near and my glory shone empty and useless before me. I slammed on the brakes of my desperation and prayed for mercy to the God of my own making but there came no answer.

The screeching of my realization locked into place, the futile fight against the pavement of false pride and heinous pretense rose in my ears like the sound of a million children screaming. Where the thick black marks of my destiny crashed through the guard rails of my humanity, I left the road. I found myself standing on the edge of the highway, watching as the remains of my mortal existence were received by the eternal desert below, a glow rising into the night like the campfire of an ancient truth.

I turned to look back up the road of horror from whence I had come and there before me stood a child. In her hand she held the bullet I had made for her. The bullet that killed her.

I have come to take you home where you will remember that we are one, she said.
She took my hand and together we walked out of that dark canyon of consequence and into the light.


This post is dedicated to all the children killed by weapons built, used and exported by US arms manufacturers.

Purple Fingers For Democracy In America

Even the most modest activists among us can participate in this action against the assualt on Democracy.

Let the pollsters and the neo-cons make no mistake about how you vote this November!

The following is a great idea proposed by my fellow blogger, KingCranky II, from Royally Kranked.

Cranky says....

A really simple idea

When voting in November against the GOP/Neocons complete lack of Administration oversight, take a tip from the Iraqis who braved death squads, militias, insurgents and terrorists in training to cast their votes

Dye a finger purple

The more people with purple fingers showcased by the media, the harder it is to pull the same GOP-sanctioned after-election, false-victory shenanigans ala 2000 & 2004

And if purple fingers rile up the GOP's media whores-Limbaugh, Hannity, Savage, Malkin, Coulter, O'Reilly, and their media outlets-Fox News, Powerline, Red State, etc, then so much the better.

pass it on!

Patrica Todd Wins: Update

Update:

WE WON!

Saturday the Alabama State Democratic Executive Committee voted to overturn the decision from the subcommittee, which now means the election results stand. It's over and we now must get to work to help the people of District 54.

Check in later for more news and thanks for your support!

Congratulations to the Alabama State Executive Committee for doing the right thing for your party, your constituents and your COUNTRY!

Your overturning the previous and clearly predjudicial committee vote gives hope to us all that Democrats can do the right thing.

Way to go Representative Patricia Todd!

http://www.patriciatodd.net/index.html

Rumsfeld...Taking It Up Another Notch

I am sure most of you have been to a musical performance where the sound level is gradually increased without you even realizing it in order to prepare you for the main event. I call it the concert theory. Looks like it can be applied to other arenas as well.

The further the administration drops in the polls the more threatening the rhetoric around dissent becomes. The statements Donald Rumsfeld has been making lately are a few decibels higher these days. For instance: Rumsfeld had this to say on America's moral superiority and blameless innocence in world affairs.

Rumsfeld:

"Can we truly afford to return to the destructive view that America — not the enemy — is the real source of the world's troubles?"

The message here is clear. The act of self-examination, of either self or your country is destructive to America.

America is blameless and innocent by default and this is not to be questioned. This is a classic and historical hallmark of fascism. The individual may not question authority. Even entertaining the notion of self correction where appropriate is being equated, here, with aiding and abetting the "enemy" and outright treason.

Rumsfeld:

"I recount this history because once again we face similar challenges in efforts to confront the rising threat of a new type of fascism"

Clearly one cannot deny the existence of fascist, fundamentalist extremist groups that seek to harm Americans and our interests.

Is it the fact that these groups exist that somehow not only negates but criminalizes our right to question the nature and methods of those American interests and their attendant effects on the world at large? That hardly seems logical.

What we have here is an attempt to use the threat of fascism to accomplish fascism. I do not know if Mr. Rumsfeld actually believes it is fascism when we do it or not, but he is engaging in it none the less.

Is America ready to hear this?

My immediate experience has been no. I believe that many Americans know something is terribly wrong but they just can't bring themselves to listen to what is really being said.

I empathize with them; it's a hard thing when you have to decide what you will stand for or against. When the music hits full volume and we are forced to hear, see and experience the show first hand, when the choices are few and the consequences are immediate. When denial is not an option any longer. Will we as a nation say "Give me liberty or give me death" or will it be something less heroic this time?

