Will It Ever Stop? ***EDITED***

Let me answer my own question - NO!

Yesterday a group of anti-American terrorists breached the walls of the American consulate in Benghazi in Libya. The American ambassador and three others were killed.

There was also violence in Egypt at the U.S. Embassy where the U.S. flag was removed and the flag of Islam was put in its place, although I cannot find any mention of murder being committed there.

Why? Why now? Didn't we just help the Libyans to freedom? Didn't we stand beside them (or, fly our planes over their heads) so that they may be free? Why the sudden onslaught of violence?

"The mobs were set off by Egyptian media reports about a 14-minute trailer for the video, called “Innocence of Muslims,” that was released on the Web. The trailer opens with scenes of Egyptian security forces standing idle as Muslims pillage and burn the homes of Egyptian Christians. Then it cuts to cartoonish scenes depicting the Prophet Muhammad as a child of uncertain parentage, a buffoon, a womanizer, a homosexual, a child molester and a greedy, bloodthirsty thug.

The trailer was uploaded to YouTube by Sam Bacile, whom The Wall Street Journal Web site identified as a 52-year old Israeli-American real estate developer in California. He told the Web site he had raised $5 million from 100 Jewish donors to make the film. “Islam is a cancer,” Mr. Bacile was quoted as saying."

The Wall Street Journal identified this man as an Israeli-American, but according to NPR, Bacile identifies himself as "an Israeli Jew." And he is in hiding in case someone wants to come after him!! The worst kind of coward who can hide behind a camera and his alleged God and get people killed. Now he runs away with his tail between his legs.

I am sick over this. Wanton death and destruction. And of course there are those who blame the President.

Before the violence (according to MSNBC, although I cannot find corroboration) the U.S. State Department issued a press release stating:

"The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims – as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions. Today, the 11th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, Americans are honoring our patriots and those who serve our nation as the fitting response to the enemies of democracy. Respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone of American democracy. We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others."

So now the President is on another "apology tour" (Romney's words, not mine)

Let me tell you what I think of all of this.
#1. If Bacile (no, Mr. sorry that is a term of respect) wants to identify himself as an Israeli Jew, then he needs to move to Israel. Do not live in my country, cause the death of others using the Bill of Rights that many have died for and not identify yourself as an American.

#2. I cannot find proof that Terrie Jones (alleged preacher) of Gainesville, FL had a hand in promoting this film, but if he did, he needs to be jailed. His complete disregard for the lives of others (and this goes for Bacile also) should not be covered by the First Amendment's Freedom of Speech. That was never the point.

#3. I believe in our Constitution and I appreciate the Bill of Rights that allows me to have this 'blog and to make my thoughts and feelings known to the few of you who actually read it. It also allows me to look back over the last 6 years of my life, kind of like a journal, but I do not believe in absolute free speech.

In Schenck v United States, the Supreme Court held that:
"Words which, ordinarily and in many places, would be within the freedom of speech protected by the First Amendment may become subject to prohibition when of such a nature and used in such circumstances a to create a clear and present danger that they will bring about the substantive evils which Congress has a right to prevent. The character of every act depends upon the circumstances in which it is done."

Which means you can't yell "Fire" in a crowded theater and you cannot (without penalty) create movies depicting the Prophet Muhammed as a whore.

This country loses its mind when Americans desecrete our own flag (if you remind me, I will try to share what I learned earlier this year in my art class re: the US flag). Who remembers the outrage over "The Last Temptation of Christ"? And the comdemnation over "The DaVinci Code"? Because both portrayed Jesus as non-celibate. How many people would lose their minds if Jesus were portrayed a whoring drunk of uncertain parentage?

No, we would not fire bomb someone's embassy.. well, most of us wouldn't. But a lot of that has to do with the fact that we are lazy. And D.C. is far away.

I do believe that those who created this nightmare should be charged with whatever we can throw at them. And Bacile does not want to endure an American prison, he can go to Israel and spend his old age there.