Further food for thought below:

Ashcroft:

Ashcroft's plan, disclosed last week but little publicized, would allow him to order the indefinite incarceration of U.S. citizens and summarily strip them of their constitutional rights and access to the courts by declaring them enemy combatants.

The Supreme Court:

Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., the high court's newest jurist, cast the tie-breaking vote for the majority that said government employers "need a significant degree of control over their employees' words and actions; without it, there would be little chance for efficient provision of public services."

Critics said the ruling could silence nearly all of the nation's 20 million civil servants, who now can be "disciplined" for exposing official abuse through their government positions.

I will tell you my final answer, right now Mr. Rumsfeld, "Give me liberty or give me death."

I will not give up my right to a free voice for a Rumsfeldian version of "1984".

If you really want to honor a veteran, don't give up your freedom!

Peace y'all.

Snarling Dick Says.....

Keep a lid on that dissention boy or you and I will be taking a little quail hunting trip, if you know what I mean!
Red Hog Diary

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.
I keep seeing pictures of Dick Cheney Snarling like a rabid wolf and I can't help but wonder what thoughts could generate such a hate filled glare?

Could it be:
If you ask me one more question about torture I will cut your balls off... myself.
I sure don't think it has anything to do with peace, love and understanding.

You decide.

Thought we could have a little contest today to see what words this picture inspires for Peace Tree Readers.

Leave your comments and I will pick the ones I like best and put them right here on the main post with a link to your blog or website. Leave your URL in the comment!

Wingnuts are welcome too! I will have a special section for the most vicious attack!

Snarling Dick says........?

Sunday Poetry Series: Lullaby for Listening with Eyes Closed

Greetings All,

The selection this week comes from Peace Tree Contributing Poet Liz Strauss. I absolutely love this piece. A peaceful and serene song, sung by a heart that understands the gifts of love, is a thing of incredible beauty.
Thank you Liz, for sharing this with us.

Lullaby for Listening with Eyes Closed

If I could write music, I’d set to life the sounds I hear playing in my head. I’d put in the air the sounds of all the feelings that fall unexpressed between the words and colors, the feelings that need music to be truly felt.

Tonight what I would write would be a lullaby, a special one. I’d write a song of friendship for everyone I love who’s never been sung to sleep. It’s the kind of song we’d hear only after our eyes were closed. The music soft and slow, dreamy and starry-eyed would have lots of major chords. I’d put tinkly sounds faint inside to make us see stars on the insides of our eyes. The music would wrap around us like a magic carpet and lift us up like air.

We’d sail in four/four time moving with electronic keyboards and guitars playing us along. While woodwinds faintly hummed our fondest thoughts so that we could sing along, smiling with our eyes still shut.

A bass guitar would keep us grounded like so many favorite trees, to let us know we always had a way back to our home. The strings would guide us beyond the leaves onto a distant breeze, so we could see that we don’t need to worry about all that worldly stuff. Soft voices would say that it was time to rest while the world goes round on its own.

Again those tinkly sounds would make us think of stars, and this time we would start to see them again only brighter. We would see a place where stars were diamonds on the inside of our eyes. We’d watch them in amazement before low sounds pulled our hearts back to our home.

Deep contra bass horns calling like voices in foggy, faraway hills would play the song of all the lullabies sung for centuries, and we’d feel the love tied to every one. We’d touch the silver thread that joins every person to every star, and a whole rainbow would start playing. Near the end, we would hear angel voices say, “We’re right here for you.”

That’s the last sound we’d remember, before we fell asleep.

If only I could write music . . .

I’d write a lullaby for listening with our eyes closed

for everyone I love who's never been sung to sleep.

Visit the links to find out more about Liz!

Liz's Poetry and Writing

lizstrauss.com

Business Blogging

EPA Lies Heroes Die

The Raw Story has obtained and released a letter written by EPA scientist Dr. Cate Jenkins to Sen. Hillary Clinton and others outlining the falsification of data on levels of breathable alkaline dust at ground zero. Dr. Jenkins reports that the EPA falsified PH results to make the substance seem benign. Dr. Cates included e-mails backing her claim in the letter as well.

The brave men and women who joined in the rescue that day and for months after may have gone in anyway, even had they known that the air they were breathing was corrosive and would result in putting their own health at risk. The tragedy of the EPA lie is that many who have suffered the ill affects of exposure such as loss of pulmonary function and in some cases have died as a result might well have been helped if they had known what they had been exposed to.

The EPA knew but for reasons of their own decided to keep the heroes and citizens of NY in the dark with a lie.

Many thanks to Dr. Jenkins for being brave enough to stand up to the EPA and go public with the truth. I am not sure why she waited so long, but I am sure I would have to think long and hard before exposing myself to the wrath whistleblowers face these days. Not to mention the fact that accontability in our government is hardly ever upheld anyway.

True patriots tell the truth even at great personal risk.
Traitors lie to save themselves.

You can reach Sen. Clinton to inquire about her intent of action regarding this letter at:
Sen. Clinton contact webform

View Dr. Cates Letter at:
The Raw Story

The People Electeth and the Committee Taketh Away

Well done, to the people of Birmingham Alabama for stepping beyond prejudice and bigotry.

Too bad what you want does not seem to make a damn bit of difference in this American democracy.

How to completely disregard the will of the people in an election (when it suits you).

• Patricia Todd won the Democratic Primary for a seat in the Alabama House of Representatives, District 54, Birmingham by 59 votes.

• Todd is the associated director of AIDS Alabama, a social service and AIDS education agency.

• Party committee overturns the peoples choice by a 5-0 vote

• She would have become the first openly gay elected official in the state's history.

• The committee disqualified Todd and her opponent, Gaynell Hendricks, because they had not filed a required campaign finance report on time.

The same rule has been ignored by all candidates since 1988 and the Associated Press has reported that this year's party nominees for Governor and Lieutenant Governor have not filed the reports as well.

Well, clearly they must not be Lesbian candidates and therefore may bypass the rules without fear of disqualification. Looks like this one may have been held in reserve for just such an occasion.

Will the folks in Birmingham just lie down and take this? I guess we shall see how much their democratic rights really mean to them. The perps will be watching for sure and duly noting just how far they can push the citizens of this country before they stand and fight back.

Get involved at: Patricia Todd.net

Source and image:
The Raw Story

Theocratic Thug Du Jour. Katherine Harris

A Top 10 Article @Op-Ed News August 2006

If you have not figured out by now that the GOP has been taken over by the American version of the Taliban, maybe this will help.

You remember Katherine Harris, Florida Secretary of State and her pivotal role in securing the dubious dubya victory in the 2000 presidential campaign by stopping the vote recounts. Sure you do.

Speech written for Katherine Harris
Found on her hard drive
but not delivered:
"I am a bit biased. I co-chair the campaign effort of George W. Bush … I hope it will be 'W.'"

The co-chair and only a bit biased? Sure, just a bit though.
Only biased enough to participate in the theft of an American Presidential Election.

Kerry Stillman, an official with the state Commission on Ethics, could not comment on individual cases, but said using state equipment and time for political activity falls under the state law governing misuse of public position.

There are many, many more instances of gross impropriety by Ms. Harris in the great theft of democracy that was the 2000 election. Just Google "Katherine Harris" for all the sordid details.

And so it goes. No accountability as usual. Let's move on, shall we.

Katherine Harris, today, is running for the Senate. Her brand of theocratic politics is apparently not playing well with voters. Something to be thankful for to be sure.

She offered these statements in an interview with the Florida Baptist Witness.
"Witness" the honesty with which she outlines her vision for America.
In this interview Katherine Harris asserts, among other things, that the separation of church and state is a fallacy.

"We have to have the faithful in government and over time, that lie we have been told, the separation of church and state, people have internalized, thinking that they needed to avoid politics and that is so wrong because God is the one who chooses our rulers."

"Civil rights have to do with individual rights and I don't think they apply to the gay issues. I have not supported gay marriage and I do not support any civil rights actions with regard to homosexuality."