****EDITED*****

OK, I've calmed down and understand that we all have access to the First Amendment and this should probably be covered under it, even when it makes me mad. But I don't think that YouTube has to actually carry the movie and there is no reason for any company to distribute it!

The Death of a Child....

Is there anything more horrific than the thought of burying your child? I cannot even breathe at the thought as I sit here putting off icing the cupcakes I have lovingly prepared for BabyBoy's 23rd birthday tomorrow. (How did that happen so FAST?)

DSD and I went to visit his parents last weekend - about an hour from Sanford, FL. We arrived on Thursday afternoon and there was a large rally being held requesting justice for Trayvon Martin. Thousands were shown on the news. Thousands of mostly black people. (Y'all know I really wanted to be there, right?) I was dumbfounded by the comments of my completely non-racist in-laws. Things like "There's going to be trouble there." "That is so not a good idea." "They are just asking for trouble." WHAT?!?!? A child is dead. Justice should be sought!

Then there is the girl who I befriended when we were in class together about a year and a half ago, who seems to think it is her duty to remind us all that jumping to conclusions is not a good idea. She has gone from someone I thought was a card carrying Democrat to some crazy gun-toting, planning to vote for any Republican who runs because she hates Mexicans. (I have Republican friends, I just like to know what I am getting myself into.) The thing that makes me the MOST nuts (and she is a blog post all by herself) is that she keeps telling ME that she understands these things because she is majoring in Political Science. HELLOOOO! She is also more than a year away from graduation. I am (in case I forgot to mention it today) 6 weeks and 6 days away!

Trayvon Martin was a typical 17 year old - obsessed with girls and getting by. But also by the overwhelming thought of college, the future, and life. And all of that is now gone. Justice has NOT been done in this case. A child is dead and someone should be charged in that death. Preferably the man who followed him and then pulled the trigger.

I have more... but I have cupcakes to ice. I am very thankful that I can celebrate my child's birthday tomorrow. RIP Trayvon.

Awake the State!

Tuesday March 8, 2011 is the first day of the new Florida legislature. What have they been doing in the two months since they were sworn in? Who the heck knows? But so far all they seem to have managed is to annoy the crap out of a lot of people.

Rick Scott says no to high speed rail and the jobs and billions of dollars it will provide.. even after Senator Bill Nelson managed to get the towns on the I4 corridor to guarantee the additional money needed so the state will not be on the hook.

Senator Don Gaetz has introduced a bill declaring that medicaid recipients should be forced to lose weight, and stop smoking and drinking or stop receiving coverage.

Florida's proposed budget is set to drop all corporate taxes and property taxes (mine runs less than $800.00 a year) AND to cut funding to education, prisons, police forces, firefighters, and many OTHER public workers, while requiring them to pay more for health care and their retirement.

Does anyone else thing I have possibly moved to Wisconsin?

Well, I'm mad and I'm not going to take it anymore.

I will be at the Destin Commons next Tuesday night. I will be holding a sign. I may be holding a microphone. I have to get off Blogger and call the news media. It's time for Floridians to stand up and shout that we LIKE our middle class. We LIKE our teachers.

AWAKE THE STATE!

I signed on the organize this thing.. and now I am having heart palpitations!

Congratulations Governor Scott

In a couple of days shy of two months in office you have managed to force a miracle. TRUE bipartisanship is occuring in our great state. Democrats and Republicans from the I4 corridor are coming together in a beautiful gesture... but filing a lawsuit against the governor. And introducing legislation that will allow a citizen recall.

Kind of brings a tear to your eye, doesn't it?

Protests/Rallies being scheduled all over the state next week. No one seems to be interested in NW Florida. Watch out. I am considering doing it myself!

Thanking Those Who Are Standing for Wisconsin Workers.