My friends I hope you will be sufficiently compelled by the frightening statements she offers in this interview to actually join the fight to stop these maniacs from further eroding our society. The time for being apathetic is over. This threat is real, it is pervasive, it is in the White House, the legislature and the judicial system. It is not going to go away if we sit on the sidelines and do nothing.

GET INVOLVED AMERICA!

source and link to complete interview at
The Raw Story

"Nothing"

And there you have it folks.

After all this time.

All the debate.

All the questions.

BUSH: The terrorists attacked us and killed 3,000 of our citizens before we started the freedom agenda in the Middle East.

QUESTION: What did Iraq have to do with it?

BUSH: What did Iraq have to do with what?

QUESTION: The attack on the World Trade Center.

BUSH: Nothing. Except it’s part of — and nobody has suggested in this administration that Saddam Hussein ordered the attack. Iraq was a — Iraq — the lesson of September 11th is take threats before they fully materialize, Ken. Nobody’s ever suggested that the attacks of September the 11th were ordered by Iraq.

Bush actually can't even tell the truth without lying.

"Nothing" = Truth
"ordered by Iraq" = Juvenile attempt at cover for the lie.

American Deaths

Since war began (3/19/03): 2605

Since "Mission Accomplished" (5/1/03) 2468

Since Capture of Saddam (12/13/03): 2138

Since Handover (6/29/04): 1739

Since Election (1/31/05): 1169

Total Wounded: 19270

Iraq. Completely destroyed.

What did it have to do with 9/11?

Nothing.

I have to wonder. Does the American public even care anymore?

Casualty figures from:
Anti-War.com

The Sunday Poetry Series: Not In My Name

The selection this week comes from contributing Author Tina Louise.
Thanks Tina for another fine piece of work. Please visit Tina's sites via the link at the bottm of this post to read all her excellant work.

Also a special thanks and welcome to all of our new subscribers! We are thrilled and honored to have you as regular readers of The Peace Tree.

Now please enjoy:

Not In My Name

Threats never uttered are whispered verbatim,
Creating fear of a hypothetical invasion,
As media strings play methodical hype,
Orchestrating the public, to conform to type.

Spoon fed with fear on news laden,
Heaped with visual connotations,
Of danger lurking at our doors,
Of certain death for those who ignore,
The hypothesis laid down as fact.
The incessant chitter, incessant chat,
Gets us addicted to leader’s projection,
Junkies now for his brand of protection.
Dependent and needy ,
Craving, hungry, greedy.
Surrounded by blue teeth grinning barbarity,
Sneering, seething images of vulgarity.
So our boys are pushed up to the wire,
Shot with drugs so they will not tire,
Of protecting their families at home,
From evil doers looking to dethrone,
The powers that watch over us;
The nervous dependent populous.

We must be saved from the supposed threat.
We must invade the terrorist nest.
We must kill the alien foe.
We must,
We must,
We must overthrow.

But first we must trust the source of the truths,
Before we feed the war, any more youths,
Before the troops, lose one more brave soul,
Before the powers, reach any more goals.
Before Libya and Syria,
Iran and North Korea,
Fall foul of our leaders’ dictates of behaviour,
Refuse to appreciate US as their saviour,
Before we beat them into submission,
Maybe we could establish just whose permission,
Was granted before we shed so much blood,
Before a trickle was blasted into a flood.
Before the next purple tipped finger is crushed,
We must realise that ‘we the people’ have been hushed,
For too long now, kept in our place,
As fellow humans are easily erased,
By bold leaders’ brandishing our names,
Claiming we desired all of this shame.

Not in my name, not in my name, not in my name.

www.tinalouise.co.uk
Arms Against War

What Happens Next When Crying Wolf Isn’t Working Anymore?

The right wing argument might be that it is better to be safe than sorry. Ordinarily I would agree with that statement, however there is something else I like to take into account and it is called the bigger picture. Right wingers, are not without their own bigger picture, but sadly it rarely reaches beyond their own self-interests and preservation of a rather narrowly focused status-quo.

I watch as many people who identify with this group swallow lies whole and glory in their dutifulness to authority in doing so.
In their most private thoughts, do they ever question their allegiance?
Do their leaders’ cries of wolf always work on them?
Or do they accept the economy of truth as a necessary evil?
I wonder if one ever really feels safe with a ruthless master.
Who knows?
I guess only they do.

But what if Bush saying Boo is not enough anymore for the rest of us?

What is justifiable to coerce Americans who are not jumping at the call any longer to get back into the fear express lane?

What is acceptable in retaining power over those that refuse to accept what has been deemed the truth and therefore best for them?

To suppose these questions are not being pondered, at this point, would be foolish. It has already been decided that such things as torture are a viable option. The depravity of that decision should be obvious to everyone even though apparently it isn’t.

Which brings me back, to the bigger picture, and I ask myself again what happens when crying wolf doesn’t work anymore?

My own answer is to remember this is all leading us somewhere.

Perhaps ultimately out of the darkness so many of us cared so little about for so very long when we thought it did not affect us personally.

That is the only thing that could honor the death and suffering by so many and make it all worthwhile.

When the battles have ended and peace prevails, as we look back from a new perspective, perhaps then we can honor all those on both sides for their service in getting us there.

Until then, we resolve to stand firm on our liberal beliefs in peace, compassion, justice and empathy. We shall keep our dignity as we endure the slurs of "unpatriotic" and "apologist" from the right wing, as well as whatever may come from BushCo after crying wolf has failed them.

Peace to All Souls

Bush Insults Every Person Who Died On 9/11

The facts have started to emerge on the Bush regimes influencing of Brittish intelligence in the latest terror episode in order to maximize political impact on the American voting public.

Anyone surprised?
You shouldn't be. They have been mercilessly using the victims of 9/11 as fodder for fueling their own political agenda for five years.

Utilizing terror intelligence for purely political gain is an insult to every person who died on 9/11.

Here is a short exchange on the matter that shows, yet again, the only kind of defense this administration can offer for their actions:

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. in a conference call with reporters:
"They've run this play one too many times. The American people simply do not recognize any validity in what they're saying."

White House SpokesModel Tony Snow:
"It sounds to me like Senator Reid is trying to accuse us of politicizing while he, himself, is politicizing the issue".

Ever talk to a five year old who used this tactic? Tony Snow must be taking lessons from one.

I repeat. My new favorite saying for just about everything that comes out of their mouths these days. I know I am but what are you?

I am no fan of Senator Reid but I hope he is right that people will begin to notice this incessant talking in circles for the complete admission of guilt that it is.

Meanwhile thousands of our own soldiers and countless civilians on our various terror manufacturing fronts are still dying.

When you remember 9/11 this year, honor those who died by taking some time to educate yourself about the facts around that event. I have provided two excellent links below to help you do just that.

When you go to the polls this November:

Let those of either party that would use the acts of terrorists to further their own political agendas know that this disrespects the victims of 9/11, the soldiers and civilians killed in their wars of aggression and did not go unnoticed.

Check out these links and get the facts.

Want to Know
Donkephant

Sunday Poetry. Bartending For Bees

The selection this week comes from the newest member of The Peace Tree Poets Society, ME Strauss (aka Liz Strauss). We are pleased to have her share her work here and hope that you will enjoy it as much as we do. Her work exhibits a peaceful, gentle and thoughtful style.

Liz is a poet, writer and consultant helping business to harness the benefits of blogging. She specializes in business blogging, corporate blogging, customer relationships and bsuiness strategy. Links to her writing and consultant sites follow todays poem.

Bartending for Bees

Moving forward
muck and mire
Not knowing how
when
what I might
step on or in
time behind me
in front
around me
everything moving
even me
where are we going
when will we stop
when we do
what happens
then
thank God
for flowers
as I pass by

Letting me be- Random Wondering and Philosophy
Liz Strauss-Writing for You
Successful Blog-Thinking, Writing, Business Strategies

Getting down to it, American Fascism vs. Islamic Fascism.

I know I am but what are you.

It’s a playground classic. Accuse your adversary of the very thing you are guilty of.