Wisconsin State Senator Chris Larson, who is one of the senators in hiding, laid out the stakes in an open letter and asked for our support:

The ability to organize and get fair treatment are qualities that built our country... If this bill moves forward in Wisconsin, rights in all America we have grown to take for granted will no longer be so reliable... If this passes here, it will pass in your state... It is an unprecedented attack on workers, their communities and our tradition of working with labor to move our state forward... I am seeking your support for the fight ahead of us.

http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/we_support_wisconsin/?r_by=16964-3389980-3wZ_8ux&rc=paste1

I signed the petition thanking those who did the only thing they could to prevent a complete government takeover of workers' rights. Please sign also.

Help Stop Glen Beck

I don't watch FoxNews.  The gym I was a member of always had it on, but there was also ESPN, and other channels on also, so I wasn't stuck watching it. Watching Beck.  The couple of times I ended up on a bike right in front of him, the lies that rolled off of his tongue made me sick, but not as sick as those who seemed glued to the screen.

I don't watch, so I don't have a lot of power with the advertisers on Fox or Beck's show. But I signed the Petition that you can find over at The Swash Zone.  Excellent post, very well written. Beck needs to go. Will you help?

Repeal Don't Ask/Don't Tell and Move on to the REAL Issues

There's going to be a showdown on the Senate floor this week -- and we'll have a chance to do away with "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" once and for all.
Right now, though, it's not clear we'll have the votes to win.
That's because moments after Sen. Harry Reid announced the vote, Sen. John McCain again threatened to stop the bill at any cost. He said he plans to filibuster not just a vote, but even the procedure to bring it up for debate.
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" isn't about politics -- it's about discrimination. And when Republicans defend discrimination of any kind, they need to know that their constituents are watching and ready to respond.
It is up to each of us to let the Republicans who are blocking this vote know that Americans want repeal.
Call Sen. McCain at (202) 224-2235 now, tell him America supports the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and ask him to stop standing in the way.
As the President has said, we must end this law "because it is the right thing to do." A majority of Americans agree that those who are brave enough to stand up and serve our country deserve to do so openly.
Call Sen. McCain today at (202) 224-2235 to tell him to end his filibuster threat and get out of the way of change.
Thanks for your help on this critical vote,
Mitch
Mitch StewartDirectorOrganizing for America

So Says the Prez.. So says me!

More tomorrow on the "Rally to Bring Back Sanity" or whatever it is called and the fact that I have BOUGHT PLANE TICKETS!!!!!!!

Do You Think Stupidity Caused the Fall of Rome?

A recent weekly quiz in my Political Theory class (AWESOME CLASS, btw) had a question about what I felt was the biggest threat to democracy* in this country. I took a full paragragh to answer a question that I could have answered with one word.

Stupid.

I even included a theory a research psychologist friend of mine shared with me a couple of years ago on WHY our collective IQ is dropping, but I won't bore you with it here.

As I sit in my office listening to a highly educated medical doctor babble bullshit about how the President is bankrupting our country.

Stupid is running amuck.



This is long, just over 13 minutes. Please watch it. Glen Beck and Sarah Palin are NOT part of this video. This is a video of a young man at the rally speaking to every day people who attended. People who believe television commercials, entertainment shows, and those emails which contain nothing but lies but spread like wildfire. You have a right in this great country to believe whatever you want to believe, but PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE figure out WHY you believe the way you do. Learn to defend your beliefs so that we (Americans) can have a real dialogue and stop pointing fingers and calling names. And Please don't call anyone names if you don't know what they mean!!

H/T to The Swash Zone. Spread this video. Show the world our stupid.

Let's Celebrate

While Sarah Palin babbles nonsense, people complain about the state of, well, everything, and we all manage to get through another day, it seems that something wonderful and amazing happened 90 years ago TODAY.

Ninty years is such a short span of time when you think about it. While it may be a longer span than many live, for countries and nations such as Italy and Greece and Iraq and Iran it is only the blink of an eye.

Here in the U.S. however, something wonderful and fantastic happened exactly 90 years ago. Someone decided it would be a great idea that FAR in the future, maybe to elect the first African American President, I should be allowed to vote. ME! A Woman!

So much went into Women's Suffrage. So many fought for it. Fought for ME! And I want to say Thank you to each and every one of them for allowing me to have something so precious............ A VOICE.

Sure, many of us are disgruntled. Sure maybe we aren't being listened to as we would like. But being allowed to SPEAK means something.

Let's take a moment to celebrate that.

Happy Tax Day!

Ok, most of us don't look forward to paying our taxes. While we understand it is a necessary evil; it is still evil.

Still, today, I have gotten a lovely tickle out of the "TEA" parties propagated by the right wing propaganda machine.

Government spending has been out of control since before I graduated high school (1985) and has continued until this day and NOW the right wingers want to protest?

Why didn't they protest against Reagan? Well, he was God.

Why didn't they protest against Bush I? Well, we forgot God was no longer President.

Why didn't they protest against Clinton? Well, we were a little more concerned about his sex life than the deficit and he did, actually, balance the budget before the left office.

Why didn't they protest against Bush II? Well, there is no explanation, except excessive use of Marijuana and 9/11.

So NOW there are protests. NOW, when this country NEEDS the extra spending, to help other Americans, to help, period. NOW there are protests?

There is something wrong in this country.

Back to the Real World aka Murder in Oakland

While waiting for the Pre-Game to start on Thursday I allowed* DSD to watch World News Tonight. Imagine my shock and horror when Brian Williams showed the above video. While I had briefly seen a headline on one of the webpages Thursday on rioting, there was no indication where or why the rioting was occurring. There was no indication that a man had been publicly murdered on camera. This morning when I sat down to write this post I googled the man's name, Oscar Grant, and found TWO stories on this in the mainstream media. TWO! There are plenty of blogs on it, thank goodness, but not a lot of "legitimate" news sources are carrying this story.

I don't know anything about Oscar Grant. He was 22 years old and had a4 year old daughter. One story said he was a 'peacemaker' but another said he was a trouble maker. The story on World News Tongght said the BART cops had been called out because there was a fight.

I don't give a flying fatooty. This man was murdered. He was on the ground face down and was shot. It looks possible that he was struggling with the cops. So? I am certain that is not grounds for deadly force.

There has been rioting in protest of this shooting.




I don't think rioting is an answer, but I have never been faced with issues like this, so I am not judging these people. Maybe, if the cop had been fired and arrested, as I would have been, then the riots would not have happened.

The officer remains free and has not been charged with any wrongdoing. And some experts have questioned whether he fired his gun deliberately or mistakenly believed he was using his stun gun instead....

The video footage has led to debate over whether the officer knowingly shot Grant, as the victim's family alleges....

Bruce Siddle, a use-of-force expert who viewed the video clips, theorized that Mehserle was working under stress in a hostile situation and did not realize he was firing his pistol.

I don't want cops on the street if they aren't bright enough to know the difference between a stun gun, a taser and a hand gun.

Having been married to a cop who was a total prick and thought he was god's gift to the world, I have a unique perspective on law enforcement, although not an unbiased one. I know some good cops who are out there performing their duties to Protect and Serve, my EX had Southern Sheriff Syndrome, believing that he alone knew right from wrong and, BY GOD, don't question him.

Whether the shooter was confused or whether it was deliberate should not matter. Arrest him, charge him and get him off the street.

*On a lighter note, I do not allow DSD to go anything, especially with the remote. While he is very enlightened in most ways, he is a total man when it comes to the remote. Penis = control. Lucky for him, I would rather play on the computer or read a book than watch TV, so we don't fight over it...much.

Little Bits of This and That

* I am thoroughly enjoying the Olympics. I didn't expect to. I figured I would be bored, but I spent hours Saturday morning trying to understand this sport called Handball and I have been glued to the TV most evenings.

* My followup at the doctor's last week gave me a clean bill of health. No more problems. Now, I just get to wait patiently for the next 2 weeks until my ablation. But I have plenty of leftover drugs, so I am not really worried about having any pain.