Fascism is fascism is fascism no matter where it comes from or how it is wrapped. The unbounded greed of corporate America, invading the world one economy at a time. The Christian fundamentalist breaking down the separation of church and state. The Islamic jihadist blowing themselves and others up for Allah. They all want the same thing.

Power.

The power to control the lives and resources of others for their own benefit.

In America we have called it:

Indian Reservations

Slavery.

Immanent Domain.

Spreading democracy.

National Security.

The War on Terror.

Foreign policy.

Senator Rick Santorum had this to say:

"In World War II we fought Nazism and Japanese imperialism," Santorum said in a high-profile speech at the National Press Club on July 20. "Today we are fighting Islamic fascism. They attacked us on Sept. 11, because we are the greatest obstacle in front of them to their openly declared mission of subjecting the entire world to their fanatical rule."

In a conference call with reporters Friday Santorum said that it was vital that “we correctly define the enemy in front of us ... One of the reasons I gave the speech at the Press Club was that I thought we had to better define this enemy and clearly articulate that to the American public of what we’re up against, that these are not isolated instances but this is a coordinated Islamic fascist movement against us.”

Rick Santorum could have just said,

I know I am but what are you? Thugs on the playground of the world duking it out.

Yes, things are different now than they were in WWII. America is acting a lot more like an Axis power this time around than we did back then.

Terrorism, the only hope of the GOP

Anyone who has paid any attention at all to the Bush regimes activities these long, long years has at least noticed thier penchant for creating disaster and fear in order to profit from it monetarily and politically. At least the latest polls seem to reflect a growing mistrust of the cabal, also known as the Administration. Terror plots...I really do wish I could believe what they say but at this point....forget about it.

A key loss for the GOP, and as if right on cue....danger, danger...terror alert...be very afraid... vote for the GOP or else! The shake down of American Citizens if they don't pay off the thugs in Washington for protection from not only foreign terrorists but thier own government as well. Don't agree with the war monger approach, you are the enemy. Believe that diplomacy serves us more than indiscriminately killing innocent families, you are an insurgent.

I wonder just what might happen if the warning the GOP is delivering to America is not heeded in the upcoming November elections? Just how far will they go to keep the billions flowing out of the American Taxpayers pockets and into thier own? Foriegn terrorists are scary to be sure, but frankly the ones running our own country frighten me far more.
Great article below on the subject.

Bush Seeks Political Gains from Foiled Plot
by Olivier Knox

US President George W. Bush seized on a foiled London airline bomb plot to hammer unnamed critics he accused of having all but forgotten the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Weighed down by the unpopular war in Iraq, Bush and his aides have tried to shift the national political debate from that conflict to the broader and more popular global war on terrorism ahead of November 7 congressional elections.

The London conspiracy is "a stark reminder that this nation is at war with Islamic fascists who will use any means to destroy those of us who love freedom, to hurt our nation," the president said on a day trip to Wisconsin.

"It is a mistake to believe there is no threat to the United States of America," he said. "We've taken a lot of measures to protect the American people. But obviously we still aren't completely safe."

Leading Democrats praised the dismantling of the plot but said it showed how the war in Iraq has siphoned resources from the war on Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network, which carried out the strikes in 2001.

"The war in Iraq has become a dangerous distraction, and a profound drain on our financial and military resources," said Senator John Kerry, Bush's rival for the White House in 2004. "Osama bin Laden is still on the loose."

Bush's remarks came a day after the White House orchestrated an exceptionally aggressive campaign to tar opposition Democrats as weak on terrorism, knowing what Democrats didn't: News of the plot could soon break.

Vice President Dick Cheney and White House spokesman Tony Snow had argued that Democrats wanted to raise what Snow called "a white flag in the war on terror," citing as evidence the defeat of a three-term Democratic senator who backed the Iraq war in his effort to win renomination.