* The situation with Georgia and Russia confuses me. I know my understanding of foreign affairs is slim. I don't take the time I probably should to understand. But, didn't Georgia attack last week? And isn't Russia fighting them to stop the attack? Then why is our government (Dubya) fussing at Georgia? How is this different from what we did in 1990 with Kuwait and Iraq? How is this our business? If Central America attacked Mexico, wouldn't we help? And tell anyone who blasted us for it to butt out?

* Why was Dubya able to take the weekend off to hang out in China with the Olympic athletes? Didn't he have anything better to do? Aren't we at war? Isn't our economoy in the toilet? And, yet, ol' dipshit has time to hang out with the beach volleyball team?

* And, isn't it tacky to go to China for the Olympics, blast them on Human rights issues (like we have any room to talk) and then STAY? Probably taking advantage of the poor people who now have to feed you and clean your room. I made DSD turn the channel every time that asshole was on my TV.

* I love my job, but, frankly, I am sick and tired of the territorial BS that comes from working with women.
Ok, that's not fair. While I do find it easier to work with men (not so catty), one of the women I work with is not very bright, not very organized and guards her work with some sort of weird secrecy like I may take over her job also. I have plenty to do, thanks, I don't need hers also.

* Lola has been wonderful. I just wish I had some idea how to make her sleep past 6 on weekend mornings!

More Help Needed

I just received this email from Hillary Clinton

Together, you and I are standing up for the health of American women, and we're making a difference.

For years, President Bush and the Republicans have done everything in their power to reverse decades of progress. Now, new rules are under consideration by the administration that would restrict access to birth control. They are the latest example and I am so glad that you joined the fight to help stop it.

Thank you so much for signing on to our letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt. More than 55,000 of you have urged him not to move forward with these restrictive new regulations. That's an amazing start, and I urge you to ask your friends and family to get involved. Forward this message and tell them to sign on to the letter at:

http://www.hillpac.com/action/hhspetition/

Let me tell you more about the progress we're making. I have been working with my colleague Senator Patty Murray of Washington in the Senate and Congresswoman Nita Lowey of New York -- and many Senators and House Representatives who have joined in writing to Mike Leavitt, also demanding that he not move forward with these regulations. We are also working closely with women's rights and health organizations to put pressure on the administration and their Republican allies in Congress.

Secretary Leavitt stated on the HHS website just recently that he was still considering whether to go forward with these new rules and acknowledged concerns about limiting access to birth control. This means we are making a difference but we can't stop now! So long as these regulations are under consideration, there is a danger to women's health. I am going to continue to monitor this situation very closely and I need your continued support. Your help is vital, so be sure to tell your friends and family to join this fight.

Thank you so much for joining this important effort.

Sincerely,
Hillary Rodham Clinton

I posted about this issue already, but it is worth it to post on it again. If you have not signed this petition, please do so now. The future is at stake. Maybe that sounds melodramatic, but I honestly do not feel that it is . I have felt for years that Dubya and his cronies hate women and think they should be kept barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen. This would go a long way toward that end. Think of yourself, your wives, daughters, granddaughters, sons and grandsons. Sign this petition in honor of those who fought so hard for the equality of women and our right to choose. Sign this petition for those who are trying to make a better life for themselves and the children they already have. Women should have access to birth control. Insurance pays for Viagra! It should pay for birth control.

I have already sent this to everyone on my email list. Many of them are right wing nutjobs and they still signed this petition.

Do this for the future.

And feel free to copy the link into your blog. Feel free to copy and paste it into an email to everyone you know.

We can make a difference.

John McCain on Women's Issues

I received this video from Moveon.org. I forwarded it to a few people, but most of those who I would really like to see it (who may be planning to vote for him) are people I know through work and YouTube is blocked there. Maybe someone will see it here and it will help to change their mind.

I wasn't voting for the man anyway, but I learned a couple of things I did not know. I don't want to be forced back into the kitchen. It is way too hot in there!

I made a difference!

I confessed my love of fast food and why I was no longer enjoying a lovely Whopper last November. I did, however, thoroughly enjoy the Whopper I had last night!