But Bush aides on Thursday fought the notion that they had exploited their knowledge of the coming British raid to hit Democrats, saying the trigger had been the defeat of Democratic Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut by an anti-war political novice.
"The comments were purely and simply a reaction" to Democratic voters who "removed a pro-defense Senator and sent the message that the party would not tolerate candidates with such views," said Snow.
"It was not said with the knowledge that this was coming," the spokesman said.
Snow said Bush first learned in detail about the plot on Friday, and received two detailed briefings on it on Saturday and Sunday, as well as had two conversations about it with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

But a senior White House official said that the British government had not launched its raid until well after Cheney held a highly unusual conference call with reporters to attack the Democrats as weak against terrorism.
On Wednesday, Cheney had suggested that Democrats believe "that somehow we can retreat behind our oceans and not be actively engaged in this conflict and be safe here at home, which clearly we know we won't, we can't, be," he said.

While some Democrats have opposed some steps in the war on terrorism, and more and more are calling for a withdrawal from Iraq, no major figures in the party have called for a wholesale retreat in the broader conflict.

"Terrorism remains the greatest threat to our security," said Harry Reid, the top Democrat in the US Senate. "As a result of mismanagement and the wrong funding priorities, we are not as safe as we should be."

But Bush's Republicans hoped the raid would yield political gains.
"I'd rather be talking about this than all of the other things that Congress hasn't done well," one Republican congressional aide told AFP on condition of anonymity because of possible reprisals.

"Weeks before September 11th, this is going to play big," said another White House official, who also spoke on condition of not being named, adding that some Democratic candidates won't "look as appealing" under the circumstances.

A little faith restored in Humanity

Well dear friends, I am not shocked by much but it happened today.

A little history first:
March 19th 2004,
The day I decided enough was enough and wrote my first expression of that idea.
I had just left corporate Houston behind and moved to the mountains of East Tennessee when I read this article that inspired and began my humble career as an activist:

By BILL POOVEY, Associated Press Writer

DAYTON, Tenn. - Commissioners in rural, conservative Rhea County never intended to create the "wildfire" of reaction that resulted from banning gay people, the county attorney said after the board reversed its 2-day-old decision.

The original vote was meant to show support for the state's ban on same-sex marriages, county Attorney Gary Fritts said Thursday.

"They wanted to send a message to our (state) representative and senator that Rhea County supports the ban on same-sex marriage. Same-sex marriage is what it was all about," Fritts said. "There has just been so much misunderstanding about this. It was to stop people from coming here and getting married and living in Rhea County."

The board voted 8-0 Thursday to rescind its Tuesday action. The commissioners declined to comment as deputies escorted them to and from the meeting, where they overturned the earlier vote and quickly adjourned.

Fritts said he advised the commissioners that they could not ban homosexuals or make them subject to criminal charges. The U.S. Supreme Court (news - web sites) last year struck down laws on homosexual sodomy as a violation of adults' privacy.

Commissioner J.C. Fugate, whose initiated the Tuesday motion, also made the motion to rescind it Thursday. In a discussion about gays and same-sex marriage at the earlier meeting, Fugate had asked the county attorney to find a way to "keep them out of here."

Twelve-year-old Caitlin Kinney and others in a noisy crowd at the courthouse Thursday night were disappointed at the reversal.

The seventh-grader said she doesn't want homosexuals in the community. "It's not a Christian thing," said Kinney, identifying herself as a Baptist.

"I've never seen nothing like this," Fritts said at the historic courthouse where a jury 79 years ago convicted John Scopes for teaching evolution.

During the Thursday meeting, social worker Esther Jackson, 24, held a sign saying, "Breed Love, Not Hate."

"I'm just making a statement that I don't think it's right," Jackson said of the Tuesday vote. "It's just ignorance, is all.

The county about 35 miles north of Chattanooga annually commemorates the 1925 trial at which Scopes, a high school teacher, was convicted of teaching evolution. The verdict was reversed on a technicality, and the trial became the subject of the play and movie "Inherit the Wind. In 2002, a federal judge struck down the teaching of a Bible class in Rhea County's public schools.

Fritts said he doesn't believe the issue will come up again with the commissioners.

"I think they got all the publicity they need about it," he said

And did they get all the publicity they needed? So they did my friends....and as unbelievable as it seems...it came back to bite them in the ass at the polls.

Fast Forward to Today:

Rhea County voters toss out commissioners who wanted to criminalize homosexuality

Katie Allison Granju , Producer

People who live in the Dayton area say overcrowded schools and how the county is handling growth also drove the election on Thursday.

Voters turned out incumbents Harold Fisher, Tom Davis and R. Paul Tallent. Incumbents Dennis Tumlin Brad Varner didn't seek re-election. Four incumbents were returned by voters.

Fisher had been a commissioner for 20 years and was chairman of the body.

In March 2004, commission members voted unanimously voted to ask state lawmakers to introduce legislation amending Tennessee's criminal code so the county could charge homosexuals with crimes against nature.

Two days later, they rescinded the vote, saying they didn't understand they were voting to ban homosexuality in the county.

Newly-elected member Bill Hollin says some constituents thought the gay ban wasn't as bad as the commissioners not understanding what they had voted to do.

One caveat however, it seems the voters may have believed thier claims that they did not realize they were voting to criminalize gay people and thought they were just really stupid. I guess being a homosexual must not be as bad as being stupid in Rhea County. Thanks anyway to all who voted against hate and for smarter homosexuals. Go Rhea County!

Source: The Raw Story

oh yeah, my humble beginnings:

Enough is Enough

Today, March 19, 2004, is the day that I have decided enough is enough. Enough of what you may ask?

Blind Hate

Fear based Religious dogma

And last but not least hateful, sad and angry people directing, displacing and projecting all of their pain and self- loathing onto me, who I am and who I have every right to be. It is not me (the homosexual) that threatens your precious institution of marriage it is you, (the heterosexual) but you do not wish to take the responsibility for the mockery of marriage you have created. You hide behind God and hope that The All That Is really is as narrow-minded, as hateful and as afraid as you are. You actually find it easier to follow others hate-filled interpretations of right and wrong than to feel and think for yourself. For if you did you would find that you are what you really hate and then where would you be? I understand, this way is much easier for you, for now. The fact is I really do not care what you believe, in fact my only care is that it feeds your soul, that it makes you happy, so ask yourself, does hating me really make you happy? I don’t hate the 13 year old in the article above. Do you really think she even has the first clue about human rights? No, her Daddy hates gays therefore she hates gays. Why? Cause it’s not a Christian thing. Oh. Right. Of course. The duality of the so-called Christian:

Love your neighbor

Unless they are gay

Do unto others as you sould have them do unto you

Unless they are gay

I think you get where I am going with this.

________________________________________

Something to feel good about, man I needed that.

Peace To All Souls

Sunday Poetry: Scattered Souls

Greetings All,

The selection this week comes from Tina Louise. Tina is the newest member of The Peace Tree Poets Society and I am thrilled to have her on board. Her work, as you will see, is direct and impactful. Please let us know what you think about her work and visit her homepage via the link at he bottom of this post to read all her excellant work.

Tina also has a great campaign going to promote peace called Arms Against War. People who oppose war all over the world can show thier solidarity by wearing a white armband of any kind (one example shown at top of post). Visit her Arms Against War site via the link at the end of this post to get involved.
Thanks Tina for being a part of The Peace Tree.
And now....

Scattered Souls

Souls scattered all over Iraq
Pieces of coalition forces that won’t come back
The wounded, the able
All missing bits
Returning without the requisite
Part of themselves that once was warm
Afraid of the dark when the memories come
The sound of a child
No longer a delight
Triggers images of another gun fight
When women and children begged for their lives
But commanding officers want sacrifice
Called them insurgents
Insisted their guilt
Insisted more Iraqi blood was spilt
Onto the desert where freedom would flourish
Onto the sands along with the rubbish
We leave behind so much when we go
Chaos, mayhem and sorrow
Dead babies that clung onto life
Broken mothers, once loving wives
Men who fought for their families
Men just like those in our armies
…and the souls of our soldiers who did our bidding
in an oil rich land, ripe for the picking.

Tina Louise

A/N: for veterans of Haditha and Fallujah

www.tinalouise.co.uk-Poetry
www.armsagainstwar.info