What? Give up the protest? Spend my money at Burger King even though they refuse to increase the pay for those who pick their tomatoes'? No. I ate at Burger King to show my support because they have agreed to raise wages.

Congratulations – we did it! The Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW)
announced Friday that, after a prolonged and often heated campaign, the
second-largest burger chain has agreed to pay farm workers an extra 1.5 cents
per pound of tomatoes picked, the equivalent of a 71 percent increase in wages. Watch the press conference on Capitol Hill.
This
agreement was reached after a large coalition of faith and labor groups,
including Sojourners, started targeting the company with letters and
boycotts. In fact, since last June more than 25,000 Sojourners activists
like you sent more than 125,000 letters to Burger King executives.
Burger
King is the last of the three largest fast-food companies to agree to the pay
increase, following McDonald’s and Yum Brands, which owns Taco Bell. The
agreement also includes a pledge that Burger King will have zero tolerance for
growers in its supply chain that act unlawfully – a good precaution, given that
some in south Florida have been indicted for holding tomato pickers in literal
slavery.
Burger King’s agreement is a
long-awaited victory that comes after a year in which they unconscionably stalled and obstructed other companies from coming on
board. Burger King made $2.23 billion in profits in 2007 – and, in the end, the
company estimated that its tomato justice agreement will cost just $300,000
annually.
This agreement is a step toward fair labor practices for farm
workers across our country, and an example to all companies that have
exploitative policies in need of change.
Thank you for your action! Citizen
advocacy makes a difference.
The team at Sojourners

The fight is not over, not for fairness and equality for everyone, no matter their race, sex, religion, country of birth or sexual persuasion. But it is nice to know that the letters I wrote were read and that Burger King didn't have any of my dollars during that time.

Quote of the Day

"Always there will be the intoxication of power, constantly increasing and growing subtler. Always, at every moment, there will be the thrill of victory, the sensation of trampling on an enemy who is helpless. If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever."

George Orwell, 1984

Reading this completely creeped me out. Are we living in 1984?

My (Really BAD) Salute to Dr. Suess*

Oh, My! look at the Spot
Which Americans are in
All thanks to that twat.


First there was that ridiculous G.W.o.T.
Where we claimed moral high ground
Of which we have NOT.


Then there was the wireless spy
Which broke the Constitution
And made some of us cry.

And the torture of which we were told
The high ranking claimed ignorance
The low ranking did fold

Now prices have reached the sky
Of food and fuel
This will cause more to die

America the Beautiful
Home of the brave
Land of the free
As long as you are a rich, white, SUV driving, straight, Christian man
Or God won't shed His Grace on thee.

*Maybe I should keep my day job and not depend on my poetry to eat.

Five Years Later

I posted on this date last year. I will probably post on this date next year. I will most likely be posting on this date for as long as I continue this blog.

I want to say something eloquent. I want to bad mouth GWBush. I want to rage about the insanity of it all. Sadly, I can only sit here and shake my head in confusion.

Why did we go to Iraq?
Why are we still there?
What has this country turned into?

I have taken several moments of silence this morning and will continue to take several more throughout the day. I am doing my best to remember those we've lost. American, Iraqi, man, woman or child. I don't know what else to do.

I wish I could understand.

Some Good News Would Be Nice

I would like to blog about something, anything, uplifting, but can not seem to find a whole lot. Instead, the news is covered with such great stories as these:

A blast in a Georgia sugar refinery has at least 3 dead with 3 more missing.

Another shooting on a college campus; this time in Louisiana. (3 more dead.)

A shooting just outside of St. Louis, MO at a city council meeting. (5 dead and a couple more in critical condition. )

Soldiers returning from Iraq are charged with murdering another returned soldier and this may not be the only one they've killed. (This is apparently an old story that I just heard this morning. )

The Bush Administration is still screwing over the soldiers it professes to love and appreciate. (Which probably caused the story just above this one)

And

Per the American people, Bush and Congress stink! (Ok, maybe that is, sort of, good news.)

At least it is Friday! Have a frosty, cold one for me and I will do the same for you!